Diamond Princess -- Just off the Cruise

[annmarz]

Don't know why a steward "looking exhausted" would be a reason not to sail again.

 

As to game equipment being in disrepair. I know why! On almost every one of my 26 Princess cruises I have seen things like: kids throwing ping pong balls into the ocean, kids in the lounges playing with the drums and other musical equipment, people not reassembling board games with all the pieces, and even (no lie!) someone smashing the mini-golf course speakers with a golf club!

 

Yes ideally Princess should immediately repair all these deficiences at least before the next cruise. In reality, is it really possible? When I see something that needs attention, I report it to the Purser's Desk.

[melika091900]

The ATM is in the casino if I am not mistaken. Also, it is not customary for Princess to make towel animals as with other cruise lines. On a different note, I have yet to go to a hotel where the cabin attendant restocks the mini bar or in this case, the sodas and bottled water. The only exception is in those hotels where bottled water is free. But still, sodas need to be re-ordered through room service.

 

 

nope no atm, they told me that we had to get it out at the casino, which was fine and probably cheaper, but if it was closed and we needed money then we were stuck... ;)

[Clutterlady]

I just have one question for all the towel animal people. What is up with that? In the scheme of all thing relative, why are towel animals such an issue with people who do not get them?:confused:

 

Oh NO...............the dreaded "Towel Animals":eek:

 

Some people think they're cute I guess:confused:

[Pam in CA]

nope no atm, they told me that we had to get it out at the casino, which was fine and probably cheaper, but if it was closed and we needed money then we were stuck... ;)

First, I would NEVER depend on getting money from a cruise ship ATM. It's dependent on having an internet signal to verify your PIN and complete the transaction and that's not always possible. On our recent Baltic cruise, the Internet (and ATM) was down for four days out of the 10-day cruise. I'd do better planning than expect to get money from any ship's ATM.

[karatemom2]

Sorry you didn't enjoy the Diamond Princess. Clearly everyone has different perspectives, but I love the Diamond. She is my absolute favorite ship of any line we have sailed on. Just last Christmas when we cruised on the Diamond she was in magnficent shape. In fact I noticed no wear at all and the ship was immaculate with a cleanliness level on par with the Disney Magic which I have to say was the most immaculate ship we have ever been on for its age. You know how fastidious Disney is about making sure everything is shiny clean.

 

I would love to cruise on the Diamond again and enjoy such a beautiful ship and wonderful crew.

[Northender]

nope no atm, they told me that we had to get it out at the casino, which was fine and probably cheaper, but if it was closed and we needed money then we were stuck... ;)

 

melika, now you are just making a problem where one does not exist.

 

.."but if it was closed and we needed money then we were stuck... "

I think the operative word here is IF......., so don't say there was not an ATM, there IS an ATM.:rolleyes:

[Shogun]

Hi Folks,

 

Some questions for the OP,

 

did you ask to see the PSD about the service and conditions you found on board.

 

Did you take any photos

 

did you fill in you px cards at the end of the cruise

 

have you written to Princess,

 

Well folks Shogun is on the Diamond twice with in the next 12 months you will get a live from if you want and I will tell it as I see it, if the ship is as run down as the OP says then this old sea dog has a mighty bark and a full set of teeth so be warned Princess.

 

yours Shogun

[coiran]

My family has just returned from 16 days in Alaska -- 7 of which were on the Diamond Princess. Here is the full text of my review from the Alaska Board: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=829259

 

Specifically for the Diamond Princess... we were very un-impressed with the ship and our comments are as follows: (maybe some of you can assure me they aren't all this bad).... Note that I did not do any Princess excursions... all were booked independently and so perhaps others gain value from using Princess to book things...

 

We chose Princess based on recommendations from trusted family and friends. We were overall extremely disappointed and are now canceling two rooms on a trip to the Panama Canal with Princess for next February. None of the things I mention below when taken alone would make me stay away from Princess, but cumulatively they are big problems.

 

Our room and steward were fine (mini-suite) but the rest had issues. Our cabin steward did a good job but I think he had a huge number of rooms to work and he was always looking exhausted. I think the line must have cut back on steward staff and made everyone cover more… it is unfortunate.

