Grand Princess Review
Before you Commit to a 15 day cruise to Hawaii read my notes
Rating by category
Additional details
If you fly from the East Coast to Hawaii you may spend 11 hrs flying. However, 5 1/2 hrs to SFO, hop in a cruise ship and you maybe saving $1500 if you count airfare, hotels, food, tours etc./ Things to remember: passport, book your tours before you leave home, otherwise you may find later on the ship your tour is closed. If you are traveling from SFO remember the avg temp is 61degrees. from Nov-May. Be prepared to feel cold weather, rocky seas and winds upwards of 25 knots for 6 of the 15 days you are sailing. Bring warm clothes for 10 days at sea.
We brought bathing suits but the pool temperature was in the low 70s. If you are courageous you may watch movies outdoors. Book your transportation from SFO airport to Pier 27 and back as soon as you sign up for the cruise. Warning, it may take up to 1.5 hours from the airport. Our trip took that long on a Sunday at Noon. It took 35 minutes to travel two blocks at Embarcadero.
Tours are very short, the best is the Arizona-Missouri Memorial. Be prepared to just bring a camera, tons of people go thru everyday and the security folks make you rent lockers at the reception center. This forces the rest of the tour group to wait for you to return to the bus. Hilo, Maui and Makawao are excellent tours.
Cabin Review
Balcony
The cabin was kept clean and orderly. The carpets look like the same ones we saw in the same ship in Alaska. (10 years old) The only thing we noticed was the sewer smell and the constant plumbing problems other people had.
Port Reviews
Hilo
Having visited Hilo before, we decided to stay downtown. A taxi from the Pier to downtown is less than $10 USD for 4 people in the car. This town is very quaint,
the Farmers market is unique.
Ensenada
Sorry, we have traveled throughout Mejico for many years, we love the country and their people but Ensenada is nothing short of a tourist trap. Oh yes, if you are looking for a
Pharmacy, it is located 30 meters from the ship.
San Francisco
The most appropriate name for SFO Embarcadero port is caotic, the traffic is horrendous in this area. Plan ahead.