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Name: Michael Mutz
Email: memutz@pacbell.com
Age: 46
Occupation: account rep
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 9/14/96
Itinerary: Alaska and Coastal
FoodDiningRoom: 80
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 97
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 97
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 97
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 99
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 97
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 97
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 97
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 97
EmbarkDisembark: 97
DiscoNightclubs: 92
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 97
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 30 Sep 1996
Time: 17:30:33
Remote Name: 150.233.198.138
Remote User:
Comments
Outstanding ship - decent sized staterooms (small closet space however) Musical groups
span all tastes
Name: Darin Chong
Email: merkin@sprynet.com
Age: 27
Occupation:
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 9-26-96
Itinerary: Panama Canal
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 96
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 97
CabinQuietness: 97
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 96
FoodVariety: 93
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService:
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 94
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 97
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Oct 1996
Time: 02:06:46
Remote Name: 199.174.138.20
Remote User:
Comments
I thought the rooms were small but adequate. Our regular dining room staff was great, but
the others were a little rude. The ship is very clean at all times. Generally, the cruise
staff was friendly and helpful. I thought the laundry facilities were sparce to say the
least for a long cruise, but may be alright for short cruises. The food could be better,
but considering the number of people they are serving, it was adequate. Some of the
excursions we went on were poor, while others were good. Overall, the cruise was great and
I look forward to going on this ship again. Any questions, send me e-mail and I will be
happy to answer them.
Name: Melinda R. Sides
Email: SUGAR82@gnn.com
Age: 34
Occupation: Bookkeeper
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: October 12-19, 1996
Itinerary: Western Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 98
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 100
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 88
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 70
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 94
GoodForHoneymoon: 70
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 99
TenderService: 99
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 98
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 25
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 25
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 50
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Nov 1996
Time: 20:51:55
Remote Name: 204.148.103.70
Remote User:
Comments
The Sun Princess is a new ship that sparkles from deck to ceiling. I found it to be very
opulent and enjoyable to just wonder around and look at! I must say that the rooms were
smaller than the Regal Princess and I was disappointed at the size of the bathroom. It was
tiny!
Everything went fine until Tuesday afternoon. Hurrican Lilly decided to blow through and
forced us to change our ports of call. This was especially upsetting to me since I took
the Western Carribean specifically to see Grand Caymen. I was disappointed, but I knew
that the safety of the passengers and crew were first priority. It was a terrible feeling
everytime the captain came on the PA because it meant that our plans would be changing. We
were to sail to the Florida Keys, but that got cancelled. We then headed to Nassau where
it rained on us most of the day. Captain Vito decided that we could not make any more
ports so we just sailed up and down the East coast until Sat. I was extremely disappointed
at the choices for port alternates, but since we only made one port, I guess it did not
matter.
Since this was my second cruise with Princess, I felt sure that Princess would make some
compensation for a trip that had two whole ports of call omitted from the itenarary. I
wrote Princess upon my return and recieved a reply from them today. In appreciation for my
loyalty to their cruise line and in consideration of my ruined vacation, I am to recieve
$19.00 in port charges because we did not make Grand Caymen or any other port. I have
spoken to their passenger relations person and told that they do not make exceptions for
bad weather or missed ports.
I just want to say to anybody who is considering a cruise because they wish to go to a
specific destination or with a specific carrier that you should beware of possible
changes, because not all cruise lines will compensate for problems encountered in your
cruise.
The first few days were nice, the staff was wonderful most of the time. The only problem
with the crew was that when I wanted to dance at the Shooting Stars disco, it was
sometimes so crowded by crew members that passengers often could not find seating. I found
this to be very frustrating as well as the fact that the DJ did not have a clue has to
what type of music the 30-50 crowd wanted to hear.
I would like to hear from anybody else who cruised that week and find out what you thought
about your compensation from Princess.
