Golden Princess, Seattle - Glacier Bay Round Trip, Patters & Menus

[Mercruiser]

Did you happen to eat in Crown Grill? I just saw on the Patter that it has "theater style kitchen." I haven't heard that before. Wondering if it is sort of like a chef's table at some restaurants where you can watch them cook.

 

We ate at the Crown Grill on the last night in Victoria. The kitchen area is visible from the entrance foyer (to the left of "Kitchen" on the drawing). There is no seating close to this area, so you cannot easily watch the chefs cook unless you want to stand in the areas adjacent to the kitchen, marked X. I put a red X over the table in the drawing. There isn't a table there in the actual restaurant. Instead, they have a cart displaying the cuts of meat. Calling this a "theater style kitchen" is a bit of a marketing stretch, unless you go to theaters without anywhere to sit. There are a few tables where you can see the cooks, but you are probably 15-20 feet away.

 

[celestialcruiser]

Thanks for the info Mercruiser. Not what I would call "theater style" either.

[bonnyprince93]

Reserved a rental for the 100-400 lens. Thank you again for the lens info. Enjoying your review, makes me more excited for Sept 15th.

[moose.]

Thank you so much for all of the detailed information you have provided. My parents and I will be on the same ship at the beginning of September, and you have really helped. It will be my first time cruising (my parents' second), so I'm a little nervous as to what to expect, but your blog has helped me understand a bit what cruising is like. I very much look forward to your daily updates. :) Thanks again.

[gemde]

Great review! Thanks!

[catmand]

You have a beautiful blog.....thanks.

[Pudgiesmom]

We are on the Golden in May, 2013 for the Inside Passage cruise. We will be in one of the window suites (S7 category) - I think they are where the old casino used to be and are a relatively new addition to the boat maybe on the Fiesta deck? Does anybody know anything about these suites? Are they nice? We had a balcony on the Caribe deck of the Grand (which I understand is the sister ship to Golden) on a trip to the Western Carribean and just loved it, but friends who had previously taken the Inside Passage cruise told us that they didn't spend much time in their staterooms but spent a lot of time in the public decks to see the sights so we're hoping the absence of a balcony won't be a mistake. Would love to hear comments from those that have seen these suites. Also, they are supposed to come with upgraded perks and amenities - are they worth it? Thanks!

[Jeepers385]

We ate at the Crown Grill on the last night in Victoria. The kitchen area is visible from the entrance foyer (to the left of "Kitchen" on the drawing). There is no seating close to this area, so you cannot easily watch the chefs cook unless you want to stand in the areas adjacent to the kitchen, marked X. I put a red X over the table in the drawing. There isn't a table there in the actual restaurant. Instead, they have a cart displaying the cuts of meat. Calling this a "theater style kitchen" is a bit of a marketing stretch, unless you go to theaters without anywhere to sit. There are a few tables where you can see the cooks, but you are probably 15-20 feet away.

 

 

Do you know that if you wanted to reserve a table or tables for 10 or 12 if this would be possible? We have a large group cruising in September and would love to be able to sit together. If not I guess 2 tables of 6 would do. Thank you.

[Mercruiser]

Thank you so much for all of the detailed information you have provided. My parents and I will be on the same ship at the beginning of September, and you have really helped. It will be my first time cruising (my parents' second), so I'm a little nervous as to what to expect, but your blog has helped me understand a bit what cruising is like. I very much look forward to your daily updates. :) Thanks again.

 

I'm glad to hear this preview of your cruise is helping. Cruising is one of the easiest and lowest stress kinds of vacations. I hope you adapt to it as well as us. Alaska was our first cruise and we've been hooked on it ever since.

[Mercruiser]

Do you know that if you wanted to reserve a table or tables for 10 or 12 if this would be possible? We have a large group cruising in September and would love to be able to sit together. If not I guess 2 tables of 6 would do. Thank you.

 

The tables in the actual restaurant are not exactly as shown on this deck plan drawing. The area on the lower left appeared to be set up for large groups. It had a very large table, definitely more than the six-top shown, but I didn't count how many it seats. Similarly, there is a large group table located in the upper right area. There was a group of 8 at that table the night we dined. I don't think you will have any problem getting your group seated at one or maybe two tables. You can go to the Crown Grill on your first day and talk over your plans with the person at the reception desk. There will be someone at the Crown Grill reception desk on embarkation day, probably from about noon onwards.

