For context, I usually cruise Disney so I can’t help but make it my point of reference. I took my 10YO son on a 3 day cruise from Vancouver to LA. Our main objective of the trip was to spend time together, enjoy the food and enjoy being at sea. I splurged on a club class mini suite. I. Not sure the ‘club class’ was worth the extra $$, but we loved the mini suite. So much space for just the two of us - very luxurious. We especially loved the robes and the extra large balcony. The ship is looking (and smelling) a little dated. It was nice to have a shower/tub combo but the tile was looking super old. Also, there were odd smells noticed in our room. The hall and especially up on the sports deck. I am mixed on the food. I was not impressed with the buffet but had great meals at Portofinos dining room. The wait staff were exceptional. I was impressed with the pools! Lots of options for kids and adults. And super fun to have the big screen showing movies out by the pool. I was told the ship was full and yet it never seemed that busy. The buffet was occasionally lined up. Overall, great cruise. Service was up to par with Disney, restaurant food was excellent and our room very comfy. Read Less

I was looking forward to this cruise. We chose it because the departure and arrival port (Vancouver) was convenient for us as we live in the city; the itinerary was good; and because our previous experience with Princess, in particular the Star Princess, had been good. This time we were disappointed. There were fewer events, as shown by a comparison of the Princess Patter list of events from last year's Pacific Coastal voyage on the Star Princess with this year's. An example is that this year there were no dance classes or Zumba classes other than line dance classes which were offered half way through the cruise because people told me that they complained about the lack of activities. The activities that were offered, such as silly childish games led by the cruise staff, were not a satisfactory substitute. The food had variety but in too many cases was mediocre. We sent back dishes recommended by the wait staff because they were inedible (tough, tasteless fish, pork ribs that had more fat than meat, tough duck breast which appeared to have seen a better day, tasteless lobster on a bed of unappetizing greasy risotto during the second formal dinner, etc.). I would suggest dropping the formal nights because there was nothing special about them. They are not worth the effort of packing extra clothes. The sea days were boring because there was nothing to do compared with other years. Our impression was that Princess had made cuts to the budget of this ship. The entertainment was for the most part mediocre. There were too many performances by comedians. The Star Princess Singers and Dancers performed only twice rather than three times, compared with other years. We were told that they had just joined the ship which means that they should have spent more time in rehearsal before being unleashed on us. Their unpolished performances, in particular the dancing, showed their lack of practice. Why was this cruise used as a practice occasion for them? Another example, is that in previous years, there were several first-run movies in the theatres each day. This cruise, for the most part, offered movies outside (Under the Stars) and they were not first run. On top of all of this, we did not receive the invitation to the Captain's Circle event and found that several others had not although they were qualified to attend. Our overall impression was that either Princess is making cuts to its offerings (but not cuts to its prices) or that Princess does not care about the Star Princess because it has sold the ship. Either way, this cruise did not measure up to last year's cruise. This is disappointing because Princess is not a budget cruise line. On the positive side, embarkation and disembarkation were smooth, the ports and excursions were very satisfactory and the wait staff in the dining room were excellent. The cabin was comfortable and clean. The plumbing worked well in our room. I am hoping that Princess, which my friends had recommended previously, listens to concerns. I know that many people voiced the same concerns on the cruise. Read Less

Vancouver-round-trip cruises, with no need for air travel, are always a draw for us! This cruise was a terrific 10 day relaxing get-away and we are very glad we went! We were dropped off in Mission in time for the final West Coast Express commuter train to Waterfront Station, had breakfast in the Food Court then walked over to Canada Place for Embarkation. Would do that again if smaller suitcases involved. Anytime Dining was the only option available when we booked and it worked out well. We would choose that option on future cruises as it gave us the freedom to opt-out and head to the International Café or Horizon Court instead without inconveniencing dining room wait staff by our absence. Smaller suitcase requirements (for train and skytrain lugging) can now be met as minimal formal and smart casual outfits would be required! I found out on day 9 that there was a jigsaw puzzle table on deck 14, upstairs in the undercover pool area, by the pingpong tables! Wish I had heard that on day 1! :) Women's public washrooms were often down to one working stall....which made for occasional long lines, especially at disembarkation time after the requested 'vacate your cabin' time had come and gone. Embarkation and Disembarkation went quite smoothly. We took Skytrain to Surrey, where a friend picked us up after our cruise. Read Less

