Golden Princess Hawaii Cruise Review

[Ahhh]

Golden Princess 14 day Hawaii Cruise Review 4/27/11 - 5/11/11

 

I don't usually travel in a group but on this voyage I was with my friend Rick and a couple we met two years prior on the Sapphire Princess to Mexico, Kay & Tom. Also part of our group were their friend's Dave & Shirley, from LA.

 

The 14 and 15 day voyages from the West Coast to Hawaii and back are my favorite cruises because of all the sea days. You spend 4 days at sea, 4 or 5 days around the islands and then 4 or 5 days coming back. I have done this cruise three times on Celebrity I have been on three other Princess ships a few times: Sapphire, Diamond, and Star. The former are practically identical in layout and design and the later is very similar. In fact, most Princess ships are very similar in layout, design and decor with the exception of their older, smaller ships. I believe Princess's theory is they want people to feel "at home" or "familiar" with their ships, no matter which one you are on. It's very hard to tell what ship you are on once on board as they all look alike. The exception to this I have found is the "Wheelhouse Lounge", which uses different nautical art and model ships in their decor.

 

I was at the dock early on embarkation day and was to meet the rest of my group there or on the ship. While in line to check in I recognized a couple I had met on a previous cruise. I was pleasantly surprised to see Jacqueline and Irv as I wanted to spend more time on our last cruise together. I also recognized a couple of other passengers from previous sailings out of LA. For those of us who cruise out of the West Coast on a somewhat regular basis, we recognize each other. It's always nice to see familiar faces.

 

Before long Tom, Kay, Dave and Shirley showed up and it was not long till we were boarding the ship by noon. I headed directly to my cabin to unpack and settle in before heading to the buffet for lunch. I had forgotten that the main dining room is open for lunch on embarkation day but was content to enjoy my meal on the back deck overlooking the LA harbor as the weather was beautiful.

 

Around 2:00 I got a call from my cabin mate, Rick, that he had just gotten on board. I met him by the pool and we headed to our cabin on the same deck. I really liked the location of this cabin as it was convenient to the pools, gym, spa, and the Horizon Court buffet where we had planned to eat most of our meals. I like that it is open almost 24 hours so you never have to think about rushing to get something to eat.

 

Ship

The Golden was built in 2001 and had a major refurbishment to much of the interior sometime in 2009. They added the International Cafe, Vines, Crown Grill, The Sanctuary, Large Movie Screen (MUTS), moved the Casino to a different deck, and added a new shore excursions desk. In addition they added 10 new suites, two window cabins, and the Wedding Chapel all to the back of the Sun Deck, and 7 window suites to Fiesta Deck.

 

 

There were no surprises to the layout or decor of the ship with just a couple of exceptions. The spa area was not the same as the other Princess ships I have been on. The men's locker room offers very small lockers that do not hold much. There are two showers, but no sauna or steam room other than having to go outside to the spa pool area. These rooms are more conducive to going camping rather than to a luxury spa. They are prefabricated plastic (as are the showers in the men's locker room) and smelled a bit musty/moldy. Not exactly a relaxing, elegant spa experience, so I was disappointed.

 

All the Princess ships I have been on have an indoor pool, which are great for inclement weather or for being out of the sun. What I have noticed with all of them is that they all echo and sound like a gymnasium pool, especially with kids in them. They are not relaxing. I am never compelled to spend much time around them even though they all have very comfy looking lounge chairs.

 

The gym (open 6am-10pm daily) was more than adequate, so I availed myself of it almost daily and the temperature of the spa pool was very comfortable to walk into without feeling cold. This pool was also open late most every night which was very pleasant. I also enjoyed the Persian Garden with the warm tile loungers overlooking the ocean.

 

We took advantage of using the self serve laundry facilities that are located on almost every other deck. These facilities also came in handy for ironing when needed.

 

Most of my sea days were spent relaxing, going to the gym, trivia with the group, dance classes, eating and power walking (to get rid of the extra calories). I tried to find ballroom dancing in the evenings but it was not to be most nights. There were lounges and music, just not any single dance partners. I enjoyed movies under the stars, on the big screen and just hanging out enjoying the fresh air and being at sea mostly. I availed myself of The Sanctuary a couple of days. That is the area that is reserved for adults only, above the spa pool with extra comfy lounge chairs, shade, MP3 players and waiter service for any needs you may have. It is available on a weekly, daily or half day basis. I found it very relaxing, not crowded and a great escape from most passengers.

