Just Back Grand Princess Dec 10th Sailing

[avalon1025]

After spending a great weekend in South Beach, finally home from the Southern Caribbean cruise on the Grand Princess, some thoughts:

 

Cabin: Window Suite 303, loved the suite and the different decor than other cabins. Please note that these cabins might not be a good choice for those sensitive to smoke, they get hit with casino and cigar bar smoke all day. The first night I thought I was sleeping in a bar. Once notified (and they know onboard about this), they will close the fire doors to the hallway and it helps greatly. I would get this cabin again

 

Ship: Never a big fan of Princess decor, I always find it too bland, the remodeled areas of the ship looked very nice (very Cunard looking - even down to similar carpets as Queen Victoria). The rest of the ship was showing her age. I was lucky enough to frequent Sabatinis, and for an extra tariff restauarant, I can not see why they did not renovate this space. Its old and looks like a mall base chain restaurant. Very cheap looking in comparison to the Crown Grill, which although still not the caliber of the Celebrity alternative restaurants, was better

 

Explorers lounge reminds me of a TGIF, throw up some old license plates and serve fried food and there you go.

 

The pool area: New furniture, but overall again, needed an update to modernize this ship

 

Horizon Court: No comparison to HAL or Celebrity, very cramped and crowded, limited food options, (Premade sandwhiches in saran wrap?), rarely ventured into this area to eat

 

Crew: Fantastic, very friendly: some of the most friendly I have sailed with in some time

 

International Cafe: Nice, all you really need at midnight

 

Alfredo's: Great concept but needs some work: Offer salads, or something to make a true meal out of this pizza restaurant. With only four pizza options, it was limited. If it just had a handful of other options I would have made this a dinner option

 

Sanctuary: Loved it! Really made my cruise, great staff, quiet, good food...lovely. With football games blaring on that jumbotron over the main pool, the Sanctuary was heaven and worth every dime

 

Overall a nice cruise, but kept making comparisons to my last two cruises on in this segment of the cruise market on the Solstice and Eclipse (Celebrity). Princess has a nice product, but fails to come close to the hardware or the more upscale feeling on these newer mega ships.

[Beopthtuh]

decent reviiew but your comparing two different class of ships one is 12 years old the others new or a year old.

sail on the royal when she sails then compare the solstice class to her .

alfredos is a pizza eatery not an italian meals eatery .

staff are brilliant so at least something pleased you

[avalon1025]

Sorry, disagree with you, my comments would be the same in comparison to the older Millenium class ships as well as the Holland America ships. Tens of millions were spent on this ship and its no departure from the 80's/90's Princess decor, I dont expect anything new or exciting of the new Royal Princess. Princess is as biege of a cruise line as you can get, i'm sure many like that and I am sure nothing will be different on their newer ships

[cruiseguyforever]

The food in the MDR was crap, the veal was so salty that I could not eat it. Also the fish was always dried out. In the Horizon Court buffet line (Big Ugly Fat Folks Eating Things), they had pre-made sandwiches in saran wrap, similiar to a sandwich at the 7-11 in Fargo, North Dakota! Even Carnival doesn't stoop that low! However, the desserts were fabulous and the pasta dish made by the Head Waiter in the Boticelli Restaurant on Italian Night was awesome! The best I ever had! And the service was great. However the fellow passengers were very old seasoned cruisers, mostly nasty and no fun to be around. It was like being on a floating nursing home; walkers and 3-wheel go-peds in the disco!? The ship is old and tired; alot of things did not work; toilets in the staterooms, some elevators, and some doors didn't close properly. The only saving grace for me was the Sanctuary where I could almost have some serenity at times. The service and the atmosphere was wonderful. However, all in all, I would not travel this cruise line again.

[ubouu]

The food in the MDR was crap, the veal was so salty that I could not eat it. Also the fish was always dried out. In the Horizon Court buffet line (Big Ugly Fat Folks Eating Things), they had pre-made sandwiches in saran wrap, similiar to a sandwich at the 7-11 in Fargo, North Dakota! Even Carnival doesn't stoop that low! However, the desserts were fabulous and the pasta dish made by the Head Waiter in the Boticelli Restaurant on Italian Night was awesome! The best I ever had! And the service was great. However the fellow passengers were very old seasoned cruisers, mostly nasty and no fun to be around. It was like being on a floating nursing home; walkers and 3-wheel go-peds in the disco!? The ship is old and tired; alot of things did not work; toilets in the staterooms, some elevators, and some doors didn't close properly. The only saving grace for me was the Sanctuary where I could almost have some serenity at times. The service and the atmosphere was wonderful. However, all in all, I would not travel this cruise line again.

