any thoughts on this ship?

Too big. I took it to the Mediterrenean a couple of years ago. Just too many people decending at once on any port. Food was not good. I think 3,000 people is just beyond any kitchen's capability to cook for. Service was not good, either. The price was the only thing that was good.

Right on! And the Star is a twin of the Grand. WE have been on both. Yes, everywhere we went it was push and shove thru giant crowds. Especially in Eygpt, where there were at least 12 buses, travelling in a convoy, to everywhere we went. Of course, I realize that was for security, but it was also crowded on the ship, and the advertised prices, which seem low at first, can really add up after they put the tips on everything from a spa treatment to a cup of latte. So when you get your bill, it is high. Ours was aboauyt $4,000 on a 3500 dollar cruise. So double everything. And we are not extravagant...did drink a bottle of wine most nights. hmmm

Have to agree with others. MANY of the ships of the major cruiselines are just way too large and "transport" too many passengers. Unless you don't mind lines at buffets, lines embarking and disembarking and just a giant cattle call feeling, I'd avoid it and opt for a much smaller ship. These large ships are magnificent to view but NOT to actually cruise on.

In cruise ships smaller is better! I thought the Golden was the sister to the Grand?

The Grands' sisters are Golden and Star Princess. The Caribbean Princess is similiar to the Grand class but has an extra deck of cabins on her and some new features.

I took the GP through the Western Caribbean last November. I didn't have any problems with the food or long lines. My only complaint was that we didn't have the sign in our bathroom about dropping used towels on the floor to get new ones. Took two days to figure that out. Our room was aft, on the deck with the aft pool with the buffet one deck up. It was a terrific location. I thought the buffet food was very acceptable and breakfast was better there than in the dining room. I would definitely cruise on the GP again.

One more thing: there was usually a wait for personal choice dining every night unless you were willing to share at one of the larger tables, which was fine with us.

We were on the Grand Princess in August 2002 (pre Carnival Merger)

This was our first big ship and first Princess cruise experience. In my opinion the GP was one of the most beautiful ships I have been on. Even though it was a full cruise embarkation was a breeze and we really did have any problems with long lines and stuff. I found the service to be mixed (excellent in the dining room, indifferent or cold at times elsewhere). We also found the food to be inconsistent sometimes good, sometimes fair, sometimes excellent (the breakfast buffet was one of the best weve had and no lines). We like the freah water pools.

Somethings we didnt like were the extra charges for ice cream in the afternoon (not used to the nickel and dime approach) and having tips included. I am a firm believe that good service should be rewarded and icluding the tip for cabin service and the such takes away an incentive to perform good service.

Well again this pre Carnival merger so I cant comment on whats going on now but I hope this helps.

Can you imagine 3,000 people decending on Venice all at once?

We have sailed on the Grand, Rotterdam and Brilliance to Venice. We never had problem disembarking. I like large ships there is more to do on sea days. I would rate the Grand #1 Brilliance #2 and the Rotterdam a distant third.

I was on the Grand last month and had a great time. Food was excellent. My experience with food on Princess has been that as the ships get bigger, the food gets better.

MMSF, the Grand's 2600 passengers would hardly be noticed in Venice; in high season there are around 100,000 tourists there on any given day.

We were on the sister ship, Golden Princess last month for a caribbean cruise. We felt the food was good but not outstanding. They seemed to have 3 fish entrees every night and 2 others that would be beef and another. I don't care for fish so my choices were very limited.There didn't seem to be many salads offered...sometimes the items that were available every night on the left side of the menu were also on the right side! The food was always hot, service was great and portions were generous.

GP, when you said "My experience with food on Princess has been that as the ships get bigger, the food gets better" are you speaking from experience??
This is the FIRST time I've ever heard this opinion. I've always been of the opinion that on a top notch cruise line, the opposite is true. This is what's nice about this board, to be able to share differing opinions.

Yes, I meant it. No doubt part of it is that with a larger ship, there are more options so it's easier to find something you like. But with my experience with Princess, it's more than that; I think their food has been getting better over the years, and the ships have been getting bigger. Just my opinion and maybe no real connection with ship size, but that's how it's seemed to me. All along Princess has had lots of seafood, and we like that.

91 Royal (46K GT): food OK but bland.

94 Pacific(20K GT): food OK but bland.

00 Crown (70K GRT): food more interesting; pasta much better.

03 Golden (109K GT): food excellent (one of the best of my 33 cruises, but I saw a review by someone who was on the same cruise who said the food wasn't very good, so...).

04 Grand (109K GT): food excellent (similar to Golden, but a few special items missing, like almonds and cashews on the salad bar).

Too big!!!As is the Star, and we have done both....lines, queues, and involuntary tipping....waits for everything, and very impersonal. Going for the smaller ships from now on.

I see this thread is a several monts old but since it's topped again we had a great time on the Grand last week But we prefer large cruise ships. Less seasickness and plenty of places to walk around. Food was very good. I believe the Grand will be drydocked for refurbishment in a few weeks....

We've booked this out of Galveston for spring break 2005. I prefer the large ships when taking our kids, there is much more for them to do. Glad to hear it's being refurbished before our sailing. I think they are going to add the "dive-in movie" feature. Conde Nast Traveler has had a full two-page add the past two months advertising Princess out of Galveston with the movies. My travel agent told me when we booked that only their newest ship (Caribbean Princess??) currently has the movies but they are adding to other ships.

They were adding the projection screen for "movies under the stars" last week and I believe it should be up and running by the end of this week's sailing so you should be in for a treat on your cruise! Have a great time.