Note -this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Curtis Smith
Email: curtis-smith@worldnet.att.net
Age: 36
Occupation: MIS Manager
NumberOfCruises: 8
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: 11/28/98
Itinerary: Traditional Southern Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 77
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 72
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 50
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 40
FoodMidnightBuffets: 10
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 93
FoodVariety: 75
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 87
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 93
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 93
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 93
EntertainmentPoolside: 70
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino: 88
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 85
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 75
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 77
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Dec 1998
Time: 21:11:25
Remote Name: 12.76.122.220
Remote User:

Comments

The following is my assessment of the trip my wife and I took on the Dawn Princess sailing out of San Juan on 11/28/98. We are
Americans, in our mid-thirties, and this was our eighth cruise. We have previously been on Carnival twice, NCL three times, and
Celebrity twice.

Ship On the plus side, the Dawn Princess is a lovely, well-maintained vessel. Its Grand Atrium is probably one of the most lavish
in the industry. The public rooms are well decorated, done with tasteful colors offering many photo opportunities. Finally on the
plus side, the large theaters are spacious, and we never had a problem getting a good seat. There are many negative features,
however, of the ship itself. I would like to list them out for you. 1. The ship is like being in a big dark cave. Passengers can get
out through only three doors on each side of the ship on the seventh level and two doors on each of the 12th and 14th levels (fore
and aft). There is no way of getting from the seventh level to the 12th level unless you go up the interior stairs (i.e., there are no
fore or aft external stairs). 2. All pools have fresh water in them. Some people like this, others detest this and hope this practice
is banned by other cruise lines. Count me in the later group. 3. Windbreaks are everywhere. If you are out to get the sea air,
forget it. You are also constantly walking around them on deck. 4. Elevators are too slow and confusing. You have to press two
buttons, one for each bank of elevators to summon all the elevators. Long waits are the rule, even late at night, or when the ship
is in port. 5. The decks are some of the narrowest I've seen. No more than three people can walk shoulder to shoulder on the
Promenade deck without running into furniture. Rear decks are extremely small. There is no outside deck space for eating.

Food Food is a topic near and dear to my heart. It is one of the prime reasons I like going on cruises. With that said, I would like
to say I was disappointed with the food on the Dawn. As a whole, it was not innovative, original, or presented well. The one area
that I was impressed with was their beef selections. Well aged and tender, the filets, and prime rib were a treat. On the negative
side: 1. The Dawn has a 24-hour restaurant called the Horizon Court. Bland food, non-dairy creamer, hot plates for salads, cold
soups, poor entree selection, and far less than attentive service says it all. It ranks as the worst dining experience I have had at
sea. 2. No midnight buffets. There was one thrown together buffet at the singular deck party we had, but it was strictly meats and
two types of over-sweet cake. By the way, no beverages were served. 3. Seven nights of the same salad selection, Caesar, or a
salad consisting of iceberg lettuce. 4. Salmon every night, sometimes on the menu twice. 5. Very salty pastas 6. Eggs Benedict
with cold yolks. 7. Garlic in the cheese omelet. 8. No wine steward, poor wine selection. 9. Boring desserts. 10. Horrible English
sausages (an acquired taste to say the least)

In ranking the overall cuisine in comparison to other cruise lines, I would rank it on par, or slightly below the food on Carnival,
lower than NCL's, and well, not even in the same category as Celebrity.

Service The service in the main dining room for dinner was good. Our waiter and busboy were very attentive and made sure food
was prepared properly. A wine steward is needed though. Princess gives you a phone number of a wine steward you can call
prior to dinner, but this helps little if you change your mind as to what you wish to eat. The wait staffs at lunch and breakfast
were inconsistent, sometimes giving you the impression that you were bothering them. As I mentioned earlier, the service in the
Horizon Court was terrible. Waiters were actually rude, not helpful, and slow at cleaning off tables.

Embarkation/Disembarkation These processes were fairly smooth and without incident. I was slightly turned off by having to find
my own cabin. In comparison, Celebrity escorts new passengers to their cabins.

Cabin We had an interior cabin on the eighth level of the ship. I can attest to the rumors that Princess cabins are small. The
cabin was wide enough to snugly hold the double bed we had. Closet space was limited and the bathroom was as small as I
have seen. The noise level in the cabin was unacceptable which prompted several complaints to the front desk. Our cabin was
located above the Wheelhouse Bar which, by day, looks like a sleepy piano bar. In reality, each night a rock band plays until
1:00 AM. The first couple of nights this was not a problem since we were in that bar dancing. The band they had was not very
good (I think they must play the Holiday Inn circuit) so subsequent night listening was from the comfort of our cabin. In
retrospect, I should have asked to be moved to a quieter cabin. Now don't misunderstand me on this. I am not an old
fuddy-duddy. I am 36 years old and love good rock music. Princess has a serious design problem with this boat. Many cabins
are near, above, or below late night entertainment facilities. I noticed many sleep deprived people on this boat.

Entertainment The cruise director and his staff did quite a good job keeping us entertained. Music was good in the main show
rooms, and the big shows were enjoyable. On the negative, I must mention again how much I disliked the rock band that was on
board. They were awful. Very little music was played by the pool. I think the chief reason for this was the ship designer forgot to
create a place for the band to play. They actually huddled in the corner when they played. We had only one evening party. This
party was fun, but I have been on ships where there is a party of some type every night. I felt rushed, like the crew wanted you to
get all of your fun in at this one party.