Living near Vancouver my DH and I like taking these round trips with no flights to worry about. We were sailing the California Coast celebrating our birthdays and our wedding anniversary. Embarkation was smooth and our stateroom was ready before 1 pm. The ship is older and is showing some wear but it was well maintained and our cabin was in good shape Our favourite things on this cruise: the International Cafe, a great place to relax and enjoy a great beverage. Then I would say the 3 comedians were outstanding! Steve Moris, Mike Wilson, and Steve Caouette. One of the theatre shows The British Invasion was simply fantastic. Great singing, dancing, costumes...very well done.Also our dining experience was really excellent. Emil and Rovon, our waiters each night in the Capri DR were among the best we have ever had cruising. Food quality was good and the choices each night were fine. We ate one night at Sabatini's Specialty DR and we loved it. I esp liked the Lamb Skewers and the Orange Zest Arugula Salad for my appetizers. My DH liked his Veal Marsala and we both enjoyed the Zabaione with berries for dessert. Music on the ship was varied, there was a singer guitarist, a string trio, and a singer at the piano each night. All were pretty good but he house band Pinnacle left lots to be desired. Unfortunately the poor Air Quality in the ports of San Francisco, San Diego & Santa Barbara kept us onboard as my DH belongs to a Sensitive Group when it comes to bad air. We visited with my cousin in LA but that was our only time off the ship this sailing. The biggest disappointment was NO ZUMBA this trip. I was told that Princess was not able to find a suitably certified Zumba Instructor, OMG really?? And there was NO DECK PARTY. We had be looking forward to both of these things. Getting off the ship was easy, as we walked off. All in all it was an enjoyable cruise but not the best. Read Less

We always cruise for itinerary and sail multiple lines. Only our third Princess Cruise. I will start with the negatives and they are few. Star is old and will be sold off to P and O next year. Our cabin had some plumbing issues. Intermittent lack of toilet flushing and water backing up in the shower at night with loud gurgling sounds. Princess did their best to address issues and after several visits shower issue was resolved. Toilet problem never fixed, but if we waited the toilet eventually flushed on its own. Princess did give us OBC and champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. As I said it is an older ship and we have heard similar issues on other ships across all lines. Positives are many and I may forget a few, but we were very pleased. Staff could not have been better both in performance and attitude. Buffet was much maligned before cruise, but was fine. A lot of repetition, but that is what most people eat. They did have salmon three times at breakfast buffet which is becoming rare. I enjoy the muesli cereal and you can get soy milk as an alternative if you ask. Add extra fruit and nuts to cereal and you have a great, healthy alternative, omelettes can be ordered and delivered to your table. At lunch always great salad options with greens and plenty of beans and veggies to add to it. Deserts were varied and good. There were other options if you looked. In addition to daily soup choices, often there was a separate miso soup startion .One day there were delicious samosas at the start of buffet line. We preferred buffet because we ate almost all meals outside to enjoy the view and marine life. All you needed was a sweatshirt. Two dining room meals were good with great service. As one Princess cruiser once told me, he expects wedding food, but good wedding food. There were three excellent comedians. We always look forward to comedy shows when sailing. Did not see other acts. Lounge entertainers were typical and game shows were great. I normally don’t care about cruise directors, but Micca was the best I have encountered. He took time to speak to me while hustling through explorer lounge after I greeted him. I am also a Meeka. My grandson gave me that name and it stuck, so we exchanged stories about our name. It was less than a minute, but he was warm,sincere and genuine. Others who interacted with him said the same thing. He is also very talented. His assistant directors were excellent, a strong team We did most of our own excursions, except for Santa Barbara wine country which was pricey, but we enjoyed it. Our Muir Woods and Sausalito tour was cancelled due to power cut offs caused by fires. There was smoke and haze on the horizon in California. We stayed two nights at the Fairmont waterfront great hotel and super location. You can walk to ship with your bags as we did or even have them delivered. Embarkation was typical, but we walked off immediately with our luggage for disembarkation and still had a short wait for cab. This seems to be an issue in Vancouver and if you have early flight, get off quickly Read Less

This cruise was Good value for the money. I enjoyed the entertainment, the food was awesome and the service above and beyond. The crew were attentive at all times and were helpful. The cruise staff was friendly, funny and kept things lively. Great team. I enjoyed the entertainment and games. I was traveling with my mother and father in law and they also enjoyed the variety of entertainment. The dining staff was the finest you will find anywhere. We had five star dining every night from the food selection to the service. The international cafe is a great place to sit and have coffee and a snack. The embankment and disembarkment were handled well and as such getting on and off ship was accomplished with ease. I have traveled on over 10 princess cruises and have never been disappointed. I would recommend this cruise or any other princess cruise to anyone Read Less

