Grand Princess Cruises Reviews

Thursday 24th May 2012

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Grand Princess

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Repetition.....Repetition!	48 of 62 people found this review informative

Reviewed By: Terry, Sheffield on 30th Jan 2012
Cruise Line: Princess Cruises	Times cruised before: 10+
Cruise Ship: Grand Princess	Sailed: January, 2012
Destination: Caribbean	Age: 65+
Cabin: Balcony	Occasion: Wedding anniversary

The holiday started off a little fraught at Manchester airport as the check in person needed to know which hotel we were staying overnight in Miami - for the life of me at 0630 in the morning I couldn't remember the actual name and address of this place! I had a load of paperwork with me but couldn't trace the actual hotel name at the time!She said to go online and check with Thomas Cook whom we booked ( no way at 0645 in the morning!)with or ring home and ask our daughter to go to our house and get some paperwork or whatever! Blood pressure up and panic stations!! I went to the Continental airlines help desk who put a call out for the Princess Rep to come to the check in area. He eventually arrived and calmed things down by going to the check in desk clerk (different one) to say that we were in transit to Princess cruises which seemed to get us through to departures! Relief! Memo to oneself - get all info in front of you at check in time! I did find the hotel info later on- the immigration bloke at Miami just typed it in when we came to their immigration point without any problem. I had booked an overnight hotel at Manchester airport and needed 17 days parking due to the fact that the weather forcast for January 13th may be a problem with snow over the Pennines from Sheffield and we had this early check in time anyway! The Continental flight was very good to New Jersey where we had to retrieve our luggage to have it transfered to a flight to Miami with another airline - US Air .The connection flight was ok for the 2hr or so flight down to Miami. We were then transferred to the Intercontinental at Dural for overnight before the cruise the next day. The hotel was very nice - usual large bedroom and bed and the room also had coffee and tea making facilities (drip feed coffee maker). The breakfast cost was not included so that was a shock to be billed for $45 for a basic cereal and toast etc buffet breakfast. Pickup from the hotel was at 12.30 and everybody was waiting in the lobby for coaches for the Grand or Crown princess ships.The trip to the Port at Fort Lauderdale was about 40 minutes and uneventful.We went through boarding procedures fairly quickly and were in our cabin by 2pm or so. Lifeboat drill at 4.15 was in a lounge on deck 7 .Our cabin steward called Kanit was hepful at all times but was unable to provide any liquor other than the well stocked refrigerator holding miniatures of scotch and gin and 2 beers also sprite and cola and water as we were "elite" passengers. This was refilled the next Saturday morning as we were at Fort Lauderdale again!No spirits allowed to be taken onboard .Purchased onboard spirits would be given back at cruise end! The cruise was a back to back 7 day out of Ft Lauderdale mainly for Canadian and American passengers obviously but the itinery slightly interested me as it did Princess Cays in the Bahamas a couple of times where Princess leased some prime shoreline .This was a nice area developed in American style with huts for hire and cabanas etc. the hundreds of sunbeds were scattered up the beach for 1/2 mile so plenty of space.The barbeque area was a large covered unit with plenty of cooked bbq food and water and iced tea.A few locals had stalls selling the usual Caribbean bits and pieces! The other islands ports of call we had done previously a few time so we didn't book any ships tours but walked off the ship and did our own thing. We hopped on a van tour going round St Maarten doing the French and Dutch side - it was ok but the driver stopped at a Ritz hotel for a break for 1/2 hr but we didn't go round to the International airport at the shore side saying it would be more money - disappointing in the end as it cost $30 each anyway with a van with 10 on board! The other trip we did in a van was the stop in St Thomas which would be a taxi ride to Charlotte Amilie anyway.This was a similar ride round the island for $25 each - which was fair! Princess tours similarly would be around $49 each. Captains cocktail night and champagne fountain performance was the only time free drinks were offered. The showtime theatre was already filling up 1/2 hr before any performance with people holding seats up to the last minute.The cruise director Billy Highgate was ok and he was very good doing a song from Fiddler on the roof on the last nights performance. Comedians were for the Americans taste of amusement and we also had a comic juggler a singer and a hypnotist who were quite entertaining. The tv system was not as up to date as Ventura's as it didn't have the interactive display and also the SCAN display showing the distances traveled was unavailable the first week. The ship is 14 years old and it showed in the steelwork and paintwork. Rusty and stained metalwork was constantly being painted over. The upgraded interior looked as good as new as it was only refurbed last year!The casino had several nights when passengers could smoke.It's ok if you are a smoker but not very pleasant if you aren't. The slots were tight as a ducks whatever which cost quite a few dollars and didn't take too long to lose it.We never learn! We were Freedom dining and only used the buffet as it suited us and we did not have any problems finding a table. The food was excellent and a carvery was availble every lunch and dinner.The salad bar was fresh and the pudding bar was different also . It amuses me that Americans would walk a lot further to find a table all to themselves than have to share with somebody already sat down at a table with vacant chairs although the tables were plentiful at most times except breakfasts.Two people would use a table for six all to themselves rather than share! On the last morning of departure we had to vacate our rooms by 0800 and have cases out the previous night as usual for pick up and identified by coloured tags the next morning in the dockside hanger for transferring to the coach for Miami airport. A particular problem there was the newsletter about disembarkation did not mention that carry on luggage should be taken to the meeting for particular coloured label groups in the morning of departure and that we would disembark immediately after that meeting! We had a 1610 flight out of Miami which didn't please us to be shoved off the ship hurriedly to board the coach at 0730.I would have half expected to be allowed to stop aboard for at least 3 more hours before disembarking! The ride to the airport took just 40 minutes and we were in that airport for 0845 and had to wait until 1540 before being called for our first flight to Philadelphia.We were very annoyed about this.The a/c in the airport was chilly and we both picked up blocked up noses! The original flightplan was to leave Miami on Virgin Atlantic to Heathrow then catch a British Airways connection to Manchester later arriving at MAN in the afternoon.......I didn't like that bad timing so opted for a different flight by US AIr to Philadelphia then a US AIR conection To MAN within an hour or so getting to Manchester at 0745. It was worth the inconvenience of cramped seating on this plane (more like a charter's tight seating) to get to Manchester a lot earlier! Overall we enjoyed the cruise but we don't think we would do the same again . We rather like a direct flight to a port and embark the same day as we do regularly at Barbados - no hassle with immigration and a pleasant atmosphere on the aircraft and ship.
Quality of Food
Buffet dining with a meat carvery every sitting.We booked for an anniversary in the Crown Grill for a steak meal and enjoyed that also. A small cake was provided and also were sung "Happy Anniversary" which was nice.
Entertainment
Mostly for the American taste of entertainment. Nothing hilarious by the two commedians but one was unique in doing a voice over to a slideshow!The juggler kept dropping balls!
Shore Excursions
Did our own thing -,either a local van trip or just a walk round -- been there done that many times before.
Staff
The cabin steward was helpful as usual.The maitre de at the Crown grill wouldn't put us in at an earlier time other than 9pm as it would spoil the ambience to fill the room with customers (in a French accent!!!)What a load of BS!
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities	n/a