 

Food

I found the food fairly average for a ship. Some things were better than others but nothing really stood out as exceptional. Desserts were surprisingly very good. I especially liked that there was bread pudding, like my grandmother used to make, daily. I never did try room service, and never ate in the main dining room.

 

The International Cafe is located in the Atrium and offers a handsome selection of goodies from morning thru late evening. It's a great place to pick up a light snack or have a light meal. I especially enjoyed the shrimp salad and all the deserts. There always seemed to be fresh cookie aromas in the air to beckon the weak ;).

 

Specialty Dining

One night we went to Sabatini's the Italian specialty restaurant. I had been here on previous Princess cruises so knew what to expect and to eat lightly during the day. It was a pleasant evening and the food lived up to what I had remembered. It was very good and I enjoyed the company.

 

I had the Pub Lunch in the Crown Grill one afternoon with friends. The food as OK but the company and atmosphere in the beautiful new restaurant were great. It was a nice alternative for a sea day.

 

I had heard about the special Chef's Table Dinner online and decide I wanted to experience it on this voyage. Basically it is billed as a special dinner prepared by the head chef on board who, along with the Matre d'hotel, and a small staff, serve you. It is limited to 10 - 12 guests for each seating. It is not offered every evening. The cost is $75 per person and I was excited to experience it.

 

I have to state here that I went to this dinner with more than the casual eye. Some may think that I am 'nit picking' but I am a keen observer when it comes to food and service. I work in the catering field and with some of the best chefs in the industry so I know excellent food and excellent service. The day of, I was sent a form to sign with questions about my health, what to expect, and the rules (no open toed shoes, etc.). We all met in International Cafe at a designated time and were then escorted towards the kitchen to put on white chefs coats and to meet the Head M'D and Head Chef, Jeremy Snowden.

 

Once introductions were made and we were told what to expect, we were escorted into the kitchen to our wash hands and then to sample hors with French Champagne. I have to say that I was disappointed in the hors as I know they could have been fresher. They were made much earlier than our arrival into the kitchen so as to save time, rather than being the freshest they could have been. We were each handed a glass of champagne and a small cloth napkin (mine was stained - which should have been avoided if attention to detail was important).

 

The Hors selection was:

Foie Gras Pate in Brioche with Pineapple Chutney - nice combination of flavors

Halibut Civiche (though our menus we were presented with, after dinner, said tuna) with Green Papaya Salsa served on a cracker - Cracker was not crisp which means it sat too long before being served. Taste was fine.

Roasted Red New Potato with Sour Cream & Caviar - These hold up well and caviar is impressive.

Tempura Coconut Shrimp with Thai Sauce - I asked about the sauce - not freshly made, it came out of a bottle.

 

I am not a fan of foie gras or caviar but that does not matter, as I was there to observe quality, service and to taste. I had a bite of everything. Most guests enjoyed this first course. I got the feeling that once we went thru 2 bottles of champagne (not quite 1.5 glasses per guest), they did not wish to open a third and we were quickly escorted out of the kitchen. I was not the only one who felt this way. One couple had experienced this dinner on more than one other ship and felt this was unusual.

 

From here we were escorted into dining room where dinner was in full swing. We walked single file, still in our white jackets, catching the attention of many diners. We were sat at a special table set up for us which was wider and higher than the rest. This resulted in a feeling that the chairs felt too low. I was impressed that there were real candles on the table.

 

Kendal Jackson Chardonnay was served with our next course, Porcini Mushroom Risotto. I was offered freshly grated parmesan cheese and wish I had tasted my risotto first as it made the dish too salty for me. It came with a parmesan cracker but it was not crisp, as it should have been. Again, a detail that should not have been overlooked since this was touted as the best meal to be had on the ship.

 

Third course was Strawberry Sorbet with Cracked Pepper and slices of Fresh Strawberries. This course was impressively presented in martini glasses and individually topped with with Grey Goose Vodka. I noticed that not everybody was poured equal amounts of vodka - I was one of the lucky ones. I got the feeling that they were trying to cut corners rather than putting their best foot forward.

 

For me, one of the sign of good service is when special attention is being paid to guests water glasses. A guest should never have an empty glass. The same is true of wine, when it is included in a dinner.

