Star Princess Review w/ Photos!! 3 Day Pacific Coastal

[flyawayca]

We're going to Alaska on the Star on Friday, and was directed to your review by one of the members on our thread. We're so enjoying it. We are fairly fresh off the Grand, her sister ship, having taken her to Hawaii in February/March. And from your pictures, they're almost exactly the same, except for the Skywalker, which has been removed from the Grand. Love having Princess in San Francisco. Perhaps when the new terminal opens, some other lines will come also. Anyhow, thanks again.

 

My dad will be on the Grand in a couple weeks. He wanted to do an Alaskan cruise (I sure with I could go with him!) I told him to go with Princess and now that I've experienced them myself I think I gave him a good recommendation.

 

I sure hope you are right about the new terminal in San Francisco! I would love some more options in California!

[flyawayca]

Thanks for taking the time to post this. Looking forward to your cabin and overall thoughts on the trip. My DW and I are leaving on the Star on 6/14 for Alaska and I can't wait. A couple of questions if you have the time.

 

1. Where you Anytime Dining or Traditional? If Anytime any issues with the a wait?

2. How was the ride from BC to San Fran?

3. What was your favorite meal?

4. Any tips you would pass along for those sailing soon?

 

Thanks again for taking the time and posting the great pictures.

 

I was anytime dining. This was my first time using this option on any line. We only had a wait on one night and the wait was probably 5 minutes. We usually showed up for dinner around 6-620PM. That might be the reason why, we were kind of in between the main dining times. You do need to be willing to sit with strangers however. A wait for a 2 person table would probably be long.

 

The ride from BC to San Francisco was very smooth. So much less choppy then the ride from LA to BC. I've heard that's usually the way it is (rough going north, smooth going south). I'm sure that depends on the weather as well though.

 

So hard to choose a favorite meal! I do remember really liking one meal. What did they call it.. I'm sure a Princess regular would know. It was a crawfish crockpot. It was like a potpie, but the crust was only on top, it was filled with crawfish, muscles, scallops and more. It was so good. I remember my husband got the NY strip steak one night that was cooked perfectly. Another great thing about Princess... they can actually cook a steak medium rare! And for those who want it, they will even do rare! It's hard to find land based restaurants sometimes willing to do that let alone a cruise ship.

 

I wasn't on the ship long enough to learn any great secrets. I'm going to think about this some and I'll get back to you! Hopefully something from my review helps you :D

[flyawayca]

I really like the Movies Under the stars that Princess does.

 

Other cruise lines also show movies at night under the stars but Princess just takes it one step further. They lay covers over the lounge chairs and provide blankets for you to lay under. They also set up a popcorn stand and pop fresh popcorn throughout the movie. I'm pretty sure I saw cookies or something else there as well.

 

Yes, they show movies at night when it's dark. But they also show some movies during the day as well.

 

I remember seeing them play Gravity, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Dirty Dancing. I'll have to grab my Princess Patters to see what else.

 

 

[IECalCruiser]

...So hard to choose a favorite meal! I do remember really liking one meal. What did they call it.. I'm sure a Princess regular would know. It was a crawfish crockpot. It was like a potpie, but the crust was only on top, it was filled with crawfish, muscles, scallops and more. It was so good. I remember my husband got the NY strip steak one night that was cooked perfectly. Another great thing about Princess... they can actually cook a steak medium rare! And for those who want it, they will even do rare! It's hard to find land based restaurants sometimes willing to do that let alone a cruise ship...

The dish is called Cajun-Spiced Crawfish Crockpot "authentic gulf coast recipe with black mussels, bay scallops, shrimp and tomatoes baked in puff pastry, creole rice".

[flyawayca]

The Skywalkers Lounge was pretty neat. I liked the looks of it, but it was never all that busy when I went there. They played a little bit of everything music-wise I'm sure trying to play something everyone would like. I'm not a party all night person so I was never there in the late night wee morning hours.

 

I liked the people mover they had to get you up there :)

 

 

 

 

[Urban trekker]

Enjoying your photos and review of the three day coastal - I agree with just about everything your mention - including the life jacket question - on NCL you no longer have to bring them to the muster drill.

 

Wasn't the disembarkation and customs in San Francisco a real zoo - only real downer of this trip.

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review and photos.

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

[flyawayca]

The dish is called Cajun-Spiced Crawfish Crockpot "authentic gulf coast recipe with black mussels, bay scallops, shrimp and tomatoes baked in puff pastry, creole rice".

 

Yes, thank you! That was it. It was really good. Oh, and the artichoke spinach dip appetizer is really good too. But they only gave me one baguette slice. I thought that was odd so I just used the bread they set on the table to finish it off :D

[flyawayca]

They had soft serve ice cream available on the Star Princess as well. It's the same soft serve you find on all the other cruise lines only on this ship they serve it to you.

 

I'm sure they like serving it because they can try to control contamination that occurs when people do it themselves. But when they do it they control how much you get. If you like to make big tall cones likes my husband it's not going to happen. But, you can always just go back for a second cone ;) And no bowls available, maybe if you brought them a bowl they would use it.

