Island Princess Review
Rating by category
Additional details
SUMMARY
The main reason for joining this cruise is the chance see the Northern Lights, as the Ports visited are not very interesting, especially when it is cold and wet. Island Princess is now the smallest ship in the Princess Fleet (as is Coral Princess), has limited dining options and only two main lounges. Food and service were good. Daytime entertainment was poor but we had a great bunch of fellow passengers and kept ourselves entertained throughout the sea days.
GETTING THERE
Cabin Review
Balcony
Balcony cabins on deck 14 (Aloha) can be really noisy whenever there is activity on the open deck above. At night and early morning they seem to wheel the loungers around and it sounds like a train overhead. The cabin was otherwise fine, after a couple of maintenance faults were fixed, but the balcony was of little use around Norway.
Port Reviews
Tromso
The Tromso cable car was closed for maintenance and we decided not to hike over the bridge to visit the modern cathedral, as we had been to both before and it was raining. The cathedral in town was closed. We managed to find the Tourist Office, which was just as well since there was nothing available at the port or elsewhere.
Alta
Alta itself is a small modern town with a really interesting Northern Lights Cathedral. It has an impressive organ and a presentation area in the basement, where they show a short film of the northern lights. Admission was 50 NOK plus 50 NOK for the movie. The Salmon Museum nearby was also well worth a visit, especially as entry was free.
Alesund
Alsund is an attractive town with Art Deco buildings and some good shops. There was a Hop On Hop Off bus (40 USD) and a covered train providing an 80 minute tour for 250 NOK (about 25 USD) for those interested. The Art Deco gallery was open from noon until 3 pm. No shuttles or tenders required as the port is right in the town.