 

The main course, "Double Impact Surf & Turf" was presented via large platters, at the table: Rack of Lamb, Filet Mignon, Diver Scallops, and Lobster Thermador. Chef Snowden and his team then did some last minute searing and carving at a temporary station set up tableside. To me this was one of the more interesting aspects of the evening seeing the team work together during this crucial time. I was curious why, with enough lobster tails on the platter, why a separate plate of one was retrieved from the kitchen and the others not served. I was also curious as to why the decision was made to serve Thermador rather that a broiled lobster tail, as I had heard is sometimes served at this dinner.

 

With this course we were served a 2007 Barbaresco Italian Red. I did not write it down as it was promised that I would get a list of all the wines, but I did not. With the exception of the Thermador (which I always find too salty) I enjoyed all the items, which were served with turned vegetables. After this the chef chatted and joked with us a bit.

 

Our fifth course was cheese (gorgonzola?) and walnut bread with a balsamic and port wine reduction.

 

Dessert was a Grand Marnier Chocolate Mouse artfully presented in a large hand made sugar bowl with a tall tower of spun sugar, garnished with raspberries and mint. Chilled glasses for the dessert wine was a nice touch. Dessert wine was a very tasty Late Harvest Errazauriz Sauvignon Blanc, from Chile.

 

The ship's photographer took a group picture that we were presented with along with a cookbook and a dated hand written menu.

 

Final analysis of the evening: I enjoyed the experience and a chance to see behind the scenes while the kitchen was in operation for the evening's meal. I enjoyed the personal attention our table received from the seven staff members who oversaw our dinner. I did not get the feeling that the chef particularly enjoyed the experience, but rather was doing it out of obligation, as part of his contract with Princess. I felt a bit misled in thinking that this would be a meal created by the executive chef using the freshest ingredients available to him that day, and showcasing his personal talent. It was not that at all but rather a pre planned corporate dinner selected by Princess. I do not regret experiencing the evening, but have left more satisfied dining experiences in one of Celebrity's Specialty Restaurants on their Millennium Class of ships.

 

Staff & Crew

Our cabin steward was great. We never wanted for anything and he respected our wishes of no service some days but always supplied us with ice upon request. We tend to keep a tidy cabin and don't require much attention.

 

Entertainment

Music and groups: The Rick Kilburn Quartet was my favorite of the three groups on board. The group comprised of piano, base, guitar and lead singer (Rick). They played lots of dance classics for ballroom dancing most every night in the Wheelhouse Bar. Unfortunately I dubbed this voyage the SS Noah's Ark as most of the dancers were paired up and there was little dancing to be had for me, who loves to dance.

 

The second group was called Passions Party Band, who played in Explorer's Lounge most nights, which has the better dance floor. I found them more akin to karaoke. They were off key most of the time and painful to listen to. There were not many couples on board who ballroom danced well so it was difficult watching the dancers, especially to bad music.

 

The third group, though I never really heard them, I believe was more along the classical lines. They tended to play mostly in the Piazza. The ship's orchestra performed in a couple of different venues during the cruise and they were very professional. There was also a pianist, David Moore, who performed in different venues taking requests.

 

Production Shows: They performed four shows, "Stardust", Words & Music", "Motor City" and "British Invasion", which I liked the best. I found the performers to be below average and not polished. The main singers were weak and sometimes off key.

 

Guest entertainers: There was a harmonica player, ventriloquist, comedian, illusionist, comedy team, hypnotist, Vegas style singer/comedian, and a hula group who performed on different evenings. Some were better than others.

 

There was a naturist on board who gave lectures on the islands in addition to a guest speaker who talked about WW2 in the Pacific.

 

Piped in music: It was very pleasant to experience most sailaways without loud "party band" type music. I applaud Princess for that. I never went to the disco at night as they allowed smoking in that venue, of which I am allergic.

 

Movies were shown in either the main theater, the large screen in the Vista Lounge or on the large outdoor screen above the main pool. I was very impressed with the selection of movies and filmed concerts on this sailing. There was a large selection of fairly current features such as The Social Network, The King's Speech, The Fighter, Tangled, 127 hours, Secretariat, Black Swan, Burlesque, True Grit, Megamind, Knight and Day, Inception, The Tourist, Toy Story 3, Tron Legacy, Another Year, Robin Hood, and Morning Glory. In addition they showed many old classics such as West Side Story, Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and An Affair to Remember. I was most impressed with the selections that were related to this particular cruise such as Hawaii with Julie Andrews, Elvis's Blue Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, Splash, Princess Kaiulani, and Lilo & Stitch. Such movies had many vintage scenes shot on the islands. There were also documentaries on Hawaii, whales, and the oceans, as well as the 2009 Janet Jackson's Hawaii Concert shown on the outdoor screen while we were docked in Honolulu, which added a realness to the concert.

