Standard Category BA - BF Verandah Staterooms on Star Princess, #E204

Standard Category BA - BF Verandah Staterooms on Star Princess, #E204

A PARNAMI Cruise Page

Star's 502 Verandah cabins, essentially, are identical to outside cabins with the addition of the outside deck. While they are comfortable, 215-255 square feet including balcony, they are smaller than comparable verandah accommodations on competitive lines. Most obviously lacking is the indoor sitting area. On Star, a single chair is all you get. Amenities include TV, vanity with hair dryer, refrigerator, walk in clothes closet, a closet filled with shelving and a push button combination safe.

With these categories of cabin, the primary attraction, naturally, is the outdoor deck area, and, that is where there exists a great deal of differences between them. Cabins with verandahs are found on four decks, from top to bottom: Aloha, Baja, Caribe and Emerald. Cabins located on Aloha and Baja deck have the smallest decks as indicated below in the photo labeled "Aloha & Baja". The photo shows the divider between cabins consisting of one narrow panel and a door that can be unlocked to permit passage between adjoining decks. These decks are completely sheltered from view from above, but, not from below, although the glass balustrade is coated with a darker level of tint, passengers looking up from their decks on Caribe and Dolphin are able to see through with only a little trouble. WEAR CLOTHES if you wish to protect your modesty!

The verandahs on cabins located on Caribe deck are more than three times the size of those on Aloha and Baja decks. Studying the photo below labeled "Caribe", you can see the divider here, consists of two WIDE panels plus the door. The overhang from Baja Deck provides shelter for about half of these decks, exposing the rest to the elements: These decks are perfect for those passengers seeking to work on their tans while remaining within the confines of their own cabin areas. The part of the deck exposed to the sun though, is also open to peering eyes from above, so, expect little in the way or privacy. Again, as is the case with the cabins located higher up, the glass balustrade provides views onto the verandah area from those located on their own verandahs on Dolphin deck, one deck below. (Dolphin deck consists of all suites, thus explaining their exclusion on this current page.)

The cabins on Emerald deck, to me, are most fascinating. While Princess prices for most of these cabins are based upon verandah size, those located on Caribe being higher priced than those on Baja are, the reverse is true for those on Emerald. Verandahs on Emerald deck are the largest anywhere on board, with the exception of the full suites. They are also the least expensive! These decks are completely sheltered from the sun and prying eyes from above and, with an overhang extending well beyond the deck, well protected from the elements as well. Their dividers consist of the double wide panels and door mentioned above for Caribe deck, PLUS the width of the steel beam adding still more to it's size. These cabins, with the outside promenade passing just below and along their decks, do yield a bit of privacy but only to the very few passengers walking past the cabin (nothing in comparison to the multitudes of people staring down from above, or below, of the other categories). The glass balustrades are very darkly tinted and, except for the rare curious passenger who actually places his face up against the glass, hands around their eyes, sheltering the glare, in daytime, nobody can see inside. Nighttime is a different story: if you happen to be walking around naked with lights on inside your cabin or while on your verandah, expect to be fair game!

When our documents came indicating that we were assigned these cabins, we were filled with dread. I remembered walking past these same cabins on Grand Princess, and thinking how much I disliked them. I realized that their verandahs would be ideal vantage points for people watching, but felt their design left much to be desired. I am happy to say, having now lived in one for two weeks, I think it's one of the real bargains offered on the ship! There are only eight verandah cabins on Emerald deck. If you see one available, grab it!

The cheap resin furniture provided these cabins are a bit of a disappointment though. When we boarded, our deck contained two cheap, straight back armchairs, two armless cafe chairs and a table. Upon having walked the ship a bit, comparing notes of what I saw on other similar cabins, I noted that many had the same reclining chairs provided the mini suites. Rushing back, I quickly located my cabin steward and put in my request for the same. The next day, all was perfect!

Emerald Deck Verandahs

Aloha & Baja Deck Verandahs Caribe Deck Verandahs

Cabin service on Star Princess, as on all Princess ships, is limited and disappointing. About the best I can say is, "it's provided and it's still free". That is about it.

Here is the menu:

From the Cold Galley

Lean, thin slices of roast beef with lettuce and tomato on white, wheat or rye bread.

Roast Turkey Breast

Slices of roast turkey with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on white, wheat or rye bread.

A combination of flaked tuna, chopped celery and mayonnaise on white sandwich bread

Ripe avocado, lettuce and tomato on multigrain deli-bread.

Swiss cheese can be added by request.

Traditional double-decker consisting of crisp bacon, lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced roast turkey breast and mayonnaise on toasted white or wheat bread.

Assorted Mixed Garden Greens

Your choice of homemade or low calorie dressings.

Strips of ham, turkey breast, Swiss cheese and roast beef on a bed of crisp iceberg lettuce, garnished with tomato and hard-boiled egg wedges.

Your choice of homemade or low-calorie dressings.

Caesar Salad with Chicken Strips

A classic Caesar salad crowned with sautéed Cajun spice strips of chicken breast.

From the Hot Galley

Beef Consommé with Sherry

Grilled ham and Swiss cheese between white bread complemented with your choice of French fries, potato chips or cole slaw.

Grilled Hamburger or Cheeseburger

Ground beef patty on sesame seed bun with sliced tomato, lettuce, onion and kosher dill pickle, accompanied by your choice of French fries, potato chips or cole slaw.

Ballpark Style Hot Dog

With sweet relish, chopped onions, ketchup and mustard, served with your choice of French fries, potato chips or cole slaw.

From the Pastry Shop

Vanilla custard topped with a dollop of whipped cream.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Fudge Cake

With Chantilly cream.

Coffee, tea and milk are available 24 hours.

One final point to be made concerns the subject of gratuities. Princess now levies a $10.00 per day charge to every passenger account to provide tips for ALL food and cabin service personnel. Passengers reserve the right to adjust the amounts deducted upward and downward, even eliminating them, if so inclined. Along with most long time cruisers, initially, I opposed the policy. However, having now experienced it, I felt relief at not having to fill those envelopes as the cruise drew to an end. Tipping, for me, is always fraught with some discomfort as we worry about having given enough or too little. The ability to leave the dining room table without the need for minor theatrics as the waiters dance about for their tips is refreshing and, for us, added new levels of enjoyment to our total cruise experience.

Yes, I do think service suffers somewhat! However, with Personal Choice, service suffers anyway. In all fairness to the employees, it seems to me that automatic tipping is a necessary outgrowth of having provided the degree of dining flexibility that Princess provides, particularly on ships like Star Princess. Taking into consideration the likelihood that, unless conventional dining is chosen, passengers will NOT see their waiters for more than one occasion, there exists no other reasonable way to handle gratuities than to have them deducted automatically.

It should be noted also, that, while passengers do have the option of eliminating the automatic gratuity and tipping their waiters directly, that does not mean that their waiters have the ability to keep that money! Sharp eyes watch the room on tip night, and envelopes handed waiters are seen and noted by staff, only to be taken later, their contents added to the monetary pool provided through automatic deductions. There is no additional benefit to be reaped by waiters through passengers having tipped them directly! So, do not bother! Go with the flow, allow the tips to be deducted, and enjoy the benefit of not having to be concerned with gratuities!

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