Cruise Reviews

Grand Cruise except for the flight disaster
Reviewed By: Draper-Stumm, London on 7th Oct 2008
Cruise Line: Princess Cruises Times cruised before: 6-10
Cruise Ship: Grand Princess Sailed: September, 2008
Destination: Mediterranean Age: 36-45
We just returend from a fab Greek isles cruise, Sept 23- Oct 5th.

Our 2nd cruise on Grand Princess and I have to say they HAVE RAISED THEIR GAME THIS YEAR!

Food - its was great last year, but even better this year; a new streamlined menu in the main dining rooms,and great choice in the Horizon buffet.

Service - everyone went out of their way to smile, be helpful, polite, etc. As soon as you finished eating someone would swoop to remove your plate; your glass was always refilled without having to ask.

Rooms and public space - kept spotlessly cleaned. Towels could be larger of course. Loved the robes and loved having breakfast on our Caribe, 10 ft by 10ft balcony. decor looking a bit dated, but everywhere there were staff scrubbing, painting, and polishing to kee everything looking good. Pool areas, particularly the spa pool, were great.

We took my parents and sister on their first cruise and they absolutely loved it.

Our only complaints - an amazing port intense itinerary - Venice, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Olympia, Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes, Ephesus, Santorini, Naples. Could have done with another sea day in the middle to keep us going, but otherwise amazing. We did a few Princess tours and the rest on our own, which was pretty easy; the port lectures on the tv helped with any queries you would have. In Athens we spent all of 1.60 euros each for our metro and got in free to all the archaeoligcal sites as it was a special European heritage day - felt sorry for the people who'd spent a lot on tours that day. Do your research and in most places it is easier and chaper to do your own . Booked Ekol travel private tour in Ephesus which was cheaper than Princess tour and included the terrace houses which were fabulous!!! Ekol were great.

HOWEVER, DISASTER DID STRIKE NEAR THE END - PRincess UK head office decided to block cancel all Alitalia flights last minute, and inforemd us of a new itinerary from hell - an all day coach trip from Rome via Florence to Pisa for a late night flight back to UK - we eventually refused this and after many problems with mobile and e-mail finally booked something with Ryan air. We hope to be compensated, and do not blame any of the on board staff, who had no idea what was happening until informed by head office. While we understood why Princess made the decision, it was handled badly and came close to ruining what had been a fab holiday. I was particularly annoyed as I had called Princess before the cruise to find out if there might be a problem - as my parents would need to fly back the day after from Uk to USA and I did not want any problems with that; I was told all was fine and if there were any problems Princess would sort it, but theirversion of sorting it was not very nice or convenient. If they were that worried about Alitalia, they had had weeks to change things, and waiting until 48 hours before was not a very good plan, with over 13,000 passengers changing ship in Civitavecchia, Rome on Oct 5th!