 

Princess does do milkshakes! Extra price for them though. If you buy a soda package you can increase to a higher cost package which includes milkshakes. I believe the one including milkshakes was $7/day.

 

[flyawayca]

Enjoying your photos and review of the three day coastal - I agree with just about everything your mention - including the life jacket question - on NCL you no longer have to bring them to the muster drill.

 

Wasn't the disembarkation and customs in San Francisco a real zoo - only real downer of this trip.

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review and photos.

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

 

 

It was a zoo! Is this how it usually is in San Francisco?

 

For those who don't know... on this cruise they had customs come aboard the ship. You are given a time to line up to go through customs while you are still on the ship. Then you are given a second time you are to report to your disembark location. Then from that second location you can get off the ship.

 

In my case I was actually lucky. I was in the second group to carry off my own luggage. My scheduled time for customs was 7:05AM. Well, they started late so the line didn't start moving until about 7:20AM. Once it moved it was quick for me through customs.

 

My time to meet in my disembark area (the casino) was 8:35AM.

 

We had an hour between finishing customs and needing to meet in the casino to disembark. At this time we went to the Cafe and ate breakfast there. No lines no problem getting food. We sat there and watched the entirely wayyyy too long line waiting for customs. I felt so bad for everyone dealing with that.

 

At 8:30 we were in the casino and called 5 minutes early to walk off the ship, which we did.

 

An easy fix to this (I think) is to just announce over the system when it is time for your group to get into the customs line. That way nobody is in line until their specific group is able to be seen. You would not believe the amount of people I saw cutting in line (and being allowed to cut with permission from Princess staff!) I'd much rather be waiting for customs doing whatever I wanted wherever on the ship, then standing in the longest line ever.

[tgmg00a]

Thanks you so much for all the information. Looking forward to enjoying the ship as you did. To flywayca question about the new terminal. Pier 27 will be a new terminal in San Francisco and the Crown Princess is scheduled to be the first ship to dock on 9/18/14 followed by the Star Princess on 9/21. Here is photo I took when I visited the current terminal in early April.

[IECalCruiser]

...Princess does do milkshakes! Extra price for them though. If you buy a soda package you can increase to a higher cost package which includes milkshakes. I believe the one including milkshakes was $7/day...

The Ultimate Soda and More Package is $7/day but with the 15% gratuity it works out to $8.05/person/day.

[flyawayca]

Usually we book interior rooms on all of our cruises. We can cruise more often, or purchase better excursions, if we save money this way. But every once in a while price drops after booking help us get upgrades for free. This is one of those cases. After booking an interior room the prices dropped so we were able to get an obstructed view for only $1 more.

 

I've heard bad things about obstructed views from cruisers in the past (not necessarily Princess, just in general) so I was hesitant. But I figured, why not try it? I am happy we got it!

 

The room was really big! I was very impressed with the size. Very impressed. Are they all like this? I think it's the biggest room I have ever been in on a cruise. Much bigger than the balcony room I had on the Allure of the Seas, or any other interior I have had. We don't spend much time in our rooms so I don't really mind the teeny tiny typical cruise rooms, but I have to admit the extra space was really nice.

 

Now for the worst part of this cruise. If it wasn't for this I think the cruise would have been perfect.... Our toilet didn't work!!!! I don't know what was wrong with it. It never worked right. The toilet would not refill with water! And one time (luckily only once) it wouldn't even flush. The whole bathroom smelled because of it. Not sure what was wrong. The cruise was so short so it didn't get fixed for us (partly our fault because we didn't tell them right away). I hope they got it fixed in time for the next cruisers. We just ended up not using it at all. I heard someone else talking on our ship that they were having the same problem as well.

 

I did read here on CC after getting back that a water main broke somewhere. Maybe that had something to do with our toilet problems?

 

Anyway, here are pictures of the room!

 

 

 

 

 

The one thing you don't see in these photos is the "walk-in" closet. It's around the corner from the bed across from the bathroom. It's an open closet and then a row of drawers. It almost makes the room feel like 2 rooms plus bath.

 

The only negative to the room (assuming your toilet will work) is the shower curtain. I'd much rather have a sliding door.

[flyawayca]

Thanks you so much for all the information. Looking forward to enjoying the ship as you did. To flywayca question about the new terminal. Pier 27 will be a new terminal in San Francisco and the Crown Princess is scheduled to be the first ship to dock on 9/18/14 followed by the Star Princess on 9/21. Here is photo I took when I visited the current terminal in early April.

 

Thanks! I think I'm going to try and take advantage of more cruises in and out of SF :D

[IECalCruiser]

It was a zoo! Is this how it usually is in San Francisco?

 

For those who don't know... on this cruise they had customs come aboard the ship. You are given a time to line up to go through customs while you are still on the ship. Then you are given a second time you are to report to your disembark location. Then from that second location you can get off the ship.

 

In my case I was actually lucky. I was in the second group to carry off my own luggage. My scheduled time for customs was 7:05AM. Well, they started late so the line didn't start moving until about 7:20AM. Once it moved it was quick for me through customs.

