Celebrating 65th Birthday with an amazing cruise to Alaska was the trip of a lifetime. We started in Seattle with a tour of Mt. Rainier which was lovely. Perfect weather in Seattle. Embarkation was easy, efficient and smooth. We were in our balcony cabin shortly after boarding, unpacked and joined the sail away celebration. Star Princess was beautiful. Dining in all the venues was delicious and plentiful, our favorite was Crab Shack and The Crown Grill, The buffet was delicious and plentiful with lots of seating. We never had a problem finding something to eat and somewhere to sit. The coffee in the buffet was very good. Our cabin steward William was attentive and responsive to our needs and requests. The entertainment on board was fun and just right, including the enrichment series. Very informative about sea life and the bounty of Alaska. The shore excursions were perfect, we enjoyed each activity in each Port. The Alaska Rainforest and Raptor Center where we saw Sitka the Bald Eagle was just amazing. Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau was simply breathtaking and we got to see many whales, including Orca’s up close. The Skagway White Pass Railroad was absolutely beautiful. Victoria is a beautiful City and we enjoyed our chocolate experience at Roger’s Chocolates. The weather the first week of September was beautiful, with the only exception being the fog that caused us to not be able to sail into the Tracy Arm Fjord, Service onboard the Star Princess was top notch with friendly and helpful staff. We would definitely love to do another Alaska Cruise and love Princess Cruises. Can’t wait for the next Princess Cruise adventure. I highly recommend this Star Princes Alaska Cruise. Read Less

It was arranged by a local bus tour company and it was a dream of mine. My husband and I decided that life is too short to sit around waiting for the lottery. The ship was awesome and our cabin was comfortable and clean. The bed was very comfortable as were the pillows. The dining was an experience in different tastes and an awesome and overwhelming journey. It was prepared well and it allowed us to experience different foods i.e. ate escargots for the first time and they were delicious. Anyone who said they were bored just were not taking advantage of what was available from bingo, bible study, casino, crafts, exercise, comedy acts and Broadway acts, etc. We also went on shore excursions in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway and they were all fun in their own way, Saw a good deal of country, spoke with many people and it was truly an awesome experience. The steward, Reinir was just a lovely individual who worked hard but was very genuine in his dealings with us. No phoniness about him. He was very good at giving us advice and directions about things on the ship and what was available. In the dining room we had Rhoderick and he guided us in an adventure in dining. Ate a variety of meals and they were second to no one. The chefs knew their way around a kitchen and the blends of flavours they used were out of this world. We ended our cruise in Seattle but prior to that we were in Victoria BC Canada. We arrived at 7 PM PST and it was beginning to darken soon after we embarked on a shuttle bus and we walked to Chinatown. If we had arrived at 4 PM the excursions others had taken would have been enjoyed a bit longer because the main complaint from others was they couldn't see anything because of the lack of light. ALL IN ALL for hubby and I it was a tremendous experience. The weather at times was abysmal but it's September in Alaska,,,rain and fog were a chance we took and we did not get to the TRACY fjord due to the dense thick fog and that was disappointing but safety was a factor and I am glad the Captain went on the side of safety. Read Less

We had an amazing vacation. Meet some very neat people. Looking forward to keeping in touch with them. The ship was clean and beautiful. Food in the Horizon Court was always really good. The best meal we had was at Curtis Stone Share! Go there and eat, you will not be disappointed. The Casino was fun we won some and lost some but overall it was fun. The artwork was pretty, not my style but nice to look at. We got the coffee card, but could have done without it. The coffee in the Horizon was just as good and free :). Soft serve ice cream was perfect, my hubby's favorite. :) We had great weather, only rained in Juneau. We did a little shopping in Juneau. We did the train ride in Skagway, that was beautiful. I would go again! Glacier Bay was beautiful, so peaceful and relaxing, we did see a portion of the glacier break but did not get pictures.The Lumber Jack Show in Ketchikan was really cute and fun, great for the family! We did the Pedi-Cab ride in Victoria, BC, I recommend seeing the city this way. The stop in Victoria is short and Pedi-Cab makes it to where you see the whole city in 2 1/2 hours. So you still have time to shop if you want. Overall the best vacation we have taken in years. We are looking forward to our next cruise, I really want to got to New England & Canada cruise. Read Less