Name: Tom Dillon
Email: msmcl101.tdillo01@eds.com
Age: 54
Occupation: Training Specialist
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 23 Nov 1996
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 75
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 70
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 98
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Dec 1996
Time: 17:24:10
Remote Name: 198.79.10.99
Remote User:
Comments
Thanksgiving cruise with my wife, step-daughter and her husband. Had a good time, but was
disappointed in the cruise overall. I had heard so many good things about the Sun Princess
that I might have had too many expectations. The one thing that really impressed me was
that the ship was immaculately clean...public rest rooms included!
The food was mediocre at best. I'm not a fan of either Italian or conti- nental cuisine, so I didn't care for most of the dining room fare. We did have a crawfish dish one evening that was outstanding. Rather than having to choose from several entrees I wanted (as on other cruises), I had difficulty in choosing an entree that I could tolerate. I don't think I'm all that picky, either; the food just wasn't anything to brag about. Overcooked, tough steak, overcooked lobster, over- seasoned scallops, etc. The Horizon Court gave us an alternative, but its menu was fairly monotonous. The breakfast buffets at the Horizon Court were good, but again, momotonous. The fresh papaya was very good, as was the service...never a problem getting someone to refill coffee or orange juice.
The customers on this ship were the rudest people I've ever encountered, either on or off a cruise ship! Not a good experience. Purser's Desk and New Waves staffs were outstanding. SCUBA dives not much to talk about. Signed up for a wall/drift dive in Cozumel, but the boat captain gave a choice of a wall dive and a shallow reef dive, or 2 reef dives; the majority voted for the 2 shallow dives to maximize bottom time, but that's not what I paid for; the New Waves staff agreed, and refunded me 30% of the cost of the dives. Rough water left from Marco, but I didn't hear of anyone getting seasick.
Name: Bernadette Bradach
Email: bradach@godel.cs.mci.com
Age: 49
Occupation: Software Engineer
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: August 31, 1996
Itinerary: Alaska-Inside Passage
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 10
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 100
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 100
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 30 Dec 1996
Time: 18:41:27
Remote Name: 166.37.60.158
Remote User:
Comments
This was our second cruise. The Sun Princess is a fabulous ship and we did not feel that
we were on a ship of her size. The dining service was excellent as was the food.
Shore excursions were great, particularly the wildlife tour we took in Sitka. We were
picked up directly from the ship and returned to shore. We sighted three humpbacked wales,
numerous sea otters, eagles, blue heron, seals..... This is an absolute must excursion if
you are taking this trip.
We lucked out on this trip in that the sun shone every single day of the cruise, people
even used the swimming pools and hot tubs when we sailed through glacier bay!!!
I don't have any negative comments at all on this cruise, just wish it could have lasted
longer
bernie bradach
Name: R. Weber
Email: Rw1219@aol.com
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 12/14/96
Itinerary: Western Carribean
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 03 Jan 1997
Time: 13:37:32
Remote Name: 152.163.231.201
Remote User:
Comments
Despite the 2200-passenger capacity, one does not feel like part of a gigantic mob. Food
at dinners was excellantly prepared and presented, not at all like mass-prepared banquets.
Buffets at lunch were only so-so. NO midnight buffet, but Lido(?) buffet is open 24 hours.
Ship was overly air-conditioned. Take sweaters or heavy shirts for on-board. Shows were
top-notch - as good as any I have experienced. It is chintzy that they charge for icecream
at the ice-cream bar on deck.
Name: Betty Ann Dryden
Email: badbad@juno.com
Age: 61
Occupation: Retired (Office Manager)
NumberOfCruises: 19
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 12-28-96
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 98
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 13 Jan 1997
Time: 11:18:13
Remote Name: 199.227.105.120
Remote User:
Comments
This was our 19th cruise and our first New Year's Eve cruise. To me, this was the best
entertainment that we have ever had. I might add that we have also been on the Star
Princess and Crown Princess. The selection of food was not the greatest but what i ordered
was delicious and very well presented. They had a lot of on board activites to entertain
everyone. a first for me was an art auction which i thoroughly enjoyed. the shops were
reasonably priced and the sales people very knowledgeable. All in all this was the best
cruise to date!
