Reviewed by: Richard Boyce

Date: March 2018

Cruise Line: Princess Cruises

Size of ship and passenger capacity: 108,865 tons / 2,600 guests

Built / Refurbished: Built in Italy in February 2001, last refurbished in May 2015

Where the ship cruises: Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific

Currency onboard: Australian dollars when cruising from Australia, otherwise US dollars

Embarkation/disembarkation: Embarkation was very smooth and fast. This was in part due to the redesigned Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay. Bag drop was simple, and we were onboard in 10 minutes. There were plenty of staff to point us in the right direction so we could find our cabin easily.

Main features: The most noticeable feature of this ship is Skywalkers Nightclub, which is suspended high above the stern on Deck 17, and reached by a glass-enclosed walkway/travelator. While other Princess ships based here previously had this feature, this is the first Grand Class ship to be based out of Australia where it is positioned in this way.

Most suited to: While the ship attracts a slightly older crowd there are amazing kids facilities meaning that families will love this ship too. The ship is perfect for multi-generational cruising.

Atmosphere: Like all Princess ships, Golden Princess is comfortable and low on glitz. There is a bewildering array of public rooms available of all shapes and sizes meaning that whilst it is a larger ship there will never be a problem finding your space – whether it’s a quiet area, or where all the action is! I particularly liked the Piazza which runs from Deck 5 to Deck 7 and has little bars and cafes located around it, meaning you can find somewhere cozy to have a drink and sit and watch the world go by. Outside there are 4 pools (one with a glass retractable roof). There is plenty of outdoor furniture and there was never a problem finding a seat anywhere.
Encounters with service staff: The few staff I encountered were very polite, professional and always smiling.

Staterooms: Pleasant, well designed and very comfortable. Our balcony cabin had a walk-in wardrobe which made storage a dream.
Dining options: We toured the main dining rooms which were large and airy, and arranged into smaller intimate areas. The three main dining rooms are available for both traditional fixed seating and open dining options. The international cafe located in the Piazza on Deck 5 serves coffees and snacks (which looked yummy) at a small additional cost. The Crown Grill on Deck 6 is where we dined. The main course of steak and veggies was truly one of the best steaks I have had on a ship, and the chocolate dessert was spectacular. The buffet is simply enormous and the best I have encountered on any ship. There were always plenty of seats, and plenty of staff to serve drinks and take the plates away. The serving stations worked very well and I never encountered a queue even at peak times.

Entertainment: We didn’t see any entertainment however the facilities vary from huge show lounges to smaller and more intimate bars.
Family Facilities: The kids and teen facilities are located forward on Decks 16 and 17. They are large, bright and well stocked with anything and everything kids could want, including their own outdoor deck space and splash pool. The mothers in our group all commented on how their kids would absolutely love what was on offer.

Inclusions: Our fare included our cabin, meals, entertainment and onboard gratuities.

Exclusions: Beverages, shore excursions and all items of a personal nature. Beverage packages are available for reasonable daily rates and are excellent value.

Self Service Laundry: Yes, located on all accommodation decks except Decks 5, 6, 14 and 15.

Insider tips: The balcony cabins located on Decks 10 and 9 are overlooked by the decks above and not very private, however, these balconies are far larger. Also, there are a small allocation of balcony cabins located forward on Deck 8 where this is a walkway located directly in front of the balcony, which are again not private. I’d suggest avoiding a small number of inside cabins on Deck 5 that might be a little noisy due to their close proximity to the ship’s atrium and art gallery.