princess-grand6

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Marty Rehbein
Email: mrehbein@ci.missoula.mt.us
Age: 30
Occupation: City Clerk
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Grand
SailingDate: 1/10/99-1/17/99
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 92
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 92
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 87
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 89
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities:
Casino: 50
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 92
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Jan 1999
Time: 21:47:41
Remote Name: 208.153.165.156
Remote User:

Comments

Travel to Ft. Lauderdale

We live in a small city (80,000 pop.) in western Montana. We have always used the Air/Sea package from
Princess because the rates are usually less than we can get ourselves. We booked our trip over a year in
advance. I really wanted to sail on the Grand, and we like to have a balcony. Our travel agent called about four
months prior to sailing and informed us that Princess had moved the sail away time back to around 8:30 p.m.
and was planning on flying us in the same day as we set sail. Our airport is frequently fogged in, and so I had the
TA book an air deviation to get us to Ft. Lauderdale the day before. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and this was an
excellent move. Two flights were canceled the day AFTER we left! We flew Delta and our trip down was
uneventful. We stayed at the Sheraton Yankee Clipper hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, on my travel agent's
recommendation (not through Princess). I had asked for a room on the beach. Instead, we had a room across
from the hotel wing on the beach and had a view of the beach. We were very disappointed with our room (the
bathtub hadn't been scrubbed), but the hotel restaurant was pretty good. Next time, we will stay somewhere else.

Embarkation

We woke up and had some time to shop before the ship was ready to board passengers. Boarding with
Princess is wonderful providing you have all your paperwork filled out ahead of time. When you enter the
terminal, you go through security and get in the line that has your stateroom on a sign above the desk. We had a
short wait in line, presented our papers, proof of citizenship, plunked down our credit card and got our cruise
cards and were ready to board in less than 10 minutes. Easy! A word about the cruise card, we love it! You use
this card to avoid having to carry cash around the ship with you (except for dicey horse racing) You get your
embarkation photo taken by the photographer and you're ready to board ship. Just before you go down the
gangway, your cruise card is plunked into this computer, they take your picture (mine was worse than my driver's
license!) and then each time you disembark or reboard you insert your cruise card into this little gadget, and your
picture appears so they know it's you. This was better security than the Sun Princess which had a cruise card
system, too. Embarkation is a snap and has been on all our cruises.

Our stateroom We booked a mini-suite on Dolphin deck, D408 port side, amidships. I felt the mini-suite offered
quite a bit of room for a seven day cruise. Our suite was decorated in muted teals and pastels, and the lighting
was really good halogen where you need it and a big recessed light with wood trim over the bed. (Can you tell I
just finished building a house?) We fell in love with our suite at first site. We had a balcony on the Sun Princess,
and no balcony on the Star and promised ourselves that we would never be 'balconyless' again. Yes, what you've
heard is true. The mini-suites on Dolphin deck are open for viewing from decks above. I really didn't mind though
because it was quite sizable. There were two lounge chairs and a table with two chairs on the verandah. The port
side of the ship is shaded on the way to St. Thomas and is in the sun on the way back to Ft. Lauderdale. There is
a respectably sized bathtub (I'm 5'7' and fit in it just fine) and quite a bit of counter space in the bathroom. There
are several shelves on a wall to place toiletries, two robe hooks, a retractable line to hang up your wet swimming
suits, and plenty of hot water with scald protection. The best bathroom at sea I've had yet!

The closet was average sized, and there were real wood hangars, extra pillows and blankets. Princess gives you
two robes to lounge in during your cruise. Right next to the closet was a built in armoire (with full length mirrors
for doors.) The top shelf housed the obligatory life vests, the next shelf held the safe which you program with your
own four digit code. We really appreciate this feature. Then there are about six or seven shelves roughly 18
inches deep to place clothes on.

Our bed was two twin beds pushed together to form a queen sized bed. Very comfortable pillows (which is a
personal thing.) We asked our cabin steward to add a blanket to the bed and it was done before our first night in
it (his name was Billy and he was wonderful!) There are two night stands with a shelf and two drawers each.
There was plenty of room under the bed for storage our luggage (Three large pieces and two carry on bags).
There was a desk that had six drawers and the dryer was also here. On the desk was the number for our butler
Kelvyn (who was a God-send and made our whole trip. We loved him!) and our cabin steward Billy (a real
hardworking sweety!).

There were two televisions and one remote that operated both sets. Look out ladies if your man is a remote
fanatic! There is a complementary mini-bar that includes four small bottles each of: Chivas Regal, Canadian
Club; Beefeater's Gin, and Smirnoff Vodka. The small refrigerator is stocked with complementary club soda, tonic
water, Coke and Sprite. If you don't like the gin, they will replace all the gin with whatever else you want. There is
also an ice container filled with fresh ice each day by your stateroom steward. There is a complementary fruit
bowl that you can request be refilled each day with your choice of fruit.

The mini-suite has a couch that folds out into a bed (didn't fold it out), a small chair and a butler's table (one that
folds down on either side for more room). There were two prints in the room.

Stateroom televisions consists of CNN Headline News, CNN, CNNfn, ESPN, Discovery Channel, a movie
channel, the Love Boat channel (reruns of the classic and the new show), a news wire channel that also
broadcast messages announced in the hallway speakers, and three music stations. One music station had a
real time video from a camera posted topside, and it was neat to look out over the ship's bow or at the activities
on deck depending on which direction it pointed.

I really liked our stateroom and would want to book a mini-suite for our next cruise. We tend to spend our days
relaxing on the balcony, reconnecting with one another and reading books that we don't have time for at home. If
you like to mix and go and do things and plan to spend as little time in your cabin as possible, save the extra
money and spend it where your other interests lay. That is the beauty of cruising. You can have exactly the kind of
vacation you set out to have--active, passive, or in between.

The service

In a nutshell, impeccable! Immediately upon arrival I set about filling out the form for our shore excursions. I
always do this to ensure we get to do exactly what want at the time that we want to do it. I was down in line at the
tour office when Kelvyn, our butler knocked on our cabin door and greeted my husband with two glasses of
complimentary champagne and an offer to make our tour bookings for us. Whoops! I had to wait in line because
eager beaver me got there before they were even open for business.

