captainron

MS Astoria will start cruising from Puerto Penasco, Mexico in Dec 2019 on a series of 11 day cruises around the Sea of Cortez. At this point of time reservations are open and appear to be booking well. (Note MS Astoria not MS Magellan as previously seen in the news}

My question is...do we have any information on this cruise port/terminal, parking, security, etc? There doesn’t appear to have been much progress in the construction of the port other than part of the breakwater and no sign or plans visible as of yet. The long term plans for this new port are to service Arizona, Southern California and to establish the first home port in Mexico.

Does anybody have any info? Thanks and...

Ciao for now!!!

Our cruise to Hawaii has just had a change to it's arrival time in Hilo.

 

We were originally scheduled to arrive at 8am and depart 5pm. Now we are arriving at 9am and departing 6pm.

 

No big deal but I am wondering what the difference of one hour can make in a journey that long. After all these trips to Hawaii LA to Hilo why they would now change the arrival time.

 

Just curious as to what your ideas might be. Obviously a change like this has taken thought and there must be logic (I assume) behind the change. So any ideas welcome.

When an action is taken by the cruiseline and you wonder why, then the best folks to ask are those at the cruiseline itself.

Ciao for now!!!

That's one heck of a list...and a good majority of them are "decisions pending".

In most western civilized countries you have to be found guilty in a court of law before being considered culpable of an offence under any law. In the majority of the alleged cases you cite, they are "pending" decision.

Methinks you are trying to be one hell of a great environmentalist here without much supporting evidence. Don't feel bad, as there are many others on our CC boards who post similar issues without evidence supporting the case.

Ciao for now!!!

WRT your inquiry...not at all. We did 30 days on Star (Golden's sister) in a Dolphin mini and no view impairment.

If you look really closely, you will see that the lifeboats and tenders are slung under Dolphin deck, obscure Emerald Deck OV staterooms, and hang above the Promenade Deck.

Enjoy your cruise and "Escape Completely" with Princess.

Ciao for now!!!

We are booked in E626 on the Sapphire Sept 19. Can anyone give me a link to view the lifeboat location relative to this cabin, or even better any pictures from this one?

Looking at the Sapphire deckplans I'd say your stateroom window should give you a totally unobstructed view of...the starboard side of one of the tenders :confused:. Yup you are smack dab square in the middle of the thing.

Ciao for now!!!

Yes they have nightly happy hour for Suite, Elite, & Platinum members. Initially it was only Suite and Elite but was expanded a couple of months ago. They have a different assortment of hor d'oerves each night with one special drink at a reduced price. It was $5 on our April curise on the Star Princess but have heard this too varies.

I was on Star last Oct/Nov and as you said, the Elite Lounge drink of the day was USD$5. On another thread however I readthat the special drink is now only $2.99.

Well doing the Diamond (WTT/YVR) in September so will do a quality check and advise.

Ciao for now!!!

:mad:

I read a receint thread that the chef's table was rather disapointing. I was wondering if this was still the case. I'm sailing 5/8 and would really like to try the chef's table but not if it is still as lack luster as reported earlier. I'm hoping that Princess read that review and made some changes.:confused:

Don't know who told you that. It's worth every penny...er dollar!!!

Ciao for now!!!

Anyone see Steve Moris performing...if so, what ship??

Who's Steve Morris? What does he play, or sing? Is he a musician or comedian? Give us a clue coz I've never heard of the guy.

Ciao for now!!!

You beat me to it again.

The Pub Lunches on Star for our 30 day voyage were not held in the Wheelhouse due to the overwhelming popularity. They were held in the Steakhouse where it was in closer proximity to a kitchen/galley thus allowing for serving of hot food.

Pub lunch choices also include Shepherd's Pie, Bangers 7 Mash, Ploughman's Lunch and yes, Fish and Chips.

Generally service starts at 1130hrs ship time and runs til 1330hrs.

Hope this helps.

Ciao for now!!!

Winning big in the casino. If you can win enough to pay for your end cruise tab it's a great souvenir. :D

Ciao for now!!!

