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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Lee O'Malley
Email: lunaschild@yahoo.com
Age: 49
Occupation: Certified Nurse Asst.
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sea
SailingDate: April 8th 2000
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: P341
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 100
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff: 60
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff: 100
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon: 100
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 60
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 80
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 May 2000
Time: 16:45:59
Remote Name: cx91369-b.phnx3.az.home.com
Remote User:
Comments
Our group traveling was a gorup of 6...three couples. However, I can only comment on my own experiences. I
can say that for the cabin we were in...there were 4 of us and we managed through the whole week and,
yes...we are still friends. We could have used more room, but we managed and had a great time. Our cabin
steward was excellent and considering the daunting task of taking care of 4 of us...he did a great job.
The food was absolutely wonderful and the presentation was excellent. Our waiter and his assistant were
wonderful, possessing a wonderful sense of humor and saw to our every need and whim. Our head waiter was
a show in himself and he is to be given the highest rating. ( and his desserts wonderful, I might add.)
The only aspect we didn't care for on Princess cruise lines was that they permit smoking all over the ship and
this is a total turn-off. I rated the cleanliness lower than 100% simply for this reason. I found burnt matches
and cigarette butts lying on the carpet on several occasions and my thought is I couldn't believe this cruise
line would put passengers in harms way, of someone carelessly disposing of a cigarrette butt and possibly
causing a fire. Although the overall ship cleanliness was excellent, this aspect was not appealing. I have
cruised other lines that prohibit smoking in the ship, but do allow it in a separate smoking room or on the open
air deck. Princess seemed to be catering to an 'older' generation on this aspect, and they need to be
reminded that the up and coming 'baby boomer' generation will be the ones keeping them 'fianacially
afloat'..so to speak in the years to come. We found the smoking policy on this ship repulsive.
Us ladies in the group had a wonderful spa and salon experience and the young ladies were very professional
and knowledgeable about the treatments and products. To the point that I placed an order after the cruise
was over.
The overall cruise was excellent and I look forward to another cruise with Princess Cruises.
Name: William George
Email: bro2mo@wt.net
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 10
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sea
SailingDate: May 10, 2000
Itinerary: Mexican Rivera
Cabin: A203 inside
FoodDiningRoom: 70
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 94
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 70
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 60
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 65
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 89
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 May 2000
Time: 14:41:35
Remote Name: 209-176-38-81.ipset60.wt.net
Remote User:
Comments
This cruise started with a flight from Houston to Acapulco. Continental is doing a really good job these
days. Embarkation was the smoothest, easiest we have ever experianced on any cruise line.
The ports of call were not much, but then were not expecting much-- we took this cruise mainly to try
Princess and to compare to other cruise lines we have sailed. This ship is very well layed out--even with
2200 passengers aboard, at no time were we standing in line for anything. The front desk service was
the best as was the location of the dining rooms and elevators
The cabin was the smallest ever but it was clean and neat and the steward was first rate. The cabin was
also very quiet and the ship very stable.
The dining room was as pleasant as any we have visited and the waiter and bus boy were very good.
Sorry I can't say the same for the food. It was not bad, just not up to the same level as on some other
cruise lines--I rate it as good to fair--not nearly as good as Celebrity or Holland America however, it was
at least better than Norweign.
This is a fine ship and would be top notch with better quality food. We will sail with Princess again and I
must mention that disembarkation was the best of any cruise line. We had a very pleasant Continental
flight home from LAX
Name: Lisa Wilson
Email: lisawilson1062@cs.com
Age: 37
Occupation: computer programmer
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sea
SailingDate: 5/11/00
Itinerary: Mexican Riviera
Cabin: A731
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 92
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 May 2000
Time: 19:19:08
Remote Name: vsp-a.vsp.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise, and we had a fabulous time!
It was our 10th anniversary, and we purchased the deluxe anniversary package which was $299.00. What a
great value! We got: Champagne breakfast in bed one morning and Champagne, chocolate dipped
strawberries and roses one evening. We each got one of the Princess Cruises white robes and we each got a
trip to the salon for either a facial or a half hour massage. I got the facial. It was wonderful! My husband got
the massage and seemed to be equally pleased. We got a beautiful framed 8x10 taken at one of the formal
nights. We had canapes delivered to our room each evening. The door to our stateroom was festooned with
streamers and balloons wishing us a happy anniversary. And we got an invitation to visit the bridge of the
ship. (Fascinating.) It made us feel very special throughout the cruise.
We had an inside room, which was small but had plenty of room to store stuff. Under the bed was cavernous
and we were able to stow our considerable amount of luggage there. The two single beds made into a
surprisingly spacious and comfortable queen sized bed. I usually don't sleep well in hotel rooms, but I slept
really well aboard the Sea Princess. Perhaps it was the rocking of the ship, or perhaps it was due being
exhausted from our excursions ashore. The bathroom and shower were quite small and the shower curtain
kept sticking to my body which was irritating. And I don't think I ever got used to the sound of the toilet
flushing! I told my husband if all the passengers flushed their toilets at the same time, the captain wouldn't
need to sound the horn when we left port!
