princess-sun6

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Connie Camp
Email: campc@algorithms.com
Age: 47
Occupation: teacher
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: December 26, 1998
Itinerary: Transit Panama Canal
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 70
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 70
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 87
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Jan 1999
Time: 16:30:09
Remote Name: 151.197.119.198
Remote User:

Comments

Food- There was a variety of food in the dining room but some nights my family had a hard time finding
something to eat. We are not normally fussy eaters. They offered some 'different' entrees that we would normally
not eat, such as buffalo, rabbit and lamb. My son always had the beef which he said was good. There is always a
list of foods which are available daily. One evening I was not going to get an entree and the waiter was a little
upset. I opted for a vegetable plate at his request and it was great. They can never do enough for you. On many
nights our waiter brought us 7 desserts for three people.Our service was excellent. Food on the Lido was
plentiful. There was always 2 pastas and several meats including one that was freshly carved. I usually chose
the fruit and salad, which was fine. Breakfast on the Lido was hard to beat. We opted to go there for breakfast
and lunch on all but one ocassion.In speaking with several people on the ship, most of which were veteran
cruisers with Princess, they all seemed to think that this was by far the worst food they had had. I had nothing to
compare this with since this is the first cruise for me with Princess. One person said that 'feeding the masses
and maintaining the quality was hard to do since the Sun holds 1,950 people. Stateroom- Our room was an
inside cabin on the Aloha deck. Our complaint was that we could hear them dropping the chairs on the deck
above where the pool was. I guess we were just below the pool area. The space in the cabin was sufficient for
three people. We had a very large suitcase which we were not able to put under our bed and the cabin steward
was very kind and stored it for us. Our room was always immaculate. Once he even folded my sons dirty clothes
which he had left lying on the bed.We couldn't have asked for more except an outside cabin. Cruise activities- My
son made mention of the fact that there wasn't as much going on, on deck of this ship as there was with our
other two cruises. I had to agree with him. He is a teenager and has always been able to make friends on board
as he did this time.There were a lot of children on board since this was the New Years Eve cruise. They had
plenty to do on New Years Eve too.It was fun. Exercise facilities- They were the best. My son was able to keep up
with his training that he has been doing for his sport in college.It is a great place. Entertainment-Shows They
were fine for the most part. They had a little too much singing by the male and female lead singer but the dancing
was good. It did pass the time away. Lounges- The entertainment in the lounges was another story. They could
put anybody to sleep. We love to listen to oldies or roll and roll which there was very little. They did however have
a deck party and played all roll and roll and caribbean music. It was great and they had the most people dancing
that I had ever seen. They should take a hint from this. I didn't want to go to the disco because my son was able
to go there and I didn't want to intrude on him. He said they only played the current music. Excursion-We were a
little disapponted with how fast the excursions sold out. We boarded the ship on Saturday, set sail at midnight
and by 10:00 Sunday morning some of the excursions were sold out! Get there quick. Many, many excursions
sold out. Costa Rica- I'm not sure why they dock here. We could have skipped that port. Cartegna-With all of the
warnings they issue, you might think you were going into some battle zone. We found the tour to the fortress,
monestary, church and shopping to be rather pleasant. It was very hot that day but they offer you free
refreshments at the Hilton hotel during the tour.We enjoyed this. Aruba-Just beautiful. We snorkeled here and it
was great. We were on a catamaran and it was just a great trip. It was a two stop trip. The wreck dive was very
worthwhile. St. Thomas-We did a two stop snorkel trip again except that the waters in St Thomas were not good
that day and so we just went to St John and stayed longer. The water and fish were great. We went on the Wild
Thing. The boat ride was very fast but exciting. The captain allowed my son to sit with him up front on the way
back to St Thomas. He was thrilled to learn so much about the boat, the island and the captain. Great shopping
here too. San Juan- We made the mistake of not scheduling a tour hoping that we could catch an earlier flight
home but no deal. You are not allowed to travel on a different plane then what your luggage is on and we had
checked our bags at the ship so we were stuck sitting at the airport a long time. Our own fault. Next time we will
know better.

