Golden Princess Drydock Schedule 2015

[caribill]

Wow. :eek: So much for a dry dock! Cabin condition totally unacceptable!!!

 

A dry dock is to take care of what cannot be taken care of when the ship is in service.

 

Cabin replacement of carpet and other problems can be taken care of anytime. Problem is getting Princess to take care of it.

[cruisehappy001]

Thanks for the reports!

 

Did any of you who just got off the Golden happen to take any pictures of the redone Horizon Court??? :confused: Many people here have been eagerly awaiting photos... If you have any and could share them it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Happy Cruising!

 

Mark

[kiwimum]

Not a great photo. For some reason I did not check for quality after I took the photo or take more than the one. The basic footprint of the Horizon court has not changed with the 'cage' area remaining the same though updated. The galley walls have been opened up so you can thru. Located on the left is the new area is where for breakfast service pastries/toasted items/jams/hot cereals. Lunch is desserts/nacho fixings. Dinner desserts/ramen noodle fixings. Many of the items are located behind glass and must be served.

[trbarton]

Thanks for the reports!

 

Did any of you who just got off the Golden happen to take any pictures of the redone Horizon Court??? :confused: Many people here have been eagerly awaiting photos... If you have any and could share them it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Happy Cruising!

 

Mark

 

My photos were taken as I visited the ship but was not onboard thus my photos only from the outside. I used photos taken while it was in dry dock so that you compare them with the ship out of dry dock. If you can wait until May 22 I'll be on a BVE on the Golden and I'll take as many photos as I can from the areas that were changed in the dry dock, Horizon Court Buffet, Casino, and the photo department and a new VIP lounge that was added if I can find it.

 

I would also go to the thread that was started for the cruise from Vancover to San Francisco to see if anybody has photos.

 

As I mentioned earlier the people that I talked to that had just came off the ship were not aware of the dry dock so thus they didn't know about any changes.

 

I was on the Golden a number of years ago and if I can find any photos that I took especially of the buffet I'll post them so that you can see the difference.

 

Tom😎

[Colo Cruiser]

A dry dock is to take care of what cannot be taken care of when the ship is in service.

 

Cabin replacement of carpet and other problems can be taken care of anytime. Problem is getting Princess to take care of it.

 

 

The cabins are not being taken care of whether the ship is in service or not.

 

These conditions are, more and more prevalent along with lousy mattress's.

 

Totally unacceptable.

[liltravelgal]

The cabins are not being taken care of whether the ship is in service or not.

 

These conditions are, more and more prevalent along with lousy mattress's.

 

Totally unacceptable.

 

So disappointing. I board her June 1....and was hopeful she would be in "cleaner" condition.

[bhopal21]

So disappointing. I board her June 1....and was hopeful she would be in "cleaner" condition.

 

She may be by then.

 

Mike:)

[Kayakbride]

I got off Golden this morning as well. Agree Horizon Court was amazing, nice and bright and flow really good. I was in a balcony C739, second from the aft and had no plumbing problems and did not smell any foul odors. I thought my cabin and surrounding areas were fine, I didn't notice any stains or tatters--it's not a brand new ship. I think considering its age, she's in excellent condition.

 

By any chance is Princess@Sea with Messages working yet? I was told we could get free wifi Princess@Sea on our smartphones but unsure about messaging other passengers yet. They are adding ship by ship in 2015. The Golden Princess is listed as being operational with Princess at Sea, but not the messaging. They don't have a list of dates for the Messaging roll out.

[cruisehappy001]

My photos were taken as I visited the ship but was not onboard thus my photos only from the outside. I used photos taken while it was in dry dock so that you compare them with the ship out of dry dock. If you can wait until May 22 I'll be on a BVE on the Golden and I'll take as many photos as I can from the areas that were changed in the dry dock, Horizon Court Buffet, Casino, and the photo department and a new VIP lounge that was added if I can find it.

 

I would also go to the thread that was started for the cruise from Vancover to San Francisco to see if anybody has photos.

 

As I mentioned earlier the people that I talked to that had just came off the ship were not aware of the dry dock so thus they didn't know about any changes.