 

My time to meet in my disembark area (the casino) was 8:35AM.

 

We had an hour between finishing customs and needing to meet in the casino to disembark. At this time we went to the Cafe and ate breakfast there. No lines no problem getting food. We sat there and watched the entirely wayyyy too long line waiting for customs. I felt so bad for everyone dealing with that.

 

At 8:30 we were in the casino and called 5 minutes early to walk off the ship, which we did.

 

An easy fix to this (I think) is to just announce over the system when it is time for your group to get into the customs line. That way nobody is in line until their specific group is able to be seen. You would not believe the amount of people I saw cutting in line (and being allowed to cut with permission from Princess staff!) I'd much rather be waiting for customs doing whatever I wanted wherever on the ship, then standing in the longest line ever.

We had very different experience on the Grand in March. Our cruise was a closed loop from San Francisco so that might have made the difference. Our cruise stopped at four Mexican port. On the way back we filled out the customs form and turned them in. Only non U.S. passport holders needed to meet with Customs on board. We were traveling with friends that needed help with their luggage so we put some bags outside the night before. When our disembarkation group was called, we walked off, picked up our checked bags and were on our way. It was the easiest disembarkation ever :)

[flyawayca]

In Victoria we did the Butchart Gardens and Butterfly Gardens excursion.

 

Our NCL cruise stopped in Victoria as well. On that one we were there from 10am - 6pm so we decided to walk around and see the town. Those pictures can be seen in my NCL review.

 

On this cruise it was 7am - 2pm so we decided we would do a cruise ship excursion so I wouldn't have to think. Haha. We will do private tours and cruise ships tours, but this time around cruise ship tour it was. Also, just for those price checkers out there... we were able to do the Butterfly Garden AND Butchart for the same price as Butchart alone cost on NCL.

 

I do think both are worth going to at least once. At the Butterfly Garden you got to walk around and see the butterflies, birds, turtles, koi, and more. Really neat experience.

 

At Butchart it was so beautiful. I do think we went at the worst time of year though. Many of the tulips had already been cut and the roses were not in bloom. I'm sure when they are it would look amazing in the rose garden, for us it was only green. The garden really is beautiful though and worth a trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 20, 2014 by flyawayca

[flyawayca]

We had very different experience on the Grand in March. Our cruise was a closed loop from San Francisco so that might have made the difference. Our cruise stopped at four Mexican port. On the way back we filled out the customs form and turned them in. Only non U.S. passport holders needed to meet with Customs on board. We were traveling with friends that needed help with their luggage so we put some bags outside the night before. When our disembarkation group was called, we walked off, picked up our checked bags and were on our way. It was the easiest disembarkation ever :)

 

Oh good. Hopefully that's the normal then. It probably was because weren't on a closed loop :)

[#1Nanna]

Very nice review! I am enjoying the pictures from around the ship. We are booked on the Star in Jan. & your review is building my excitement. What was your cabin number? It does look roomier....

[flyawayca]

 

 

 

 

 

[flyawayca]

Very nice review! I am enjoying the pictures from around the ship. We are booked on the Star in Jan. & your review is building my excitement. What was your cabin number? It does look roomier....

 

We were in cabin E315 :)

[lovevacadays]

Thank you for your great review and pictures. I loved reading your thread. I have a cruise booked next year that goes to Victoria and ends in Vancouver. Your thread has made me excited for my cruise.

 

 

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[Bubba54]

Glad you enjoyed the cruise, we will be on the star in August for Alaska. Looking forward to it. Great review thanks!

 

 

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[flyawayca]

I think you have most my around the ship pictures. If anyone wants to see anything specific just let me know and I will see if I have a picture :D

 

Overall I really enjoyed this cruise. If you made me pick, I would have to say Princess is probably now my favorite line. HOWEVER Princess costs more to sail on than Carnival, NCL, and RCCL. If I could afford it I would love to stick with Princess, but that probably isn't in the cards for me. Will I return? Absolutely! But I'll be on the other lines as well.

 

Next year my family is planning a big family cruise. My grandma wants to do New England so that's what she will get. Carnival costs around $460, NCL around $550. I looked up Princess because I know my family would love it... $899. Wow, but again that's also for the brand new Regal Princess. Hmm... maybe I could talk them into it ;):D

 

I liked the entertainment on board. We had comedian Steve White who was great. I wasn't a huge fan of the mentalist/illusionist but I'm just not into that type of stuff. The main staff entertainment you found around the ship was great. I loved that game where you couldn't say yes or no. Too funny.

 

I met some great people on this ship and look forward to my next :D

 

Oh, one last thing since it was brought up on my NCL review. Why is there no hot chocolate Princess? I want hot chocolate! Especially on cold weather cruises! Other then that, food was excellent!

[peacelovemickey]

AWESOME review! Love the pics!!!!

[trbarton]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good review. On both my PC and I pad none of your photos show up. I wonder why? Perhaps someone else will know.

 

Tom

[cruisequeen4ever]

Princess offers hot chocolate on Alaska cruises.

 

 

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