I chose this cruise as it left from my home and allowed me to travel with my mother, who is elderly, easily. The ship is old, worn out and broken down. Our cabin flooded with water. They removed us from our room during the day, ripped out the ceilings and fixed the leak but our clothing was wet. The storage cupboard was soaked along with the carpet. We had no where to stay during the day. At night we could sleep in the cabin but only with the balcony door wide open ans the smell was atrocious. We asked to be moved to another cabin. We were told for 2 days that no other cabins were available. F We had had enough and asked to leave the ship at the first port of call in Honolulu so we could fly home. We asked for a refund. Amazingly, a cabin be came available. It was at the very back of the ship, we had a mid ship cabin. The balcony was not covered and there was a hot air vent blowing on the deck all day and night which made it uncomfortable to use. It was s lot of extra walking for my mother and it was difficult to sleep with all of the engine noise. The food on the ship was terrible. It was unseasoned and had no flavour. I actually lost 2 pounds while on this trip. I finished only a couple of my meals. In the Horizon Buffet there was a bowl of rotten peaches out for people to eat! Everything on the shop was ridiculously expensive. The staff looked worn out and unhappy. Many people we talked to on the shp complained about the food, the leaks and the moldy smell of the ship. All in all there was no value for the money we spent. We should have booked an all inclusive in Mexico. Read Less

We took a family vacation to celebrate someone's birthday and they chose Princess from Vancouver to Hawaii. I also know friends who are avid cruisers and was told that Princess is the best when it comes to food. I was disappointed for so many reasons. The bed in our cabin was old and too soft which was very uncomfortable and we had aching backs for much of the trip. We had the air conditioning set as low as it would go and it was still too hit. We had someone come to the cabin 3 times to try and fix it but had no success. . Food was mediocre and mostly very bland. Buffet was very small and food was not very hot. There was no more happy hour or buy one get one free and coctails were very expensive with the Canadian dollar exchange rate. Everything was expensive on the ship. Daytime activities were fun and plentiful. Unfortunately we had the late dinner seating and missed out on a lot of the lounge entertainment. I would recommend the 515pm seating. The production shows were boring with the exception of Motor City. Our cabin steward was very friendly and always greeted us with a smile but other staff, not so much. After breakfast, and being charged for a glass of cranberry juice to me is outrageous. We booked an appointment in the platinum studio to take a family portrait and the photographer took way too many photos of us both individually, with siblings, with spouses, and all we wanted was a family picture. We came back the next day and chose a pboto. If we wanted all the photos on a usb stick, the price was 3100.00 US. Outrageous! For what we paid for this trip was definitely not worth the money. Read Less

Chosen for the fact that it departed and returned to Vancouver. Other than that very disappointed with size of cabin ( swing a cat ). Washroom no bigger than a postage stamp. Shower was so small to wash your legs and feet, head would stick through shower curtain. It was claustrophobic. To towel off was impossible either hands, elbows or shoulders would strike the sides. No cold water came through the faucet just hot or warm. This was mentioned but told this is how it is. The room was so small my wife and I bumped into one another quite often. Other than the actual musical shows ( there were 4 ). The rest of the entertainment was average at best. The food was away below par. Especially at the buffet. Only breakfast was edible. Capri dining room perhaps a step up but but not great. Casino was smoky and machines very tight. I think 1 jackpot of 5000 was won during the whole cruise. It would appear that princess cruises are in tough for money and are cutting back on good service, good food and first class entertainment. They are very heavy on shopping stores and in selling low end junk. Not as advertised and our travel company should have known about these shortcoming. It was a waste of money. Read Less

This was our first cruise with Princess. All of our previous cruises were with a Holland America. We wanted an opportunity to visit all of the Hawaian Islands and this was what we thought would be a good option. Friends has recommended Princess so we decided to book this 15 day cruise. Food served in the main dining rooms was sub-standard as the fish was over cooked and tasteless. All the seafood and fish dishes were unacceptable. I sent several plates back to the kitchen. I had a plate of mussels in a white wine cream sauce and the mussels had not been cleaned properly (beards) and less than half of the shells had opened during cooking. This tells me that they were not fresh! I ordered medium rare prime rib and it was bloody! However, the desserts (Chocolate Journeys) were exceptional. The ship was old and worn looking and obviously had plumbing problems. Most of the women’s washrooms were closed for maintenance during the entire 15 days! The entertainment on board was very good and there were lots of activities during the day. I gave this cruise a poor rating because of the sub-standard food. Many other passengers commented as well. This was our first cruise with Princess and it will also be our last! Read Less