 

There was plenty to do on board the ship to keep anyone from getting bored if they did not like to just relax, read, exercise, or hang out. Trivia was offered 3 or 4 times daily, in addition there were ceramic classes, dance classes, cooking demos, ice carving, vegetable carving, flower arranging, wine tasting, backstage tours, and karaoke. Leialoha and Dave are apparently well known to many Princess guests and provided lei making classes, hula classes, ukulele classes as well as Hawaiian culture lectures. They have a loyal following and add something special to the voyage for many guests.

 

I don't quite know how to put this, but there was something not quite right about this sailing. After taking many cruises you get a certain feeling about a ship and it's crew. I have talked about this with many experienced cruisers. Sometimes it is referred to as a "happy ship" or a "flow" that the ship has as far as layout and staff. This ship was missing that certain feeling and I cannot put my finger on it. I do not know if it was the Golden, its staff, or a combination of both, but I know I was not the only one who felt this way. I came away from the ship feeling it was a bit "ho hum", and don't plan to go back. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my cruise, will sail Princess again, do Hawaii again, but there was missing something.

 

Demographics & kids: Being a 14 day voyage, the average age I would estimate to be around 55 and there were only about 20 kids on board.

 

When booking a Princess cruise I know exactly what I am going to get. I know the ship is not going to vary much from the ones I have been on. They put a lot of money into the original design concept and, although it is pleasant, it feels dated to me. Color schemes remind me of retirement homes. I did notice on this particular ship that the areas that had been redone had much more interesting carpet selections and wall treatments than I am used to seeing on Princess. I hope this is a sign of things to come. As I said, most all their ships look alike once on board. I would like to see some changes in their new ships that are scheduled to be built. I would like to see them kick it up a notch to be more competitive with Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, but that is to be seen.

[RickEk]

Thanks for the comprehensive review. A cruise to Hawaii is certainly on my bucket list. I am curious of one thing though... why didn't you eat any meals in the main dining room?

[Coolmama_1]

Thanks for the review.

[CruisinChris]

I appreciate your critical review of the Chef's Table. I agree with much of what you have said - not all the Chef's are that into it. I do think, having experienced a couple of these, including one hosted by the line's Executive Chef Marzi, that the dinner is planned by the Head Chef onboard within guidelines provided by Chef Marzi. The dinner I had the Chef Marzi oversaw was far better than the one I experienced a year later by the same Head Chef without Chef Marzi's presence. The menu was different and the quality of the cooking different. In fact, I just looked atpix yesterday of Chef Marzi's meal and was amazed to see and remember how much better it was. BTW, you undermine your credibility with your spelling errors. (ex Lobster "Thermador" instead of Thermidor; the former is a stove, the latter a dish, civiche instead of ceviche, etc.:))

 

Funny story- at the last Chef's Table I was at there was a couple who were apparently Royal Caribbean regulars. They did the interview and claimed to not have any food issues or aversions. The woman refused to pretty much eat everything she was served because she was unfamiliar with it: caviar, steak tartare, shrimp, veal, pork, etc. It was hilarious! As a couple they seemed have thought of themselves as pretty worldly and well-traveled, but all their comments proved that they were quite naive. Their comparison of Princess to Royal and telling the table how great the onboard Johnny Rockets is pretty much left the table in stunned silence.:p

[mek]

Thanks so much for the review - it couldn't have come at a better time as I just booked the Golden for the 11/23/11 sailing to Hawaii. I do have one question concerning the evening in Honolulu - do you recall what the entertainment was? I ask because on several occasions we have gone off our ship when late in port only to return and discover there was a very good local group brought on board for the evening's entertainment. We have been to Honolulu a couple of times in the past so if there is decent local entertainment on board, we will probably decide to do that instead of staying out late.

[MTJSR]

Not to be mean, but after reading every word of your review, I felt you had a rather "Ho Hum" slant on nearly every part of the cruise, it's no wonder in the end you felt you had a Ho hum cruise. I have to ask, did you go expecting to be Ho hummed? When reviews point to other cruise line experiences as being better, I just figure the person might have boarded with the review already written in advance. Just a thought! Hope you enjoy your next cruise on Princess like I do.

[Fuzzyape]

Thanks for the review.

 

I found it to be very useful. We set sail on the Golden late October.

