Janet McGlynn

Age: 55
Occupation: self employed
Number of Cruises: 8+
Cruise Line: Princess
Ship: Star
Sailing Date: March 13th, 2005
Itinerary: Western Caribbean

We were very disappointed with our cruise aboard the Star Princess. We booked a mini-suit which was no different in size to the Holland America Balcony cabin on the Osterdam that we sailed last year, the balcony on the Osterdam was twice the size for much less money.

Many of the items that are standard on other 5 star ships such as Holland America or Celebrity were missing.

For example, even though we personalized on cruise on the website with special requests, the robes requested were missing. Both Holland Amer. and Celebrity provide free canvas bags to cart your beach stuff, not on Princess.

As far as room accommodations, I was happy to leave and sleep in a Holiday Inn when the cruise was over. The pillows were hard and uncomfortable and so were the beds. Especially hard and uncomfortable was the sleep sofa that my daughter had to sleep on. The bed linens and esp. the towels would all benefit from a little "Downy" fabric softener.

We always like to order room service in the late afternoon on our cruises. We usually get wine with cheese and crackers. On every other ship you pay for the wine but the cheese and crackers are included at no extra charge. On this ship it was an extra $14.00 for the cheese and crackers. The cheese and crackers were not very tempting anyways! Missing were the finer cheeses such as blue cheese, camembert and goat.

The service was good in the main dining rooms and for the staterooms. We had no problems there.

But, management seems to be only concerned with the bottom line - money.

Providing the minimum expected and reaping as much profit as possible. The drinks were mixed with inferior grades of alcohol. The food was also the cheapest grades. For example in the buffet at breakfast there was a great deal of canned fruit and not very much fresh fruit. Much of what was available I wouldn't serve at home never mind expect to eat on a cruise.

Maybe I'm spoiled, but I expect to go on a cruise and be served wonderful cuisine unlike what I would find elsewhere and in the most elegant manner. We have cruised Celebrity a number of times and have always been pleased and happily spoiled!

I think what annoyed me most was that another of my children ordered a spa package for my husband's and my birthday which are both in March.

She spent quite a bit of money and the cruise line at first had no record of it.

Fortunately, our other daughter who was with us knew that we were supposed to receive it. Mid way through the week after much investigation on her part, they gave a credit for what she spent to our account. Of course, the note written by my daughter had who had given the gift was never received by us.

There was no apology for the oversight. Actually even though it was on the "personalize your cruise info.", no body acknowledged our birthday occasions until we reached our disembarkacation and an immigration official who looked at our passports wished us both Happy birthday.

Needless to say, if the Star Princess had been our first cruise we would not be interested in cruising again. We would even rate Norwegian which we weren't thrilled with as a better cruise value.

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