[Mercruiser]

We are on the Golden in May, 2013 for the Inside Passage cruise. We will be in one of the window suites (S7 category) - I think they are where the old casino used to be and are a relatively new addition to the boat maybe on the Fiesta deck? Does anybody know anything about these suites? Are they nice? We had a balcony on the Caribe deck of the Grand (which I understand is the sister ship to Golden) on a trip to the Western Carribean and just loved it, but friends who had previously taken the Inside Passage cruise told us that they didn't spend much time in their staterooms but spent a lot of time in the public decks to see the sights so we're hoping the absence of a balcony won't be a mistake. Would love to hear comments from those that have seen these suites. Also, they are supposed to come with upgraded perks and amenities - are they worth it? Thanks!

 

If you look at the earlier posts on this thread, there are three other people that have window suites. Hopefully they can respond to specific questions about window suites.

 

On or first Alaska cruise, we had a balcony. I liked having it because I could step outside and take photos at any time. Other than that, we didn't use the balcony much because it's too cold when the ship is moving. The air temps out at sea are in the 50s and the ship travels at about 25 mph - that's pretty darn cold for sitting out on the balcony.

[celestialcruiser]

Do you know what night(s) they had the Chef's Table?

[Lopear1]

Greetings!

 

The idea for dinner at the Crown Grill on our Victoria evening is great! ;)

I was trying to figure out how to manage anytime dining (our first cruise with this option) that evening and still make our shore excursions departing at ~7:30 pm. :eek:

 

How early do they begin dinner service at the Crown Grill? :confused:

 

Thanks!

[Jeepers385]

The tables in the actual restaurant are not exactly as shown on this deck plan drawing. The area on the lower left appeared to be set up for large groups. It had a very large table, definitely more than the six-top shown, but I didn't count how many it seats. Similarly, there is a large group table located in the upper right area. There was a group of 8 at that table the night we dined. I don't think you will have any problem getting your group seated at one or maybe two tables. You can go to the Crown Grill on your first day and talk over your plans with the person at the reception desk. There will be someone at the Crown Grill reception desk on embarkation day, probably from about noon onwards.

 

Thank you so much for responding back to me. :D

[IECalCruiser]

Greetings!

 

The idea for dinner at the Crown Grill on our Victoria evening is great! ;)

I was trying to figure out how to manage anytime dining (our first cruise with this option) that evening and still make our shore excursions departing at ~7:30 pm. :eek:

 

How early do they begin dinner service at the Crown Grill? :confused:

 

Thanks!

Recent Patters from Alaska cruises have shown the Crown Grill opening at 6:00 which is earlier than the typical 6:30 opening time.

[Mercruiser]

We ate a leisurely dinner at the Crown Grill starting at 6. We then walked the mile into the Victoria inner harbor arriving after 8. If you want to make a 730 excursion, I'd suggest telling the waiter when you arrive so that he can adjust the service pace.

[Mercruiser]

I meant to add, there was a HUGE line for anytime dining starting at 530 if I remember correct. Half the ship must have had the same idea to get in early for anytime dining followed by at trip into Victoria.

[Mercruiser]

I have added the Patter, menu, pictures, and videos for July 26 in Ketchikan. The flightseeing trip provided some good opportunities for videos.

 

See it at http://goldenalaska.wordpress.com/

[Mercruiser]

Do you know what night(s) they had the Chef's Table?

Sorry, but I do not know. We didn't participate.

[celestialcruiser]

Thanks for responding.

 

How lucky you were to have a nice day in Ketchikan.

[Lopear1]

I meant to add, there was a HUGE line for anytime dining starting at 530 if I remember correct. Half the ship must have had the same idea to get in early for anytime dining followed by at trip into Victoria.

 

Thanks, Mercruiser! That was what I was afraid of. :eek: We will definitely go to Crown Grill as soon as we board to make that reservation for dinner on our Victoria evening.;)

[PescadoAmarillo]

Wow! Loved your blog. We leave next week for our Alaska cruise and reading your blog really ramped up our excitement level. Thanks for posting it!

[Mercruiser]

I have added the Patter, menu, and pictures for July 27 in Victoria.

 

See it at http://goldenalaska.wordpress.com/

[Mercruiser]

Wow! Loved your blog. We leave next week for our Alaska cruise and reading your blog really ramped up our excitement level. Thanks for posting it!

Thanks for you kind comments. Have a great time in Alaska.

 

[celestialcruiser]

Thanks so much for all your work on the blog. I have enjoyed reading it. Less than a month until we sail.