Our bags arrived very shortly thereafter and we began unpacking. My husband did not pack ANY of the formal or
semi-formal clothes I had set aside for him in the closet. Panic ensued, and I called Kelvyn, our butler. He said
he would bring a tape measure to our stateroom the following morning to measure my husband for a rental
tuxedo aboard ship. He arrived the next day to take measurement and the tux was delivered with two shirts later
on in the afternoon. Kelvyn saved the day! A note about the butlers: Ours was excellent and had four telephones
ringing when he delivered the tux to our stateroom. We tipped him the same as our cabin steward because he
was so attentive and cheery despite being so busy. The butler relieves a lot of work from the cabin steward and I
think it improved the service Billy provided in the stateroom. One of the folks at our table were not pleased with
their butler, and the other was just as thrilled as we were. If you have a butler and he provides good service, I
recommend rewarding him.

The stateroom steward provides turn down service and chocolates on your pillow every evening along with your
copy of Princess Patter. The Patter contains all the events aboard ship for the following day along with
information about ports of call and shopping opportunities aboard ship. Billy made up our stateroom twice a day,
ensuring we had fresh towels, and generally straightened things up. I always find Princess cabin stewards to be
friendly when you see them, but very discreet and not high profile about the excellent service they provide.

Our waiters were Nuno (waiter) and Aurel (assistant waiter) and they were extra special. They were very attentive
and knew all our names, cabin numbers, and menu preferences by the second evening. Each evening Nuno had
an entrée and dessert recommendation and I was never disappointed following his advice.

All in all, the service we encountered was excellent. I've found politeness goes an awful long way on any cruise.
People who demand and act like the staff is beneath them don't get the service they expect and wonder why. I
think if you set high standards and are polite in requesting the services you require to meet your standards, you'll
be satisfied every time aboard a Princess ship. I am well traveled and have found this approach to really work for
me. We met people who complained a lot about the ship's service, but we were never disappointed even when
we had the waiters they complained about. I think it's all in your attitude. The only unpleasant aspect of our cruise
was listening to people who didn't do anything but complain during lunch at open seating. I also noticed they
complained about everything in their lives, not just the cruise and thought they probably didn't know any better.
Personally, I found their conversations boorish and rude. We only took lunch on open seating twice for this
reason.

The food We had 1st seating Botticelli Dining Room. We were seated at a table for eight, but only six of us
showed up. We had a wonderful time together. There three dining rooms on the Grand, and they are designed to
create an intimate atmosphere despite the number of people on the cruise. The Botticelli dining room is all the
way aft and it is over the engines. You can feel vibration when they fire up the engines to exit a port, but when we
were underway, there was no noise or vibration. The food was very good to excellent, and I would expect nothing
less on a cruise. My husband is allergic to shellfish, and the waiters were aware of this and discreetly pointed
out if he was ordering something with fish in it that he didn't realize. Nuno and Aurel save the day (several days!)

We ordered breakfast delivered to our stateroom by Kelvyn nearly every morning but one. The omelet, hash
browns and sausage were very good and were delivered hot. I hate cold eggs and was impressed at the quality
of the room service food and its prompt delivery. We also ordered club sandwiches on several occasions in the
afternoon , and they were delivered within 20 minutes. Every evening before dinner our butler delivered canapés
(nothing to write home about here) and the dinner menu to our stateroom.

The pizzeria and hamburger bar near the pool were surprisingly very good. I never missed an opportunity to get
the pizza. Mmm Mmm good.

We ate in the Horizon Court and it featured tasty buffet food. Thankfully the food is served in smaller trays that are
replenished constantly so it isn't cold like many buffets.

We also tried the alternative southwest dining room one evening. Service was slow for us, but not for our table
companions who tried it on other evenings. The food was very good though. There is a gratuity charge of $3.50
per person in this restaurant because the wait staff here wouldn't receive any gratuity otherwise. Only fair, I think.

Entertainment and activities

We checked out the casino, and lost $40 in the slots in 5 minutes (enough said about gambling at sea). We went
up to Skywalker's nightclub (in the shopping cart handle). There was surprisingly a good mix of passengers
here. They played good dance music and had smoke and light effects that were really neat. A cautionary note
here: If you've had a few to drink, and you go up to the disco, and the ship is rocking even a little, and you look out
the windows down at the turbulent water thrusting you through the water at top speed, HANG ON TO
SOMETHING! Whew! What a rush! It was really neat. My husband doesn't dance, so we didn't return to the disco
for the rest of the trip.

A note to exercisers, you need to sign up for time on the treadmill. Exercise bikes, step machines and weights
are first come, first serve. There are also scheduled classes and a jogging track. Participants in 'Cruisercise' can
earn points for free hats, coffee mugs etc. aboard.

If you've sailed with Princess before, you are invited to attend the Captain's Circle party with appetizers and free
drinks. They also give away prizes for the most days and sea and the most number of Princess cruises.

There are so many choices aboard this ship that you never feel that there are 2,600 other people with you. Each
night there are three shows show twice along with at least three other venues with singers, performers, dancing,
first run movies or even karaoke. Some of the shows are repeated, and the Patter outlines those that aren't if you
want to be sure to catch a show. My husband and I really enjoyed the entertainment except the singing
impressionist. (That was a generation gap problem though, he was a good singer, we just don't listen to Frank
Sinatra and Dean Martin) Other folks a little older than us raved about him. Don't miss the singer in the piano bar
or the production shows. We also enjoyed Dave Heenan, one of the comedians.

The ship The ship's public areas are very impressive. Princess has continued its design of understated
elegance and creating intimate spaces, in my opinion, very successfully. The public spaces are lavish with
custom carpeting, granite and marble inlaid flooring and carefully thought out lighting designs. There is beautiful
artwork everywhere. The public spaces are Grand!

The ship has a really good library with many recent hardcover bestsellers and CD-ROMS. There is a card room
right next door with a number of games and tables.

The limelight studio was really unique. You can have your picture taken with Commodore Mike Moulin, John F.
Kennedy, steering the Grand Princess, or hold a cigar next to President Clinton. We saw a lady get the latter
photo and it was very funny. She was a real hoot about it!

Princess links is a small putting course that reminded me of mini-golf. Looked like fun. There are five freshwater
pools, and one is a wave action pool. The wave action pool gave a good workout.

I don't know anything about the kids' facilities, but my husband and I observed that kids were very well behaved
on board and parents noted they were happy with activities for their children.

