What do you want to know about Grand Princess? Cruise Critic onboard July 13th-20th

[kelly@]

I just wanted to add a short post while I am in transit to the U.K. We have had a great time onboard Grand Princess -- ok, so it's not the newest or flashiest ship at sea, but it still has the big ship facilities with an understated elegance and a relaxed vibe. I really don't think there are many areas that are in need of major work, the only public area that I think could do with a bit of a makeover is Skywalkers -- it is a fantastic venue (with those superb views!) on the ship and it just needs a bit of modernisation. Hopefully this will be addressed during the wet dock in December.

There has been a lot of talk on this thread about the attitude of staff. Well maybe we have just been lucky, but every member of crew we have spoken to has been nothing but friendly and professional. My travelling companion even said it makes you see that good service still exists! I hope that if you travel on Grand Princess you will encounter the same attitudes that we have.

Lastly, the destination -- Norway's fjords. Some mornings, afternoons and evenings it was hard to leave the balcony as the view was so amazing. A lot of people on our cruise have been to Alaska and decided to try an alternative. Having never been there myself, I am guessing there are many similarities in the scenery and climate. Ports that have really blown me away were Geiranger, with its picture-perfect fjord and Honninsvag with its quaint fishing villages. We really got to see what life in northernmost Norway is like.

I have seen there are a few more questions and I will of course reply to these when home. Thanks for reading!

[aclay]

Thanks for all your excellent reports. Have a safe journey home.

Cheers

A

[vickie_bernie]

Thanx so much, Kelly, for all your information. We will be sailing on the Grand mid January and were wondering what is the best way to attempt to schedule a reservation for the Chef's Table. Also, how frequently do they offer it on a 14 day sailing? Thank you for any info you can provide on this subject.

 

I can answer this, we did the Chef's table on two of our sailings on the Emerald last Jan.

 

You can only book when you board the ship. Check the Patters as there will be a reservation number to call.

 

 

Definately worth doing -- we loved it so much and look forward to doing it again when we do b2b on Grand in January

[vickie_bernie]

I finally found the link with the review of the Chef's Table that answer pretty much every question you might have about the Chef's Table. Hope it helps.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=712055

[aclay]

I finally found the link with the review of the Chef's Table that answer pretty much every question you might have about the Chef's Table. Hope it helps.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=712055

 

Excellent review - thanks Vickie - we will try and book it this week on the Grand:)

[kelly@]

Hi, Kelly! Great job. I've really enjoyed your posts this week. My husband and I will be sailing on the Grand on August 30 from Southampton to Rome. We're trying to pack as lightly as possible but we don't want to look/feel out of place. How are your fellow passengers dressing in the evenings? Are most "dressing up" for the formal nights? Thanks in advance for your help. Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

 

Hi,

We were actually only onboard for one formal night (it was the second night of our trip) and most ladies were in cocktail dresses or smart skirts and tops. For the men, there was more of a mix -- tuxedos and dinner suits with a tie.

For the rest of the trip, evenings were "smart" in the main restaurant but due to the fact we were in Norway most people were wrapped up warm rather than dressed in their summer frocks! I wore trousers or long skirts most evenings.

I expect on your Mediterranean cruise, people may wear their summer attire as the weather will be warmer. Enjoy!

[kelly@]

thanks for all the updates Kelly - it has been really informative.

 

just a couple more questions:

 

how warm is the ship generally in public areas - does it have that icy air conditioned feel or is it ok?

 

have you used the gym facilities - what are they like?

 

what is skywalkers nighclub like? what kind of music do they play?

 

how can i get a job like yours? must be great!

 

Hi, hope the answers are what you need --

The ship itself was actually fairly warm considering the outside temperature wasn't that hot! Lol! The only time I ever felt a bit chilly in any of the public areas was in Skywalkers, but this definitely wasn't a big issue. In the cabins you can control your own AC on the wall. To be honest, we didn't really touch ours.

 

The gym -- It was well-equipped with the usual running machines, cross-trainers, free weights etc... There is also an exercise room where free daily classes take place. These included Fab Abs, Aerobics and Total Body Conditioning. There was also Yoga, Pilates and Group Cycling which you pay $10 per session.

I found the gym quite busy and ended up only using it once. If you like to run, try the track on Deck 15 (above the spa/gym). I found running around this every day a lot more enjoyable. Ten laps equals one mile.