The Sea Princess is beautiful! My favorite part of the ship was the Atrium area, where the dining rooms and
the shops are located. There are two glass elevators, marble floors and lots of tropical plants. One evening
they had a mariachi band, but usually there was a pianist providing atmosphere. The Wheelhouse Bar is also
nice. It is decorated in dark leathers and wood with a nautical theme. Basically, all areas of the ship are nice
and attractively decorated. Very pleasant surroundings. There were always enough deck chairs and places to
just relax both inside and outside on the decks. The only complaint I have is regarding the smoking which is
allowed throughout the ship. My husband was in the casino and politely asked a woman to try to refrain from
getting her cigarette smoke in his face. She responded by saying she would smoke anywhere she pleased,
took a long drag, and deliberatley blew the smoke in his face! I think for the comfort of a majority of the
passengers, smoking should not be allowed in the common areas.
The food was fantastic! We breakfasted at the buffet each morning. What a variety of stuff! Plenty of fresh
fruit, different types of breads, potatoes, even fish and meats and cheeses. Pancakes, French toast and a
cook who would prepare your eggs any way you liked them. Lunch was also good, and I particularly enjoyed
the sushi which was offered a couple of times, and the seafood salad was also very good. And I enjoyed
looking at the elaborate ice sculptures and the food sculptures (usually animals made out of fruit.) which
decorated the buffet. The dinners in the dining room were superb! I tried caviar and escargot. (I liked the
former, couldn't get past the mental picture of the latter.) There was a cold apple and pear soup which was
just delicious! And the lobster! Some of the best I've ever had. I had 3 good sized tails. And the service was
pretty good. At the table next to us was a large, boisterous crowd of kosher Jews. Our waiter spent a lot of
time with them seeing to their special needs, and laughing and joking with them. Like I said, they were loud
and boisterous and were late to dinner each night. Yet, they were served before us. One of our table mates
who'd cruised many times before, was incensed and threatened to boycott the dining room for the remainder
of the cruise. Well, the next evening my husband spoke to the head waiter and it was promptly taken care of.
Otherwise, the service was friendly and professional and I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience aboard
the Sea Princess, in spite of our rude neighbors.
The ports were nice. We began our cruise in Acapulco, which I didn't care for very much. Maybe we didn't go
to the better part. But there was a lot of poverty and it was really hard to get used to the agressive, almost
harrassing tactics of the vendors and the taxi drivers. It got to be quite exhausting. But we did go to see the
cliff divers, which was entertaining. Our next stop was Zihuatenejo/Ixtapa which was beautiful. The ship was
only there from 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. I wished we'd stayed there longer. We especially liked Ixtapa, which is a
clean, lovely modern resort area. We plan on going back there for a long weekend. Next, Puerto Vallarta.
Very nice. We spent the day walking along the beach, shopping and having Cervesa's in the local beachfront
cantinas. There is also para-sailing and other water sports available. Then Mazatlan. Again, we spent time on
the beach, shopping and dining. We wanted to go to the archealogical museum, but since it was Sunday it
was closed. We saw some Mexican dancers, and had lunch at a nice beachfront resort. Our last port of call
was supposed to have been Cabo San Lucas, but there was an unspecified "technical problem" with the ship
which prevented us from going there. We were very disappointed. To compensate, we were given a $50.00
stateroom credit and $100.00 off a future cruise. My husband felt the compensation should have been more.
Anyway, we had two consecutive days at sea, which I enjoyed. I relaxed, and ate and exercised, saw a couple
of shows and movies and basically had a very entertaining and relaxing time. I regret not having booked at
least one of the Priness shore excursions. Our table mates did, and said that they enjoyed it.
Well, I could go on and on. We really enjoyed our vacation and highly recommend Princess cruises.
Name: Cindy Rouse
Email: trwxxa@aol.com
Age: 40
Occupation: Public School Administrator
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sea
SailingDate: 6/17/00
Itinerary: Alaska Northbound w/ Cruisetour 1C
Cabin: A545/Category BA
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 89
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 89
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Jul 2000
Time: 10:06:10
Remote Name: spider-th033.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
Introduction
This review concerns the Sea Princess Alaska northbound cruise tour 1C with a three-day pre-cruise
visit to Vancouver and Victoria. This was our first cruise, but it certainly won’t be our last, as the ship
and Princess personnel (on land and at sea) totally exceeded our expectations. Everyone we
encountered was personable, courteous, and helpful. Kudos to Princess for this exceptional group of
employees.
We booked the entire trip and all our shore excursions through Princess and were very pleased with
the way Princess handled luggage, hotel check-in, and transportation. We chose to handle our own
air arrangements so that we could use frequent flyer miles. This worked well for us, since we could
choose our airline and flight times.
