Sky Princess Review
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Additional details
The itinerary was the main reason for choosing this ship but, due to potential storms in the north Atlantic, our itinerary was totally changed and we missed the 3 main ports in Iceland which was a major disappointment. We enjoyed the Norwegian fjords but felt Alaska was much more scenic. We only got to visit Isafjordur and Seydisfjordur in Iceland; nice little ports to have a wander around but certainly not the wow factor we were looking for.
We loved our cabin, especially the undermounted night light. Spacious, soothing decor, comfortable bed, good lighting and plugs. Narrow balcony but fully covered. The lifeboats are directly below and visible when sitting on the balcony but not from the couch in the cabin. Arvin was a great cabin steward and we had twice daily service.
We ate all our dinners in Soleil and the food was excellent, especially the beef. My husband is a seafood eater and those portions were quite small which may not suit someone with a bigger appetite. Cristine, hostess, and Kieron, m'aitre de were absolutely delightful and ensured a warm welcome each evening and a lovely quiet table for 2. We found the tables to be nicely spaced. Breakfast and lunch (on sea days) was in Estrella and Lisa, Hari and Massimo were always on hand to greet us. Hari ensured muesli was available every morning. Excellent service. Most mornings we were fortunate to get Joseph who is an incredible waiter. The menu posted on the app is NOT always accurate so best to check it out in person. We ate at Alfredos, Slice, Salty Dog and International Cafe and enjoyed our food. We seldom ate in World Marketplace or Horizon Cafe due to the crowds which made finding a table very difficult. Desserts in The Pastry Shop were very good with the exception of the afternoon scones. The ones served in Estrella at afternoon tea were delicious. The scones served in The Pastry Shop were half the size, hard and dry. Must have been the "failures". They did serve clotted cream but, since the scones were inedible, not much use.
Cabin Review
Deluxe Balcony
Cabin is beautiful; soothing colours, plenty of room. Balcony is narrow but fully covered. There are lifeboats directly below which you can see when sitting on the balcony but not on your couch.
Port Reviews
Skjolden
I did the Princess Walking with Llamas excursion and LOVED it. It was much more strenuous than expected; a long walk to the farm, lots of standing around learning how to handle the llamas and then walking along an uneven track with loose rocks and a narrow, muddy stream to cross. The walk up to the viewpoint was almost worth the effort. A delightful family and the llamas were all well behaved. If you have ANY mobility issues, don't do this excursion.
Skolden itself is picturesque but very small and the shopping opportunities are next to nil.
Olden
We headed to Loen Skylift as soon as we got off the ship and learned a very valuable lesson. The early bird doesn't always get the worm! When we got to the summit, there was NOTHING but fog; couldn't see a thing. We hung around for a few hours hoping in vain for the fog to clear. The people in the restaurant were very kind and they have a seating area and washrooms you can use without purchasing a meal. Views on the descent ensured it wasn't a TOTAL waste of 1800 krn. People who waited until the afternoon said the views were incredible.
It was a National holiday in Norway and it was a privilege to visit when the residents were dressed in their national costumes and showing such pride in their heritage. We had a wonderful send off with lots of flag waving and music. Delightful.
Alesund
Got the last 2 seats on the first Alesund City tourist train at 8:30. Commentary was fine but the highlight was the view from Mount Askla. Fortunately there were only 2 passengers per row; 3 headsets per row and that would have been unbearable. The 70 minutes was perfect for us and gave us a nice overview. Alesund is very hilly, not ideal for people with mobility issues. We walked to the harbour area; very pretty. It was Ascension Day so most shops were closed.
Isafjord
Nice little place for a wander; Whale Bone Arch, Seamen’s Monument. We had every weather condition; sun, ice pellets, wind, cold, snow and rain. Wonderful Kaffihus Bakarans where the friendly staff recommended the cafe specialities; Astarpungur and Hjonabands saelusnudur which were delicious.
Southampton
We stayed at Holiday Inn Herbert Walker; very nice. It was close to West Quay Mall (Marks & Spencers) and shops on the High Street. Southampton is a blend of modern/historic and pleasant for wandering.