Golden Princess Reviews

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Overview Dining Cabins Entertainment Casino Fitness / Recreation Spa Kids Shopping Dress Code Gratuity / Tipping

Overview

Seating over 2,600, The Grand Class features an unprecedented design with some of the most innovative amenities ever found on a cruise ship.

Golden Princess spends most of her time in the sunny Caribbean, sailing from San Juan to ports such as Barbados, Aruba, Grenada, St. Lucia and others. In summer 2005 the ship heads to Europe to offer views of a variety of British and western European ports.

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Dining

Personal Choice Dining In addition to the Fixed Traditional Seating, Princess has cooked up a revolution in cruising called Anytime Dining. This means that you no longer have to appear at a fixed time in the dining room. Instead, the choice of when and where you wish to enjoy their award-winning cuisine is up to you.

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Cabins

Princess offer's deluxe amenities you'd expect from a first class hotel: from 24-hour room service to chocolates on your pillow at night.

Family Suite
Each suite is actually two self-contained cabins interconnecting through a large living room which leads to an oversized private balcony. Each suite sleeps up to eight people.

Grand Suite With Balcony
Queen-size bed. Separate sitting room with convertible double sofa bed and dining area. Large balcony. Two televisions. Personal computer. Refrigerator and wet bar. Walk-in closet. Bathroom with corner tub (equipped with whirlpool jets) and multi-directional brass-fitting shower. Aproximately 1,314 square feet, including balcony.

Interior Double
Twin beds that make up into a queen-size bed. Refrigerator and TV. Spacious closet. Bath with shower. Approximately 160 square feet.

Mini-Suite With Balcony
Twin beds that make up into a queen-size bed. Separate sitting area with sofa bed and desk. Balcony. Two televisions. Refrigerator. Walk-in closet. Bath with tub and shower. Approximately 323 square feet, including balcony.

Oceanview
Twin beds that make up into a queen-size bed. Porthole window. Refrigerator and TV. Spacious closet. Bath with shower. Approximately 168 square feet.

Oceanview Double
Twin beds that make up into a queen-size bed. Picture window (categories E-HH obstructed). Refrigerator and TV. Spacious closet. Bath with shower. Approximately 168 square feet.

Oceanview Double With Balcony
Twin beds that make up into a queen-size bed. Balcony. Refrigerator and TV. Spacious closet and desk. Bath with shower. Approximately 214 to 257 square feet, including balcony.

Suite With Balcony
Twin beds that make up into a queen-size bed. Separate sitting area with sofa bed and desk. Balcony. Two televisions. Refrigerator with wet bar. Walk-in closet. Bath with tub and shower. Approximately 468 to 591 square feet, including balcony.

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Entertainment

Fun In The Sun
What do you want to do today? With Princess you have the freedom to choose from an endless selection of activities tailored to suit your unique onboard experience. That's the beauty of Personal Choice. It's your cruise.

Poolside Activities
You have a variety of poolside relaxation options on your Princess Cruise. Take an afternoon dip, soak up the sun, or swim against the current. The choice is yours.

Life Enchantment
From dance classes to cooking demonstrations, financial workshops to maritime history lessons, with their Life Enhancement programs you can return home with a wealth of new knowledge.

Sports
Princess offers a variety of sporting activities for you to enjoy. Test your golf skills in their golf simulator or nine-hole putting green. In addition, Princess' unique New Waves program offers full P.A.D.I. open water scuba certification and snorkeling instruction. Most ships also offer ping pong, shuffleboard, a jogging track and a sports court for basketball and volleyball.

Enjoy The Show
Every Cruise features their award-winning production shows, most of which are written, costumed and choreographed by Princess. These exciting, lavish productions feature some of the largest Casts at sea, performing hits from Broadway through to the Contemporary Classics of today. Many of the vessels feature more than one Theater venue, ensuring that you have the choice of seeing a show before or after Dinner . . . . or maybe you'd rather wait until another night? No problem - it's all about choice and at Princess we understand that there are so many things to do, you need the flexibility that only Personal Choice Cruising can afford.