Hawaiian Cruise October 7-22, 2019 Sea Princess Ship Vancouver to Vancouver Boarding and demark and daily weather conditions The best place to stay if coming in a day before the cruise to Hawaii is the Pan Pacific Hotel. This is a 5 star hotel with great location. Cost by taxi from Vancouver International Airport to the Hotel was a fixed cost of $36 Canadian. Leaving the hotel for boarding the ship is very simple and less stressful. Call the hotel bellmen and they will assist you in attaching the cruise luggage tags and then transport them right to the ship for processing and loading on your ship. Taking their elevator down to the CS level leaves you less than 500 steps from the start of the cruise ship check in process. Checking in is a 3 step process: security screening, US customs and then cruise check-in. Check in starts at 10.30 and I would recommend getting there sooner than later. People with disabilities are processed quicker and a Nexus cards speeds up the US customs process. We did it all in less than 30 minutes. The ship left the port at 4.30pm. The captain warned us that the seas would be rough the next 24 hours with swells to over 4 m. It rained all day of the check-in process but stopped by 7pm. Recommend to take warms clothes for the first 2 sea days and bring some seasick medicine – you can buy some on ship and the medical center on the ship and also offer some assistance. Day 2 (first sea day) Overnight the seas were quite rough and remained rough most the day with some easing late in the day. Mostly cloudy in the early morning then clearing to some clouds, temperature remained below 60F. All the pools were closed but people still watched the movies under the stars and ate in the outside areas. Day 3 (second sea day) Seas have calmed down with the temperature rose up to 66F today and mostly cloudy skies with some sunny periods. Winds still persistent. One hour back tonight for time change. Day 4 (third sea day) It was a perfect sea day with calm seas, sun/clouds and light winds with temperature of 72F. One hour back tonight for time change. Day 5 (fourth sea day) It was a fantastic sea day and sunny skies with great temperatures of 76. No hour change tonight. Day 6 (fifth sea day) Last sea day before Honolulu and the weather was great with temperatures around 82F mostly sunny with calm waves and light winds. There was a one-hour time change night – behind. Day 7 (Honolulu, Oahu) We had a great day with excellent weather 85F humid with some clouds. Did island circle tour by Tours by Locals – tour guide Marie – excellent island tour. Day 8 (Nawiliwili Kauai) Hot and sunny day 87F humid, mainly sunny with isolated brief showers. Did the Waimea Canyon / South Side Tour by Tours by Locals – tour guide Noah Friedberg. Day 9 Lahaina (Maui) Hot and sunny day 89F humid, mainly sunny with isolated brief showers. Did the road to Hana and the helicopter ride back – great tour - Tour by Princess Cruise Line. This is our favorite Hawaiian island. Day 10 Kona (the Big Island Hawaii) Today was cloudy, humid with sun and temperatures around 78F with passing showers. We did a Kona side island tour with Tours by Locals – tour guide Scott who was very good. Day 11 Sea day Today was cloudy, humid and windy with some sun and temperatures around 78F. Seas were a bit rough today. Day 12 Sea day Seas were rough last night and today. Sunny today with clouds, windy with a high of 75F. Day 13 Sea day Seas were a little rough today with sunny skies and temperatures around 70F Day 14 Sea day Foggy, cloudy, windy with some sun and a temperature of around 65F Day 15 Sea day Rough seas with cold, foggy, cloudy windy day around 58F. Day 16 Vancouver – time to leave the ship, head to the airport and fly back to Toronto (Burlington home). Rainy cold day. Getting off the ship was well organized and took very little time. We able to easily get a taxi to the airport which is the fastest and least expensive option. Read Less

As we live in the Vancouver area we had a friend drop us off at Canada Place port. It took a bit of time and patience to get through security but then is was a quick embarkation. After having lunch we went to our cabin to find our luggage waiting for us. The emergency drill location for us was the Princess Theatre. It was very well organized and no need to bring life jackets. It is well worth it to get the "Coffee Card" to be able to have specialty coffees and a better cup of brewed coffee in the Piazza. We enjoyed the Enrichment Lecturer, George McGuire. He was very informative and entertaining. I did a few of the crafts, played cards and Mah Jong on the sea days. We went on a tour of Honolulu that we arranged at the port. The $50 each price was a lot better than the ship's tours. The Pearl Harbour Memorial was our last stop, before being returned to the ship. We were not able to see the "long movie" (all tickets - they are free, had been already given out) but we checked out the two small museums and they were good - also free. In Nawiliwili we walked to the nearby shops and enjoyed the picnic / park area and boardwalk. We decided not to get off the ship in Lahaina as we had spent quite a bit of time prevously in Maui, and this port required a tender. We enjoyed a peaceful time on the ship. In Hilo, we went to the farmers market and ate lunch at the "Pineapple" Bar. We had Pulled pork sliders and Pineapple cider and ale. The bus back is cheap, but takes a long time so it is better to get a taxi or Uber and share the cost with another couple. Back on the ship we participated in putting, ring toss and paper airplane contests. Daniel Oliver was a great singer and piano player in the Crooners Bar. We really enjoyed this cruise because of all the Canadians on board, over 2,000. A lot of passengers were from the Vancouver area. Princess provided us with a traditional Turkey dinner for our Thanksgiving and had a special trivia and Canadian Name that tune that evening. We chose the Walk-off option so we were off the ship before 8am. We took the Canada Line to Bridgeport station and then a bus home. Sure beats having to fly. Read Less

