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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Doug. Stark
Email: dstark@img.net
Age: 50
Occupation: Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sky
SailingDate: June 29, 1998
Itinerary: Alaska (Vancouver to Seward
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 89
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 91
CabinQuietness: 88
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 88
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 84
GoodForHoneymoon: 63
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 88
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 84
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 70
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 88
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 87
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 09 Jul 1998
Time: 00:24:47
Remote Name: 209.87.14.131
Remote User:
Comments
As this was my first cruise, my only assistance was reading guidebooksand Internet
reviews. Both were useful and accurate. I was preparedfor a
C+/B cruiseship. Instead I experienced an A. This ship, very recently refurbished, was a
gem. The space was even better thanI expected from
the reviews. We had about 100 extra passengers dueto the temporary demise of the Regal
Princess. Sky Princess was therefore sailing with
about 1300 passengers instead of her usual1200. The only time it was a bit crowded was on
the only day wehad rain. The buffet was moved
entirely indoors which overcrowdedthe veranda lounge. The staff compensated by extending
the houruntil all were through rather than closing
at the appointed hour.The only surprise was the wooden railings were very much in need
ofrevarnishing but I expect that was about to
happen.The casino manager seemed interested in maxing the take. He did notknow what the
payout percentage the slots paid and seemed
reluctantto operate more than one $3 blackjack table. He prefered $5 and $10tables. The
food was excellent although I wished the late
buffetdidn't concentrate so much on dessert items. Not everyone has a sweettooth. The
dining room staff was superb. My martini was waiting
forme each night at dinner. I'll be cruising again and with Princess.
Name: Ron Browne
Email: kitron@log.on.ca
Age: 68
Occupation: Ret.
NumberOfCruises: 7
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sky
SailingDate: Feb. 98
Itinerary: Australia New Zealand
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort:
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities:
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 75
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 80
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall:
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Mar 1999
Time: 11:36:16
Remote Name: ppp0152.log.on.ca
Remote User:
Comments
The Sky Princess is a medium sized ship with lots of room and spacious deck and common
areas. The standard
cabins are among the largest of any of the ships we have travelled on, with lots of closet
space and a bathroom
with a shower big enough for two. She is one of the last steam turbine driven liners and
is very smooth and
vibration free. The deep hull allows her to navigate rolling seas with very little pitch
and roll.
From the captain to the room steward the staff are all very professional and eager to
please without being
obtrusive. This is a happy ship and it shows in the attitude of the staff and crew. The
Sky Princess is well
maintained but she is geting on and is starting to show her age in some ways. We missed
the refrigerators in cabin
and the glitter of some of the other Princess ships. She could use a better public address
system on deck, as we
couldn't hear some of the Captain's interesting commentary while cruising the Fiords
because of it. However, these
are minor faults, and overall the Sky Princess is a real ship, and not an oversized top
heavy hotel as are too many
of the newer ships!
The cruise from Sydney Australia to New Zealand was a feast of new and beautiful scenery.
It covered the big
bustling cities of Australia to the remote and beautiful smaller centers of Tasmania and
New Zealand. The fiords of
the South Island, were exceptional as was the Bay of Islands. We rode a jet boat, cable
car, lawn bowled, wine
tasted, and soaked up atmosphere and scenery. It was worth the nineteen hours of air time
from Totonto to
Sydney.
We enjoy Princess, they always provide a good level of service, and generally good value
for the money. This was
our third trip with them, we have also cruised with other lines, so we have a basis for
comparison. I would suggest
that Canadians book their air travel independantly to make use of local carriers both for
a better deal and less
stops and inconvenience. Aside from that, my only other complaint is their reliance on
stocking 95% of their food
stuff from L.A. a bit more local produce (some good Aussie beer for one) would liven up
the cuisine, which is very
good but a bit bland.
In summary the Sky Princess is a fine comfortale ship, and her cruise from Sydney to
Auckland should not be
missed by anyone looking for great scenery and wonderful people.
Name: Bonnie Schmidt
Email: Sschm73577@aol.com
Age: 38
Occupation: Housewife
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sky
SailingDate: May 30, 1999
Itinerary: Alaska
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 79
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 70
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 Jun 1999
Time: 15:54:30
Remote Name: spider-tq011.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
We had some hesitation about this ship as we had read that it was rundown and in need of
updating. We
were pleasantly surprised and I believe that she was in dry dock just one cruise before
ours and she was
in great shape! This is not a glitzy ship, but very traditional and very nice. We have
previously cruised on
the more modern ships which are diesel powered and the Sky was the last steam ship built
which really
added to the quietness of the cruise. It was very smooth and quiet!