Ports of Call We went to five ports. Let me summarize each: 1. Barbados - A lovely island for swimming and snorkeling. Do not
go into the shopping area. The locals are too aggressive. 2. St. Lucia. - A lovely island to see from the sea, but there is little to
do. 3. St. Martin - Take a sailing trip. Shopping has gone down hill due to recent hurricane damage. New casinos in the shopping
district give the area a trashy appearance. 4. St. Kitts - A beautiful, must see island. 5. St. Thomas - Shopping mecca - beware
of traffic if a lot of ships are in port.

All in all, I would rate this among the least liked of the eight cruises that we have taken. The ship's design, food, and staff made
me feel like I was at a Holiday Inn. There are far better choices in the market today.

Name: Ted Spiegel
Email: tspiegel@bellsouth.net
Age: 50
Occupation: Attorney
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: 12/19/98
Itinerary: Southern Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization:
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Dec 1998
Time: 11:45:00
Remote Name: 209.214.168.92
Remote User:

Comments

I found this site when looking to book a cruise and so I hope to be as helpful as those who took the time prior to my cruise.

We sailed on the Dawn Princess 12/19/98 through 12/26/98 round trip from San Juan with ports of St. Thomas, Dominica,
Grenada, La Guaira and Aruba. The ship is absolutely magnificent both in design and maintenance. The staff keeps the ship
absolutely spotless and the ship is at the outer limits of how large a cruise ship should be according to our family's personal
taste. As large as it is, it is never too large and you certainly never feel that the waiting time is too long. Perhaps that is due to
the attentiveness of the staff. This ship was chosen because it had a basketball net which was an absolute necessity for my son.

We had a mini suite for my wife and myself with our 18 year old son and his friend across the hall in an inner double. The inner
was fine if you are on a budget but I prefer windows and private balconies. Since I pay the bill, I get that and the kids get stuck
with what I provide for them. The mini suite was large and worth the extra money. It was well apportioned and never seemed to
cramped. The cabin steward (stewardess) in our case was excellent. Our linens were always fresh, our suite was always cleaned
and we always had exactly what we wanted and when. The stewardess had to clean my son's room and even earned extra duty
pay by keeping it clean.

The food was excellent. I can only compare Princess with RCCL because I have had two cruises on each. The food is better than
RCCL. You are not pushed by bar waiters or wine stewards like RCCL. I appreciate that but some like a well educated wine
steward. I don't drink enough to think that that matters. The Dawn Princess has 24 hour service on the top deck, a hot dog/
hamburger stand poolside, a pizzaria and a sundae bar. All of the food is good but the ice cream and soft drinks cost extra. Our
waiter and assistant waiter were excellent.

We exited at all ports but only purchased one shore excursion. St. Thomas was a return trip for us and we knew what to do and
where to go. After shopping, we took a taxi to Magen's Bay. The taxi is $4.00 per person plus $1.00 beach admission. Dominica
is not worth the effort to get off the boat. It is strictly 3rd world with no shopping, no resorts and people who accost you for taxis,
guided tours etc. There is a rain forest but if you have ever seen one, skip this port.

Grenada was a pleasant surprise. Much more wealth than Dominica and the port was clean with friendly people. This was the
only port with tender service and Princess handled it without a hitch. You never had to wait for a boat. Spices were a good buy
but they were not packaged for entry to the US and should be avoided. We took a 1/2 day shore excursion to Caracas. The port,
La Guiara is seemy and if you do not go into the city (35 miles) you might want to stay on board. Caracas should be seen. Traffic
puts Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston to shame. I will think of that next time I am stopped in rush hour. Because of
siesta Caracas has four rush hours a day.

Aruba is the cleanest of the ports. It is an island worth visiting.

The boat did have it's negatives. The entertainment was sub standard. The productions lacked some zip and the singers and
comedians were British. With 2/3 of the passengers American, it seemed to me that the cruise line was playing to the minority.
RCCL has better entertainment. Television played CNN International and ESPN INternational. The former reminded me of trips to
Europe. The latter was horrible. Christmas week without an American football game or college basketball is unpardonable.
Maybe some of you care about cycling or Eurpopean Football. If you do you will get all you want of Real Madrid, AC Milan,
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. At least my cruise was not during cricket season because I have yet to figure out
those rules.

Just a couple of other thoughts. The larger and better your room, the more time you will spend there. Pay the extra money if you
can afford it. The salon service was good for massages but book upon embarkation because the appointments are all gone by
sailing. The gym was well managed for workouts. There was ample equipment and the sign ups were not abused. Dawn Princess
has a business center with web access for $7.50 for 15 minutes. Email is limited to yahoo or hotmail or a third party provider.
AOL cannot be accessed.

I did not participate in sea/land program. I learned long ago to make my own travel arrangements. Because I had a 9:30 a.m.
flight out of San Juan, I was the first to disembark. My lugguge was dockside with a porter. That was service and all pre arranged
by the purser's desk. They were very accomodating. I was airborne before the first bus was loaded and leaving for the airport.

Enjoy the Dawn Princess. It's a great boat and during the summer it does Alaska.