All the staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. They all demonstrated genuine enthusiasm for their jobs. We really enjoyed meeting staff of all different nationalities. This really enhances the cruising experence. We also very much enjoyed dining at the specialty restaurants. The menus were delightful and wine selection was superb. The Serving staff were extremely knowledgable and helpful in making entree and wine selections. The buffet provided a variety of delicious food options with an international flavor. We also very much enjoyed the enrichment lectures. The presenters were very knowledgable and most entertaining. We learned a lot about Hawaii's flora and fauna and James Cook's Pacific adventures. Princess also puts on quality shore excursions. I would highly recommend them. They provided very good value for the mony. The embarkation and disembarkation processes were also extremely efficient. From arrival at the cruise terminal to our stateroom took a total of 45 minutes including clearing security and customs. The luggage handling was also very efficient. All in all, a wonderful cruise experience. Read Less

If this is now Princess new standard for service and food then we will not be sailing with them again The dinning room (anytime dinning) staff were untrained and far to few in numbers to give good service if you asked for a fresh HOT pot of tea often you were told there is still tea in the pot its OK drink it ,The choice of meals was very poor and repeated ever few days. We have traveled on Princess many times before and never had this bad of service and meal choice The music was played so loud through out the venues that it was uncomfortable even with my hearing aids OUT The ship was in good condition and the staff in the cafe especially April were the best trained on the ship there you could get HOT coffee and tea as well as snacks . the disembarkation was very smooth I booked the Flight ,hotel and transfers through Princess this all went very smoothly so I can recommend this I have another cruise booked in October 2020 with Princess but if this is there new standard I will give serious consideration to cancelling this and book with another line Read Less

This cruise was a good price and left Vancouver which is is close to where we live in Edmonton. We always wanted to see Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia. This cruise was nice because a previous cruise did not allow us to see Victoria because of the rain and wind. Emarkation was effortless. If only service on land was this smooth. We had fabulous weather and calm seas throughout. San Francisco was warm enough and we saw Sausalito as well as Alcatraz. Alcatraz is not to be missed. On to Hilo and Honolulu. Didn't take excursions because we have been there before. Walked and took the shuttle to various venues. Sometimes you see more just by walking than just driving around. Bora Bora is small but beautiful and rural. Refreshing to see that. Walked around and saw how the locals live. Tahiti was very beautiful and Papeete much larger and more of a modern city. Moorea, a ferry boat away, is even more beautiful. American Samoa was very lovely and the people are incredibly friendly. We were like rock stars! The Samoans are not to be fooled with. They are huge and what they eat in a day is what I would eat in 3. Interestingly, they are US citizens but can't vote. Auckland was fabulous. What a clean, well run city. No thugs downtown that I saw. Well dressed, well behaved, extremely friendly, happy. Loved it. Nice, as Canadians to have another currency worth less than the Canadian dollar. The cruise ended in Auckland but we flew to Brisbane and enjoyed that city very much as well. Another very beautiful and well run city. Clean and scenic. Golden Princess. One of the "shopping cart" ships because of Skywalkers Lounge. Ship shows very well for her age. She was refurbished in April 2018 and was up to snuff. The ship is sold to P & O cruises in April 2020. Our cabin was an MB mini suite. Love the extra room, sofa, 2 tvs, and the bathtub. On a longer cruise was so nice to have the extra space for storage and lounging. The bathtub makes the bathroom larger and gives more space for everything. We each get a nice glass of champagne on departure. Because we are Elite, and because techincally it is 2 cruises, we got the 2 mini bar setups, the 650 free internet minutes, and free laundry. Great perks on a long 23 day cruise. We had the late sitting for dinner. Best waiter, assistant waiter, and head waiter of all my cruises. Chris the waiter, Nathaniel the assistant and Constantin the head waiter. Superb service and timing. They always remembered the little things, lemon in the water, the buns with the seeds, our names, and so attentive. Top notch in any restaurant in the world. Entertainment was the best we have ever had and the cruise director and his assistants were great. Funny, witty, smooth, professional, and excellent. Service was great. The odd time the romm service in the morning forgot the odd item but nothing to complain about. They were so pleasant. Met some great people on the ship. Always meet new friends and enjoy life's memories. Read Less

