QuilterGirl

The captain announced some kind of issue with a generator? engine? this morning on our way into Glacier Bay, and called for a couple chief engineer-types to contact him, but he came back on within ten minutes to say it was fixed "for the time being" (the wording IIRC). Maybe someone else on this voyage heard something I missed , but it was a surprise to me when the Crown went first to Johns Hopkins/Lamplugh Glaciers and then to Grand Pacific/Margerie Glaciers, in spite of the fact that the Patter showed those visits reversed. It almost seemed as if the Konigsdam hurried up their schedule and went in first to accommodate our situation, and we d-r-a-g-g-e-d along very slowly (4.8 knots) to allow them time to do Margerie before us. We certainly stayed a minimum time at Margerie and left quickly after a 180 degree pivot.

@Valiamo, I have been on seven Princess cruises since the pause, and on none of them was a "Log of the Cruise" (or similarly named) provided. (I think that is the document about which you are speaking - it's the only paper you would get for the last day - well, that and a final statement print-out, which is also no longer delivered to your room). As the daily Patter is now only one page front-and-back, there is no room on it for a daily officer bio (but you can find officer names and photos on one screen somewhere on each ship), or for info on port agent contact information (which you should have with you if you are leave the ship on other than a non-Princess tour - and which is available on a screen in the elevator lobbies on port days if you happen to notice it), or for the expected weather, or for a call-out about special events (sometimes just "sales" but could be shows, themed meal opportunities...), etc. Not having to do with this topic... but there were no complementary blue Princess bag(s) in our room this week or last.

@sjde, if you are talking about what folks wear around the ship during the day on Alaska cruises, you see it all. I've seen midriff-baring tops, "wife-beater" shirts, shorts, flip-flops. And also folks bundled up in everything they can find, including knee-high fur-topped boots and multiple red plaid fleece blankets (and not just on Glacier Bay day). Today is a lovely day in Skagway with temps in the mid-70s, so shorts and Tshirts are not out-of-place. I think you can hardly go wrong with what you choose to wear during the day on board, as long as it's decent and suits the purposes of your planned activities. If you are talking about what to wear on Formal Night on Alaska cruises - it's a fine temperature inside the ship. It's no cooler or warmer indoors than in the Caribbean. Sure, it's likely cooler outside, but most folks don't go outside in the evening. (In Alaska, daylight lasts a long time. Personally, I feel that "formal wear" is better suited to darker times of the year, longer crossings with fewer ports, and being with people you wish to impress - think Cunard trans-Atlantics in winter with "traditional seating." It seems odd to me to dress formally when it's very light out still, when you dine at 5:30 at a table for two, and it's a comfortable temperature inside... especially when you've been wearing fleece and jeans all day. I know Princess would prefer a more formal atmosphere, but I think that's self-serving and antiquated. And it's not what I have seen in dining rooms on "Formal Nights" in my seven+ weeks on board Princess ships since the pause.)

@Italy52 Although one was "required" to have ArriveCan filled out (with resulting QR code) before boarding the Crown Princess in Seattle, I will say that in the Patter, on Sunday and Monday (days 2 and 3), there have been "ArriveCan Guest Assistance" sessions in the Conference room on Deck 6 from 9:15 AM - 1:00 PM. One might therefore infer that completion is not actually required for boarding in Seattle. We were on board the Crown Princess last week as well, and as I recall, these sessions were also available later in the week. BTW, we did not have to show any proof of having the QR code when actually visiting Victoria, which leads me to believe that perhaps the ship bars disembarkation there if you didn't do it - or maybe they chase you down on "Victoria day" if you don't have it filled out. There is also the Canadian customs/immigration form to fill out, which is provided by your room steward and is due back to him by 6:00 PM on Tuesday (for the Saturday-departing cruises on the Crown Princess).

@Artemis at Sea, on this sailing, Formal Nights are on Sunday (the day after departure) and Thursday (the sea day after Glacier Bay day). I thought it was interesting that on both the current cruise and the previous one, on Sunday the Captain included in an announcement something to the effect that "whether or not you choose to dress up, we look forward to seeing you around the ship tonight." One could take that to mean either you didn't HAVE to dress up formally to eat dinner in a dining room, or that those in more casual clothing were welcome to roam the ship in the evening (attend the show, frequent the bars, etc.) but not eat in a dining room. Don't know which he meant, but the exact same phrasing was used on both this and the previous cruise. ??? Truly formal wear has definitely not been seen to any extent on this cruise. DH saw one tux this past Sunday. Last cruise there was one dude in formal kilt-wear. Lots of black put together to make a formal-ish-looking outfit out of casual clothing. My take would be, if you have gone to some trouble to attire yourself in the nicest clean clothing you brought along, you would be welcome in the dining rooms on Formal Nights.