Name: Bern & Margie. Donahue
Email: BDonahue@PacBell.Net
Age: 53/50
Occupation: Attorney/Civil Servant
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: 9/29/98
Itinerary: Los Angeles to Acapulco
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService: 99
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 50
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 75
ShoreExcVariety: 75
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 99
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 99
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 75
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Jan 1999
Time: 12:08:41
Remote Name: 207.104.66.236
Remote User:

Comments

This was a repositioning cruise, and the gift shops had already geared themselves for the Caribbean. Our only other cruise was
the Southern Caribbean on Carnival's Fascination. Dawn Princess was nicer overall, due largely to affordable balcony staterooms
with robes, a fridge, hair dryer, etc. However, on the last night you had to have your bags outside by 6 pm (vice midnight on
Carnival) and the cabin steward had removed our fruit basket, extra towels, etc. We had become non-persons to him. In the
future, we'll never tip the room steward until the last morning! The lounge entertainment on Dawn Princess was not as
professional or enjoyable as Fascination, and Dawn's comedians were pathetic. The cruise director was much funnier. In
contrast, the food on Dawn Princess was tastier and more generous than on Carnival. We were on the Aloha Deck, located under
the pool deck. As a result, the deck cleaning and furniture moving noise immediately above our stateroom woke us at 5:30 a.m.
(Don't book Aloha amidships.) There's a Pizza Bar, but it doesn't open until immediately after the evening meal? Go figure? We
were really looking forward to dancing, but the disco was too loud and mixed-gender couples were the exception and seemed
unwelcome. In the Wheelhouse Lounge, the music was for the 65+ crowd. [Don't cruise lines (other than Holland-America)realize
that the "sock hop" generation is now cruising??] As for the itinerary, ships should skip Mazatlan (dirty & hot) and Zijuantanejo
(dirty & privitive) for a longer stay in Puerto Vallarta, e.g., overnight as in Acapulco. This may sound too negative. We would
eagerly sail on Princess again; they just need to make some changes as suggested above. [Disclosure: We bought Carnival
shares after that cruise and still hold them. We'd buy Princess too, but their parent company (P&O Lines) needs firts to absorb
the impact of the disappearance of duty-free on their European Ferries in 1999.]

Name: Michael Smith
Email: sportomm@erols.com
Age: 25
Occupation: Accountant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: 12/26/98
Itinerary: S. Thomas, S. Maarten, S. Kitts, Barb, S. Lucia
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 79
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 75
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 75
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 0
CasinoStaff: 70
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 80
EntertainmentLounges: 75
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 75
EntertShowLounge: 70
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 70
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 75
Stabilization: 70
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 70
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Jan 1999
Time: 09:39:29
Remote Name: 209.122.243.22
Remote User:

Comments

I took a Princess cruise for my honeymoon. Big mistake. We did not get our flight information from Princess (Air/Sea
program) until a week before the cruise. The embarkation process was fairly smooth. We were in our cabin within forty-five
minutes of arriving in San Juan. However, the disembarkation process was a circus. They put all of our luggage in a giant
tent and it was basically a free-for- all to find our pieces among hundreds of suitcases. Nobody was checking to see that
people were taking the correct baggage. We were assigned the second seating for dinner and were placed at a table for ten,
despite requesting a smaller sized table. Half of the people at our table did not speak English. Another problem with dinner
was how long it took to get a drink. My wife was on her fourth course most nights before she received the glass of
champagne that she ordered when we sat down. Our waiter and his assistant were both from Italy and did not speak
English very well--until the last two nights when they knew tips were being considered. The food selection in the dining room
was limited at best and was often times cold by the time it got to our table. We found our best meals to be the lunches we
had at La Scala, the pizza restaurant! Many of the employees were rather insincere and we found two to be particularly rude.
The first was a woman who worked at the gift shop. She spoke to my wife in a very condescending manner when my wife
asked a question about some t-shirts that were for sale. The second was a woman who worked at the bingo table (which
was by the way, the highlight of our entire cruise-sad isn't it?). She was also quite rude to my wife after my wife didn't scream
'BINGO' loudly enough. Get a life! My wife and I called to reserve massages two hours after we boarded the ship. We had to
call four times before anyone would even answer the phone! We were shocked to hear that they had limited space available
and that we could not get massages at the same time. We also tried to sign up for three off-shore excursions. Two of them
were already filled within 12 hours as well as numerous others that we were considering. The one that we did get was
cancelled because we never got to St. Maarten due to high winds. On the plus side, the ship was kept very clean (except for
the pool which was an awful brown color by the last day). Our room steward was very helpful and worked very hard to keep
our room clean. We did not order any room service, so we cannot comment on that. Overall, we were very disappointed with
the entire cruise mainly due to the overall rude, surly, and sarcastic employees who worked on the ship. We would under no
circumstances take another Princess cruise...ever!

Name: Tracy A. Combs
Email: tracyhusky@aol.com
Age: 46
Occupation: Sales Manager
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: December 12, 1998
Itinerary: San Juan, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Martens, St. Ki
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 97
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 94
DeckService: 92
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization:
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 Jan 1999
Time: 00:08:08
Remote Name: 12.73.137.103
Remote User:

Comments

I would offer these comments as relative novice to cruising, as I only have one short 3 night trip to compare too,
however I do travel extensively in my job and I am very sensitive to customer service issues and overall
accommodation cleanliness.

The overall customer service and attentiveness of the crew in working to make our week on board as enjoyable
as possible was commendable. My wife misplaced a cruise card and the Pursers office immediately reissued a
card within minutes and assured us there would be no unauthorized charges. From the minute we hit the dock to
the time we disembarked a week later I was very impressed with the organization and ability of the people
involved in working with passengers to insure that the overall experience was very positive. I am fascinated by the
fact that one of things we remember most about a week on one of the most beautiful and expensive ships in the
world is the quality of service provided by our Waiter and Assistant Waiter at dinner.