Not what was expected. Very unfriendly staff. Outdated vessel. Very small. Not well kept. Food was worse than hospital food. Balcony very dirty. Not a lot of activities on-board for 4 day duration. Age group 50-85. Disembarkment process very early. Shops with expensive prices. Atrium is a small hole in the vessel. Elevators are old and dirty. Not sailing again with a Princess. The staff seem to agree that Royal Princess have higher standards in food, cleanliness and ship entertainment. The cocktails were very overpriced. Coffee tasted like water, looked muddy. Tea was better option. Same breakfast menu every single day. Buffet posts and glass were extremely dirty. Staff around ship couldn’t answer badic questions, but gave honest responses, “sorry, I can’t answer that, maybe someone else knows”!!! I would spend a few hundred more and get a better experience with an alternate cruiseline. Many seniors with books in hand and ready for relaxation. Read Less

I chose this cruise because I needed a small break. It was perfect to leave from my home port. The stop in Astoria was uneventful. I would have liked to stop in Seattle or San Francisco, anywhere but Astoria. The people at my dining table were wonderful. we ranged in age from 48 - 82 and had a great camaraderie. The games were hilarious at times. The staff were awesome. They upgraded me to a balcony which I loved. I sat out there in the mornings with my tea and just listened to the sound of the waves and was at peace. I was able to see some whales blow but not emerge or breach. Dani, Christopher, and Carlos took great care of me in the dining room. The food was bland. I heard this complaint from several guests onboard. I don't know if they don't season the food because they think most of the guests are elderly and cannot tolerate it. The worst food on the ship was a veggie burger up on 14. It was soggy and fell apart and tasted terrible. I found the heat inside the ship to be way too high. Read Less

This cruise came about when my wife and I wanted a quick getaway. We were were on the Ruby last year in Alaska and were looking to take it's repositioning trip south but the Coral itinerary (stopping once in Astoria) was better so that was that. The ship does have a few odd perks. Buffet is forward instead of aft, restaurants are also forward. International cafe is open to the casino, a definite negative. Almost everything else, however, is a strong positive. Ship was in good condition, most of the crew was great and entertainment was wonderful. We spent a lot of time listening to music in the Wheelhouse bar, mostly the jazz band but had plenty of dance music options. Princess stage entertainment was great. Bayou steakhouse was a strong negative. First, who decided that a cajun steakhouse was a good idea? The venue had no idea what it wanted to be. Second, service was poor with an invisible head waiter and inattentive waiter. Finally, my NY strip was tough beyond belief. I have never sent any dish back in my life until I tried to eat the steak. It was properly cooked medium rare but still not worth eating. My wife's filet was not properly cooked but the waiter never stuck around long enough for us to report the problem. Service took forever and I was charged for a bottle of wine I never ordered (ultimately resolved with 3 trips to the service desk.) This was one negative in an overall very positive experience. Main dining room was good (waits for mytime dining a bit long) and all other venues we tried were great. Read Less

My husband and I needed a worry-free escape from stressful jobs, one that, once we left the house, was completely taken care of. On this 4 night cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles, we were able to afford a Club Class Mini Suite with Princess transfers at the Vancouver Airport and an overnight at the Four Seasons Hotel. The transfers and hotel stay were well worth the price for us. As soon as we left Customs, a Princess Rep whisked us to a cab and handed a voucher to the driver. At the lovely Four Seasons we were upgraded to a magnificent one bedroom suite with a breathtaking city view. Our luggage was picked up from our suite at 8am the next morning and we didn't have to think about it again until it was safely delivered to our cabin in the very early afternoon. As others have mentioned, embarkation in Vancouver was a mess. There were 3 ships in Port disembarking when we arrived at about 9:45am, and we were herded here, there, and everywhere while the port employees tried to figure out what to do with us and where we were supposed to go. Once we cleared Customs and Princess had more control over the situation, things were much more organized. We were safely on board and in our cabin before 11:30am. Our cabin was very clean, spacious, and in good order. The tub/shower combination in the bathroom was worth the price of the suite. Our cabin steward Jeffrey was perfect in every way and greatly enhanced our experience. Our luggage was delivered very promptly. We couldn't have been happier with Club Class Dining. The separate area of the Bordeaux Dining Room was very peaceful and the service most attentive. The food was good and the extra dish often noteworthy. We never had to wait for a table, and our beverages of choice were instantly at hand. My husband enjoyed the variety of the buffet, but the quality of the food and lack of substantial vegetarian items made it a no go for me. We had Room Service a couple of times. The menu was small as were the portions, but the service was very friendly and you could order as much of any item as you wanted. I had pizza from the Lido Deck on the last day and wondered why I had waited so long. It was really good. The Coral Princess is very clean and well maintained. The crew is pleasant and seemed to work well together as a team. We enjoyed the less frantic atmosphere of a smaller ship, and found plenty of areas to enjoy the solitude of the sea away from others. I thoroughly enjoyed the Thermal Suite in the Lotus Spa. The heated beds were so relaxing, and I'm glad I invested in a pass. It was well worth it to me. It was too cold for us to brave Movies Under the Stars, but the movies also played on the televisions in our cabin and in the Princess Theater. We indulged in Premiere Coffee Cards and are glad we did. Although there could be long lines at the International Cafe, especially in the mornings, my husband greatly enjoyed the specialty frozen beverages available. I enjoyed an after dinner latte in Club Class more than once, along with an occasional Mocktail. Disembarkation in San Pedro was a breeze. We enjoyed a final Club Class breakfast with the same attentive service we had received during the rest of the cruise. We were not rushed or hurried in any way. After a leisurely meal we made our way to the quiet Platinum Lounge until our group was called. Once off the ship, our luggage was easily located and a Lyft quickly obtained for our short trip home. We thoroughly enjoyed our time aboard the lovely Coral Princess and hope to be cruising again before too long. Read Less

