3-8-08 grand princess review & tips

[edpeeks]

We drove down to Ft. L from TN. We are a family of four, 2 adults, 2 teens. We have a total of 19 cruises, CCL RCCL PCL. We had been on the Golden P in '03 and after 3 consecutive cruises on Princess starting in '01 we felt Princess had suffered since the takeover by CCL.

 

Getting to Port Everglades by car was easy enough (tip--if you come in the main entrance the Grand pier is around a couple of curves; keep driving until you see the sign for Grand. It will be clearly marked. You will get a ticket for the parking garage going in. You will pay going out ($105 & they take CC's). Go to the far end of the parking garage. Elevators #5 & #6 are the closest to the terminal for Grand. You will receive a number upon entering the building after you have deposited your luggage outside with the porters. Check in was very orderly and smooth. Make sure you have your electronic boarding pass is signed before check in. We got on the ship, put our luggage in our rooms and we were eating at Noon. BTW we arrived about 10:45.

 

Anyway, we booked two inside rooms (opinion--we fell in love with inside rooms starting with a European cruise. It is wonderful for naps. Check the sites for room sizes, many insides are the same footage a other rooms.) We have had mini-suites, balconies, OV's and especially if the cruise is port intensive and the ship arrives early morning, an inside is good. I will look to see if there are different sizes of inside cabins; this one was 160 sq. ft.. It was a little tight and I guess the most glaring omission was a couch or love seat. Having said that the room was laid out well and we have no complaints about the room. BTW we were C721 & C725. Leo the steward was great; very accommodating (he got extra tips!). There was a frig, (upon request...) feather pillows and an egg crate for the very firm mattress. Plenty of shampoo and conditioner (even though we really like CCL's little sample bowls of toiletries.

 

Ship impressions...the Grand is still in great shape. The crew was very friendly almost everyone gave us a greeting when passing. Back in '03 we were put off by the layout of Grand's sister ship Golden. Maybe we have more experience now but the layout of the Grand was not bad. You just have to remember that the ship is not the same on both sides. (You'll see what I am talking about...just pay attention and you'll do fine). Overall the ship was "quieter" than CCL or RCCl ships; more "refined". The pools are noted for their fresh water, however, the temp will take some getting used to. Pizza is better on CCL. I didn't like having to pay for ice cream.

 

I felt that the staff was paying attention. There were rules (vacation rules) and they put forth the effort to see them thru. We liked entertainment being on both ends of the ship. The theater (front) and the Vista (aft) had simultaneous shows going. Movies all over the place. We never watched the MUTS much. We just didn't like the darker screen during the daylight and were usually doing something at night. But in the room, theater, Vista there were movies! Due to the layout there were plenty of places to sunbath. We particularly liked the aft out under Skywalkers. Having said that, seadays were packed on deck. They do frown upon lounge saving but I never saw any towels, etc. removed (as I did on CCL).

 

Food...I love to eat. I diet before I go and diet after I come back. I do not miss a meal. Greats--the best french onion soup I have ever had, great filet (maybe on the 2nd or 3rd night), great cheesecake ( it is an alternative dessert and I had it most nights which brings me to say...) there were no "WOW" meals. Frankly, the food on CCL & somewhat RCCL was better (just our opinion and that's all). Nevertheless, we enjoyed the food and I am sure you will too. (Tip...if you want 2 en trees (I usually did, OK... I am a hog) specifically tell the waiter to bring them one at a time. I took me two dinners to figure that out after they brought both at the same time. Tea in the afternoon was very pleasant. We had anytime dining. I doubt we will do it again. We prefer building the relationship with the waiter each night. Most of the waiters were fine, although my wife aptly described them as "robotic". The buffet food was fine. The buffet layout was horrendous. If you look at Princess ship layouts most of the buffets are depicted like on the Grand. We felt it was a bad design. Obviously, Princess doesn't. Coke cards were over $30 with tip. That may not be a bargain. On formal nights we didn't see any shorts, t-shirts, etc. That was nice. We dress up on formal nights since we don't eat out often in our little town of Johnson City, TN. We enjoy the varieties of en trees on cruises. Our 16 year old boy will not eat his Mother's chili or spaghetti but every cold soup and exotic bird... he will order again and again.