As the ship is only 2 years old, the overall condition is virtually show room condition. However, it is clear from the
maintenance schedules that the Princess Lines place a high premium on the overall condition of public areas
and facilities. There was an annoying cigar smoker in a cabin very close to our quarters and the smell was
hideous, but I am afraid the cruise line was not at fault for this.

The food service rates an A+ for freshness and eye appeal. All the buffets were well placed and pleasing to the
taste.

If there was one area I graded down it was the overall entertainment in the theatre areas and lounges. In all
fairness maybe this was due to my own personal preferences, but I was not overly impressed with the shows,
although they were very adequate, and the music in the lounges was very average.

On a 7 night cruise your shore time is limited and if I had it to do over again, which I will, I would prefer longer
stops at one port for more exploring on the individual islands.

Overall we give the experience an A and look forward to our next opportunity.

Name: Olga M. Holowach
Email: olgah@ameri-com.com
Age: 60
Occupation: Computer Input Specialist
NumberOfCruises: 13
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: 1/16/99 & 1/23/99
Itinerary: Southern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 94
DiningRoomService: 97
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 96
ShoreExcVariety: 86
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 79
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 94
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 99
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 88
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 86
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 86
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 93
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 93
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 31 Jan 1999
Time: 21:37:27
Remote Name: 204.141.122.168
Remote User:

Comments

Two wonderful weeks on the Dawn Princess have placed this cruise at the top of our list of all 13 taken. The ship is
a visual delight with comfortable cabins, theater, lounges and dining rooms. There's always something to do. It
seems the only thing lacking is sufficient time in which to do it all.

The food was superb, the menu varied. I particularly liked the menu items which were always available in addition
to the daily changes, i.e. grilled salmon, steak or chicken. Sections on the menu provide for heart healthy items and
vegetarian diets. In addition, this is the very first time I have seen sugar-free desserts listed - thankfully, much
improved over the diet Jell-o of previous years.

The fitness and aerobics areas are a dream. The equipment is state-of-the-art and the ocean view a wonderful
incentive to exercise. During our cruise weeks, we had a superb aerobics instructor. Her workouts were intense
enough to be meaningful and her techniques and explanations easy to follow.

Pools and hot tubs scattered around the ship provide options. We spent most of our time at the Oasis Spa on the
back of the ship which was rather quiet. The main pool was where the games and entertainment took place. This
area was generally crowded.

The entertainment could have been better. The comedy acts were generally average with the exception of one well
known star. The ships dancers were good, but it appeared that a greater effort was placed into some productions
than others. The bands/singers in the lounges were good with one exception. Since there was music for dancing in
three locations, we easily avoided the band we did not like.

This cruise stops in many ports, some better than others. Ship's tours are difficult to rate since all tours do not
appeal to all people. If you enjoy sightseeing, there are many options. If you're heading for the beach, there's usually
one beach and tour combination per port. Overall, most of these tours are over priced.

I can't say enough about the staff and service. Princess has achieved the correct balance in providing excellent
service without being overbearing.

For the cruise to have been perfect, there were several minor items that could have been provided: a good scale
with easy access to passengers (weightwatchers place a high premium on this amenity), a daily newspaper like
the New York Times FAX for US citizens, weather forecasts for the next day's port.

We enjoyed this trip enough to say we would do it again with exactly the same itinerary.

Name: Elyse Weiner
Email: jewags@erols.com
Age: 48
Occupation: Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: February 6, 1999
Itinerary: Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Feb 1999
Time: 16:52:06
Remote Name: 207.172.239.235
Remote User:

Comments

The Dawn Princess is a very beautiful and spacious ship. It is very large and the size is something that must be
considered when choosing a cruise. This ship was much larger than the others that we have taken. A certain
intimacy that enables people to easily make friends is missing on this ship. We were never bothered by the
crowds, however, when it came time to do things. The facilities and staff, however are extraordinary. There is 24
hour dining available. All dining areas had excellent food. It was great to be able to get a pizza to go from the
pizzaria. The itinerary was very nice; a good variety of ports. The snorkeling tour in St. Lucia should not be
missed. After taking many different snorkeling adventures, we felt that this was one of the best! There was a
singer/piano player who played nightly in the lounge. He was fantastic! The only problem was, he started a bit
too early for late sitting passengers to enjoy his entire show. Some portion was always missed and finding a seat
was difficult. The quality of his talent was outstanding! We had a lovely time on this cruise. The service was
excellent and we had a relaxing time. We have cruised with Princess before, and we would do it again.

