Should I change Jun 10 18 Emerald princess Alaska Cruise to HAL?

[StrikeEagle7]

This cruise is round trip from Seattle. Emerald Princess reviews have been very mixed lately. Not sure if I should cruise HAL Amsterdam instead. Cruise Critic Awards seem to favor HAL greatly over Emerald Princess. This will be our second Alaska cruise. Last one was 10 years ago on Norwegian Pearl with our kids. Now it will be just us.

 

 

I can change in the next 10 days. Just nervous that Emerald Princess service and ship appears to really be on the downhill side if I read the recent sailing reviews. However not Sure if HAL Amsterdam is right for us (60 and 58 year old active couple). Anyone been on either of these lately or have a suggestion/recommendation?

[Lucky TGO]

I was on the Emerald Princess a couple of years ago and it’s my favorite Princess ship.

But as I said it was a couple of years ago. Sorry if this didn’t help.

Tony

[Msail]

This cruise is round trip from Seattle. Emerald Princess reviews have been very mixed lately. Not sure if I should cruise HAL Amsterdam instead. Cruise Critic Awards seem to favor HAL greatly over Emerald Princess. This will be our second Alaska cruise. Last one was 10 years ago on Norwegian Pearl with our kids. Now it will be just us.

 

 

I can change in the next 10 days. Just nervous that Emerald Princess service and ship appears to really be on the downhill side if I read the recent sailing reviews. However not Sure if HAL Amsterdam is right for us (60 and 58 year old active couple). Anyone been on either of these lately or have a suggestion/recommendation?

Emerald is a great ship I was on it 3 months ago I would cruise the Emerald anytime.

 

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[StrikeEagle7]

Whew. Good to know. Just get worried when the reviews have been so bad lately. Princess has been my favorite and hope I can report the same after this cruise.

[Thrak]

We did 28 days on Emerald last October/November and had a fantastic cruise. We wouldn't hesitate to book Emerald at all.

[EastBay Cruisers]

We sailed to Alaska on the Emerald last September, and the service was excellent. We highly recommend the Emerald and Princess to Alaska. A naturalist named Rachel Cartwright traveled on board with us and a couple of days gave a live narration of the ecosystem of the ocean, animals in the ocean and on shore, the structure and formation of glaciers and fjords, and many other interesting topics. Her book on Alaska cruising is for sale in the Emerald's gift shop, and it is extremely educational. In fact, the entire cruise was extremely educational.

 

 

I don't know who is posting critical reviews of the Emerald, but last September, our cruise on the Emerald to Alaska was excellent, with fascinating shore excursions and on board lectures and entertainment. We also had excellent service from our room steward and dining room waiter. - EBC

[land lover]

Here i another post so you can feel even more confident about your choice.

 

We were on Emerald last December, Mexican Riviera.....I actually thought MDR(traditional) food was better than average....Share was excellent. ..Went with a family group and had all the minis starboard on Emerald deck... Room Attendant top notch.

Had drink package bar tenders and servers receptive to my requests....DH loves his espresso....coffee bar good service.

Have seen Magic to Do about 5 times....gets better every time I see it, don't miss it..a little disjointed but parts are very entertaining and beautiful. After10pm on several nights spent time in Skywalkers with our group of CCer's dancing, again good bar service. Did not use the pool, but others were and seemed to be enjoying themselves. Casino not to busy and never generous at least to me.

 

BTW...we had E731....and our extended balcony wood needed varnish/stain whatever....but all our relatives balcony's wood had recently been done...so ours was up next.

 

Change if you must, but why not stay with your first choice and check it out for yourself.

 

Enjoy

[AF-1]

don't switch, sailed same itinerary last July. Ship was great, staff was excellent, cruise director was tops and this was my first sailing with Princess. I am booked with them again. Everything was great. Below is a pic of Emerald docked in Ketchikan last July. Have fun. Any questions let me know.

[Cruise Junky]

Don't even think about it. Stick with Emerald

[Reina del Mar]

Sailed Emerald Princess January 2018 for second time. First time Caribbean itinerary, this time South America.

 

Emerald Princess is a fine ship, staff excellent.

 

Did return one steak in MDR..not cooked to request and fatty.

 

Don't do 'shows', so can't comment.

 

Don't usually have opinions on cruise directors but this one was interesting to watch on the Wake Show. Not keen on bilingualism but probably due to itinerary,as didn't happen in Caribbean.

 

Cabin steward probably the best we've had in 25+ cruises.

 

Would sail on Emerald Princess again, in a heartbeat.

[AF-1]

Voice of the Seas show was great

[vmom]

I always read reviews with a "grain of salt" keeping in mind that disgruntled passengers are more likely to write reviews unfortunately. Most passengers who enjoy a great cruise often do not write reviews but those who are unhappy readily rush to write a negative review. Maybe its human nature.

 

I have also found that many times a negative review is often a function of the passenger having false expectations or that particular line or ship not a good fit for that particular passenger.

[Fuzzyape]

I always read reviews with a "grain of salt" keeping in mind that disgruntled passengers are more likely to write reviews unfortunately. Most passengers who enjoy a great cruise often do not write reviews but those who are unhappy readily rush to write a negative review. Maybe its human nature.

 

I have also found that many times a negative review is often a function of the passenger having false expectations or that particular line or ship not a good fit for that particular passenger.

 

Vmom, well stated. I try to keep that in mind as well when I'm looking at ships and trips. I'm fairly laid back in my expectations. I'm on a ship people bring me food, and take care of me it's all good. But sometimes that's not good enough for folks.

 

Strike, not sure what your expectations are, and no need to share. I've never had a bad experience on a Princess ship. I've always been impressed with our stewards (or as I refer to them our ninjas). Alaska was the only time I haven't done Princess (another person in our party planned the trip). But have always enjoyed the service and experience on Princess.

 

Best wishes to you on your journey!

 

Counting down the days!

[osofish2]

We did the 14 day Alaska round trip out of Seattle last August on the Amsterdam, and have also been on the Emerald. The Amsterdam is much smaller, so lines were nonexistent. We loved both ships.

 

However, the Amsterdam does not have a craps table, my husbands favorite shipboard activity, so he was not happy .Also, no International Café or Piazza. We got a killer deal on a Neptune Suite, and got to see 3 ports we had not been to, so I definitely would go on Holland again.

 

We are on the Emerald, 12 day round trip to Alaska out of LA in late April.

[aknursemom]

I sometimes get concerned about bad reviews, too, but then I remind myself that there are thousands of people on each cruise and multiple cruises each year. The handful of bad reviews are a very small percentage. As someone else said, it is more common to complain than to praise an experience.

[DennisNV]

Sailed on the Emerald Princess in November and had a wondeful cruise. Personally though I think HAL has great offerings for Alaska, particularly on their smaller ships. Alaska is all about what is going on outside the ship. The smaller ship may be better. The good news is either way you'll have a great cruise!

 

I sometimes think that people that leave bad reviews are crazy or at least have unrealistic expectations.

[Cruiserkenn]

Stick with the Emerald. Her promenade deck will be great for viewing Alaska scenery.

I have done this cruise on the Emerald's sister ship, the Ruby Princess.

 

You can't beat Alaska! Enjoy☺️

[StrikeEagle7]

Thank you all for the awesome reviews. Princess we go.

[AF-1]

Thank you all for the awesome reviews. Princess we go.

 

Good for you