All in all, this is a lavish ship with the goal of offering passengers many choices. I think this broad range of choice
contributed to the mix of passengers on board which I really appreciated (aside from the whiners). Passengers
with special needs or physical challenges told me they really appreciated the service aboard. There were four
people who require dialysis aboard with their doctor. Grand Princess has the medical facilities available to make
trips like this possible for them.

The ship is very stable and sturdy. We had moderate seas, and I have always needed Dramamine in the past.
Not on Grand Princess. She was very steady in the water despite being so tall. No worries here.

Ports of call We always book the shore excursions through the cruise line and have never been disappointed. In
St. Thomas we tried the Discover Scuba Diving tour. I'm a certified diver and wanted my husband to try it out to
see what he thought. We took a safari bus across the island to our dive site at Coki beach. The drive was not
pretty, and we saw some impoverished neighborhoods that are worse than any reservation in Montana. I was a
little nervous when we pulled up to a bus and it was the dive shop, but our instructor gave us a basic lesson and
I was more comfortable. It was the exact same stuff from dive class here at home. They divided us into small
groups, and we donned our equipment and proceeded to the water to test some skills. After that we made a 32
foot, 35 minute dive and I felt like I was in an aquarium. Wonderful!!! We took a ride up the gondola at $12/
person. We didn't feel this was worth it. It wasn't part of a tour on the ship, we just thought we'd try it. Thank God
we didn't go shopping! Although there are great buys on jewelry and booze, there were 5 cruise ships in port that
day. I understand it was quite busy downtown in the shopping area.

In St. Martin/St. Maartin we booked the America's Cup Sailing Regatta. I had read that this was the best excursion
in the Caribbean, and we weren't disappointed. You are divided into racing teams and proceed to four real,
honest to God, America's Cup sail boats. Everyone has a job to do which is explained before the race begins,
and you work as a team and sail the boat and compete for bragging rights against the other team. It was
exhilarating! Definitely worth it!

On Princess Cays (the Brits say 'keys'), we rented waverunners. They have a racing area marked by buoys at the
far end of the island away from the other activities so as not to disturb people. FUN! I had heard snorkeling on
Princess Cays was good and wasn't disappointed. Off the end of the observation dock, there is very good
snorkeling. The barbecue prepared by the ship's crew was really good. I made sure to get seconds of the
barbecued chicken. I really liked having this as our last stop. It was a great day! Princess Cays has been
expanded greatly since our first time there in 1996 and is getting better all the time.

Debarkation Debarking is very well organized. The night before your last cruise your Princess Patter outlines all
debarkation procedures and contains color coded tags for your luggage. You place your luggage outside your
stateroom and it is collected. The following morning, our butler made special arrangements (they do for everyone
in a suite or mini-suite) for us to wait in the Vista Lounge where coffee, tea and pastries were served until our
debarkation color was called. They also had newspapers to read while we waited. We proceeded through
customs, easily located our bags and boarded a bus for the airport. This was very easy and the Vista lounge
arrangements were a really unexpected treat before we left.

Special moments

Sunsets at sea are always terrific. I loved sailaway parties. We saw a whale! The bridge announced there was a
whale on our side of the ship. We couldn't find it, but looked up at the bridge (you can see it from the balcony) and
noted where all the crew were looking and spotted it right away.

Some hits with us were:

The service (impeccable) The ship itself (elegant and beautiful on the inside, unique design outside that is very
functional) The food (excellent) The entertainment (really fun!) The shore excursions (these really make the
cruise) Our table companions at dinner (genuinely wonderful people)

Some misses with us were:

People who complain about everything Service in the Painted Desert was slow

Some advice:

There are little pocket-sized maps that are on your desk in your stateroom. Take them with you to help you figure
out where you're going. Many people said they had a hard time getting to know the ship. We never had trouble
because of our maps. The outside cover is color coded to the carpet on your staterooms floor to find your way
home.

If you're unhappy about something, politely let the appropriate staff know. Princess is very responsive if you give
them a chance.

Book your shore excursions early! The best ones sell out fast.

Try one of the alternative dining sites one evening. The food is excellent.

If you get good service, be as vocal about it as you would bad service and reward good service in your gratuity
envelope.

Relax and have fun! I think if you do, it can be the trip of your dreams!

Name: Trish Kaminski
Email: berrydew@mindspring.com
Age: 40
Occupation: Educator/Consutant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Grand
SailingDate: 10-25-98
Itinerary: Eastern Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 89
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService: 50
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 10
ShoreExcVariety: 66
FoodVariety: 89
DeckService: 78
ShoreExcValue: 50
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff: 75
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 75
TenderService: 25
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 35
ExerciseFacilities: 88
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino: 75
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 88
Stabilization: 69
ShopsOnBoard: 88
SpaceRatio: 88
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 Jan 1999
Time: 16:48:57
Remote Name: 198.248.30.53
Remote User:

Comments

My husband and I cruised aboard the Grand Princess for our Honeymoon. We were in cabin 736, I believe. We
had a balcony and a very comfortable room. As a very large woman I appreciated the layout of the bathroom.
Everything was well placed to allow for maxium accessibility. My husband loved the balcony but preferred to go
on deck to enjoy the docking and sailing at each port. We toured the islands of St. Thomas, St. Martin and
Princess Cays. Though we were 400 miles from Hurricane Mitch our week included 5 1/2 days of bad weather.
We found the cruise staff most accomodating when it came to refunding our money for sea activities on the days
it rained. We toured St. Thomas on foot and enjoyed the many shops. It is a good idea to watch the TV program
about shopping in port.

We got some good ideas about where to shop and in what sections of town we'd find
things that interested us. Our visit to St. Martin was less pleasurable. We took a horrible bus tour. The driver was
not very nice and he made us sit at one stop for 15 minutes even though none of us wanted to get off the bus.
The open tender was not accessible to persons with disabilities. It was so sad to watch as they brought one
woman over from the Grand Princess in the rain and then could not get her wheelchair off the tender. Our third
destination was Princess Cays. It was there that we enjoyed our only sunny day. It was wonderful to sit under the
trees and sip lemonade. The snorkling on this island wasn't spectacular but at least we got to put our masks in
the water.

My husband really enjoyed his wave runner excursion. Aboard ship we encountered several problems
with the purser's staff and with our cabin stewart. None of these individuals seemed to have the same story or
adequate information to make our trip a memorable one. In fact, our cabin stewart left dirty undersheets on our
bed and didn't even clean off the counter in the bathroom. On the last day, while we were away at Princess Cays
he even began preparing for the next guests. He set up their soap dish and hid it from us and did the same with
the cruise information book.

