My Alaska cruise aboard the Golden Princess

[Beryl]

On July 9th we sailed to Alaska with my Brother-in-law and his wife....a first cruise for them but a 4th cruise to Alaska for me. It was probably the best for weather and wildlife of all my Alaska adventures. I would prefer an itinerary that includes Sitka but we had to do the round trip from Seattle this time round so that was not to be. For all that my wonderful cruise agent did for us I want to say a special thank you! Your advice was invaluable and your generosity...well, I will say no more...my heart is soooo full!

We arrived at the pier shortly after 11am and were dropped by our shuttle in the shuttle area near the door. We gave our luggage to the porter who seemed to be waiting for us...and it was in our cabin when we returned from lunch. Our wait to board the ship was very brief and we were in our cabin in no time at all. We were travelling with my BIL and his wife (first time cruisers) who also received their luggage in a timely manner. Both of our rooms were fully cleaned and immaculate when we boarded.

Our cabin was on Caribe deck and our cabin steward was wonderful. I brought some flowers onboard from the Pike Place Market and as we arrived back at the cabin after lunch he also arrived with a vase to put the flowers in...super!! Our cabin was always spotless...bed made beautifully, clean glasses in place, ice in the ice bucket, shining bathroom ... always spotlessly clean, towels and facecloths always fresh, robes in place on our arrival and our cabin was always made up promptly and the steward always addressed us by name, with a smile and fulfilled every request accurately and promptly! He personified C.R.U.I.S.E.

While food is very subjective we found it to be quite good aboard this ship. We do not expect 5 star cuisine from a kitchen that is catering to so many people at one time! What we do expect is very good banquet quality food and that is exacty what we found. We ate in the Crown Grill one evening and had great service and excellent food. We also enjoyed Sabatini's one evening. It was a pleasant experience but I felt the service missed in a couple of areas...just small things like not asking if we would like to have coffee. I ordered the steak here and thought it a little on the tough side. My sister in law said hers was tender and delicious. (Personal differences I think!) We also took advantage of eating at Pub Lunch twice. I enjoyed both lunches thoroughly. At one meal I was not terribly hungry and chose the Ploughman's Lunch....a bit of bread, pate and cheese was just right and very tasty. On another day I chose the Fish and Chips...delicious (though not as delicious as the fish and chips at Lowell's at the Seattle Market...perhaps not so much about taste as about ambiance....the Market was so much fun!) and not too much batter on the fish! We enjoyed our meals in the Bernini Dining room...different waiters...all attentive and happy...as well as different tablemates. We usually ate at about 6pm and never had a problem getting a table...usually by a window! The wine service was excellent as was the wine! Of course some dinners were more memorable than others....I personally loved the Beef Wellington.

While my Brother and Sister in Law loved the Horizon Court for breakfast and lunch I avoided it like the plague. I dislike the smell of the buffet...it reminds me of a school cafeteria and looking at all that food in one place sickens me. We had room service breakfasts .... I had to try the "Princess MacMuffin" and found it to be strange but not awful....no, on second thought it was awful and I won't be having it again :) ! Lunch was generally a quick bite of something and a cappuccino at the International Cafe...that spot is a winner!

We enjoyed the shows. I always find the singers and dancers on Princess to be very energetic but the singers are not always on key and when they are off they are awful....especially the female ones! For the most part these performers were quite good and the shows were entertaining. The Princess Theatre was filled to overflowing for the early performance of "British Invasion" and I was most upset that Princess allowed people to sit on the stairs during the performance. I thought they should close the doors and have someone available to let folks know there would be a later performance. To my mind not doing this created a real safety hazard!

The comedian Carlos Oscar was a super entertainer. I am generally not a fan of comedians because of their foul language and reliance on sexual references for laughs. This man relies on the everyday situations we all encounter along the paths of our lives for his laughs. He is funny because he understands the human condition! I hope to see him perform again!

For me the highlight of our Alaska ports was Juneau. We did a whale watching cruise combined with the Mendenhall Glacier. I've been a fan of Humpback Whales for years and years and love to watch them in Maui. It was such a treat to see how their behaviour is so different in Alaska where their main object is to eat (kind of like a lot of cruise ship passengers ) We were very fortunate to see them bubble net feeding...a behaviour that you will never see in Hawaii! The Mendenhall glacier was...well it was a glacier! The visitor center was interesting and quite informative.

Glacier Bay was lovely and sooooooo warm...I actually fell asleep on the balcony's chaise lounge while enjoying the sunshine!

What I missed on this cruise....Orcas...I had hoped but I guess a trip to the west coast of Canada is in order so that I can see these creatures in their natural habitat. Somewhere along the way we managed to see sheep, deer, otter, whales, bald eagles, and seals so I am not compaining.

A few final thoughts....

Our cabin steward was a delight but so too was the sommelier on this vessel. I had the most wonderful conversation with him at dinner one evening and we shared memories of other Princess ships and he shared some tips about visiting Europe with me! I'm booking that European cruise soon!!!!!

I saw more children on this cruise than I have noticed on any other cruise I have been on in the past. Was it a poor kid's program this time round or was it just because it's summer vacation? For the most part they were very well behaved but I do not understand why parents think it's okay to let little ones roam about a ship on their own.

It is not okay to save 10 seats in a row at the Princess Theatre 15 minutes before showtime while a lot of people are searching for 2 seats together. To tell you the truth if it had been me searching for a seat I would have said, "Tough luck for your people!" and parked my backside in one of those saved seats.

A seven night cruise is too short!! Too bad the next one I have booked is also a 7 nighter !

Never leave the ship without purchasing Future Cruise Credits. I met several people upon disembarkation who were moaning about that...(I was not one of them

This was a wonderful cruise on a wonderful ship to a wonderful destination. I found the staff to be friendly and helpful, the entertainment definitely entertaining, the food very good. I am always amazed at how well Princess moves the mass of humanity that engulfs the ship on a weekly basis around with such ease. When bottlenecks do occur they are usually very brief and usually a result of passengers not doing those things that they are asked (sometimes begged) to do. I really was sad to have to say goodbye this time round and I am looking forward to sailing again in October!

[Whimsy]

Welcome home! I loved your review. What is the Princess MacMuffin? It must be new since we sailed last October. Is this available to on the room service menu?

Enjoy the short wait till your next cruise!

[J.E. M.]

Thanks for the review, we were on the Golden several years ago and enjoyed the ship, but had problems with the Horizon Court.

[ShipMaven]

Thank you for your comprehensive review, Beryl.

Like you, I'm not a fan of the buffet venue (by whatever name) on any ship. Glad you found some great alternatives.

[Einstein]

Can NOT beat a Princess Experience in Alaska. Glad U ALL had a Golden Experience.

[Lurline63]

Thank you for a wonderful review, Beryl. I'm glad you saw so much wildlife, particularly the Humpback Whales. It's also interesting (in a good way) to travel with first-time cruisers. Do you think your BIL and SIL will be booking another?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Loved your review.

Alaska is one of our favorite destinations. Just wish it wasn't so hard to get there.

[Donna - dsw]

Welcome back and thanks for the info - I loved my cruise to Alaska in 2000 - however I have no plans to return.

[Jeanie]

Thank you for your wonderful review, like you, I'm not a fan of the buffet venue. Give me the dinning room any day. Glad you and your family had a wonderful experience on Princess

[popcorn]

Welcome home! And thanks for the review. I am with you in that a 7 dayer is not long enough. And isn't it wonderful to sail from the west coast? I am also not a fan of the buffet. As my father-in-law said on our first cruise, 'I payed good money for this, so I am going to be served!'

Liz