We chose Coral princess to take us around Alaska's inner passage because friends recommended it. It is a smaller ship which I think is perfect for Alaska. Our service was good. The way the food is now a days, I make sure we go to a specialty restaurant for really good food. The coupon book you receive first day has a BOGO deal that will save you $25, but must be booked that day. Be sure to book Sabatinis at least twice and right away! We could only get in once because I waited.We purchased a Balcony dinner served in our room for $100 for the two of us. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it. It includes a cocktail, apps,bread,champagne,flower arrangement, photo,white glove service, choice of filet and/or lobster, fab salad, crabcake encroute and 2 desserts! Best steak and lobster I ever had! I am not one for shows, so I didn't attend any. Hub went twice to hear soprano.We watched movies in room. We had a balcony which was a splurge. If your don't get one ,there are plenty of places to see 360 degrees on top deck. Read Less

Absolutely great cruise. The crew and staff on the Pacific Princess was outstanding. The accommodations were great and the itinerary was everything we hope it would be. Every port was beyond our expectations. The tours had excellent guides and transportation. The information shared about each location visited was well done. Many ports gave us the opportunity to walk the towns and cities before or after our organized tours. This was an added bonus. Particularly enjoyed the fjord tours in Norway. They were spectacular. The dining on board the Pacific Princess was ideal. Also the ship has recently been refurbished to the decor was beautiful and comfortable. We would highly recommend a cruise on this ship. We added a third week to our cruise and also did the British Isles. This was a great decision. We love to do this cruise again. We can't say enough about the staff on board ship. All were gracious and made our trip very special and personal. Take a cruise on the Pacific Princess. You won't be disappointed. Read Less

We chose this cruise for the ports that it was stopping at. We also liked the amenities and class of the cruise. We enjoyed the club class dining. Our servers Jelana, Ryan, Iris and Bazvan were the BEST! We always asked to sit at their station and enjoyed their company immensely. The saw to our every gastro need and gave excellent tips on what to order. They really added to our vacation enjoyment! We took 2 of the cruise excursions which were both extremely well run. The guides were very knowledgable. We tried to sign up for some tours in Marseille but they were canceled. I liked Paulos who gave tips on the ports during the sea days. We loved the Sanctuary. It was a quiet and relaxing way to spend the afternoon. The servers were all very friendly and accommodating, waiting on for every need. We really liked the evening shows in the Princess theater, especially the dance themes like the 70's disco. The activities during the day seemed geared more for older people. Too much pushing of the anti-wrinkle, burn fat seminars at the spa. Also we would have liked more lounge chairs available in the shade around the pool. We liked that there was not too much loud music around the pool. Liked the band that played periodically at the pool in the evening. The shuttles to town should not have a cost attached. When you pay $8000 for a cruise, you expect that it will bring you to the actual place that is listed on the itinerary, not have to pay $15 pounds to get you there. My neighbor was so excited to see our pictures, she wants to go on the same cruise next spring. She indecisive on this or a Italy bus tour. Are there any incentives you can give to help her decide? Read Less

We where searching for a cruise line that we would enjoy the ship, destinations, food and the overall feel of the experience.the staff was very friendly. The ultimate ship tour and the chefs table where great add ons to the trip to alaska. The staff in share, crown grill, and the salty dog gastro pub. Made for so wonderful nights. Alaska took our breathe away from the morning we approached juneau till we departed ketchikan. The shore excursions we took where great. We will be returning. Ruby princess was a great ship for being at full capacity it did not feel crowded. We where on deck 15 forward. The cabin was nice and quite during the night and mornings. The view from the other decks made evening walks a joy. The dining anytime option made for fun and interesting dining groups. The photo package we purchased worked out very well for us. This was a cruise we will smile about when we remember this lovely trip. Read Less

Exceeded our expectations from embarkation to debarkation. Crews are very friendly and helpful. You don’t get hungry as lots of yummy foods on board and lots of sporting activities you can do on board to ensure you don’t get extra kg while indulging with lots of good variety of foods. Medallion class made everything on board really easy. They have a very systematic system where everything really works very well. We have enjoyed all the activities on board, in particular, the shows daily. Our crew steward always ensure that our room is being looked after daily. Live TV updates is also very helpful for everyone as you will be informed on what’s happening on the ship, ports and shore excursions very important informations and tips. We will definitely cruise with Princess again and will recommend them to our friends and families. Keep up the good work and hope to see you again soon. Read Less