Cruise Director Jody is back on the mike today; I haven't been out and about enough to see if she attends events in person yet.

@Toast357, showtimes have been generally 7:30 and 9:30. This was true last week, and this week so far, for Production Numbers (the big shows). Today - Juneau - what with our late arrival and being our first port (so folks will want to get off the ship and because many excursions will run later than those showtimes), the showtime is 4:00-4:45 (one show only) with a comedian. And Libby Riddles will be in the theater from 8:30-9:30 tonight. It may be that extra shows will be added when there are more passengers (that is, three shows per Production Number) - so it is possible that show times will change by the time you sail.

No crab legs on the Crown last week, on the formal nights or any others. 😞

Someone on a previous "Live Crown Princess" thread wondered if there are actually any books in the on-board library. We "checked out" the situation on the way back from the Michael Miska magic show (which was EXCELLENT). The library has a Sudoku and a word game puzzle (both printed - grab and go), and the suggestion box for contacting the "Wake Show" hosts. There is an assortment of typical parlor games, and some jigsaw puzzles - which conveniently can be done on the long table in the center of the library. There is one wall with a quantity of donated "book exchange" books, mostly paperbacks. Another wall has Crown Princess library books, of which the vast majority are fiction and are labeled and arranged alphabetically by author. Finally, there is a small selection of non-fiction books.

@sjde, we didn't attend many "entertainment" items last week, but we did go to all three Production Numbers: Encore (which featured a guest operatic soprano), Blame it on the Boogie, and Sweet Soul Music. We had seen them all before; each was enjoyable this time around. Tonight there is a magician, Michael Misko (star of Princess' original "Magic To Do" show). Trivias today included Welcome Abroad [sic], I'll Take Trivia for 100, and Music Trivia: Through the Decades.

There was no dining room open for lunch on today's sailing. Asking the assistant head waiter in our area at dinner, we were told that they were waiting for enough new crew members to complete the boarding process, before the lunch service could be run (prepped, cooked, and served). Although they waited until the very last minute to make the final decision, in the end - what with needing a certain lead time - they were unable to pull this off. We were sad to miss our welcoming "just-boarded" favorites, but it gave us a great excuse to get pizza from the Lido deck! And ice cream!

We are on a back-to-back in Alaska - 14 days total - and were not tested after the first segment of seven days.

BTW, for those interested in self-serve laundry on board the Crown Princess, here is the information from a sign posted in each laundry room: NOTICE: Washing Cycle for One Load: 40 Minutes Requires: 1 x Bronze Coin - $3.00 Value Drying Cycle for One Load: 40 Minutes Requires: 1 x Bronze Coin - $3.00 Value Bleach & Softener: 1 x Gold Coin - $1.50 Value Reminder: Please do Not Leave Your Laundry Unattended After Drying

It's been so helpful to read other Live posts of late about the Crown, that I'm starting this thread for the May 28 sailing. My husband and I are doing a B2B on the Crown, having been on the May 21 sailing, so we are aware of the history concerning recent issues vis-à-vis this ship. Don't know how much I myself will post, so others on this cruise should feel free to jump in! For anyone interested in how B2B worked for us, we received a letter stating that we would NOT need to test for Covid (not on the ship or on the pier). We were also told that we did not have to disembark and go through Customs/Immigration in-between sailings. (We could disembark if we wanted to, and were given "Guest in Transit" cards and info on how to proceed, if we wished to get off for a few hours. BTW, we saw no Princess tours for B2B guests, ones that would return you to the pier - only tours ending at the airport.) From previous recent B2B cruises, we are aware that we do not have to watch the safety video again. We also do not have to visit our Muster Station - we are in the same room as before; if one changed rooms, I should think a visit would be in order. Our room had some issues on the first leg of our B2B cruise. We brought these to the attention of our steward, who passed the word on as appropriate. Repairs were made in very prompt order. Also, I was sent a letter saying that my Medallion was not functioning properly, and that I should bring it down to Guest Services for a replacement. They made an entirely new one. The crew has been superb - the food lovely - the entertainment great. Hope all enjoy the May 28 cruise in spite of previously-announced (and any new) issues!

Just received a letter saying that each guest will now receive (yet another) $100 in non-refundable OBC, due to ports/time-in-ports/tours missed. We have two remaining days to spend it. We are reminded that it can "be used toward all purchases in the bars, boutiques and art auctions, as well as spa treatments and shore excursions."