Our best interactions with staff came with dinner and with the evenings
entertainment. The dining room staff was attentive and extremely hardworking. No one on board had gotten the
word that it was our honeymoon, (though we paid for and were delivered the honeymoon package and we told
travel agent and our steward)but when the dining staff found out they made every effort to make sure we received
the same royal treatment as all of those celebrating a special event. The cruise director and his staff also made
sure we were well treated. One member of the staff went so far as to give us her cabin phone number in case we
needed additional assistance. All in all we were disappointed that we didn't get the service we anticipated and
that the brochures promised. Funny as it seems it wasn't the rain that dampened our spirits but the members of
the staff. We will cruise again but with a less naive approach to what Princess Cruise Lines' promises mean.

Name: Mike Reece
Email: mlreece@ne.uswest.net
Age: 50
Occupation: Professional
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: Yes
Ship: Princess-Grand
SailingDate: 1/10/99
Itinerary: Eastern Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 92
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 85
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 98
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 87
TenderService: 87
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 94
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 92
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram: 70
MedicalFacilities: 95
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 93
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 94
ShopsOnBoard: 92
SpaceRatio: 96
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Jan 1999
Time: 15:37:10
Remote Name: 137.197.244.81
Remote User:

Comments

If every cruise is as satisfying as this one was, I regret waiting so long to take a cruise. If only Princess Cruise's are
this good, I will be forever loyal to P&O. I can't say enough about the Dining Room, both service and selection. The
five course menu was dazzling ii presentation, selection and quality. Never boring or dissapointing. We never felt
rushed (early seating) and each course appeared just as we were ready for it. Even the buffet (Lido-deck) variety
and quality was excellent. Our waiter and assistant waiter were most efficient while still presenting our meals with
style and flair. Getting on and off the Grand Princess was remarkably easy. This ability of the Princess line is a
comment I had read from other reviews and personally found it to be true. If only the airlines and buses worked as
smoothly. Checking in your luggage at your home aiport and having it delivered at your stateroom on embarkation is
a treat. I will always want this service from a cruise line. The ship is so big and filled with so many delights that you
need all the sea-days just to do a little exploring. Our itinerary (Eastern Carribean) included 3 ports of call and 3 sea
days. The ship has plenty of activities to fill the sea days, and is so big that you never feel crowded. Plenty of peace
and quiet spaces, too. The lounges and theater are constructed in such a way that comfortable seating and great
viewing are always available. The variety and quality of the entertainment aboard The Grand Princess was a major
highlight of our trip. We saw all the major shows, and several of the lounge performers. We found them all to be first
rate. I had been warned(?) by family member cruise veteran to book any tours I wanted as soon as possible to
avoid being shut out. The Grand Princess is elegant and first class, but they do not control the tour operators
directly. On St.Thomas we took a breathtaking ride to Meghans Bay for sight-seeing and swimming. While the view
was indeed fantastic, the breathtaking aspect came from riding in an open truck at break-neck speed through
winding, hilly roads. Couple that with the fact that, in St.Thomas, driving is on the opposite side of the road, looking
ahead on the road (as most peaple do even when not driving) can cause your heart to skip. In St. Maarten, we opted
for a downtown beach-side adventure (every 'ting cool) that was okay, but very hard to find on your own. We signed
up for snorkle equipment on shore at Princess Cays through the tour office, but found out afterward that we could
have rented better equipment from the Dive office on board for the same price. I think that on St.Thomas and
St.Maarten both, we could have found better quality and value by ourselves ashore. As far as complaints go, ours
are pretty minor: 1) Princess booked our flights. They were fairly direct, but without assigned seats. We didn't get
any ticketing information until 2 weeks before the cruise and spent a lot of time on phones and in airport lines
making seating arrangements. While this is our first cruise, we travel extensively and found this part of our vacation
to fail to live up to the Grand Class Cruising goal of Princess. 2) We had an inside double room on the Plaza deck
(we had little intention of spending much time in a stateroom anyway) that developed a kind of stretching noise the
last 2 nights that the technical staff tried twice to repair (unsuccessfully). Since the ship was full, there were no
alternatives. 3) the tenders (and their crews)in St. Maarten have seen better days (WWII ?). Again, not what we
would expect of Grand Class Cruising. On the PLUS side: 1) all the staff says thank you at every opportunity, as if
they look forward to every chance to perform for you. 2) the absolute beauty, ambience and cleanliness of this ship
is unrivaled in any experience we've had at any resort. 3) the daily newspaper (Princess Patter) became our bible as
it included the information and suggestions you might need each day to enhance your trip. I won't wait very long to
take my NEXT cruise. I won't wait very long to sail on a Princess Cruise again, either.

Name: Sandra Chenery
Email: Hsaun84380@aol.com
Age: 47
Occupation: Dist. Mgr. Small Newspaper
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Grand
SailingDate: Nov. 1, 1998
Itinerary: St. Thomas, St. Maarten, P. Cays
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 100
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 87
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 100
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 98
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Feb 1999
Time: 10:35:18
Remote Name: 152.163.207.204
Remote User:

Comments

We booked in April, and the expectation built up. This was once in a lifetime vacation for me. My handsome
companion, provided this for me as a birthday present. We were smart to check out both videos of this incredible
ship. We made copies of these videos, and every month leading up to our departure, we watched them over, and
over. So we really felt as if we really knew the ship. This was a great advantage.

Embarkation: very smooth, and easy, the wait in line was exciting, as we met another couple equally as excited
as us.

Our Cabin: we had a mini suite on Dolphin Deck, with a Butler, his name was Ian, and he was great, performing
his duties, showing up so properly dressed in tails. He caterd to all of our needs. Our cabin was outstanding. It
was elegant, and very spacious. It truly was.

Dining: We decided for the honor of this great ship, (and my birthday) to dress formal every night!!! This was
fun, as we co-ordinated our outfits to match. For my companion, it was easy as he rotated his formal wear, by
changing colors of his accesories. He enoyed this as well as I, and we loved walking around this ship, all dressed
up. Our dining was the best ever, on any ship, our favorite, was the Horizon Court. We enjoyed all of the food
and the way that it was presented.

