Supplement to Travel Trade
October 2001

Golden Princess:

Multiple Choices for Passengers

By Ethel Blum

Is bigger better? Most of the 3,330 passengers on the fourth voyage of the Golden Princess sounded a rousing YES! During this 12-day cruise from Istanbul to Barcelona, we visited eight ports - and the Golden Princess was by far the largest ship in every port.

The sheer size and abundance of amenities and activities rival the busiest resort. On the third day of the cruise, a passenger gushed, "Isn't this the most fabulous hotel you've ever been in?" I, too, was hard pressed to remember that we were on a ship sailing the Mediterranean and our next port of call would be Athens.

An almost mirror twin of her slightly older sister, Grand Princess, the Golden Princess weighs in at a hefty 109,000 tons. But even identical twins have subtle differences, and some not so subtle.

Noticeable on embarkation is the change in the lobby. The single staircase that sweeps into the lobby on the Grand has been replaced by two gracious glass baluster edged marble staircases, each dividing into two sets of stairs leading to the four levels of the atrium.

Princess Cruises' Personal Choice took this slightly jaded repeat cruiser through a new experience. In my unofficial and very limited survey among the more than 3,000 passengers on board, about 80% gave Personal Choice a solid 10. The dissenters were veteran cruisers in the over 60-years old age bracket who preferred the "old way."

Personal Choice starts at check-in where lines have been eliminated by a pre-boarding system. Cruise cards and identification move swiftly.

Detailed shore excursion books are sent to passengers with documentation and they are encouraged to pre-book by telephone, mail or on the Internet, so there were no lines at shore excursion desks.

Even debarkation is seamless. Passengers depart according to flight schedules and those on late afternoon flights are invited to lunch on board. Independent travelers are free to disembark at will.

When it comes to dining in general, Personal Choice leaves it entirely up to the passenger, a departure from regimented seating times and places. It's a "what you want, when you want and with whomever you want" atmosphere.

The three European-style dining rooms are basically the same in size and décor and menus are identical. Passengers are encouraged to select traditional first or second seatings or Personal Choice, which allows them to change table partners or dine alone at different hours nightly.

Once on board, it was interesting to note that passengers switched original dining choices. Families and groups traveling together tended to change to traditional dining, while independents gave up assigned tables and went for Personal Choice.

Since we did not make a dining choice prior to embarkation, we were assigned a second seating table for two in the Canaletto Dining Room.

Embarkation was in Istanbul, so we checked-in, left our luggage and headed to the Covered Bazaar. We returned to the ship about 6 p.m., unpacked and settled in. Room service provided a snack so we didn't think about dinner until almost 10 p.m. That was about an hour after our assigned dining room closed, so we opted for the Donatello Dining Room where the Maitre 'd asked us to wait a few minutes.

He returned and escorted us one deck down to the Bernini Dining Room, which could accommodate us immediately at a table for two. We were also late to dinner on the following night, so we dined in Donatello.

On the third day, we received a call from the Maitre d' in our assigned dining room, telling us that he had a table for us and several bottles of wine that had been sent by friends. So, the third night found us at our assigned table in Canaletto.

Menus are the same in all three restaurants, but Canaletto became our restaurant of choice. Our waiter was quick to learn our likes and dislikes and drink preferences, so except for the two optional restaurants and one late evening in Venice, we stayed with our assigned tables and service persons. But, it was nice to know that the choice was ours.

Knowing that you never have to rush for dinner adds a lot to a relaxing vacation. At the open dining restaurants, there were virtually no lines. We never waited for more than 10 minutes for a table for two and large parties of eight and 10 were seated within the same time frame. Personal Choice is also available on the Grand, Sun, Dawn, Sea and Ocean Princess.

Freedom of Choice also extends to shipboard activities. There was so much going on, it was hard to make a decision.

Although I have sailed the Grand Princess, software changes made sailing the Golden Princess a new experience. At first blush, the vessel, even for veteran cruisers, is overwhelming and it takes a couple of days to find your way around. Yet, passengers do not find the size intimidating.

Golden Princess provides the attention to detail and service of smaller ships and the menu of choices only a large ship can offer. Credit goes to the design, which creates small spaces within larger areas resulting in a feeling of intimacy.