Name: Bill Sears
Email: beeks@total.net
Age: 47
Occupation: manager and manufacturer
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: Jan.16, 1999
Itinerary: Panama Canal
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 88
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 99
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 91
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 99
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 29 Jan 1999
Time: 19:15:54
Remote Name: 205.151.225.201
Remote User:

Comments

This would be the 4th cruise for the two of us. My wife and I had previously taken cruises to the western Caribbean,
the eastern Caribbean and the southern run. We decided on the Canal cruise, as it would allow us to visit ports that
were very different than those seen on past cruises. We chose Princess over RCCL after researching both
newsgroups and websites. As a matter of fact Ken Stutt was instrumental in helping us to make the decision. He
didn't disappoint us either.

We arrived in Acapulco the day of the cruise, which is to say a day later than we planned. Due to poor weather, we
missed a flight connection and had to lay over in Dallas for a night. Our luggage was sent onto Acapulco…..We
hoped. Indeed, on arriving at the airport in Acapulco, the bags were there as was the Princess staff. From this point
on we placed ourselves in their hands and left our worries and our baggage behind us.

After a scenic 20 minute bus ride to the port, we finally got to see the Sun Princess. She is magnificent. The check in
was a breeze at 4 p.m.. It took all of 10 minutes to be issued our credit cards and board the ship. We took a quick
ride up the elevator to Baja deck (deck 10) and then a long walk down the corridor to our cabin. We were very
pleased with our cabin. After reading all the complaints in other reviews about how small this was and how
uncomfortable that was, we were delighted with both the size of, and the stateroom's décor. The balcony was a first
for us, and we used it constantly throughout the 10-day cruise. We have always booked outside cabins on our
previous cruises but now I'm afraid that a balcony will be a requirement for future cruise accommodations. Both my
wife and I agree that it was well worth the extra money, especially when traversing the Canal.

The bathroom was small but big enough. The shower was comfortable, and the overall layout was very serviceable.
One thing bothers me though. Why are all toilets on all cruise ships about six inches higher than the ones we have
in our homes? There must be logical reason for this but I have failed to come up with my own theory as of yet. All of
our luggage fit neatly under the bed, out of sight, out of mind. The safe was wonderfully simple to program and use
and the cabin was soundproof! And I mean soundproof. We never heard our neighbors nor any noise from the
hallway.(By the way, in one review I read prior to our cruise, the writer complained about a huge space under the
door that allowed light to filter in and disturb his/her sleep…..Pleeeaaase, give me a break) The only time we could
hear anything other than ourselves was when we were on our balcony and a neighbor was on theirs.

We slept with the sliding door to the balcony open every night. As a matter of fact we had the balcony door open just
about any time we were in the room. The sunsets were beautiful.

Off we went to explore the ship, and explore and explore and get lost and get lost again. She is huge. The last
cruise we took was Celebrity's Horizon weighing in at 47,000 tons. The Horizon is a pipsqueak compared to The
Sun. The atrium was richly appointed. Marble and brass, rose colored wood and etched glass. It connects the 8th
floor on down through the 5th making it easy to access the casino, the duty free shops, the piano lounge and the
dining rooms. Speaking of duty free, I've read over and over about people's complaints concerning excessive
marketing and rules about bringing liquor onto cruise ships. The marketing flyers are sent to your room each night
with the Princess Patter newsletter. If one is offended, then just throw them out. We found that by checking the
prices on board, we were better prepared when we were shopping at the various ports of call. By the way, a liter of
scotch cost $10 on board. Try to beat that! Wine; however, wasn't a bargain.

The Wheelhouse is perhaps the most beautiful lounge on the ship. Nautical paintings, leather chairs, and jacquard
loveseats. I wish we could have visited it more than we did. The Princess theatre and the Vista lounge staged every
evening's grand entertainment. Depending on the dining room you are in (there are two), you are invited to one of
these venues. The disco was popular but not too crowded each night. Our favorite evening of entertainment came
towards the end of the cruise where a late night party with buffet was held on deck 12 by the pool…….great fun and
great music. We only wished there had been more than only one of these nights. We ended up taking a swim and
bubbling in the hot tub with some friends afterwards at around 1:30 a.m.

I don't intend on reviewing every common room on board. Suffice to say that the entire ship is first class and
therefore I would be redundant in describing each as beautiful, stately, rich or lovely. For my wife and I, a typical day
at sea was as follows:

Wake up, dress in shorts and a top and go to the Horizon Court for breakfast. The Horizon Court is a 24 hr. a day
buffet type restaurant on deck 14 forward on the ship. The food is not gourmet, but it is varied and reasonably good.
Getting in and out is as fast or as relaxed as you wish to make it. You'll get a selection of fresh fruit, cereals,
smoked fish, yogurts, scrambled eggs (fried eggs are cooked on request to your liking), bacon/sausages/ham and
pancakes etc. Coffee is excellent, and the view is spectacular.

