Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

My week on the Grand 3/17 to 3/24

lovezepplin

By lovezepplin,
in Princess Cruises

Recommended Posts

lovezepplin

lovezepplin

Posted
Posted

It was a beautiful week all around, sunny with nice breeze and calm seas. The ship is in great shape for being 14 years old. Showing a little wear in the ususal places but not enough to take away from her elegance.

so, let's get on with it:

 

GETTING ON: There were at lease 8 mega-ships in port and traffic was non stop but the port authorities did a terrific job of managing it and getting people moving quickly. Arrival 12:30 - in our Suite 12:45.

 

STRAP ON THE FOOD BAG: Had lunch in the MDR and never set foot inside the place again since we didn't feel like getting dressed up every night. We did have dinner Tuesday night in the new Crown Grill. First time we have ever been to a speciality venue and the food was wonderful. They grill your steaks to perfection and I would recommend trying the Hawaiian salt seasoning (in small amounts) as it really enhanced the flavor of the meat. The Lobster tail was a meal in itself.

The Horizon Court has a new layout which manages the people-flow in a more orderly way - deserts have their own station. Food was good most of the time depending on your personal taste. They had theme selections each day like German, Asian, Mexican etc. Wanted a Taco but they ran out of ground beef and when looking for a table I saw why. People had their plates piled with 5 or 6 tacos at a time and ended up leaving 1 or 2 behind - OINK OINK OINK. What a waste - start small and go back for seconds but don't waste it just because you "paid" for it.

 

The new International Cafe was a hit. All kinds of yummy selections but my favorite was the little cupcakes - different flavors each day and the cookies were soft and warm to melt in your mouth. Didn't try Alfredo's Pizza but it was available untill around 11 pm with no charge.

 

Vines is a big waste of space - located right next to the Internet Cafe. I never saw anyone using the place and most of the time the tables in front were used to watch the entertainment. The Leaves tea room is combined with the Library and the selections are not cheap. Bring your own bags if you drink several cups a day.

 

THE SHOW MUST GO ON: Entertainment was AWESOME - Rick Novell was the best by far along with other comediens. Street entertainers were good and ranged from soft string instruments, guitar players, juggles and comics and demonstrations.

 

LETS LOOSE OUR MONEY: The Casino has a new design but the machines still take your money - some things never change. It is a smokers paradise and most people walked past the library to get to the theater instead of walking thru the smoke. They did have one night of smoke free and I was really suprised at the great job they did of getting rid of the stench. Place was crowded and if you found a slot machine, you stayed with it until you were done for the night or it would be snatched up.

 

GET A ROOM: We had AFT suite D736 and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. The balcony was very large and easily accomated 2 full size loungers with a drink table and a full size round table and 4 chairs - the seating was all padded and the furniture was wood and showing a bit of wear and tear. The floor consisted of the same decking material as the Promenade deck.

The fabrics and carpet in the suite is very soft and muted and was in very good condition. The down side of this room is the motion of the ship when the ship is going full ahead.

 

MUTS: A big bust (folks, this is just my opinion based on my personal taste in movies) The only movie I wanted to see, Puss In Boots, was only on once, at 10 am with the sun shining on the screen and the volume turned down - that sucked.

 

DRINKS ON THE HOUSE: Well, no they aren't unless you buy a Coffee Card, Soda Card or the Ultimate Drink Card. These are great deals IF you can consume vast amounts. The mock-tails and milk shakes will fill you up after one full glass and the soda will keep your bladder active and you running for the nearest bathroom.

 

KEEP IT CLEAN: The crew was very visable around the ship when it came to cleaning - they used some strong solution to wipe down the surfaces and there was no indication of any sickness on board - reminders to wash hands and use sanitizer in between washing went a long way in preventing an outbreak. Great job from the cleaning crew. There was one incident outside the Vista Lounge at the end of the Captain's Circle cocktail party. Someone must have had one too many and with the huge waves that night (yea mon, she was rockin') he/she tossed their cookies all over the door leading out to the Promenade deck and all over the floor. Enter the cleaners - complete in their white Tyvek haz-mat suits and surgical masks and heavy duty gloves up to the elbows - the used the same techniques as the crime scene cleaners do - very impressive - they got the job done quickly and sanitized the area.

 

WHATEVER IT TAKES: The staff does a great job of trying to keep everyone happy but there are always a few that get that "feeling of entitlement" once they board knowing full well that the staff will just suck it up. I was in the Suite/Elite line at the service desk and the man in front of me was complaining and blathering on about his inside cabin bed - he had a queen bed and complained about sharing it with his wife and that it was their fault for not putting the bed in twin configuration. He was Elite and they should have known from his previous sailings how he liked his sleeping arrangements. Get a life mister! Than there was a lady who hated the long wait for the elevators, especially during peak hours. She told her companions that she was going to personally discuss this problem with the CEO of Princess and demand that one elevator on each secion of the ship be dedicated to Elite passengers only because they are loyal customers - talk about a snob.

 

OFF WE GO: Sat in the Vista Lounge until our color and number were called, which was around 8:30 and stood in line for 45 minutes waiting for the bus to airport. The process they use is very efficient without making one feel like they are being loaded into a cattle car.