Name: Jesse Stiller
Email: JStiller@erols.com
Age: 48
Occupation: Bank regulator
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: Aug. 15, 1998
Itinerary: Anchorage to Vancouver
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 98
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Aug 1998
Time: 12:06:27
Remote Name: 204.151.246.2
Remote User:
Comments
cruise review was so useful in helping plan our cruise that I wanted to return the favor.
In effect, that means affirming what most previous writers have
said about Princess in Alaska. This was a superb family vacation. Our kids, ages 11 and
14, had the time of their lives. I'm not sure that would have been
the case during the first or last few weeks of the Alaska cruising season, however, when
the passenger mix would be even more stacked with senior and
near-senior citizens. As it was, of 2250 passengers on our voyage, a time when school was
out nearly everywhere in the country, there were a mere 80
teenages and about the same number of 9 to 12 year olds. If you care about your kids
having playmates, you should book your dates carefully.
Three items to which previous writers have taken exception deserve some mention. First, we
too, were somewhat disappointed with the quality of the
entertainment. You might be, too, if you expect more than the standard lounge acts.
Princess devotes considerable resources to its entertainment, which
suggests it could improve upon the incredibly banal "Pirates" show, which
features energetic and able performers who deserve better material. One
welcome surprise the last night was the appearance of veteran comic Marty Allen, who
accompanies his singer wife in a cute routine. For me, the
entertainment highlight was the outstanding string quartet which performs before dinner
and in concert during the voyage.
Second, I've seen some complaints about the shore excursions. These seem to me less
justified. They ARE expensive -- but generally no more expensive
than booking them yourself ashore. It is possible to book different tours to the same
places for less, but there's no telling what you'll get. We did the
Mendenhall River rafting trip, which, while our least favorite of the three excursions we
paid for, was meticulously organized (Princess's hallmark) and
very attentive to the passengers' safety and comfort. Who knows what precautions other
organizers might take? Aside from consistent quality, booking
the excursions on board also offers the convenience of paying for them all at once by
credit card.
Finally, I would disagree with criticisms of the food. We had always excellent food in the
main dining room. Good steak, lobster, king crab, swordfish,
salmon were to be had. Our kids, who are relatively adventurous diners, had the
opportunity to try things they never would have otherwise --- rabbit,
pheasant, caviar, escargot. And, of course, the service is impeccable.
Those who quibble with the quality of the buffet, I think, miss the point. The idea is to
get in and out more quickly, and the steam table is unkind to most
food. Still, there was good quality to be had, with the usual breakfast items and fresh
seafood salads and carved meats for lunch. Generally, things were
quite appetizing, although the crowds, especially after the main dining room closed for
breakfast at 9, sometimes made getting a table a challenge.
Princess gives good value. For example, we ordered a "taking of vows" package to
celebrate our 25th anniversary. At $119, it sound expensive. But it's
not in comparison to what one gets: a good bottle of champagne delivered to the stateroom,
complete with a long-stemmed rose; a formal portrait
mounted in a frame that would cost $30 or $40 in a department store; a lovely dignified
group ceremony, conducted by the captain and his officers,
which included flowers for both of us; and a set of engraved champagne flutes.
Incidentally, we received a notice in our stateroom that, given the
concerns some participants expressed about carrying glassware home, Princess had adopted a
policy of sending them by mail after the cruise was over,
at no additional cost. That kind of thoughtfulness was typical.
The few snags we encountered are hardly worth mentioning in comparison to the
overwhelmingly good time we had. We're looking forward to our next
Princess cruise.
Name: Eric Goldfarb
Email: madonna1@erols.com
Age: 24
Occupation: Management
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: January 4, 1996
Itinerary: Western Carribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 75
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 100
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 100
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 16 Jan 1997
Time: 10:04:38
Remote Name: 192.234.103.2
Remote User:
Comments
This ship is 3 football fields long. The only bad thing I can say about this cruise is if
you have a room on one end of the ship it will take you forever to walk to your cabin.
