FraudBroad

We just booked the Crown for February 2018. I was wondering if about the condition of the ship. We sailed on her a few years ago and enjoyed the trip, but am curious. We were spoiled by sailing on Regal this past February.

 

Thanks

 

Ohiodoglover

I completely agree with everything you said. The last 4 Princess cruises I've taken have been on the Royal and the Regal, all within the last year. It's just underwhelming at best and a little disappointing. The Crown just looks worn out and the decor seems out of date. I'm seriously re thinking the TA I have scheduled on her for next year.

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The open seating was probably a direct result of the delayed departure (reason unknown). If not everyone was on board by the time of the early traditional seating, then they would switch to open seating for that night.

I totally agree! They moved muster back to 5:15 as well.

Just unusual!

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We were on the Crown from 3/1 to 3/25. We boarded in Buenos Aires and spent 19 days sailing to PE. We arrived in PE on time on 3/20 but because the ship had been out of the USA for several months doing the Cape Horn cruises, the Coast Guard had to do an extensive review. We were held on the ship for several hours before the government would allow us to leave the ship. Since we were doing a B2B, we were the last to leave sometime after 11:00 AM. After clearing immigration, we had to walk outside and saw the huge lines waiting to get into the terminal. We were among the first to be allowed back into the terminal then to the elite lounge. We were among the first to board long after 12:00. We did manage to make it to the MDR for lunch.

 

 

 

Our trip back to PE on the 19th, we were in the Atlantic and the seas were very rough. I was sitting in Vines that morning and waves were crashing onto the ship blocking the window! We had a lot of seasick pax including my partner. It sounds like those on the ship today got the same treatment of high waves and a rocking ship. I went up onto the lido deck and the pools were all closed with nets over them. The water was crashing up and over the short walls around the pools.

 

 

 

Disembarkation went a lot smoother on Saturday. We were off the ship by 10:00 (our choice since our airplane did not leave until !:30). There were long lines at immigration but we had GOES and were able to walk right through immigration. Be sure to have your card as they don't have fingerprint readers. It took maybe 10 minutes to claim out luggage and be out of the terminal.

 

 

 

On our 5 day cruise, they replaced the carpet around the pool area on the lido deck and they replaced the plastic loungers with new metal loungers. We saw the carpet laying on the pier before we left PE for the 5 day cruise and wondered where it was going.

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy your cruise and are able to withstand the teenage onslaught. There is nothing like teenage hormones out of control to make life difficult for the adults.

My understanding is that it's not unusual to have delays in disembarkation after the ship returns from overseas. I guess I'll find out for myself when I do the TA from Barcelona on the Royal in October...oh how I miss that ship!

They need to do a lot more carpet replacement!!! It doesn't look very good anywhere!!!

I think maybe today feels a little bit smoother, or that's just wishful thinking on my part...this is insane!!!

I'm envious of your South American adventure, that's for sure on my bucket list!

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Bon voyage! We watched the Port Everglades webcam yesterday and wondered why the ship left so late.

So do I....

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I was on the Crown the 20th to 25th. There were lots of problems getting checked in. People spent hours in the line to get in the doors. Tempers flared so much that police were called. We weren't communicated to either. People went to Muster Drill and waited to find out it had been delayed without any communication. Those problems may be why your departure time was delayed.

 

 

 

I hope your weather and high seas improve. There are a lot of people on your sailing that were on last week. They had 50 plus mph winds and lots of them were sick.

What a nightmare! We didn't have any issues checking in at all. I'd read on Cruise Critic that our departure would be delayed, but no communication from Princess or my TA. And still nobody I've asked seems to know why! So strange! Hope you had a great cruise!

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Bon Voyage!!

 

 

 

Thanks!

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Day one - at sea

I was up by six thirty after little to no sleep. The seas are rough and it makes it difficult to get a good night's rest.

After getting ready I headed outside to enjoy some sunshine and warmth before meeting my parents and friends for breakfast. When I checked my messenger is when I learned the world was falling apart. Both teens and their dad were all deathly sea sick. Teen daughter and mom were both wearing the patch...it had worked for mom, daughter not so much.

I went ahead and met my friend and parents for breakfast at 8:45. That's when my daughter began feverishly messaging me nonstop. Afterall, the love of her life was sick and what was she to do? Like "Mom, can't YOU fix this???"

I instructed her to head to the store and get some seasickness pills. $60 dollars later she'd purchased Dramamine, wrist bands and sea sickness pills. The waitress at breakfast sent us back to the cabin with three cans of ginger ale and green apples.

I help my friend get the kids settled and I headed to meet my parents for morning trivia in Club Fusion. We scored 15 out of 20, a decent showing, but we didn't win any plastic crap.