 

I was on the Golden a number of years ago and if I can find any photos that I took especially of the buffet I'll post them so that you can see the difference.

 

Tom

 

Tom,

 

Thanks for that, I can wait for sure not a problem. I was just surprised that no one has posted any pictures thus far, but I guess that most people are not as curious and cruise geeky like many of us here! ;)

 

(Before I forget, thanks to KIWIMUM for posting your picture... I just wish CC would up the picture size a little bit on attached photos, but I understand the issues with storage and bandwidth on such a big site!)

 

Just getting a little excited as the Golden Princess was my first cruise (non-Navy LOL!) for a 14 day Hawaii back in 2012, and I just recently booked a 10 day Alaska RT from San Francisco on the Golden Princess in a couple of months for my Mother and I! :D

 

Thanks again for your nice pictures which I have been following! I will wait patiently for your future pictures from your BVE! Enjoy your BVE!!!

 

Happy Cruising!

 

Mark

Edited May 14, 2015 by cruisehappy001

[crochetcruise]

Thanks for the reports!

 

Did any of you who just got off the Golden happen to take any pictures of the redone Horizon Court??? :confused: Many people here have been eagerly awaiting photos... If you have any and could share them it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Happy Cruising!

 

Mark

 

Mu 3 night cruise is 16 months away, but I've noted to take comprehensive photos of all dining areas, making notes as to which direction-forward, port, aft or starboard I'm facing; and also the deck name and location of photos. Have I forgotten any essential information please? If anyone wants specific photos, please post a request, and during the Sydney-Melbourne 3 night cruise sailing 11/11/2016, I'll do my best to comply. Have already noted to get menu photos-intend to do Crown Grill, hopefully Crab Shack, and Sabatini's for my evening meals; will stroll through the Horizon Court with the camera at the ready; International Café; no wine drinker but will pay a special visit to Vines to get drinks menus, remembering that I'm in Australia and the prices will probably be different. Hoping for a Pub Lunch on a Sea Day, will check for a different menu if it's offered the 2nd sea day; noted to check the Pizzeria and Trident Grill. Think I've covered everything but if I haven't, please let me know.

 

This is my first ever cruise, so I intend to comprehensively document it-OH make sure I have at least 1 preferably 2 extra lithium batteries to have a fully charged back up. THANKS for the memory jogging, I'd completely forgotten that point of taking spare batteries. Already noted to get extra memory cards for the camera, and plenty of notepads to take comprehensive notes. Been told I can visit the Kids areas-subject to my mobility limitations, think 1 has 2 levels- on the sailing day.

 

Have thoroughly enjoyed other cruisers posting about their cruise, and made notes on what to look for, photograph, and try, even sailing on a different ship, people still have useful information for me! I would never have thought of gifting myself On Board Credit except for Cruise Critic members, or of buying a Future Cruise Certificate.

 

Oh that's reminded me, is it more practical to book the next cruise on board and transfer the booking to my preferred Travel Agent or get the FCC and go in when I return home and know if cruising and I are compatible balance-wise! Thanks for the discreet help, I was puzzling over what I'd forgotten to ask about, now I have remembered.

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

[Big Timber]

I was on the 3 day cruise from Vancouver to San Francisco. For me, embarkation was a mess. I was on a shuttle from the airport to the ship. Once at the port we were sent to a "holding area" (aka parking lot) where we sat for nearly 2 hours. I asked who was responsible for making that decision and was told it was the port authorities not Princess Cruise Line. Other than that, the cruise was great. I was in the last mini suite on Emerald deck. There were no problems with the plumbing, no sewer odor, no stained carpet etc. I found the cabin to be in very good condition. My experience with debarkation went smoothly.

[VibeGuy]

By any chance is Princess@Sea with Messages working yet? I was told we could get free wifi Princess@Sea on our smartphones but unsure about messaging other passengers yet. They are adding ship by ship in 2015. The Golden Princess is listed as being operational with Princess at Sea, but not the messaging. They don't have a list of dates for the Messaging roll out.