From our departure at the San Francisco Cruise Terminal, our embarkation was very smooth. Even though there was a line, the wait was very short. We live in the Bay Area so leaving from San Francisco was a plus for us. Overall, our entire 10 days were filled with a lot of beautiful memories. From our first meal which is having lunch on Deck 14 (Lido Deck) to disembarkation, our experience on this cruise is very memorable. We also chose to buy the unlimited photo package which gets you a USB filled with all of the digital photos taken every day from embarkation, shore excursion gangway photos, and other activities that we participated in. The Cruise Director, Steve did a wonderful job is keeping us busy. There was never a dull moment. I tell people that if they tell me they are bored in a Cruise, it is their fault. There is no excuse to say that one gets bored in a Princess Cruise. We chose Anytime Dining and we were able to meet a lot of other passengers. We will chose Anytime Dining again on our next cruise. The Chef (Joel Directo) of Grand Princess during our cruise is an award winning chef and he was also very funny during the Culinary Demonstration. All of the lunches and dinners that we ate were amazingly delicious. The entertainment and music is awesome. We bought the Rhapsody Trio CD and we played it immediately once we were home unpacking our suitcase. We can still visualize them playing as we were putting away our clothes and doing the laundry while listening to the CD. The broadway shows were 5 stars. We had Born to Dance which was a wonderful performance by 10 dancers and 4 singers. The magician/comedian that performed during our cruise were both awesome. In addition, we also had a singer/comedian, Steve Moris who is a regular at a lot of Princess Cruises. The waiters and bartenders were all very attentive and was always asking us what they can get us. I say that they served us above and beyond the usual. As for the shore excursions which we purchased through Princess Cruises, we went to all of them without any problems. Every excursion started on time and we are very happy and satisfied with the excursions that we signed up for. All of the tour guides were very friendly and very knowledgeable. We actually signed up for our next cruise already taking advantage of the onboard Princess Cruise offer. I can't forget to call special attention to all of the photographers who patiently took our photos every time we asked them. The results of our photos were professional quality. We went away with a ton of pictures and a lot of memories to remember this particular cruise over the years. Thanks Princess Cruises! Until our next cruise. Read Less

We booked this cruise a few weeks before sailing, as we were in need of a de-stress break. The Emerald Princess certainly delivered. We've cruised with Princess before, so we knew what to expect in terms of the ship and its layout. The Emerald Princess has recently had some updates, with a restyled buffet and top deck areas. The whole ship was beautifully maintained and extremely clean. We booked a balcony cabin; be aware that Riviera deck cabins are fully covered, and as such it was rarely in the sun. This wasn't a great problem, but we'd avoid that deck again, as we like to sunbathe on our balcony which we didn't really do on this cruise. Our cabin steward was excellent, the room was always cleaned to a high standard, and he always seemed to appear when we needed to ask a question, or if we had an armful of plates from the buffet to take to our balcony! Dining across the ship was consistently very good. We did miss the selection in the buffet that you find on the larger Princess ships, but we always found items that we enjoyed. Lines at the burger bar were very short when compared to other ships, even at peak times. Sometimes it puts you off seeing a long line to wait in, there were no long lines on this ship. We also enjoyed the pizza, and snacks from the international cafe were of high quality. Try the Passion fruit Chocolate slice - it was delicious! Food in the main dining room was on the whole excellent, and in the main staff were really warm, friendly and accommodating. One night we had wait staff who were less interested, and this really stood out as all other staff on the ship were amazing, always with a smile, and always ready to help. So two less interested staff out of a huge crew was not a big deal, but noticed. Particular mention to Franco, a Mexican waiter (I think I have his name right), as he was even more smiley, friendly and warm than the others. We were pleased to be say on his table twice. No wait or pagers for main dining room was an added bonus. We tried Curtis Stone one night, the meal was suitably longer, service was attentive, and the food was different in a good way. We were unsure as to whether we would feel it was worth the up charge, but agreed it was well worth a try. Highlight was the pasta, not how we were expecting it at all, but truly delicious - give it a try. Entertainment was very good, we enjoyed three production shows in a week with a high standard of singing and dancing. We also enjoyed the British comedian. We were so pleasantly surprised to see Arny G on board, a lounge pianist and singer we'd enjoyed watching on a previous cruise a couple of years back. It was great to be acquainted with him again, and we enjoyed watching his shows each evening. The piano bar was packed every night as Arny has an amazing singing and playing style, with an infectious personality. He is very generous in involving his audience, encouraging requests and even twisting my arm to join him on stage for a song (or two)! He even showed us round Marseille, somewhere we hadn't visited before. Arny you are an inspiration and now a true friend! Thanks for playing such a big part in making the cruise so memorable. Wonderful ports and weather, you really can't go wrong with a Med cruise on Princess, something for everyone on and off the ship. As relatively regular Princess cruisers, we are usually impressed - but we were still struck by how almost every single staff member we encountered was so eager to provide top service. Consistently high standards of food, service and entertainment across the whole ship. Princess is definitely up a notch from other cruise lines we've tried (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, P&O), everything seems to be done with more care. Can't wait to repeat on the brand new Sky Princess on the 27th October - we're hooked! Read Less