 

The Conservatory was a very nice place. Entertainment was decent. We don't do singers or dancing/broadway shows. On many cruises we are bombarded with pictures, drinks (and we don't drink) and we were noton the Grand. That was nice. The casino was bigger than average (up $170!).

 

Excursions--Jamaica we did river tubing and horseback riding (our 13-year old has had riding lessons) I won't ride again. The tubing was good. We had done it before and it didn't seem as long this time (as do so many things that you repeat). We went with Yardie Tours. We wanted to do just the two tours and they offered them. However, on the tubing part the driver dropped us off and we waited over a 1/2 hour before we got into the river. They did not follow up on getting us signed in and lined up. Phil Layfette brought a busload while we were waiting and since we had gone with him last year we talked to him while he was making sure everything was taken care of for his tour. He remembered us and it showed us who we will go with next time in Jamaica.

The horse riding by the way was different than what I thought it was going to be. You and your horse are led by a guy walking beside you. One does get to see (like it or not) the neighborhoods around OR. Then they lead you down to the rocky beach and encourage you from the shore to negotiate your steed out into the waves and surf. Not fun.

 

Grand Cayman was a 7-mile beach day. Very low key. We have a family sized 'neat sheet'. It is very compact whilst very large as well. We have had it for a number of years probably can get them off the internet. We took a taxi @$4pp each way. Getting into the water requires negotiating thru gravel.

 

Cozumel was a Princess tour of Passion Island and the Twister boat. We had done the Twister with Carnival @$60. pp. At the start of that excursion the boat broke so I cannot compare the two tours except that the Princess tour was $99. pp. There was a lunch with the Princess tour and I cannot remember whether or not the Carnival had lunch included or not; I'm thinking not. At any rate the lunch, while pleasant, was not worth $160. more for the four of us. We got a wrist band with http://www.isla-pasion.com on it. I looked up the web site this morning and emailed them to see what the twister would be not going thru Princess. The boat ride was good. I personally was expecting a little bit of a wilder ride. While on a Canadian cruise we saw a twister boat that did 360's all over the place. This one maybe 270's. Tip--want the best ride and wettest ride? Sit in the elevated rear seats of the boat.

 

Disembarkation while always sad was orderly; at least the self-assist was. This was the first time we did self-assist; probably will not be the last. On the Grand you will meet in the casino. Tip--if it is the same every week, stay on the right hand entrance (the left hand entrance has a ramp; the right hand entrance has a couple of steps). We left out to customs from that entrance. We were on I95 at 7:50.

 

We went to the cooking demonstration in the theater. I was OK; no groundbreaking here. They are selling their cookbook $28., two for $56. Then they take you on a galley tour...a 45 second galley tour. You walk in one door, they march around some stainless steel and out the other door. You can get a cookie however. I understand there are hundreds of people. They cannot be detailed. I have however gone on a righteous galley tour before and it is enlightening. This one got me a cookie.

 

Princess is back in the shuffle for future cruises. We usually go on 3 a year. We already have June and October booked on CCL. But Princess will be readily considered after having been out of our lineup for a number of years.

 

If you have specific questions...shoot. I usually get on CC daily and especially after a cruise to help soften the blow of being back in the land of reality again. Now where can we go in February 2009?

[luvtwotrvl]

We drove down to Ft. L from TN. We are a family of four, 2 adults, 2 teens. We have a total of 19 cruises, CCL RCCL PCL. We had been on the Golden P in '03 and after 3 consecutive cruises on Princess starting in '01 we felt Princess had suffered since the takeover by CCL.

