Live from the Golden--YVC to SFO

[PunkiC]

Live from the Golden – YVC to SFO

 

We hadn’t sailed on the Golden for a while and were surprised at some of the changes we found—for better or worse.

 

1. Fancy new bathrobes, very similar to those on Cunard. Definitely for the better.

 

2. Happy Hours in the afternoon and after dinner. Two-for-one drinks really bring out the crowds and people really seemed to enjoy this. Every seat in The Wheelhouse was filled. Definitely a winner.

 

3. New furniture in the Horizon. Very modern and I don’t like it.

 

4. Tap lessons in the afternoon. It’s fun.

 

 

5. Service in the dining room was very slow and inattentive. Definitely for the worse.

 

6. All-day “ Loveboat” episodes. Many that we had never seen before. Love them.

 

Embarkation was the kind of nightmare that usually happens every spring in YVC when they first board three ships at one time—somewhere in the three hour range at its worst.

 

There were a few glitches for us personally.

 

When we arrived at our cabin, we found that we were missing two little liquor bottles from our mini-bar set up. When we called Room Service the Manager assured us that he himself had packed up the mini-bar set-ups and they all had 8 bottles. I told him I was confident that he was right, so someone must have stolen two bottle on the way to our room. They replaced them.

 

Our shower curtain was moldy and they replaced it promptly. The drain plug in our sink didn’t work so we called and asked that it be repaired to simplify washing out my lingerie. It was never fixed. One of the tracks on our dresser doors was broken, but my husband fixed it, so we didn’t need to call.

 

Phoenix Rising, which is our very favorite ship band, was on board. We very much enjoyed seeing Joey and the boys and dancing to their wonderful music. This definitely makes us wish the cruise was longer.

 

The turbot was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. One of the best ship meals I have ever had.

 

I am probably forgetting some important stuff, but I can add it later when I remember.

[Colo Cruiser]

Bon Voyage! How great that Phoenix Rising is onboard! :D

Someone on another ship reported that chocolate covered strawberries are no longer offered on the door hang card on formal night? Maybe you can see if that's the case on the Golden. Not that I need more chocolate. :rolleyes:

 

You should give them a bill for your carpentry services. :p

 

Enjoy!

[RickEk]

Live from the Golden – YVC to SFO

 

We hadn’t sailed on the Golden for a while and were surprised at some of the changes we found—for better or worse.

 

1. Fancy new bathrobes, very similar to those on Cunard. Definitely for the better.

 

2. Happy Hours in the afternoon and after dinner. Two-for-one drinks really bring out the crowds and people really seemed to enjoy this. Every seat in The Wheelhouse was filled. Definitely a winner.

 

3. New furniture in the Horizon. Very modern and I don’t like it.

 

4. Tap lessons in the afternoon. It’s fun.

 

 

5. Service in the dining room was very slow and inattentive. Definitely for the worse.

 

6. All-day “ Loveboat” episodes. Many that we had never seen before. Love them.

 

Embarkation was the kind of nightmare that usually happens every spring in YVC when they first board three ships at one time—somewhere in the three hour range at its worst.

 

There were a few glitches for us personally.

 

When we arrived at our cabin, we found that we were missing two little liquor bottles from our mini-bar set up. When we called Room Service the Manager assured us that he himself had packed up the mini-bar set-ups and they all had 8 bottles. I told him I was confident that he was right, so someone must have stolen two bottle on the way to our room. They replaced them.

 

Our shower curtain was moldy and they replaced it promptly. The drain plug in our sink didn’t work so we called and asked that it be repaired to simplify washing out my lingerie. It was never fixed. One of the tracks on our dresser doors was broken, but my husband fixed it, so we didn’t need to call.

 

Phoenix Rising, which is our very favorite ship band, was on board. We very much enjoyed seeing Joey and the boys and dancing to their wonderful music. This definitely makes us wish the cruise was longer.

 

The turbot was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. One of the best ship meals I have ever had.

 

I am probably forgetting some important stuff, but I can add it later when I remember.

 

I'm going to be aboard in August. Did they add the dessert stations to the Horizon Court? Video-on-Demand? Princess Messenger? Thanks for any observations on those subjects.

[meh56]

what cabin were you in? thinking of traveling in Aug. and would like to avoid that cabin.

[Nodales]

By YVC do you mean YVR (Vancouver)?

[cr8tiv1]

Please ask Joey what the next 6 months look like for him. How much will I need to bribe him to jump ship (to the Crown) in October.

 

And please, let chocolate strawberries be on the formal night request form. What good is elite if they take away that perk.

