2 Nights Australia Seacation Cruise

Great Itinerary And Ship

The Grand Princess is a fantastic cruise ship. Older smaller ship. Just feels comfy. We did the same itinerary on this ship in 2022, so we were really looking forward to it and it did not disappoint. I think we may have enjoyed it even more this time. The food was as good as expected. The selection in the buffet was limited, but we only go the for a mid day snack usually, no big deal except that the lettuce was usually empty for a salad and they didn't have the tacos shells and ground beef like they do on Discovery Princess. The only casual dining was Alfredo's, so we had that twice with our plus package. The Plus Package is a no-brainer as you're going to pay gratuities anyway and we enjoy having Wi-Fi, so you'll basically paying only $30 a day for drinks. Even if you don't drink alcohol you could spend that much onboard easily for specialty coffee, sodas, and bottled water. We enjoy Princess Cruises so much that we have 8 more Princess Cruises booked including the same 10-Day Sea of Cortez itinerary on the Emerald Princess.

SHE IS A GRAND PRINCESS

This was very likely the best cruise experience we've had on Princess cruises.. We are not fans of the newer ships, although have sailed on several....and we love sea days. We dined in Reserve Class, which had excellent service and usually 2 optional items beside the menu. I required "Special Diet" because of Celiac and allergies, so my meals were cooked in a separate area of the kitchen. My husband and our friends were very happy with the menu and the prepared dishes..The service was exceptional.. They often had lunch in the International Cafe. My husband and I enjoyed "Crab Shack" lunch in the Crown Grill twice..The Chef even prepared my meal separately because of allergies.. Well worth the price for a special occasion. Crown Grill for dinner is always good, although this time the Lamb was tough and well below standard throughout the ship's restaurants.. Lamb shanks in Main dining rooms was the exception.. I'm sure it was a new supplier, and that will be changed soon. Alfredo's and Sabatinis were enjoyed by our friends, but not go due to allergies.. Throughout the ship, crew was friendly, helpful and always working on the ship.. She's old, but well loved by her crew. Our cabin was one we'd been in many times and I noticed new curtains, couch looked to be recovered. on day 1 our fridge was failing, it was replaced with a "brand new" one within 3 hours of notifying our steward. I gave the steward a list of how many towels, etc. we would use daily..and he made them available. The Hawaiian couple who taught hula, ukulele, were wonderful.. They entertained in the Atrium on Deck 5, offered various craft classes, were available for questions about ports and very friendly on and off the ship. It was very hot and humid in some of the ports and I overheard some serious complaining.. 33 days would not be a good choice for your first cruise.. The ship had some air-conditioning issues, but they were addressed and most decks were consistently cool. Disembarkation was one of the easiest we've had.. there are always a few lines, but both Princess and Cruise Terminal employees were numerous and helpful. The Grand Princess may be old, but her engines are great and she made it across the Pacific from Raitea to Los Angeles in 8 days straight, which is a long time between ports and she safely went though an air rescue at sea 2 days out of Hawaii, which is one of the many exercises the crew trains for.. I can't say enough good things about the Captain, Officers, Engineers, Cooks, waiters, bartenders and the staff behind the scenes who clean day and night.. I do agree with some of the other reviewers.. Way too much pushing to buy things.. and I actually felt uncomfortable .. like the sales people were just looking at me as $$$$ and not as a passenger who might need assistance. Even in the Lotus Spa.. just too much pressure ..I think this is on all Princess ships.. and probably more about the new company handling the shops onboard .. than Princess crew.

Grand Princess Hawaiian Cruise

I don't usually review our cruise experience, but decided to do so on our recent Grand Princess crusie because of all the negative reviews that are currently posted. There are a number of negative reviews regarding the Grand Princess. However, we have nothing negative to say about the ship. Our stateroom was very nice. Nothing broken, nothing stained. Outdoor furniture on the balcony was in good condition and comfortable; no rust or broken pieces. The ship itself was very nice. We didn't see torn carpeting or missing paint or any cosmetic issues. It was beautiful. Food in the dining room was good. The only complaint would be that they didn't offer a lot options and some of the dishes were repeated. But, our food was tasty and always warm. Service was exceptional throughout. Entertainment was good. Only disappointment was with the ports because, with the exception of Honolulu and Hilo, the other ports were a distance from shops and restaurants.