 

Getting to Port Everglades by car was easy enough (tip--if you come in the main entrance the Grand pier is around a couple of curves; keep driving until you see the sign for Grand. It will be clearly marked. You will get a ticket for the parking garage going in. You will pay going out ($105 & they take CC's). Go to the far end of the parking garage. Elevators #5 & #6 are the closest to the terminal for Grand. You will receive a number upon entering the building after you have deposited your luggage outside with the porters. Check in was very orderly and smooth. Make sure you have your electronic boarding pass is signed before check in. We got on the ship, put our luggage in our rooms and we were eating at Noon. BTW we arrived about 10:45.

 

Anyway, we booked two inside rooms (opinion--we fell in love with inside rooms starting with a European cruise. It is wonderful for naps. Check the sites for room sizes, many insides are the same footage a other rooms.) We have had mini-suites, balconies, OV's and especially if the cruise is port intensive and the ship arrives early morning, an inside is good. I will look to see if there are different sizes of inside cabins; this one was 160 sq. ft.. It was a little tight and I guess the most glaring omission was a couch or love seat. Having said that the room was laid out well and we have no complaints about the room. BTW we were C721 & C725. Leo the steward was great; very accommodating (he got extra tips!). There was a frig, (upon request...) feather pillows and an egg crate for the very firm mattress. Plenty of shampoo and conditioner (even though we really like CCL's little sample bowls of toiletries.

 

Ship impressions...the Grand is still in great shape. The crew was very friendly almost everyone gave us a greeting when passing. Back in '03 we were put off by the layout of Grand's sister ship Golden. Maybe we have more experience now but the layout of the Grand was not bad. You just have to remember that the ship is not the same on both sides. (You'll see what I am talking about...just pay attention and you'll do fine). Overall the ship was "quieter" than CCL or RCCl ships; more "refined". The pools are noted for their fresh water, however, the temp will take some getting used to. Pizza is better on CCL. I didn't like having to pay for ice cream.

 

I felt that the staff was paying attention. There were rules (vacation rules) and they put forth the effort to see them thru. We liked entertainment being on both ends of the ship. The theater (front) and the Vista (aft) had simultaneous shows going. Movies all over the place. We never watched the MUTS much. We just didn't like the darker screen during the daylight and were usually doing something at night. But in the room, theater, Vista there were movies! Due to the layout there were plenty of places to sunbath. We particularly liked the aft out under Skywalkers. Having said that, seadays were packed on deck. They do frown upon lounge saving but I never saw any towels, etc. removed (as I did on CCL).

 

Food...I love to eat. I diet before I go and diet after I come back. I do not miss a meal. Greats--the best french onion soup I have ever had, great filet (maybe on the 2nd or 3rd night), great cheesecake ( it is an alternative dessert and I had it most nights which brings me to say...) there were no "WOW" meals. Frankly, the food on CCL & somewhat RCCL was better (just our opinion and that's all). Nevertheless, we enjoyed the food and I am sure you will too. (Tip...if you want 2 en trees (I usually did, OK... I am a hog) specifically tell the waiter to bring them one at a time. I took me two dinners to figure that out after they brought both at the same time. Tea in the afternoon was very pleasant. We had anytime dining. I doubt we will do it again. We prefer building the relationship with the waiter each night. Most of the waiters were fine, although my wife aptly described them as "robotic". The buffet food was fine. The buffet layout was horrendous. If you look at Princess ship layouts most of the buffets are depicted like on the Grand. We felt it was a bad design. Obviously, Princess doesn't. Coke cards were over $30 with tip. That may not be a bargain. On formal nights we didn't see any shorts, t-shirts, etc. That was nice. We dress up on formal nights since we don't eat out often in our little town of Johnson City, TN. We enjoy the varieties of en trees on cruises. Our 16 year old boy will not eat his Mother's chili or spaghetti but every cold soup and exotic bird... he will order again and again.