Entertainment: We loved the disco, the shows. But a small negative for us was the quality of the singers. My
friend is an entertainer, and he truly can rate the singers. For a ship of this magnitude, the quality of the singers
was below average, as we noticed too that the applause was also not there, from the rest of the passengers. The
shows were good though

Ports of Call: We loved St. Thomas, and we rented a car for the day in St. Maarten, we were able to see more,
and do more this way. This is highly suggested, for $50, you do what you wish, and it is so easy to get around.
Princess Cays, was very nice and enjoyable, my friend had been there before, so he knew that it was very
important to take the first tender from the ship, if you wanted to get chairs, and a hammock. We did, and this
made it so much more enjoyable. The late people, did not get chairs. For us it was like a paradise, we had a
hammock, and 2 chairs, under a hut facing the Grand Princess, on the beach. The early people can get this, and
the later folks, have to walk around looking. They do not have enough for all of the passengers. This is not fair to
the passengers, that arrive late, we let the staff know, but for years, this has not changed. Anyway, the Princess
Cays are great for water sports, etc., or just enjoying the beauty of the island.

Overall: This was a memorable week, that will never be forgotten, we are now planning our next cruise on this
incredible ship. We could go on and on about all of the beauty, the decks, the pools, and the spas. Our favorite
spot on the whole ship was the spa area, for the beauty. We loved the jogging track, as we walked every
morning.

Feel free to E-Mail any questions to me about this ship.

My address is: Hsaun84380@aol.com

Name: Stewart Cohen
Email: unkey@webtv.net
Age: 42
Occupation: legal assistant
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Grand
SailingDate: 1/17/99
Itinerary: St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Princess Cays
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 88
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 98
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Feb 1999
Time: 11:11:57
Remote Name: 209.240.200.66
Remote User:

Comments

As you can see by my numbers, I rate this ship very highly. But more importantly, this ship has a special place in
my heart. I booked this cruise for my self and got a very competative rate for a single guaranty. When my mom
passed away in August I decided to take my dad with me for his 75th birthday. Thanks to a great travel agent
and a great cruise line everything was arranged perfectly and when I was informed 2 days before departure that
we were upgraded to a mini-suite (from an outside obstructed view cabin) I was over the moon.

I had heard that for a big ship, the Grand Princess boards farily easily. Check-in is arranged by deck, but they do
have staff checking the line length and directing people to shorter lines if one is particularly crowded. Some
people complained on the ship about excess boarding times, but these tended to be the people who were up
early flying the same day as the cruise, and I don't blame them for being a little cranky. This is why I always
arrange to be in the port town at least a day in advance to avoid this problem.

The mini-suite was heavan on earth. Full size bathroom with tub, a large closet with real hangers that can be
removed, a double door cupboard with shelves. The hair dryer is cleverly placed by the desk so a. someone else
can use the bathroom while you are drying your hair and b. you can sit down. 2 20" Sony tv's (one facing the
beds; one facing the sitting area). A full sized sofa that opens into a queen-sized bed. And the balcony. There
was a table, 2 chairs + 2 demi-lounge chairs. Since I usually travel single and take whatever the cruise line
assigns me, this was a real treat and became my special place. Having breakfast on the balcony in St. Thomas,
facing Charlotte Amalie harbor was just wonderful. And late night, when Dad was already asleep, I could step out
there, turn on my Discman and watch the stars, etc. (even saw the Sea Princess pass us by on its way out to the
Western Caribbean). The mini-suite came with lots of nice extras, such as a butler who could be summoned by
dialing his own phone# (he carries a pager). Except for the one breakfast, we didn't really use the butler, but
every evening he would arrive with hors d'oeuvres and the evening's dinner menu. He also delivered 2 glasses
of champagne on the first night out. The mini-suite also came with a nice selection of complimentary liquor,
mixers, sodas & mineral water (2nd round has to be paid for) and you can even have the ones you don't like
changed for what you drink. There was also personalized stationery, which, of course you will want to keep. And
for my Dad's birthday, there was a 'Happy Birthday' sign and balloons on the door the first morning (we saw a lot
of signs for birthdays, honeymoons, anniversaries, etc...make sure your TA lets Princess know...this is a nice
touch).

The staff on the ship is first rate and some really do go out of their way to bother to chat with you. One even
would ask me to come visit when assigned to particular duties. Our cabin steward was friendly and hard working
(but never reminded you of you; i.e. no tip soliciting). The same could be said of our dining room staff. There
wasn't a thing our waiter wouldn't do for us and the head waiter was always at the table to stop and chat and ask
if we needed anything...he arranged quite a few special requests without any problem.

The food was the best I have experienced. We usually have a rule to eat all meals in the dining room because a.
who wants to wait in a line to eat and b. food can get cold so you land up eating hot food first which makes
breakfast eating work backwards. The Horizon Court Buffet turned us around completely. The food was excellent.
They even carved prime ribs of beef at lunch one day (I recently read a review of an RCI cruise where corned
beef kept turning up as the carved meat!). And many food items on the buffet, such as smoked salmon and
English sausage are special items only found in the dining room of other cruise lines. The buffet is set up in
islands, so you don't wait in one long line. At first glance it looked like there would be a trouble finding a table but
it turns out that there are several sections with tables, not to mention eating outside by the aft deck and the pool
areas. There were also 3 stations for beverages on each side (totaling 6) and since the Horzion Buffet is 24 hour
service, you could always go there for a coffee, tea or ice tea. The decor was also something else with beautiful
sea life murals.

The dining room food was excellent, and I have to admit that I did go a bit 'overboard' at times, like the lunch I
had with fried shrimps, scallops & calami, gnocchi with a cream tomato sauce and then osso buco with rissoto.
The 'problm' was that every time we said that we would split an order or ask for a taste of something, our waiter
always brought a full order for each of us! A special mention has to be made of the fresh blackberries and
raspberries. They are part of the fruit platter, but I had special orders made of just the berries. When I said I
would have them with cream, meaning the cream on the table for coffee, the waiter asked me 'Would you like
whipped cream?' I was already requesting a special order and the waiter was making it even more special (and
he wasn't my assigned waiter, so it wasn't a matter of soliciting tips...something I never came across on this ship).