 

The public areas of the ship seemed somewhat dirty and in disrepair. When touching a table or the back of the chair it was likely to be sticky or noticeably dirty. The putt-putt course was ripped with broken speakers, no barriers around the holes… it was a joke. Compare it to putt-putt on Royal Caribbean and the difference is shocking. The shuffleboard sticks were broken; one of the pool tables had a broken leg…. Etc. When asking a waiter in the buffet area for silverware I was met with arguments about why I wasn’t allowed any…. Things don’t need to be that hard.

 

The food choices on the ship were very odd and eclectic. I understand the inclusion of things like duck, crabs legs, rabbit, buffalo, and other similar things is something most ships have, but I have never ever heard of them being the main-stay offerings. My family (and others I talked to) was aghast that there were rarely (if ever) main menu items like beef or chicken or pasta. Even on Italian Night, there were no offerings of pasta (lasagna, spaghetti w/ meat sauce) or what you would find at any Italian restaurant I’ve been too (and I’ve spent a lot of time in Italy). The Horizon Court Buffet was packed at every meal (perhaps a reflection of the menu issues). But even there they featured buffalo as the main meat at least one of the nights. I did meet a travel agent onboard who said she had been coming for years… she commented that the food on this itinerary was different than most Princess cruises… I can only hope she was right. At the Horizon Court Buffet, at every meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) we always struggled to find a seat and we often had to take our food out to the pool, up to another bar/lounge, or to our room. The large RC ships don’t even have that problem. The buffet was arranged in a confusing layout – causing issues for many of the older patrons in getting around and dealing with the lines. The food itself was often tasteless… from the steaks we could get to the garlic potatoes… everything was very bland. I love potatoes, but stopped getting them midway through the cruise because they had no taste… garlic potatoes, hash browns… no taste ever.

 

There were inconsistent rules enforced – an example. My daughter was able to get cranberry juice for free from the wheelhouse bar but not from a restaurant, and when I wanted to get cash for gambling using my ship card the table dealer said I couldn’t, but the cashier told me to go to the table dealer… Consistency should be a mainstay… why do they want to confuse passengers and cause us undue stress???

 

It was certainly not all bad... burgers and pizza near the pool were good, the laundry facilities were immaculate, I thought soda cards were a good value, coffee bar was OK (not as good as RC), bingo was fun... etc.

 

I see you have another Princess cruise booked for February 2009. You may want to cancel while you still can. Chances are it will be no better than the Diamond Cruise (for your tastes, that is). Perhaps you went aboard with very high expectations. Princess, like all of it's equals, is not a "luxury liner" experience albeit a very good experience for some folks, me included.

Ron

[Clutterlady]

:D

Hi Folks,

 

Some questions for the OP,

 

did you ask to see the PSD about the service and conditions you found on board.

 

Did you take any photos

 

did you fill in you px cards at the end of the cruise

 

have you written to Princess,

 

Well folks Shogun is on the Diamond twice with in the next 12 months you will get a live from if you want and I will tell it as I see it, if the ship is as run down as the OP says then this old sea dog has a mighty bark and a full set of teeth so be warned Princess.

 

yours Shogun

 

You go Shogun......love it when you tell it like it is:D

[Clutterlady]

:D

Hi Folks,

 

Some questions for the OP,

 

did you ask to see the PSD about the service and conditions you found on board.

 

Did you take any photos

 

did you fill in you px cards at the end of the cruise

 

have you written to Princess,

 

Well folks Shogun is on the Diamond twice with in the next 12 months you will get a live from if you want and I will tell it as I see it, if the ship is as run down as the OP says then this old sea dog has a mighty bark and a full set of teeth so be warned Princess.

 

yours Shogun

 

Sorry, double post!

[sultan_sfo]

(Boldface Added in reply)

This extract is from your detailed review.

I begin to understand why you had such a problem with the food on Diamond Princess.

 

...

The food choices on the ship were very odd and eclectic.

...

 

Day 7 – Seward

...

We stopped by the Safeway where we purchased lunch (and a Starbuck’s Alaska mug). It was a surprise when we saw a bear in the parking lot.

...

[mariakitty]

Our last cruise was on the Diamond and we thought she was a wonderful ship. I'm sorry you didn't like the food, and maybe there was something different about the menus on your particular cruise. I found the menus to be very interesting and I like the change from night to night. My husband is a VERY picky eater (no meat except chicken, only fish or crab/lobster for seafood, plus pasta) and he never had a problem eating in the dining room. In fact he will only eat in the buffet for breakfast! It's my experience that lobster, beef wellington or prime rib, and duck are typical items on a cruise menu, regardless of cruise line. I loved the food so much I bought the Princess Cookbook, signed by the executive chef!