Parties
Some of their most memorable events star you, the passenger. If the Tush-Push and Achy-Breaky mean anything to you, bring your best Western outfit and prepare to kick up your heels at the Country & Western party. Maybe you'd like to savor some Calypso Music? Don't forget to pack your tropical wear for the Island Night deck party, where the fun lasts into the night and the Limbo Contest will show you just how low we can go!

Dancing
No excuses! Be sure to bring along your dancing shoes, because Princess has multiple live bands that cater to every musical taste. The many dance venues ensure you keep in the 'swing' of things.

Bars & Lounges
Kick off the evening with cocktails in one of the ship's cozy lounges or bars. This is the perfect time to meet shipboard friends and swap stories about the afternoon's adventures.

Movies & TV
Every cruise features a great selection of first run feature films that will allow you to catch up on all of the movies you've missed in the theaters at home. In addition, every cabin has its own TV set, featuring their multi-channel Princess Overseas Television programming.

They offer live reception of ESPN, CNN and CNBC on every ship, where satellite signals are available. Princess also offers children's programs and an onboard version of The Discovery Channel, as well as a wide selection of special programming.

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Casino

The goal at Princess is to provide you with a fun-filled and exciting casino experience.

Table Games
Princess offers all of the popular table games with Las Vegas style rules including Craps, Roulette, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride, and Three Card Poker.

Slots
In Princess Casinos, they offer the latest in exciting slots as well as slot tournaments. You can choose from video poker, slots, and novelty machines -- many of which have progressive jackpots! In addition, an informative slot lesson is given each cruise by your Slot Supervisor.

Bingo
Bingo is offered throughout your cruise with varying ticket prices. And remember, when you win shout "BINGO!"

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Fitness / Recreation

Fitness & Recreation

Lotus Fitness
Their fitness programs are equally diverse with gymnasiums on all ships and our newer vessels boasting some of the most lavish, ocean-view gyms afloat. Princess offers the latest in equipment, aerobics rooms, personal trainers, and a range of classes throughout the day.

Lotus Spa Fitness Facility
They have pre-scheduled several enjoyable lifestyle fitness classes during your cruise. Schedules are available from your fitness director. Classes are free of charge, except where indicated. Should a class not be available Princess will substitute it for something similar.

Stepexpress
A motivating, instructor-led program with dynamic easy-to-follow combinations, smooth transitions and invigorating music. This multi-level program is suitable for all.

Total Body Conditioning
A muscle toning class that works out the abs, buns and thighs with technical moves that give you astounding results. Set to rhythmic music. Great for everybody.

Power Walk
Walk with intention, clenching muscles as you stride around the ship. With every step you're getting firmer and closer to your goal.

Express Circuit
Combines aerobic and resistance training indoors and out. Quick, explosive and very effective.

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Spa

The Lotus Spa
Lotus Spa offers everything from facials & scrub to massage therapy, body therapy, body wraps, salon services, and much more.

Princess' goal is to help you return to the world renewed in body, mind and spirit. Here, guests can choose to enjoy a brief respite or linger an entire day.

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Kids

General Info
Junior cruisers ages 3 to 17 can enjoy a boatload of exciting onboard activities. The dedicated youth centers are staffed by trained counselors, who are ready to ensure our young sailors stay happy all day long.

Princess Fun Zone offers specific programs for kids ages 3 to 12. Their special Teen Center is dedicated to teen passengers.

On all Vessels except Royal, Tahitian and Pacific Princess you'll find completely equipped Youth Centers. There's everything from arts and crafts corners, games tables, movies, and splash pool area.

Teen Center
The astounding Teen Centers are packed with Nintendo, movies, Karaoke, giant screen TVs, card games, board games, ping pong tables and juke boxes. In addition to all these features, on Grand and Golden Princess, teens have a separate Jacuzzi and sun deck area made just for them.

