Golden Princess - questions about ship and San Diego/San Pedro

[crazy4elton]

Hi All, My husband & I are looking forward to our 14-night Hawaiian cruise on the Golden in late April. I have a few questions and hope that those of you who have sailed on the Golden may be able to answer these...

1. What kind of weather can we expect during the Pacific crossings, between L.A. and Hawaii, in late April/early May? I heard about the huge swells that the Sapphire just experienced, which delayed the ship and they missed Hilo as a result. I don't mind rough seas, but I want lots of tropical sun and heat!!

2. Thinking about trying out the Sanctuary, ONLY if it is has sun exposure. I've read mixed reviews about this area and it sounds like it may be mostly shaded. Is this true? Is the area's ambience and amenities worth the extra charge?

3. Does the Terrace Pool in the aft area get any/much sun? It appears that the large "spoiler" (nightclub) is located above it and I wonder about shadowing.

4. San Diego - We plan to spend a few days in San Diego pre-cruise, and 1 night in San Pedro, near the cruise ship dock. Hotel recommendations for either city? In San Diego we'd prefer to be downtown, close to the city's attractions (e.g. Balboa Park, zoo, etc.) and want to be able to walk rather than drive.

5. Other than a lei-making class, what type of interesting activities are available for the 8 1/2 days at sea? (other than bingo, art auctions, etc.) The Paul Gauguin has AMAZING guest lecturers on their Tahitian cruises - absolutely top-notch. I'll be content getting R & R, sunning, listening to my ipod and reading, but I'm worried about my husband, as he is NOT a fan of sea days. (We booked this cruise because the rates were really good.)

 

I always wanted to sail on the Golden or Grand when they were first launched, but that was a long time ago (in cruise ship terms)... does the Golden look/feel dated? How is she holding up? The booking we made was a great price, but the condition of the ship is important to me. I know that it had a re-furb in '09, but that was a while ago. I was on the Dawn when she was new (beautiful) but was on the Sea in 2006 and she was a very worn-out looking ship.

 

We've been fortunate to cruise a lot (Paul Gauguin, Celebrity, Oceania, Renaissance, Princess, NCL, Carnival) and I have to say that even though I adore the service and all-inclusive aspects of small ships in the higher-end lines, I'm fascinated by large, new ships. I'd love to see RCCL's Oasis or Allure, but would never get my husband within a 100 miles of it...he's appalled at the thought of 5,400+ fellow passengers! And frankly, a ship that caters to and focuses on children is not my idea of an ideal vacation choice.

 

Thanking you in advance for any input or suggestions you may have to my questions. Happy sailing!

Nancy

[runnerodb83]

Hi All, My husband & I are looking forward to our 14-night Hawaiian cruise on the Golden in late April. I have a few questions and hope that those of you who have sailed on the Golden may be able to answer these...

1. What kind of weather can we expect during the Pacific crossings, between L.A. and Hawaii, in late April/early May? I heard about the huge swells that the Sapphire just experienced, which delayed the ship and they missed Hilo as a result. I don't mind rough seas, but I want lots of tropical sun and heat!!

2. Thinking about trying out the Sanctuary, ONLY if it is has sun exposure. I've read mixed reviews about this area and it sounds like it may be mostly shaded. Is this true? Is the area's ambience and amenities worth the extra charge?

3. Does the Terrace Pool in the aft area get any/much sun? It appears that the large "spoiler" (nightclub) is located above it and I wonder about shadowing.

4. San Diego - We plan to spend a few days in San Diego pre-cruise, and 1 night in San Pedro, near the cruise ship dock. Hotel recommendations for either city? In San Diego we'd prefer to be downtown, close to the city's attractions (e.g. Balboa Park, zoo, etc.) and want to be able to walk rather than drive.

5. Other than a lei-making class, what type of interesting activities are available for the 8 1/2 days at sea? (other than bingo, art auctions, etc.) The Paul Gauguin has AMAZING guest lecturers on their Tahitian cruises - absolutely top-notch. I'll be content getting R & R, sunning, listening to my ipod and reading, but I'm worried about my husband, as he is NOT a fan of sea days. (We booked this cruise because the rates were really good.)

 

I always wanted to sail on the Golden or Grand when they were first launched, but that was a long time ago (in cruise ship terms)... does the Golden look/feel dated? How is she holding up? The booking we made was a great price, but the condition of the ship is important to me. I know that it had a re-furb in '09, but that was a while ago. I was on the Dawn when she was new (beautiful) but was on the Sea in 2006 and she was a very worn-out looking ship.