 

The Conservatory was a very nice place. Entertainment was decent. We don't do singers or dancing/broadway shows. On many cruises we are bombarded with pictures, drinks (and we don't drink) and we were noton the Grand. That was nice. The casino was bigger than average (up $170!).

 

Excursions--Jamaica we did river tubing and horseback riding (our 13-year old has had riding lessons) I won't ride again. The tubing was good. We had done it before and it didn't seem as long this time (as do so many things that you repeat). We went with Yardie Tours. We wanted to do just the two tours and they offered them. However, on the tubing part the driver dropped us off and we waited over a 1/2 hour before we got into the river. They did not follow up on getting us signed in and lined up. Phil Layfette brought a busload while we were waiting and since we had gone with him last year we talked to him while he was making sure everything was taken care of for his tour. He remembered us and it showed us who we will go with next time in Jamaica.

The horse riding by the way was different than what I thought it was going to be. You and your horse are led by a guy walking beside you. One does get to see (like it or not) the neighborhoods around OR. Then they lead you down to the rocky beach and encourage you from the shore to negotiate your steed out into the waves and surf. Not fun.

 

Grand Cayman was a 7-mile beach day. Very low key. We have a family sized 'neat sheet'. It is very compact whilst very large as well. We have had it for a number of years probably can get them off the internet. We took a taxi @$4pp each way. Getting into the water requires negotiating thru gravel.

 

Cozumel was a Princess tour of Passion Island and the Twister boat. We had done the Twister with Carnival @$60. pp. At the start of that excursion the boat broke so I cannot compare the two tours except that the Princess tour was $99. pp. There was a lunch with the Princess tour and I cannot remember whether or not the Carnival had lunch included or not; I'm thinking not. At any rate the lunch, while pleasant, was not worth $160. more for the four of us. We got a wrist band with www.isla-pasion.com on it. I looked up the web site this morning and emailed them to see what the twister would be not going thru Princess. The boat ride was good. I personally was expecting a little bit of a wilder ride. While on a Canadian cruise we saw a twister boat that did 360's all over the place. This one maybe 270's. Tip--want the best ride and wettest ride? Sit in the elevated rear seats of the boat.

 

Disembarkation while always sad was orderly; at least the self-assist was. This was the first time we did self-assist; probably will not be the last. On the Grand you will meet in the casino. Tip--if it is the same every week, stay on the right hand entrance (the left hand entrance has a ramp; the right hand entrance has a couple of steps). We left out to customs from that entrance. We were on I95 at 7:50.

 

We went to the cooking demonstration in the theater. I was OK; no groundbreaking here. They are selling their cookbook $28., two for $56. Then they take you on a galley tour...a 45 second galley tour. You walk in one door, they march around some stainless steel and out the other door. You can get a cookie however. I understand there are hundreds of people. They cannot be detailed. I have however gone on a righteous galley tour before and it is enlightening. This one got me a cookie.

 

Princess is back in the shuffle for future cruises. We usually go on 3 a year. We already have June and October booked on CCL. But Princess will be readily considered after having been out of our lineup for a number of years.

 

If you have specific questions...shoot. I usually get on CC daily and especially after a cruise to help soften the blow of being back in the land of reality again. Now where can we go in February 2009?

 

 

Thanks for the info on the Grand. Will be on the Grand on April 5, and can not wait for some R and R. :D

[luvtwotrvl]

We drove down to Ft. L from TN. We are a family of four, 2 adults, 2 teens. We have a total of 19 cruises, CCL RCCL PCL. We had been on the Golden P in '03 and after 3 consecutive cruises on Princess starting in '01 we felt Princess had suffered since the takeover by CCL.