 

I was on the 3NT sailing; Messenger@Sea is definitely enabled and the Internet service was astonishingly fast and reliable. I had to work a partial day Monday and both web and Skype were business class.

[bdjam]

Once at the port we were sent to a "holding area" (aka parking lot) where we sat for nearly 2 hours. I asked who was responsible for making that decision and was told it was the port authorities not Princess Cruise Line.

Was this Canada Place? People complain about San Francisco but I've not once been able to get in or out of Canada Place in less than two hours...it's a mess. Got of Crown Princess on May 2 - disembarkation was ahead of schedule and then we waited two hours before we could get to a bus and get headed to the airport.

[VibeGuy]

This was the single best three-ship day we have ever had boarding at Canada Place and ranks in the top couple overall, and it was *still* two and a half hours from sidewalk to promenade deck.

 

For the first time in the 25 years I've been cruising from Vancouver, they are trying new things. Some of them are working: all five x-Ray machines were running. They have added much-needed holding space between the exit from security screening and the U.S. CBP queues. They have eliminated the vast majority of the "snake" lines that often filled the lobby all the way to the pedestrian ramp and replaced it with seated waiting areas in Hall C, one floor up. These are all hugely positive steps.

 

We were fortunate to avoid CBP as our first port was Victoria. So once we left Hall C, we were onto the ship in 20 minutes - security and Princess check-in were prompt and Princess had a priority check-in line that did cut off a few minutes.

 

The Hall C thing mostly works. There were passed chairs and wide aisles, and it was easy for families and friends to sit together. The HVAC was fine and there was cold water and restroom availability. This all sounds like basic hospitality to visitors and it largely worked.

 

Getting into the hall is a long schlep - about double the distance walking. The queue splits into two queues - one for passengers that want to throw bags and one for carryon. The two queues get a boarding number and sit until the number is called. Working OK so far; we spent about 20 minutes in queue at 1:15 PM until we were seated.

 

They were drawing groups out of the hall from two directions. One group in the northwest corner of the room, one in the southeast. The NW queue had to cross the queue of people waiting to enter the hall. The SE queue had to traverse bags and people standing up along the folding wall despite constant announcements to sit down until the number was called. I actually admired the curt tone of the woman on the PA. It was downright un-Canadian, but sadly her entreaties were ignored. She was particularly adamant about checking luggage. We were soon to know why.

 

There is supposed to be a new escalator from Hall C to the cruise level. It is not finished yet. Groups departing via the SE door faced the steepest, shallowest set of stairs I have seen in years - I'm a fully-abled youngish guy relative to HAL and Princess passengers as a whole, and I had to use both handrails to climb down. It was slow going and I am certain there were injuries. There is no earthly way anyone with so much as a rollaboard could have taken those stairs safely.

 

Once this is fixed, three-ship days may be able to work. But with the stairs as a major choke point, there will always be two-hour waits in Hall C.

[dreema]

Can anyone tell me if they put an Australian power outlet in the cabins while she was in dry dock?

[trbarton]

Mu 3 night cruise is 16 months away, but I've noted to take comprehensive photos of all dining areas, making notes as to which direction-forward, port, aft or starboard I'm facing; and also the deck name and location of photos. Have I forgotten any essential information please? If anyone wants specific photos, please post a request, and during the Sydney-Melbourne 3 night cruise sailing 11/11/2016, I'll do my best to comply. Have already noted to get menu photos-intend to do Crown Grill, hopefully Crab Shack, and Sabatini's for my evening meals; will stroll through the Horizon Court with the camera at the ready; International Café; no wine drinker but will pay a special visit to Vines to get drinks menus, remembering that I'm in Australia and the prices will probably be different. Hoping for a Pub Lunch on a Sea Day, will check for a different menu if it's offered the 2nd sea day; noted to check the Pizzeria and Trident Grill. Think I've covered everything but if I haven't, please let me know.