By 11:00 Florence Nightingale was hungry and I was summoned to bring her food. I ran to the pool deck to pick her up some pizza and by the time I got to the cabin she three herself into my arms screaming "THIS IS SO STRESSFUL!"

Obviously, she won't be majoring in nursing next year in college.

I left her to scarf down her pizza and I headed back out.

I made my daily donation in the casino (while trying not to be thrown out of my chair, these waves are awful) and when I check my messages discovered that the $60 in meds, green apples and ginger ale had done their trick. They were all headed to find something to eat.

I headed to the pool deck where I found them in the pizza line and we all sat down and ate together. After a nice lunch they decided to stay out on the pool deck and I decided to take a nap.

At 5:00 we all met in Skywalkers for the PES happy hour. Everyone was decked out in their finest for formal night, but our friends all still looked a pale shade of green. Their teen daughter said when she sat down "I really loved this ship a lot more yesterday when we weren't moving."

Then their dad asked what time we were docking in Antigua tomorrow. I can't even describe the look of shock and horror on his face when we told him we had another day at sea tomorrow. I don't know how much more this family can take!

The teens lasted less than 10 minutes at Skywalkers. They couldn't take the movement up there!

We met the kids at 5:45 for dinner in the DaVinci dinning room at what will be our regular table. Yanish from Hungry and John Carlo from Peru will be our waiters this week. Service was, as always, excellent. We had the beef tenderloin, spinach soufflé, and lamb. The sick kids stuck with onion soup and Caesar salad. Of course, we finished the night with a birthday cake (Happy Birthday Ryan!!!) and the wonderful Norman Love hazelnut dessert.

At 8:00 my parents and I headed to the show, Bring on the Boogie. Yes, I totally geek out to 70's disco music and I'm not afraid to admit it. The show was good but I have to tell you, I was obsessed with the fact that the singers and dancers were all wear cheap, crappy looking wigs. I mean, like I couldn't focus on anything else! Why oh why did they do that to those lovely girls? I mean seriously, they looked awful!!! And then I got obsessed with realizing that the girls in the gold sequined jump suits had big patches of sequins missing...I mean, it all reminded me of the ship...just worn out and not well maintained.

At 9:00 I headed to see if I could find the teens at the Voice. I arrived just in time to see my friend running to the bathroom with her daughter. Once again both kids were sick. We all walked back to the cabin together and called it a night.

I was up again by 6:30....I had really hoped this rolling and pitching would end and...not so much. I swear I think my friends will probably want to try and fly home from Antigua tomorrow. In the last 6 years of cruising the Caribbean I've never felt it this rough.

I'll meet my parents soon for breakfast, don't know if anyone else will make it this morning.

More later....

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Here's my "semi" live review of the Crown Princess. We left yesterday from Fort Lauderdale for 8 glorious days. We will be visiting Antigua, St Kitts, St Thomas and Grand Turk.

Background: I'm a 50ish widow traveling with my 18 year old daughter. This is my 10th Princess cruise...30th cruise overall. In other words, this ain't my first time at this particular rodeo. Traveling with us are my daughter's boyfriend's family. His parents have only cruised one time, over 20 years ago. Boyfriend and sister are 15 & 18 (18 today...Happy Birthday Ryan!!!). Also, for kicks, my parents are with us...

If any of you read my review of our Baltic cruise on the Regal last year you'll know that once again I've chosen to subject myself to a multi generational cruise. Yes...I must have lost my mind. This in and of itself is nothing new.

We flew to Lauderdale Friday evening from Milwaukee on Southwest. Very uneventful flight...the best kind. We arrived at 8:50 PM and headed straight to baggage where we waited...waited...waited...for bags to arrive. I gently suggested to the teen angels while we are waiting, why don't they hit up Starbucks, my treat. To which I they replied with eye rolls...you know the one..."mom shut up...you're stupid"...I just shrugged my shoulder and we continued to wait.

Teen angels then came up with the idea, on their very own...to go get Starbucks. They headed off for some much needed caffeine and my credit card as my friends and I began pulling the luggage off of the belt. By 9:45 we had our luggage and all we needed were our kids...who were all at Starbucks waiting for their nonfat no whip decaf chai espresso frappachino whatever's....and so we waited...and waited....

The kids appeared and we headed for the hotel shuttle. We called and they said they'd be right there. And so we waited...waited...waited...and the shuttle finally arrived. We were staying at the Holiday Inn Express on State Road 84. Our driver, Keith, deftly loaded our bags into the van and we were off. Or so we thought. We were stuck in grid lock hell. We crawled around the airport, stopping at each and every single terminal, picking up more people and more luggage.

After finally having all of the people and all of the bags, we headed for the hotels. Yes, that's plural. The shuttle services FOUR hotels. And obviously our was the LAST stop. We finally checked it at 11:00. We were exhausted and headed to bed.

