Tribute to Golden Princess (2001-2020): A Look Back and a Gathering of Memories

[63 Super Sport]

The Golden is a wonderful ship. Many thanks for posting ....memories. Brought a smile to my face.

We cruised on the Golden last year to Alaska. A great trip.

[CCFC]

I would have thought the Grand would go before the Golden

[caribill]

9 hours ago, CCFC said:

I would have thought the Grand would go before the Golden

 

The Grand may have been (who knows?) the one Princess wanted to leave the fleet, but I would expect that the acquiring company (even another subsidiary of CCL Corp as it is in this case) preferred to receive a newer ship of that size, one with a passenger accessible center staircase and with more closet space in most cabins.

[Woobstr112G]

 

We had the pleasure of sailing on the Golden for our first Hawaii cruise (2011).  It was a great cruise.  We also did a 3 day getaway cruise to Ensenada in 2013.  I'll miss her.....

 

Bob

[pathi]

Our 1st Alaska cruise was on the Golden. The magic started with a free upgrade to a full suite, Had a very nice run in the casino. Including winning an Ipad and 500$ from the stupid Key Machine. We had most of the family with us and had perfect weather the whole cruise. Lots of good memories.

 

Fair Winds and Following seas Golden. 🙂

 

[jeeper2]

Thank you so much for this tribute.  After four cruises on this wonderful ship, starting with Hawaii in 2010, I was so looking forward to being on her again on May 30th.  I’m so sorry that I will not have the opportunity to wish her a Bon Voyage before she leaves the fleet...😔

 

[P&R cruising]

We had the pleasure of sailing on the Golden during the inaugural season.  Our cruise, started in July 2001 in Istanbul and ended  in Barcelona.  It was amazing at that time to be on such a large new ship and enjoyed our explorations of Turkey, Greece, Italy, Monte Carlo, France and Spain.

 

We were amazed at the piano player in Crooners, Mauricio.  We had experienced him again on a couple of other cruises before his retirement.  Here are a couple of pictures of our memories.

[Tedferg]

Our first cruise was on the Grand to Alaska in 2007, next cruise was 2012 and each year thereafter.

[By The Bay]

We first cruised on the Golden from Sydney to Fiji in October 2015. We are booked on her again in October 2021, when she becomes Pacific Adventure and does what P&O call, the "Mutiny on the Bounty" cruise to waters near Tonga where the Mutiny took place. Here is a photo of her at Circular Quay in Sydney.

 

[Tedferg]

2 hours ago, Tedferg said:

Our first cruise was on the Grand to Alaska in 2007, next cruise was 2012 and each year thereafter.

Fat finger - our first cruse was on Golden 2007 then Grand in 2012 and Princess each year after.

[cr8tiv1]

 

My memories:  Golden Princess to Hawaii (Window Suite) with Aloha Towers.  

Multiple 3-4 day cruises when she first home ported at San Pedro and Princess could not give away the cruises.  Offered a promotion that you could not refuse:  Every cruise fare would be 100% returned on a 7 day or longer cruise.  

 

Oh, how I will miss her.

Edited April 18, 2020 by cr8tiv1

[nini]

We LOVE the Golden! In October 2003, this was our first Princess cruise and

we loved this ship. There were so many wonderful things we loved about her, and loved

Skywalker's! We knew that Princess would be in our future of sailings. 

Our first cruise had been on an older Celebrity ship and the Golden was far superior

in many ways.

[KYBOB]

Here is the Golden in March 2003. I remember this cruise well in that was the first time that instead of using film I used a digital  camera to take our trip photos. 

[Papa Yoda]

Golden in Ketchikan, our first Alaska cruise 9/2014 - Glacier Bay

 

Also our first Chef's Table - Executive Chef Dirk - wow wow wow

 

 

This was a "free" cruise due to 100% FCC for a Coastal previous February.  We did 2 more cruises on Golden, one in a Premium Suite on Sun Deck - loved the cabin and the area, and an Upsell to Owner's Suite aft both were 3 dayers to Ensenada.

 

 

[getting older slowly]

What a great lot of Photo all with great memories....

 

We had lots of thing happen on the Golden   Rough Seas, missed ports, a small fire... even a man overboard ( luckily a false alarm )....  but have always enjoyed our cruises

 

Now for more pictures taken early in the morning on a sea day.

 

Cheers Don

[Coolmama_1]

On 4/16/2020 at 12:08 PM, DJVKN said:

We were introduced to cruising in 2004 with our very first cruise being a 7 night Caribbean cruise on the Golden Princess. We fell in love with cruising and with Princess. 

 

 

That was our first cruise too! Such fond memories and a great time. 

[Tak8]

My first Princess cruise was on The Golden Princess.  I was upgraded to an aft suite.  A great first experience.  I really liked the layout of the ship.  I found it easy to navigate and a perfect size.  

[FormerPrincessCrew]

The Golden was my very first ship as a crew member in 2003.  I did a few weeks in the Caribbean before heading the the Med for the summer and ended that contract with crossing back to North American and doing 3 Canada/New England cruises. So many memories, including meeting my husband aboard (we both worked for the entertainment department). This is the view of the Golden from the Casino in Monte Carlo, sometime in either late July or early August 2003.

 

 

Edited April 27, 2020 by FormerPrincessCrew
grammer

[BarbinMich]

Our second Princess cruise was on the Golden P (early 2002 in Caribbean), the first on that design.  Our first had been on the Dawn in 2000. Plus 13 other Princess cruises after 2002.  We started our cruising on a competing line in 1994.  While we did many cruises on that line, Princess became our "go-to" choice.

Edited April 27, 2020 by BarbinMich

[generichandle]

And we never got the chance!

 

We were scheduled 29-days Vancouver to Singapore via Japan. Her supposed final voyage before joining P&O Australia. 

Canceled. Was tragic for us. But I hope our Aussie friends will get years of joy from her. Thanks for the retrospective.

[TorontoTL]

Our second cruise ever and first on Princess was on the lovely Golden Princess.  We sailed for 7 days in the Eastern Caribbean Nov 2003.  This ship and its crew made us fall in love with Princess and we have since sailed on her numerous times.  She will be missed.

Edited April 28, 2020 by TorontoTL

[AF-1]

Have never sailed Golden;  but sure appreciate those who have posted pics of their ship and their cruise.  Thanks OP for starting this thread.  I'm enjoying it.  Happy Tuesday. 

[40yearcruiser]

Thanks for the looks back at the Golden. We were supposed to be on her right now on the Trans-Pacific from Sydney to LA. We had been planning this cruise for over a year so are very disappointed not to get the opportunity to cruise on the Golden. We have been on the Star, which has the same design as the Golden, and most of the other ships in the Grand class. That is our favorite class of Princess ships. Can't wait to get back on a Princess ship--hope it is safe to travel soon!

[CruisinChris]

Thanks for posting the link to my video from the 2002 Transatlantic!  It was a fantastic cruise and so many memories.  So sad watching so many of the ships linked to the first decade of cruising with Princess move on to P&O.  It's hard watching the industry right now.  Even harder to imagine what it will all be like in the future.  Sigh.

[AF-1]

6 hours ago, 40yearcruiser said:

Thanks for the looks back at the Golden. We were supposed to be on her right now on the Trans-Pacific from Sydney to LA. We had been planning this cruise for over a year so are very disappointed not to get the opportunity to cruise on the Golden. We have been on the Star, which has the same design as the Golden, and most of the other ships in the Grand class. That is our favorite class of Princess ships. Can't wait to get back on a Princess ship--hope it is safe to travel soon!

How many days was this trip