pennst8r

Beef Wellington is made with liver. Just like all liver dishes they have to hide it under a pastry but it is still there. I'll check the menu and bribe the chef if necessary.

Hmmm, I haven't had Beef Wellington on a Princess ship in a long time. The original way was with the liver pate under the pastry. I'm not a fan of liver; but, I liked the pate on the Wellington. The last time I had it -- several years ago -- they replaced the liver with a finely chopped mushroom pate. I love your comment: "they have to hid it under a pastry." :D

Thanks More Cruises and WendyG, that helps a great deal!

As for Rocketman, I did the Winemakers Dinner last December and there wasn't any liver! :eek: Seriously, there are three different versions of the dinner with four courses each and paired with appropriate wines. I wish I could remember the menu but I can't. I just know it was delish and there was no liver. Perhaps there are menus on the Princess website.

~ Roseann

I'm trying to schedule specialty dining for interested members of two December roll calls. Since I'd like to make reservations for the group as soon as I board, I need to know which nights the winemakers dinner is being offered in the Caribbean on the Regal.

Since there are other dinners involved, I need to try to juggle finding a day for Crown Grill, Winemakers and Crab Shack. I know Crab Shack is offered on formal nights (Tuesday and Friday) and Crown Grill is every night. If I know the third dinner, I'll be able to come up with a tentative schedule ahead of time so people know how to plan their time.

Thanks in advance!!

~ Roseann

I was just off the seven-day Caribbean Princess on Saturday and that was the case. No life jackets were required for those who had sailed in the past; the muster was still mandatory for all. It was recommended that first-time cruisers should take them to the drill.

It was so nice not to have to dodge trailing straps from hundreds of life jackets. My cabin mate who was on her first cruise took her life jacket and practiced putting it on after instructed in the procedure.

Oh, dddddddear! I don't think I can even speak...such decadence. WOW!!

I had an aft-facing cabin/balcony on a non-Princess ship and it wasn't for me.

Cost was more than a mid-ship balcony and I missed seeing the port view.

If I had had a corner aft cabin, my feeling likely would be completely different, as the views would include aft and side. I did enjoy seeing the wake; but I could be on deck to get that experience. Just couldn't do that in my pajamas! ;) :D

Whatever you book, I'm sure you'll enjoy. I almost always book an inside if I'm traveling alone (can't afford anything more with the single supplement) and I'm just happy to be on a ship enjoying the break from work and all that a cruise has to offer!

I can't sign into Cruise Personalizer/My Princess. I've tried on my iPhone and PC. It's very frustrating!

In 2000, we were invited to have dinner with the Staff Captain, Stefano Ravera. He's the Captain on the Ocean Princess now.

 

Eight years ago, on the old Regal Princess, the MTP cocktail party was held in the officer's private lounge. We got to take a "secret elevator" that went to a private area by the bridge where the officers stay.

 

DH and I did get to have lunch with "Captain Andy" Procter. I had made the MTP, and we also announced our engagement. We met his wife too, and they were such a beautiful couple and quite charming.

 

Anyway, nothing that exciting lately, although we usually do make the cut for MTP. I really enjoy meeting the people that work on the ship as their jobs and stories are always so interesting.

Oh my gosh...Andy Proctor! Back in the day when officers hosted tables of passengers, I was seated at his table. He wasn't a captain then; when we asked him what he did on the bridge, he said he was a driver. Quite fun talking to him and we got a very nice bridge tour one afternoon.

I also had the pleasure of dining several times with engineering officers. A whole lot less formal that what I expect it would be like to dine with the captain. ;) One of my favorites was Marcus James who was a chief engineer. Now that man was definitely a character. I suppose he's retired, too; after all, I started cruising 30- (ahem!) something years ago. :D

Thanks for the beverage package calculator. In addition to the usefulness, I learned about available drinks I've never tried. I guess if I ever got the package I'd try 'em! :D

So, after entering on the spreadsheet the drinks I'd like to have, I find I SHOULD get the package. However, what I'd LIKE to drink may not be the same as what I CAN actually drink! :eek:

I usually have two to three foo-foo drinks a day on a cruise; but, to achieve the goal, I have selected seven cocktails a day. Not sure I could keep up the pace for seven whole days. In my "real" life, I probably have one cocktail every month or so. The two-to-three drinks on a cruise are when I'm in vacation mode. Still, it would be fun to try!

Thanks again!

h3rjp, whatever you are calling your words about the Regal, I'm calling them well-written, very descriptive, interesting and a quite generous contribution of your time--and talent--in describing the Regal. I hope you continue to share your observations. Thank you!

This from news articles in the local Trieste newspaper:

 

 

Regal Princess to be delivered in May at Trieste

 

Prior to departing on Sea Trials, Regal Princess let loose the moorings and was pulled away from the berth by tugs in front of the ship yard and started the so-called "inclining test." In the atrium, the tallest space on board, a huge pendulum marked the various shifts determined by the filling and the emptying of ballast tanks.