This was the trip of our dreams. We flew to Anchorage 4 days prior to our sailing and rented a car to go see Mt. McKinley and other places in the area. This allowed us to see the things we wanted to see and do the things we wanted to do. If you are in the McKinley area, 229 restaurant (mile 229 of the Parks Highway) is a must. Five-star dining at its finest and the prices are reasonable. We took our own transfer from Anchorage to Whittier. It stopped at the Wildlife Refuge Centre which was good to see. I was travelling with a mobility scooter and embarkation could not have been better or easier. From the moment we approached the ship till we disembarked seven days later the crew were wonderful. You can tell that they take great pride in working on such a wonderful ship. The new Medallion program that Princess has designed is fabulous. It identifies you when you approach your cabin door and unlocks. You can order food or drinks from anywhere on the ship and the staff will find you. You can even locate other members of your party through it. We chose Anytime Dining and never had to wait to be seated. The food was fabulous and plentiful. The ship is large enough that even with a full load of passengers, you do not feel crowded in any way. We mainly booked our own tours using the Alaska Tour Saver Book. It got us 2 for 1 tickets onto the train in Skagway and the Whale Watch in Juneau. Even though we did not use a lot of coupons, it more than payed for itself several times over. We had been savouring going to Alaska for a long time and this trip was the absolute dream come true. Thank you Princess and all the crew of the Royal Princess. Read Less

The cruise fit our travel schedule and we picked the best weather for the week. Sunshine everyday. We had no issues with embarkation or disembarkation during our port stops. Dining in the dining rooms was better than the buffet but it depended on your schedule as to which one to use. We used both. We did not take the cruise because of the food selections so as long as it was nourishing, it was okay. Unless you are looking for jewelry or art, don't get caught up in the sales pitches, it takes away from your valuable time for both sailing and excursions. Entertainment was very good, enjoyed the theater shows. A little too breezy for watching movies under the stars but did enjoy the walks on deck. Cabin was spacious but air was not working properly and refrigerator got warm b/c of lack of ventilation. Recommend balcony rooms just because of the views and privacy. Stateroom steward was excellent and the front desk was very helpful. I would definitely go again if the opportunity presented itself. I wish we would have had more time in some of our ports. The excursions took a lot of the time away from just seeing the towns where we stopped, but they were all very good. The train ride in Skagway, the Mendenhall Glacier excursion in Juneau or the tours of Ketchican and Victoria, they were all terrific. Read Less

We chose this cruise as a wedding anniversary treat, looking for a romantic setting, lots going on but not a party atmosphere, and not overrun with kids. The ship delivered perfectly. There was always plenty to see and do, and places on the ship that catered to adults only. The ship was busy, but there were never long lineups anywhere, even for free pizza, burgers or ice cream on the top deck. The excursions were all wonderful and very well-organized as we were taken ashore and returned quickly and efficiently at all ports. On board, there were good entertainment choices and lots of opportunity to stay fit (Zumba class on the deck, etc.) Loved the adults-only pool areas. The restaurants were definitely a highlight of the cruise with wonderful food experiences at all but one. The suite was beyond expectations in terms of space and comfort. A few minor glitches: difficult to get through to restaurant reservations or room service on the phone. Communication was a challenge with some staff as their English was not great (but then, we don't speak any other languages so some of that is on us). Loved all the restaurants, except Steamers Seafood was a bad experience. Quality of the food and service at this restaurant did not warrant an upcharge. Drinks were a bit pricey. At the Anytime Dining breakfast, it would have been nice to have more yogurt, granola and fruit options. Too focused on American-style breakfast. Some of the entertainment was average, but still fun and enjoyable. And it would have been nice to have even more places on the ship to have a quiet conversation over a drink. Read Less

