Golden Princess Window Suites -- still smokey? Loud?

[kath00]

Hi all,

 

We are thinking of booking one of these rooms for a short cruise next year. I read lots of reviews from 2011 saying that there was a strong smoke smell from the casino right above.

 

I am concerned because my DD has asthma. Is it still smokey? Also, is it loud since it's right next to the main atrium (and the casino is RIGHT above the rooms)?

 

Any recent stays/comments about this area of the ship would be much appreciated.

 

Kath

[Working 2 Cruise]

Those cabins are right next to Churchill's Bar so you will probably smell smoke on your way to your cabin.

[Carolyn R]

The WS setup is the same as on the Caribbean Princess. The only time there was any hint of smoke was in the WS corridor when the forward door was left open for the convenience of the steward and service personnel. I was in 301 right next to said door and quickly discovered a button on the wall in the passageway to close the door. Never was smelling smoke in the cabin an issue.

[Once Upon A Time]

Have sailed in Window Suites on the Golden 3 times.. never smelled smoke or heard any noise. There is a door to the main corridor mid-way down the WS hallway.. we were located across from that door and it is rarely opened since it has no markings of any kind on it. If you open that door and access the main corridor, you are directly in front of an area that houses the Shore Excursion Office, Future Cruise Consultant, Capt. Circle Office and the Crown Grill. The WS cabins seem well insulated from public areas and I've always felt they were quiet and very private.

[Mikeyto]

I was in F300 on the Golden in August. I agree with previous posters, the only time you smell smoke is in the public hallway going to your cabin or if the door leading to the WS cabin hallway is open. We enjoyed our time in the WS cabins and would book them again, especially for Alaska.

[highheel girl]

Hi all,

 

We are thinking of booking one of these rooms for a short cruise next year. I read lots of reviews from 2011 saying that there was a strong smoke smell from the casino right above.

 

I am concerned because my DD has asthma. Is it still smokey? Also, is it loud since it's right next to the main atrium (and the casino is RIGHT above the rooms)?

 

Any recent stays/comments about this area of the ship would be much appreciated.

 

Kath

 

 

Nothing has changed as far as WS surroundings so I would think that the issues could still exist.

[aikensbest]

Nothing has changed as far as WS surroundings so I would think that the issues could still exist.

 

I am confused. What issues? I stayed in F309, had absolutely no issues with smoke or anything else. My wife is extremely sensitive to smoke.can become deathly ill....and we had no issues. We found the suite to be a wonderful experience. I would recommend them except in the caribean.

[highheel girl]

I am confused. What issues? I stayed in F309, had absolutely no issues with smoke or anything else. My wife is extremely sensitive to smoke.can become deathly ill....and we had no issues. We found the suite to be a wonderful experience. I would recommend them except in the caribean.

 

The issues that the OP read in reviews.

Whats good for one may not be good for another.

Hence reviews.

[IECalCruiser]

Nothing has changed as far as WS surroundings so I would think that the issues could still exist.

The issues that the OP read in reviews.

Whats good for one may not be good for another.

Hence reviews.

If you haven't stayed in a WS on the Golden or the Caribbean, you should really not post issues regarding smoke or noise in the WS. Those posts might have been from people who stayed in WS on the Grand. The Casino on the Grand is on the same floor and separated only by a hallway from the WS. Doorways to the Casino are next to the doorways to access the hallway to the WS. There may be noise from the Casino and smoke coming from the doorways on the Grand. We have a WS booked for a 10 day Mexico cruise on the Grand in March of 2014. I am personally not expecting any problem.

 

We have stayed in a WS on the Golden which has the same layout as the Caribbean. The Casino is one floor above and there is ABSOLUTELY no smoke that comes through the deck from the Casino. Half of each cabin (where the bed is) is actually under the Promenade deck outside walkway. We had no issue with noise, even from early morning joggers. We were on an Alaskan cruise and that might be more of an issue with warm weather cruises. As others have mentioned, if the aft doorway is left open by the steward on any of the three ships, smoke smell from Cigar Bar can noticed in the hallway. On the Golden and the Caribbean there is a middle door to access the hallway and our steward left that door open when he was working on the rooms. That kept the aft door closed. I am quite sensitive to smoke and it was an issue for me on the Golden and it should not be an issue on the Caribbean.

[Cruisin' Chick]

The first time I was on the Golden (December 2010) and exploring the ship, we did feel there was a strong tobacco smell in the hallway where the cabins were. I told my hubby that when I was looking at what cabins were available when we were booking, there was just a few OOVs and the WSs left. We had booked an obstructed ocean view because of the lower fare (a few thousand dollars per person less), but as I was checking the deck plans, I noticed the proximity of the window suites to Churchills. Hubby and I definitely would have avoided these, even if they were the same rate, just because of their location. And were especially glad after we got confirmation that we would have been having to hold our noses in the hallway.

 

This time around, we were booking the Golden just before final payment and I noticed that the window suites were the only category available. I put us down for waitlists for the inside and OV categories, and eventually booked an aft inside on the Aloha deck. We didn't go to the deck where the WSs are, but every time we were going to the Princess Theater, and ended up walking through the casino, whether or not it was non-smoking or smoking nights, there was that stale smell that I absolutely hate. I'm guessing that with the more stricter smoking policies onboard, those areas that do allow smoking will be even more smokier, and that smell lingering.

 

So if someone asks me if they should book that category on the Golden and they don't care for that smell or have asthma, I would suggest they look at other categories of cabins. Hopefully the cabins themselves are fine since passengers aren't supposed to smoke in them, but why risk dealing with this in your hallway if this is a concern.

[kath00]

 

So if someone asks me if they should book that category on the Golden and they don't care for that smell or have asthma' date=' I would suggest they look at other categories of cabins. Hopefully the cabins themselves are fine since passengers aren't supposed to smoke in them, but why risk dealing with this in your hallway if this is a concern.[/quote']

 

Thank you for all of the responses. We decided not to book this category after doing more research and based on the comments above, and because I think we'd still like to have a balcony door to open (at least for fresh air, if not to step out). If those big windows opened, we'd be as happy as can be....

 

Kath