The choices of entertainment were staggering and you simply can't see everything (good thing too because now
I have a good excuse to return). Many evernings there were shows before late seating dinner and then again
after. Besides the Princess Theatre and 2 show lounges, there was also other lounges featuring pianists and
combos. I'm not a fan of the production shows on cruise ships, so I asked one of the dances if any of them was
worthwhile. He mentioned the "Glamour" Revue. He was right. Costumes were outstanding and the dance
routines were impressive, even to Broadway standards (and I do see alot of Broadway which is why I usually shy
away from these revues). My favorite perfomer was Roger Carr, who plays piano and sings. He makes a piano
sound like a full orchestra and whenever he received a request, he would play full arrangements, no faking. He is
also very funny and has a wonderful patter as well. Even non-entertainment events, such as the port lectures
turned out to be a lot of fun. Since I know they push the stores which give promotional consideration, I usually
avoid them. But there was a free raffle, so I went. The port lectures were given by Freddie, who looks like Pee
Wee Herman and sound like Robin Leach...hows that for a combination? His warning about clothing optional
beaches not being "Baywatch" nude was a scream.

As I said, my balcony was a special place on the ship, but I did get out of the cabin for most of the time and
enjoyed the spaciousness of the outdoor decks. I did the walk-a-mile practically every day (even did it twice a few
times) and loved the Promenade Deck. Someone mentioned it was a pity there wasn't enough room for deck
chairs or lounges (I think the other Princess Grand Class ships do have them there). Since there is a separate
jogging track atop the ship, there wasn't a problem between joggers and walkers. The pool areas are nice and
are divided up, so you never feel that you're in a circus atmosphere. The steel band at the pool were great. I
wish I had time to listen to them more often. The aft decks and pool were less used you could always find
lounges there.

Thanks to our mini bar I didn't need to order many drinks, but I found the bar service good and they certainly
don't push the liquor. One can even buy a bottle in the duty free shop on board and take it to your cabin (other
cruise lines make you wait for the last day before you can get your on board liquor purchases).

The decor of this ship is very attractive. In particular, the lobbies outside the Port and Starboard entrances to the
Princess Theatre have art deco murals that are spectacular. And the paintings in the dining rooms based on the
works by their namesakes (Botticelli, Michelangelo & Da Vinci) are both beautiful and colorful. Some people
prefer the 2 story single dining rooms of other lines. But there is an understated elegance in these dining rooms.
They are more intimate and the noise level was down to a minimum (soundproofing on this ship is excellent;
never heard my neighbors during the entire cruise).

Lastly, I would mention the size of the ship for people who are initimidated. Except for the fact that there are more
cabin decks, I didn't find this ship that much larger than the other mega liners (i.e. 70,000 ton ships) when it
came to getting around. A central staircase would be a plus (there is one but it's for the staff and emergencies
only). I even appreciate the size of the ship when it comes to things such as the mile walk. And most importantly,
service, ammenities, and food quality are not sacrificed, but rather, enhanced thanks to Princess. Many cruise
lines' brochures exaggerate the experince; Princess would need an encyclodpedia sized brochre to really
capture the experince of being on board Grand Princess. I would sail on her again in a heartbeat!

Name: Chuck Hudson
Email: chudson4@aol.com
Age: 53
Occupation: retired
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Grand
SailingDate: March 7, 1999
Itinerary: St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Princess Cay
FoodDiningRoom: 91
CruiseDirector: 88
CabinComfort: 91
FoodRoomService: 89
CruiseStaff: 88
CabinAmenities: 91
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 91
CabinQuietness: 91
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 91
ShoreExcVariety: 88
FoodVariety: 91
DeckService: 88
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff: 88
PrivateIsland: 91
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 88
TenderService: 91
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 91
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 89
EntertShowLounge: 89
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 89
CruiseActivities: 89
Casino: 91
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 91
EmbarkDisembark: 91
DiscoNightclubs: 89
DeckSpace: 91
Stabilization: 89
ShopsOnBoard: 88
SpaceRatio: 91
OverallCruiseValue: 91
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 18 Mar 1999
Time: 14:54:41
Remote Name: spider-tn043.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

Given this was our first cruise, my wife and I only have the most positive of comments about our wonderfull
experience. The Grand Princess is a Grand ship in every way. The formal dining and room service provided
excellent choices, great presentation, fresh and prompt food. Our cabin steward, cabin butler, asst. waiter and
waiter were all very professional and attentive. We attended six live production shows that were produced and
staged as well as most we have seen in our many trips to Las Vegas. The lounge and bar service, and we tried
them all, was very good. From cabin to poolside, cleanliness was not something we thought about because we
never observed anything that needed to be cleaned; it was always that way. I absolutely hate standing in any line
for anything and did so only once to enter a Vista Lounge show. In travels from Asia to Europe, this cruise
exceeded all expectations and I anticipated problems on several levels that just never materialized. Unfortunately, it
well may be some time before we cruise again because it is difficult to improve on the best! Thank you and good
luck in your travels.

Name: Wayne Lau
Email: wayne.lau@foxinternet.net
Age: 48
Occupation: Banker
NumberOfCruises: 0
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Grand
SailingDate: March 7
Itinerary: Ft Lauderdale-St Thomas-St Martin-Princess Cays
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 70
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Mar 1999
Time: 01:29:48
Remote Name: sea212094.foxinternet.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was my first cruise, so there is nothing to compare to. However, in talking with old-timers who have been on
numerous cruises, most agreed that we started at the top.

We arranged our own airfare from the Pacific NW by shopping for airfares through CheapTickets and
LowestFares. Saved over $70 each by doing that. We also used Priceline.com to find a hotel room (Marriot North)
for only $55 a night, including tax. The hotel normally goes for $140/night.

Embarkation was a breeze; we arrived at the dock around 3 pm after dropping off our rental car and getting a ride
to the pier (we used InterAmerican ... compact car was only $19.90/day). As others have stated, if your paperwork
is filled out, you will spend less than 5 minutes at the checkin counter, and you can go right on board.

Unfortunately, our luggage did not make it up to the room until 4 hours after our arrival. We never got a
satisfactory explanation for that, as the luggage was dropped off at dockside.

We had a room with balcony on Aloha deck (floor 12) on the port side. Good choice, even though it was not a
mini-suite. The balcony had total privacy, we could look down on the other two decks, but there was no one above
us. The cabin itself was rather small, but serviceable. Closet, drawer, and shelf space was very limited. It would be
nice to have a bathtub, but the shower is okay. We met our steward, who seemed very nice and eager to be of
service. No complaints about how he kept the cabin clean and straightened out.