Visiting Alaska has been on our bucket list for some time. Princess Cruises has a stellar reputation when it comes to Alaskan Cruises and was highly recommended by our Travel Advisor. The ship has been beautifully redone in the past few years and the cabins and amenities are top notch. The ship offers a wide variety of daily activities but on and off the ship. We had a starboard cabin which was very important on the north bound cruise as we could see the shoreline and the various scenic wonders. A balcony is also highly recommended. The restaurant facilities from the Bistro to the common dinning rooms and the specialty restaurants offered impeccable service and the quality and variety of the food was very good. The Italian Restaurant, Sabatin's, is a must go. The staff is unbelievable and the food is exquisite. The only negatives I have is that I caught a bad chest cold and the "convenience" story had a very limited supply of OTCs medicines. However, the Medical Facilities are top notch and the medical staff was great. The other negative is that the internet service on the ship is poor. The speed is excessively slow (measured at app 1 Mbs) considering that I was required to pay to access the system. Definite area of future improvement to the ship. Read Less

We arrived at Port Everglades, and check-in was only delayed because some of the local agents seemed to be still learning the whos, whats, wheres, whys, and hows of the Medallion system. Boarding had not quite started, but within 15 minutes or so, we were on the ship. Our cabin wasn't ready yet, but I dropped off our case of wine and carry-on bags before heading to the dining room for lunch. Our waiter strolled in about 10 minutes later....he had just returned to the ship after spending several months at home, and he wasn't in his groove yet. We were in vacation mode, and apparently, so was he, so we chuckled about it. We ended up eating in the main dining room only a couple of times, opting for the buffet, and specialty dining more often than not. Once at both Sabatini's and Planks BBQ, twice @ Steamers, and four times in the Crown Grill. Sabatini's: It's been at least 7 years since we've tried Sabatini's. The meal was excellent. Everthing was fresh, and tasty. My only complaint....it's a loud room, Lots of hard surfaces. They also sat 5 tables in our waiter's section within minutes of our arrival, including a party of 10, swamping the poor guy, but everyone stepped up to get things served as timely as possible. He thanked us for being patient. Hey, I'm on a boat, with my wife, and a killer bottle of Chianti. What's not to like!? Planks: Service was great, but the food was only so-so. But when it comes to BBQ, I'm a tough cookie, because I live in Georgia, and I'm surrounded by great BBQ. Steamers: We really enjoyed the view from the window while chowing down on great seafood. Add the crab legs and lobster! Not everyone likes certain things, so it was real easy to say, no clams, or no mussels. They gladly offered substitutions. The service was outstanding. Crown Grill: Excellent service. I'd always drop off my wine a few hours before our reservation, and it would be decanted, waiting for us when we'd arrive. I had the lamb chops twice , and they were cooked perfectly. My wife had with the filet each time. Only once, did she have to send it back for being under-cooked. It happens every once in a while, and they took care of it. The entire CG staff were kept busy all night. Princess would go broke if they had to pay these folks by the mile. Vines: We enjoyed 2 flights of wine, and the pricing was very reasonable. Service was perfect. MDR: We had dinner there once, and were seated in a section that didn't have a waiter. After a few minutes, the Maitre D' asked us who seated us there, and quickly found a waiter to serve us. He did a great job, even without the help of an assistant waiter, but we found ourselves missing the friendly faces of the servers on the Lido Deck. The Ship: They are keeping her up nicely, always busy working on something. They are dealing with a/c issues in both public areas and cabins. We needed someone to fix our a/c the first night at around 11:45pm. They adjusted everything, and it was ok for the most part, but not 100%. Fans were offered, we declined. Our cabin was R745, the very last inside on the starboard side, which we absolutely love due to it's location. Three steps up, and you're at the terrace pool. We liked to call it our own private balcony. We ate breakfast and lunch up there most of the time, and there's always someone willing to bring you a drink or take your plates away. Every member of the food & beverage team we encountered on the Lido Deck, were delightful. Service was excellent. The Crew: Everyone seemed to be in great spirits as they had just finished doing months of 7 day Caribbean sailings, and this was a big change for them. New ports, cooler temps, and a week off from dealing with a turnaround day. We rarely encountered any lines or delays going here or there, because we learned a long time ago, that the early bird gets the worm. We were usually off of the ship while most were just showing up for breakfast.We walked between 5-6 miles each day in port. In a stop like Charleston, it was nice to walk and see everything and be back on the ship before it was too hot. How do you avoid an hour long line to buy ferry tickets in NYC? You download their app, and buy your tickets on your phone. I realize that some folks were miserable on this cruise, while others, like us, hated to leave. It's all up to you how you want to spend your time. Do you spend the night complaining, or do you choose your battles wisely and roll with things. I'll give you an example, there's a special drink I like on the platinum/elite lounge menu, I'd order it every day, and it was consistently made wrong. Instead of sending it back each evening while my wife drank her cocktail, we'd joke about if they were going to make it correctly or not each time. They got it right only once. A miserable record, but great folly for us. Some people seemingly take comfort in berating the help, I witnessed some doozies on this sailing. I would never let folks talk to my employees that way. So....if you don't like standing in lines, go before or after everyone else does. Don't get angry at the Maitre D because it's your anniversary and you can't get a window table. If it's so important to you, make arrangements ahead of time. Plan ahead, so you can enjoy later. You're on a floating hotel in the middle of the ocean, if you can't somehow enjoy yourself, you deserve to be miserable. Read Less