The staff went out of their way in every area. The room steward was very helpful and came
in on our first
day and showed us how everything in the cabin worked. Lots of storage in the cabins and no
need to
bring a bathrobe as they provide that and a hair dryer. The dining room staff was most
excellent. The food
was absolutely wonderful. We had lobster, crab legs, and every kind of fowl and pork dish
you can
imagine. My husband had smoked salmon every morning for breakfast! Their themed evenings
were also
delightful. Italian, French, and a Captain's night were all just wonderful.
We took along our children, ages 15, 12 and 7. They participated very little in the
children's activities,
although I must say that they were varied and looked to be very entertaining. We also had
parents and a
79 year old grandmother along. Everyone was equally pleased with this trip. Princess
really does a great
job!
The best feature of our cruise to Alaska was the on board naturalist, Brent Nixon, that
Princess had hired
for the entire trip. He gave wonderful lectures each day about what we were to see.
Lectures included the
following topics: orca and humpback whales, otters, bears, Alaskan culture, and puffins.
He was on deck
each day and pointed out the whales, otters, etc. as we went by. Wonderful!!
I highly recommend this trip and this ship. Unfortunately, the Sky has been sold and will
not do the Alaska
route after next summer. This is unfortunate as the small size (around 1200 passengers)
was just perfect.
Name: Art Galindo
Email: apg@pacbell.net
Age: 55+
Occupation: Adult Education Administrator
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sky
SailingDate: 5/30/99-6/10/99
Itinerary: Alaska R/T San Francisco
Cabin: L33/Mini Suite
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 89
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 75
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 75
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 75
LoungeService: 80
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 75
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 89
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Aug 1999
Time: 19:36:13
Remote Name: ppp-206-170-29-107.wnck11.pacbell.net
Remote User:
Comments
The thought of sailing on a cruise R/T from a port near our home was very appealing. The
Sky Princess, although
approaching 16 years of age, was a very clean vessel, with friendly officers and crew.
Most of the officers were
Italian, with mainly an European, Mexican crew. The ports of call included Victoria,
Vancouver, Juneau, Skagway,
Yakutat Bay (Hubbard Glacier), and Ketchikan. Total sailing time was 12 days. Princess has
their act together in
Alaska with all tours scheduled thru them going smoothly with no major mishaps. Also, in
each port, the ship
moored to a dock, not to an offshore anchorage. As always, there was never enough time in
each port to enjoy
the surroundings.
The most enjoyable part of the trip for me was sailing thru an ice field to near the
Hubbard Glacier. We were
blessed with a clear blue sky that day and the sight and sounds of glaciers crashing into
the sea was awesome.
We had good weather most every day, some wind, but not too cold.
It was a very positive experience sailing Sky Princess and I would recommend her to
anyone. The ship appears to
cater to the over 55 age group, judging by the passengers observed aboard. This is
definitely not a 'Carnival' type
vessel.
Name:
Email: maxpope@aol.com
Age: 59
Occupation: Office Manager
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sky
SailingDate: August 4, 1999
Itinerary: Alaska-Inside Passage
Cabin: L35/A
FoodDiningRoom: 94
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 96
FoodRoomService: 88
CruiseStaff: 93
CabinAmenities: 96
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 96
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 93
FoodVariety: 96
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 93
GoodForSeniors: 94
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 93
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 93
BeautySalon: 94
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 94
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 93
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 93
OverallCruiseValue: 94
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Aug 1999
Time: 21:12:32
Remote Name: spider-te012.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was my wife and my first cruise on Princess. We went to Alaska (inside passge cruise)
for our 40th wedding
anniversary. Our cruise experience was greatly enhanced by the fact that we were given a
complimentary upgrade to
Category A - a minisuite. With the minisuite, we received a higher level of steward
service and a butler who served
us hors d'oeuvres each evening before dinner.
We were not disappointed in any manner with this cruise. The minisuite was exactly as
described and pictured in the
Princess brochure. The terry cloth robes and hair dryer provided in the room with often
used. The minisuite had a
sleeping area separate from the sitting area so one of us could watch T.V while the other
went to bed and read a
book. The bathroom was relatively large. The steward checked our room several times a day
and prvided clean
towels whenever he found one used. We had fresh fruit delivered to the room everyday.
Twice, we had breakfast
served in the cabin.
The dinners were excellent with a choice of relatively simple faire (chicken breast,
salmon fillet, salad, etc.) to far
more elaborate selections (lobster tail, crab legs, prime rib, etc.). There were always
three different soups available
(2 hot and 1 cold) and a pasta side dish. The desserts were wonderful!
Breakfasts consisted of anything as simple as cold cereals, fresh fruit and Danish on the
Lido deck to hotcakes,
ham, eggs, hash browns and toast in the dining room. Again, the choices were many and the
food was great. The
coffee was particularly good!
The evening entertainment in the Show Room was excellent. A different production every
night. In addition to cruise
staff who seconded as singers and dancers, there were professional singers, comedians and
musicians. The Show
Room was very comfortable with very attentive servers taking drink orders.
