This being my very first ever cruise aboard Grand Princess, on a 14 day West Meditteranean cruise departing from Southampton 19th June 2010.  On the day of departure  4 large cruise ships were boarding at the same time causing traffic congestion leading up to the dock entrance and into the terminals. Our coach became stationary waiting in a line of 6 coaches to off load passengers for an hour at the cruise ship embarkation point. When finally leaving the coach passengers endured a further wait in a line of approx 45mins to check in and board the vessel. We were due to sail at 4-00pm, we arrived at the Southampton teminal at 1-45 pm and were still boarding after 3-30pm

I noticed a large number of children in the check in lines, discovered they had a free child place promotion for this cruise also with a 1/2 price teenagers deal. Resulting in approx 300 kids boarding, although it was school term time the parents took the kids out of school to take advantage of the deal..some schools levied a fine for taking the kids out during term time. One guy told me it was worth the £50 fine to get a free holiday for the kids...my reason for selection of this particular date for cruising was solely in the belief children had returned to school after their half term holiday. I was to soon realise it was not a very clever idea, this particular cruise trip.

Eventually on board and arriving at our cabin only to discover the boat drill had started, by the time we located our lifejackets and attempted to make our way to the muster stations, it was all over, to find ourselves swamped by the returning passengers. This delay in boarding passengers right up to the departure time and the ships attempt to leave at its given time slot to my mind was a serious safety issue, no attempt was made to ensure all late boarding passengers had mustered. As a former Merchant Navy engineer officer I am well aware of the importance of lifeboat muster and at a later time personally took my partner through the procedure to ensure she could locate the boat stations!

During the voyage the children and their parents took over the upper pool areas making it very noisy place also the big screen TV-Cinema area became over congested all day and into the evenings. When the World Cup football games were showing  you could not get a seat as with the sunbeds all were claimed with towels from the early morning...Staff would not take on the reserving of seats issue, because of hassle from the passengers concerned..(A family were removed from the ship at Barcelona for misbehaviour). Albeit it was continually announced reserving sunbeds was not permitted, no attempt was made to deter the practice. I actually went into the 'Tranquility zone' early one morning on my way to the gym and removed all the towels, placed out the night before, then placed them in the changing room. Only to discover the attendant had brought them out again!

Our stop at Alghero was supported by the ships tenders taking passengers ashore, when it came to leaving one of the winches to lift a tender aboard became jammed, resulting in an emergency repair situation to get the tender aboard, delaying our departure by approx 1 hour. We also experienced two power generator failures, with lifts and air conditioning being shut down, power was restored in a delayed sequence procedure, we were reasured by the captain everything was under control. However (inhouse) announcements were systematically being broadcast to an 'assessment party' to proceed to different locations around the ship. During this period one occassion encountered the Chief engineer in the company of two other engineers hastily running up the stairs past me!

At Civitavecchia we were inforned a public service strike was in action, it was advised not a good idea to go it alone to Rome using the limited services available..because they might not be inclined to return to Civitavecchia. The ship took advantage and hyped up the story to get more customers on the organised tours..they were charging £100 per person for the trip.

Livorna we were delayed leaving by 1 hour because 3 of the ships organised tour buses were late returning. After we sailed and into the early evening the ship experienced a further power black out which was more serious than the previous ones, all emergency lights in the accomadation failed leaving cabins in total darkness, air conditioning was off and it soon became uncomfortably hot, the lifts again failed leaving them stranded between floors with passengers inside. The captain made further announcements but I am afraid his apologies were abysmal..under the circumstancess I felt some form of compensatory offer was now long overdue! This ship is due for a refit at the end of the year, maybe it was due sooner and they had delayed it!

At Barcelona we were advised a shuttle bus service operated from the ship to the port gates, checked out the situation at the tour desk, to be informed the walk to the port gates was approx 3 miles. A ticket for the bus was $5 each way, per person. On locating our bus discovered a local service also operated costing 3Euros return, per person! On my return journey sat behind the driver and checked the mileometer, discovered the journey was only 2 kilometres distance. (easily within walking distance). I returned to the tour desk asking why the information regarding the local service was not communicated, to be informed 'you never asked sir' also why the distance was exagerrated, to be told 'sometimes it can be that far sir' I informed her manner was most unhelpful and misleading purely to generate take up for an overpriced service.

In general,apart from the pursers/tour desk staff, I found in the main the ships staff to be charming, well mannered, most helpful, courteous and always available to assist your requirements.

I became unwell with a viral chest infection which had me out of sorts for three days, the a/c played havoc with my breathing had to stay out doors to get relief with breathing..I visited the medical centre for medication to be told I must consult the MO first, this costing $60 to be told  what I already knew! I had observed many passengers and crew were coughing in a similar fashion as myself. I suggested to the MO was it possible an epidemic was transmiting around the ship, my suggestion was dismissed, however I was informed by the MO a/c however was creating humidity problems with my medical condition. (I would be curious to view the medical log sheets for this voyage to ascertain the number of recorded cases)

Listening to other passengers who had sailed on the Grand Princess on previous voyages they said the company were cutting costs and they noticed cutbacks on certain things also the ship was becaming less formal and more casual. On a smart casual dining night noticed passengers wearing jeans and training shoes. On the formal dress night also noticed male passenger without jackets and wearing open necked shirts!

The captain made his daily announcement saying first this is the 'er' captain speaking, followed by pausing and 'er'every couple of words, it developed into a most irritating daily event.. One early morning I confronted the Captain out on deck,in conversation I asked about the generator power failures, also let him know I had been a former seagoing engineer to attract his interest, said I felt his apology (which was abysmal) over the power failure could have been followed up with a form of compensation to passengers!  He stopped speaking gave me a blank stare then looked at his watch and excused himself..

The cost of items to purchase were well over the top, drinks were very expensive, decided to buy some wine  ashore to off set costs..The on board photographs were $25 a throw on cheap gloss paper, a crazy price to pay..Considering all the non claimed pics, being displayed not many takers. If they had dropped the price they could have sold them all off..instead of being left with stacks of them only to be shredded at the end of the cruise, I suggested price dropping would probably generate more sales, to the sales team, but they were not interested in my proposal..

As a first trip found it a learning exersize, have taken some advice from regular cruisers I spoke with and if we take another cruise trip will try a smaller ship and another company. I definately prefer the experience in ship transfers to airport check-ins. We loaded luggage at the coach station and never saw or touched it again until we arrived at our cabin. Same on the return left outside the cabin the night before, then collected at the baggage hall to load on the coach..We left the ship at 8-30 and were driving home at 9-15..

Since arrivng home (via websites) I have discovered the Grand Princess on its two previous cruises had been smitten with the noro virus, this information had been witheld from us! Possibly the reason also for the free child price offers to generate custom (regular cruisers would be privvy on websites to this detail) maybe cancellations had resulted. The children on my cruise were completely incapable of understanding the risks of hand infection transmissions or bothering to use the hand immunisation recepticles, also washing hands after using wash rooms! Now discovering the Medical services aboard Grand Princess were during the previous cruises charging $90 for (emergency) callouts, after informing affected passengers to remain in cabins..I find it abhorent to attempt to generate income and cash in this way from customers misfortune...As I said previously not so Grand Princess cruises.

Knowing