[caribill]

And please, let chocolate strawberries be on the formal night request form. What good is elite if they take away that perk.

 

No formal night on a 3 day cruise.

[cr8tiv1]

No formal night on a 3 day cruise.

 

My error. Got side tracked with Phoenix Rising. I "knew" it was the Golden on a repositioning / Daaaa it's in the thread title. Was thinking 7 day cruise.

 

Senior moment.

[cruisequeen4ever]

On the suite benefits list, it now says something like "chocolate covered strawberries or boxes of chocolate".

[cr8tiv1]

That's interesting. On my February cruise to Hawaii (in a suite), our cabin steward suggested ordering the chocolate strawberries early on...since the quality and quantity would diminish toward the end of the sea days (until we reached Hawaii to pick up more for the trip back).

 

Coming from the islands, "our" fruit availability and quality are not the best. The strawberries were very much smaller.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[PunkiC]

Yes, I meant YVR. Sorry.

 

Yes, they have a dessert station in the Horizon Court, but I don't like sweets, so I didn't pay much attention.

 

Yes, they do have the Princess at Sea messenger service. It is especially helpful for checking your account balance, but I still noticed a lot of people printing their account balance, both AT&T he kiosk and at the Purser's desk.

 

One thing I don't like about the messenger service is that it doesn't make a sound to notify you of messages.

[caribill]

 

One thing I don't like about the messenger service is that it doesn't make a sound to notify you of messages.

 

And that is the feature that everyone not using the messenger service likes.

[Thrak]

 

One thing I don't like about the messenger service is that it doesn't make a sound to notify you of messages.

 

If you download and install the Princess Messenger app to your device it is supposed to provide push notifications. I don't know if it makes a sound but a vibration should be plenty and less intrusive for other passengers.

[pablo222]

One thing I don't like about the messenger service is that it doesn't make a sound to notify you of messages.

 

It seems to me it would be better if the app provided the alert,

and then the user could set them as they with on their phone.

 

I don't think most people would be happy with text messaging

on land if they had to constantly check their phone to see if anything

had happened.

 

For me, vibration and a notification LED is nice.

 

I also understand that some crew internet is being sold by the megabyte, rather than

by the minute. This allows you to leave your phone on for notifications, without incurring

a minute charge.

 

It would be nice if this eventually comes to passengers.

Edited May 12, 2015 by pablo222

[caribill]

I also understand that some crew internet is being sold by the megabyte, rather than by the minute. This allows you to leave your phone on for notifications, without incurring a minute charge.

 

It would be nice if this eventually comes to passengers.

 

Princess@Sea and the messenger feature have no charges whatsoever for passengers.

[trbarton]

Do I have to be on a Princess ship to load the app?

 

Tom😎

[sonomaphil]

Just off the Golden today. Yes, the Horizon court looks good, done in grey and white washed. New tables, carpet, the works. Most public areas seem to have new carpet.

 

Really couldn't see anything done in the cabins, except it looked like new telephones. Normal wear and tear in our cabin, C743, last balcony cabin before fully aft. No idea what the other posters means about any sewage smell nor were we told to use a public bathroom. We smelled nothing and had no issues.

 

Picky issue that is on all Princess ships. The map channel, that's what we call it, comes in very blurry on the flat screen TV's. I believe the software is the same as on our first cruise 9 years ago but needs to be updated to HD or something.

 

We had a great time hanging in Vines for the trip. If you are on board go see Juan and Cynthia. Lots of fun. We purchased the all you can drink package for $49 per person per day. Princess may have lost money on us that first evening. :o

 

Our disembarkation was at 10:AM and we left the ship at 10:05. Love the new SF terminal.

 

The new boarding procedure in Vancouver was weird at first but went smoothly. No more lines that wrap for miles, you go inside a big conference room in the Pan Pacific hotel to wait sitting down. We arrived about 11:45 AM and it took about 15 minutes in line to reach the conference room where you were given a number and then wait to be called. From there we waited about an hour and 10 minutes to be sent down three flights of stairs to do security and check in. The stairs are where the flaw occurs. Given the average ago of cruisers to Alaska, I see a law suit waiting to happen.

[RickEk]

Do I have to be on a Princess ship to load the app?

 

Tom

 

No, it's available in the iTunes App store and Google Play.

[crochetcruise]

Just off the Golden today. Yes, the Horizon court looks good, done in grey and white washed. New tables, carpet, the works. Most public areas seem to have new carpet.

