Review of Golden Princess Cruise to Inside Passage-Alaska, May, 2013

[lovelearnteach]

Hello everyone it's me, Ken, again. We got a last minute deal on this cruise that we could not resist and decided to scratch Alaska off the bucket list :). So if you've read either of my other reviews you know it takes a minute, but I will give a quick review for those that don't want to read on.

 

The Golden is a typical Princess ship, we enjoyed sailing on her immensely, with a few minor incidents. One being our cabin steward, we are used to being treated extra special on other ships because we are so easy. First thing the beds are together, when I've already requested separate beds. No soap, shampoo, conditioner replaced when used, no second roll of toilet paper many days, dirty carpet or some weird fuzz on carpet several days. Issues with filling the ice bucket. Nothing life shattering, but added up a little annoying, especially since we are used to being spoiled :p. The 2nd issue was at lunch one day, a waiter got snippy with an elderly passenger. She asked about looking at the menu for dessert as we had been sitting for close to 10 minutes after finishing our main course. Well some waiters at lunch take your whole order including dessert because it's all on one menu for lunch, well this waiter didn't. When I started to say he said no I'll bring the menus back and take your dessert order. So after she asks he says kinda snippy we're clearing the table right now I'm getting the menus in a moment. I would have been 100% on his side if it was some fussy old women who thought she should snap her fingers and have everyone jump, but this was not the case. She asked very kindly as we had already been sitting for close to 10 min., he should have said yes madame and gotten the menus. Wouldn't it have made more sense to let us look while you cleared, instead of making us wait for you to clear. Again not earth-shattering, but I didn't like his attitude. Out of the 4 Princess ships I've sailed on, the Emerald Princess has been my favorite so far. We had great food, in all the venues we ate. For those of you who know me, your asking how was the fresh fruit, it was really good on the Golden, had it every day and was never disappointed in either the dinning room or the buffet.

 

So if you don't want tor read on, now would be a good place to bail thanks for stopping by :). If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask. For those that want to see pix and hear details, hang-in there with me.

[Keith1010]

I want to read more and look forward to your additional posts and photos.

 

Thanks, Ken.

 

Keith

[lovelearnteach]

Just an f.y.i. you might want to wait to place your vote in the poll until I'm closer to the end.

[lovelearnteach]

Once again I'm traveling with my uncle Terry. We flew to Seattle on Sat. May 11, 2013, one day before our cruise on May 12-19, 2013, on the Golden Princess. I had made reservations for brunch at Sky City, the restaurant in the Space Needle in Seattle, for 2:30p.m. on Sat. Our flight was scheduled to land at 12:48p.m. I thought we would have plenty of time to get to our hotel, The Silver Cloud Inn-Lake Union, and then to the Space Needle. Well we did make it but barely, it took 45 min. from the time we got off the plane, early mind you, 12:40p.m., to the time we got to the taxi's. By the time we got to the hotel it was 1:52p.m., with the next shuttle leaving at 2p.m. We literally had to throw our luggage in the room and run back down to catch the 2p.m. shuttle, because the shuttle runs every half hour. Traffic was pretty heavy, I was glad I wasn't driving, the taxi cost $50 with tip from the airport to our hotel. Thank goodness the hotel offered a free shuttle to 4 areas in Seattle, the Space Needle and Pike Place Market being 2 of them.

 

We ran into our first celebrity, the comedian Louie Anderson. He was on our flight from Minneapolis to Seattle, he had a gig in Seattle. He signed an autograph for my uncle, and was very friendly.

[phabric]

Looking forward to more of your review as there are not too many reviews from Seattle.

 

We are doing Alaska on the Grand out of Seattle next year. We have never been to Seattle before.