When I got on board and got to my deck. I was on the Baja deck room 730 it took me 10
minutes to walk to my room. Other than that you really can't tell you are on a ship with
2,000 other people. The only other bad things would be that the slot machines in the
casino don't pay off and the jackpots for bingo aren't that high.
I had read that the food wasn't that great but it was absolutely superb. The whole ship
was immaculate and, I mean you could eat off the floors. All I can say is it's a class
ship. Embarkation and debarkation were wonderful also. I have been on many other cruises.
When you get on the ship early usually you are the last to get your luggage. We dropped
our luggage off at 7 in the morning. We got on the ship at 1130am. We had our luggage
about 2 hours later. Getting off the ship. You go pick up your luggage take it outside and
there are trucks waiting outside the terminal for the different airlines so you can check
your baggage right there. You don't have to lug it to the airport. That was the first time
that has ever been done. What I will say is for a ship that holds 2,000 people they
certainly know how to move people real well. The reason I say this is because the week
that I went the ship was completely sold out.
Everyone was extremely nice, the crew along with the other passengers. I really have
nothing bad to say about the ship. I am ready to go on another one. This is the first time
I had gone on Princess. I am ready for another one. I liked it the best out of all the
other lines I have been on. I have been on Royal Carribbean, Premier and Dolphin and I
must say this was the best. We always top ourselves with each cruise we go on.
I had just been on a cruise 6 months ago on RCCL, the Sovereign. Our room was huge. I
thought that this room was going to be teeny but the way they had it set up we didn't bump
into each other. I had gone with both my parents. We also were one of the 60% that had a
balcony. It was great to enjoy the weather. And at night, or when in port.
Overall it was a great ship and the best cruise I have ever been on. The group of people I
met on the ship have decided to go on another one this time next year.
Name: Pogy Kwan
Email: pogyk@unixg.ubc.ca
Age: 26
Occupation: Graduate research assistant
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: Jul. 24 - Aug. 3, 1996
Itinerary: Alaska
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 100
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService: 78
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 98
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 95
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 98
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 98
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 99
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 98
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 100
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 22 Jan 1997
Time: 15:53:23
Remote Name: 205.206.194.69
Remote User:
Comments
I have been on two cruises, both with Sun Princess (the later one was to Western Caribbean
on Oct. 19, 1996). The cruise to Alaska was my first cruise and it definitely changed my
view about cruising. I thought I wouldn't like travelling on a cruise ship. I was too
young for that (in the mid-20's). Well..it all changed when I got on the Sun Princess. I
liked the relaxing atmosphere on the ship. I also loved the elegance of all the public
areas and the overall design of the ship. The other thing I really fell in love with was
the dining room service. Those waiters and busboys were the most romantic people I had
ever met. They were so gentle and patient with all of us, and they still managed to keep
everything going smoothly (no delay at all). We also met other waiters who served us very
well even though we were not their regular dinner guests. Maybe we were just lucky to get
these nice men to be our waiters, but it definitely made my experience on Sun Princess the
more unforgettable. To those of you that did make friends with these waiters, here are
their names: Jose Amaro, Joaquim Ines, Gabrielle, Andre Daniel, Christian, Pasquale,
Titziano, and Archie. They were the first few that changed my view about cruise travel. (I
wonder if there is something like "the best waiter" award on the ship).
The cabin...no complaint at all. It's adequate for all three of us (in the trip to Alaska) and the best thing was the room service. Almost everytime I returned to my cabin, it was cleaned again. In the Western Caribbean cruise, I even got the handicapped room. Man...it's big. The washroom (kind of weird setting...for wheelchair access) was huge. My roommate and I were very happy with that room (the size was easily twice the regular inside cabin). G
oing on a cruise like this, I didn't really care much about the shore excursions. There
were lots of nice outdoor things to do in Alaska or the Caribbean, we could choose to do
our own thing if we wanted to. I personally like to have lots of day at sea. Oh, the
entertainment was great too. And for younger people (those 20's and 30's), Shooting Stars
Disco is the place to hang around after 11 pm (that's when it started to get a bit
lively). You can even meet some of the officers and entertainers. They were fun to be
with.
