Cruise Diva's CRUISE DIARY
~ Golden Princess Canada & New England ~
Part Five
Debarkation—Sunday
 |
|
A memorable
demonstration of culinary arts—the galley staff participates
in ScholarShip@Sea
|
Back in New York, we were somewhat delayed by U.S. Customs, but
our departure moved much more swiftly than check-in just one week
prior. Ruled by Immigration and Customs officials, Princess, like
other cruise lines, has little control over timing; however, after
clearance, passengers with early flights were called.
Once documents were checked, porters were on hand to assist with
luggage, and I was on my transfer bus to the airport.
Something Special
I had the opportunity to sail both on Grand Princess and Golden
Princess within just a few weeks. My first impression upon boarding
Golden Princess was that her decor appeared a bit bolder and richer
than her predecessor. After a week, the similarities were more
obvious than their differences. Golden Princess has a clear edge on
Fiesta Deck with a warmer and more inviting Promenade Bar and her
atrium's twin sweeping staircases are more convenient and improve
passenger flow.
Whether you pick Grand Princess, Golden Princess, their
grand-class fleet mates, Star Princess and Caribbean Princess, or
any other vessel in the fleet, you will find Princess Cruises'
hallmark amenities and trademark Big ship choice, Small ship feel.
In particular, grand-class ships offer an abundance of options—three
formal restaurants and seven other dining venues in addition to
24-hour room service; three show rooms offering large scale
production and intimate cabaret style entertainment; a dozen
lounges; state of the art fitness center and spa; and some of the
largest casinos at sea. A future enhancement of the dining
experience is being planned for Golden Princess... Desert Rose's
southwestern fare will be replaced by Sterling Steakhouse.
Must-see tv is the "Morning Show" with your Cruise Director's
description of daily activities, entertainment, and even the
drink-of-the-day. If you are busy at the scheduled time and miss a
tour talk or even the debarkation instructions, those are repeated
on television as well. When it became apparent that there were
many baseball fans on our cruise, the first game of the World
Series was shown on a big screen in Explorer's Lounge as well as in
Player's, the sports bar—a nice touch.
A very detailed tour and port information package was placed in
staterooms prior to embarkation. In addition to descriptions of the
ship's shore excursions and a booking form, the packet included a
sheet for each port with an overview, port highlights, a map, and
other important facts about the availability of shuttles and private
transportation. Very useful, especially for those going ashore
independently.
Princess fosters an onboard culture of hospitality and
friendliness, resulting in a high level of personalized service.
Gratuities for stateroom stewards, waiters, and assistant waiters
are automatically added to onboard accounts on a daily basis at the
rate of $10.00 per person—a convenience for passengers and the
service staff likes the system.
If you go...
What
You WILL Find:
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Pleasant, soothing interior spaces
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Tropical swimming pool environments
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Personal Choice—tailor your cruise to suit your
lifestyle
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Activities and entertainment for all ages that
appeal to a wide range of interests, including the innovative
ScholarShip@Sea
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Five freshwater pools, two for adults only and
one with retractable magrodome
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Delicious meals, creatively presented
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Service by a professional, attentive staff
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Numerous triple and quad staterooms suitable for
families
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Attention to accessibility for the physically
challenged (28 wheelchair staterooms and a wheelchair lift for
the Calypso Pool)
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Duty free shops with a broad assortment of
merchandise
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Internet availability in the Business Center
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A chapel for weddings at sea, renewal of vows,
and religious celebrations
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Large, well-equipped areas for children and
teenagers and age-appropriate youth programs
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Virtual reality and gaming center
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Self-service passenger laundry rooms with
ironing facilities
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Family two-way radio rentals
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Coca-Cola Unlimited Soda Fountain Package for
children and adults, which provide unlimited soft drinks
throughout the cruise for a one-time, flat fee
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A Future Cruise Consultant who will book your
next cruise (pay only a nominal deposit and receive a
shipboard credit)
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Photo processing service
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Fresh flowers for any occasion
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Lotus Spa and Salon operated by Steiner Leisure
What
You WON'T Find:
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Butlers for suite accommodations
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Wine stewards
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Excessive PA announcements, particularly in
staterooms
Fast Stats from the Bridge
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108,865 gross registered tons
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950 feet long
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118 feet wide
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211 feet above the keel
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27 feet draft
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Cruising speed 21 knots
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Top speed 23.4 knots
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1,301 staterooms
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711 balconies & an entire deck of mini-suites
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2,600 guests, double occupancy
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3,300 maximum guest capacity (all berths)
Bon Voyage!
Back to -->
Golden Princess
Cruise Diary Review, Index
Part One
-- Embark in New York and spend a day at sea
Part Two
-- Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John, New Brunswick
Part Three
-- Bar Harbor, Maine and Boston Massachusetts
Part Four
-- Newport, Rhode Island
Illustrations for Cruise Diary: Courtesy of Princess Cruises
& © Author's Collection
Cruise Line Profile -
Princess Cruises
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