Golden Princess P305 on Deck 5

I'm so excited that we have been upgraded for our cruise to Alaska on the Golden Princess next month. In looking at the deck layout on the ship -- our cabin is right across from the elevators. I am soooo disappointed... Has anyone stayed in this cabin? Our TA says we really won't be able to hear anything. She say it's a great room location midship and one she would pick for herself. Would love to from others who have been located close to a bank of elevators. Thanks.

The elevator noise in general is minimal. You may hear chattering pax on some occasions, but it is not any more intrusive than the groups that talk all the way down the hallway as they go by your door. The better news is that you are on the lowest passenger deck by the forward elevators. Those will be little used. Most people will exit their room and head aft to the Piazza area. Even if they need to head up a few decks, many will use the central elevator bank. The only ones using the forward bank tend to be folks heading to the Spa or Theater, but that is only a few rooms on Plaza deck. Really, those elevators are probably the least used on any deck on the ship[.

Thank you so much for posting a response.

I was just in P305 on the Sapphire and, no joke, it was one of the best cabins I've ever had. The location is fantastic - you'll have no elevator noise, in part because there is part of the art gallery across from you giving you and extra wall to bounce and absorb noise.

Being only a partial stateroom floor, you'll find very little hallway traffic and door slamming. Your location is just steps to the international cafe, vines, the piazza, the internet cafe, and the anytime dining room, though even with the loudest band or party in the Piazza, you won't hear them in your room or even in the hallway.

You're a fast elevator ride to the spa, the lotus pool, the sanctuary and the top deck burger and pizza joints, and you can trot up a single flight of stairs to hit the Princess Theater, the cigar bar, passenger services or the shops.

Even better, since the drydock last year, all you have above you are the window suites and not the casino as on the Sapphire or on the Golden pre-drydock.

Being down so low, the ship's motion is much reduced in rocky seas.

The only noise issue I had on the Sapphire was the bow thrusters when the ship is entering or leaving port. It wasn't loud and intrusive, but you could hear when they went on. We didn't have any stabilizer noise and the two times we were at anchor, we barely hear the drop anchor - you would notice that more if you were further forward.

You're window will be right over the forward gangway so if you are docked or tendered on that side, you will have some people noise when in port, but, on the upside, it does make leaving and re-boarding quick and easy.

I would take P305 again in a flash, especially on a ship with an International Cafe. Yum!

I'm so excited that we have been upgraded for our cruise to Alaska on the Golden Princess next month. In looking at the deck layout on the ship -- our cabin is right across from the elevators. I am soooo disappointed... Has anyone stayed in this cabin? Our TA says we really won't be able to hear anything. She say it's a great room location midship and one she would pick for herself. Would love to from others who have been located close to a bank of elevators. Thanks.

Funny you should ask. We recently returned from Hawaii cruise on the Golden, and had friends who had been upgraded to P-334. I swear, the cabin was haunted. They endured, sloshing, guggling like the old sea hunt show. They called Pass. Svs..ship was filled so they were given earplugs...It was a 14 day druise and they got used to the noise BUT on the 10th or so day, in addition to the sea sounds, they could hear the creaking of what was believed to be the stabilizers. Due to a death, they were able to be moved to another cabin at 4 am, after they had threatened to move there blankies and pillows up to the indoor pool to sleep. Moral of the story is: don't take an upgrade, or book a cabin, unless you know what you will be sleeping over..my guess is they were either over waste water or the clean water storage area.

Funny you should ask. We recently returned from Hawaii cruise on the Golden, and had friends who had been upgraded to P-334. I swear, the cabin was haunted. They endured, sloshing, guggling like the old sea hunt show. They called Pass. Svs..ship was filled so they were given earplugs...It was a 14 day druise and they got used to the noise BUT on the 10th or so day, in addition to the sea sounds, they could hear the creaking of what was believed to be the stabilizers. Due to a death, they were able to be moved to another cabin at 4 am, after they had threatened to move there blankies and pillows up to the indoor pool to sleep. Moral of the story is: don't take an upgrade, or book a cabin, unless you know what you will be sleeping over..my guess is they were either over waste water or the clean water storage area.

Just out of curiosity, what cabin were your friends moved to?:eek:

We were on the Golden on the Emerald Deck but wouldn't hesitate to book a room by the elevators on the Plaza deck. You really won't have any more noise than anywhere else on that ship. Our room was next to the elevators midship and never heard a sound from either the elevators or pax passing by our room to the elevators. It was an extremely relaxing cruise and love the staff on that ship....at least the crew that was onboard last year. We met a couple staying near the art gallery and visited their room -- I would have taken it in a heartbeat...nothing wrong with it at all.

I do agree about doing your homework, though, when it comes to choosing a room. Only had one bad one in 32 cruises -- a balcony room on the Crown that was located right under the Trident Grill. Yowsa ...it was noisy 24/7 with all the pax walking overhead. I would have gladly traded it for an inside cabin on the Plaza deck had we been given that offer.

