The Grand is the oldest of the Grand class Princess ships being built in 1999 and it’s in great shape! Most everything was clean and shiny. The only area that looks worn is on the top deck where the AstroTurf is coming up a little at the edges. I had an inside cabin and it was clean and well maintained. The public rooms are great and the ship is easy to navigate. The Princess Theater makes watching the entertainment great wherever you may be sitting. I used the internet cafe almost every day and rarely had to wait for a terminal and they seem to have sped up the internet connection, it’s the fastest I’ve ever experienced on a Princess ship yet. One problem on the ship is a vent that they recently put on the Promenade deck, port side all the way forward. Since this is the deck where you can walk on the outside where 3 times around is a mile, many people do that all day to get some exercise. This new vent I'm talking about pumps out thick cigarette smoke all day and night which covers the deck in that area with no way to avoid it. It's new because the last time I was on the ship it wasn't there. It needs to go!!!! Disgusting to say the least. I will be emailing Princess about it!

The Food

Since I have food allergies I eat both breakfast and lunch at the Horizon Court every day. For breakfast I usually have fruit and hot cereal of which there is always an abundant supply of fruit. The fruit was always fresh, ripe and delicious. For lunch I made a huge salad of which there was always a great selection of veggies to choose from. One thing I have found on cruise ships is that you can ask for almost any food item and the staff will get it for you, they almost never say no! One of the great things about this style princess ship is that the Horizon Court is in the back of the ship with plenty of inside seating as well as on the very back you can sit outside on the deck overlooking the pool and the ocean while eating on the bar/railing that has built in stools to sit on. As long as it isn’t raining I dine here for every breakfast, lunch and snack for the whole cruise, it’s wonderful and scenic (I was on the Golden Princess out of San Francisco on a Mexican Riviera cruise and did the same). For dinner I have ate in the main restaurant at the earlier seating. This way I have the same waiter and table mates each night. All the dinners were great every night. I order a special salad, sautéed vegetables and a yam for each night, while choosing between the various fish, lamb and chicken items. For dessert I either had a bowl of berries, chocolate cake (that they made without eggs for me) or they made me an Apple Tart Tatin. Like I said if you ask they will make it for you. The head waitress and crew were always friendly and efficient, getting me everything I asked for. Read more