[lovelearnteach]

This being both of ours first trip to Seattle, we wanted to eat at Sky City even though I had heard it was pricey. Well our only 3 days to try it were Sat., Sun., Sun. They only do brunch or dinner on weekends, as the lunch menu is more reasonable during the week. Well for the same price we could get just an entree for dinner, or a 3 course meal with drink for brunch. So I booked us brunch at 2:30p.m. on Sat May 11th, with brunch ending at 2:45p.m. So we made it on time and we got window seats with amazing ever-changing views of Seattle. Was so worth $46pp for the brunch and the views. Terry started off with the Biscuits and Gravy; sausage fricassee, jalapeno infused honey, and buttermilk biscuit. I tried a bite, I'm not a fan of jalapeno, so it's not my thing. I got the Hearts of Romaine; spanish white anchovy, roasted garlic dressing, olive croutons and grana padano. It was awesome very yummy. For entree's Terry got Grilled Jidori Chicken; morel mushroom-bacon creme, braised greens, roasted sunchokes, he said he liked it. I got "The Benny"; back bacon, soft poached farm fresh egg, dungeness crab, brioche, citrus emulsion, herbed breakfast potatoes, which was phenomenal :D! For dessert Terry got the Vanilla Bean Cheesecake; pecan praline, raspberry coulis, which he said was very good. I got the Seasonal Cobbler; strawberry/rhubarb, danish vanilla ice cream, I'm not a fan of rhubarb so wasn't my favorite.

[lovelearnteach]

I want to read more and look forward to your additional posts and photos.

 

Thanks, Ken.

 

Keith

Thank-you looking forward to writing it :).

[lovelearnteach]

Looking forward to more of your review as there are not too many reviews from Seattle.

 

We are doing Alaska on the Grand out of Seattle next year. We have never been to Seattle before.

We loved Seattle, so much to do and see, we would love to go back and spend more time there. We both loved Pike Place Market and that whole area of town, sensory overload in that place, so cool :D!

[lovelearnteach]

We walked around the area around the Space Needle after brunch, but didn't go into any of the museum's or gardens. In our rush I forgot my cell phone and the phone number of a couple of Cruise Critic friends, that we were supposed to meet for a sunset ferry ride. I was supposed to call them when we got done with lunch to make plans on where to meet. Well by the time we got back to the hotel and I texted them, then they texted back, it just wasn't working out to meet up. No big deal we'll see each other on the ship, also we were exhausted and decided to nap, before dinner. I took a few pix of Lake Union and downtown Seattle from our hotel balcony.

[melody hounddog]

The brunch looks wonderful!

[lovelearnteach]

After a nice nap we get up and freshen up and head down to the lobby and front desk to ask about a restaurant within walking distance. After talking to the friendly front desk staff and looking at some menu's we decide on Chandler's Crabhouse. The shuttle driver is standing there and says I don't have any runs get in and I'll drive you guys down there. He then got on the phone and called the restaurant and got us on the wait list. He said they said 20 min., is that okay, sure no problem. So he dropped us off and we strolled around Chandler's Cove, not much to see except a few restaurants and realty companies. Nice yachts and houseboats to goggle at :p. So we walk into the restaurant and our table is ready, cool it took less than 20 min. Even better we get a window seat with beautiful views of Lake Union, in the rotunda.

[lovelearnteach]

The brunch looks wonderful!

Mine was excellent, although in retrospect I would have gotten the blueberry bread pudding instead of the cobbler. "The Benny" was so awesome one of the best things I've ever eaten.

[lovelearnteach]

I got an Fugi Apple Martini and then they brought us the Seafood Charcuterie, compliments from our hotel. It's a $14 appetizer, that was so special of them to do that for us. It's not something I would have ordered, but I'm glad to have gotten to try it. It was really good. For dinner I got the Alaskan Bairdi Crab, that was excellent! Terry got a N.Y. Strip Steak, and he said it was good.

[lovelearnteach]

We had a short walk back to the hotel and I took a few pix of Lake Union and downtown Seattle at night from our hotel balcony.

 

That ends our first day of our Alaskan Vacation. We both enjoyed brunch at Sky City Restaurant in the Space Needle, pricy yes, but worth the quality of food and views, in my opinion. Our hotel is awesome, The Silver Cloud Inn-Lake Union. Nice clean rooms, spacious, good views, good amenities and friendly staff. The restaurant Chandler's Crabhouse was excellent, great food, good service, beautiful location. That concludes our first day in Seattle, we loved every minute of it.

[lovelearnteach]

Today is the day we board the Golden Princess to head to Alaska, I'm so super excited. We go to the free Continental breakfast at the hotel and man what a spread. Scrambled eggs, sausage, waffle's, cereal, milk, juice, coffee, fresh fruit, bread, bagels and some things I may have missed. It did it's job and filled my belly for the embarkation marathon ahead of us :eek::D. We decide to take a taxi to the port and terminal 91 to the Golden Princess.

