Cruise Reviews | Island Princess,Los Angeles/Panama Canal Return

Thursday 28th August 2008

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Island Princess,Los Angeles/Panama Canal Return
Reviewed By: Hill, London on 21st May 2008
Cruise Line: Princess Cruises	Times cruised before: 3-5
Cruise Ship: Island Princess	Sailed: April, 2008
Destination: Panama Canal	Age: 56-65

This was the sort of cruise to give cruising a bad name. The vast majority of the passengers were very elderly and many with mobility disabilties resulting in most things on the ship happening slowly. The ship itself was fine and our mini-suite with balcony more than adequate. We also had a good cabin steward. In general the staff were not very good, paricularly in the Lido Deck restaurant. The food for the most part was of poor quality and not well prepared. The cooks were not up to the ambitiousness of some of the dinner menus. Princess Cruises boasts of C.H.E.F. (Culinary Heritage of Excelleny in Food)but this is little more than fantasy.The promised premium grain-fed beef and cold-water Maine lobster were not on board and this was admitted. The line also makes much of its CRUISE acronym standing for Courtesy,Respect,Unfailing in Service Excellence. We found this missing for the most part. The best part of the cruise, other than the itinerary which was excellent albeit that some of the shore excursions were not very good,were the ship's own shows. Less good were some of the entertainers flown in who, all too often, resorted to excessive audience participation rather then entertain themslves. Our overall acronym for this cruise is Cannot Recommend A Purchase.
Quality of Food
Bordeaux Restaurant mostly
Entertainment
Ship's own production shows
Shore Excursions
Antigua on our own - they just provided the bus
Staff
Our room steward
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities
Far too much loud and not very good music during the day
Cabins
Yes
Overall Rating

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Opinion: Agree Comment by Hill, Avensac (23 May 08 15:31) about this REVIEW.

At least this cruise visited the ports it advertised it would when it said it would unlike my experience with the QM2 in February this year which substituted Barbados for Costa Rica! Hardly a similar port of call. What is wrong with the Cunard group and there very poor administration and client liason? Even with this cruise the wrong tours brochure was mailed ou

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