Day 1 – Vancouver
We arrived in Vancouver on June 15th at about 1:30 in the afternoon following a long flight from
Houston with a layover in Minneapolis. The Vancouver airport is beautiful, but be prepared for a
LONG walk from your plane to immigration. Surprisingly, immigration was very slow, even with every
line open. Several international flights arrived at the same time, and it took us 45 minutes to creep
through the line. We then had a scare at baggage claim when NONE of our four suitcases showed up
on the designated carousel. As we were in the process of filing our claim, another passenger
suggested we check in a different location, and sure enough, our luggage was waiting for us. Seems
that they had this problem several times on the day we arrived.
Once we had our bags, we walked right through customs with no delay, and met the Princess
representative. She escorted us out to the passenger pick-up area, and within five minutes we were
in a taxi on our way to the Westin Bayshore.
The Westin Bayshore is a newly renovated resort hotel in the West End of downtown Vancouver,
adjacent to Stanley Park. It is modern and beautifully decorated, with a large spacious lobby. The
main public areas include two restaurants, a Starbucks coffee shop, and several boutiques. The
hotel has a small indoor pool, a hot tub, and a sauna in the athletic facility (free to guests), and a
large heated pool outdoors overlooking the marina. Guestrooms are not large, but are very
comfortable with brand new furniture and fabrics. Sliding glass doors and a wall of windows let in lots
of fresh air and a great view!
We freshened up from the long trip, and walked over to Canada Place to watch the Nieuw Amsterdam
sail for Alaska. Vancouver is a beautiful city, and the weather was perfect – about 70 degrees with
not a cloud in the sky and no humidity. The weather was a real treat for us, since Houston has been
scorchingly hot since the beginning of May.
After leaving Canada Place, we walked around Gastown, saw the famous steam clock, smelled food
cooking, and hunger pains set in. Since we weren’t able to find a restaurant without a long wait, we
walked back to the Westin and ate at the Seawall Bistro. The food was surprisingly good, and we ate
outside on the deck where we could watch the boats come and go in the marina. Very relaxing after a
long, tiring travel day!
Day 2 – Victoria
We boarded a Gray Line bus for our day trip to Victoria at 8:45 a.m. After picking up passengers
from other cruise lines, we headed for the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. Our bus driver was very
entertaining, and he pointed out sights throughout the ride. I was surprised that our whole bus went
on the ferry, but it was a very efficient way to make the crossing to Vancouver Island. We remained
with our bus and driver throughout the day. The British Columbia Ferries are a great operation!
There is a cafeteria and buffet restaurant on board. We ate lunch on the ferry so we wouldn't have to
take time out from touring Butchart Gardens to eat. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating on
the ferry – a real plus when the weather cooperates! We were able to sit outside and enjoy the
scenery on both crossings. The ferry route is dotted with islands, and we had a sensational view of
Mount Baker in Washington State throughout the trip.
Our first stop in Victoria was Butchart Gardens. They are spectacular and immaculate. I took a ton of
pictures of every kind of flower and tree imaginable. Our group then drove to downtown Victoria. It is
a beautiful city with a definite British “feel” to it. Flowers were in bloom everywhere you looked,
including the lawn in front of the Parliament Buildings where red blooms spelled out ‘Welcome to
Victoria’.
At the recommendation of our driver, we purchased sandwiches at Sam’s Deli for the trip back to
Vancouver. We weren’t disappointed; the sandwiches were huge and delicious! We arrived back at
the Westin about 9:30 p.m. It was a thoroughly enjoyable but exhausting day.
Day 3 – Vancouver and Aboard the Sea Princess
Woke up early and grabbed my camera to get my first glimpse of the Sea Princess. At about 6:15
a.m., she sailed silently into the harbor, followed by the Rhapsody of the Seas and the Westerdam.
What a sight…a parade of three huge cruise ships!
We tagged all our luggage (including carry on bags) for a 9:00 pick up, and headed off to Stanley
Park. The park has a seawall path that runs around the entire perimeter along the water. We walked
as far as the Lion’s Gate Bridge; then backtracked to the aquarium. We didn’t have time to go in, but
there are large windows along a path in the park overlooking a tank where we were able to view the
seals and see the Beluga Whales performing. We stopped on the way back to the hotel to purchase
Cokes and water for the ship, which cleaned out every last penny of our Canadian currency. We
couldn’t have done better if we’d tried!
Our Princess transfer to the ship left the Westin about 1:15. At 1:30, we arrived at Ballantyne Pier.
The Sea Princess looked huge to us! If you’ve never cruised before, it’s hard to envision the ship
ahead of time. Embarkation was a snap. Princess had registration desks set up by deck and cabin
number. Our credit card information was taken, and we immediately received our shipboard cards.
These are neat cards with a picture of the ship, your dining room assignment, and your cabin
number imprinted on them. The card is used for shipboard credit, as a room key, and to get on and
off the ship while you’re in port. Up an escalator, smile for the photographers, and we were on board
within 10 minutes of our arrival at the pier! Our cabin steward Eddie introduced himself, and we were
off to explore the ship.