 

Getting to Port Everglades by car was easy enough (tip--if you come in the main entrance the Grand pier is around a couple of curves; keep driving until you see the sign for Grand. It will be clearly marked. You will get a ticket for the parking garage going in. You will pay going out ($105 & they take CC's). Go to the far end of the parking garage. Elevators #5 & #6 are the closest to the terminal for Grand. You will receive a number upon entering the building after you have deposited your luggage outside with the porters. Check in was very orderly and smooth. Make sure you have your electronic boarding pass is signed before check in. We got on the ship, put our luggage in our rooms and we were eating at Noon. BTW we arrived about 10:45.

 

Anyway, we booked two inside rooms (opinion--we fell in love with inside rooms starting with a European cruise. It is wonderful for naps. Check the sites for room sizes, many insides are the same footage a other rooms.) We have had mini-suites, balconies, OV's and especially if the cruise is port intensive and the ship arrives early morning, an inside is good. I will look to see if there are different sizes of inside cabins; this one was 160 sq. ft.. It was a little tight and I guess the most glaring omission was a couch or love seat. Having said that the room was laid out well and we have no complaints about the room. BTW we were C721 & C725. Leo the steward was great; very accommodating (he got extra tips!). There was a frig, (upon request...) feather pillows and an egg crate for the very firm mattress. Plenty of shampoo and conditioner (even though we really like CCL's little sample bowls of toiletries.

 

Ship impressions...the Grand is still in great shape. The crew was very friendly almost everyone gave us a greeting when passing. Back in '03 we were put off by the layout of Grand's sister ship Golden. Maybe we have more experience now but the layout of the Grand was not bad. You just have to remember that the ship is not the same on both sides. (You'll see what I am talking about...just pay attention and you'll do fine). Overall the ship was "quieter" than CCL or RCCl ships; more "refined". The pools are noted for their fresh water, however, the temp will take some getting used to. Pizza is better on CCL. I didn't like having to pay for ice cream.

 

I felt that the staff was paying attention. There were rules (vacation rules) and they put forth the effort to see them thru. We liked entertainment being on both ends of the ship. The theater (front) and the Vista (aft) had simultaneous shows going. Movies all over the place. We never watched the MUTS much. We just didn't like the darker screen during the daylight and were usually doing something at night. But in the room, theater, Vista there were movies! Due to the layout there were plenty of places to sunbath. We particularly liked the aft out under Skywalkers. Having said that, seadays were packed on deck. They do frown upon lounge saving but I never saw any towels, etc. removed (as I did on CCL).

 

Food...I love to eat. I diet before I go and diet after I come back. I do not miss a meal. Greats--the best french onion soup I have ever had, great filet (maybe on the 2nd or 3rd night), great cheesecake ( it is an alternative dessert and I had it most nights which brings me to say...) there were no "WOW" meals. Frankly, the food on CCL & somewhat RCCL was better (just our opinion and that's all). Nevertheless, we enjoyed the food and I am sure you will too. (Tip...if you want 2 en trees (I usually did, OK... I am a hog) specifically tell the waiter to bring them one at a time. I took me two dinners to figure that out after they brought both at the same time. Tea in the afternoon was very pleasant. We had anytime dining. I doubt we will do it again. We prefer building the relationship with the waiter each night. Most of the waiters were fine, although my wife aptly described them as "robotic". The buffet food was fine. The buffet layout was horrendous. If you look at Princess ship layouts most of the buffets are depicted like on the Grand. We felt it was a bad design. Obviously, Princess doesn't. Coke cards were over $30 with tip. That may not be a bargain. On formal nights we didn't see any shorts, t-shirts, etc. That was nice. We dress up on formal nights since we don't eat out often in our little town of Johnson City, TN. We enjoy the varieties of en trees on cruises. Our 16 year old boy will not eat his Mother's chili or spaghetti but every cold soup and exotic bird... he will order again and again.

 

The Conservatory was a very nice place. Entertainment was decent. We don't do singers or dancing/broadway shows. On many cruises we are bombarded with pictures, drinks (and we don't drink) and we were noton the Grand. That was nice. The casino was bigger than average (up $170!).

