We are seasoned cruisers (over 50) and probably have different expectations and reasons for cruising. This was our 10th trip to Alaska, so shore excursions were not a priority for us.

We arrived the night before the cruise and stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront, which is directly across the street from the cruise terminal. Although on the higher side of room rates, it is a beautiful and comfortable hotel. Princess had sent an e-mail prior to embarkation notifying us of customs delays and suggested that we arrive depending on our cabin deck; smart idea. Since ours was the first time to arrive I can only speak to our experience and it was a smooth one. No matter how you get to the terminal, everyone has to go through customs, perhaps for the second time if you flew in. It took about an hour before we were able to board, but we arrived at the cruise terminal around 10:30 a.m. Lines will probably be longer when late morning and early afternoon buses start to arrive. Nothing any cruise line can do to speed up the customs process, but with the new kiosk system, it goes pretty quickly. Here’s my tip for anyone who hasn’t sailed from Vancouver. If you arrive by air, and you are able to move your luggage with relative ease, there is a train (The Canada Line) that has a stop right at the Vancouver Airport. (Level 4 of the parking garage just outside the arrival terminal) It drops you at the Waterfront Station and from there is it a block and ½ walk to the cruise terminal. Cost is about $6/7 per person and only $2 for seniors. Beats the cost of taxis and bus transfers and is easy to navigate. It is safe, comfortable and takes about 25 minutes from start to finish.

Once onboard, we checked out our cabin, had a bit of lunch in the buffet and explored the ship. We had sailed the Golden about 10 years ago and it had been renovated in recent years. Nice décor and except for only the aft elevators going to the three highest decks, easy to navigate. It is considered a medium sized ship in today’s menagerie of mega-ships. I thought it was just a good size and we never felt crowded. Others have commented on her age and commented on foul smells, but we never experienced any of that. There were some maintenance issues; leaks from the ceiling in several areas, but they were handled quickly and did not affect our experience. The décor is quite elegant. The atrium area covered 4 decks with scenic elevators and is generally the hub of things to do and places to go. The Wheelhouse bar is reminiscent of a posh men’s club. Wood accents, leather chairs, small band and stage area and a bar at the back. It is a bit smaller than on other Princess ships, but still a good place for wine and chilling. The Explorer Lounge, where many events happen (art auction, game shows, evening dancing, etc.) is mid-ship and offers a casual small club feel. The Vista Lounge (Aft) is a much larger entertainment venue and is used for some of the live entertainment, Zumba and line dancing classes, lectures, bingo and trivia. The Princess Theater is forward, theater style (bar service is by servers) and acts as one of the primary venues for live entertainment. The Casino is mid-ship, off the atrium and has most games that people are familiar with. Read more