Name: JoAnn Cathcart
Email: JOJOCATH@aol.com
Age: 50
Occupation: Office Manager
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: 01-23-99
Itinerary: western route
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 100
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 100
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 50
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 50
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 50
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 17 Feb 1999
Time: 00:28:24
Remote Name: 152.163.201.69
Remote User:

Comments

We sailed on the SeaPrincess in January. There was no entry in the menu for her so I used her sister ship to get
entry into this review. We loved the ship so very much we are planning on sailing her again. We had a room with
a balcony and it was wonderful. Made the trip extra special. Our steward was fantastic. Our every need was met
and he really kept our stateroom immaculate. Very much appreciated the clean towels twice a day. Our bathroom
was always so clean. The dining room was a favorite of mine. I loved the way it was designed. It was amazing how
you were in a room with 500 people and yet you felt like you were in your favorite restaurant at home. The low
ceiling with the twinkling lights and the beautiful partitions that separated the eating areas gave you a
comfortable feeling. Our waiter was the best. Italian of course. We had a lot of fun with him. Especially loved the
balconies at the end of our deck. We were on number eleven Aloha deck. It was great at the end of the day we
would take our cocktails and sit out there and watch the sunset. The ship was designed to be user friendly. We
had no trouble getting around and it was always busy but never crowded. You never felt like you were with so
many passengers as were actually on the ship . I am sorry to say that the entertainment was not very good. Have
seen much better on other ship. Assumed it was because the ship is so new that things haven't really clicked in
that area. We went anyway. Loved bingo. Won two hundred dollars. Also won in the casino. Better than vegas.
The most beautiful part of the ship was the atrium. It was gorgeous. Thought the entire ship was beautifully
decorated and very very clean. Can't wait to go back. My husband and I took a peak at the mini suites when we
disembarked. They are gorgeous. We are going to stay in one of them next time. The extra money is worth is.
Thanks to Princess line for their wonderful staff. We felt like royalty. It is obvious that Princess is the classiest line
ever. Really enjoyed the Princess Patter. Read it each night with great enthusiasm as we planned our next day.
We had room service each morning and had our coffee on our balcony. The refrigerator and terry robes in the
room were a nice touch. Can't say enough good things about this cruise. Also loved the shopping in Grand
Cayman and Cozumel. Picked up some nice jewelry and was amazed at the prices compared to the states.

Name: Jeffrey Moyer
Email: JandTMoyer@yahoo.com
Age: 35
Occupation: Attorney
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: 2/30/99
Itinerary: Southern Carribean Explorer
FoodDiningRoom: 82
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 89
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 91
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService: 50
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 77
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 77
LoungeService: 92
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 70
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 82
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 88
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 77
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 87
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Feb 1999
Time: 15:55:39
Remote Name: 209.123.63.97
Remote User:

Comments

My wife and I cruised for one week on the Dawn Princess Southern Carribean Explorer Itinerary. We had
previously cruised on NCL's Dreamward (now the Norwegian Dream) and Fantasy Cruise Line's Amerikanis. .
Here are some observations, recommendations and just plain pontifications regarding this cruise:

1. Things Princess and your travel agent should tell you but probably won't

Ignore the cabin categories set forth in the brochure. As far as I could tell, there were only four actual cabin
categories: inside, outside, mini suite and suite. If you are going for an inside cabin (as we did), get the cheapest
one you can. The same goes for any of the other types of cabins. The only difference between the cheap inside
cabins and the more expensive ones is location - and here's the kicker - the cheap ones actually have a better
location. We were on deck five, which is the lowest passenger deck. Most of what you will do on the ship except
for sitting by the pool or eating at the buffet will take place on decks 5, 6 or 7, and the pool is on deck 12, so
everyone has to take the elevator anyway. The dining rooms are on 5 and 6; the gangway is on 5; the shops are
on 6, and most of the bars, as well as the theater and lounge are on 7. Deck 5 is far more convenient to just
about everything than, say, deck 11. The money you save on your cabin can be used to splurge on shore
excursions, souvenirs and drinks. Except for location, every cabin gets the exact same service and amenities.
We were probably in the cheapest cabin on the ship and yet we were one of only three couples seated at the
captain's table.

Also, ignore the ship's port talk. It is just a blatant sales pitch for the ship's tours and for ship-associated shops in
port. They give you only basic information on how to see the islands on your own. (Although the port brochures
placed in your cabin at the beginning of the cruise were actually very helpful). We were able to arrange private
tours at several ports through taxi drivers for significantly less than the ship's tours where you get stuck riding
around with a bus load of octogenarians. We also became convinced after hearing their shopping tips that
Princess owns a lot of stock in the company that mines tanzanite, because they sure pushed us to buy a lot of it.
I would recommend that you spend the twenty dollars to buy the guidebook on Carribean ports of call available at
most major bookstores (sorry I don't have the title handy right now). That book gave us far more information than
the cruise line did about how to see the Islands. That said, if you wish to do the more unusual tours, such as
scuba, kayaking, bicycling, etc. the ship's tours may be more efficient than doing them on your own.

This particular cruise is heavily promoted in Europe as a two week cruise. I personally believe this is a positive
factor, but some may not. Probably a third of the passengers were European, mostly from England. Be aware
that the buffets and shows are geared to satisfy British tastes as much as American. I personally thought the
comedians and the cruise staff were a hoot, but there were some who didn't enjoy the distinctively British humor.
Also, one of the lounges was closed off on two separate occasions to accommodate a private group from
Greece.

Because a third of the passengers are on a two week cruise, this cruise is subject to the axiom that the longer
the cruise the older the passengers. My wife and I are in our mid 30's, and while we weren't the youngest people
on the ship, we were close. I would put the average passenger age at close to 60. Of course, with 2000 people
on board, there were still quite a few close to our age. Overall, this didn't bother us, but I can see how it may
bother others, and you should go into this aware of the age factors.