The Ship
The Sea Princess is a wonderful ship! It is elegantly and tastefully decorated, with ample use of
wood, brass, and glass throughout. The ship was spotlessly clean, and crewmembers were
constantly cleaning or painting something throughout the voyage.
The centerpiece of the Sea Princess is the atrium, which spans four decks and features a double
spiral staircase and two panoramic elevators. The lower two levels of the atrium are floored in
beautiful polished marble with inlaid designs. The ship’s boutiques are on Emerald Deck 6 in the
atrium. Deck 7 was the location of one of our favorite places, the Atrium Lounge, where you could sit
in a love seat nestled in a bay window and watch the scenery pass by outside or the people pass by
inside. Dolphin Deck 8 of the atrium held the Pizzeria, which was decorated to look like a southern
Italian villa and was furnished with checkerboard tables for four.
Sea Princess has two theatres, one at either end of Promenade Deck 7. The Princess Theatre is
upholstered and carpeted in dark burgundy with traditional tiered seating for 500. The décor is
somewhat art deco. At the aft end of deck 7, the Vista Lounge is more of a ‘Vegas’ showroom with
bar service. It is furnished with round glass tables, swivel chairs, and couches. A ‘starlit’ ceiling, walls
of picture windows, and light colored upholstery and carpet give this room an airy, open feeling.
The ship also has two dining rooms, each capable of seating 500 passengers in dining alcoves. The
Sicilian Dining Room on deck 6 and the Neapolitan Dining Room on deck 5 are identically furnished
with comfortable upholstered armchairs. Curved half-walls of wood and etched glass divide the room
into groups of 18 diners at tables for 2, 4, 6, or 8. The dining rooms span the width of the ship and
are lined with large windows on each side. Both rooms have the same ‘starlit’ ceiling found in the
Vista Lounge.
The Promenade Deck on the Sea Princess encircles the entire ship, although it is closed in at the
bow. The teak deck is lined with old-fashioned steamer chairs topped with thick blue cushions. A
great place to sit and relax!
Another beautiful room is the Wheelhouse Bar. The Wheelhouse looks like an exclusive country club,
with dark wood and lots of leather. Decorations in the lounge and the adjacent passageway are
nautical memorabilia from old P&O ships and some personal items of famous former passengers.
The casino was reached using a spiral staircase from the Promenade Deck. The casino held several
gaming tables, and slot machines and video poker lined both sides of the room. Rocky’s Disco is also
located on the Promenade Deck. This is a unique room, with a glass block dance floor and a video
wall. More rooms found on Promenade Deck are the photo shop, library, and a small card room.
The exercise facilities on Riviera Deck 12 are spectacular. Walls of windows overlook the back and
sides of the ship in the fitness area. A curved wall gives you a peek at passengers lounging in hot
tubs…a bit different than the view in most gyms! Also on Riviera Deck are three heated freshwater
pools, five hot tubs, the beauty parlor and spa, children’s facilities, virtual golf, and a poolside bar.
Lido Deck 14 features the Horizon Court, a 24-hour buffet and restaurant. 270-degree windows
overlook the front and sides of the ship, and passengers serve themselves from two separate buffet
areas. Each contains a hot food line, a cold food line, and a drink station. The Riviera Grill for
hamburgers and hot dogs is located just outside the Horizon Court. Lounge chairs line both sides of
the ship on this deck, and plexiglass walls provide some protection from the wind. Aft on Lido Deck is
the Seaview Bar and another hot tub with great views off the starboard side and stern of the ship.
Another pool is available forward on the Sun Deck. Topsails Bar is located here, and overlooks the
main pool areas below.
We were amazed to discover there were 2,100 passengers on the Sea Princess during our sailing.
We never experienced a crowd at any time during the week, and the only time we waited in a line was
to have our picture taken on formal nights. The ship is designed with many diversions, and absorbs
the people very well. Even the Horizon Court never had a line, and we were always able to get a table
right away.
Our Cabin
We chose to select our cabin rather than take our chances with a category guarantee. We used a 3
category upgrade coupon when we booked, and chose A-545, an Aloha Deck balcony cabin located
midship on the starboard side. We loved our cabin! It was not large, but very adequate for the two of
us with plenty of storage space. Three closets (one with shelves, swing out wire baskets, and a safe,
one for long hanging garments, and one for shorter hanging clothes) held most of our clothes, and
drawer space took care of the rest. All our luggage (4 big suitcases and 2 large carry-ons) fit under
the bed. After the lifeboat drill we added the life jackets to our under-the-bed storage and forgot
about all of it for the week.
The cabin was nicely appointed, with oak furniture and pastel upholstery and carpet. Amenities
included terry cloth robes, a bowl of fruit, a mini refrigerator, the room safe, and a hairdryer. The
hairdryer didn’t have much power, so I had to use the travel dryer I brought.