Because we wanted to see Alaska and it was our first cruise and it was our 40th anniversary and we wanted to go on a cruise. The food was excellent and the waiters was really nice. Everything on the Ruby Princess was great, you had, movie nights and theater and dances. You 4 different swimmingft pools and hot tubs and you had great coffee. We thought Alaska cruise would be fun because, everyone says it is a really great cruise to go on and you had a lot to do at each port. We couldn't fit everything in 1 cruise, so we plan on making 3 to 4 more cruises and maybe we will see everything that we wanted to see. If you have never been on a cruise, I suggest the Alaska cruise because it is so beautiful up there and the wife love it. Thank you for everything that the Ruby Princess did for us and the crew members took great care of us. Read Less

This cruise was definitely a step up...in food, in service, and in our destinations. We LOVED going to Hubbard Glacier AND Glacier Bay. We were thrilled as we saw whales galore on our Whale Watching tour, and we loved the train at Skagway. Our outside cabin was arranged differently, and better we felt, than any other cabin we have been in. This is our 4th cruise, and we definitely felt more pampered on this cruise, and that the staff was super happy to be doing their jobs. Ok, specifically, the food now, and the service that went with it. So our first experience eating was at the buffet, and it was wonderful because everyone needed to wash their hands before going to the buffet...great move! Then the waiter's even took our drink orders and put our napkins on our laps if you wanted them to, at the buffet! So you can imagine how awesome the dinners were...the service was 1st rate. And the food was seriously as good as it possibly could get! Great variety each night, and the way the food was presented, and tasted, we could have been at any of the best restaurants in the world. Loved, loved, loved this cruise! Read Less

I am looking forward to cruising with Princess again in the future. As first time cruisers, my husband and I were simply amazed at the wonderful experince we had on Princess. We were really impressed about the type of people in the ship. It was a crowd filled with older people and responsible young adults with children. We felt completely safe in the boat. There were no drunk people misbehaving in the boat. Safety was a big concern to us and our agent recommended Princess Ruby for that reason and we were not disappointed. The disembarkation procedure was perfectly carried out. Everyone selected a desired time to disembark from a given choice. The process was very orderly and extremely safe. The Ports and Shore excursions disembarkation procedure were orderly organized. The ship and cabin were extremely clean and the cleaning crew were constantly at work everywhere. Saving the best for last, the dinning experience was beyond amazing! There was so much variety. The food was excellent and so was the dinning crew. They served great food and waited on you as royalty. The specialty dinning available in the ship lived up to the reputation of being special. The food and service were also great. Next, time, I plan to skip the specialty dinning because the food Ruby Princess serves in the dinning room is equally great1 They served lobster tail and crab legs in the regular dinning rooms. I cannot say enough good things about the ship and crew.The ship entertainment could be better though. They need more variety and a better representation of different races. Read Less

It has been a dream to visit Alaska, Princess made it possible. Not only was the Cruise fantastic and more, it was a learning experience using Princess. The land and Sea package is superb. Tour guides are everywhere with Princess. Bus Drivers . Hotel Staff, including Housekeeping; food service staff, conductor all are in step with Tourism and Princess Process. It took only a short time to realize that Princess Cruise is more than the ship. The Ship is a big part, so are the hotels, buses, tour guides, bag security at hotels and airport are all part time f a great Vruise experience. We learned Princess Cruise system involve the entire package from the start with an agent to returning to the home airport. This was a trip that filled the dream and exceeded xpectations. Excursions brought the Culture of Alaska to life. Tour drivers were safety specialist and tourism partners, we were treated like family. Read Less

