Just off Golden Princess/Glacier Bay 070115

[msk1]

We just returned from a great sailing on Golden Princess from SF to Alaska through Glacier Bay. A few observations:

 

Traffic personnel directing vehicles need to keep traffic moving as does airport security. The bottlenecks at both drop off and pick up could have been easily avoided if inconsiderate drivers did not "park" at curbside. Drop off means exactly that.

 

Porters were excellent, friendly and helpful. A few kind words does wonders!

 

Very efficient check in. We were in our cabin by 1230PM. Bags were delivered shortly thereafter.

 

A HUGE improvement with Golden Princess is the new mattresses! This is impossible to overstate and hopefully will be replicated fleetwide.

 

Modifications to the Horizon Court, notably separating the dessert areas from the food lines--similar to the Star--really creates a more efficient traffic pattern.

 

Overall excellent service throughout our voyage. Particular kudos to one of the service men in the gym area who turned in my Samsung tablet left on an ellipse (distracted by trying to hurry back to cabin to catch Serena and Wimbledon) to the Lost and Found. He was appropriately compensated!

 

The Future Cruise Consultant was well prepared and most helpful. She was able to secure our next three bookings most efficiently.

 

A few items which will be directed to the Customer Relations office tomorrow:

 

This particular trip was booked with the 3-2-1 special which afforded an OBC of $50 for Specialty Dining. Our TA also provided us with an additional $50 OBC to be used at our discretion. Princess misapplied the credit giving us two Specialty Dining credits and initially refused to make the adjustment. A call to our TA who called Customer Relations the next morning did the trick.

 

When we did use the Princess-created reservation for our Specialty Dining on the final night of the trip we were told-- after dinner-- that the voucher must be presented for the credit to be applied. Just prior to leaving for dinner we had packed and tidied up our cabin, placing a volume of collected papers in the trash. Yes, the voucher had found its way to the silver cylinder! Well, our ever efficient cabin steward had cleaned ALL of the rooms in our section during the 90 minutes we dined. So, out came the rubber gloves as we all dug through the large brown trash bags to find the errant voucher. Voila! Back to passenger services with voucher in hand (sans gloves) to meet the previously NEVER required policy of voucher for credit applied. We were told it would be "taken care of." When we checked our summary the next morning at 0600 it had not been done. Back to Passenger Services! One HOUR to resolve this.

 

These two examples of Princess' unyielding efforts towards accommodation did not earn points. The Passenger Services personnel were stellar in their efforts but attempting to hold the Company line didn't sit well with us and many others we observed during wait times.

 

I had occasion to ask the Lotus Spa manager if there was a handicapped access/wheelchair shower available. I was shocked to be told that there was not. Is this not a Federal regulation or is this a moot point because of the Bermuda registry?

 

Princess is our line of choice. As Carnival shareholders we are looking forward to our next adventure. Another great holiday with family and friends!

 

msk1

Edited July 13, 2015 by msk1
addition

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for your comments. :)

 

When at the desk and I hear the comment "we will take care it" that is a red flag that I need to stay there and watch them do it. Especially if its the last night. I would hate trying to deal with this when I was disembarking. :(

 

 

Yes its a moot point.

[Kauai Kid]

Thanks for the post. You said the mattresses were very good. Harder or softer? I prefer very soft. We're on the Golden 8/10, Alaska.

Thanks in advance,

Mark.

[jrobinso]

Thank you for posting. We board in 8 days.

[msk1]

Thanks for the post. You said the mattresses were very good. Harder or softer? I prefer very soft. We're on the Golden 8/10, Alaska.

Thanks in advance,

Mark.

 

Hi Mark,

As the mattresses used to be brick-like I'd have to say softer ;-). They really were a "dream."

 

msk1

[Kauai Kid]

I'm looking forward to trying it out myself self.

Thanks for your quick reply.

Mark

[Arizona-Cruising]

I'm looking forward to trying it out myself self.

Thanks for your quick reply.

Mark

 

I have to admit the beds were much softer or at least comfortable specially a 10 day and we did not have sore backs. :)

[getaway101]

Did you have the new tv system in the cabin like Regal and Royal? The "on demand" system?

[meh56]

We are sailing on the Golden at the end of the month. Can you tell me what time you disembarked? I need to make a reservation for private car service to SFO and not sure what time I should tell them. We are not in a rush to disembark but I am not sure how late Princess will allow you to stay onboard. Can anyone advise me?

[Keith1010]

Thanks for your comments.

 

Keith

[msk1]

Did you have the new tv system in the cabin like Regal and Royal? The "on demand" system?

 

No sign of an "improved" system. Many glitches in reception as well.

 

msk1

[msk1]

We are sailing on the Golden at the end of the month. Can you tell me what time you disembarked? I need to make a reservation for private car service to SFO and not sure what time I should tell them. We are not in a rush to disembark but I am not sure how late Princess will allow you to stay onboard. Can anyone advise me?

 

We departed the ship at 0845. The disembarking was very organized. We were in line with a couple waiting for their private car service which was scheduled for 0930. Their driver called to confirm as he was in the wait lot.

 

msk1

[AF-1]

Can you post comments about your shore excursions?

[msk1]

Can you post comments about your shore excursions?

We used Princess excursions this year. In Juneau we did #330A which was a 3 part adventure. We started at the salmon hatchery, then to Glacier Gardens, then to Mendenhall Glacier. This began @245PM and went until 700PM. The weather was great and the tour guide very informative and fun! Good value for a decent price. In Victoria we also used Princess because the alternate company which we had researched (for siginificantly less $) could/would not guarantee we'd be back in time for the ship's departure ("It'll be close" we were told). This is a short visit in Victoria. That said we did #330 which was the Butchart Gardens and the Butterfly Garden. We weren't too sure about the Butterfly Garden initially but it turned out to be very enjoyable. This was also a good value. There was not enough time for this stop but it was well used. A family from our bus did not heed the driver's admonition to return in a timely manner and was left to find their own way back to the ship!

On a past trip we rented a car in Skagway and drove to Emerald Lake. The roadway follows the route of the train and one is able to stop at leisure. Avis also has carseats available with reservation. This was a very doable and enjoyable excursion on our own. Don't forget your passport as you pass across to the Yukon.

 

msk1

[AF-1]

Thanks for the info..

[BratDet]

ours was 10:25 AM...but due to lower customs agents being available- we cleared customs around 11 AM...

 

We were blue 3 out of 5 blues on the 7/1/15 sailing...almost the last off the ship...

 

We went to the platinum/elite lounge (dining room) rather than the assigned casino for more comfortable seating and no possible cigarette smells.

 

We took an easily obtained taxi from Pier 27 to my brothers home in SF.

 

Mattresses were absolutely fine, BUT our pillows were too full for my liking and my neck...

my husband liked them fine...

 

TVS were NOT the on demand type....but we survived hahahaha

 

Had fabulous warm and clear weather considering in EVERY port- not one drop of rain!!!

till I got home yesterday!

 

 

Bernadette

Edited July 16, 2015 by BratDet
type-o