Our bathroom was compact but well designed. Three shelves next to the sink held toiletries, so we
didn’t have to live out of our travel bags for a whole week. The shower was one of the best I’ve had
anywhere! You could set the water to the exact temperature you wanted, and the water pressure was
fantastic. I did notice, however, that the water must have had a lot of chlorine in it, because my skin
and hair started to feel very dry by the end of the week.
The balcony was wonderful! Again, it wasn’t big (only about 3 feet deep x the width of the cabin), but
we used it constantly and had the door open for most of the trip. There’s nothing like fresh sea air
and the sound of the ship cutting through waves to put you right to sleep each night!
Day 3 Continued – Sailing from Vancouver
After we explored the ship and ate lunch in the Horizon Court, we unpacked and went to the lifeboat
drill. We actually had quite a bit of time before we sailed, since the ship waited for a late arriving flight
with 30 cruisers on it. I would have been having a fit it I was on that flight! I will probably always travel
to my departure port a day or two before sailing, unless it’s a lot closer to home than Vancouver is.
We went up on deck for sail away as soon as we saw the last passengers embark. While we were
walking forward, we were surprised to look out and discover the ship was moving! The Sea Princess
is so smooth and stable you have very little sense of movement unless you look at the horizon. I had
been worried about seasickness, and armed myself with Sea Bands, Bonine, and ginger capsules.
We took the ginger every morning as a precaution, and never touched the other stuff. I don’t know if
the ginger helped or we’re just not prone to seasickness, but it didn’t have any negative side effects
so we stuck with the regimen.
Late seating dinner was at 8:00 on this trip. We were assigned to table 165 in the Sicilian Dining
Room. We were initially disappointed with our table for 6, which wasn’t near a window, but we ended
up with great tablemates and had a fun time all week. Our waiter, Eduardo (from Mexico) and
assistant waiter, Witek (from Poland) were both very pleasant young men who took excellent care of
our table the entire week.
I thought the food in the dining room was very good to excellent all week. We certainly ate enough of
it! The menu for each meal had healthy choice selections, vegetarian selections, an ‘always
available’ section (steak, salmon, chicken, and Caesar salad) and the main choices for the evening.
There were always three appetizers, three soups, a salad course, a pasta course, and five entrees,
which included your choice of beef, poultry, lamb, pork, fish, or seafood. The dessert menu was
separate, and had three selections, a variety of ice creams and cheeses, after dinner drinks, and
several ‘always available’ items.
There was no show or entertainment for us tonight – we were too tired! I finished putting things away
and fell asleep to the sound and smell of the ocean.
Day 4 – At Sea in the Inside Passage
The weather today is in the 50’s and sunny! We started the day with a nice long workout in the
crowded aerobics room. Megan Dickens is the “Cruisercise” Manager on the Sea Princess, and she
made the workout enjoyable for people of all ability levels. Lunch was in the dining room with an
Australian couple. We like the food and service in the dining room better than the buffet. In the
afternoon, we sat in the Vista Lounge and watched Killer Whales surface just off the starboard side
of the ship.
The first formal night was tonight. Attire was dressier than I expected from what I had read. At the
second seating, almost all the women wore long gowns, and the majority of the men were in tuxes.
Very classy! At the Captain’s Cocktail Party, we met a lovely couple from England whose favorite spot
in America is Bethel, Maine, where my father went to high school. What a small world! After dinner we
attended a comedy and impressions show in the Vista Lounge. I thought the show was average. We
saw the Canadian Pilots disembark the Sea Princess at about 12:30 a.m. We’re getting close to
Alaska!
Day 5 – Ketchikan
Our luck has run out…today it is misty/rainy, and the temperature is in the low 50’s. We went on a
mountain bike tour today from 8:00-11:00. Luckily, the tour operator (Southeast Exposure) provided
raingear, because we needed it! We had fun and enjoyed ourselves despite the weather. The
shopping was great in Ketchikan, and we returned to the ship at 1:00 somewhat poorer than we were
in the morning!
Back on board, we met a couple we’d gotten to know in Vancouver for lunch at the pizzeria. The pizza
and calzones were excellent. After lunch, it was back up on deck to watch the Sea Princess leave
Ketchikan in the (still) rainy weather. Once we left port, we participated in the perfect rainy day
activity – a nap!
Tonight’s dinner was semi-formal, and again dressier than I expected it to be. Most of the ladies were
in dressy pants suits or cocktail dresses, and the men wore suits or nice sports coats. The show
tonight was a musical, ‘Rhythms of the City’. The performances were good, but the one hour show
didn’t have much of a plot.
Day 6 – Juneau
Woke up to rain and fog in Juneau. The temperature was 48 degrees. Not a good start! Surprisingly,
our Wildlife Cruise was outstanding. Once we were underway, the skies cleared in Auke Bay and we
had an excellent view of the Chilkat Mountains. We saw tons of wildlife on this excursion…Harbor
Seals, Steller Sea Lions, Bald Eagles, deer, Dall’s Porpoises, and a playful humpback whale that
dove for us three times. Got some great photos!