 

Excursions--Jamaica we did river tubing and horseback riding (our 13-year old has had riding lessons) I won't ride again. The tubing was good. We had done it before and it didn't seem as long this time (as do so many things that you repeat). We went with Yardie Tours. We wanted to do just the two tours and they offered them. However, on the tubing part the driver dropped us off and we waited over a 1/2 hour before we got into the river. They did not follow up on getting us signed in and lined up. Phil Layfette brought a busload while we were waiting and since we had gone with him last year we talked to him while he was making sure everything was taken care of for his tour. He remembered us and it showed us who we will go with next time in Jamaica.

The horse riding by the way was different than what I thought it was going to be. You and your horse are led by a guy walking beside you. One does get to see (like it or not) the neighborhoods around OR. Then they lead you down to the rocky beach and encourage you from the shore to negotiate your steed out into the waves and surf. Not fun.

 

Grand Cayman was a 7-mile beach day. Very low key. We have a family sized 'neat sheet'. It is very compact whilst very large as well. We have had it for a number of years probably can get them off the internet. We took a taxi @$4pp each way. Getting into the water requires negotiating thru gravel.

 

Cozumel was a Princess tour of Passion Island and the Twister boat. We had done the Twister with Carnival @$60. pp. At the start of that excursion the boat broke so I cannot compare the two tours except that the Princess tour was $99. pp. There was a lunch with the Princess tour and I cannot remember whether or not the Carnival had lunch included or not; I'm thinking not. At any rate the lunch, while pleasant, was not worth $160. more for the four of us. We got a wrist band with www.isla-pasion.com on it. I looked up the web site this morning and emailed them to see what the twister would be not going thru Princess. The boat ride was good. I personally was expecting a little bit of a wilder ride. While on a Canadian cruise we saw a twister boat that did 360's all over the place. This one maybe 270's. Tip--want the best ride and wettest ride? Sit in the elevated rear seats of the boat.

 

Disembarkation while always sad was orderly; at least the self-assist was. This was the first time we did self-assist; probably will not be the last. On the Grand you will meet in the casino. Tip--if it is the same every week, stay on the right hand entrance (the left hand entrance has a ramp; the right hand entrance has a couple of steps). We left out to customs from that entrance. We were on I95 at 7:50.

 

We went to the cooking demonstration in the theater. I was OK; no groundbreaking here. They are selling their cookbook $28., two for $56. Then they take you on a galley tour...a 45 second galley tour. You walk in one door, they march around some stainless steel and out the other door. You can get a cookie however. I understand there are hundreds of people. They cannot be detailed. I have however gone on a righteous galley tour before and it is enlightening. This one got me a cookie.

 

Princess is back in the shuffle for future cruises. We usually go on 3 a year. We already have June and October booked on CCL. But Princess will be readily considered after having been out of our lineup for a number of years.

 

If you have specific questions...shoot. I usually get on CC daily and especially after a cruise to help soften the blow of being back in the land of reality again. Now where can we go in February 2009?

 

 

 

Are the Coke Cards still a sticker??

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the review. :)

[edpeeks]

Yeap. Coke cards get a sticker on your sail & sign card; plus the coke thermos.

[luvtwotrvl]

Glad to know that they have not gone to the punch cards like HAL. Was the sticker a Coke, Sprite or Diet Coke sticker???

 

Thanks:D

[sheephugs]

edpeeks,

 

On Grand Cayman, what time did you leave the ship? Did you have to wait for a long time for a tender? Thanks!

[JandD Mom]

Edpeeks,

 

Thanks for the great and helpful review. My question has to do with Daylight savings time. Did you go back 1 hour for Jamaica and Cayman, and another hour for Cozumel? That is, did the ship change times to the same time as the port you were in?

 

Also, if you remember, was princess cays on EDT or EST?

 

Thanks for your help! I leave next Saturday and we have some private tours to meet!

[dforeigner]

Thanks for taking time to write a review.

