This us our third Princess cruise and our second this year on the Grand Princess, we do enjoy cruising and have tried several lines finding Princess to be our favourite so far. The Grand was refurbished earlier this year and we were on board for one of it's first post-refit cruises to the Ffords, we were so impressed we immediately booked again for this mini cruise in sept 2011.

Sailing from Southampton is so much less hassle than flying out with all the luggage restrictions, queuing at airports and general hassle involved with flying these days. Princess has the embarkation sorted, they whip away your main cases as you step from your car, you won't see them again until your in your stateroom, we carry small cases with a few essentials so we can freshen up / change before the main cases arrive ( and for the last night when main cases leave on the evening before Disembarkation, you need a small case for over night essentials ). This time we had a small balcony as it was only a mini cruise and not that much more expensive, usually we have inside cabins, they are just as good and the same size, just without the option of fresh air and a view.

The ship is very impressive, the cabins are a little dated as they weren't updated in the re-fit they are however perfectly acceptable, nice shower room, good size wardrobe, hanging space, shelves, safe, pool towels, large flat screen tv and plenty of choice of channels many brand new movies all free, fridge, hair dryer, please note U.K. Travellers American sockets take an adaptor Or you won't be able to charge all your appliances. Air con or heating as required, bath robes ( free on request ), fruit (free in cabin on request), room service 24 hour (nominal charge). Balconies come with two chairs and a small table, just a word here, it seems they are popular with smokers, we are not smokers and this meant we had to put up with other people's smoke and it is more likely your cabin will previously have been used by a smoker, so perhaps an interior cabin is better (although strangely smoking is permitted in any cabin, bit odd as a huge fire risk ,your not allowed to use an iron for instance so why lighting up is acceptable i dont know, not to mention the disgusting smell of smoke on the carpets and curtains). Read more