 

I didn't play putt-putt, but we did spend a lot of time on the promenade deck, shopping, and even a bit in the casino. I never had a problem getting money to gamble, and I don't know why you would need money for anything else on the ship. I am quite certain you can get cash in the casino ATM, however. Maybe it's been removed?

 

Sorry about your disappointing cruise. I really do hope you find a line that serves your needs.

Maria

[kellieann5]

I am sorry that you had a less than fabulous experience on your cruise. I hope that the next one is much more to your liking.

 

I must address the comments about towel animals on the diamond princess. DH and I were joking around with our room steward about how we missed the animals while on our first Princess cruise (we were kidding- as grownups, we don't really find towel animals all that adorable). When we got back to our stateroom that night, it was like a cotton factory had exploded. We had no less than 6 towel animals. Including one that was hanging from the ceiling. He also took my hubby's pj pants and made some kind of flower creation. It was hilarious. We had animals every night after that. This was our first princess cruise, and we had such a blast that we booked our next one before we left the ship.

 

Also on the topic of flower animals- our waiter wrapped up a dessert for us 'to go' in a foil swan. I would guess that some people probably really dig that, too!

 

Well- your next cruise is SURE to be a charm. I loved the Diamond Princess in Alaska!

[kellieann5]

Oh, and the ATM is definitely in the casino. We had to hit it once for cash before our first-thing-in-the-morning shore excursion. I don't remember what the fee was, but I do remember gasping for air when I hit the accept button. Would you expect that to be any different?

[4cats4me]

I see you have another Princess cruise booked for February 2009. You may want to cancel while you still can. Chances are it will be no better than the Diamond Cruise (for your tastes, that is). Perhaps you went aboard with very high expectations. Princess, like all of it's equals, is not a "luxury liner" experience albeit a very good experience for some folks, me included.

 

Ron

 

The OP already stated that she had originally booked a Panama Canal

cruise on Princess for February '09 which she now intends to cancel.

[coiran]

The OP already stated that she had originally booked a Panama Canal

cruise on Princess for February '09 which she now intends to cancel.

 

So - what's your point? - - why didn't she take it off of her signature???

Ron

[wizard-of-roz]

I loved the Diamond...she is definitely one of my very favorite ships. I can't wait to board her again!!!! We'll be on the Sapphire (sister ship) and, I'm truly looking forward to it!

We thought the food was some of the best we've had on any line. I love plain pasta and pesto....I asked for it, once and was given a plate of it for a side dish, every night thereafter! Our waiters were so accomodating. And, the food in the Horizon Court was yummy!!!!

I found that our rug, in our cabin, was not as clean, as I'm used to so I called housekeeping and asked that it be cleaned while we were out for the day. Waalah!!!!! When we returned to our cabin the carpet was spakling. You just need to bring problems to the attention of those in charge. And don't be shy to ask! Our room stewart was amazing! I like towel animals but can cruise without them!

I've NEVER waited longer than 15 minutes for a soda from room service.......

If the tables/chairs are dirty, ask that they be cleaned. Service people don't always see everything. Nothing wrong with helping them and bringing it to their attention!

There is no need to walk off your cruise feeling like you've been let-down!!!!! EVERYONE, who works on a cruise ship wants you to come back......And, if someone is not making you feel this way....bring it to someone's attention!

Princess won't miss you! They have lots and lots of people who love the experiences they have with them and keep coming back for more!!!!!!!:) We're two of them!!!!! :p

[kendon]

So - what's your point? - - why didn't she take it off of her signature???

Ron

 

You are quite testy. Often when someone has a critical comment, people will respond with "why don't you give Princess another chance, could have been an off week on the ship". So....maybe the OP is considering NOT cancelling and trying the Coral which so many of us rave about. Relax.

[kruisey]

I loved the Diamond...she is definitely one of my very favorite ships. I can't wait to board her again!!!! We'll be on the Sapphire (sister ship) and, I'm truly looking forward to it!

We thought the food was some of the best we've had on any line. I love plain pasta and pesto....I asked for it, once and was given a plate of it for a side dish, every night thereafter! Our waiters were so accomodating. And, the food in the Horizon Court was yummy!!!!