2. The Ship

The ship is flat out gorgeous. It is really hard to fault the design in any way. It is easy to get oriented and easy to
find your way around. The crew is friendly and helpful and keeps the ship in tip top shape, and there is a clear
attention to detail that elevates many rooms from nice to outstanding. There is no place on the ship that is not
well thought out. Take a little time to admire the artwork placed all around the ship. If I had to come up with a
complaint, it is that during busy times you sometimes had to wait too long to get an elevator. But it didn't happen
often, and was a minor problem at best.

Don't worry about the number of people on board. A tremendous amount of thought and detail went into making
it seem smaller than it actually is. There were times when I just could not believe that there were actually 2000
other passengers on the ship. We never had trouble getting a lounge chair, finding room in a hot tub (well OK
once, but that's because a group had planted themselves there and refused to budge), or taking a dip in the
pools. There is so much deck space, that you could usually find a place where you were virtually alone. There
were little or no lines for the buffets, bars or other public areas.

One possible negative. The ship seemed to rock more than the Dreamward. Although the weather was fine
throughout the cruise, you definitely knew you were on a ship, and there were frequent shudders which went
right through the ship. Many people remarked on the motion. The captain explained to us that is was because
the winds were coming from the wrong direction, and that other weeks you can barely feel the motion. Personally,
I had no trouble with the motion, but it was enough to cause my wife to get out the Dramamine on a few nights.
Maybe we just got unlucky, but if you are prone to seasickness, keep this in mind.

Some tips we learned that can save you some aggravation:

A. Show up at least 15 minutes early for anything in the Vista Lounge, as most of the shows there are one time
only affairs, and it can get really crowded at times, sticking you way in the back or even denying you a seat if you
arrive late.

B. Go to the pool and hot tubs at the rear of the ship instead of the one in the middle, especially on the day at
sea. I think some passengers never figured out that it was back there, and we sometimes had the pool with it's
three hot tubs all to ourselves. Also, you can only take so much reggae music before your head starts to
explode.

C. Become a morning person. By midnight the ship is dead. There is some night life in the disco, but if you're still
up at 1:00 you will be one of the few. Docking usually takes place by 8:00 a.m., and can be pretty noisy. If you're
a light sleeper, don't plan on sleeping in. Heck. You wanted to go ashore anyway, didn't you?

D. If you are starting to get too much sun, but still want to sit outside, go outside on deck 7, which has a roof over
it. You'll have to endure the joggers though.

3. Food & Dining

The food on the ship was usually good and occasionally excellent, but sometimes just average. The head chef is
Italian, and you will do best to stick to the Italian dishes. A pasta course is offered with each meal, and was often
the best part of the dinner. It is when he branched into other cuisines that it got dicey. The creme brulee we had
on French night was a disaster. Also, I had to send steaks back three different times because they weren't done
right. That said, if you're not expecting gourmet food, you will be very happy. The pastry chef deserves high
praise. Almost every pastry we tried was excellent.

If you have cruised before, and enjoyed the singing, dancing and entertainment by the wait staff that take place
on many ships, this cruise may disappoint you. Except for the far too frequent out of key singing of happy
birthday/honeymoon/anniversary at the individual tables, there were no real shows put on by the staff. Instead
the service was more formal and professional, and the meal service closer to that of a fine restaurant. I did not
consider this to be a negative, but you should be aware of the difference. We dined in the Venetian dining room.
I am told that there was far more levity in the Florentine dining room, so if this is what you are looking for you
should probably request that room in advance.

Be sure to take at least one night to dine in the Horizon Court, where they offer a full sit down menu separate
from the dining room. (This takes the place of a midnight buffet). Because it is prepared separately, and made to
order, the food here is actually better and fresher than in the dining room. They have a nice selection of about 8
entrees to choose from along with daily specials. However, this is clearly where they train potential new wait staff,
and the service, while usually enthusiastic, can sometimes be pretty awful. Do not miss getting the panna cotta
dessert (sort of a creme caramel, only better). It was my favorite single food item on the ship. We actually took to
coming here each night after the shows just for dessert.

The buffets are all pretty good. Make sure you check out the horizon court at lunch time, where they are usually
grilling excellent sandwiches to order. The breakfast buffet is also very good, and will give you a chance to see
what they eat for breakfast in England (is that really baked beans?). While you're sunning on the deck, pop in
and grab a plate full of pastries to snack on. You're on vacation. You can lose the weight when you get home.
Also, though it may seem odd, go for pizza in the pizza parlor at least once. It is excellent. They give you a whole
small pie, but there's nothing to stop you from only eating one or two slices and leaving the rest behind (except
the taste). We never got the ice cream, since we balked at shelling out two bucks for it just out of principle.

4. Clubs and Entertainment

Alcohol on the ship is reasonably priced. If you've always ordered the bar brands, treat yourself to the top shelf
brand. It is usually only another fifty cents to a dollar. I used the opportunity to try out a few expensive liquors
that I had always wondered about but wasn't willing to ante up the dollars on to try in the States. Single malt
scotches are especially a bargain, with brands which would cost 10 to 12 dollars a glass in New York or
Philadelphia selling for $4.50 a glass. If you are a beer connoisseur My one complaint is that it was hard to get
drink service on the deck. I usually had to get up and walk to the bar to get my own drink. Sounds petty, but you
want to be pampered while on board.