Then we would go back to our cabin, don bathing suits, grab our towels, books and sunscreen. Up the stairs and
out to the pool on deck 12. Sun until 12-1:00 p.m., eat at the Horizon Court again or have hamburgers, sandwiches
or 'wursts at the poolside snackbar. Back into the sun 'till we couldn't stand it any more then back to our cabin and
sit out on the balcony. Maybe a nap, some TV advising us about our next port of call then it's time to get ready for
dinner. (The Princess information channel really is great if you want to be informed on anything from the distance
you've sailed, the temperature and sea conditions, or where to go and what to see at the ship's next stop.) Dinner is
elegant regardless of what dress code is on for the night. We might stop by the casino for a few minutes prior to
dinner and get in a few hands of Blackjack. The craps table was rarely open until after we returned from the second
dinner seating. They also have a Caribbean stud table, roulette, and plenty of slot machines.

After dinner, we'd take in a show, do the disco or just relax with friends over a drink. When it was time to go back to
our stateroom, I found myself drawn to the casino for another try at my luck just prior to retiring.

Ports of call

Costa Rico is a beautiful country. We took the cloud forest tour and saw Macaws and Whitefaced monkeys. At lunch
we stopped by a hotel that served typical Costa Rican fare, which was delicious. They also had a butterfly farm. On
the way back to the ship we stopped to see some crocodiles sunning by the river. There is a market at the pier
where we bought some things but be forewarned, don't buy Cuban cigars here, they're fakes…..I know because I
bought a Romeo & Julieta that tasted as if the filler was human hair and mouse poop. The outer leaf did in fact
smell authentic

The Panama Canal is, well, amazing. I won't go into any description here as my description of the crossing would
do it an injustice. The cruise line brings aboard a representative from the Canal Commission and he delivers a
narrative with history, during the crossing. We spent the morning watching things from our balcony while enjoying
room service. The afternoon was spent at the pool and taking in the scenery.

Prior to arriving in Cartagena we decided to go off on our own. Another couple and ourselves rented a taxi for 3 1/2
hrs. It cost $25 per couple. He took us to all the places the tours were going, waiting patiently for us at each stop.
This actually allowed us more time than the ship's tours. As in Costa Rico, do not buy the cigars. I was offered a box
of Cohiba's for $40. You get what you pay for. The street vendors are relentless. Emeralds are plentiful and cheap.
We bought some jewelry for our daughters.

Aruba is the place to buy cigars, jewelry and certain wines. The scotch is still cheaper on board the ship. We took
the Atlantis submarine tour and enjoyed it, but it couldn't be considered the high point of our trip.

Don't forget your credit card. I did, and had to hi-tail it back to the ship after my wife found a bangle or two that caught
her eye. You get so used to not carrying cash or credit cards on board (you're not permitted to use cash anywhere
on board excepting the casino), that you have to think about taking them when it's time to go ashore. This is a
beautiful island, with very friendly people, and high quality duty free items.

St. Thomas was the nicest day for both of us. We had decided to take the introduction to scuba diving/ reef tour. You
don't need any prior scuba experience to take this excursion. We had learned the name of the Dive Shop that
handled this for Princess, and got in touch with them via e-mail. The owner, Pete told us there was no advantage to
booking with him directly vs taking the Princess shore excursion, other that it would allow us to go at whatever time
we wanted. As the Ship's excursion left at 8:45 a.m., we decided to book on our own and showed up at 11:00 a.m.
This allowed us a leisurely morning in St. Thomas. We arrived at the Coki Beach Dive Club and had the time of our
lives, both snorkeling and scuba diving. The fish, the hundreds of fish, were everywhere and we were supplied fish
food and fed them by hand. This is one place you HAVE to go to. Check out their site at www.cokidive.com. The cab
fare was $5 per person one way. We waited for less than 5 minutes to find a cab going back to the ship.

