Has anyone heard anything about the sewage smell situation on The Star. My husband is ready to back out if its still as bad as we've heard?? Anyone been on there recently? Any recent reviews???

I'm curious to know where you heard about this;
this is the first I've heard of it.

On another cruise board there is a thread with about 700 posts about itas well as 2 or 3 other threads, On most of the reviews I've read on the Cruise-chat board and Cruise-Critic board its mentioned too. Although some say its TERRIBLE other posts say its not that bad.
It seems to be worse on the Starboard side and some posts and reviews and they could not go out on their balconies because of it.
I asked our travel agency and she acknowledged it and said they were working to fix the problem.
I'm hoping it will be a distant memory in 45 DAYS! LOL!

Thanks--I had no idea;
of course I'm not too likely to read a review of a ship I'm not going on in the near future.
I'm sure the problem will be corrected quickly as word of something like that will surely start resulting in cancellations.

Yes there does seem to be ALOT of rooms still avaiable on the ship for March 3rd and when I checked the sister ships for the exact same date it seems almost everything is booked.
Hopefully they will get on it. From what I've read it seems to have something to do with the fire and they can't seem to figure out how to fix it.

I would get all the info possible about this. That would not be pleasent at all. Some people have it in their heads though that there is a sewage smell. I never smelt anything bad on our ship. I have heard my aunt and uncle say they could smell when people would go to the bathroom...but I dont believe them, they are idiots.

Yes I know that's why my husband is getting nervous. We are going to renew our vows for our 15th anniversary and he doesn't want to be smelling poo-poo when its supposed to be romantic. We've been fostering kids for a LOOOONNNGGGGGG Time and we've had 2 in diapers for 13 years. Need a break from that while we we're gone.
The travel agent did address it though and said they've been working on it. I actually feel kind of sorry for Princess because YOU KNOW they would not allow it to continue if they could figure out how to fix it. They have staff that live on there so I'm sure its not just consumers who don't want to smell it!

My wife and another couple returned from a cruise aboard the Star on December 18th. During the entire week we never encountered any smell of any type. We booked a mini suite in the middle of the ship. I guess it could be possible to have a smell depending on your room location. We found this to be the best cruise that we have been on in every regard.

BLUEJAYS, welcome to cruise-chat and thank you for that reassuring and very positive review.
swimmersonboard, I'm sure you've noticed how complaints are very often exaggerated; for instance, I've seen the word "inedible" used several times recently to describe meals in some dining rooms and I try to imagine something served on a cruise ship so awful it can't be eaten.
And I wonder if there is a little group hypnosis at work here; one person smells something and pretty soon everybody is complaining about it.
I'm not suggesting there is not a problem; just that I doubt if it's as bad as we're being led to believe.
And I'm sure Princess is putting every resource available into fixing the problem--there's too much at stake!

Thanks Bluejay Please write a review of your experience I WOULD LOVE to read it! I am SO excited! We cruised two other cruise lines but never Princess and I glad to hear you say it was a great experience. I appreciate you remarks.
Mattox......I agree completely and I am generally an optismist and know what you mean.
Cyndi

People said that about a HAL ship too but we went and had no problem. I think when 1 person has a bad experience, they make it sound like a really awful thing. If it was that bad, I dont think the ship would sail. Tell your husband not to believe anything he reads. Also, you can call the cruise line direct and talk with someone about it and find out whats going on. We did that and it all worked out. We found out our ship had an isolated problem on 1 cruise and it was taken care of, repaired and cleared by the CDC.

I remember reading about the Zuiderdam smell prior to my first Zuiderdam cruise in 04. We went and now the Zuiderdam has clearly become our home away from home as we are now sailing her for the 3rd time in March. Also, have been on her sister ship the Oosterdam. If I had cancelled due to someone writing about the sewer smell back than, I would not have enjoyed the ship and HA as much as I have.

We have been on the Oosterdam as well, its maiden voyage to Alaska in 6/04. Had a great time on both that ship, as well as the Ryndam. Im almost afraid to try another cruiseline as I liked these really well. I did get a view of the Island Princess though and wouldnt mind trying that. Have also seen the Voyager of the Seas on the travel channel, and that looks like fun as well.

The only Princess ship I heard had a sewage smell was the old Royal Princess..One guy went on every website and was slamming this beautiful ship down...could be the same guy doing it again..rumour rumour rumour..you have nothing to worry about. I dont believe for one minute that Princess/Carnival would allow this..they would lose too much business

I had the pleasure of being on the old Royal Princess three times over her career and never once had a problem with a smell--sewage or otherwise. She was really a beautiful ship and an ideal size--45,000 gt, 1200 pax.

Most cruise ships are plagued by sewer odors. The problem is generally not shipwide. This replusive s--t odor usually occurs at different times and only on certain decks.

So just because a cruiser has never smell sewage on a ship does not negate the experience by any number of other cruiser.

Unfortunately, I have experienced this on Granduer of the Seas in the Atrium and the hallways of deck 4. Also on Royal Princess in 1999 in the cabin and the hallway. I have read about it on cruise critic occuring on the Millenium and Star Princess.

Just think of the complex plumbing system on any of these ships which makes it inevitable that odors will happen.

I wasn't trying to negate the experience of other cruisers; I just consider myself fortunate that I've never had this problem.

However, I do take exception to your statements that most cruise ships are plagued by sewer odors and that they are somehow inevitable.
They are by no means inevitable and are certainly the exception rather than the rule.

We sailed on the Star Princess on Jan 6th -- our cabin was Aloha 333. Every cabin on our ship was booked -- I had a friend that wanted to join us and there was a waiting list.

I had read the threads that discussed this problem and was a little concerned. During the 7 days we noticed the smell about 1/2 dozen times. Once on our balcony but usually in different parts of the ship. However, the smell would go away within a couple of minutes. It did not seem to linger. I'm sure that many people never even noticed it.

This did not change my opinion of the ship. The Star is a beautiful ship and I will say I could not find anything else to complain about -- even if I wanted to. The boat was beautiful and very clean. The food was excellent and always available and the staff was friendly and attentive.

Would I sail on the Star again -- absolutely!! If you are interested, I have posted pictures and my diary on our personal web site at Cruise Pics

I hope I have helped to answer this question that has been haunting the boards. If your husband still wants to back out -- let me know, I can have my bags packed in an hour!!!!!!

Enjoy your cruise -- I know you'll love it.

Connie

We were on the Caribbean Princess 2 years ago - never noticed anything. Last year we were on the Grandeur and the odour was quite noticeable on numerous occasions at the back of the ship (where our cabin happened to be). We did mention this on the comment card at the end of the cruise and I did e-mail them but I never had a response back from RC about it - so I am not sure what the problem was or if it was eventually corrected.