I would recommend everybody to cruise with Sun Princess.
(I noticed that some Oriental people did not enjoy the cruise as much as most of us did
because of language barrier. I would recommend that these people get an interpreter to
explain things to them, or the ship should be able to find a volunteer interpreter on
board and help this group out).
Name: Emily Honeycutt
Email: emilyf@nortel.ca
Age: 30
Occupation: Software Engineer
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 03/15/97
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 97
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 92
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 88
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 92
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 70
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 92
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 88
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Mar 1997
Time: 13:56:55
Remote Name: 192.122.117.36
Remote User:
Comments
This was my second cruise on Princess. My previous cruise was on the Star Princess to the
Southern Caribbean. The Sun Princess is a beautiful ship. It is extremely clean. We had an
outside room with a balcony. This made the actual cabin a bit smaller; however, the
balcony is worth the lost room space. Our cabin steward, Nelson, was excellent.
Overall, the food was excellent. We talked to many people who had sailed on other lines, and they believed that Princess has the best food. We ate primarily in the dining room for both breakfast and dinner, and the food and service was excellent. I was a little disappointed that the breakfast menu was more limited than on our last cruise, but our head waiter did have the kitchen make French toast as an exception for me one morning. It was delicious.
The Horizon Court, which is the 24-hour buffet, had a so-so selection. We only ate cheese and crackers here as a snack a couple of times. The rest did not look particularly appetizing. Verdi's Pizzaria, however, was excellent. There also was a Haagen-Daaz ice cream shop which charged for ice cream. I had one shake there, and it was ok.
The Western Caribbean itenerary was alright. I still liked the Southern Caribbean better. I enjoyed visiting Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica. However, I did not expect the climb in the falls to be difficult. The falls were slippery and hard to climb. I think that other people on our tour were not expecting this either. We also went to StingRay Bay and fed the stingrays. This was definitely the highlight of the trip for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Princess Cays, the private island, was very crowded. It wasn't good for swimming either since the sea floor was very rocky there.
The casino was the biggest disappointment of the trip. They had the slots programmed so tightly that no one was winning. They also had terrible blackjack options and only single odds on craps. They were definitely there to take your money. The biggest thing that got to me was the blackjack tournament that was held on the last day at sea. They collected $840 but paid out only $675. Princess was definitely out to make a buck. For these reasons, I did not gamble as much as I had planned. It is no fun to lose all the time. Overall, we enjoyed the cruise. It was very relaxing and the boat never really seemed that crowded. We had excellent dinner companions and enjoyed the food tremendously. I would highly recommend this ship to anyone planning to take a cruise.
Name: Zack Wyatt
Email: ZackW@msn.com
Age: 14
Occupation: Student
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 03/22/97
Itinerary: W. Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 92
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 87
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 93
CabinAmenities: 86
FoodLidoDeck: 92
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 87
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 93
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 93
ShoreExcValue: 83
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 88
GoodForFamilies: 97
LoungeService: 92
TenderService: 98
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 78
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 96
EntertShowLounge: 79
OverallPortsofCall: 84
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 93
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 94
DeckSpace: 87
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 84
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 30 Mar 1997
Time: 09:54:39
Remote Name: 199.174.238.201
Remote User:
Comments
Overall, this is a great ship, great trip, and great fun. The service onboard was
excellence, especially the waiters and
cabin steward. I never went through a meal where my water glass was empty for more then a
minute, and our main
waiter was great entertainment(he loved to dance). The food was good, though I mainly went
just to try the desserts.
But even when I didn't like the food, there was always the buffet on the Lido deck, the
pizzeria, or the grill. My cabin
steward was also amazing....seemed like everytime I left the room and came back, he had
cleaned the room again, and
left more towels.
The two bad aspects of the cruise were the shows and the excursions. Most of the shows had
no common theme; just
dancing for no apparent reason. The only decent ones were the Pub Night and Brett Daniels
the magician -- otherwise
don't bother going. The excursions varied...some being great, others good, and some
horrible. Make sure that you
submit what you want to do early on...the really good ones fill up fast.