 

We've been fortunate to cruise a lot (Paul Gauguin, Celebrity, Oceania, Renaissance, Princess, NCL, Carnival) and I have to say that even though I adore the service and all-inclusive aspects of small ships in the higher-end lines, I'm fascinated by large, new ships. I'd love to see RCCL's Oasis or Allure, but would never get my husband within a 100 miles of it...he's appalled at the thought of 5,400+ fellow passengers! And frankly, a ship that caters to and focuses on children is not my idea of an ideal vacation choice.

 

Thanking you in advance for any input or suggestions you may have to my questions. Happy sailing!

Nancy

 

1. Weather will be decent in LA, mid 70s, quite pleasant. The first day it will probably be a bit too cold to go outside and suntan, but by the 3rd sea day or so it should be quite nice. Use this website a week before you go to help you prepare and know approximately what type of weather to expect on the crossing to hawaii. http:// passageweather. com/

 

2. It is very mostly shaded. You might be able to move a lounger into part of the sunny area and there are a few that are out there, but I'd say 85% of the area is under a canvas like cover.

 

3. Terrace pool will get sun in the morning as you head to hawaii, sun in the afternoon as you leave from hawaii. No midday sun in the back due to skywalkers. Some people enjoy this because its like a second covered pool but still with plenty of fresh air. If you want sun and protection from the wind as well as few crowds, try the Lotus pool near the spa/gym. Kids are only allowed in the middle 2 pools, NOT the terrace or lotus and both pools are quieter typically.

 

4. Don't know the area well enough to give recommendations, im sure someone else will however.

 

5. I'm sure someone who has just come back can discuss some of the programs offered, my information is likely out of date.

 

Fear not, the Golden is well taken care of. Everyone has different standards but I think you will find she looks and feels younger than her age. In many ways, it seems that the Golden and Star have aged better than their younger siblings. I think your husband will be satisfied with the size of the Golden. While on cloudy/cool days you may notice some crowding, on sunny days the public areas spread the crowds out nicely and the ship feels much less crowded (but it really doesnt feel crowded). I believe that 2600 pax is a good size ship that has many large scale amenities but enough public areas to space out activities. The cruise staff do a good job of this also. If you need a quiet spot during the day guaranteed not to have interruptions, head to skywalkers nightclub (the spoiler). Plenty of nooks and crannies to hide out in, the best views of the sea, and quiet till 5 or 6 when there might be a past cruiser meeting. This area should almost be nicknamed the library during the day.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[luv2cruz62]

We are just off the Golden (Feb 1st) and I will try to answer your questions!:rolleyes:

1. Not tooo sure about weather temperature wise, but I think that is a wild call. Yes...the Sapphire hit rough seas, but on our sailing, (and this was my 5th in all) this was the smoothest sailing that I've encountered. I have had rougher seas going to Alaska. Some points during the cruise, we had to remind ourselves that yes, we were moving!!

2. I was going to book the Sactuary also, but on our cruise, there were many seniors, and not too many children/young adults, so I found that there was never a 'crowd' to fight with over lounge chairs, etc. We always found empty ones. (Aft of ship, on Deck 16 was totally empty most of the time.and.....there are 2 hot tubs, and a bar up there....:p) The attendant in the Sactuary told us that only 6 people had booked it for the entire cruise, and when I was wondering around, I would peek in there, and there was NO ONE there.

3.The aft pool does get some sun, and was used very little on our sailing. That was our favourite pool, and often, we would be the only ones in it. As I mentioned above, just park your stuff on Deck 16, and the stairs are right there to head down for a swim!

4. Can't say about San Diego (we didn't stay there), but in San Pedro, we stayed at the Crowne Plaza. We could see our ship from our hotel room. There were many Princess cruisers staying there. Hotel was nice, clean and quiet!

5. The Duo Eula(not sure of spelling) were GREAT on this ship! There hawaiian music and singing are wonderful. They play in the piazza quite often. I did take the lei making class, and also hula lessons, in which we all performed at the passenger talent show on the final night. He teaches Ukelele lessons also, and performed in the final show. I enjoyed the trivia contests, and the MUTS (movies under the stars/sun!!) they also have the Princess Olympics (don't have too much info on that as did not partake) also a boat building contest and also an egg drop. If your husband like to build things, those would be right up his alley!:D

 

Hope this helps you out, and if you have any further questions, I would be more than happy to help!!

*****sigh*******going through 'post cruise' withdrawl........:(:o

[Working 2 Cruise]

Actually, if you are looking for lots of sun, I would not do this itinerary, as the weather can be very iffy. The warm weather will be during the four days on the islands and you must be prepared for cool to chilly weather for most of the sea days.

