Star Princess Review

4.0 / 5.0
0 reviews

Star Inaugural 2014 Alaska Cruise 5/12-23 w/New Immigration Procedure!

Review for Alaska Cruise on Star Princess
User Avatar
LewesBeach
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: May 2014

4 of us flew into SF a day ahead of time for the May 12-23, 11 day AK cruise. Had booked a car service, Pleasant Limo, from airport to hotel for $90, tip included for 4 people plus luggage. It was efficient and would book them again. Stayed near Union Square at the Kensington Park Hotel and walked to Johns Grill for dinner. Both outstanding!

Embarkation: next day we took a $30 cab ride to Pier 35 & checked our luggage in. Boarding however proved to be problematic. We were told that our cabin A507 was one of 25 that flooded and we should "go over there to wait" to see if we would be boarded, because " some people will not be sailing". Eeeek!!! We told the agent that our booking was linked with our friends, one of whom is blind, and they needed us to help them travel on their first cruise. And we had all flown in together from the East Coast, so 2 of us not sailing wasn't an option. They talked to a supervisor who gave us permission to board with our friends (whose D mini suite cabin was not affected). So now at 12:30 we r on board with no cabin, and our luggage going to a flooded room. Got our friends settled in and we all ate lunch in the dining room and it was fine. Checked back with passenger services at 3:30 for a room assignment, and to find our luggage. No room yet but they told us to go to muster drill. Uhhhh.... With no cabin, ergo no life jackets, where were we supposed to go? So they assigned us a temporary room & we mustered. A few misplaced papers in wrong mail boxes and no luggage till 9:30pm the first day, but 2 days into the cruise we got our original cabin back, re-carpeted and good as new, with a $150 OBC for the inconvenience of having to move.

Dining: went to Portofino for anytime dining and explained our friend's eyesight problem, and they assigned us a table close to the door with no steps for the whole cruise. Very professional and accommodating. Food in dining room was better than average. Service was impeccable with Amin and Marianna catering to our sight-impaired friend. They got the 10 bottle Gold Wine Pkg and were very happy w the wine selection. DH got the all-inclusive beverage pkg and felt he got his money's worth with all the espressos, beer, soda, glasses of wine, and occasional martini, along with at least 2 large bottles of water every day. Also got water to take on excursions. Horizon Court is never our favorite, but we go for breakfast - made to order omelettes, fruit, waffles, smoked salmon, Earl Grey tea.. Everything looked fresh and hot. Separate dessert/pastry/croissant station is a nice addition. Again service was outstanding here, u never had to wait for anything. Intl Cafe became a favorite for our cruising newbies. Paninis, salads, desserts and specialty coffees were our staples for lunch. No charge yet for room service on this ship. Promotional Complimentary dinner at Sabatinis was good, Crowne Grill lobster and filets were better. Pizza on pool deck is as good as ever! Did not try any burgers or dogs. Note that Purell hand stations were everywhere & staff was standing there suggesting people use it. Never heard of any Noro on our trip.

Cabin Review

Cabin A507 is my first experience in a sideways interior room. I had read about them on CC but wanted to experience one for myself. Pros: 1. Convenient to midship elevators & Horizon Ct. 2. Larger square footage and lots of extra closet space. Cons: 1. When you open the door you see right onto the bed from the hallway. 2. It's next to the storage area where they keep the carts to service the rooms, and you hear them being moved around. 3. It's below pool area, and we did hear MUTS one night and chairs being moved and people running across the deck other nights. Conclusion is I would not book one again unless it was in a different location. Our friends had mini suite D405 and loved the size and location.

previous reviewnext review

Find a cruise

Any Month

Get special cruise deals, expert advice, insider tips and more.By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

© 1995—2024, The Independent Traveler, Inc.