We have never planned a vacation a year out. This one was special and we looked forward to celebrating our 15th Anniversary. I chose a mini-suite and two months prior to the cruise was offered the opportunity to upgrade to a suite. And I'm so glad we got the suite. A suite offers A LOT more space and some VIP perks including Club Class dining and access to a special lounge (the One-5). We slept with the sliding doors (two of them) open and listened to the wake being churned behind the ship. We awakened to the light of the day. It was awesome. Pretty much everything was GREAT about this experience. We needed this 10-day time to disconnect. We didn't use internet (and the crew joked about the expense of it, so why bother anyway). The two bad experiences - 1) There was a problem with the plumbing and a few times we found "sludge" that had backed up into our toilet. Yep, it was a little gross, but it nothing overflowed and everything was easily flushed. 2) The relaxing massage at the Lotus Spa was completely undone by them when they sat us in hard metal chairs and gave us a hard sell on products and services. This broke our trust as we felt robbed of the experience of relaxation and we didn't schedule with them again. The good experiences: The Suite was awesome and worth the price of the upgrade. It was wonderful and made us feel special being recognized by the second day of dining. Their ability to remember food and beverage preferences is uncanny. The bed is really, really comfortable. The food is tasty (it's not always warm and any style potato needs more salt, but it's otherwise tasty!) The entertainment was fun - there's enough variety that there's something for everyone. Allow yourself to enjoy cheesy fun and you'll have more fun. Ketchikan was a disappointment. It's just a tourist-trap of a cluster of shops. Get out beyond that and it's nicer. Our seaplane excursion was cancelled due to weather. We had a GREAT crab-feed, though. And as a not-quite-as-good substitute, we saw the lumberjack show - that was cheesy fun. Haines was beautiful and quiet. Juneau was interesting - we did the cultural center excursion and learned a lot. There isn't much to see, but what you do see is fantastic. Walk up from the main street of shops and you'll enjoy a little different culture than the tourist "stuff" you can get anywhere. Victoria was a short stop, too short. But Butchart Gardens was beautiful (and will be for months to come). We enjoyed this so much, we booked our next one. Read Less

We chose this cruise for our 20th wedding anniversary. The ship was a little difficult to navigate but only took a day or two to figure it out. We booked our cruise through a private agency and chose it primarily on the embarkation port as we did not want to fly. On our cruise we enjoyed the nightly shows, not great but entertaining, and spent time in the Crooners Bar. Ecko is funny and amazing, remembering our names and super friendly. We encountered a slight problem with the laundry facilities but the staff quickly fixed the problem and we were compensated appropriately. Our stateroom was neat and clean and the service was great! By far the highlight of the trip was Sharon and Nilo in the Botticelli Dining. I can’t say enough about them individually and together! The personal touch, the care when I got sea sick and the overall friendliness was way above our expectations! Please tell them we said hello! A few tidbits...the international coffee house is not the best for custom drinks but their pastries are fabulous. Don’t waste your time on the shipboard pizza...go to Anthony’s Pizza onboard, have a seat and enjoy a little piece of Italy! The steakhouse exceeded our expectations as well. The jewelry store onboard is a joke, unless you have $35,000 to spare on a ring. Lastly, take your uggs, you will live in them....amazing anniversary trip! Thanks Princess!! Read Less

We had never been to Alaska and heard many wonderful things about Alaska. It all was true. Absolutely beautiful! We did not do an excursion in San Francisco since we had been there on a previous cruise. We arrived at the cruise dock via Princess Shuttle service, all went well, Princess representatives met us at the Airport and provided luggage Smart Carts. Embarkation was efficient and timely. The ships new carpeting looks very nice . We did the opportunity to upgrade to a Club Class Mini Suite, which included Club Class Dining. It was delicious. The head waiter made omelettes every morning for breakfast. At lunch and dinner he made a different pasta dish. On some evenings there was a extra dinner made (we had lobster thermidor). He also made cherries jubilee and bananas foster. You could at any time order from the menu. Service was immediate and excellent. We attended a few shows. The comedian guitarist was enjoyable. We have seen a lot of the production shows, so did not attend many of them. Ports and Excursions Ketchikan - We were in port from 8am till 5pm. Nice clean port. we did the Duck Tour and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. The Duck Tour was the better of the two. Had lunch and plenty of time to walk about town. Haines - We were in port from 1pm till 10pm. This is far to much time to be a port that does not have much to do. There is complimentary shuttle service that dropped us off at the Raptor Center, but did not return to pick us up. We asked the driver back at port why he did not stop to get us, he indicated there were too many passengers at the port and he could only go from the port to the visitor center and did not have time to make the other 4-5 stops. The Grand was the only ship docked in Haines that day. From the port we walked to a very nice distillery that served drinks in a very casual deck setting. That was the highlight of Haines. Juneau - We were in port from 8:30am till 10pm. We did whale watching (saw about 8 whales) in the morning and the helicopter glacier walk about in the afternoon. The glacier experience is an amazing experience. Definitely worth the money. Victoria, BC - We were in port from 7am till 2pm. In Victoria we prearranged a pick up with Victoria Pedicabs. We were picked up a the cruise port and could be dropped off in town if you wanted to. Alan was a fabulous guide he was very knowledgeable about his town. Would highly recommend Alan with Victoria Pedicabs. Disembarkment was very easy and did not take much time at all. We went through Customs quickly. Read Less