My favorite bar was the Windjammer bar on the very top of the ship. It's a great place to sit and watch the ship
slowly sail away from port or to look at the people walking around the main pool area. It also seemed to attract a
younger crowd than the other bars, possibly because you have to go up two flights of stairs to get there. I also
liked the Wheelhouse bar. You really feel like you are in a luxurious club rather than on a ship. By all means,
strike up a conversation with the bartender. Like Isaac on The Love Boat, several of the bartenders went out of
their way to remember my name and favorite drink throughout the cruise. Really makes you feel welcome.

As for the entertainment, well everyone has their own taste in entertainment. My wife and I didn't like the
production shows on the ship, but many of the other passengers did. In my opinion, both of our previous cruises
had better shows. The Gotta sing gotta dance show is the type of bare bones song and dance review that
requires top talent to pull off. Suffice it to say the talent was far from top. The Pirates show was on the same time
as the Newlywed game in the Vista lounge. We caught half of each, and found the Newlywed game far more
entertaining. If you enjoy going to shows at the local playhouse, you will probably enjoy these shows. Just don't
expect off Broadway, or even Vegas style quality.

If our cruise was typical, most of the passengers are pretty reserved, so the loony audience participation stuff
only worked on a small scale. Personally I find this to be no great loss. Though they scheduled things like pool
games and a passenger talent show, they were usually canceled due to lack of interest. However, horse racing
was massively popular. Just figure that if it is an activity enjoyed by the elderly, it will be popular (Bingo anyone?).
The best show we saw was London Pub Night, where the Cruise Director placed audience members in awkward
situations and basically made fun of them. Everyone but the participants had a good laugh. Assuming he hasn't
moved to another ship, my best recommendation is to go to any show where Graham, the cruise director, is
heavily involved, because he always kept people laughing.

In contrast to the ship's shows, most of the bands who played in the lounges were very good (there was one
exception). Since they sign on for six month stints, it is likely that you will get different lounge entertainment than
we had, but I would assume that the quality will continue. One big problem in my opinion is that the bands are
mostly assigned to a single lounge throughout the cruise. This means that if you like or dislike a particular group,
you end up going back to or avoiding the same place each night, which defeats the purpose of having so many
options. For example, I really liked the Wheelhouse bar, but the band that played there at night was the one
exception to the good quality lounge bande. It was a mediocre wedding/country band which tried to play every
style of music to please the whole crowd, thus pleasing no one. I avoided going there after the band started to
play. The other entertainment was generally stellar. There was a very good string quartet which played in the
foyer each night before dinner, a good jazz trio, a nice lounge act, and a truly wonderful piano player who was a
virtuoso on both jazz and classical pieces. Of course, there was also the obligatory reggae band which played by
the pool each afternoon.

5. The Ports

As I stated above, the pressure in the port talks to take the ship's tours is pretty intense. I think they deliberately
tell you as little as possible about how to do the port on your own. If you do take the tours, be warned that every
senior citizen on board (and there are a lot) will be on the tour with you. This is nothing against the elderly. Some
of my best friends are elderly. I don't want to cross AARP or get on some geriatric hate list. Nevertheless, by
definition a tour goes at the pace of the slowest person, and some of the best sites require some significant
hiking to see. I had the misfortune to arrive at Trafalger falls in Dominica at the time the tour was there, and
there's a big difference between being one of 20 or so tourists at the site and being one of 200 (fortunately I was
able to wait until the tour left to really enjoy the site). When planning your trip, I would suggest that even the most
spontaneous people plan in advance what you want to do on each given island. You have only a limited amount
of time there, and don't want to spend your time in a what do you want to do now? - I don't know, what do you
want to do? type of debate.

Aruba:

This port is designed with tourists in mind, and most people will feel very comfortable here. We went into the
town, did some shopping, went to some bars and went into a casino for a while (and actually won a little, unlike
on the ship). If you plan on doing some serious shopping, either do it here or on St. Thomas. While everyone
from the ship crowded into the ship's recommended jewelry store, we shopped at some more out of the way
places, and my wife got a ring at very good price compared to the States. We also went to some bars and cafes,
met some people from some other ships, and had a good time. Check out Senor Frogs, a complete hole in the
wall with a lot of character. Of all the stops, this had the best downtown. It's a shame that Aruba comes early in
the cruise when most people are anxious to hit the beach instead of going to town. Speaking of the beach, we
didn't go there, but I talked to someone who did, and he told me that the wind was blowing so hard they
practically got sandblasted.

La Guaira:

Most of the passengers never left the ship at this port. Their loss. The port talk does its best to talk you into
taking the tour, which runs $80 per person, and spends most of its time at a glass factory, where they apparently
put on a heavy sales pitch to get you to buy glass figurines. Don't listen to them, and don't let the look of La
Guaira scare you away from Caracas. La Guaira is a port. It's like docking in Hoboken, NJ and thinking you're
really in New York City. There is a lot of poverty in Venezuela, but there are also some very nice areas. La
Guaira just isn't one of them. We hired a taxi driver for the day for $100. The driver took us everywhere we
wanted to go, walked around the city with us, pointed out all of the sites, translated for us when we wanted to buy
souvenirs, paying for them with local currency and letting us reimburse him with US dollars, and took us to a nice
local restaurant for genuine Venezuelan food. He was friendly, helpful and informative. I can't imagine a better
tour guide. He stayed with us the entire day, and never left our side. All this for $60 less than we would have
payed to sit on a bus, drive around the countryside and watch someone blow glass. (I have nothing against a
glass factory except that there are a number of them in the States, and I hate to go all the way to Venezuela to
see something I could just as easily see in Syracuse).

