Emerald Princess Ship Visit
Due to operational reasons (dredging of the channel) the berth was moved to the quintessentially British terminal ”Mayflower”, its like walking back in time to a bygone era and after check in we were encouraged to board the ship…. easier said than done in this case. Me and a few others followed the signs ”to the ship” up a set of stairs and along a corridor only to find in fact there was no exit, no staff were around for assistance, so we went back the way we came and eventually found someone to guide us along to embark. This is in no way the fault of Princess, however ABP or the contractors looking after the boarding should have been more prepared and given us the information, it seemed the staff that were supposed to direct us were more interested in gossiping with each other on the quay side.
We made it into the atrium or piazza of Emerald Princess, and as you would expect the ship was gleaming ( for a ship 7 years old) this was very welcomed. We were on before most guests, so no music playing, but during the afternoon when passengers were embarking this would be the case. And we went to grab a caramel coffee in the International Cafe whilst we waited for our host.
After our coffee, we were given a map / deck plan of the ship and advised of some cabins to which we could view. So we set off on our way to view a selection of cabins from the adequate inside staterooms to the well equipped penthouse suites. As you would expect the suites had a few extra sq feet but all cabins on the Emerald were reasonably proportioned and you did not feel confined in any of the rooms.
After a tour of the rooms, we then thought it best to try out a few of the facilities, and what a wealth of things on offer….
Lotus Spa Gymnasium Hair Salon Wedding chapel Kids clubs Specialty dining rooms ( Sabatini’s and Crown Grill) Disco Arcade room Running track Sports court Crazy golf Movies under the Stars 2 large swimming pools The Sanctuary Full size theatre Casino ( double sized) Well equipped Library Countless bars International Cafe
And I am sure there is more…… Maybe you can comment below your favourite areas of the ship!
After a pleasant day in the Southampton sunshine, we were then treated to an amazing meal in the Da Vinci dining room. Always a firm favourite is the fettuccine in a cheese basket, and this was followed by a delightful steak cooked just to perfection. I can certainly recommend the food on Princess Cruises, you WON’T be disappointed. A hazelnut souffle was for dessert followed by tea and coffee before heading home.
Overall a great ship, in good condition. Well appointed and could not fault the aesthetics in any way. Quality of ship was great, food was immense and service was always greeted with a smile from every member of the team. Would I recommend Princess Cruises? YES is the answer to that,