The ship introduced the industry's first AOL Internet Café, featuring 25 computer stations with access to a number of AOL Internet products and features. Charge is $7.50 for 15 minutes, although the facilities are not currently available on a 24-hour basis.

Princess' wedding-at-sea program has been expanded with addition of a Wedding Cam in the chapel. "Virtual" wedding guests can view the ceremony on their computers at home. Live images update every 60 seconds on Princess' Web site. During our cruise there were six weddings and the number goes up on Caribbean sailings. Yes, the weddings are legal. The ship is registered in Bermuda and the captain is authorized to officiate.

If I had to sum up a Golden (or Grand) Princess cruise experience, I would have to say that it's a matter of choices. See a Broadway show or a cabaret act. Disco until dawn or dine alone in your cabin. Dress to the nines for the Captain's Dinner or stay in your jeans and eat Mexican food in the Desert Rose. Color-wise, the Golden Princess is a little lighter with more peach and mauves, mixed textures and woods ranging from light to very dark. Like the Grand, each area has its own personality and ambience.

Throughout the ship, mixed with the marvelous rich woods in all hues and tones, are rare marbles and granite, etched glass and mirrors, polished brass and glass balustrades, graceful staircases, wide elevator lobbies and exquisite works of art. Design motifs in carpeting and art explore the ocean depths.

There are sculptures at the pools and fish tanks in other outdoor/indoor areas.

Throughout the ship, mixed with the marvelous rich woods in all hues and tones, are rare marbles and granite, etched glass and mirrors, polished brass and glass balustrades, graceful staircases, wide elevator lobbies and exquisite works of art. Design motifs in carpeting and art explore the ocean depths.

There are sculptures at the pools and fish tanks in other outdoor/indoor areas.

Fiesta Deck (6) is anchored forward by the showroom and aft by the Donatello and Canaletto dining rooms, separated by the huge galley serving all three restaurants. Towards midship, there are shops, the Atlantis Casino and the lower level of the Princess Theater.

Deck 7 is the location of my favorite room, the Wheelhouse Bar, a carry-over from other Princess ships, with maritime memorabilia, '50s and '60s dance music and low key camaraderie. Next door is Sabatini Trattoria with a casual Italian dining theme.

Aft is the Princess Theater, intended as a traditional show lounge, but anything but traditional with its individual theater seating and huge stage which requires five decks to accommodate the lighting and accessories for massive productions.

On Lido Deck, the café opens to the middle deck pool area, which is adjacent to the Magradome area (with a pool featuring a cover that slides into place during inclement weather and evenings, when it becomes a dining and dance area). This, in turn, is adjacent to the open pool and health club. The result is four specific areas related to each other rather than one large impersonal space.

No one will ever experience hunger pangs on board. You can eat around the clock: in your cabin, on deck or in the various dining rooms. And, should hunger strike at 4 a.m., there's the 24-hour bistro or room service.

Both alternative restaurants require reservations and have additional charges: $8 for Desert Rose, the California-Tex-Mex style eatery with a dance floor and a country music duo, and $15 for the elegant Sabatini Trattoria.

Both are worth twice the price and feature extensive menus. In Sabatini's, the main course is anti-climatic. By the time it arrives, you have been served taste-size portions of every appetizer and starter on the menu. Guests in Sabatini use the evening as a special event and dress up for the occasion.

Desert Rose is another bargain, in addition to being a fun place to eat. For the $8 charge, you are served a huge margarita while you peruse the menu. Eat from top to bottom, or go for the best steak at sea.

Golden Princess' three main dining rooms are nearly identical. Each is beautifully decorated with works of art, large enough to accommodate tables of from two to 10, and subdivided into intimate alcoves raised or separated by sculpted half walls.

Menus are extensive. Caviar, lobster and other delicacies are offered a couple of times during a 12-night cruise. Nightly menus offer five entrée choices, plus "light" cuisine and vegetarian dishes. Presentation is picture perfect.

The Horizon Court is divided into four self-serve sections that operate on a 24-hour schedule. Breakfast runs into lunch, lunch runs into snacks, snacks run into dinner and dinner runs into late night supper and so on.