Be aware that Caracas is a huge city, along the lines of New York or LA. If you would feel uncomfortable in New
York, don't go to Caracas since it is almost as big, but foreign. But if you like the city, you will love Caracas. It has
a feel and a personality unlike any city in the USA, and the people we met were all very friendly. It also has a very
beautiful downtown. I'm sure there is crime and such, as in any city, but I never felt ill at ease while walking the
streets there. Much like you don't typically go into Harlem when you visit New York City, you don't go to the bad
areas of Caracas. Personally, Caracas was my second favorite stop (next to Dominica).

Grenada:

After spending the entire day in Caracas on Tuesday, we didn't feel up to a whole day of touring on Grenada.
We just went into town for an hour or so. What a waste. We found ourselves thinking of the Titanic as the ships
passengers all rushed to get on the lifeboats (which they used for tenders) while the string quartet played
classical music in the foyer. This set a proper mood of disaster for the rest of the day in Grenada. You can't walk
ten feet in Grenada without someone trying to sell you something - usually some disgusting looking spices on a
string. The setting of the town is very pretty, but it is clearly not set up for tourists. There is actually very little to
see or do there. Most of the other passengers who went to town were, like us, heading right back to the ship
within an hour. I talked to someone who went to the beach, and they said that the beach was pretty, but they got
so sick of people trying to sell them stuff that they left early. The guidebooks all say that the interior of the island
is lovely, so maybe that part of the island would be worth the trip. However, you only get 6 hours in Grenada, and
you'll spend an hour getting the tender in and back, so in my opinion it really doesn't make much sense to even
leave the ship.

Dominica:

The only word I can use to describe Dominica is paradise. This is the most beautiful place I have ever been.
There are no real beaches here, but you'll never miss them. You will be too caught up ogling the natural beauty
and variety of Dominica's rain forests. Once again, we passed on the ship's tour and hired a taxi driver for a
private tour. For $80 we hired a driver for the whole day, who drove us all around the island, took us to the main
sites and answered all of our questions. This was actually a splurge, since you could have gotten together with
two other couples and hired a driver in a van for around the same price. You absolutely have to go to both the
emerald pool and Trafalger falls. Disney has spent millions of dollars trying to duplicate a place like the emerald
pool, without coming anywhere close. It is a very easy hike down from the road, and you will only lose your breath
when you get to the bottom and catch sight of the falls and pool. I didn't believe that such places actually existed.
Don't mar the beauty of it by sharing it with 200 other people on the ship's tour. Trafalger falls is equally
breathtaking. Separate cascades come down on either side of you in the lush rain forest. Here's a tip for seeing
Trafalger falls. When you get to the viewing platform, you will notice a trail going further down the mountain.
Don't let your guide talk you out of going down there. (You aren't allowed to go if you are on the official tour).
The beginning part is not very steep and gets you a better close-up of the falls. And, for the truly daring (and
spry), you can climb the rocks to the very base of the falls for an unbelievable view. Believe me the risk is worth
it. In case you haven't figured it out, this was my favorite stop on this cruise.

St. Thomas:

St. Thomas is designed for cruise ship passengers. Some might say it's overrun with cruise ship passengers.
You will be one of about eight ships in port when you get there. We spent the morning at Magen's Bay in St.
Thomas. Magen's Bay is a picturesque beach in a tropical cove surrounded by lush mountains and forests. It is
also as crowded as Ocean City in the middle of August. If you don't mind the crowd, it's a nice place to go. It's a
U.S. National park, and there are changing and restroom facilities, a snack bar, and a gift shop. Despite the palm
trees, there is no doubt that you are back in the USA. Rent a couple of floating mats and go for a swim. The
water is lovely.

We also went into town to do some shopping. That was a mistake. The merchants downtown are almost as
annoying and aggressive as the peddlers in Grenada, but without the sympathy factor of Grenada's obvious
poverty. Each jewelry shop has a pitchman who stands outside and hassles the tourists who don't enter their
shop. Some were quite rude about it. We were in St. Thomas on a previous cruise, and the amount of
aggressiveness has increased quite a bit since then. If you wish to shop, I would suggest you go to the shops
near the port, which have comparable, and in some cases cheaper, prices and far less of an attitude. By all
means, if you like to drink now and then, buy your allotment of duty free alcohol in St. Thomas. The prices are
actually more than 50% cheaper than in the states. I bought a few bottles of Single Malt Scotch which I wouldn't
even think of buying in the states.

My Top 10 things to do on this Cruise:

10. Floating on a mat in the middle of Magans Bay, St. Thomas. 9. Bar hopping in downtown Oranjestad, Aruba.
Don't miss Senor Frog's. 8. Sit down dining at the Horizon Court at a quiet table for two. 7. Sitting at the
windjammer bar, smoking a cuban cigar, and watching the ship slowly sail away from port as the sun sets. 6.
Playing one of the three nickel slot machines hidden in the back corner of the casino. It takes so much longer to
lose your money that way. 5. Taking an all day private tour of Caracas, Venezuela. 4. Snacking on the pizza
margherita in the pizza parlor. 3. Sunning by the aft pool, sipping a pina coloda, and alternating between the hot
tub, the pool and the lounge chair. 2. Sneaking yet another panna cotta dessert in the Horizon Court. Yum. 1.
Touring Emerald Falls and Trafalger Falls in Dominica. By far the highlight of the cruise.

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