Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	430
Accommodation	200	167
Food	400	256
Service	400	293
Entertainment	100	82
Cruise	400	314

How this score is created

The design for this large cruise ship, whose sister ships are Golden Princess and Grand Princess (and slightly larger half-sister Carib­bean Princess), presents a bold, forthright profile, with a racy “spoiler” effect at its galleon-like transom stern that I (and others) do not consider handsome (the “spoiler” acts as a stern observation lounge by day, and a stunning discotheque by night). Star Princess is quite a ship. With a beam of 118 ft/36 meters, including the navigation bridge wings and with many balcony cabins overhanging the ship’s hull, it is too wide – by more than 13 ft/3.9 meters – to transit the Panama Canal. When the ship was delivered by the shipyard in Italy, Star Princess went through the Suez Canal (the largest passenger ship ever to do so), then sailed to Singapore for its maiden voyage, before going to Los Angeles; thus the ship did half an around-the-world sailing before commencing service on the US west coast.

A few changes (compared with Golden Princess and Grand Princess) have been incorporated, including a substantially enlarged and much improved children’s area (the Fun Zone) at the stern of the vessel. Also different (and improved) is the layout of the Lotus Spa (particularly the placement of the saunas/changing rooms).

There is a good sheltered teakwood promenade deck, which almost wraps around (three times round is equal to one mile) and a walkway which 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 there are also plenty of passengers), and a wide array of public rooms to choose from, 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. The decor is attractive, with lots of earth tones (well suited to both American and European tastes). In fact, this is a 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.

An extensive collection of art works has been chosen, and this complements the interior design and colors well. If you see something you like, you will be able to purchase it on board – it’s almost all for sale.

Like sister ships Golden Princess and Grand Princess, Star Princess also has a Wedding Chapel (a live web-cam can relay ceremonies via the internet). The ship’s captain can legally marry (American) couples, thanks to the ship’s Bermuda registry and a special dispensation (which should be verified when in the planning stage, 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 of money. The “Hearts & Minds” chapel is also useful for “renewal of vows” ceremonies.

For children, there is a two-deck-high playroom, teen room, and a host of specially trained counselors. Children have their own pools, hot tubs, and open deck area at the stern of the ship, thankfully away from adult areas. There are good netted-in areas; one section has a dip pool, while another has a mini-basketball court.

Gamers should enjoy the Grand Casino, with more than 260 slot machines; there are blackjack, craps and roulette tables, plus newer games such as Let It Ride Bonus, Spanish 21 and Caribbean Draw Progressive. But the highlight could well be the specially linked slot machines that provide a combined payout

.

Other features include a decent library/CD-Rom computer room, and a separate card room. 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; this ship highlights the 1950-built cargo ship Ganges. A sports bar, Shooters, has two billiard tables, as well as eight television screens.

A high-tech hospital is provided, with live SeaMed tele-medicine link-ups with specialists at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles available for emergency help.

The ship is a stunning, grand resort playground in which to roam when you are not ashore. Princess Cruises delivers a consistently fine, well-packaged vacation product, with a good sense of style, at an attractive, highly competitive price, and this ship will appeal to those that really enjoy a big city to play in, with all the trimmings and lots of fellow passengers. The ship is full of revenue centers, however, designed to help part you from your money. As cruising aboard large ships such as this has become increasingly an onboard revenue-based product, you can expect to be subjected to a stream of flyers advertising daily art auctions, “designer” watches and other promotions, while “artworks” for auction are strewn throughout the ship.

The dress code has been simplified – reduced to formal or smart casual, which seems to be translated by many as jeans and trainers. Gratuities to staff are automatically added to your account, at $10 per person, per day (gratuities for children are charged at the same rate). If you want to pay less, you’ll need to go to the reception desk to have these charges adjusted; this could mean lining up with many other passengers wanting to do the same. The onboard currency is the US dollar.

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

If you are not used to large ships, it will take you some time to find your way around, despite the company’s claim that this vessel offers passengers a “small ship feel, big ship choice.” The cabin bath towels are small, and drawer space is very limited. There are no butlers – even for the top-grade suites (which are not really large in comparison similar suites aboard some other ships). Cabin attendants have too many cabins to look after (typically 20), which does not translate to fine personal service.

The automated telephone system is frustrating, and luggage delivery is inefficient.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008