 

Overall, we had a wonderful week on the Grand (our 4th or 5th time) and look forward to sailing again in the near future.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Griller

Griller

Posted
Posted

So sorry you have a problem with these pesky Elite passengers, we are such a nuisance. Doesn't seem like they actually adversely affected your cruise enjoyment though, and also gave you someone to complain about on CC.

Now you can do just like you said, Get a life.

 

You never went to the main dining room because you didn't want to dress up?

 

That would really be only on the formal nights, unless you want to wear a bathrobe to eat, that wouldn't be good in the MDR even for breakfast or lunch.

 

On nights other than formal pretty much anything goes except baseball caps and shorts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lovezepplin

lovezepplin

Posted
  • Author
Posted
So sorry you have a problem with these pesky Elite passengers, we are such a nuisance. Doesn't seem like they actually adversely affected your cruise enjoyment though, and also gave you someone to complain about on CC.

Now you can do just like you said, Get a life.

 

You never went to the main dining room because you didn't want to dress up?

 

That would really be only on the formal nights, unless you want to wear a bathrobe to eat, that wouldn't be good in the MDR even for breakfast or lunch.

 

On nights other than formal pretty much anything goes except baseball caps and shorts.

 

Griller, I didn't post this review to be insulted. I DO NOT have a problem with Elite or any other passenger, I was NOT complaining about them, I was retelling the conversation of WHAT I HEARD BY STANDING BEHIND THE DUDE as well as the woman and her companions at the main elevators. I would find their complaints pesky if they were holding a blue cruise card. As to your comment about the MDR, must I remind you that this was MY vacation and can choose whatever dining venue I like and dress accordingly. Good thing Sabatini's breakfast didn't have a dress code or I wouldn't have eaten there either. As to formal night, I would say that it looked to be about 70-40 ratio, the Horizon court was far from empty.

 

And yes, any person who feels they are above riding the elevator with anyone other than Elite passengers needs to get a clue and a life.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lovezepplin

lovezepplin

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Thanks for the great review! The wife and I will be in D736 next week (31st). :) We have been follwing your thread all week.

 

Anything you could tell us about the room steward would be appreciated.

 

He was very quiet and stayed out of sight. I think he may be new because he forgot to leave wash cloths for the shower and never left us the MDR menu so we could order in and eat on our balcony. He kept the suite spotless and only asked us to put that little marker in the door slot so he would know when he could come in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
lovevacadays

lovevacadays

Posted
Posted

Thanks for your review. I had to laugh about the elite passenger who wants a dedicated elevator for elite guests. Too funny! I guess they would also have to have someone stand their 24/7 to check cruise cards to insure everyone's elite status.:eek:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kywildcatfanone

kywildcatfanone

Posted
Posted
Is the MDR now open for lunch on embarkation day on Princess, we've only been able to go to MDR on NCL. Princess always made us go to buffett?

 

There is a dining room open for lunch on embarkation day, but they try to steer you to the buffet area most of the time. If you just ask, someone will direct you. The last time we did lunch in the MDR it was the Michaelangelo dining room, but I'm sure it can be different. I think it's only open till 1:30 or 2pm, so you have to get there before they close.

 

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Griller

Griller

Posted
Posted
Thanks for your review. I had to laugh about the elite passenger who wants a dedicated elevator for elite guests. Too funny! I guess they would also have to have someone stand their 24/7 to check cruise cards to insure everyone's elite status.:eek:

 

Some cruise lines have elevators which are used to go to restricted decks,, they have card slots where the entitled passenger inserts their keycard and then may access the particular deck they require.

I believe I have seen card slots in Princess elevators. So it would not require a crew member standing there.

However on my most recent cruise on Golden one of the aft elevators was used at dinner times exclusively between decks 6 and 7 for handicapped passengers to access the dining room.

And there was an attendant in the elevator who restricted the use.

 

This left just one elevator which allowed access to Skywalkers which wasn't really enough during the Elite lounge hours, you could wait 15 minutes sometimes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Crzn-Life

Crzn-Life

Posted
Posted

We were also on the 3/17-24 cruise and have to agree it was a nice cruise. Interestingly, we did the MDR and did not go to the buffet at all. The buffet just isn't our thing. That's one of the things about cruising these days...there are a variety of food venues so that everyone should be able to find what they like. We went to Sabatini's and enjoyed that, but didn't go to the Crown.

 

The major portion of the casino was for smokers and there were definitely a lot of them. However, smoking isn't allowed at the tables which was really nice. The non-smoking slot area is in the back and is quite small compared to the slot area for smokers and it has the oldest machines!!!

 

Sadly it made no difference whether I was in the smoking or non-smoking slot area...all those pesky machines took my money and gave little in return.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dunelm

Dunelm

Posted
Posted
So sorry you have a problem with these pesky Elite passengers, we are such a nuisance. Doesn't seem like they actually adversely affected your cruise enjoyment though, and also gave you someone to complain about on CC.

Now you can do just like you said, Get a life.

 

You never went to the main dining room because you didn't want to dress up?

 

That would really be only on the formal nights, unless you want to wear a bathrobe to eat, that wouldn't be good in the MDR even for breakfast or lunch.

 

On nights other than formal pretty much anything goes except baseball caps and shorts.

 

I thought the review was wonderful, and am just sorry that you obviously did not!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...