 

I'm not much of a foodie (I know such a waste). I was glad to hear of all the activities you got to enjoy (here's to hoping your next cruise will let you find a ballroom dance partner). Good to see that Princess will still annoy me by having so much to do that I can't get to all of it.

 

If you have the chance I would be interested hear to about what you did on each island (if you took any of the excursions).

 

Again, thanks so much for sharing your experience.

 

Counting down the days.

[Ahhh]

Hello

 

I did not eat in the dining room for a couple of reasons. Depending on my cruise, and who I am traveling with, sometimes I eat there for some of my dinners. Sometimes I occasionally will have lunch there, and almost never do I have breakfast there. On his particular sailing, those in my group do not go to the dining room at all. I have come to prefer not to eat in the dining room on most of my cruises because of the time commitment involved and because I do not tend to eat on regular schedule. I am restricted with time schedules at home, so on a cruise I love the luxury of no schedule. Some would argue that I should sign up for "Anytime Timing", but even that I can find restricting at times.

 

One of the things I like about cruising are the options to do what I want, when I want. One of the things I like about Princess is that the Horizon Court is open almost 24 hours a day. I have learned what to eat at different cruise line's buffets and when to eat it. I always look for a cooking station where things are cooked to order, or look for a dish that has just come out and has not been sitting for awhile.

 

Some days I just want to spend as much time outside in the fresh air and enjoy the ocean and sunset. It's great to have the top decks almost to myself when others are either at dinner, getting ready for dinner or at a show, etc. Other days I am obsessed with ballroom dancing and just want to grab a bite to eat between breaks so I can get back on the dance floor. I do not feel that I am missing anything by not going to the dining room, and have enjoyed some fabulous meals and great company when I have.

 

One of the things that I have observed over that past 7 years of cruising (and from Cruise Critic) is that the food in the dining room is not what it used to be, especially in this economy. I believe that the majority of cruisers really look forward to their dining room experience, and that is a big part of the cruise for them. It's great that cruising can be so many things for so many people!

 

I would have loved being at the Chef's Table overseen by Executive Chef Marzi. That is an experience that could have spoiled one. Spelling is not one of my strong suits ;):). Your story reminds me that we are on a ship with a variety of passengers and some are more entertaining than others.

 

On our sailing, the entertainment for our evening in Honolulu was "The Halau Hula Olana Show", showcasing traditional and modern Hawaiian music, dances and songs. I did not attend and did not hear anyone comment about the show.

 

I must admit that Princess is not my first choice of cruise line and perhaps that may have slanted my review a bit. I think Princess offers a good product that is fairly consistent. I did not mean to give the impression that the whole cruise was "ho hum", as it certainly was not. I very much enjoyed my sailing. The Hawaii run is my favorite of all the cruises I have done, this being my fourth time doing it. My next cruise is on the Sapphire and I am looking forward to it, as it is one of my favorite ships. David

[west coast cruiser]

We were on a R.T. Hawaii on the Golden last year. We really enjoyed the ship.

I do agree with you, however about the ships all being the same. I think it is getting very boring. I like to get on ships with different lay outs.

We did the Chef's Dinner and really enjoyed it. We did have the Executive Chef.

Thanks for your review.

WCC

[Ahhh]

Thanks for the review. I found it to be very useful. We set sail on the Golden late October.

 

I'm not much of a foodie (I know such a waste). I was glad to hear of all the activities you got to enjoy (here's to hoping your next cruise will let you find a ballroom dance partner). Good to see that Princess will still annoy me by having so much to do that I can't get to all of it.

 

If you have the chance I would be interested hear to about what you did on each island (if you took any of the excursions). Again, thanks so much for sharing your experience. Counting down the days.

 

I love the Hawaiian Islands and have been there many times over the years, sometimes spending days on each. I have done most of the touristy things and enjoyed them. I chose this cruise itinerary mainly for all the sea days, the warm weather, and the ship, not the ports.

 

Having said that, in Hilo we went as a group on the local bus to check out the local farmer's market and the small town. In Honolulu I rented a bicycle and rode around all day, stopping at my favorite beach for swimming. In Kauai we rented a car and toured the island. On Maui we had lunch ashore and I went for a long walk.