I found that our rug, in our cabin, was not as clean, as I'm used to so I called housekeeping and asked that it be cleaned while we were out for the day. Waalah!!!!! When we returned to our cabin the carpet was spakling. You just need to bring problems to the attention of those in charge. And don't be shy to ask! Our room stewart was amazing! I like towel animals but can cruise without them!

I've NEVER waited longer than 15 minutes for a soda from room service.......

If the tables/chairs are dirty, ask that they be cleaned. Service people don't always see everything. Nothing wrong with helping them and bringing it to their attention!

There is no need to walk off your cruise feeling like you've been let-down!!!!! EVERYONE, who works on a cruise ship wants you to come back......And, if someone is not making you feel this way....bring it to someone's attention!

Princess won't miss you! They have lots and lots of people who love the experiences they have with them and keep coming back for more!!!!!!!:) We're two of them!!!!! :p

 

I will not make a comment about OP. I myself hate nasty digs made about thread writers sometimes on this board.

 

I do love the Diamond....so far she is my favourite Princess ship......love her so much that I will be one of her guests for 31 days at the end of the year.

Cannot wait to have my bed turned down each night with chocy on pillow.All the lovely food including THOSE SOUFFLES:D The entertainment ,the laughs at Trivia.Walking round the deck with the breeze in my hair.....Can't come soon enough for me.:)

[wizard-of-roz]

Kruisey: I'll walk the Diamond Promenade with you, anytime. The picture that you painted (in my head) of the breeze blowing in your hair, the laughs at trivia and the entertainment....actually gave me that longing feeling for a cruise! :) :p

[kruisey]

Kruisey: I'll walk the Diamond Promenade with you, anytime. The picture that you painted (in my head) of the breeze blowing in your hair, the laughs at trivia and the entertainment....actually gave me that longing feeling for a cruise! :) :p

Thats a date..:D

[Lynda90]

I've been on the Diamond 5 or 6 times and she is one of my favorite ships. Can't think of anything I didn't like about it. But, to each his own as everyone has a right to their own opinion. Mine just happens to be a different one, 5 or 6 times. :D

[daviharr]

Interesting observations by the OP. We were on the Alaska southbound cruise on the 'Diamond' this past June and we had wonderful cruise! We rated it close to 5 out of 5 for everything.

We really had a hard time finding anything at fault to complain about.On the other hand we took our first cruise with Celebrity'Constellation' this past April and were not impressed in comparison to Princess and Holland America. Everyone has different tastes...

[FritzG]

Wow the Diamond must have really been abused since May 31-June 6! She was fine when we sailed. I'm pretty fussy about cleanliness, and I never touched anything dirty or sticky, and all of the public rooms looked fine. We didn't use the mini-golf so I can't speak to it.

There were certainly a large number of food choices for each meal, and I think there was only one night where I chose salmon because nothing else appealed to me. I did think that the menu choices were better on our 15 day LA-Hawaii cruise in January, but of course we saw more menus then. I have to agree that HC is poorly laid out.

[cruisemom42]

My family has just returned from 16 days in Alaska -- 7 of which were on the Diamond Princess. Here is the full text of my review from the Alaska Board: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=829259

 

 

The food choices on the ship were very odd and eclectic. I understand the inclusion of things like duck, crabs legs, rabbit, buffalo, and other similar things is something most ships have, but I have never ever heard of them being the main-stay offerings. My family (and others I talked to) was aghast that there were rarely (if ever) main menu items like beef or chicken or pasta. Even on Italian Night, there were no offerings of pasta (lasagna, spaghetti w/ meat sauce) or what you would find at any Italian restaurant I’ve been too (and I’ve spent a lot of time in Italy).

 

 

Duck and crab legs are odd and eclectic???

 

As to the Italian food, I find it a little odd, since you say you've spent a lot of time in Italy, that you would consider lasagna or spaghetti with meat sauce as "Italian" dishes. If you find these dishes on a menu in Italy, it's highly likely that you are in a restaurant that caters only to tourists. In true Italian cuisine, pastas are never an entree, they are a second course and are a small serving (not at all the gigantic portions served in the US). Entrees are generally fish, game, meat or poultry simply prepared and perfectly seasoned, and NOT swimming with sauce or covered with cheese.

 

Here is an interesting thread that discusses Italian-American versus Italian food on TripAdvisor's Rome forum:

 

http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187791-i22-k1747039-American_Italian_Food_Vs_Real_Roman_Food_Menu_s-Rome_Lazio.html