After a quick lunch in the Horizon Court, our second excursion was the Mendenhall Glacier and
Gastineau Hatchery Tour, which included a stop at the Chapel by the Lake. The glacier was great,
but there wasn’t anything to see at the hatchery since the salmon aren’t spawning yet. The weather
was also good at the glacier, but it was raining in downtown Juneau all day. Apparently, downtown
Juneau gets twice as much rain as nearby areas. After our second tour, we walked around town a bit,
but we were cold, wet, and miserable so we returned to the ship at 5:00.
We caught Pete Matthews’ comedy juggling show before dinner this evening. This is a don’t miss!
Pete was hysterical. We laughed so hard it hurt.
Tonight was Italian night in the dining room, complete with waiter costumes and flags on the tables.
The food was terrific, especially the Pasta y Fagoli soup. I asked for the recipe, which the maitre ‘d
provided the next day. We caught ‘Pub Night’ after dinner. This show is put on by the cruise staff and
there is only one performance. The Cruise Director on the Sea Princess, Alistair Greener and his
staff are wonderfully entertaining and humorous. We’re glad we made the effort to see the show
because we laughed until we cried.
Day 7 – Skagway
We took a seven-hour excursion by bus to the Yukon Territory of Canada today. The route traced
the path taken by the gold seekers on their way to Dawson. The weather in Skagway was overcast
and windy, but as we got further inland, the weather improved, and by the time we stopped for lunch
it was clear and sunny.
Our bus driver, Clayton, was fantastic. He enlivened the trip by quoting Jack London and Robert
Service, as well as playing music that fit the scenery. Quite a character! The scenery on this drive
was awesome – totally different than anything we’ve ever seen. It looked like what I imagine the moon
to look like…barren and strewn with boulders at the summit. We were lucky with wildlife sightings on
this trip, as we saw a cow moose, a mama black bear with her two cubs, a single black bear, and Dall
Sheep.
Lunch was provided at a place called Frontierland, which had a taxidermy museum and gift shop.
After lunch, we drove to Emerald Lake to view the turquoise water, and to the Carcross Desert. This
was a quite a strange sight, a desert in the middle of the Yukon! We also stopped at the town of
Carcross at the head of Lake Bennett, which is where the gold rushers launched their boats for the
gold fields. On the way back, we again ran into cloudy weather.
While we were in Skagway we used our Sea Princess I.D.’s to walk around the Regal. It was a nice
ship, but we didn’t feel like the Regal had the same attention to detail that we liked so much on the
Sea Princess. The main public areas were decorated with the same fabrics and woods used on our
ship, but the stateroom corridors and staircases were very plain. Also in port today were the
Rhapsody of the Seas and the Norwegian Sky – a busy day in Skagway! There were 9 buses at
Frontierland (8 Princess, 1 RCI). After we toured the Regal we walked around Skagway and
shopped. In my opinion, the shops had nicer stuff than we saw in Juneau, and the prices were better.
Dinner was French night. The food was excellent. We didn’t attend a show tonight, but Jim did go to
the casino and make a donation to Princess Cruises!
Day 8 – At Sea in Glacier Bay National Park
Got up early and did some laundry. Glad I did, since the tiny laundromat was packed all day. There
are two washers and two dryers on each cabin deck…$1.00 for the washer, $.50 for the dryer.
Detergent and fabric softener are available at an additional cost. The laundry room also has an iron
and ironing board.
We sailed into Glacier Bay National Park at 6:00 this morning. A park ranger and a naturalist came
on board and explained the important sights. The narration was broadcast on the open decks. You
could also hear the narration in your stateroom by setting your T.V. to the ‘webcam’ channel.
The glaciers were awesome! The noise the glaciers make is unbelievable. They make a sound like
cracks of thunder as they grind their way towards the ocean. Unfortunately, we saw only minor
calving today. The weather has improved…it started out cloudy, but the sunshine increased as the
day progressed.
We attended an aerobics class this afternoon after we left the bay. Unfortunately it was hard to
concentrate on exercise since the class kept being interrupted by whale sightings!
Late this afternoon we sailed by the Fairweather Range. These mountains are beautiful! Mount
Fairweather soars to almost 16,000 feet above sea level. Otters swimming on their backs near the
ship completed the picture.
Tonight was formal night. We had lobster and Beef Wellington for dinner. After dinner we attended
the magic and illusion show (just O.K.) followed by the champagne waterfall. The waiters set up a
pyramid of 13 layers of glasses and then pour champagne from the top to create a ‘waterfall’. When
the champagne is poured, everyone throws streamers from the upper decks of the atrium. This event
was fun but corny…like something you’d see on The Love Boat!
Tonight is the only night we’ve noticed any rocking of the ship at all. We’re out in the Gulf of Alaska,
without the protection we had in the Inside Passage. Still, it’s not uncomfortable at all.