Each night a copy of the Princess Patter is delivered to your cabin. It describes all the activities scheduled for the
following day. There is Bingo, very popular. Pool games, dance lessons, movies etc., etc.. If you are a bridge player
or a wannabe, there was a gal named Faye who seemed to take over the card room and adjacent hall every
afternoon. There were card tables and bridge players everywhere! I can't say I attended these classes, but I looked
in one day and must say she has a sweet little southern accent. Add to these activities, 10 -20 others that don't
come to mind and you have lots of things for anyone and everyone.

As far as the average age is concerned. Well it is a 10-day cruise, and there are more older people that have the
time and the money to take a 10-day cruise than 20-30 year olds. Having said this, we saw people in their 20's
through their 80's. I'd guess the average age was mid 60's. We hooked up with a couple from Mexico City. He was
late 30's she was late 20's and had a very nice time. We had no complaints. We had a wonderful group at our table
and were generally the last table to leave the dining room each night. Our ages ran from late 20's to early 70's. Nice
people are nice people, regardless of age. Just for the record, my wife and I are 47 years old.

The quality of the food was good. Actually very good all in all. But excellent it was not. Perhaps a step below
Celebrity cruises. Still it WAS very good and we have no regrets in choosing the Princess line, specifically the Sun
Princess. The organization was far superior to the other cruises we took. As was the service and the ship in whole.
We will cruise with Princess again. With our memories fresh in mind, we would go with Princess if we could cruise
again next month or next year. There were 2000-2200 people aboard the Sun……where were they? We never felt
crowded, never had a problem getting a seat around the pool. Rarely did we have to wait for anything. 5 stars go out
to this ship. We envy any and all of you who are about to sail this ship.

Rules: 1) Book your excursions the minute you get on board. Many sell out very quickly. 2) Book a massage
immediately as well. Try it you'll love it. 3) If you don't like your table companions at dinner, tell the head waiter to
move you pronto!

Should you have any questions, e-mail us and we will give you information on anything we can that is not covered
here.

Bill & Sherry Sears

Name: B. Livingston
Email: bliving@earthlink.net
Age: 48
Occupation: artist, of sorts
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: January 26, 1999
Itinerary: Panama Canal
FoodDiningRoom: 89
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 75
FoodRoomService: 89
CruiseStaff: 79
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 79
DiningRoomService: 89
CabinQuietness: 89
FoodMidnightBuffets: 93
CabinSteward: 65
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService: 75
ShoreExcValue: 79
GoodForHoneymoon: 70
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 89
TenderService: 79
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram: 75
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 89
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 75
Stabilization: 89
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 83
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 13 Feb 1999
Time: 23:08:49
Remote Name: 38.27.229.195
Remote User:

Comments

The itinerary for this cruise was what sold us. We boarded the ship in San Juan, Puerto Rico and disembarked in
Acapulco, Mexico, with some fantastic stops in-between. We were met by Princess staff at the airport and quickly
escorted to the ship by buses. We'd tagged our checked luggage with the Princess tags so we didn't have to
claim it at the airport. Embarkation was a breeze, although there were no porters to be found when we were
ready to board the ship and we had to carry our hand luggage up a flight of stairs. Since I had a good-sized
rolling bag with all the essentials (just in case my checked luggage got lost), hauling luggage up the stairs was a
bit of a chore. We were supposed to sail with Princess on their Christmas cruise, but it was oversold and we
accepted a very generous offer to take a later cruise. This sailing was also oversold due partly to bad weather
flight cancellations in early January. Needless to say, the ship was extremely full. We were told there were 2,000
passengers. The majority of the passengers were retired couples. I only saw four children, although there might
have been more that I didn't notice. I was traveling with my mother and we both felt out-of-place many times
without a spouse accompanying us. We heard that the Christmas cruise had more children, more middle-aged
adults and family groups, and fewer retired couples. Our ports of call were, in order: St. Thomas, Martinique,
Grenada, Caracus/La Guaira, Curacao and Acapulco. We heard that Princess is the only line that still visits
Venezuela, probably due to the high crime rate. Everyone agreed that tour guides in Venezuela were
wonderful... sharing with us both the good and bad about their country. I also enjoyed all the other stops, plus
going through the Panama Canal. We took Princess tours in three locations and give high praise for all the
guides. They were informative, spoke excellent English, and genuinely seemed to enjoy showing their country to
us. Even so, I wouldn't encourage others to take the Princess tours, unless they absolutely need the feeling of
safety this provides. We talked to many passengers who booked tours in the various ports of call, and all of them
had even better experiences, for less money. There were interminable waits on the Princess tours, and we spent
too much time being taken places to shop. Twice we had to wait in the theater of the ship almost an hour before
being called to disembark. And due to the hordes of people going at the same time (900 went on the Acapulco
cliff divers tour), we spent much of the time in crowds of people pushing to get to the front. Even though
Venezuela is obviously not the safest place to be, you should feel quite comfortable about booking a tour in the
very modern, very safe cruise terminal in La Guaira. Table-mates did this and rode in a mini-van with four other
passengers, with each passenger paying about $10 less than we paid, and they had a longer, more complete
tour. The Panama Canal transit was a real highlight of this cruise. With such a large number of people on board,
crowds at the rail were a problem. It didn't help that so many people saved places for other passengers. Things
you might do to make this more enjoyable are get a cabin with a balcony and wait until later in the day to venture
out to the decks. People truly do stake out their claim to space around the railings before dawn! By the second
or third lock though, there really is no problem getting up to the rail. Don't forget to wear sunscreen and a hat;
we saw many bad sunburns that evening. We had a balcony, thanks to our upgrade for sailing later, and I spent
a lot of time on it that day. If you're able to find any extra space in your luggage, consider taking along a small
fan for the balcony. I did, and it was pure luxury to sit there with the fan blowing on me! (The fan was also quite
handy in the cabin as the temperature controls didn't seem to accomplish anything.) We thoroughly enjoyed our
evening meals, thanks mostly to our table-mates and waiters. We requested and got a table for ten. Unless you
have a reason to prefer dining alone, this size table makes for much more laughter and fun. Either we lucked out
or Princess considered our ages in table assignments. I was one of the youngest and my mother was probably
the oldest. We were a very compatible group, made even more compatible due to the friendliness of our waiters,
Alejandro and Ferenc. The food was beautifully presented, but unfortunately a lot of it tasted somewhat bland.
Two exceptions were the veal and the lobster, which tasted wonderful. Everyone I talked to also agreed that the
ice cream in the dining room (made on the ship) was fantastic. We didn't especially enjoy the other meals in the
dining room (open seating) or the Horizon Court. We ate breakfast in the dining room the first day and
encountered an extremely unpleasant waiter, so never went back. The Horizon Court provides a good breakfast
buffet, although it did get a little boring by the eleventh day of exactly the same food presented exactly the same
way. Be sure to have some of the raisin bread if you're there before it's all gone. We ate lunch in the dining room
about half the time, and twice encountered bad service. I guess some waiters just don't care about this meal
since they weren't expecting a tip from these passengers. I would have really loved the makings of a good
sandwich at the Horizon Court buffet, but the lunch meats available weren't always very appealing, and
sometimes weren't even recognizable. Luckily there was always delicious fruit and breads. The service here was
always quite good. I had a hamburger at the outside grill once and it was good, as was the pizza in the pizzeria. I
only ordered room service once - the morning we went through the Panama Canal. I was out of the cabin when it
arrived and it was so nice to return to the cabin to find it waiting. My mother played duplicate bridge whenever it
was available and enjoyed that. She wished it had begun earlier though; apparently bridge sessions are only
planned for days at sea. I very much enjoyed the library. All books are hardbound and you can check out two at
a time. Chairs with footstools are provided for listening to books on tape. If you think you'll take advantage of this
you might want to bring along your own headset, as otherwise you can only listen when the library is open. Since
most people reading this are Internet users (I assume), it's worth mentioning a big plus with the Sun Princess.
The business center is open about six hours a day and you can use their computers to access the Internet. You
can use it to send and receive e-mail with one of the 'free' providers such as Yahoo or Hotmail. Internet usage
costs $7.50 for 15 minutes, and it takes from five to ten minutes to set up a free e-mail account, so it's wise to do
that before leaving home. The only major problem with this cruise was our cabin stewardess. On my three
previous cruises the stewards have always been outstanding, so this was really a surprise to us. Our stewardess
seemed to be on a break whenever we needed her, and also seemed to be very forgetful. One time she forgot
ice, another time towels, another time hand lotion, and she routinely brought our 'mail' long after all the other
cabins had it in their mailboxes. As far as we could tell she never vacuumed or cleaned the balcony. The carpet
was full of odd scraps and little bits of the spices we bought in Grenada and the balcony was downright dirty by
the end of the cruise. When I complained to her about not taking our dirty glasses she said they're not allowed to
touch glasses with anything in them as the passengers might still want this. If only she'd asked me - I WAS there!
The final day of our cruise I had a very bad experience with her that I prefer not to post on the Internet. If this is
important to you in making a cruise decision, please feel free to inquire by e-mail. I had a lot of trouble answering
the question in the Princess evaluation asking if I would take a Princess cruise again. I doubt seriously that I'd go
on the Sun Princess or any of their other large ships again. I don't like crowds on land OR on sea, and you can't
avoid them on ships of this size. It also seems to be me that the larger the ship, the smaller the cabins. We were
in A303... one of the smallest with a balcony. If you're getting a balcony I'd recommend going more towards the
middle of the ship as those definitely looked larger. We didn't even have room for a chair in our cabin, and most
of the others we saw did have at least one chair. We definitely received good value for our money, especially
since we got such a good incentive to postpone our original trip. I was mostly pleased with the staff and crew
onboard, but did find most to be more businesslike than friendly. Again, I think a smaller ship tends to foster
more friendliness. I guess my final answer to their question would be, yes, I'd cruise with Princess again if I don't
find another line I like better that goes where I want to go. Sort of a qualified maybe. :)