[culvercitycruiser]

I am interested in reading your full review of the voyage.

[cdngrl]

what?! now I have to wait for more? you've whetted my appetite, looking forward to the rest of the review.

[lovelearnteach]

The difference between POS and PE is night and day. We were dropped off right at the entrance by our taxi. We got in line to have our checked bags scanned. They were putting bags with bottles in them to the side in a separate bin. We then had to get in another line to go through carry-on and personal scanners. We then had to get in another line to check-in and get our cruise cards. We then had to get in another line to wait to get into the line outside. We finally got in the line outside which was to get on the ship. We got there about 11a.m. and we finally dropped our carry-on's off in the room about 12:30p.m., give or take 10 min. When we got in the room the beds were together not separate. I tried to call the room steward, but he didn't call back within 5 min. so we headed to the dinning room for lunch. Sorry no pix of lunch I forgot my camera, but it was excellent. I got the prime rib this time instead of my usual dill salmon, a choice that did not disappoint, the prime rib was excellent. We then headed back to our cabin on Dolphin 717, where our cabin steward introduced himself. I told him we wanted the beds separated, I wanted a bed topper, and 2 extra pillows. When I went to get some ice for a glass of ice water, there wasn't very much ice in the ice bucket. I thought oh he'll fill it tonight when he comes to turn down the beds. Teach me to assume, as he did not fill it, so we went the night with no ice, horror of horrors :eek::D.

 

 

We went to the muster station drill, nothing new there. We then went to the sail away party, not very well attended. I had to leave at 4:25p.m. to go talk to the Captains Circle Host, as they had me as a 1st time Princess cruiser. There were already 5 people ahead of me when I got there, so after about an hour wait, everything got straightened out. We poked around the ship for a bit before getting ready for dinner. The dinning times have changed. Late seating used to be 8:15p.m. and is now 7:45p.m.

[lovelearnteach]

I am interested in reading your full review of the voyage.

Thank-you I'm enjoying writing it :).

[lovelearnteach]

what?! now I have to wait for more? you've whetted my appetite, looking forward to the rest of the review.

I'm such a tease :p:D!

[lovelearnteach]

We are at a table of 8 sitting with 3 other random couples. We all seem to click and get along good, so dinner seems it will be pleasant every night. I started with the Frozen Rum-Infused Pina Colada Soup, didn't love it. I then had the Crispy Hand-Rolled Vegetable Spring Rolls, very yummy. For the main course I got the Hawaiian Luau Pork with Apricot Drippings, very good. Finally for dessert I got some kind of chocolate pie, I forgot to get a pic of the dessert menu. It was really yummy though.

[lovelearnteach]

That about wraps up day 2 of our vacation, first day of the cruise. After dinner we just head back to the cabin and watch tv until we fall asleep. We turn the tv to the ships cam channel, which works as a nightlight and a connection to the outside. I can't believe I'm on my way to Alaska for the 1st time in my life. The Golden is the same as the Caribbean Princess in layout, the ship seemed in great condition to me. There did always seem to be one or more elevators out of order every day.

[lovelearnteach]

Today is Mon. May 13th, it's a sea day. We have a CC M&M at 11a.m. in Skywalker's Nightclub today. We get up about 7ish and head down to the dinning room for breakfast. I'm posting the menu, but I didn't take a pic of my breakfast or the other half of the menu as I already have pix of these on previous reviews. I got the Caribbean Sunrise and poached eggs on wheat toast, bacon and hash browns. I also got apple juice which was sickeningly sweet, otherwise breakfast was excellent.

[lovelearnteach]

We head to the promenade and I snap a few pix and just sit and sea watch for a bit. We then go to the Princess Theater for the shopping show. Yes I'm a sucker to win diamond jewelry. We have to leave before he gives out all the prizes, as we have the M&M to get to. The M&M went great although a lot of people did not show. We had the Captain, the Passenger Safety Manager, the Hotel General Manager and a few others of the senior crew attend. You get to talking and you don't get to meet everybody, but we enjoyed meeting everyone we got to meet :).

[cvpends]

Nice review so far, I can't wait to hear more!