We attended two Captain's Cocktail Parties where the Captain personally greeted each guest
and then mingled. The
champagne was plentiful and good quality.
The shore excursions were somewhat disappointing because of poor weather. Rainy and foggy.
But that certainly
wasn't the cruise lines fault. The ship carried its own tenders to ferry passengers into
Sitka and Katchikan. The
process was very orderly and comfortable.
Although my wife and I are both ambulatory, we were impressed with the large number of
passengers either in
wheelchairs or using walkers and/or canes. Many of these persons went on shore excursions,
including the tenders.
Of the 1,300 passengers on board, we understood that there were about 100 children. We
seldom saw the children
as the ship had special facilities for youngsters. Both kids and adults enjoyed the
theatre and the first-run films.
The trip to Hubbard Glacier was a highlight. Very cold but beautiful. Bring lots of film.
The casino was fun. Don't expect to win on the slots but they provide a distraction during
long sea stretches. The
Horizon Lounge was a great place to sit and watch porpoises and Orcas.
While the weather was not as nice as we could have hoped, the cruise experience was great.
We highly recommend
Princess. Unfortunately, the Sky Princess is being sold later this year to another cruise
line.
Name: Tony Suarez
Email: tngtony@one.net
Age: 38
Occupation: Sales
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sky
SailingDate: October 20, 1999
Itinerary: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Nagasaki, Inchon, Beijing
Cabin: B174
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 100
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 70
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Nov 1999
Time: 06:31:56
Remote Name: port-47-45.access.one.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was a fantastic vacation experience. I have been on only one other cruise ship; the
monster Grand Princess. This
was a totally different experience. The Grand may be bigger, plusher, faster, offer more
headline entertainment, but it
was not any better. In many terms the relative pint-sized Sky Princess (she's still a
large ship) was better in one
important way: You got to know the people who you were traveling with. The staff was
increadibly friendly ALWAYS (with
the exception of the purser's desk. They were business and one pursers assistant was
downright rude--but one out of a
couple of hunderd is not bad at all). They seemed to be interested in talking to the
passangers and having real honest
to goodness conversations with you. Frank, the cruise director, was very friendly as were
his assistants ALWAYS.
As with any vacation there are always negatives. There were much fewer negatives with this
cruise as there were with
my Grand Princess Cruise last year. But one that I found inexcusable was the pounding on
the deck plates (presumably
repairs being performend) during days at sea when there was a high probability that the
guests would be in their
cabins. At times I swear it was like some one banging on an I-beam with an 8 pound sledge
just on the other side of the
wall for hours on end. It really wasn't that bad, but when you are trying to catch a nap,
it seems that way. After the third
day of this noise, a call to the purser's office and a little bit of attitude the noise
stopped. Another example of the current
business practices today: Make the customer angry before you give them what they want.
The entertainemt was good--not excellent. Other than the Princess produced shows, there
were only two fair
comedians. One of these guys was telling older jokes than the Titanic. The other was a
magician with a fair routine.
There was also a concert pianist who was good. I was glad to see Frank put the classical
concert pianist during an
evening show. This was one of my gripes on the Grand. Thanks Frank.
The same show I disliked on the Grand was being perfomend on the Sky: New York, New York.
It was still flat. I really
don't like song and dance numbers. I'd rather see headliners. But I was rocked by the
Millenium Show (I forget the exact
title. it was something like Music of the Century) was increadible! One of the dancers
(all the dancers were assistant
cruise directors) had told me the day before show that it was the most aerobic show of the
cruise. After seeing it, I don't
know how they were standing at the end of this hour-long extraveganza.
The only other negative I found about this cruise was that there were too many days at
sea. 5 days at sea on an 11 day
cuise is a little excessive. If you are looking for a cruise to sit back an relax for a
week with little or nothing to do other
than lectures, ping-pong, shuffleboard, reading and bingo (which I only came close to
winning once and ended up
calling a Bungo) this is the cruise for you.
I took advantage of the Cruise Plus which included a few days in Hong Kong at the
beginning of the cruise and the
itinerary had an overnight stay in Beijing. The transfers and embacation/disembacation
could not have been better.
Totally painles.
All the ports of call were increadible! Dallian was the most surprising. I expected a
small fishing village and got a large
metropolis which was increadibly clean and new.
Nagasaki was expensive as is all of Japan. But I was glad to see this city once level by
the U.S. with the second and last
atomic device ever used thriving and of corse no building older than 54 years old.
Inchon was only the city on the way to Seoul and the DMZ for me. GO TO SEOUL!!! The DMZ
was also a great learning
experince and hopefully the only time I'll ever go to a war zone.
China welcomes its visitors with open arms, but you always feel 'watched'. I walked by
myself around Dallian, and new I
had a shadow. I returned to the group withing 15 minutes. Still, I would not trade this
vacation for any other. it was
wonderful!
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