The May 2009 cruise to Alaska on the Star Princess may well be my last cruise on a Princess Cruise ship.........Since Carnival added Princess Cruises to it already overflow of cruise line companies, Princess has steadly gone down hill with Carnival touches. Especially evident is dining, the wonderful traditional Italian dining and service experience offered by Princess Cruises for years and years has been replaced by substandard banquet food and shotty service........One area Princess (Carnival) must deal with is the Lido Buffet, Princess is one of only a few cruise lines that allow passenger to self serv in the buffet area and I witnessed serving spoons and utinciles dropped on the floor by a passenger and replaced (without cleaning) back onto a buffet item...
As far as the ship, Star Princess is one of the largest in the Princess fleet and the public areas are numerous and spaceous. Cabins are adequate for all inside, outside and balcony categories. Suites in all categories are the best buy, spaceous and well designed. Entertainment on the Star Princess was nothing to write about, good to poor on most occasions. ONE very important item to pass onto any passengers using the "NEW Cruise Terminal" in Seattle for any cruise line for any sailing.....the terminal is a disaster, from passenger drop off to luggage check to passenger checkin the process is a nightmare, arrive early for your departure and use self check out at the end of a cruise in Seattle and rush away from the terminal ASAP