From a teen's point of view, the activities were pretty good. The Teen Center(Cyberspace)
was a little corny, but
provided a good place to meet others. The shows were pretty bad, but instead of going to
them, I could go to the little
dance or activity was always planned for the teens. The ship was big enough that my
friends and I could always find a
place to hang out without a ton of other people around. Unlike my previous two
cruises(Alaska, Mediteerranean), there
was no sign of life my age, so this was a welcome surprise.
Name: Timothy Fuller
Email: Dfuller@computek.com
Age: 15.
Occupation: student
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: December, 1995
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 97
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 98
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 97
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 85
GoodForFamilies: 100
LoungeService: 98
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess: 100
ExerciseFacilities: 97
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 100
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 98
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 97
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 02 Apr 1997
Time: 22:00:27
Remote Name: 205.241.180.106
Remote User:
Comments
This was one of my favorite cruises. We went on one of the inaugural voyages so we were
expecting the best, and we
got it. We boarded the ship with five or so crew members decked out with Santa's elves
hats and bells. They were very
friendly and would show you to your cabin if you wanted. I went to my cabin to put down my
carry-on bag and was
surprised by the cabin's amenities. Although, it was a little small, but I was expecting
that. I then went out to explore all
of the ship's various public roooms. My favorite was by far the towering Grand Atrium,
(not like on the Gradeur of the
Seas' 7 deck atrium or the Carnival Destiny's 9 deck rotunda) four stories tall, and
complete with two glass elevators to
whisk you from floor to floor. (the elevators on this ship were at times slow and
annoying; it seemed like it took forever
for an elevator to reach you.) On the balcony of the second floor was a chorus of three,
singing Christmas carols. My
first dining experience was in the Horizon Court, and quite a good one it was. The bus
boys would clear the tables
promptly and quickly. I had no problems finding a table for four with my friends, it was
not crowded even in the
embarkation rush.
The ship has the greatest public rooms out of any ship I have ever been on. The showroom
is spectacular and you
cannot get a bad seat. This is due to the stadium style seating and the absence of
pillars. Although, one strange thing:
there are pullout desks in each seat equipped with drink recesses, but no bar service in
the lounge. There are four pools
on this ship, two of them located midships on Riviera deck are quite large and one is even
good for laps. These two
pools are connected with a waterfall as one is raised about five feet higher than the
other. Also, the base pool has a very
nice set up: There is a tile deck surronding the pool, and the water level is and inch or
so higher than this. So it leaves a
great wading area that is great when the ship is gently swaying from side to side. The
other two pools are not as large;
one is a wading pool on the very highest deck of the ship, and the other is a circular
pool covered by an interesting glass
dome. There are five whirlpools on this ship and it usually wasn't to hard to snag one if
you went at the right time. The
exercise facilities were excellent and had everything to treadmills to rowing to
freeweights. There is also a large room for
aerobics. Each room offers panoramic ocean views. The dining rooms have a nice small
atmosphere and the food is
great. The waiters are especially nice and would even do magic tricks for us. If you did
not eat much of your food, they
would insist that you choose another, and it would be out with in minutes. And even if you
did like your meal they were
happy to offer another. Out of my six cruises, they were the nicest and BEST WAITERS EVER.
Another great place to
eat on this ship was Verdi's Pizzaria, it had the best pizza that I have ever tasted.
Evenmore, what added to the dining
experience was the great view down the atrium.
The shops on board were just like in a mall, nice storefronts and nice service. They had
everything and anything you
could possibly want. Speaking of shopping; to buy things on this ships you had a credit
card that had information on it
about your dining room and cabin. It also worked as a key card for your cabin and your
identification to reboard the
ship. The disco was excellent except for one thing: they wouldn't allow anyone under 18
in. On all of my other four
Princess Cruises, they didn't mind. And I was only 9 on the first one. But I guess it is a
place that they have to worry
about due to all of the alcohol; it would be very hard to monitor all of the time.