Name: Tessa Stephens
Email: toucan_tuesday@gurlmail.com
Age: 17
Occupation: Student
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: February 14, 1998
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 100
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 75
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 100
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall:
BeautySalon: 100
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 08 Mar 1999
Time: 03:43:55
Remote Name: 207.201.91.194
Remote User:

Comments

Our cruise was a while ago, granted, but it was really cool. I know that not many 17 year olds would review a cruise
but I have to say that it was a really interesting experience. We boarded the ship at about 11 am, so we had to
have lunch in the Horizon court, which is the 24-hour buffet. It would have been really good except for the fact that
every single person boarding the ship was forced to eat there and I don't think the Horizon Court was built for that
many people. We found it really difficult to find a table and the service was a little slow. The food wasn't that great,
either. After we ate we went to our cabins and found that our luggage still hadn't arrived. We were a little worried
because my parents had heard horror stories about what happens when your luggage doesn't make it and you're
forced to wear one outfit for the entire cruise.

Luckily the luggage showed up within about 10 minutes. The rooms
were pretty small but it really doesn't matter because all we used our rooms for was sleeping at night. The
bathrooms were larger than I thought they'd be and the shower was nice. I have to review showers because I'm
5'11" and usually they're made for short people (or so it seems). The dress code was semi-formal the first night, so
we had to dress up a little. We went on the cruise in a big group so we knew everyone at our table. We didn't get to
sit next to a window but we were next to a window table so we still had a fair view compared to those floating in the
middle of the dining room.

Our waiter was awesome and the assistant was pretty quiet but really attentive. The
waiter cracked jokes constantly and dinner was always fun. On the last night of the cruise we had this entree called
the 'Baked Alaskan' or something like that. It was really amazing. The waiters wheeled out the entrees on carts,
and they had sparklers stuck in them and all the lights were off...definately cool. We ate in the dining room every
night. As far as 24-hour dining, I wouldn't recommend the Horizon Court. We were hungry one night, so we
ventured in to see what was going on. There was dirty dishes on some of the tables and no waiters or waitresses to
be found. We changed our minds and headed to the pizza parlor, where the service was great and the pizza better.
That became our official late nite snacking place. My favorite part of the ship was the pool. It was really big and
nice and the reggae music that was played all day made it that much better. I am a dedicated sun-worshiper, so
that's where I spent most of my time.

The only problem is that on days at sea, it's next to impossible to find a
lounge chair anywhere near the pool. I finally resorted to laying practically in the pool, which turned out to be better
than a lounge chair, but it was still a pain. The beauty salon is cool. My mom and I had our hair done on every
formal night, and the lady that helped us was SO cool. Her name was Lisa and she was the neatest girl I've ever
met. She also gave us free facials just for fun. I really enjoyed running around the Promenade deck in the morning
except for the fact that everyone seemed to have the same idea. It actually got a little crowded. But at night it
seemed like no one was around and it was very peaceful. That was one of my favorite times, just walking around
the ship at night and watching the waves.

