Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	430
Accommodation	200	166
Food	400	256
Service	400	293
Entertainment	100	82
Cruise	400	314

How this score is created

Golden Princess (sister to Grand Princess and Star Princess) presents a bold, forthright profile, with a racy “spoiler” effect at the stern that I do not consider handsome (this acts as an observation lounge with aft-facing views by day, and a noisy discotheque by night). The ship has a flared snub-nosed bow and a galleon-like transom stern. At 118 ft/36 meters (but more than 43 ft/13 meters wider than the canal, including the navigation bridge wings) Golden Princess is too wide to transit the Panama Canal, with many balcony cabins overhanging the ship’s hull.

There is a good sheltered teakwood promenade deck, which almost wraps around (three times round is equal to one mile) and a walkway that goes right to the (enclosed, protected) bow of the ship. The outdoor pools have various beach-like surroundings. One lap pool has a pumped “current” to swim against.

Unlike the outside decks, there is plenty of space inside the ship (but also plenty of passengers), and a wide array of public rooms, with many “intimate” (this being a relative word) spaces and places to play. The passenger flow has been well thought-out, and works with little congestion, except at the photo gallery on Promenade Deck (Deck 7), where there is congestion at peak times when passengers try to go through the gallery to get to the Vista Lounge. The decor is very attractive and warm, with lots of earth tones. In fact, this ship is the culmination of the best of all that Princess Cruises has to offer from its many years of operating what is now a well-tuned, good quality product.

Four areas center on swimming pools, one of which is two decks high and is covered by a magrodome, itself an extension of the funnel housing. High atop the stern of the ship is a ship-wide glass-walled disco pod. It looks like an aerodynamic “spoiler” and is positioned high above the water, with spectacular views from the extreme port and starboard side windows.

There is an extensive collection of art works, which complement the elegant, non-glitzy interior design and colors. If you see something you like, you’ll probably be able to buy it.

This ship also has a Wedding Chapel (a live web-cam can relay ceremonies via the internet). The ship’s captain can legally marry (American) couples, due to the ship’s Bermuda registry and a special dispensation (this should, however, be verified when in the planning stage, and may vary according to where you reside). Princess Cruises offers three wedding packages: Pearl, Emerald, Diamond – the fee includes registration and official marriage certificate. However, to get married and take your close family members and entourage with you on your honeymoon is going to cost a lot. The “Hearts & Minds” chapel can also be used for “renewal of vows” ceremonies.

Teenagers (and others) might like the array of video games (50 cents to $3 per game), while photo enthusiasts should find “FX” (the digital photo shop) of interest – you can have your photo morphed into almost any setting. For youngsters there is a two-deck-high playroom and teen room located in the forward section of the ship (although the video games room is located at the opposite end of the ship), and a host of trained counselors.

Gamblers should enjoy the large casino, with more than 260 slot machines. There are blackjack, craps and roulette tables, plus games such as Let It Ride Bonus, Spanish 21 and Caribbean Draw Progressive.

Ship lovers should enjoy the wood-paneled Wheelhouse Bar, finely decorated with memorabilia and ship models tracing part of parent company P&O’s history. There is an Internet Cafe, with a couple of dozen AOL-linked computer terminals ($7.50 per 15 minutes when this book was completed); but it should be called an Internet Center, as there is no cafe – not even any coffee.

Princess Cays – Princess Cruises’ own “private island” in the Caribbean – is “yours” (along with other passengers, of course) for a day on Caribbean itineraries; however, you will need to take a shore tender to get to and from it, and this can take some time. A high-tech hospital is provided, with live SeaMed tele-medicine link-up to specialists at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles available for emergency help (hardly useful for international passengers who don’t reside in the USA).

The automated telephone system is frustrating to use, and luggage delivery is inefficient. Lines form for many things, but particularly for the purser’s desk, and for open-seating breakfast and lunch in the three main dining rooms.

You’ll have to live with the many extra charge items (such as for ice cream, and freshly squeezed orange juice) and activities (such as yoga, group exercise bicycling and kick boxing classes at $10 per session, not to mention $4 per hour for group babysitting services). There is a charge for using the washers and dryers in the self-service launderettes (coins are needed).

Whether all this really can be considered a relaxing holiday is a moot point, but with many choices and “small” rooms to enjoy, the ship has been extremely well designed, and the odds are that you’ll have a fine time, in a controlled, well packaged way.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008