 

I'am glad you will not be Cruising this line again as your comments are very Rude,in regards to( Big fat ugly people)

[paul929207]

I'am glad you will not be Cruising this line again as your comments are very Rude,in regards to( Big fat ugly people)

Yes, I think we can live without him and his attitude

[Darcy15]

The food in the MDR was crap, the veal was so salty that I could not eat it. Also the fish was always dried out. In the Horizon Court buffet line (Big Ugly Fat Folks Eating Things), they had pre-made sandwiches in saran wrap, similiar to a sandwich at the 7-11 in Fargo, North Dakota! Even Carnival doesn't stoop that low! However, the desserts were fabulous and the pasta dish made by the Head Waiter in the Boticelli Restaurant on Italian Night was awesome! The best I ever had! And the service was great. However the fellow passengers were very old seasoned cruisers, mostly nasty and no fun to be around. It was like being on a floating nursing home; walkers and 3-wheel go-peds in the disco!? The ship is old and tired; alot of things did not work; toilets in the staterooms, some elevators, and some doors didn't close properly. The only saving grace for me was the Sanctuary where I could almost have some serenity at times. The service and the atmosphere was wonderful. However, all in all, I would not travel this cruise line again.

 

 

What a delightful person you must be.

[Reader0108598]

The food in the MDR was crap, the veal was so salty that I could not eat it. Also the fish was always dried out. In the Horizon Court buffet line (Big Ugly Fat Folks Eating Things), they had pre-made sandwiches in saran wrap, similiar to a sandwich at the 7-11 in Fargo, North Dakota! Even Carnival doesn't stoop that low! However, the desserts were fabulous and the pasta dish made by the Head Waiter in the Boticelli Restaurant on Italian Night was awesome! The best I ever had! And the service was great. However the fellow passengers were very old seasoned cruisers, mostly nasty and no fun to be around. It was like being on a floating nursing home; walkers and 3-wheel go-peds in the disco!? The ship is old and tired; alot of things did not work; toilets in the staterooms, some elevators, and some doors didn't close properly. The only saving grace for me was the Sanctuary where I could almost have some serenity at times. The service and the atmosphere was wonderful. However, all in all, I would not travel this cruise line again.

 

:eek: WOW!

[cruiseguyforever]

Thank you all for your feedback on my review; you all have confirmed my belief that nobody on the ship had a sense of humor and that my honesty is a hard pill to swallow. See you on Carnival; the Fun Ship!:D:D:D

[windsor26]

thank you all for your feedback on my review; you all have confirmed my belief that nobody on the ship had a sense of humor and that my honesty is a hard pill to swallow. See you on carnival; the fun ship!:d:d:d

 

not if i can help it:(

[zahav1]

Yes, I did notice those saran wrapped sandwiches, what's that about? didn't eat any of that. Mostly salads and some fish. The Mexican buffet was a nice touch.

 

 

International Cafe: Nice, all you really need at midnight

 

I would agree, but after the 3rd day with the same salads and sandwiches I got bored with it, back to the pizza.

[zahav1]

The food in the MDR was crap, the veal was so salty that I could not eat it. Also the fish was always dried out. In the Horizon Court buffet line (Big Ugly Fat Folks Eating Things), they had pre-made sandwiches in saran wrap, similiar to a sandwich at the 7-11 in Fargo, North Dakota! Even Carnival doesn't stoop that low! However, the desserts were fabulous and the pasta dish made by the Head Waiter in the Boticelli Restaurant on Italian Night was awesome! The best I ever had! And the service was great. However the fellow passengers were very old seasoned cruisers, mostly nasty and no fun to be around. It was like being on a floating nursing home; walkers and 3-wheel go-peds in the disco!? The ship is old and tired; alot of things did not work; toilets in the staterooms, some elevators, and some doors didn't close properly. The only saving grace for me was the Sanctuary where I could almost have some serenity at times. The service and the atmosphere was wonderful. However, all in all, I would not travel this cruise line again.