Cabins
The bed was a bit hard but comfortable as usual but caused sore hips.(Should have asked for a topper!)
Overall Rating

48 of 62 people found this review informative

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Comment by Simpson, Chippenham (03 Feb 12 00:52) about this REVIEW

I cannot see how it can be possible to rate this cruise overall as only TWO stars! Your maths simply do not add up. You have rated food as FIVE stars, Cabins and staff as FOUR stars each and entertainment as THREE stars. The only facility you rated with a lowly TWO stars was shore excursions, and, according to you, you only went on one! Wake up! It seems to me that your scores are meaningless, and do nothing to assist or inform any fellow cruisers like me.

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Comment by Terry, Sheffield (04 Feb 12 20:34) about a COMMENT by Simpson (03 Feb 12 00:52)

Put your glasses on! We didn't do ANY ships excursions ashore.We did our own trips in mini van taxis. I'm sure the article speaks for itself regarding various aspects and most star ratings ARE meaningless to most people!.

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Comment by Terry, Sheffield (03 Feb 12 10:14) about a COMMENT by Simpson (03 Feb 12 00:52)

Ok I'll give it four stars for you but the end of cruise disembarkation fiasco caused me to drop the rating !

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Comment by Wallace, Elstree (01 Feb 12 11:36) about this REVIEW

I am surprised that someone who has attained Elite status (having done a good number of cruises) would not know that they should ALWAYS take their hand luggage with them to the disembarkation lounge (a VIP lounge for Elite passengers). Our cabin stewards ALWAYS swap the courtesy drinks for booze or cold drinks we prefer. A back to back cruise on ANY shipping line will never be as good as a 2-week cruise. The Americans will be a different breed, because they will only take ONE WEEK, and a new set of passengers will appear for the second week. Perhaps this is the reason they didn't join people 'already sat' at buffet tables. Our experience has ALWAYS been (50 cruises) that Americans join in more than Brits.

