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Name: Mel Goff
Email: mgoff@pcisys.net
Age: 52
Occupation: Software Systems Support
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Dawn
SailingDate: 1/3/98
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 98
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 75
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 93
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Jan 1998
Time: 09:31:30
Remote Name: 207.76.102.108
Remote User:
Comments
Our first cruise was all we expected! The ship, the itinerary, the service, and the people
we met all combined to make our
Silver Anniversary cruise memorable. The only negative was the return flight to Colorado,
but I'll get to that later.
We arrived a day early in San Juan, and would recommend that tactic to anyone who has
connections that would get them
there any later than mid-afternoon. There was a Princess representative at the airport to
make sure we had ground
transportation to our hotel, the Condado Plaza. Another rep was waiting at the hotel to
make sure we knew when and
where to meet to go to the Dawn Princess the next day. The hotel was terrific, and there
were quite a few passengers who
took advantage of the early arrival opportunity.
We were taken by bus to the port at noon on our sailing day, and I don't know how
embarkation could go any smoother.
Our luggage was taken from the bus to our stateroom, we were checked in, given our
combination room key/charge card/id
card, and had our first of many souvenir photos taken. There is a small shoppette right at
the base of the gangway. If you
like Cokes the way we do, you can save yourself some money by getting a couple of six
packs and using your cabin's small
fridge.
The Dawn Princess is not only large and new, it is spectacular! As we walked into the
atrium, we were awed by the splendor
and by the friendly reception. There were crewmembers everywhere to help us with any
question we might have had. The
size of the halls, stairways, and elevators were equal to any hotel or resort. We had an
outside cabin with a veranda, and
would highly recommend that to anyone. We expected the cabin to be small, but the wall of
glass leading to the balcony
really made it feel much larger. The balcony was great, and we used it more than we
thought we would.
The staff was tremendous. From our cabin steward, Ramon, to the wait staff, Fernando and
Adrian, we never went wanting.
Ramon has been with Princess for nine years, and his experience is evident. The entire
crew has one reason for being
there, and that is to provide the passengers with a memorable vacation. They lived up to
all the advanced billing.
The facilities were a complete package. No land-based resort could offer more. Pools,
spas, casino, restaurants, health
club, lounges,theaters, shops, tours, and photography studio. The photography studio will
even develop your film onboard.
Their motto was: "Take home pictures, not just film." They were also taking
pictures throughout the week of formal
occasions, dinner groups, and candid shots. The finished photos were always available the
next day. They were reasonably
priced, and there was no obligation to purchase.
The shore excursions offered a tremendous variety. There were submarines, scuba and
snorkeling trips, island tours, party
boats, shopping, and more. The island we enjoyed most was St. Lucia. We were on a land and
sea trip that visited the rain
forest, botanical gardens, and sulphur springs. We had a nice lunch of local dishes, and
returned to the port of Castries by
catamaran, stopping to swim at a beach along the west coast of the island. Our snorkeling
trip to St. Johns while we were
docked in St. Thomas was a close second. The crew of the Leeland Sneed, our tour boat, was
experienced and friendly. It
was great fun.
The shows on the Dawn Princess were outstanding. The performers were professionals of the
highest caliber. We were lucky
to have the first sitting for dinner, and the evening shows for our group started at 8:45.
We didn't miss a show, and
recommend them highly.
Speaking of the first dinner sitting, we were at a table for eight, but two changed to the
late sitting. The group at our table
was cause not to miss dinner. Discussions of baseball, trivia, and experiences on and off
the ship made dinnertime relaxing,
fun, and memorable. While the food was prepared and served with variety and flare, the
company at the table made it
complete. Both couples at our table had cruised before, and they seemed to be as pleased
with the Dawn Princess as we
rookies were.
Now, for the only bad part of the trip. Princess had made our flight arrangements, and
they turned out to be totally
unacceptable for the final day. The return to Colorado was awful. We had flown to San Juan
on American Airlines. It was so
easy. A flight from Colorado Springs to Dallas, connecting with another flight straight to
San Juan. The return was grim. We
were booked on a charter, Miami Air, to Miami. We then had to get a United Airline flight
to Denver. That flight had a
scheduled two hour layover in Denver, before connecting to Colorado Springs, a one hour
drive away. But it didn't even go
that smoothly. A freak accident on the tarmac resulted in a two-and-a-half hour delay in
San Juan. Anyone going further
that Miami was guaranteed to miss their connections. The Princess representative in San
Juan was absolutely no help, and
when we finally arrived in Miami, the Princess people were non-existent. They did not even
answer pages from the Miami Air
people. Even if things had gone right in San Juan, we still would have had to pick up our
luggage in the baggage area and
carry it to United. There was no way to check it through from San Juan to Colorado
Springs. Our advice is to make your own
flight arrangements.
Notwithstanding the bad trip home, we had a marvelous vacation. The Dawn Princess is all
we could have hoped for. Our
25th anniversary is truly one we will always remember.
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