[San Diego Ellie]

I am going to answer your question about where you can go Feb. 2009. I just got off the Star SouthAmerica/Antarctica cruise about 11 days ago, and everyone onboard that I talked to, even those with 70 or more cruises under their belt, agreed with me that it was the cruise of a lifetime-- the best cruise they have ever taken. It is expensive right now, but if like last year, they will send our brochures in summer with much reduced prices for captains circle members. If you can swing it, I would do it; there are persistent rumors that Princess will discontinue these Antarctic cruises, and the Antarctic is awesome beyond belief.

[dot73]

I've been watching in Grand bridge cam in anticipation of my Mar.29 cruise. I noticed that in Ochos Rio the Grand hasn't been docking at the main dock but further down on an old dock. Can you walk to the main dock, where I believe they have a few shops or is there some kind of a shuttle?

 

Also, did you get off the ship at Princess Cays? Were there long lineups in the morning?

 

Thanks for all the advice.

[edpeeks]

The sticker on the kids card was a Sprite emblem. Our boy preferred Dr. Pepper however, they had Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite.

 

The Princess Patter will keep up with the time changes for you. We had to change 3xs due to DST. You should change twice but they will cue you.

 

The dock where we landed in Ocho Rios was a the old sugar plant. We had an independent tour so I do not know whether Princess provides a shuttle.

 

Princess Cays--we did not get off the boat at this stop. I had rubbed my feet raw walking 7 mile beach and I was tired of the sand. So I cannot say what the surge of people to tender over to the island was. Our 16 YR boy went over (mid-morning of course) and said it wasn't much. What I had observed from the boat, Labadee (RCCL) and Disney's private island looked better. This was the first time my wife and I stayed on the ship at a port. We liked having the ship to ourselves.

[NorcalGuy]

Thanks for the review!

You said "The pools are noted for their fresh water, however, the temp will take some getting used to. "

What about the temp? Were they too cold or too hot?

[georgiavol]

Thanks for the info on the Grand. Will be on the Grand on April 5, and can not wait for some R and R. :D

 

April 5th for us, too.

 

We are a couple of crazy wrestling families from Atlanta. We call ourselves crazy because no sane person would spend every winter Saturday in dingy gyms from dawn to dusk watching high school wrestling.

 

18 days to go!!!!!!!!!

[edpeeks]

Let's just say there will be 'shrinkage'.

[NorcalGuy]

Let's just say there will be 'shrinkage'.

:eek: :eek:

This is one of my few pet pieves about Princess ships.

Love the sizes and number of pools. Love the fresh water.

But...pool temps vary widely depending on which ship and what day or time of day.

I've experienced very warm bath water temp on the Dawn as well as ice cold, on the same voyage! The really odd thing was the temp was COLD (heat not on) between San Francisco and Cabo San Lucas, then warm (heat on) down at Acapulco. It didn't make sense.

I complained (nicely) and the temp was back up to warm the next day. I'm not sure how determines the temp or their logic...

Other ships varied widely as well.

[Ron n Jon]

Glad to know that they have not gone to the punch cards like HAL. Thanks:D

 

We are curious as to what is meant by a "punch card" for prepaid cola aboard HAL How does that work?

[sheephugs]

We are curious as to what is meant by a "punch card" for prepaid cola aboard HAL How does that work?

 

 

It's a card with (I think) 20 circles or numbers & for every soda you order the steward uses a hole puncher & punches a circle or number (I forget the configuration) until all are used up. It's become a tradition with HAL cruisers to leave cards with remaining sodas in the cabin. Be sure to check the Gideon Bible.

[GSDsky]

Had only sailed Princess sun class ships and our lifestyle suited having a cabin on the Riviera deck. Just got off the Emerald and booked an aft to watch the wake and experience something different. The different was long walks to food, casino and pools. View great but for how long did I look?

 

Now booked the Grand for Jan 09 and we booked the Lido Deck.

 

Any thoughts on my choice?