The service, the cleanliness, the delicious food, the kindness of crew, the beauty of the ship , everything was so, so pleasant and satisfactory. We choose this cruise because we wanted to see the Hubbard Glacier and took the excursion which was wonderful. We had the opportunity to interact with other guests when eating at the Bordeaux restaurant that is very elegant. All the meals there were fabulous and the service pronto and great! The buffet restaurant was very clean and then food was very good with a great service. The amenities offered were numerous and the shows offer at the theater were spectacular, first clase, the actors were passionate and felt deeply what they were doing. There was a soprano with an incredible voice! Coral Princess and it’s crew deserve 5 Stars! We can really recommend this cruise to Alaska that is so beautiful. We really thank the crew that took care of us! Read Less

Got a good deal on Black Friday for this 7-day trip to Scandinavia and it didn't disappoint in terms of value. What did disappoint is that the main motorway into Southampton was shut on a weekend when 5 ships were departing. Given the importance of the port to the city, this should be coordinated better, but is probably down to the government-run Highways Authority rather than anyone in the city itself. It took us 4 hrs to travel the 90 miles from Warwick to the terminal, when it should have taken 2 and the ship left 1.5 hrs late. At least lots of others were in the same situation. Having honeymooned on Sapphire 5 years ago we worried it might not be the same this time, but if anything the state of the ship was better - the refurb has been done subtly and cleverly, keeping this ship competitive despite its age. New carpets on corridors, flat screens and excellent on-demand TV made the cabins great but the pool area seemed to have been recently re-tiled too, and all the public areas seemed in tip-top condition. One thing they could change is to switch to digital photo galleries rather than sticking with the old print displays. One of the things we like most about Sapphire is the four (anytime) dining rooms with different themes - they just make it seem like you're in a different restaurant each night even though the menu is the same in all of them. Food was of a good standard, particularly the basket of bread that Princess gives you to start with. Service was OK if a little rushed. We feel that our preference for anytime dining leads to rushing waiters, rather than the attentive ones you get when you do fixed dining who know they are likely to get a tip at the end of the cruise (not just on Princess). That's just a choice I suppose. Service elsewhere was as good as I'd expect from Princess. Ports were good, but disappointed to miss Skagen because of the weather, having had to make 2 attempts to dock in Copenhagen the day before. Safety first I guess, and our insurance will compensate us a little for that. I feel for the traders in the town who will miss a lot of income that day. The only negative on the cruise really was the ridiculous number of announcements, each of which was repeated. Why do cruise lines have to wake you up with an announcement at 7am when the ship docks? If you've booked an excursion you will have set your alarm to get up in time. If you want a lie-in, tough luck. On the day the ship missed Skagen, we were due to dock at 10 am, but when the decision was taken to miss it, an announcement was made at 7am, waking us all up when we weren't even expecting to arrive for another 3 hours - stupid. How would knowing about it 3 hours beforehand have improved our day? Read Less

There were many things we valued. 1) I was incredibly ill one evening and into the next morning. Patricia in the Medical Centre not only got me on my feet, but I was able to go on the shore excursion that we had been looking forward to for months. 2) Ivan - Food and Beverage Supervisor in Planks was remarkable. We even celebrated our 16th anniversary there. He was thoughtful, attentive and funny. 3) When we discovered a false charge on our account, they investigated it and credited it within 24hrs. 4) We didn’t use the internet with the Medallion program. It could be as integrated or as minimally used. It’s up to you. 5) We totally enjoyed Movies Under The Stars. It was so relaxing. 6) The food was incredible both in the included restaurants and ones you paid for. We enjoyed both. We highly recommend Planks and Crown Grill. Both were superb. 7) We sat out on the balcony every night and just admired the stars. It was better than Yoga!! 8) EVERYONE MUST GO TO CORAL WORLD in St. Thomas. The staff and activities are incredible!! The staff is thoughtful, knowledgeable and sincere. Get a kiss from Rosy the sea lion. Be in awe of Fred. Go do Snuba. We can’t wait to go back. Read Less