 

I am not a typical cruiser in that most of the time it is the ship itself that is the destination for me (thus I can be critical at times). If I have not been to a port I usually like to go exploring or go for a hike in the local wilderness. Hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise. You will not be bored on the ship. Hawaii is magical! David

[MTJSR]

Hello

 

I must admit that Princess is not my first choice of cruise line and perhaps that may have slanted my review a bit. I think Princess offers a good product that is fairly consistent. I did not mean to give the impression that the whole cruise was "ho hum", as it certainly was not. I very much enjoyed my sailing. The Hawaii run is my favorite of all the cruises I have done, this being my fourth time doing it. My next cruise is on the Sapphire and I am looking forward to it, as it is one of my favorite ships. David

 

That's fair, you were honest and you (still) get to be honest around here. If I compared every cruise I take to my first cruise on Sitmar, no cruise line would ever compare, except maybe searborn or crystal. I have to accept that cruising has changed by its mass popularity and when I choose to pay mainstream prices I will get a mainstream product. I think we have all accepted that fact and adjusted our judgement bars accordingly.

[mek]

 

On our sailing, the entertainment for our evening in Honolulu was "The Halau Hula Olana Show", showcasing traditional and modern Hawaiian music, dances and songs. I did not attend and did not hear anyone comment about the show.

 

 

Thanks, that sounds perfect and now I know not to plan anything else for that evening.

[mek]

We were on a R.T. Hawaii on the Golden last year. We really enjoyed the ship.

I do agree with you, however about the ships all being the same. I think it is getting very boring. I like to get on ships with different lay outs.

WCC

 

That's just one of the reasons we like to sail on different ships/lines.

[Ahhh]

That's fair, you were honest and you (still) get to be honest around here. If I compared every cruise I take to my first cruise on Sitmar, no cruise line would ever compare, except maybe searborn or crystal. I have to accept that cruising has changed by its mass popularity and when I choose to pay mainstream prices I will get a mainstream product. I think we have all accepted that fact and adjusted our judgement bars accordingly.

 

I agree with you completely. I would never attempt to compare a luxury line with a mass market line as they are so completely different. I also try not to compare all my cruises to my favorite ship or voyage, as I would be only looking for negative distractions and not enjoying the present. I try to be objective in my reviews, pointing out things I like as well as those that I do not. Every voyage is different. Even when I have done back-2-back sailings I have found differences. It's neither good nor bad, just the way it is - different. Different passenger mixes bring on different personalities for each sailing. I find it interesting.

 

MEK, I too, like sailing different lines and ships. It makes exploring them so much more interesting. I like to compare the differences in all the mass market lines, where they put their money, and what they try to attract as far as demographics. I have written reviews on CC of my experiences on Disney, HAL, Celebrity, NCL, and Royal Caribbean as well.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Thanks so much for the review - it couldn't have come at a better time as I just booked the Golden for the 11/23/11 sailing to Hawaii. I do have one question concerning the evening in Honolulu - do you recall what the entertainment was? I ask because on several occasions we have gone off our ship when late in port only to return and discover there was a very good local group brought on board for the evening's entertainment. We have been to Honolulu a couple of times in the past so if there is decent local entertainment on board, we will probably decide to do that instead of staying out late.

 

Yes, the hula troupe mentioned above seems to go onboard for every Princess cruise in Honolulu. On our first Hawaiian cruise, my hubby and I did our shopping (restocking our sodas and waters, plus souvenirs) in Honolulu that evening. Came back and heard from our daughter and others that it was a wonderful show. This last cruise, we got the errand run quickly and returned to the ship, and caught the hula show (missing the first 15 minutes). Some of the troupe were aboard the Crystal ship, which was in port too, and some on the Golden. It's a wonderful show.

 

As for the OP, I'm wondering if it was just the last-cruise-of-the -season-itis.

[Woobstr112G]

Op;

 

Thanks for the great review. We did this cruise in February and loved it. We were also fortunate enough to be selected for the CT. I note the main course changed from our experience. We had veal. I noted the name of the Chef was also different than the Chef at our CT.

 

Bob

[MTJSR]

We did the Chefs Table as well and I thought it was overall very good. Except that vile cold potato with caviar on top served in the kitchen. It was just pure nasty and it's served at every Chefs Table. Yuk! BTW, Jeremy Snowden was our chef too. He must be somewhat permanent on the Golden.

[Michelle19]

Not to be mean, but after reading every word of your review, I felt you had a rather "Ho Hum" slant on nearly every part of the cruise, it's no wonder in the end you felt you had a Ho hum cruise. I have to ask, did you go expecting to be Ho hummed? When reviews point to other cruise line experiences as being better, I just figure the person might have boarded with the review already written in advance. Just a thought! Hope you enjoy your next cruise on Princess like I do.