There wasn't many kids (that might've been because it was a Valentine's
Day cruise aboard the Love Boat) but I found a few that were my age and we hung out in the disco every night. We
had a certain special staff friend (boy, was he cute!) that served us beer if we wanted it. I know that's against the
rules but it really wasn't a big deal. Shore excursions were fun, never boring. Stingray City in Grand Cayman was
probably the most fun. I've read a lot of reviews where people complained about Jamaica, but I really liked it. It's a
lot like Tijuana, though. Lots of vendors that try to sell you useless junk. It was a really fun cruise and I'd
recommend it to anyone, especially couples. We're leaving for a cruise on the same ship to the Panama Canal in a
few days, so I'm really excited. It was a beautiful ship and had a really neat staff, too.

Name: Judy Luffman
Email: luffman@graceland.edu
Age: 50
Occupation: executive secretary
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: March 20-30, 1999
Itinerary: Panama Canal, West to East
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 88
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 98
EntertShowLounge: 88
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Apr 1999
Time: 16:31:28
Remote Name: 198.101.33.38
Remote User:

Comments

My husband and I just returned from our second Princess cruise, third overall, sailing this time from Acapulco to
San Juan through the Panama Canal. We booked the cruise about ten-months ahead which gave us lots of time to
think, dream and plan. We booked air through the cruise line but used air deviation to specify the flights we wanted
which worked out letter-perfect for us. My parents traveled from a different state and met us in Acapulco before
boarding the ship. They also booked air through the cruise line but did not pay extra for air deviation and ended up
with two long travel days due to poor flight scheduling. They said they would either book their own flights or use air
deviation in the future. This was their first cruise and they are definitely planning another.

Travel documents arrived only about nine days before leaving. Apparently all who booked air through Princess ran
into the same problem. Cruise only people got their documents much quicker. However, everything was in order so
once we filled out the necessary paperwork prior to boarding, we were all set.

We arrived in Acapulco a day early as a hedge against bad weather delays. There weren't any and we had an
enjoyable and relaxing day exploring the city. We had hoped to grab a taxi and see the cliff divers the day we
sailed but found out too late that our schedule for boarding the ship and the dive shows weren't compatible. If you
want to see them, book a pre-boarding tour.

Embarkation was quick, painless and efficient. We were on board at 1 p.m. before the last group from the previous
cruise was allowed to disembark (people who were staying over in Acapulco). Lunch was available all afternoon in
the Horizon Court on deck 14. We ate, turned in our tour order form (following advise to be quick about it or not get
your first choices), explored the ship, and enjoyed a hot tub with very few people around all before most people
were even on board (remember to pack your swimsuits in your carry-on luggage!). The rest of our luggage was
delivered outside the room in a timely manner and we were all unpacked and settled in before first sitting dinner.
The sail-away party started at 11:30 p.m. on deck 12.

During our explorations we noticed that the verandah had what looked to be a movable partition on each side.
Since my parents had an adjacent room, we had the room steward open the partition between our verandahs
which gave us both a double-sized verandah as well as a fast way to go back and forth to our separate rooms
without a key card. All four of us spent a lot of time on the verandah and enjoyed it a great deal. We left our door
open frequently at night and liked hearing the sound of the ship plow through the water; it was almost like hearing
the surf break against the shore.

The Sun Princess is a still a beautiful ship even though she's been in service about four years now. We particularly
liked the teakwood wrap-around promenade deck and earned many cruisercize coupons doing ‘walk-a-miles' (three
times around). The wooden floor in the exercise studio was wonderful for aerobics and circuit training. It was fun to
work hard while enjoying the view from deck 12 aft.

We found the food to be quite good. As in any restaurant, there were some things we liked better than others, but
there wasn't any time that food was truly bad. The rolls and breadsticks that were made daily were delicious. Soups
were fresh, hot (or chilled) and flavorful; entrees colorful and tasty but not spicy, and desserts well prepared. One
meat entree was too well done and the salmon one night was a little dry, but otherwise everything we had was
good. Lobster tails were served the last evening on board. All the portions were just right but if you really wanted
more, you only had to ask. We enjoyed eating most meals in the dining room, but did sample the Horizon Court and
had pizza in Verdi's. The dining room was definitely our favorite place. The two other couples sharing the
eight-person table were delightful and we looked forward to being together again each evening.