This re-positioning cruise was awesome. The 4 day itinerary was the perfect way to revitalize your spirit and mind. The Coral is a smaller ship but has all the amenities of say the Regal. It is new enough that the carpet still has spring to it and the rooms are clean and rust free. The food was excellent. The main dining rooms were large with a lot of ramps for passengers that need assistance. The buffet had many delicious dishes to choose from. The deserts were outstanding and the fruit was sweet and fresh. The cruise staff was outstanding. The passenger games were funny and the staff kept the party going. The art staff was awesome. They gave different lectures on various artists that were interesting and informative. Their knowledge of the artists and their work was impressive. The auctions were fun and the pieces being sold were a outstanding value. This is a trip I would do again. Read Less

We chose this cruise very last minute as our land trip to Napa fell through. The price for the cruise was a deal we could not pass up so we left for Vancouver. Upon entering the cruise port Princess was there and graciously welcomed me back. It had been a while not choosing Princess. We were so glad we are back!!! The entire experience exceeded our expectations mainly due to the outstanding service we received in all venues. The Crooners Bar with Allan and Pankey was incredible. So fun and energetic. I miss them so much! Robert our room steward and Dani our traditional dining server. All are just awesome. The food was excellent. We ate in the traditional dining room each evening and for breakfast. We also love the pizza. Just like we remembered-so awesome. Exceeded expectations. Enjoy if you go on the Coral Princess and say hello to Allan and Pankey from T and T! Read Less

The embarkation was terrible it took 41/2 hours to get us all aboard. There were three cruise ships, 9,000 people boarding at the same time. Lots of people saying they have never experienced such a wait and would never do this cruise again. Definately put me off going on a Princess cruise again. Ended up leaving an hour late! The food was mediocre, and please when you do an Italian dish, look it up as it was was not made properly. Our room was cold and a shower would be better then a bath as people with certain disabilities find it hard to climb in. Otherwise the entertainment was great, but the casino could have more of a variety of slot machines. Ship is very clean and so is the restaurant. When making milkshakes straws are used NOT spoons. The staff were excellent and very helpful. The advertising for Effee needs to be toned down a lot. On the whole I had fun. Read Less