Just out of curiosity, what cabin were your friends moved to?:eek:

I just remember it was an outside, midship on deck 8.

We've been in cabins in various areas throughout the ship and the ones close to the elevators never bothered us. The absolute worst cabin is a mini-suite we had directly across from where the staff gathered each morning to collect their carts, cleaning supplies, etc., and the noise was just awful! It's not a pretty sight to see me in my pj's flinging open the door with a wild look and cranky face begging them to be quiet!

I'm so excited that we have been upgraded for our cruise to Alaska on the Golden Princess next month. In looking at the deck layout on the ship -- our cabin is right across from the elevators. I am soooo disappointed... Has anyone stayed in this cabin? Our TA says we really won't be able to hear anything. She say it's a great room location midship and one she would pick for herself. Would love to from others who have been located close to a bank of elevators. Thanks.

My husband and I were on a 3-night cruise on RCI's Monarch of the Seas 2 years ago. We were pleased to learn that we had been upgraded to a Jr. Suite - but concerned once we realized that it was right next to the elevator bank. It turned out to be a total non-issue! In fact - we'll be on the Sapphire (to Alaska) in a few weeks and intentionally chose an oceanview cabin on the Plaza deck directly across from the elevators! Enjoy your trip!

We often stay in the accessible cabins next to the elevators. The location is fabulous and I have never had an issue with noise.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience and thoughts! I feel so much better now and can hardly stand the anticipation!! :D

Enjoy your upgrade!:)

We were on Golden last summer on deck 5, right near the elevators. (P303 I think, but cant be sure!) Honestly, we had no problem with noise at all and found the location really convenient and very quiet! Would have no hesitation in booking cabin in that location again.

We were on Golden last summer on deck 5, right near the elevators. (P303 I think, but cant be sure!) Honestly, we had no problem with noise at all and found the location really convenient and very quiet! Would have no hesitation in booking cabin in that location again.

Great to hear! We'll be on the Sapphire very soon in P303! Honestly - this is our first oceanview (we've only had balconies before) - and how we'll all adjust to that concerns me much more than our proximity to the elevators! ;)

Great to hear! We'll be on the Sapphire very soon in P303! Honestly - this is our first oceanview (we've only had balconies before) - and how we'll all adjust to that concerns me much more than our proximity to the elevators! ;)

We are on Emerald in August in a balcony so maybe then I'll be able to make a fair comparison!:rolleyes: having said that, just having an ocean view was enough for us, we didnt spend that much time in our cabin, it was our first cruise and we were totally blown away!:)

We book both and can certainly live with an ocean view for 4 to 7 days quite well. I also see that you are going to Alaska next month, I always feel that with Alsaka your use of the balcony is very much limited by the weather and of course there are not a lot of sea days...so I am sure you will make out just fine. The location of the cabin should be quiet.

. I also see that you are going to Alaska next month, I always feel that with Alsaka your use of the balcony is very much limited by the weather

Just came back from the Alaska run on the Golden in #305, but further up in a balcony cabin. We spent lots of time on the balcony, especially on "Glacier Day" when it's the coldest. We were in shirtsleeves some days, windbreakers other days, and it was great! There is so much more to see on this itinerary between ports than others where you sail out beyond view of shore until it's time to dock.

So if you are inside for the Alaska run, you will want to find places to view along the way. Without a balcony cabin, I'd probably stake out a sofa or comfy chair up in Skywalkers during the day when it is mostly deserted. The stern is another great place to go to see the incredible coastline and snow covered mountains, and there is a pool and a bar back there. You won't find a crowd until the day you cruise past the glaciers.

As to elevator noise, which began this thread, we heard NOTHING, either from the elevators or the hallway. Can't speak for the Promenade deck level, but the rooms are pretty insulated.

Have a great cruise and enjoy the scenery. It is awesome. You will want to spring for balcony next time!:D

In addition to what has already been said, you don't have to wait to get an elevator when returning from an excursion or after the Princess Theater lets out. Almost everyone is going up, and if you can't walk the stairs down one deck, then there's never a wait for the down elevator.

Plaza is our favorite deck...where else can you have large waves wash over your window and clean it off! It is really close to the action, and we try for it whenever we can.

Another vote for the Plaza deck cabins. Easy access to the gangways (just one deck down), Piazza, forward elevators, etc. We have had P301 on the larger Princess ships and it's one of our favorite cabins. No elevator noise at all - the elevator lobby is more removed than you think from the cabin hallway, and there is the added noise buffer of the Art Gallery near some of the Plaza cabins. Enjoy, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the convenience of this location.

We booked the Star for a transatlantic in Dec. with a guarantee cabin with obscured ocean view. We have been assigned Plaza 301. We are thrilled about this as no obstruction on Plaza Deck and the location as others have stated is great. I Have been on Plaza twice before and love the location and would never object to it. PAT CC