 

Really couldn't see anything done in the cabins, except it looked like new telephones. Normal wear and tear in our cabin, C743, last balcony cabin before fully aft. No idea what the other posters means about any sewage smell nor were we told to use a public bathroom. We smelled nothing and had no issues.

 

Picky issue that is on all Princess ships. The map channel, that's what we call it, comes in very blurry on the flat screen TV's. I believe the software is the same as on our first cruise 9 years ago but needs to be updated to HD or something.

 

We had a great time hanging in Vines for the trip. If you are on board go see Juan and Cynthia. Lots of fun. We purchased the all you can drink package for $49 per person per day. Princess may have lost money on us that first evening. :o

 

Our disembarkation was at 10:AM and we left the ship at 10:05. Love the new SF terminal.

 

The new boarding procedure in Vancouver was weird at first but went smoothly. No more lines that wrap for miles, you go inside a big conference room in the Pan Pacific hotel to wait sitting down. We arrived about 11:45 AM and it took about 15 minutes in line to reach the conference room where you were given a number and then wait to be called. From there we waited about an hour and 10 minutes to be sent down three flights of stairs to do security and check in. The stairs are where the flaw occurs. Given the average ago of cruisers to Alaska, I see a law suit waiting to happen.

 

No lift access for Disabled passengers? Considering US requirements, I'm surprised, and, should I ever win Lotto and be able to come cruise Alaska, would limit my choice of "safe" embarkation points! Got a book from the library on the Inside Passage, OOOOH!!!

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

[Theodorable]

No lift access for Disabled passengers? Considering US requirements, I'm surprised, and, should I ever win Lotto and be able to come cruise Alaska, would limit my choice of "safe" embarkation points! Got a book from the library on the Inside Passage, OOOOH!!!

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

 

There is a direct elevator from the Pan Pacific hotel right into the cruise terminal. There is absolutely no problem should you need this option.

[Colo Cruiser]

There is a direct elevator from the Pan Pacific hotel right into the cruise terminal. There is absolutely no problem should you need this option.

 

Love that hotel!!! Right down to the ship! :D

[crochetcruise]

There is a direct elevator from the Pan Pacific hotel right into the cruise terminal. There is absolutely no problem should you need this option.

 

THANK YOU Theodorable, I've JUST realised Vancouver is in Canada-always was useless at geography, but that's my best howler yet! Your recommendation is noted down for the delightful time I'll be having should I ever win Lotto!

 

I do have a friend who's a qualified Carer, so would be able to travel safely. We both want to see Polar Bears, at a distance from the ship would be good enough for me with my mobility issues, but I'd be delighted if she could get closer with a camera. Told her we'd be sailing on a ship that has a Disabled Accessible Suite and she's also going to be booked into the Suite beside me, both travelling solo, and enjoying the spoiling!

 

Dreams are great fun, and DO come true-I never thought I'd ever be able to cruise, well here I am, excitedly planning a 3 night cruise Sydney-Melbourne in November 2016. My original choice of a 2 night leaving from Melbourne was cancelled, BUT I managed to find this cruise with a saving of $35 and with On Board Credit from Princess Cruises already have a good start on my "Cocktail Fund." There's no Alcohol Package available in Australia that I'm aware of, so costing and saving's my best option. Yes, thanks to another thread here on Cruise Critic I'm aware I can send myself On Board Credit including Internet, Casino and Photograph Credit.

 

I've eagerly read other cruisers' descriptions of their travels, taking notes on what they've included in their descriptions so hopefully I can help another person or two with my descriptions.

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

[caribill]

 

I do have a friend who's a qualified Carer, so would be able to travel safely. We both want to see Polar Bears, at a distance from the ship would be good enough for me with my mobility issues, but I'd be delighted if she could get closer with a camera.

 

You will not see polar bears.

 

Maybe brown bears, but not polar bears.

[crochetcruise]

You will not see polar bears.

 

Maybe brown bears, but not polar bears.

 

Thanks Caribill, I do get confused easily with so much information. :confused:

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

[pennst8r]

Please ask Joey what the next 6 months look like for him. How much will I need to bribe him to jump ship (to the Crown) in October.

 

And please, let chocolate strawberries be on the formal night request form. What good is elite if they take away that perk.

 

I was on the Royal last month and I missed having those chocolate-covered strawberries on formal nights...very disappointed they weren't on the Elite hors d' oeuvres card either night. I had the strawberries in December on the Regal; so they disappeared in that four-month span.

 

I had to "settle" ;) for three shrimp apps and the prosciutto I took off of the little breadsticks. (Anyone who has had the latter, knows how soggy the breadsticks get between the time the appetizers are made and when they're delivered.) :D