Princess’ Star Ship Enterprise Makes Massive Just Seem--Big

At 109,000 tons and carrying 2,600 passengers, Princess Cruises’ new Star Princess is the largest passenger ship ever to cruise the Pacific. The L.A.-based giant, built in Italy, had to cruise through the Suez Canal and across the Pacific to arrive at its California home port because, at 159 feet across, it is too wide for the Panama Canal.

We sailed on the Star Princess’ inaugural round-trip cruise from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera in mid-March, a seven-day itinerary that will be offered from Sept. 21 to May 3, 2003. During the summer, the ship will sail seven-day Gulf of Alaska itineraries between Vancouver, Canada, and Seward, Alaska.

Although the ship is enormous, we heard few passengers comment about its size; indeed, the only time we were aware of its girth was when we took an amidships or aft elevator to reach our forward cabin. A walk down the corridor emphasized the vessel’s 935 feet.

On the top five decks are the nightclub and its glass-enclosed moving sidewalk suspended 150 feet above the sea, open decks and swimming pools, the children’s and teen areas, gym, spa, sports areas and 24-hour food court. You’ll also find a swim-against-the-tide lap pool, a nine-hole putting green and a pair of golf simulators that allow you to “play” one of the world’s top courses for $20 for half an hour.

Decks 8 through 12 house cabins, many with private verandas.

The major indoor public areas, on Decks 5, 6 and 7, include the show lounge, casino and bars, library, card room, shops, dining rooms and photo and art galleries. A large 24-hour Internet cafe was not working during our voyage. On Deck 7 are a small wedding chapel and two specialty restaurants: Tequila’s, with Southwestern cuisine and a surcharge of $8 (which includes a margarita), and Sabatini’s, with all-you-can eat Italian food or a caviar and seafood brunch on days at sea for a $15 charge.

Families will appreciate the enlarged spa areas as well as children’s play areas, both much bigger than those on sister ships Grand Princess and Golden Princess. Operated by Steiners, the new Lotus Spa emphasizes Asian and Pacific treatments, including chakra stone therapy, a 90-minute massage with oils and heated stones that costs $158.

The children’s area was popular during our March 16 sailing, which had 200 kids aboard. Divided by age--2- to 5-year-olds, 6- and 7-year-olds, 8- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 17-year-olds--each group has its own activity and social area; small children also have a swimming pool and an enclosed outdoor play area.

In the gym, the 11 treadmills have sign-up sheets for reservations. The best time to get to the equipment, we found, was early mornings or on days in port.

The entertainment aboard was excellent, with two production shows presented during the week, along with several variety acts such as comedians, jugglers and magicians, and live music in six lounges during the evening.

The smallest inside cabins measure 160 square feet, standard outsides are up to 210 feet, balcony cabins are from 215 to 325 square feet and suites are from 515 square feet. Each contains two lower beds that convert to one queen-size bed; a mini-refrigerator; generous closet space; personal safe; TV; and bath with shower. Mini-suites and suites also include a tub in the bathroom as well as a seating area, desk/dresser, two TVs and a walk-in closet.

Princess veterans will notice a new cost-conscious attitude aboard. Instead of finding bathrobes, bowls of fruit and shower caps in the cabins, passengers will need to order them from the housekeeping department; there is no extra charge. Caviar did not show up on the regular dining room menus during our sailing except in Sabatini’s, one of the alternative restaurants, and a daily fax printout of the news is no longer distributed.

Princess offers two dining options: “personal choice,” which allows passengers to dine when and wherever they choose, and traditional dining, in which passengers are assigned a particular dining room, table and time, with the same waiters and table companions nightly. Passengers on the traditional schedule are encouraged to take off one or more evenings to sample open-seating dining. Dining room and cabin service tips are automatically added onto the individual’s shipboard account ($10 per person per day). The Mexican Riviera cruise sails Saturday afternoons from Los Angeles, spends two days at sea on the way to Puerto Vallarta, then calls in Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas before spending one day at sea on the return to Los Angeles.

Fares begin at $1,039 per person, double occupancy, plus government fees and taxes of $25.64. Port charges are included.

In Alaska, Star Princess will sail Saturdays beginning May 11 between Vancouver and Seward, calling at the Alaskan ports of Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway and sailing College Fjord, Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage. Brochure fares begin at $1,099 per person, double occupancy, plus $26.76 in government fees and taxes, but most travel agents can negotiate lower ticket prices with early booking discounts.

Shore excursions director James Eaton advises passengers to go online at www.princesscruises.com to book excursions as early as possible, because some sell out quickly. The tours are not paid for in advance and may be canceled without penalty after boarding the ship. Booking on the Internet, Eaton says, enables passengers to get immediate confirmation for space on the selected tour. Among the most popular new excursions on the Mexican Riviera itinerary are a dolphin encounter ($75) and a swim with the dolphins ($130) in Puerto Vallarta.

For more information, see a travel agent or contact Princess Cruises at (800) PRINCESS (774-6237), www.princesscruises.com.

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Harry Basch and Shirley Slater travel as guests of the cruise lines. Cruise Views appears twice a month.