Hawaii Golden or Sapphire

[kathy_bc]

We are looking to book a cruise in Jan/Feb. Looking at either Sapphire or Golden. I am gearing towards Golden, and my mother is gearing towards Sapphire. We have been on the Sapphire before. I wasn't crazy about the layout (always going through the Casino, and finding elevators that were for service people only). confusing.

 

How is the Golden?

 

Also the first cruise date on the Sapphire is Feb 4, which is the first cruise right after her drydock. Is this good or bad??

 

Would love to hear the pros/cons of each ship.

 

thanks!

 

PS: How rough is the passage to Hawaii? My mother is prone to seasickness.

[sassyredhat]

There sure is alot of chatter about which one is better. :)

We are booked on Sapphire in April, which is after the upgrades. It will be our 2nd PCL cruise. DS chose it. I have no comparison as both our prior Hawaii cruises were with HAL.

The sailing over (and back) is kind of choppy the first day out, no matter when you go. I tried the patch and meds, all of which make me sleepy and thirsty. What works well for me is to cut them in half. It really isn't too bad.

Pat

[luv2cruz62]

Well...I am new to Princess....and are sailing Jan 18th to Hawaii on the Golden.....sorry...I cannot give you a comparison...BUT.....I have read from many people at how they absolutely love the Golden, and that many have taken repeat cruises on her....that makes me happy to know that she is so well loved! Cannot wait to board...even though its 89 days....not that Im counting ......:p

[kathy_bc]

I wonder how bad it would be right after the drydock??? I see on the list, it is having a MAJOR overhaul, and adding Alfredos?? and international cafe??? and MUTS... The drydock is a month long.

 

Have they ever gone over the date. Because their end date is Feb 4, which is the cruise start date...

 

If lots of things are new, new, new, it might be interesting. But not if there will still be working on things...

 

 

hmmmmmm....

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

I have been on both ships and like both of them - they are pretty similar. However, after reading so many reports of post dry dock issues across several cruise lines, I would not take the first cruise after a dry dock.

[Psychedout]

We have been on both, just got off the Sapphire Oct.1st. We liked the Golden better. Of course if you are sailing after the upgrades that my be a little better, but you should check out the deck plans on both and see the difference.

 

Hugh:)

[Psychedout]

I watched the Grand sail into Port Everlades from it's upgrades and there was a person still welding on the uppper deck as she was sailing in to dock, no kidding it blew my mind and there are postings of that and what the ship was like the next day here on CC about the Grand. Hard to say if that would happen with the Sapphire after the upgrades:rolleyes:

 

Hugh:)

[Hroswitha]

Kathy, we're booked on the same Golden cruise as Luv2cruz62--January 18.

 

We chose the Golden partially because of the rave reviews the cruise director and entertainment duo get from so many people--you can read about them on several threads here--but also because we were concerned about being on any ship fresh from dry dock.

 

Come join us--and join our roll call!

 

--Julie

[karatemom2]

There are many recent threads on this topic, but here is a link to one that is quite comprehensive:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1458945&highlight=golden+sapphire

We love both ships, but Golden would always be my first choice for Hawaii because of CD David Cole and the wonderful team of Elua that does the cultural program.

[lv2cruiseanywhere]

We have done this cruise four times (twice on the Golden.) Because of the Cruise Director, David Cole, and the Hawaiian theme, I would also recommend the Golden Princess for this one.

 

Whatever you decide, it's a great cruise.

 

Princess Elite

[cindiedee]

We just booked the Golden last week for the Feb. cruise that is over Valentine's Day. What swayed us towards the Golden was all the reviews where people say Elua and her DH are what makes the cruise Hawaiian - top reviews all around for the Hawaiian experience.

 

Also, the Golden is on sale at a terrific price with a large OBC...so putting it all together, the Golden it is for us!

 

Also, having been on a first cruise after dry dock - never again. They are never done on time so the first couple of cruises after......they are still installing carpet everywhere, venues are closed due to on-going work, etc - you sure didn't get what you paid for because so many things were not useable.

 

Just my opinion, of course.......

 

Cindiedee

[dfields1814]

I have been on both ships. My vote would be the Golden without a doubt even after the Sapphire has the dry dock improvements. I just like the layout better. Then figure in David Cole.

[kathy_bc]

thanks everyone! We have definitely ruled out Sapphire now.

 

Now it's down to Golden, and possibly HAL Oosterdam. :)

[kathy_bc]

It's confirmed. We booked the Golden! Thank you everyone for your replies..... Now to read up on what life on the Golden is like.

 

One thing I would like to know if there is some type of singles-event. Not like a dating thing, but more for people that travel alone. I'm thinking of my mother who will be 80 soon, and would like to travel more on her own, but she still hasn't ventured into a singles event. Is there anything like that on the Golden? I'm thinking if there is, I can go with her to check it out, and then on later cruises, she will feel more confident to go on her own.

[Hroswitha]

Which sailing date did you choose, Kathy?