 

Skywalkers -- we ventured up here twice. My travelling companion is a massive Star Wars fan and had visions of a Jedi-themed bar! Not quite! Skywalkers wasn't bad (as I said before I think it could do with a little revamp with the furnishings), the music was a real mix -- one minute The Rolling Stones were playing and the next you had the latest chart music. As we had didn't have real "darkness" on our cruise, I think most people went up there more for the stunning views late in the evening. There were a few brave people who took to the dance floor though!

 

And yes the job is fantastic :D

[suron]

When we did this cruise last year we heard from a family of four (2 adults and 2 children) that they managed to get on public transport to North Cape (and this was even on a Sunday). The bus returned after two hours and they said this was a great saving for them - I believe the bus fare even included entrance fees to the North Cape Hall. Worth checking this one out (possibly e-mail to North Cape Hall or the bus company?)as for a family the Princess trip is very expensive. Depends really if you are prepared to take a chance on getting there once ashore.

 

Suron

[kelly@]

Thank you so much Kelly, its been great hearing about your adventures every day. Bet you'll be sorry to leave the cruise early tomorrow :( .

 

When you get back could you just confirm when the second formal night is - and I guess you never did see those crablegs :D !

 

Two weeks on wednesday and we will be experiencing it ourselves - can't wait!!

 

Hannah

 

Yes, I was sad to leave in Tromso! Just to confirm, the formal nights were the second night (Monday, July 14) and the 11th night (Wednesday, July 23) of the cruise.

And no, sadly the crab legs didn't appear... I was told by our waiter on Thursday it would be in the next "few days" so I bet it was the night we left!

[kelly@]

Thanks Kelly,

actually Antonio Banza is not an MD but an assiatant and usually at the Painted Desert.

When you get a chance I think any of the asst MD at any of the restaurants should know if he is still onboard or not.

 

Thanks again. :)

 

Hi, I checked this out with the head waiter and he said Antonio is no longer on Grand Princess, unfortunately he wasn't sure which ship he moved onto.

Kelly

[Colo Cruiser]

Hi, I checked this out with the head waiter and he said Antonio is no longer on Grand Princess, unfortunately he wasn't sure which ship he moved onto.

Kelly

 

 

 

Thank you very much for checking. :)

[haggis]

Great reports. Glad you enjoyed your trip,

Jimmy

[seabound guy]

Thanks so much for the great report, It sound like the Grand Princess is still Grand, I have loved our sailings with her and look forward to our Cruise from Ft. Lauderdale in March!!!

[mizteriuz]

You can get wifi access in the Internet Cafe and it is also available in the cabins. I think it is just a little slower when you are away from the cafe.

 

 

Is the WiFi free in the cabins or is there a charge?

[vickie_bernie]

Is the WiFi free in the cabins or is there a charge?

 

unfortuantely you can only access the signal very close to the internet cafe.

[kelly@]

Is the WiFi free in the cabins or is there a charge?

 

There is a charge. You can either pay as you go for 75 cents a minute or you can buy a package. These range from $55 for 100 minutes to $100 for 250 minutes.

I managed to use the WiFi in my cabin for a good 70 percent of my cruise. It tended to be slow or I would lose the connection when we were deep in the fjords.

Hope this helps!

[Alaska1972]

I'm looking for some advice regarding self-debarktation from the Civitavecchia Port. I will be sailing on the Grand Princess in October and I booked my return flight back to USA departing FCU at 7:20 am. The ship docks at 4 am, my question is it possible to make the 7:20 flight if I do the express debarktation?

[Ballwin Babe]

You will never be able to make this flight.

 

The ship docks early, but passengers cannot leave until the ship has been cleared and paperwork has been filed, etc.

 

The port is quite a distance from Rome and the airport. It is 100km which is over 60 miles. The commute will take over an hour, sometimes closer to two.

 

The airport (FCO) is a busy, hectic place. There are lines and more lines. You will need at least 2 hours at the airport to get through the process for international flights.

 

I urge you to reconsider your 7:20 am departure now, since you'll be addressing it on the day of your debarkation. Unfortunately then you will be frustrated and may have potentially fewer options available to you.

[cdngrl]

i am sailing on the grand in november and we also arrive in civitavecchia at 4am. princess told me the earliest flight they allow is 10 am (from fco).