 

This is my first ever cruise, so I intend to comprehensively document it-OH make sure I have at least 1 preferably 2 extra lithium batteries to have a fully charged back up. THANKS for the memory jogging, I'd completely forgotten that point of taking spare batteries. Already noted to get extra memory cards for the camera, and plenty of notepads to take comprehensive notes. Been told I can visit the Kids areas-subject to my mobility limitations, think 1 has 2 levels- on the sailing day.

 

Have thoroughly enjoyed other cruisers posting about their cruise, and made notes on what to look for, photograph, and try, even sailing on a different ship, people still have useful information for me! I would never have thought of gifting myself On Board Credit except for Cruise Critic members, or of buying a Future Cruise Certificate.

 

Oh that's reminded me, is it more practical to book the next cruise on board and transfer the booking to my preferred Travel Agent or get the FCC and go in when I return home and know if cruising and I are compatible balance-wise! Thanks for the discreet help, I was puzzling over what I'd forgotten to ask about, now I have remembered.

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

 

Good to have another person taking photos. I'll be posting photos from my BVE next Friday so I'll cover as much as I can in the time I'm allowed to stay on the ship.

 

For memory cards I uses a card that has a large amount of memory thus no need for a lot of cards. I carry another card only as a back up for an emergency. Another option is if you bring a lab top or Apple device with an adapter you can transfer your photos to your device thus freeing up memory on your memory card. Another option is to bring a flash stick and have the photo department transfer your photos.

 

Tom😀

[VibeGuy]

Our aloha deck inside did not have anything other than the US 120V plugs and the shaver outlet in the bathroom.

[elliair]

I was on the 3 day cruise from Vancouver to San Francisco. For me, embarkation was a mess. I was on a shuttle from the airport to the ship. Once at the port we were sent to a "holding area" (aka parking lot) where we sat for nearly 2 hours. I asked who was responsible for making that decision and was told it was the port authorities not Princess Cruise Line. Other than that, the cruise was great. I was in the last mini suite on Emerald deck. There were no problems with the plumbing, no sewer odor, no stained carpet etc. I found the cabin to be in very good condition. My experience with debarkation went smoothly.

 

There's no way to prove that it was the "port authorities" that made that holding decision. We had an embarkation worse than you. We too had a Princess transfer and we were picked up at the airport and taken to the Sheraton Hotel in LA. We were there for over 4 hours just sitting and waiting. They did have coffee/tea and pastries available, and more buses kept arriving as people's flights arrived. Around 1:30 we all boarded buses and were taken to the port where we sat for another 1-1/2 to 2 hours on the bus. We had no water and the restroom on the bus - the door was locked and the bus driver didn't have a key. There was a long line of people waiting to get on board. At the hotel everyone got checked in there EXCEPT for our S&S cards. We were told that we would go to the head of the line since we were already checked in - whether you were platinum or not. We had handicapped people on board and needed to use the restroom. I got up and went outside and told the bus driver she had two choices. Either get us over to pier and unload us, or I call 911 and make a real scene. She hopped on the bus and delivered us to the pier. There were other buses behind us waiting as well. We showed our "orange card" they gave us at the hotel and we did go to the front of the line. Princesses excuse was they had to clean the ship exrtra well due to noro. I'm not buying that excuse. BTW, this was on the Crowne Princess. I will never ever, ever, ever, ever take another Princess transfer. Second time we got burned like that with a Princess transfer.

[dreema]

Thanks Vibeguy.....looks like I will have to get an adaptor

[Big Timber]

Was this Canada Place? People complain about San Francisco but I've not once been able to get in or out of Canada Place in less than two hours...it's a mess. Got of Crown Princess on May 2 - disembarkation was ahead of schedule and then we waited two hours before we could get to a bus and get headed to the airport.

 

Yes, it was Canada Place. It appears as though this is a chronic problem there.

[Scopestuff2]

My photos were taken as I visited the ship but was not onboard thus my photos only from the outside. I used photos taken while it was in dry dock so that you compare them with the ship out of dry dock. If you can wait until May 22 I'll be on a BVE on the Golden and I'll take as many photos as I can from the areas that were changed in the dry dock, Horizon Court Buffet, Casino, and the photo department and a new VIP lounge that was added if I can find it.