I had a great time onboard the Sun Princess and would do it again in a flash. But one
reminder: bring some Ft.
Lauderdale appropriate weather clothing in your carry-on if you are going to the
Caribbean; sometimes you don't get
your bags until later in the day, so it can get hot. If you are thinking about going on
the Sun Princess, do it!
Name: Kevin Donnelly
Email: kdonnel@ibm.net
Age: 24
Occupation: Programmer
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 12-14-96
Itinerary: Western Carribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 97
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 94
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff:
CabinAmenities: 94
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 97
CabinQuietness: 94
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 98
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService: 100
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 94
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 93
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 91
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 Apr 1997
Time: 00:35:48
Remote Name: 207.69.185.156
Remote User:
Comments
My wife and I had a great time. This was our second cruise with Princess so we were
expecting great services and
we got it.
We had a room on deck 10 (B538) with a private balcony. That has to be the greatest
selling point for Princess. I
don't think I will ever sail without a balcony and to get one on other lines almost always
have to pay for a suite. The
room was smaller than on the Regal Princess but it was adequate.
The food and service in the main dining room was excellent. The Sun also has a 24hr food
court (The Lido
restaurant). The food was good but the service was bad. At times (late at night when there
were maybe only 20
people in the restaurant) it was hard to find a table to sit at because of dirty dishes
that had not been picked up from
who knows when.
The entertainment was good but I missed having a theater dedicated to the movies. Since
the theater was used as one
of the show lounges we never were able to see a movie. We would have liked 10:00pm
showings but the movies
were all shown during the day.
The Promenade was the best feature of the ship. The Regal doesn't have a deck you can walk
completly around on
but the Sun does. Three times around is a mile with some great views.
We were so happy with the Sun that we are sailing on her again in May of 1997. We would
recommend her to
anyone wanting a great time.
Name: Jim Spindler
Email: j_spindler@spindawg.com
Age: 51
Occupation: physician
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 3-29-97
Itinerary: western caribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 80
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService:
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Aug 1997
Time: 21:12:35
Remote Name: 204.32.183.147
Remote User:
Comments
At the risk of stuffing the baallot box, I'm submitting this review, although I'm already
on the list. When I try to call up my review all I get is
good old Kevin Donnelly. So, I'll try again.
After resisting cruising successfully for 51 years, my wife finally just booked a cruise
and invited me along. I'm very glad she did. Obviously
so, or I wouldn't be on this board. So much so that we have booked the Dawn Princess in
January for the southern caribbean and are
thinking seriously about a Crystal or smaller ship for an August cruise to Alaska, a
transatlantic later .... you get the picture!
Start to finish, this was the best vacation I can remember, and travel is a big part of
our lives, taking 5-6 trips a year. We flew privately,
having frequent flier miles to burn. We went down the day before and spent the night at
the Miami airport hotel. OK for a midnight arrival,
but not a great place to stay. Good restaurant, however, and kept us off the mean streets.
We met the princess rep in the luggage area; the rest, as they say, is history.
Embarkation was smooth as silk. Our state room (verandah)
on the Aloha deck was fine; our 18-year old son had a similar room a door or two away.
Room stewardess was adequate if a little too
visible. Room service was good. Matt ordered a bunch of room service and always got quick,
friendly service.
We had a table for four without a fourth person so we had relatively compatible
table-mates. Matt and I took tuxes (next time I think we'll
rent them on board) and really got into the formal scene (COMPLETELY out of character) We
thought the food was great - my wife and
son are meat and potato types - I'm the adventurous type - and we always had a great meal.
The only remotely negative meal was a
tough veal chop and I was too green to realise I could get something else. By the end of
the cruise, I had learned. Next cruise, watch out!
Our service was excellent - friendly without being too familiar (waiter=jose; asst
waiter=gregory) Head waiter and Maitre d' really didn't
interface much but were pleasant.
