Golden Princess Review

4.0 / 5.0
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Cyclonic weather. Princess is cutting corners

Review for the South Pacific Cruise on Golden Princess
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Lynollie
2-5 Cruises • Age 50s

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Sail Date: Apr 2017
Cabin: Interior
Traveled with children

Captain Dominico made the difficult decision to vary the port order on our cruise, in order to avoid Tropical Cyclone Cook. The decision was made early enough for most of our tours (booked online rather than through the ship) to change the times We did get to visit all the ports, just in a different order. We were later advised that if we had continued on the original route we would have been sailing through the eye of the storm between Mare and Port Vila. Due to the developing storm, the early weather conditions were gale force winds and 3-4 metre waves, before the route was adjusted.

This was our second trip on the Golden Princess in the space of 18 months. Our interior cabin B325 was as expected and paid for. Yes, it is small, but in twin bed configuration there was adequate space to move around. The cabin was well maintained by our steward, Milendra, who was helpful and efficient. We had taken a room deodoriser spray, which kept the toilet smells at bay (essential in my opinion). There was a constant musty smell in the corridor near the central lift on this floor, like there has been an overflow from one of the bathrooms, which hadn't dried properly. The seating area around the International Cafe was woefully inadequate and it was usually impossible to find somewhere to sit on Deck 5 at anytime of the day.

We had traditional dining - first sitting. Our waiter, Abdul, was outstanding at his job. He was happy, helpful and friendly on all occasions. His beautiful smile and quirky sense of humour made you want to dine at Donatello each night. Murat, one of the senior dining staff, was very helpful and attentive to a table companion with significant dietary allergies. He checked every night with her to ensure that there would be a suitable menu item the following evening. The menu was varied and most choices were delicious. More salads and vegetables need to be offered with the main meals. Very disappointed with the Curtis Stone items on the menu. The chicken and leek pie looked beautiful until you removed the pastry top and found that the filling barely cover the bottom of the ramekin. His pork belly offering was not cooked as described. It was supposed to have crispy cracking and the crackling was non existent. It just looked like jellified fat and the taste and presentation was digesting. Curtis, if you are going to allow your name to be connected to the ship's menu, you and your team have to follow up to make sure that the dishes are cooked correctly! Horizon Court food offered a wide variety of dishes (most of the bakery items were delicious) but the presentation was often poor. Some of the casserole/stew options reminded me of the slop we used to be offered on campus at university. The food was often not hot enough and was virtually cold by the time you sat down at your table.

Cabin Review

Interior

Cabin IB

In twin configuration there was enough room to move about. Large closet space. As always, bathroom was small but adequate. Good position between 2 lifts.

7 Helpful Votes
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