First sitting dinner was a good choice for us. On a previous cruise we had been assigned second sitting and were
often too tired to enjoy any of the entertainment that began at 10:30 p.m. On this cruise, it wasn't a problem at all
to be back on board from doing things ashore, with plenty of time to shower and change for first sitting. We were
much more refreshed and alert and even had enough energy left to check out the dance floors later in the
evening. There were many more ballroom dance classes than line dance classes on this cruise.

Entertainment was good overall. Again, we knew what to expect and didn't look for mega-musicals etc. One solo
female country singer was long on the patriotic American theme which we found offensive in light of the
international mix of crew and passengers. It was a major negative point in our evaluation at the end of the cruise.
The show ‘Pirates' has received a lot of press both good and bad. The dancing was exceptional even if there
wasn't much of a coherent plot to the production. We enjoyed it as a showcase for the dancers and acrobats.

The staff and crew were committed to providing a quality experience. I can't remember even one person who wasn't
friendly and helpful. There were several physically challenged persons on board and all received extra help when
needed. Some used power scooters and others had power chairs. One man in a power chair explained that he'd
come on board via a luggage cage. Crew members had helped him drive his chair into the cage, it was forklifted to
a loading platform on the ship, and he then ‘drove' right out onto the deck.

This cruise included stops at a new dock in 1) Costa Rica, 2) a transit of the Panama Canal, more stops in 3)
Cartagena, Columbia, 4) Aruba, 5) St. Thomas, and disembarkation in 6) San Juan where we stayed over one
extra day. We participated in some ship tours and also hired our own taxi part of the time. Both were equally
satisfactory. The canal transit was certainly interesting. I had read David McCullough's book Pathway to the Seas
which made seeing all that I had read about much more meaningful. If you have time I highly recommend reading
the book before your trip.

Many people were reluctant to leave the ship in Cartagena due to kidnappings elsewhere in Columbia and the
overall political instability, but we found the city to be beautiful and the people welcoming. There were no threats
implied or otherwise that marred the morning in port.

We went on a catamaran snorkel tour in Aruba and while we enjoyed it would probably choose to do a land tour
next time. We didn't feel that we had seen enough of the island to appreciate it. In St. Thomas we spent a very
enjoyable morning on a private sail boat charter. Harry owns his 48' boat and along with his wife contracts with
several cruise lines to provide this service. We sailed out quite a ways toward Buck Island spotting several sea
turtles and sting rays. We wanted to swim and snorkel so he took us to Honeymoon Beach on Water Island where it
was postcard pretty and nearly deserted. We then motored slowly back to the pier viewing the sites from that
unique vantage point. I highly recommend this trip but sign on early.

We stayed one night at the Wyndham in Old San Juan on a post-cruise package before flying home. The original
room assignment was an interior room with no view. Fortunately, another room which overlooked the bay became
available and we were moved at our request. There were several ships in and out of the pier directly across from
the hotel which we could monitor from our room (HAL Westerdam, Costa Victoria, Seabourn Legend, Club Med 2,
Norwegian Dynasty and Carnival Destiny). Not all of the hurricane damage from George had been repaired but the
dock was usable. The Sun however, docked across from the small in-town airport but within sight of the pier in Old
Town probably because it was in port longer (just a guess - maybe it was less expensive to dock over there??)

My husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed meeting citizens of the countries we visited and having them share their
pride of country with us. Each port had its unique appeal and all were worthwhile. We appreciate that aspect of
cruising every bit as much as the relaxing sea days.

This ten-day cruise had three formal nights on sea days (lots of tuxedos/dinner jackets and formal dresses), five
casual (all the in-port days) and two semi-formal nights. The weather was sunny or mostly sunny the entire trip so
shorts were the usual deck wear during the day. It was windy most of the time. Women with wash and wear
hairstyles got along the best.

Many others have written that in spite of the large number of passengers on this ship, there was seldom a crowded
feel to it and they were accurate. We also noticed very few people smoking and only a moderate amount of
drinking. The crowd mix was mostly 40ish and older, but there were many twenty-somethings and numerous
children and teens. We didn't encounter anyone with rude or obnoxious behavior the entire trip.

We had considered trying a different cruise line but in the end couldn't pass up the kind of discount given to repeat
cruisers. That is certainly a good marketing strategy, but we'll still keep our eyes open for a bargain with someone
else just to experience something different.

Would we sail with Princess again? Absolutely. Were there problems? Of course, but nothing monumental, and
certainly nothing to spoil the cruise. We went with realistic expectations and were not disappointed.

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