Hi,

I believe the Venice Carnival piece you're mentioning is "Rigoletto and Gilda" by Los Angeles photographer Weldon Brewster.

Like yourself, have had many positive comments about this piece.

Ciao for now!!!

Hi Folks,

I just recently upgraded my household inusrance policy, but Princess paper work only details the auction price paid for the artwork. Purchases from Park West on RCCL's EOS were also accompanied by paperwork indicating the appraised value of the artwork purchased.

Our insurance agent/company advised that in order to insure them at market value, they would require written appraisals, and I really do need to insure the Tarkays, Martiros and Patricia works. Has anyone ever tried to find an art appraiser? I think they're few and far between.

Ciao for now!!!

Hi Folks,

On our transcanal repo cruise to YVR on the Coral in 2006, I spent almost USD$5K on art and have not regretted it one bit.

In 2004 on RCCL's EOS, I walked away with a pair of Yitzak Tarkay's seriolithographs (Indigo Chapeau and Becky & Donna II) at an excellent price from Park West. Tarkay paints in that retro style reminiscent of the 30s, Miami's South Beach and the City of Napier in New Zealand. The colours and hues he uses in his watercolours are like a muted rainbow.

With Tarkay having studied in Israel it was interesting to note a young female Israeli artist who paints in the same style as Tarkay and who had studied in Tel Aviv. This artist who signs her work "Patricia" is known as Patricia Govezenky, and we were able to purchase one of her untitled original watercolours for USD$1600...a bargain. While in that same retro style as Tarkay, her colours are much more vivid.

On the same cruise we picked up the seriolithograph "Yesterday & Today" by Martiros Manoukian, a Russian artist who moved to the United States several years ago and it proudly hangs as the centrepiece of our living room. Price...USD$1850.00 (again a bargain).

Remembering that art like fine wine is in the eyes (or on the palate) of the beholder, I believe that there are some pieces at auction onboard that will be a treasure to you foever.

Ciao for now!!!

Hi.

I really don't think the cabin height varies any from one ship to another.

On most ships these days, cabins are prefabricated units that are pieced together much like building blocks and as most ships are similar in cabin layout/design, I doubt you'll see any difference in ceiling height.

A balcony or mini might give you more space outside to get the kinks out of the neck so to speak, but once you are in public areas you should have no problems.

Ciao for now!!!

Coki is the place for Discover Scuba in St Thomas.

The reef is even an easy 65 ft dive, and you might even get to dive with "Old Charlie" (almost a pet barracuda). He loves to swim in the bubbles from your regulator, and even lets you pet him as he swims with you just over your shoulder.

This is a great sport to get involved in as I got certified (still have the old NAUI card) on cnada's west coast 32yrs ago.

Happy Diving!!! and...

Ciao for now!!!

Bumped again There you go.

Hi Gang,

I believe the Mardi Gras, one of Carnival's first ships is the ex TSS Empress of Britain which used to sail for Canadian Pacific Steamships. She had an all white hull and superstructure with a yellow/ochre funnel which proudly held the red and white checkered house flag. She used to sail the North Atlantic Liverpool, Greenock Montreal route.

I know for a fact as I sailed on her sister ship the Empress of England. Both vessels were small in comparison to the cruiseships of today. While sailing up the St Lawrence in 1959 we passed the old three stacker Empress of Scotland outbound to Greenock from Montreal and Quebec City..

These were true old ocean liners with two classes of service, first and tourist class.

I believe that the Carnivale may have been the old Empress of Canada. She was approximately 3000 tons heavier than her sailmates and could be distinguished by the louvred design on the front of her funnel...an early attempt at diverting exhaust from her stack away form the aft passenger decks. The electricity on these ships was British at 220V.

In their later years when the company was renamed CP Steamships (and this was for an abbreviated period in the annals of maritime history), the funnels were painted green and white in the logo similar to that used at one time on the orange CP Air aircraft and CP Rail freight and passenger cars. In addition there was a matching green line painted extending below the enclosed promenade deck from bow to stern.

Hope this helps a little, and...

Ciao for now!!!