 

 

 

Huh? :confused:

[Michelle19]

Great review! DH and I were on that cruise with you. I would have to agree with most of what you said. Awesome trip for sure. Weather could have been better as I am sure your aware, but we will do it again next year for sure!

[synet165]

Hi,

You are not the only one who fells that Chef Snowden is not up to Princess standards. We did the Golden cruise to Hawaii last October and had a great shock after having sailed the CB Princess twice and having had wonderful food in both the dining room and Chef's Table.

 

The Chef's Table (Jeremy Snowden style) was horrible. You are right the food in the kitchen was prepared ahead of time. Trader Joe's sells better appettizers. Prior to the Chef's Table, we found the food overcooked and without seasoning. When I complained to the Chef at the dinner, his comment was that people didn't like seasoned food and he was too busy with management to cook.

 

We were told by the head waiters that he did no supervison of any food department and a great deal of the food was returned to the kitchen.

 

Frankly, we will not cruise on any ship where he is the Chef, Princess just places him there because they don't know where to send him.

 

Again, it's not you.

 

Synet165

[Ahhh]

I forgot to mention something unusual that happened on the cruise. One evening I went to see the comedian, Don Ware, in the smaller Vista Lounge. I got there about 5 minutes into the show and stood in the back. He started his show by wanting to honor all the veterans in the audience, so asked if they would stand up to be recognized, an admirable gesture :). About 50 vets stood up.

 

He then proceeded to ask each one, individually, their name, where they were from, whom they were traveling with, what branch of the service they were in, their rank, and what war they were in, if any. This was all done without the benefit of microphones in the audience so there was a lot of "Could you repeat that?" About 20 minutes into this a number of vets were realizing how long this procedure was going to take before they were gotten around to, so started to sit down (or they may have just been tired of standing, I don't know).

 

Also around this time I noticed that some audience members were leaving the theater. The whole procedure took about 35/40 minutes. He then he began to talk about politics and how he did not like President Obama, which drew some booing. He then proceeded to say he did not think Bush was much better, which really pissed of his audience. People were booing and leaving. I had never seen anything like it and I also decided to leave before things really got ugly :eek:.

 

I hung out about half way down the ship between the lounge and the reception desk and witnessed guests leaving the show, when it was over. Anyone who represented Princess, or was in a uniform got an ear full! Many also went to the front desk to complain. Turns out he was scheduled to do two more shows the next evening and I attended part of the first one. It was a completely different show that evening. None of this was a reflection on Princess but it was certainly an unusual evening.

[mek]

Yes' date=' the hula troupe mentioned above seems to go on board for every Princess cruise in Honolulu. On our first Hawaiian cruise, my hubby and I did our shopping (restocking our sodas and waters, plus souvenirs) in Honolulu that evening. Came back and heard from our daughter and others that it was a wonderful show. This last cruise, we got the errand run quickly and returned to the ship, and caught the hula show (missing the first 15 minutes). Some of the troupe were aboard the Crystal ship, which was in port too, and some on the Golden. It's a wonderful show.

[/quote']

 

Glad to hear the show is good. I recall the night we were in St Petersburg, Russia when we decided to go out for the evening to see the folk show at the Anichov Palace. After we returned to the ship we caught the end of a very similar show that was shown on board and wished we had stayed on the ship.

[mek]

I forgot to mention something unusual that happened on the cruise. One evening I went to see the comedian, Don Ware, in the smaller Vista Lounge. I got there about 5 minutes into the show and stood in the back. He started his show by wanting to honor all the veterans in the audience, so asked if they would stand up to be recognized, an admirable gesture :). About 50 vets stood up.

 

He then proceeded to ask each one, individually, their name, where they were from, whom they were traveling with, what branch of the service they were in, their rank, and what war they were in, if any. This was all done without the benefit of microphones in the audience so there was a lot of "Could you repeat that?" About 20 minutes into this a number of vets were realizing how long this procedure was going to take before they were gotten around to, so started to sit down (or they may have just been tired of standing, I don't know).

 

Also around this time I noticed that some audience members were leaving the theater. The whole procedure took about 35/40 minutes. He then he began to talk about politics and how he did not like President Obama, which drew some booing. He then proceeded to say he did not think Bush was much better, which really pissed of his audience. People were booing and leaving. I had never seen anything like it and I also decided to leave before things really got ugly :eek:.