Disembarkation information awaited us when we returned to our stateroom. We’re assigned to the
third group and will leave the ship between 7-7:15 Saturday morning. Tipping guidelines are included
in the disembarkation information, but no envelopes. Very unobtrusive and low-key.
Day 9 – At Sea and Cruising College Fjord
Today was the kind of day for cruise companies to take brochure pictures! Our trip into College Fjord
was perfect. The fjord was choked with ice, and many of the icebergs had seals lounging on them.
We saw many otters today…they like to swim on their backs close to the ship. Spent some time in the
hot tub soaking up the sunshine with the ice and snow everywhere you looked. It’s really funny to see
people sunbathing when you’re surrounded by winter wonders.
We tried our hand at that quintessential cruise activity today…jackpot bingo! Unfortunately, we will be
paying for the entire trip, since we were big losers in the luck department.
I attended a fun ceremony in the aerobics room this afternoon. There was a contest, but in the end
everyone was a winner and received a ‘gold’ medal, a Princess key chain, and a certificate. We also
collected extra ‘Cruisercise’ coupons so we could pick up lots of cheap merchandise to add to our
suitcases!
Our farewell dinner in the dining room was American night, featuring the traditional Baked Alaska
Parade. Since we’d never seen it before, we thought it was fun.
Day 10 – Seward Disembarkation & Fairbanks
We were rudely awoken at 2:30 a.m. by the sound of longshoremen taking luggage off the ship.
Closed the sliding door and the curtains and slept until 5:30. TOO EARLY! We grabbed a quick
breakfast and said good bye to the beautiful Sea Princess at 7:15.
Our transfer to Anchorage was lovely, with the Alaska Range visible for much of the drive. We
stopped at a wildlife preserve and saw moose, reindeer, buffalo, boars, and an eagle. We also
stopped at a jade store in Girdwood (good prices), and took a 15-minute break at Lake Hood in
Anchorage to watch the seaplanes take off and land.
Our motorcoach delivered us right to the door of our ERA charter flight to Fairbanks. We flew in a
Convair 580, which is a twin turbo prop. We had a majestic view of Mount McKinley and the entire
Alaska Range for most of the flight. We got lunch on the one-hour flight, which was typical airline
food…back to reality!
We stayed at the Bear Lodge (part of the Wedgewood ‘Resort’) in Fairbanks. The hotel was
comfortable, but it is not near anything. I heard the same complaint about location from travelers
staying at the Fairbanks Princess Hotel and Pike’s Lodge. We took the hotel shuttle ($2.00) to
Alaskaland. It’s a definite miss unless you are attending the Salmon Bake. I heard the salmon dinner
was very good, but if you weren’t attending that there really wasn’t anything to see.
Back at the hotel, we opted for dinner in the hotel bar. The food was pretty good, and the prices were
reasonable, but the service was pathetic. It took our waitress an hour and a half to serve our light
meal. The same thing happened at the breakfast buffet the next morning…by the time we were
offered coffee, we had finished our meal and were ready to leave.
Day 11 – Fairbanks
We took two tours today. Both were included in the price of our tour. Our bus driver, Bob, was
outstanding and informative. Tour #1 was to the El Dorado Gold Mine. We rode a train through a
permafrost tunnel and received a demonstration at the sluice box of the process of finding gold in the
pay dirt. Then we were each given a ‘poke’ and tried our hand at finding our own gold. We wound up
with $24.00 worth of flakes. Then we took our gold to the gift shop and bought a pendant to put the
gold in. The pendant cost more than the value of the gold we found! Still, this was a fun trip and
something we’ll probably never do again.
On the way back to town, we stopped at the Trans Alaska Pipeline. We received a very interesting
explanation of the difficulties of building the line in the permafrost areas.
Tour #2 was on the Riverboat Discovery, which took us down the Chena and Tenana Rivers. We saw
a bush plane, Susan Butcher’s Iditarod sled dogs, a fish camp, and spent an hour ashore at a
recreated Athabascan Indian village. Even though all the sights we saw were staged, the trip was
very enjoyable and informative. One very unique thing about the Tenana River is that it is a braided
river, just like the Yukon. The water is all glacial run off, and it is very silty and rapid. The current is
so strong in the Tenana that there’s a clear line where the Chena meets the Tenana. The two rivers
have two totally different colors of water.
We ate dinner tonight at Geraldo’s Italian Restaurant near the Bear Lodge. The food was very good
and reasonably priced. We’re glad to be leaving Fairbanks early tomorrow morning. Although both
tours today were very interesting, there isn’t much to see or do in Fairbanks. The town itself looks
very run down. We wouldn’t come back to Fairbanks.
Day 12 – Midnight Sun Express & Denali National Park
We boarded the Midnight Sun Express (Princess railcars pulled by the Alaska Railroad) at 7:30 this
morning. The train is very comfortable and pleasant. You are assigned to a booth for four people in
the upstairs dome. Each dome car has a bartender and a host/hostess during the trip. We took
advantage of breakfast on the train. The food was excellent and not too expensive. The train cars
also have a gift shop (of course!) and outside viewing platforms. We arrived at Denali National Park
around noon.