Dinner the first evening in the Boticelli dining room (and subsequent evenings) was excellent. The food truly was a
highlight of the cruise (being very orally fixated). Great jumbo shrimp cocktails. Always a choice of three appetizers
(or take all three), two soups, special salad as well as Caesar salad always available, four entrees, and three
desserts. NO one should go away hungry because of something they didn't like. Most of the waitstaff were either
Filipino or Italian, very professional and service-minded as you would expect in any fine restaurant. Assistant
waiters were also very professional and friendly. Waiter always pointed out his opinion of what was good, and his
selections were invariably good. One night, when lobster tail was one of the entree choices, he made sure that he
saved a few extra so that if anyone at our table wanted seconds, that was available.

There were two formal nights, most people dressed up appropriately, one semi-formal night (suits or sports coats
for men), and the other nights were casual. Even on casual night, one would feel out of place in anything but a nice
sportshirt and slacks. The dining experience seems to be enhanced by people dressing appropriately. Also, set
aside time and money for formal pictures; the ship photographers do a good job and there are beautiful
backdrops. The pictures are reasonably priced and the memories are priceless.

If you desired breakfast in your cabin, you can check the continental breakfast card and hang it outside the door,
just like a hotel. Didn't know if anything hot was available. Of course, you could go to the Lido deck for their buffet,
which was fabulous, or go to a dining room. We never tried the dining room for breakfast.

Lunch is a good experience in the dining room. Service was excellent, just as at dinner. It is easy to have a 6
course lunch and spend 2 hours, if one is so inclined.

Definitely try Sabatini's, the Italian trattoria. Even with the $3.50 cover charge for each diner, it is well worth it.
Service is even more attentive than the dining room. Plus ... being a coffee lover, one can get espresso there. By
the way, the only complaint was that the coffee overall was quite weak and of low quality. Seems odd, when
everything else is so good. Oh well ...being from Seattle, guess I'm spoiled. We did not try the hamburgers or pizza
by the pool, but that seemed to be a very popular option.

Another criticism can be made of the exercise facilities. Primary complain is that the room is much too cramped,
with many of the squipment squeezed together. Treadmills were in high demand, and one had to sign up ahead of
time. There are also stair climbers and bicycles. All equipment is Life Fitness (many with heart monitors), which is
pretty good. There are weight machines and dumbbells (but only two mediocre benches). Defintely not for the
serious workout, but adequate for the majority of folks who probably don't exercise ordinarily. Exercise classes are
very good, especially the Boxercise. That is quite a good workout, as were any of the step aerobics. One earns
cruizercise coupons for attendance, which are accumulated and used for t-shirts, hats, cups, etc at the end of the
cruise.

The Cruise Director, Russell, is a kick ... he is English, young (in his 30's it appears), and has a corny sense of
humor. But very enthusiastic.

The TV in the room has several channels; it is helpful to tune into the channel describing cruise activities and also
upcoming port attractions.

If you want to keep in touch with home (or just keep in touch with the world), use the internet connection in the
business center. It is reasonable at $7.50 for 15 minutes, which is enough to check e-mail and maybe browse a
couple of sites. You can print as much as you want for that price too. Make sure you have an e-mail account which
can be accessible on the web (i.e. AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc). Much cheaper than ship-to-shore phone, which is $9
a minute.

Shows at night were very good. The production shows especially were impressive in the Princess Theater. The
dancers and singers seemed very enthusiastic and enjoyed what they were doing; their enjoyment was contagious.
However, if you are in the second sitting at dinner, you don't have the option of catching two shows each evening.

Port stops were interesting, although we did not partake in any of the tours. Shopping was a main attraction for St
Thomas and St Martin. Make sure to stock up on liquor on St. Thomas, although prices seemed to be slightly
better at the second stop, St. Martin. Buy the liquor before noon, and the stores will deliver to the ship. We always
went back to the ship for lunch.

Princess Cays is a beautiful stop. AS others have mentioned, make sure you get off early and claim a chair, as the
latecomers (after 10 am) were out of luck. A major complaint is that if you signed up for snorkeling equipment, it is
oversold. I had to wait close to an hour at the rental place until someone returned the equipment. My suggestion ...
spend the money and buy/bring your own gear. It will have been paid for with three rentals.

All in all, a very enjoyable and worthwhile cruise. We would definitely do it again on the Grand Princess.

Name: Donna & Wayne Engels
Email: dengels@mail.wavc.org
Age: 42/46
Occupation: Secretary/Utility worker
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Grand
SailingDate: 12/06/98
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 99
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Mar 1999
Time: 09:43:15
Remote Name: 209.7.141.158
Remote User:

Comments

This was our 3rd cruise, first on Princess, the other 2 on Carnival. This was also the first cruise that my husband
and I had taken by ourselves. It was much more relaxing than our first two cruises. The crowd was much more laid
back and a bit older.

The entire cruise was a wonderful experience. Here are some of the things that we enjoyed the most: • the pools &
jacuzzi's- so many of each, open 24 hrs., fresh water and the showers next to them. • 24 hr. room service and
optional dining in the Horizon • the quietness of the cabins • the service in the dining rooms • variety and quality of
shows each night • not having bar help wandering around the show rooms bothering you when you are trying to
watch the shows • the bar staff not continually asking you if you would like a drink • disbarkment was quick. We
were at the airport by 9 a.m. • the food was great wherever we went to eat, and believe me, we ate at about all of
them.

Bad things: • Embarkment was very slow, it took nearly an hour. • no stairs mid ship

You may have noticed our dislike list is much smaller than our like list. Overall we don't have anything too much to
complain about. We have already booked another cruise aboard the Grand for Jan. 16, 2000 with several of our
family members and friends. We would never have encouraged them to go on the Grand if we didn't think that it
was a great ship.

If you have any questions about the Grand, please write.

Name: Johnny and Carole Bensley
Email: bensleyracing@computron.net
Age: 51 and 37
Occupation: Construction and Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Grand
SailingDate: 3-28-99
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 97
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 99
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService:
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 97
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 89
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Apr 1999
Time: 21:17:05
Remote Name: dialin93.computron.net
Remote User:

Comments

The ship is wonderful!! Princess booked our air for us. When we first arrived, we found the transfer bus people
waiting for those that had Princess provide this service. We only waited about 10 minutes and were off. The dock
was about a 10-12 minute drive from the airport. Were we immediately allowed to board following our check in
which took about 10 minutes. Please fill out all of your paperwork before you arrive and this speeds up everything
for everyone. That was the only reason it took ten minutes was because the 1 person if front of us was filling it out
when we got there. Yes, I said 1 person in line.