With some 35 cabin categories, Golden Princess presents even more choices. More than 80% of all cabins (710) offer the luxury of private balconies, more than any other ship. Standard balcony cabins have close to 250-square feet of space with balconies built out of the body of the ship, rather than cut into it, to provide more open areas.

Passengers in the 28 suites and 180 mini-suites have two televisions, tubs with showers, upgraded amenities, wine, a refrigerator stocked with soft drinks, a bar with assorted miniatures, plush Frette robes and towels and good-sized private balconies.

All cabins and suites have hair dryers, amenities, refrigerators, robes, private safes and twin beds which can be converted into a queen-size. There are 28 wheelchair accessible cabins ranging from 240- to 385-square feet, that consist of 18 outside and 10 inside cabins. Two Family Suites are made up of two self-contained staterooms that connect through a living room and can sleep up to six or eight. They each have two bathrooms.

Three main show lounges offer a variety of evening entertainment and original shows. The 748-seat Princess Theater was designed to accommodate one-fourth of the passenger manifest, so every performance is shown four times (twice each evening for early and late diners).

The Vista Lounge was designed for cabaret-style entertainment, mini-production shows and late night individual performers and dancing. The Explorers Lounge is still another cabaret.

Entertainment is timed so a show is starting somewhere, music is playing in several places and there's dancing available no matter when you finish dining. Princess enjoys a well-earned reputation for outstanding entertainment, and the program on the Golden Princess enhances that reputation.

The most talked-about entertainment venue is the disco in the sky, the Skywalkers Nightclub. Located on the Sky Deck, it is suspended 150 feet above water and accessed by a moving skywalk. It makes a powerful futuristic statement with state-of-the-art lighting, sound and video. Floor-to-ceiling sloped windows lso make this a quiet room for daytime ocean viewing.

The Golden Princess was designed with families - and kids - in mind. What's touted as the largest children's center afloat has a separate Fun Zone for younger children and Off Limits Teen Center.

One would suspect that passengers get enough exercise just moving from forward aft, but apparently some want more. The one-third mile Promenade Deck is great for most passengers. Those looking for more activity can take advantage of a full range of exercise equipment in the gym. Joggers will find a special running track and courts are available for basketball, tennis or volleyball. There's also a miniature putting course and golf simulators.

The Lotus Spa on the top of the ship has a completely equipped workout room, its own lap pool, whirlpool spas, steam room and sauna, aerobics room and juice bar as well as hair and specialty massage rooms. The Golden Princess is the only ship that offers Pilates, the latest exercise craze.

Golden Princess continues the company's pioneering role in the development of cruise ship telemedicine. Its hospital features a direct link between the ship's medical staff and the emergency departments of two major hospitals. Through a live two-way video link, doctors at the hospital are able to see x-rays and consult with the ship's doctor.

With all the Golden Princess has to offer, there are a few things you won't find on board, some I habitually look for on Princess ships.

You won't find an indoor pizzeria, although there are three pizza ovens on board. Instead, opt for the outdoor pizzeria or pizza offered almost around the clock in the Lido or eat the best pizza this side of Italy at Sabatini's.

You won't find a Hotel Manager or a Chief Purser. The title is now "Passenger Services Director".

You won't find free ice cream, except in dining rooms. There's a Haagan Dazs kiosk offering such treats as ice cream cones for $1.95.

You won't find envelopes for gratuities on the last day at sea. You can get them at the Information Desk, but the ship offers a system of adding $5 per day per person to ship accounts to cover waiters.

Passengers tip room stewards directly. The usual 15% is added to all bar tabs. About 50 passengers per voyage request that tips be removed from their accounts and prefer to handle their own gratuities.

You won't find a recommendation for "informal" dress on any evening. On a 12-night cruise, recommendations were "formal" for two nights, "casual" for four nights and "resort casual" for other nights. However, it was hard to note a difference between casual and resort casual. This was a no jacket, no tie crowd, except for traditionalists who showed up in jackets and ties every night. I guess that's what Personal Choice is all about.

Golden Princess spent her inaugural summer sailing 12-day voyages between Barcelona and Istanbul. She repositions in the fall to Port Everglades for one week cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, returning to her successful European program in late April 2002.