The Denali Princess Hotel is located on the Nenana River adjacent to the park entrance. Guestrooms
are in long buildings that surround the main lodge. Two restaurants and a snack bar are available,
but food is expensive. This was the only location where we felt that prices were unreasonably high.
With the exception of Denali, we didn’t pay any more for restaurant food in Alaska than you would
expect to pay in the lower 48. Guestrooms are typical motel style with a rustic feel. Beware…this is
not a quiet location because of the large numbers of guests staying at the lodge. Park tours start
early in the morning and end late in the evening, so there are always people moving around.
We left at 2:20 for the Tundra Wildlife Search on a school bus. Our driver was very knowledgeable
but didn’t have much of a personality, which made this a very long, uncomfortable journey. We saw
some breathtaking scenery, and during the second half of the trip three bears very close (one
walked right up to the buses!), a caribou just in front of us walking up the road, and finally at about
9:30 we saw the elusive Mt. McKinley. We had to take our pictures from the bus windows because
there was a Grizzly Bear on the other side of the street!
The drive through Polychrome Pass was hair-raisingly narrow, with steep cliffs just outside the bus.
This is not a ride for the faint of heart! We also saw quite a few Dall Sheep, but they were all at a
distance, and alas, no moose on this ride.
Day 13 – Denali, Midnight Sun Express, & Anchorage
We went for a hike this morning over at Horseshoe Lake. Couldn’t stay too long since we had to be
ready to transfer to the train at 11:30. We saw a couple of big rabbits, but the moose are still
avoiding us.
The train ride to Anchorage was long, but very enjoyable. Our tablemates on the train were very
entertaining, and the host and bartender were excellent. They sang and recited poetry during the
trip. The scenery on the trip from Denali to Anchorage is beautiful, and I imagine it would be
tremendous if it was clear. As it was, we had limited views and Mt. McKinley wasn’t visible. Our best
views of the mountain were from the plane on Saturday, so I’m glad we saw it then. Jim finally spotted
a bull moose close to the train, which I announced to the whole car. Dinner on the train was great!
The Prime Rib was cooked perfectly, and was way too much food.
We arrived in Anchorage on time and transferred to the Captain Cook Hotel, about five minutes from
the train station. The Captain Cook is a luxury hotel with many amenities and facilities. I’m glad that
Anchorage will be our last impression of Alaska, not Fairbanks.
Day 14 – Anchorage & Home
We took an Anchorage City tour that spent two hours at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The
center was excellent, and we could have spent more time there. The rest of the tour was just so-so;
not one of the better ones we had taken. The bus stopped near Earthquake Park before returning to
the hotel, where we were able to get some great pictures of the city across Cook Inlet. We’re glad we
booked our own air for this trip, since our flight doesn’t leave Anchorage until the evening. The
people that had flights booked by Princess left early in the morning, so they didn’t have an
opportunity to see Anchorage.
We arrived at the airport at 8:00 for a 9:00 flight. Anchorage Airport is under construction, and was a
real mess. Continental check-in took 30 minutes, so don’t cut it close! Our flight was full and
uncomfortable, but I was so tired I slept a good part of the trip. It’s hot and humid in
Houston…vacation is definitely over!
Some Observations from a ‘First Timer’
I can’t say enough nice things about Princess Cruises and Princess Tours. The employees were
friendly and helpful at every stage of the trip. We didn’t encounter a grouch the whole two weeks!
They are also the most organized people I have ever seen! This summer, Princess offered almost 40
tours to all parts of Alaska and Canada. That translates to thousands of people going in every
direction, all the time. Princess makes it look easy! Our luggage was taken care of, and we were met
at each destination with an envelope containing our hotel key and tour tickets. Those services really
eliminate a lot of the ‘hassle’ of travel. Princess is really a top-notch operation.
The Sea Princess is a fabulous ship, and has something for everyone. Don’t try to do everything,
because it’s not even remotely possible.
Read the reviews (like this one!) with a grain of salt. I was worried about all kinds of things, and none
of them happened! I think a person would have to work hard to have a bad time on the Sea Princess!
Vancouver is a great city. We had perfect weather in Vancouver and Victoria. We would encourage
anyone cruising to Alaska to take the time to visit these cities.
I wouldn’t want the stress of being on a late flight the day of my cruise. There were 30 passengers on
a flight that was delayed four hours by weather in Dallas. The ship waited for them, but…
Finally, some thoughts about taking the land tour pre- or post-cruise. Many people had said that the
land tour was very tiring and should be taken pre-cruise so you can rest on the ship. I didn’t feel that
it made a big difference, because we didn’t get much rest on the cruise either, and the port days
were very tiring. However, it was a rude awakening to be whisked from my luxury cruise ship to a
motel in Fairbanks. I had gotten spoiled, and kind of came back to earth with a thud!
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