 

I hung out about half way down the ship between the lounge and the reception desk and witnessed guests leaving the show, when it was over. Anyone who represented Princess, or was in a uniform got an ear full! Many also went to the front desk to complain. Turns out he was scheduled to do two more shows the next evening and I attended part of the first one. It was a completely different show that evening. None of this was a reflection on Princess but it was certainly an unusual evening.

 

I think I have a really good sense of humor and unlike my DH who can only laugh at jokes poked at the opposition, I can laugh at my guys just as much as the other side of the aisle; a good joke is a good joke. But I really hate it when entertainers try to promote their political views. It sounds like you had a strange experience with this guy.

[jeromep]

I am not a typical cruiser in that most of the time it is the ship itself that is the destination for me (thus I can be critical at times). If I have not been to a port I usually like to go exploring or go for a hike in the local wilderness. Hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise. You will not be bored on the ship. Hawaii is magical! David

I just wanted to say that I'm a "ship rat" also. I like things that go and once onboard the ship the vacation has already started for me. I'm usually just happy watching the coast or world pass by as I look down from a balcony and wonder at the new place I've arrived at overnight.

 

I generally find plenty to do on board and just being unplugged and not in contact with the world through the Internet or the phone makes me feel great. I get to reconnect with my spouse and we get to relax without the concerns of the world.

 

Commenting about Princess's consistancy of design between ships, this is a double edged sword. Consistancy is what brings people back to Princess year after year, especially service and personal contact with the shipboard staff. Designing a ship in such a way that the cabins and venues are similar, even in somewhat similar locations between different ships, has some very important benefits to some cruisers, especially those that use a cruise as a mode of transport between ports and excursions. Those cruisers are not looking to explore a new ship every time they get on board. They are most interested in having a comfortable cabin and being able to find food and entertainment easily.

 

On the other hand there are cruisers like myself who enjoy exploring the ship, visiting the varous venues and using some of the services on board. Ships as big as they are today should all be a little different even if they are in the same class. I also think that lines need to gradually change their design appearance every few years to keep their ships fresh and present a new appearance to repeat cruisers.I have this feeling that I'm in the minority amongst cruisers, especially in terms of my attraction to the ship as a vacation destination in itself and the hope that cruise lines will continue to evolve their ships and interior designes as time goes by.

 

I'm very hopeful and excited for the new class of ship that Princess is introducing.

[Ahhh]

I just wanted to say that I'm a "ship rat" also. I like things that go and once onboard the ship the vacation has already started for me.

 

I get to reconnect with my spouse and we get to relax without the concerns of the world.

 

Commenting about Princess's consistancy of design between ships, this is a double edged sword. Consistancy is what brings people back to Princess year after year, especially service and personal contact with the shipboard staff. Designing a ship in such a way that the cabins and venues are similar, even in somewhat similar locations between different ships, has some very important benefits to some cruisers, especially those that use a cruise as a mode of transport between ports and excursions. Those cruisers are not looking to explore a new ship every time they get on board. They are most interested in having a comfortable cabin and being able to find food and entertainment easily.

 

On the other hand there are cruisers like myself who enjoy exploring the ship, visiting the varous venues and using some of the services on board. Ships as big as they are today should all be a little different even if they are in the same class. I also think that lines need to gradually change their design appearance every few years to keep their ships fresh and present a new appearance to repeat cruisers.I have this feeling that I'm in the minority amongst cruisers, especially in terms of my attraction to the ship as a vacation destination in itself and the hope that cruise lines will continue to evolve their ships and interior designes as time goes by.

 

I'm very hopeful and excited for the new class of ship that Princess is introducing.

 

Hello. I am sure you are going to enjoy your upcoming cruise on the Golden. You may want to go up to the Sanctuary after you board and reserve the lounge chairs of your choice. I personally would not book for the whole two weeks as the weather may not be conducive for everyday enjoyment, and you will want to enjoy your balcony also. I was able to reserve the same lounger for the 4 days I booked it (last two sea days heading over and first two coming back). I found that while in port there was not much of a need to book there, as most people are off the ship anyway, so you pretty much have pick of lounge chairs anywhere on the ship.

 

From one ship rat to another, enjoy the quietude ;) Skywalkers during the day! Also, check out the areas I refer to, aft on Fiesta deck, as far as new carpeting and wall paneling. If you can, take a peak into one of those suites to see what I mean about a more contemporary design choice. Also, when you are using the central stairway, try to visualize that area with a different carpeting instead of what is there. I think those banisters are reminisent of an oceanliner, instead of a cruise ship - great design.

 

David