[corieltauvi]

On the April transatlantic this year, there was an outstanding ensemble, the Prelude String Quartet, performing each night in the atrium. What a treat to hear this caliber of music every day! Are they still aboard? If so, I highly recommend hearing their concert(s). Please give them a hello from their fans in Alaska!

Playn Hooky - Prelude string quartet is still on Grand Princess. Yes, they are superb. They say they will be there through to October, and play in the Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra.

[TravelingBeliever]

I see you are bound for Honningsvag. Can you ask cruisers what their plans are for this stop - both in paid excursions and, more cheaply, on foot.

 

We have three options open to us - North Cape centre, Island trip with christmas shop, or on foot - We have two children which makes excursions x 4, and much as we don't mind paying for a good trip we really cannot decide what to do.

I did the North Cape trip independently by taking a public bus. The total cost was 390 NOK (about $78) (there is a children's rate for this as well as everything in Norway--in fact, most attractions have something called a "family ticket" which admits 2 adults and up to 3 children under age 18 and costs slightly more than 2 adults). I believe the ship charged $129 for the same tour (for adults). The public bus is actually a well-equipped tour bus, probably same configuration that the ship's tour uses (nice seats, panoramic windows, onboard restroom). The public bus only goes out once, at 10:45 AM, and returns leaving NordKapp at 1:15PM. The 390 NOK includes the admission to the area--you cannot get into the area whatsoever or even ride the bus without paying the admission. If you go to NordKapp (North Cape) make sure to see the IMAX-like video shown in the visitor center--it's amazing! By the way, get the Public Bus in front of the tourist information center. You can't buy the bus ticket anywhere except on the bus itself, and they do accept credit cards, which of course slows down the boarding process!

[TravelingBeliever]

I will be on the Grand for the August 6 sailing, so I've got a couple of questions.

 

How acceptable are US dollars in Norway? Are credit cards the way to go or would you recommend local currency?

 

I was on the Princess Baltic cruise 3 years ago and there was a daily lecture in the theater giving the highlights and shore tips for the next port. Are they doing that on this itinerary?

 

Thanks!

If you want to pay in NOK (Norwegian krona), best deal in terms of exchange rate if from an ATM (very easy to find once you get in any port--there is an ATM in the ship's casino, but it wasn't working the time I tried to check it out, so don't count on that). Next best is using a credit card (for me, lower net cost using an American Express than Visa). Exchanging US dollars for krona with the purser comes next, and worst deal was paying admission to a museum using USD and receiving change in NOK.

Bottom line--avoid exchanging in the local shops and try to obtain NOK from an ATM. If your bank has a partner bank in Norway it's even better (our bank charged $5/transaction, plus we were charged 1% of the money we obtained, and still the whole thing--for a 2000 NOK withdrawl--beat using a credit card; but when we were in UK we were able to use a partner bank and there were no extra charges whatsoever).

 

Another tip--make sure to let your bank know that you're travelling internationally; otherwise, they may put a lock on your account and you'll

be out of luck when you go to make an ATM withdrawl.

 

Speaking of currency exchange, Princess is set up for US currency. Even though the British passengers outnumbered us more than 2 to 1, they were at a disadvantage with respect to anything to do with money while onboard--e.g., if they wanted to convert pounds Sterling to NOK, they had to do an intermediate conversion to dollars first, at a very unfavorable exchange rate, and there was some unfavorable exchange rate applied when converting their shipboard accounts from USD to pounds sterling.

[Times Prince]

One of our favorite things about cruising is the live band by the midships pool. Do they still have that on the Grand Princess?

 

We are looking forward to being back onboard in October !

[burm]

Another tip--make sure to let your bank know that you're travelling internationally; otherwise, they may put a lock on your account and you'll

be out of luck when you go to make an ATM withdrawl.

 

 

You might want to let them know several times. Apparently 3 times is not sufficient :( I had trouble in South America when my credit card company did not want to make payment for an excursion.

[davidma]

Hi, this forum has been very helpful to me. WE have out first trip on board the Grand Princess for 14 days on 19 December. This will be our very first cruise ever with 8 people (4 adults and 4 teenagers age 17). I would love to get some opinions on our choice of this cruise and the ship for our first cruise (would people have chosen a different cruiseline/ship etc). WE are limited to December, because some of the family are coming over from South Africa and only have this time available.

 

REgards