We were received our cruise cards right there. We got on board, went to our room, put down our carry on luggage,
grabbed the camera and went up and took pictures of everything that we could, before everyone got onboard. This
was great because you got great pictures without someone getting in the way. We got photos of all the dining
rooms and the disco and pools and really, the whole ship that we could get to.

Our luggage got to our room about 7 o'clock. We stayed up on deck until we sailed, because we heard about the
send off that the apartments do for you as you leave. It was worth missing dinner for. We ate in the Horizon Court
instead. Great Food.

We ordered room service once and the food was good. Just ordered sandwiches and soft drinks. Our cruise
director was Keith Cox. He was very entertaining on stage and always smiled when he saw you, but always seemed
too busy to actually stop and talk. Our cabin was an inside cabin on Caribe deck. It was very comfortable. The only
problem was that they have a small table between the bed and the bathroom, so be careful if you get up in the
middle of the night. We took a night light and had it in the bathroom, since we knew that it would be dark without
any windows. We had a bucket with ice in in, which we filled with water and drank ice water when we were thirsty at
night. We got extra towels and pillows and only had to ask the first night and it was done every night.

We ate breakfast every morning in the Horizon Court. Lots of choices and great food. No complaints here. The
variety was always great. Our cabin stewards name is John. Everytime we left for breakfast, we came back to a
spotless room with fresh sheets, soap and bucket of ice. He was very sweet, always smiled and asked how we were
doing.

All the cruise staff that we encountered were friendly and helpful. The service and attention that we received was
perfect. The cabin was very quiet except one night when our neighbors got very very loud yelling and laughing and
banging things around, it was awful. I was ready to call someone and they either left or went to bed. Other than that
it was very quiet. The waiter, head waiter, and assistant waiter, were perfect!!!!! Great sense of humour, joked with
us and made you feel like you were family.They were Italians and we loved their accents and alot of the time they
even spoke in italian but we soon came to know what they were saying. Our head waiter was Francisco and our
waiter was Gennardo and our Assistant was Gabor. All perfect gentlemen and the highlight of our cruise. They
kepts us very entertained and told us about the next evening meals so we could thing about what we wanted and
even made suggestions. We hated to leave the dining room and not be able to talk to them. Saying goodbye was
very hard.

We did not take any tours but chose to see the islands by taxi. It was much better than the tours, because when we
saw them, everyone was being shuttled around like sheep and we just did what we wanted. There were alot of
choices but as I said, we chose to use the taxis.

The casino was nice. The slots are very tight and the staff seemed a bit rushed but friendly. We only went once, so
I can't comment much on this.

We saw lots of families on board and the kids were entertained with scavenger hunts and a wide variety of things to
do. I didn't see any bored children. They all seemed to be having a great time.

We did not use the excercise facilities, even though my husband is a bodybuilder. He said he had better things to
do than excercise and train and use up three hours a day of our cruise. I did not ask this of him, he just said he
would not do it, because he was on vacation. We did look at it and saw that there were a few treadmills, all full with
a waiting list; a few machines and dumbells that only went to 50 lbs. They also had cruisercise classes which
seemed to be full all the time. There was activities galore. Your Princess Patter newspaper gave plenty of details
and there was more than enough to do.

The entertainment was top notch and the shows were fabulous!!!! Marty Allen was on board and his show was
terrific. We spoke to him severals timees and he was always very friendly. We saw about 5 shows and they were all
wonderful!!!!!! Poolside entertainment was great. Steel bands and different things for passengers to participate in.

Tender service was well arranged and service was quick. Never a long wait and friendly staff. We docked in St.
Thomas and tendered in Sint Maarten and Princess Cays. St. Thomas was beautiful and lots to do, shopping,
snorkling, parasailing, etc. We did some sightseeing and shopping, and met some friends at the Paradise Point
Tramway --- WOW what a view of the docks and the islands. A Must See !!

I saw lots of wheelchair access, however, not needing the services myself, I can't say if it was enough. I think you
would have to be in need of these to be able to say. I never felt like there were 2800 people on board. That was
the number of people that the captain said was on the ship on our cruise. Only at times, that the shops on the ship
had sales, did you ever see alot of people. Other than that, there were no lines or at least, very short ones.

A word about shows, Get there about 15 minutes early. I noticed that people complained because they didn't have
a seat, but they arrived 5 minutes before the show started. We arrive 15 minutes before and always had great
seats. I am short, so the railing if front of the seats was in the way a little, but as long as we sat in the second row,
or higher everything was fine.

Sint Maarten was not as nice as I thought it would be. We went to Dawn and Orient beach and snorkled. Both
beaches had topless and some nude bathers. Very surprised to see parents take their kids there. It was very well
advertised to have clothing optional beaches and gave you other choices if you did not care for this. I myself would
never take my children to those beaches. We didn't stay long and the islanders charged 5 dollars for each chair
and the same for the umbrellas or you could sit on your towel or the sand for free.. My husband went parasailing
and then we went to town to shop and then went back to the ship. Neither of us were very impressed with Sint
Maarten.

Princess Cays, was outstanding. Great snorkling and the BBQ was delicious. The staff was on shore leave and
were having a great time. We rented a jet ski. I think $50 for 25 minutes on a two person ski is pretty steep, but we
did it anyway. $35 for 25 minutes on a single person ski. The water was beautiful and we snorkled for about 2
hours. WOW!!!!! We had underwater cameras and took lots of pictures. The fish came all around us. We had a
great time!!!!

On the ship, they don't allow you to save deck chairs, so I always found one available. We like sitting on the back
and watching the wake behind us. Very peaceful and relaxing. The ship did some rocking and pitching but was
actually very soothing except one night in rough seas. Several passengers said they were a little sick, but
everything was fine by mid morning the next day. Overall, the ship was stable and had a very soothing rocking
motion. The captain talked and joked with you, and everytime you returned from port, he would say 'Welcome
Home'.

It was a beautiful ship and easy to get around if you just read the boards by the elevators, they tell you what floor
everything is on. The elevators are very slow, but whether you are going up or down, get on the elevator.
Eventually it will go where you want and believe me, you wont wait as long.

We would book this ship again in a heartbeat!!!!!! WOW, what a fantastic first cruise!!! No real complaints, and the
price we got from one of the companies online could not be beat. We will book with them for our next cruise, and it
WILL be on the Grand Princess......

Feel free to e-mail with any questions

Back to Grand Princess