Cruise Reviews

Reviewed By: Douglas, Coulsdon on 22nd Jan 2008
Cruise Line: Princess Cruises Times cruised before: 10+
Cruise Ship: Pacific Princess Sailed: December, 2007
Destination: Pacific Age: 65+
The Pacific Princess recently completed a very interesting 26 day cruise from French Polynesia through the Panama Canal to Florida. The itinerary was excellent, particularly enjoyable being the cruise around Pitcairn Island, when a number of the island's 57 inhabitants came aboard to sell their wares and give a talk about their community, and the visit to Easter Island. We then proceded to S America, with visits to Peru and Ecuador. Excursions were available to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Although we did not participate in these, those who did gave good reports. The Panama Canal transit was very interesting as were the visits to San Blas Islands and Costa Rica.

This was our fifteenth cruise, the seventh with Princess Cruises. The cabin accommodation was excellent. I have to say we prefer bigger ships as we found the facilities and provision of activities rather limited, especially as there were fourteen "sea-days". An otherwise good cruise was spoilt for us by the overall dining experience which we considered poor with the worst food we have had on any cruise. Particularly disappointing were the Christmas and New Year's Eve menus which were no different to those of any other day.
Quality of Food1
Entertainment2
Shore Excursions3
Although the excursions were in general good, the service provided by the onboard excursion staff left much to be desired
Staff4
Waiting and cabin staff excellent
Children's Facilitiesn/a
Onboard Activities1
Very limited
Cabins5
Overall Rating2
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Opinion: Agree Comment by Lloyd-Evans, Aberystwyth (30 Jan 08 19:02) about this REVIEW.
Wilf and I went on this relocation cruise because of the superb itinerary, which is just as well as I have to agree with Donald, the food was mediocre at the best of times and there were many complaints about the quality of the food. Needless to say the serving staff were totally demoralised, especially when 160 ducks were sent back in one sitting! Another complaint was the entertainment which ranged from dismal to appalling. On board activities complemented the ceramic painting. How many mugs/plates/tiles did one want to paint? I thought we were going to be offered basket weaving next! The night time entertainment was just as bad. During the 26 days of the cruise there were only four acts that earned genuine applause (and in two instances a standing ovation). Needless to say these fine acts only appeared once. For the rest of the time we were subjected to mundane performers and the Pacific Princess singers and dancers (whose first major production was entitled Shake, Rattle and Roll, in reality it should have been called Shake, Cackle and Bawl). As I said in the beginning it was the itinerary that drew us to this cruise, and it did not disappoint. We went to Macchu Pichu, not with Princess cruises as we could't afford their prices, but with Lima Tours. There were just the two of us with Roger our guide, Princess tour groups were 25 to one guide! We paid less than half the Princess price and received a personalised tour. I appreciate this review sounds like a moan from start to finish but believe it or not Wilf and I enjoyed the cruise. At the end of the day a cruise or any holiday for that matter is what you make of it and for us the pleasure of interacting with a boatload of interesting people, whether they were cruisers or crew, more than made up for the atrocious food and entertainment. I only hope Princess Cruises read the customer reviews and take action to repair their tarnished crown.
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