Oh well, these things do happen, and overall it was a wonderful, special holiday to celebrate my 40th!
Quality of Food5
Of the highest quality and great choice - if you wanted 2 souffles (which my dad did!), it was no rpoblem. If you wanted to have a main course as a starter, no problem. Michelangelo restaurant was great for 2nd year running. Sabatinis had great food, but we didn't like the tables (funny table legsthat made it uncormftable fro 6 people aroudn the table), and the format of mutiple tasters before the main course left us full and not wanting the main course.. Horizon court buffet had a great selection and great qaulity food.
Entertainmentn/a
We never go to the shows - however, jazz/ piano players and string quartet in atrium and promenade/Wheelhouse bar were good
Shore Excursions4
Did a mix of our own thing and tours where it seemed the easiest thing. Tour guides were generally good, especially on santorini, and we had a good mix of sightseeing and free time to explore. Some sites were crowded, but that is to be expected. Try Ekol travel for excellent private tours in Turkey!
Staff5
Marius my parents mini suite steward was the best! Even I tipped him at the end of the cruise! Also Nanatana and Amata in the Michelangelo restaurant were wonderful
Children's Facilitiesn/a
Onboard Activitiesn/a
We only did the quize once - rest of time we were in the spa pool or in the bars enjoying the fab espress martinis (chaken, not stirred!).
Cabins4
Caribe deck (c636) aft was good, although I hadn't notice on plan that we were near a service door, where the breakfast trays came out each morning. We love Caribe deck for the extra large balconies! My sister was on aloha (501) and said they had a lot of noise from the pool deck at times(moving of chairs). However, this certainly didn't ruin her holiday and she and her friend had no problem sleeping. My parents mini suite (d 629)was great - better towels, larger bathroom and nice sitting room area. beds and pillows were comfortable, although you must remember the doubles are 2 twin beds pushed together, so there is a bit of a dip in middle.
Overall Rating5
ASK A QUESTION
COMMENT ON THIS REVIEW
Comment by wilson, carlton wakefield (06 Nov 08 15:33) about this REVIEW.
we ALWAYS go with princess cruises but this year chose to go on the INDEPENDANCE OF THE SEAS although we enjoyed the cruise were ripped off on our drinks a beer or spirit was $7 50 each We wil l be going on the grand princess in august can you remember the price of the spirits
ASK A QUESTION
COMMENT
Comment by Draper-Stumm, London (07 Nov 08 12:50) about a COMMENT by wilson (06 Nov 08 15:33)
I think the martinis were $6.50 US, but I cannot remember. My sister thought they were about half of what she'd pay for a cocktail in NYC and they were absurdly cheap for my husband and I (being from London and being used to easily paying 9-10 quid for a cocktail in the West End). Sorry I cannot be more specific - have a look online in google orgoogle images - I am sure someone has uploaded drinks menu onto the internet. Have fun!
ASK A QUESTION
COMMENT
Comment by Goodson, Bridgend (09 Oct 08 16:20) about this REVIEW.
Thank you for this review. My wife and I will be on Grand Princess in the Caribbean in March 2009. Previously been on Crown and on Emerald. Nice to kow that Grand is just as good as the other Princesses. We have booked the larger balcony on Caribe (C251) having seen the layout on the other 2 Princess ships, so that we can relax on our own bacony if elsewhere gets crowded.. Now really looking forward to our third Princess cruise!
ASK A QUESTION
COMMENT
Comment by Draper-Stumm, London (13 Oct 08 09:55) about a COMMENT by Goodson (09 Oct 08 16:20)
Dear Goodson, By the time you arrive on Grand Princess, she will have had a mini make over with new furnishings and carpets, and the new "Sanctuary" above the spa - an adults only space, with cabanas and cool drinks, which I think they will charge you $10 per half day to use. By aware that the new menus make it look like they don't want to give you 5 courses (if you've got the stamina for 5 that is), but in fact, they are all still there - they have just put the salad and soup courses together in one section. They have also added the spa menu in to the main menu, and there are handy little symbols now to denote lighter or healthier options. Do try the interesting cocktails in the promenade bar - chocolate and coffee martinis - all shaken, not stirred, with style! Yummy!
ASK A QUESTION
COMMENT
Opinion: Agree Comment by browne, worthing (08 Oct 08 11:25) about this REVIEW.
hi i also have just returned from this trip and was a first time cruiser and we had the most fantastic time ever.in fact loved this ship and everything about it so much that we booked another cruise whilst on board.The staff ,food ,entertainment,were all superb.We did also have the bad news on returning home it took 14 hours exhausting got home at 2am in different airport to originally stated.not a good way to end holiday and feel princess flew us home cheapest way possible,we will be applying for compensation.But what memories we have of a glorious time and a standing ovation to princess staff on board for making our trip a wonderful time
ASK A QUESTION
COMMENT
Question by Draper-Stumm, London (08 Oct 08 14:06) about a COMMENT by browne (08 Oct 08 11:25)
HI Browne, Sorry not to have met you on board after our previous comments on this site. So glad you enjoyed it - my whole family loved it too. Whoever changed the flights in head office was a complete twit - there was no way Alitalia would have cancelled a flight full of cruise passengers for fear of losing lucrative business...and with 5 flights to London, not to mention other airports, was it necessary to mess us all about like that? I would say NO! I shall post a comment if and when I hear back from Princess - sent off my letter and receipts yesterday! I am just praying we get some fo the money back - Ryanair at the last minute was anything but cheap! Have a great time on your next cruise - Grand Princess certainly is the best, and with 500 fewer passengers than the other grand class ships, she's a bit more comfortable too! best wishes, TARA
ANSWER
Answer by browne, worthing (22 Oct 08 12:20) to a QUESTION by Draper-Stumm (08 Oct 08 14:06)
hi its bitsy browne here was on the grand same time as yourself to med.wondered if you had heard from Princess regarding the travel home to date i have not.not even acknowledgement.
ASK A QUESTION
COMMENT
Question by Draper-Stumm, London (29 Oct 08 15:15) about an ANSWER by browne (22 Oct 08 12:20)
Dear Browne, Have now heard back from Princess and they are sendign us a cheque for the full amount (in fact, slightly more with the exchange rate change). So I suppose I cannot complain now! Do check with them to see if they received your receipts and letter. Best wishes!
ANSWER
Comment by Draper-Stumm, London (24 Oct 08 09:19) about an ANSWER by browne (22 Oct 08 12:20)
HI Browne, I had an acknowledgement that they had received my letter and receipts, but I have not yet receieved any answer or repsonse (ie. refund). I was going to give them until the end of the month, and then start ringing them. I'll keep you posted. I think a month is sufficient time to give them, after which I will get angry.
ASK A QUESTION
COMMENT
Answer by browne, worthing (11 Oct 08 10:43) to a QUESTION by Draper-Stumm (08 Oct 08 14:06)
hi yes sorry we did not meet but have definately got the bug.i also sent letter and receipts for petrol and also loss of days salary.willlet you know what happens.there were only12 of us travelling back to gatwick.we had a 56 seater coach,how ridiculous is that also sat on coach for an hour whilst looking for other passengers who it was later confirmed had returned under thier own steam.Also people who wanted to go to heathrow were directed to gatwick and vice versa.Asorry end to a fab holiday but it would not put me off here,s to the next one in june.regards bitsy
ASK A QUESTION
COMMENT

Add a COMMENT about     Ask a QUESTION about     ANSWER  Question

Agree with Review?            

Publish a Review
  • cruise awards
  • Berlitz Cruise Guide
  • Princess Free Kids
  • Celebrity solstice
  • The Cunard Sale
  • Fred Olsen Gardens
  • Cruise with freebiew
  • P&O Cruises Azura
  • Oceania
  • 3/4 passenger cruise free
  • Special Caribbean Cruises
  • uk departure cruises
  • Baltic Bargains