The Golden and Sapphire Princess will be sailing this itinerary (r/t Seattle) during the upcoming season. I've cruised on both, and there's a huge difference. Despite being older, the Golden is in far better shape. We did the Mexican Riviera on the Sapphire last April, and found it in absolutely deplorable condition. More specifically, our stateroom furniture was really chewed up; the carpet and wall padding in the hallways and high-traffic areas was either stained, frayed, or just plain filthy; there was rust all over the ship (it had even eaten through a door in one of the bathrooms); several facilities were inoperative (two hot tubs and at least three public toilets), and the overall level of maintenance was severely lacking (on the first night, a vent fan in the theatre was obviously broken ... it was incredibly loud, and wasn't repaired until three days later). In addition, there are none of the updated amenities ... Movies Under The Stars, International Cafe, Vines Wine & Sushi Bar, etc. The TV's are those 19" relics (our remote had a mind of it's own, and a replacement was not avilable), and the system does not permit access to your account from the staterooms. According to Princess, the Sapphire is scheduled for a major drydock in January ... of 2012!
By contrast, the Golden is pristine ... of course, everything's relative, but we found it to be just fine. It did undergo a pretty recent makeover, and does have the new features. We've sailed on six other Princess ships in three years (Dawn, Grand, Golden, Caribbean, Star and Emerald). There were a few signs of use here and there, but that's to be expected ... nothing was even close to the Sapphire.
Our disappointment prompted us to write to Princess. Despite a promise to respond within three weeks, we didn't hear back until three months later, at which time the representative spewed forth the company line, and offered us some on-board credit. That was decent of them ... but it did not address the problem. I guess they figured that if we got a few bucks to spend, we'd overlook the rust. This ship needs an overhaul and update as soon as possible. I can't believe that Princess would let the Sapphire sail in that condition for another sixteen months ... wait; yes I can. It's pretty well booked, and most folks won't care, as long as they're on vacation. I guess the more they drink, the better it looks.
If you have the choice, sail the Golden. I'm pretty sure you'll find all the toilets working.
By contrast, the Golden is pristine ... of course, everything's relative, but we found it to be just fine. It did undergo a pretty recent makeover, and does have the new features. We've sailed on six other Princess ships in three years (Dawn, Grand, Golden, Caribbean, Star and Emerald). There were a few signs of use here and there, but that's to be expected ... nothing was even close to the Sapphire.
Our disappointment prompted us to write to Princess. Despite a promise to respond within three weeks, we didn't hear back until three months later, at which time the representative spewed forth the company line, and offered us some on-board credit. That was decent of them ... but it did not address the problem. I guess they figured that if we got a few bucks to spend, we'd overlook the rust. This ship needs an overhaul and update as soon as possible. I can't believe that Princess would let the Sapphire sail in that condition for another sixteen months ... wait; yes I can. It's pretty well booked, and most folks won't care, as long as they're on vacation. I guess the more they drink, the better it looks.
If you have the choice, sail the Golden. I'm pretty sure you'll find all the toilets working.