 

I would strongly recommend a Caribbean cruise for sunshine! Just my two cents, as I have heard that many people were disappointed with the weather!

 

Also, the Paul Gauguin cruises are far more expensive, and as such, the entertainment might be disappointing to you. There is a naturalist on board, Rachel, but that is the extent of it. There will be movies, trivia, the casino naturally, but I found that on my last two cruises on the Golden (which were wonderful) that I did a lot of reading on my Kindle.

 

That said, the Golden is a wonderful ship and the staff is great.

[Pam in CA]

The California Current originates in the Gulf of Alaska and runs along the coast of California to Baja California. The water is very cold and can be rough. Whenever you sail out of San Pedro or San Diego, the temperatures are likely to be chilly and the water can be rough. It'll be chilly until the ship sails out of the current, probably a couple of days both sailing to HI and returning to San Pedro. This is geographic fact. Weather systems are a different issue. It could be quite warm on the coast or it could be foggy and chilly. When looking at local temperatures, keep in mind that LA and LAX are not on the ocean.

 

HI temperatures are temperate. It can get cooler but usually isn't hot. HI also gets quite a bit of rain. There are never any guarantees of clear or warm weather. That said, this is a great cruise that I've taken twice and would book again.

[delidan]

Did the Hawaii last April only 2 sun days out of the 10 sea days. Stayed at the Sunrise Hotel in San Pedro. clean and convenient and only 99.00 a night. Shuttle to ship, but close enough to walk if you wanted . great reasonable resturant right next door and many in walking distance.

[Tallcruiser]

April is in the rainy season for Hawaii. It just means you may encounter more on and off showers. I have sailed there in April and the water was warm and there were many intermittent warm showers and an occasional down pour that cleared quickly. There is no hard and fast rule to count on when it comes to sailing to Hawaii. It can not be predicted! I have heard of smooth crossings and because of wind in Maui or Kauai the ports are missed. It is a very enjoyable cruise if you enjoy the ship, cruising and just a sampling of the Islands. If the Islands are more important to you, a land trip may be more to your liking.

The transit for 2 days out of LA are a little rougher but usually smooths out by day 3 The same coming into Ensenada on the way back.

No one can not predict the weather, wind and affected tides. I have sailed this Itinerary 4 times and have had both smooth crossings and rough.

In San Diego there is the local trolley that will carry you most anywhere you want to go. Balboa Park ( ZOO), Old Town, Coronado all with in walking distance of where the trolley drops off.

http://www.sdmts.com/trolley/trolley.asp

 

The exception would be Sea World, Mission Beach, La Jolla and Torrey Pines. http://www.sdcommute.com/

 

The Amtrak station is also in Downtown San Diego, the Surf liner runs all the way up the coast to Los Angeles.

 

There are any number of Hotels in San Diego to chose from. Some right on the Harbor and Sea Port Village. One of my favorites is the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town San Diego for a true step back in time.

 

In Long Beach for fun there are packages offered at the Queen Mary for another unusual throw back in time. However it is at the port of Long Beach across the bridge from the Port of Los Angeles ( San Pedro).

[caribill]

2. Thinking about trying out the Sanctuary, ONLY if it is has sun exposure. I've read mixed reviews about this area and it sounds like it may be mostly shaded. Is this true?

There are lounges available both in the shade and in the sun although there are less of them in the sun. You can reserve either depending on availability.

3. Does the Terrace Pool in the aft area get any/much sun? It appears that the large "spoiler" (nightclub) is located above it and I wonder about shadowing. Skywalkers is directly over the pool and thus dopes give shade there (and in my opinion, that's a good thing). However, there are sunny areas next to the pool with lounges.

 

see above in red

[Cruisin' Chick]

I did this cruise twice exactly five years apart to the day, but in December/January. The latest one was the holiday 2010/11 one. If you want to get an idea of the activities, you can check my blog: http://www.sites.google.com/site/holidayalohaii/

 

The musical duo Elua (that's the spelling) is fantastic and really lends a lot of aloha to the cruise. They also provide many of the Hawaiian type of activities (lei making, hula lessons, uke lessons) and music, as well as talks about the culture of Hawaii. I didn't attend any of the talks, but I imagine this would be up your husband's tree. There was another lecturer about the islands on our cruise and some other scholarship@sea talks.

 

The weather was a bit different for our two cruises: one was cool on the way and warm all the way back. Last time was rainy a few days (we were having rain every day for a week here) and cool and windy on the way back. It could be a lot warmer for your cruise once you are away from the coast. Be prepared for overcast skies in San Diego and LA for your pre-cruise stay.

 

The last cruise has to rank as one of our favorites despite the weather.