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Comment by Terry, Sheffield (01 Feb 12 17:00) about a COMMENT by Wallace (01 Feb 12 11:36)

Being elite status we thought we should have given us a little priviledge and be able to leave the ship at a reasonable time and have been allowed to wait in the lounge arranged for elite passengers.or anybody else flying in late afternoon.The Vista lounge for VIPs was mentioned in the disembarkation paperwork! The place we were told to go and meet was the theatre not called a disembarkation lounge where all passengers congregated at a certain time according to their colour coded tags.We expected to be told that we could either pay extra for a cabin for a few hours or have a lounge to wait coach trips to the airport at a reasonable time! It appears that all the people who flew out of Miami Int. were booted off first at 0730 regardless of flight times and any local flights at a later time i.e. Ft Lauderdale airport for Americans.There was a full coachload of us Brits having long waits at terminals 1 and 2 Miami Airport. The point about the drinks situation was that even the steward couldnt arrange for a large spirits bottle and that the miniatures would have to do!Thats the only gripe - Princess only allow duty free booze when disembarking not during sailings I know P&O and also Thomson have more lenience and leeway over disembarkation times!

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Comment by Wainwright, Witham (01 Feb 12 11:24) about this REVIEW

My husband and I went on a cruise 2 years ago and picked up Legionnaires - charming. He is a very fit man but I thought he was going to die and we both lost a stone in weight in a week. It was our first and last cruise.

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Comment by Atiyah, Tewkesbury (01 Feb 12 10:08) about this REVIEW

If you are faced with a long wait in Fort Lauderdale/Miami, you can pick up a hire car for the day very cheaply - cost us about £20, then you can do a bit of sight seeing before driving to the airport for your flight at a time to suit you. Budget have a location nearby and will shuttle to and from the port.

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Comment by Terry, Sheffield (01 Feb 12 16:33) about a COMMENT by Atiyah (01 Feb 12 10:08)

In the paperwork for disembarkation "elite" passengers could use the Vista lounge on deck 7 so we assumed that having a late flight out of Miami we would avail ourselves in there for a couple of hours! But no , we want you off the ship ASAP! No mention in the paperwork as to bring all your belongings with you as we will kick you off immediately! Other cruise lines accept passengers do not want a long airport stay so they allow some passengers to delay leaving the ship and wait to be called from a lounge area. We have previously had holidays in Miami and driven around there before so knew the places of interest and even drove down to Key West for an overnight stay! So we were not bothered about a coach trip or hire a car that day.

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Comment by murray, Glasgow (02 Feb 12 12:19) about a COMMENT by Terry (01 Feb 12 16:33)

I sympathise with you. On a Celebrity cruise from Bermuda, we disembarked early and had no choice other than to go to the airport as we could not find any left luggage facilities. It would have been nice to have passed the time in New York. What a contrast with Costa. Aboard the Classica in Hong Kong we could stay on board or go out until the transfer coach arrived. It was good to see the new cruisers come aboard and wish them a happy holiday!

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Comment by Holmes, Abingdon (01 Feb 12 01:05) about this REVIEW

Having been on a Princess cruise over here (also on the 'not-so' Grand), and what looks like a very similar one to this with Celebrity, I'd vote for Celebrity every time. I don't know if the refit on the Grand did improve the breakfast buffet area, as it was easily the worst we've seen on any ship, despite the best efforts of staff. Lousy seating (always crowded), and a chaotic buffet with people milling about thanks to the daft design. I think from memory the bed on the 'Grand' was terrible too. Do Americans especially like to sit on their own? We've seen plenty of Brits do just this. Having been to Miami for our trip, we had the same thing with a hotel stay to start, but we also had one booked for the departure day, so weren't left to our own devices. I'm surprised that experienced cruisers wouldn't know that a requirement to go and wait in a certain lounge on that last morning means that when the call comes, off you go?! You certainly cannot expect to hang about on the ship for hours, they're getting ready for, and accepting the next tranche of passengers! The double flight thing is a nuisance, and even if you live in the south, you can't always get direct flights from H'row or Gatwick. I would caution people planning a quick changeover at Philly, as I think from memory there are loads of terminals, the airport is extremely busy, and delays are far from unknown! And re the point about starting a cruise at Barbados, if possible, indeed yes, anything to avoid American customs and immigration (ruined a suitcase of mine for no good reason, and always likely to cause huge delays if you happen to be on one of two big flights that arrive close together). NB A similar point applies for an Alaska cruise, if choosing between one that uses Seattle, and another that terminates in much more user-friendly Vancouver!

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