We ate all dinners in the dining room, about half of lunches there - found the lido
acceptable - some leftovers, but great leftovers - never
waited on line for anything. Never got around to pizza, burgers, etc. Why bother when the
dining room was there. Didn't notice a
significant drop in service for L&B but not the same as "our guys."
We didn't participate in a lot of ship-board activities - won a few prizes at trivia -
were busy in ports and early to bed types. Matt said the
excercise facility was top notch and who knows what he did after hours but we don't worry
about himat home - and where is he going to
go onboard?
We enjoyed most of the port activities. The private island (Princess Cay) was an OK beach
but not enough beach chairs. Beach food was
good but snorkling a waste of time - quite a few fish around the rocks near the jetty but
otherwise pretty sterile.
Jaamaica (Ocho Rios) was a mixed bag. Dunn's River Falls was fun - we quickly learned NOT
to hold hands - Matt is 6'5" and I'm 6'3" so we
decided that if one of us slipped we would endanger the whole chain more than help them.
There were several people on the climb who
shouldn't have been and it amazes me that there aren't more ankle sprains and fractures.
The other half of the tour was the Plantation -
very friendly guide and driver - until they got their tips - then openly hostile. Lots of
passive-aggressive behavior on that unhappy island.
We bought a tanzanite ring for a good price, but when we got it home and had it appraised,
a deep scratch was found. Princess intrvened
as it was a "guaranteed shop" and we got a replacement stone, although not the
color intensity of the original - but Princess came
through! The gauntlet of beggars and threatening behavior was unpleasant and we will stay
onboard if another cruise ports in Jamaica.
Sorry to be politically incorrect, but it's a vacation, not a social experiment.
Grand Cayman was great, but we've vacationed there several times, so we went to a favorite
restaurant, stocked up on Dr. Pepper (my
wife's a junkie) made a few calls and returned to the ship. Absolutely safe; trustworthy
shops; definitely our favorite island.
We did the Tulum tour on Cozumel - first-rate; very sincerly pleasant Mayan guide -
fantastic beauty - history - nobody, except a few tiny
Mayan girls, with their hands out; a very pleasant day. We were warned about the ferry
ride and took dramamine - many didn't and many
puked. Be warned - you WILL get seasick. On the return trip to Cozumel, wait until the
last 5 minutes to buy the serapes, puppets and
other junk. The price decreases logrhythmically as the ferry reaches shore.
We had some high seas and heavy winds but the ship was fairly stable. After participating
in a Coast Guard excercise off Key West, the
ship turned VERY sharply, resulting in about a 10 degree list - several minor injuries,
the bingo kiosk tipped over; ALL the booze fell of the
bar shelves. This event was handled very professionally by the crew.
In summary (FINALLY) we enjoyed it tremendously and can't wait until our next cruise. We
may be spoiled with Princess - gotta have that
verandah. We will probably try Crystal and Celebrity, but were very pleased with Princess.
Name: Tom Barton
Email: twbi@CNETech.com
Age: 45
Occupation: Contractor
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Princess-Sun
SailingDate: 4/17/97
Itinerary: Alaska
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 99
CabinComfort: 97
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 96
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 98
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 995
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 9090
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 99
EntertShowLounge:
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 89
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 98
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 25 May 1997
Time: 17:30:03
Remote Name: 206.171.184.95
Remote User:
Comments
The cruise to Alaska was as breath taking as any cruise that you can possibly take. This
cruise is probaly more designed
for seniors as most of the passenders were seniors. This creates a problem with late night
enteriment which was almost
non existent. The ship is very nice and is kept very clean and the cabin stewards do a
great job in keeping your rooms
clean. The cruise staff and the cruise director was outstanding in trying to keep you
entertained and were very helpful.
Head line entertainment could use some improvement as some the showsa were good while
others were found lacking.
Food in the mian dining room eas excellant, the service of the waiters and busboys were
little short. It appeared that the
waiters and busboys were to busy with addtional tables to provide service of other criuse
ships. Overall it was a great
exiperince and would recommend this cruise to anyone who would like to see Alaska for the
first time.
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