 

I would also go to the thread that was started for the cruise from Vancover to San Francisco to see if anybody has photos.

 

As I mentioned earlier the people that I talked to that had just came off the ship were not aware of the dry dock so thus they didn't know about any changes.

 

I was on the Golden a number of years ago and if I can find any photos that I took especially of the buffet I'll post them so that you can see the difference.

 

Tom😎

 

 

I am sailing on Golden Princess from San Francisco in 5 days, Friday May 22, 2015. Happy to take and share pictures of the ship if people are interested. The Caveat is that I am brand new to cruising other than a mini mexico a decade ago.

 

Just let me know what You would like to see and I'll try to help out - provided that I can find my way back to this thread.

 

PS any suggestions on where to go to maximize the cruise are appreciated. I'm a very naive nubie and this was scheduled by my wife for me to take with my 20 year old son and 18 year old daughter. We have done zero preparation.

 

Thank you

 

pS. What is a BVE ?

[bhopal21]

I would a pic or two of Crooners

 

Mike:)

[Hobart18]

Hi everyone,

I have just been catching up with all of your posts about the comings and goings of the latest updates.

We are cruising from Melbourne when she comes down under and we have found that the best time to take photos is to take them just after we board.

We go and book in very early, after catching the train into Melbourne and either catch the tram directly to the pier or catch a taxi right onto the pier where we drop off our luggage and then proceed to where we commence our great cruise.

By going on board early the place is usually deserted and you can take great photos of the cabins from the back of the boat right down the passage to the front with usually no one in your way. We get to take photos of all the places ie Horizon Court and all the nooks and crannies, I always make sure I have a great cup of coffee when I first get on board at the International Cafe in the Atrium.

On the last cruise the Purser's office arranged buses for anyone who wanted to go into Melbourne to catch trains home after the cruise, this was well organised and much appreciated with a minor charge for the ride, we were dropped off right outside Spencer Street Station (now known as Southern Cross) where you can catch either the Metro or Country trains.

If anyone is interested in our Convict History they do great cruises from Melbourne on the Princess and Carnival cruise ships.

I went on both the Dawn Princess and the Carnival Spirit which docked at Port Arthur where the Convict boats did and I marvel at the difference in sizes of the boats from the past to the present time and what they had to endure whilst on the boats whilst sailing to Australia to commence their punishments.

It is amazing to see such great big boats sitting there.:):):)

 

''Happy Cruising"

[Saymyname]

I am sailing on Golden Princess from San Francisco in 5 days, Friday May 22, 2015. Happy to take and share pictures of the ship if people are interested. The Caveat is that I am brand new to cruising other than a mini mexico a decade ago.

 

Just let me know what You would like to see and I'll try to help out - provided that I can find my way back to this thread.

 

PS any suggestions on where to go to maximize the cruise are appreciated. I'm a very naive nubie and this was scheduled by my wife for me to take with my 20 year old son and 18 year old daughter. We have done zero preparation.

 

Thank you

 

pS. What is a BVE ?

 

Unique in the cruise industry, the Bon Voyage Experience enables passengers to extend an invitation to their guests to join them onboard during sailing day for a four-course dining room lunch with wine, a ship tour and even a souvenir photo. Passengers and their guests can enjoy priority embarkation and will be able to spend approximately four hours together on the ship before it sets sail. The cost for the program is $39 per person, which can be applied toward a future Princess cruise.

[Momma Mojito]

I am sailing on Golden Princess from San Francisco in 5 days, Friday May 22, 2015. Happy to take and share pictures of the ship if people are interested. The Caveat is that I am brand new to cruising other than a mini mexico a decade ago.

 

Just let me know what You would like to see and I'll try to help out - provided that I can find my way back to this thread.

 

PS any suggestions on where to go to maximize the cruise are appreciated. I'm a very naive nubie and this was scheduled by my wife for me to take with my 20 year old son and 18 year old daughter. We have done zero preparation.

 

Thank you

 

pS. What is a BVE ?

 

Thanks We will be cruising on the Golden in August so any pictures will be appreciated.

Enjoy your cruise!!!