Rob

Age: 39
Occupation: p/t Sales / [Widower raising 3 children]
Number of Cruises: 2
Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
Ship: Golden Princess
Sailing Date: December 8th, 2001
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean

We were with Princess for the whole package, from UK - door to door.

Domestic flights from Newcastle to London, overnighting at the LaMerridian Gatwick, onward next day with Virgin to Orlando, 3 nights in the Hyatt, Kissm, then transfer by coach to Ft Laud. to embark Golden Princess. Then a day in Miami/Ft. Laud. prior to overnight flight home, with a 10 hour transatlantic, then 7 hours stop-over in Gatwick before our domestic North to NCL - the travel home was a nightmare - JET LAG.

The Princess package was fine, while we paid well in advance, then later found the price for our AD mini suite well reduced on-line at Travelocity - £1562 down to £659 [cruise only], we were happy to get the cabin we specified etc, so while last minute price reductions do hurt to see, there are risks with them I guess too.

We got all the travel vouchers for all the transfers/hotels etc, and everything was fine and no delays.

My party was of 10, 5 adults and 5 kids. I have 3 kids; 1x3, 1x9, 1x14. Grandparents came along in a E cabin and a family friend and their two kids in a DD.

The kids loved the Virgin seat back tv's and fun packs - Brnson does a good offer - though his flight attendants look sooo young - I really wonder how they would cope in an emergency - I have always flown BA who employ more mature crew.

Not impressed with food on flight and no choice for kids, not even to take an adult meal - not even a sandwich or bag of crisps [chips].

The Hyatt in Kissim. is a great hotel, excellent for families with optional extra Parlor rooms attached - I took one at an extra $75 a night - well worth having the Murphey and sofa bed plus 2^nd bathroom, and space, these connecting to grandparents room, so 3 rooms in all - all connecting - kids loved this.

Pool right outside window, well spaced out with 5 pools surrounded by low level accommodations. Room service expensive but good quality. Food market available for late snakes and hot food or full restaurant.

I would recommend this hotel for a family going to WDW - ask for Pool view room though or you may get a parking lot view.

Transfer to Ft. Laud. was 4 hours, but only our group of 10 on coach -so real nice.

Arrived port to see many ships, Golden towering over them all - easy embarkation - no wait - only 2 in line in front of us. Princess need to get the declaration form for the island in the pre-cruise docs though, as EVERYONE was having to complete this doc in the embarkation hall - a real pain.

Onboard within 20 minutes, tight security slowed it up, but still well organised and smooth.

Really MISSED not having help with carry-ons, asked 3 crew to help -no-one agreed- just pointed us on.

Carried my tired 3 year old and 3 carryon's to the cabin.

The AD's are WELL WORTH the extra. to have a full bath, a sofa bed, a 5th pull down birth and the twins [so could sleep 5] was excellent - can't find the 'sleep 5' info on any UK or US brochure for Golden - this info would help large families !! The balcony is cool, with blue glass barrier, so no incentive for kids to climb on chair, as they can see out without. Wished we'd taken adjacent rooms as the balcony divider can be removed/folded back, if requested - would have been great fun.

We were in E720, this side of the ship on Eastern C route is IN SHADE - may be important to you, so check this out. The AD balconies are NOT looked down on from above - 100% private, some upper balconies are either 50% or 100% viewed from above !!

Note- cabins at rear suffer badly from side thrusters, every morning at port/s, while docking –this wakes you by SHAKING you awake, and continues for an hour, at 6am. Same for tender days.

The early morning customs call for the island was a real pain, even if you planned to stay onboard you had to be up and out, and wait for 2 hours, from 7am to see customers onboard. Surely with their computerised cards they could just block your card out, so if you didn't show, you were denied disembarkation at the islands. This would keep these pax happy and reduce the numbers having to see the sole customs officer.

The Golden Princess is beautiful.

I, and my late wife had been on QE2 the year before - no comparison - while QE2 has style and romance -the Golden is just stunning and soo much bigger and up to date.

The kids adored the kids club and arcade, the pools and the hot tubs.

The public areas of this ship are very smart - 5 stars all the way, and no crowds. The only time you saw a crowd is when a show closed and everyone walked along deck 7 to other areas.

Elevators are slow, but hey, we all needed to walk off that mountain of food anyways - SO WALK.

With the kids I opted to eat 100% in the horizon court - excellent, but did repeat sometimes and if you ate late early for lunch you would find the exact SAME food still on offer until 6.30pm. Once this planned into the day the food was excellent, choices and presentation could only be faulted by the sort of people who will complain about everything and anything - you know the sort that goes on vacation planning to moan and try and get refunds.

Entertainment was mixed. I walked out of some of the comedian shows, others were excellent.

I hated the British entertainment director- he intro the shows trying to be funny and in my opinion he was not - I was embarrassed to be British !!

The Port presenter went ON AND ON about shopping, hardly any info about the ports themselves - I guess it is all down to 'back handers'

Our cabin steward was 1st trip on Golden, had come from Sea P. so I guess an advance for him. I was sure he would work for his $120 tip, as I know how messy my kids are !!. He was great. I left him the complimentary champagne [$25] as I do not drink.

St Maarten is nice, but DO take the water taxi, as the walk is on a fast road with narrow sidewalk - not safe nor pleasant.

Beautiful weather and nice beach at port. As our 1st 'real' cruise I stayed close to ship - no tours taken.

Rained all day in St Thomas. Shops - lots but just tourist tat. perhaps better inland ?

Princess Cays beautiful - GO RIGHT at dock -this is quiet -perhaps only 10 people all day - a private beach to yourself.

Go left -for activities, beds, BBQ, noise, kids centre, shops. 10 minute walk between the two.

Disembarkation fine - even though flight was 6pm we were called at 9.20, and on coach by 9.30.

Golden is beautiful - just wish they had her on a AT SEA option.

Any Q's just e-mail

Rob

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