 

With everything "managed" by computers these days, it's kind of cool to read they hung a large pendulum to mark the shifts. Sometimes the old ways of doing things are not so bad/antiquated after all. :D Reading that really made me smile. (Did that sound like an "old fart" comment?!?) :eek: :D

I haven't been on a ship's bridge in a few years but remember seeing a small ship's wheel still on the bridge, even though movements were being controlled by a joystick. There's something to be said for keeping traditions alive.

Oooo, baby, just thought of something...

The current "black" cards are now gray with a black ribbon at the top. That must really piss-off the elitest of the elite. No longer will a quick glance at their card reveal their lofty status!:D

In defense of those who wear the card on a lanyard, I for one wear clothes that many times do not have pockets. On a side note does anyone know where I can purchase the plastic that you slip your card into and then put on a lanyard.

I use a lanyard because of the no-pocket thing and the no-husband thing!

Instead of a plastic sleeve, I use an I.D. pouch that I put on a lanyard. The pouch has a clear window on one side and is solid fabric on the back. I turn the pouch around so that the solid side faces out and my black card is pressed against my heart, where it belongs! :D ;)

In the pouch itself is my coffee card, a few business cards, some mints, a couple of Advil and, when I go off of the ship, I add in my driver's license and some money. Very convenient.

Here's where I got mine: http://www.getabag.com. Scroll down to the bottom of the landing page on the left rail and it's the first item under Best Sellers.

You have to order a minimum of six, but they're fairly inexpensive; plus, you could always share one with someone who's flaunting a black card! :D

Cheers!

~ Roseann

David, it's amazing that looking at your more than 1,000 photos feels like only seeing 20 or 30. That's a testament to your talents as a photographer. I wish there were a thousand more to see.

You definitely have an eye for seeing--and capturing--what others don't see. Your photos show me how much I missed in that one week I sailed with you on the cruise.

With your obvious love of ships (and photography), I can't imagine how you can wait two years before sailing again.

May the oceans call to you in the new year...

~ Roseann

David, it was a wonderful, comprehensive review and totally honest...no "cheerleading," just facts as you--and everyone I spoke with on the cruise--saw them.

I had absolutely no complaints about the ship on my one-week 08 DEC sailing. OK, the only complaint: I wish I had been able to book a B2B. ;)

Not to treat the opinion of others lightly, but I can't imagine how everything others perceived as bad experiences weren't cancelled out by the new and amazing venues, decor, entertainment and opportunities available on the ship.

Above all, the staff on the ship--no matter the position held--was fabulous. It's amazing that, despite the hard work and long hours, every employee I encountered could not have been more charming and SINCERELY pleasant.

Your information, photos and help to everyone via the "Everything Royal..." thread and your posts and photos during your two weeks onboard are a testament to your generosity and kindness.

I can't wait to see all 3,000 of your photos and look forward to reliving all the things I experienced and enjoying all the things I missed. So much on the Royal to see and do and so little time...

All the best,

Roseann

Have fun. We Are

...Penn State!

Thank you...

Good morning from Fort Lauderdale

 

Beautiful! I look forward to seeing everything from your perspective.

~ Roseann

Ohhhh, Dave, I soooooo want to see you in that sparkly tux jacket next week. You've just got to rent that for all specialty dining events!

Cheers,

Roseann

Italian Night in the Horizon Court looks amazing!!! Lots of different focaccia, calamari, calzone, frittata, stuffed arancini, risotto, tortellini al pesto, penne, peasant pasta, lasagnas, shrimp, salmon, cheese bread, and pizza. Wow!!!

 

Gonna eat, check out what's going on for entertainment, and later an adult beverage of some sorts.

 

Ciao for now!!! :D

YUM! Calamari and risotto for me! Was the food as good as it sounds?

I can pretty much count on one hand the number of times I've eaten in Horizon Court for dinner; but this menu could change my mind about that!

Hey, Dave, I could be wrong, but are there more than 20 shirts in that closet?!? :D. And two shopping bags...someone's been having fun!

So happy you're enjoying yourself! The photos are wonderful, and not just the "food porn." But those seafood pots look fabulous; I might just have to try that one night. WOW!

Don't forget to save some experiences for next week!

Cheers,

Roseann

Yum....

 

That looks A-MAZING! I'll need one (at least) of those next week!!

So excited for you. You deserve a fabulous experience!

Cheers,

Roseann

I very very seldom order from room service but I do write grapes on my order for fruit for the cabin, I get anything on the listed items except my grapes :(

Sounds familiar! I've written in grapes on my fruit order at least a dozen times and got them once.

At night at the IC on the cheese platter, they often have teeny little sections of grapes and I get a couple. They don't seem to like parting with the grapes. I think they view them as decorations on the cheese platter! :D