This was a back to back cruise at the end of the Alaska season for the Golden Princess. We left Vancouver for Ketchikan, back to Vancouver, then sailed on to Victoria and San Francisco in a second 3 day cruise. End of season cruises are the best! After spending months on the Alaska run, the crew was heading to Hawaii and then on to Australia and they were in high spirits. The entertainment crew was able to shed their Alaska lumberjack costumes for Hawaiian shirts. Because these were short cruises (4 day and then 3 day) the schedule was packed with activities. It was a delightful experience on this lovely ship. The Golden is an older ship with a passenger capacity under 3000. It has been refurbished and was in really excellent condition even after months on the family-packed Alaska itinerary. It has a lovely atrium around which there are numerous restaurants and bars. The lower floor Vines is a favorite and this one did not disappoint with an excellent selection of wines and superior service. Don't miss the wine and chocolate pairing. This level also has the International Cafe that offers a selection of included sandwiches, soup, salads and desserts in addition to a full bar and coffees. Upstairs is Crooners bar that was always busy and featured a good piano player. From Crooners, one wanders toward the back of the ship to the Explorers Lounge with a stage and frequent entertainment then the Wheelhouse bar for quieter enjoyment and finally on to the Vista Lounge. Centrally located are the Italian Restaurant and Steak House that are available for a small additional charge. Not being red meat fans, we chose the Italian restaurant and found the food and service to be excellent, well worth the extra charge. This ship had a really excellent wine list and we were able to enjoy a favorite bottle of Central California red wine with our dinner at a very reasonable price. For daily dining, we always choose seated dining at a large table. The crew has a talent for seating a together a group of compatible people and this trip was no exception. The food and service were excellent and so was the company. I can't say enough for the entertainment and activities. The entertainment staff went above and beyond. There was daily Zumba and tai chi plus trivia and an ever changing schedule of challenges ranging from Passenger Feud to Moose Racing to an egg drop that challenged passengers to create a device that would prevent a raw egg from breaking when dropped from two stories up to the atrium floor. I came home with a nice Princess water bottle and wine bottle stopper for participating and I had a great time doing it. On both legs the captain sponsored a champagne waterfall in the atrium with ample champagne for the passengers. The pool deck is inviting and was not crowded. This ship has an open pool area and also a covered pool that was more used in the cool and wet Alaska weather we encountered. There was simply too much fun to be had below decks for us to make much use of it. Service was excellent across the board. It always amazes that crew can remember you and your preferences with ever changing passengers. This ship was especially good. Our dining room waiter worked in the anytime dining room for breakfast and lunch and always came over to say hello. The bartenders in Vines and Skywalkers remembered us and our drink preferences and were always ready with beverages and conversation. Our cabin attendants were excellent. Even though we did not select these cruises for the ports and shore excursions, Vancouver proved to be better than we could possibly have expected. We did a Fraser Valley Wine Tour that was really excellent. Who knew? These Canadian wines are not readily available in the US and they are excellent. We also very much enjoyed Granville Island where we did a brief pre-cruise stay. Overall, this was an absolutely terrific week and we look forward to doing it again next year! Read Less

We wanted to experience the suite life on a cruise. Golden is among the ships with the cheapest suites (the window suites) and a short cruise (4 days) is among the cheapest types of cruises. YES I'm frugal but still enjoy cruising. Everything on board was fabulous (this was our 6th cruise). Staff and the ship were great. We had the champagne welcome, the afternoon tea, in room canapes and fruit bowl. We had the free bar set up and I managed to swap it out for the stuff I prefer. The menu and staff in the Club Class dining room were great. We entered when we wanted and NO WAIT. We had a choice of tables. A couple of dinners we shared tables with other couples. Nice people and great conversation. A couple of meals we had just the two of us. We also had the mimosa breakfast in the Crown Grill. Different menu but all good food and staff. I especially enjoyed the Bircher muesli with mixed berries. Of course I have a few grumbles. Starting with US Customs. A 3 hour wait. They know they had 3 ships leaving, they could have put on more staff. At least the Cruise Terminal staff were efficient and had seating arranged so I was only standing for two 20 minute sessions with seating in between. When we finally got to customs, we ran our passports through a scanner, got our tickets, handed them to the agent and walked through. Three hour wait for an automated scan. And you can't do anything about the rain in Ketchikan. We were smart and brought rain coats. In the gift shops people were scrambling for cheap disposable rain coats. We docked at pier 4. As far from the tourist part of town as you can get. I wanted to visit Creek Street. There was a free shuttle with a line up but I couldn't be bother to wait in the rain and then walk about. We hit a couple of gift shops and went back on board for lunch. Read Less

We wanted to see Alaska and the rest of the Cruise was to be a relaxing experience as we had already done most of the remaining Ports. Our impressions of the staff on board (apart from the restaurant staff and room steward which were excellent), specifically at the Customer Desk and the Excursions Counter was that they were not interested in us or our issues, and it was almost as if when confronted with something they didn't like, a steel shutter came down and they hid behind it. We were even accused of not telling the truth when we complained about a shore excursion in which the bus broke down causing us to miss one of the tour sights.  I would also like to give you our impressions of the ship, as it was our fourth Princess Cruise, and our eleventh overall with three different cruise lines, so feel that we have some experience with cruising to be able to comment. Our feelings were that the overall standard of the ship for food and entertainment were not up to the level of our previous Princess cruises. We could count on the fingers of one hand the meals we considered to be excellent, with the remaining average and repetitive (Curtis Stone Share excepted, which was top class on two visits). The entertainment had one or two highlights, but on the whole was below par, with some artists causing an exodus from the theatre shortly after starting. The other major gripe was the lack and standard of daily activities compared with other cruises, with much of the items being Princess sales pitches, rather than truly interesting activities.  It appeared to us and other passengers after discussions on board that these issues of substandard performance were because the Ruby Princess was on a relocation voyage, rather than destination cruising, as it seemed that cost cutting was evident in a number of areas discussed above. Hopefully the problem was the Ruby Princess so may just try one of their other Ships but leave the Sea, Sun and Ruby off any future agendas. Read Less