Cruise Talk: Whats wrong with Fair Princess

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Topic: Whats wrong with Fair Princess

pungpui
First Class Passenger
Member # 1218

posted 04-29-2000 06:21 AM

Whats wrong with the fair princess. I mean it is an excellent ship for beginners and is a fun more less formal ship. what do u think?

Posts: 419 | From: Sydney, NSW, Australia | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

grep
First Class Passenger
Member # 900

posted 04-29-2000 10:43 AM

Pungui,
I agree Fair Princess is an excellent ship but it is starting to show its age, mechanical problems are becoming more frequent and the general decor is becoming very dated which was shown up when Norwegian Star entered service in Australia.

Posts: 13 | From: australia | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 04-29-2000 07:45 PM

Pungpui: While I'm not familiar with the service aboard the vessel now that she is in Australian waters full time, I an familiar with the ship (and her sister)-and have always loved her. Elizabeth, a regular poster to this board, has indicated that service levels leave a lot to be desired. In particular I always loved the rear tiered decking with 3 wonderful pools from which you could watch the wake disappear to the horizon. There were two levels of exterior promenades on which to stroll no matter what the weather. It was also possible to watch your forward progress from two exterior decks. No vibration, and no pounding diesels either. The swoosh and gurgling of the sea passing over the hull plating while watching movie will also never be forgotten. The cabins were much larger than her competition (NCL's white ships and the original RCCL trio) during Sitmar's time, and the food was so good. For all traditionalist, the old Cunard whistle remained, and sent chills down many a cruiser's spine as it marked another sailing. Yes, in her day, she was a wonderful ship, and perhaps I'll attempt another final cruise before she chases Fairstar to the breakers. I know from reading some posts, that I'll probably have to suffer through some service problems, and expect a different crowd than normally seen on cruises from North America-but I think the opportunity will not be missed.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 05-02-2000 04:28 AM

Hi Folks

I had friends who travelled on the Fair Princess on a cruise to Alaska before it came out to Australia and they loved it.

Unfortunately, I think that the Fair Princess is starting to show her age and hence she seems to have been plagued with problems. She got a lot of bad publicity at the end of last year when a couple of cruises were heavily booked by students who had just finished school and were cruising as part of "schoolies week".

The Fair Princess is a party ship which caters well for one section of the cruising public in Australia. The Norwegian Star is a little more upmarket and catered for another section of the cruising market.

In Australia cruising has "come of age" so there are a lot of opportunities available for companies who provide what the cruising population is looking for. P&O have a large slice of this market so it will be interesting to see what happens with the arrival of the Sky Princess and the exit of the Norwegian Star.

Grant, I hope that you get the chance to sail on the Fair Princess again. Why not plan a trip down under?

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Aussie1
First Class Passenger
Member # 25

posted 05-02-2000 06:48 PM

In recent times Fair Princess has been running like a Swiss watch, but on her arrival in Australian waters two years ago she did suffer some very serious mechanical problems. All my friends who have travelled on her love her, her service levels are quite good and a casual atmosphere rules. (No tuxedo's on the old ship these days.) Just avoid travelling during Australian school holidays when the ship fills with kids. She heads to New Zealand for a season of cruises in November and then may run a series of fly cruises in Asian waters for Australians. There is even talk of her returning to Australia and sailing alongside Pacific Sky during the summer of 2001. There is life in the old girl yet.

Posts: 493 | From: Sydney,NSW, Australia | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

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