Princess also offer's their teen-age passengers a wide range of activities such as: Bop 'til you drop, teens-only disco, the dating game, shipboard Olympics, T-shirt painting, basketball tournaments, Karaoke and lip-sync shows, Casino night, pizza parties and movie fests.

Kid Sitting & Port Day Activities Youth and Teen Centers onboard Grand, Golden, Star, Sea, Ocean, Dawn, Sun, Coral, Island, Diamond and Regal Princess offer complimentary scheduled activities to youth passengers ages 3 to 17 from 8AM to 5PM while in port. A special supervised complimentary lunch service is also available with parental consent.

Group kid sitting for children ages 3 to 12 years is offered on, Grand, Golden, Star, Crown, Regal, Sun, Dawn, Sea, Ocean, Coral, Island and Diamond Princess from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. for a charge of $5.00 per hour per child.

Dining
As part of the Princess Kids program, Junior cruisers will also be able to participate in two special dinner evenings designed for each age group.

Younger passengers will enjoy dinner without parents and in the company of newfound friends and counselors in one of their ship's many eateries.

For teens, one of the two evenings will feature a special evening get-together in one of the main dining rooms, complete with group photograph and a night out to enjoy Princess' many evening offerings.

TV Programming
TV programs appropriate for children, including cartoons, movies and award-winning programs may be shown on the in-cabin television during the early morning hours, midday and early evening on Sun, Dawn, Sea, Ocean, Grand, Golden, Coral, Island, Diamond, Tahitian and Star Princess. On Royal, Crown, Regal and Pacific Princess, children's programs will run during summer and school holidays when 20 or more children sail.

Edu-tainment
Scheduled on select seasonal sailings, the California Science Center, will deliver entertaining interactive science activities for children aboard Princess ships. Whale watching, coral reef studies, building and racing sailboats, marine biology studies and squid dissection are just some of the new activities that may be offered.

Princess youth staff will also facilitate National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) environmental education programs, with kids receiving Ranger Rick™ activity books and other learning materials helping the young passengers to connect with their surroundings and foster awareness of their environment.

Finally, youngsters who participate in Princess Kids events will take home a limited edition member of Pete's Pals, as a way to learn more about threatened and endangered species in the areas in which Princess sails. Each year Princess will issue a specially designed plush animal depicting a species in danger. Princess has also teamed up with a fun environmental program called Save Our Seas, created by the California Coastal Commission and the Center for Marine Conservation. Kids will participate in activities specially designed to teach them about the oceans and marine life.

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Shopping

Duty & Tax Free Shopping
Princess Boutiques offer you the ideal gifts to create a lasting memory of your cruise. Princess bring's you tax and duty-free savings up to 30% off of U.S. suggested retail prices. They feature the finest brands, including Lladro, Swarovski, Calvin Klein, Tommy Bahama, Lancome, Clinique, Estee Lauder, and Fossil.

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Dress Code

When you're in port, evening dress is casual, slacks, sweaters, blouses, open-neck shirts, etc. are typically worn. Shorts, cut-off T-shirts, "torn" jeans and bare feet are not permitted in the dining room. Princess only has formal and smart casual. Tuxedo rental can be arranged prior to the cruise on certain itineraries. On formal nights, ladies prefer evening gowns or cocktail dresses and men turn out in tuxedos, dinner jackets, or dark suits.

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Gratuity / Tipping

A charge of $10 per person per day for Dining and Cabin Personnel will be automatically added to the passenger's shipboard account. Princess is confident that passengers will find the services onboard exemplary and should a passenger wish to reward a staff member for service "above and beyond", they may do so by adding to the automatic gratuity.

Similarly, if a passenger feels that the service levels fall short of his/her expectation, then they may subtract from the automatic gratuity amount simply by visiting the Purser's Desk onboard and requesting the change. It is important to remember that passengers will be able to increase, decrease or remove the automatic gratuities at their discretion.

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