 

Yes, there were some elderly passenger, but not nasty, very friendly and I hope that one day I'll cruise when I can't get around so well. It was not a floating nursing home, lots of young people and some kids, many extended families. The toilet situation still had to do with that towel that was flushed on the December 3rd cruise, clogging up everything on deck 10 aft. There were some elevators issues and that was frustrating.

[gelo7]

Thanks for sharing....

[srpilo]

not if i can help it:(

 

 

:D:D:D

 

 

 

 

Srpilo

[Luvmyrotti]

To the OP - Thanks for sharing your review. Sounds like there were some things you liked, such as your suite, the service and the Sanctuary and some things you didn't, such as the buffet sandwiches, the decor and Sabatini's. That's the great thing about cruising, that there are different options for different tastes and that the lines are varied. For instance my DH and I love the muted decor of Princess and to us it feels elegant. I say to each their own. Enjoy any future cruises you might take on Princess or on any of the other lines you like!

 

To cruiseguyforever, who also added a "review", that was not very kind or really very helpful to others who are looking for a reasonable, balanced opinion.

[avalon1025]

Some additional thoughts:

 

The gym is too small for this size ship and with low ceilings, being 6 feet tall my head would hit the ceiling on the Eliptical. The arrangement of the locker room and sauna/steam was another design flaw...all not fixed in the renovation

 

The ultimate deck party, not so ultimate. Versus prior princess cruises it was just a band out on the open decks, no food, no decor, a waste of time and an embarrassment for Princess. Definitely a case of if you can't afford to do it right, don't do it

[Beopthtuh]

Some additional thoughts:

 

The gym is too small for this size ship and with low ceilings, being 6 feet tall my head would hit the ceiling on the Eliptical. The arrangement of the locker room and sauna/steam was another design flaw...all not fixed in the renovation

 

 

The ultimate deck party, not so ultimate. Versus prior princess cruises it was just a band out on the open decks, no food, no decor, a waste of time and an embarrassment for Princess. Definitely a case of if you can't afford to do it right, don't do it

now this is a point we agree on .

if they cant go the whole hog dont bother ,

at least your review was constructive and their are points that even i agree with like the cling film wrapped sandwiches ,WHY.

as for the other review .cruiseguyforever

stay with carnival ,let princess keep the polite people,who respect others right to cruise and enjoy it there way

[hansi]

Yes, I did notice those saran wrapped sandwiches, what's that about? didn't eat any of that. Mostly salads and some fish. The Mexican buffet was a nice touch.

 

 

International Cafe: Nice, all you really need at midnight

 

I would agree, but after the 3rd day with the same salads and sandwiches I got bored with it, back to the pizza.

 

Explain please to a Brit, what is saran wrap?

[caribill]

Explain please to a Brit, what is saran wrap?

 

A brand of clear plastic wrap. Another example is Glad Wrap.

[caribill]

The ultimate deck party, not so ultimate. Versus prior princess cruises it was just a band out on the open decks, no food, no decor, a waste of time and an embarrassment for Princess.

 

No fruit and dessert extravaganza at the deck party. Another Princess cutback.

[hansi]

A brand of clear plastic wrap. Another example is Glad Wrap.

 

 

Ah. so that's cling film here. Isn't the English language quaint!;)

[ubouu]

Thank you all for your feedback on my review; you all have confirmed my belief that nobody on the ship had a sense of humor and that my honesty is a hard pill to swallow. See you on Carnival; the Fun Ship!:D:D:D

 

GOODBYE !!!:p

[boone2]

Explain please to a Brit, what is saran wrap?

 

Cling Film:D

[VOR]

Thank you all for your feedback on my review; you all have confirmed my belief that nobody on the ship had a sense of humor and that my honesty is a hard pill to swallow. See you on Carnival; the Fun Ship!:D:D:D

 

And while your waiter is singing to someone else in the corner, mine will be getting me my desert :)

[Sailingpeace]

Thank you all for your feedback on my review; you all have confirmed my belief that nobody on the ship had a sense of humor and that my honesty is a hard pill to swallow. See you on Carnival; the Fun Ship!:D:D:D

 

Nobody .....

I have had some really good laughs on Princess and met many people with a good sense of humor, witty and classy. But I have an open mind, maybe you are right and you are the only one who is funny and not a single one of the other thousands of passengers is ... I actually find it funny that you think that...