The hotel was clean, the air conditioning in the room worked well and the shower pressure sucked. They offered a free breakfast that was nothing to write home about.

In the morning my friend and I took our lives into our own hands and walked across the street to the Winn Dixie to pick up a couple of items we needed. Mainly cranberry juice for the vodka we'd pre ordered for our cabins. After all, we are traveling the teenager, can you blame us?

We'd called the hotel before we'd left home and asked if there was a grocery store nearby and they assured us that there was one right across the street we could walk to. They just didn't mention the road was six lanes with cars traveling at 45 miles an hour in both directions. But hey, I'm up for an adventure and my life insurance is up to date. Why not give it a go?

We survived the run across the road in both direction and got back in time to find the teens wolfing down breakfast. Or at least the almost (no until today...Happy Birthday Ryan!!!) 18 year old boy was wolfing...the girls were both picking at fruit and yogurt with their "it's morning don't even think about talking to me" faces.

My parents texted at 10 that they'd dropped their bags at the port and were headed to the hotel to pick us up so we wrangled the luggage back down to the lobby and met them out front shortly after. They took my daughter and a bunch of bag while the rest of us took an Uber XL for $20. A much better deal than the $8 per person cattle car that the hotel offered.

We were at the port and in line by 10:45. The doors opened around 11:10 and we weaved our way inside until we were at check in. We went in one direction (our three cabins are on Baja) and my parents in the other (Emerald). We met back up after check in was done and they escorted us upstairs to the Elite lounge. Nice coffee, juices and pastries were waiting.

We only waited 10 minutes and boarded the ship. Let me just say that the last 5 Princess cruises I've taken have been on the Regal and the Royal. We boarded the crown and while I expected to be wowed it was more like being underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, she's pretty...she's just not gorgeous like Royal and Regal are.

After dropping our bags in the cabins we headed off to explore. Teens in one direction and adults in another.

Adults, appropriately enough, headed straight for the bar for our first cocktail. We met another group from Chicago who were all decked out in their Cub's WORLD CHAMPIONS finest and we helped them fly the W flag they'd brought along. Teens showed up just in time for the birthday boy, who was also wearing his WORLD CHAMPIONS finest to jump in their family photo.

At 12:30 we regrouped at the Botticelli dinning room for lunch. The majority of us ordered the beef tenderloin (amaze balls) other had salmon or ricotta and spinach ravioli. All of the meals were excellent. And yes, I had my traditional orange soufflé and it rocked.

We headed back to our cabins and found our luggage had arrived so we all got unpacked and organized. My teenager felt the need to take all of the hangers and any of the conveniently located storage drawers and shelves. I now need to either crawl on the floor or get a stool to reach anything. Thankfully our cabin steward was quick to bring my extra hangers so I won't be wrinkled all week!

Outriggers for another cocktail after unpacking...the lines for drinks were endless and then muster at 5:15. Our departure had been delayed until 7:00 and I still haven't found out why.

At lunch we'd been told that all dinning rooms were "open seating" that night. We were scheduled for early traditional so I wasn't thrilled to hear this news. Again, no explanation as to why.

We met in Skywalkers at 6:00 for the PES lounge. It was chips and guacamole night, a personal favorite. My daughter and I were the first to arrive and waited for someone to come take our order. I didn't see any servers so I headed to the bar to order my drink. I was told to have a seat, someone would be out shortly. No problem!

So we sat, my parents arrived, our friends arrived...and we waited...and waited...and waited...and waited...and finally out of nowhere ELVIS arrived and was able to bring us some much needed libations.

After happy hour we headed down to Botticelli for dinner. We were told there was a 40 minute wait for a table for 8, and he told us to head to the Michelangelo dinning room, they had tables available. I'm pretty smart and think on my feet (sometimes) so I asked him to call and MAKE SURE a table would be available. After all, teen wolf hadn't grazed in a couple of hours and might get a bit testy. He made a call and then told us to head to the Da Vinci dinning room and a table would be waiting.

The food at dinner was great, service lackluster. It wasn't the fault of the waitstaff...tables were being sat too quickly and they couldn't keep up. However, our meals were excellent and the company outstanding! We had the port tenderloins, sauted basa fish, prime rib and the Curtis Stone seafood stew. Most skipped dessert as they wanted to catch the show. I stayed with my mom while she enjoyed the flourless chocolate cake.

I headed to the casino for a bit after dinner and was back in my cabin to clean up before bed by 11. It had been a very long day and I was exhausted. The ship was really starting to rock and roll and I was a bit concerned about our friends, all whom are susceptible to motion sickness.

I took a shower and was promptly assaulted by the shower curtain. If you don't believe me just read ANY review by Tracie ABD and you'll understand. I should have had that damned thing arrested.

Ship was really rocky all night long which meant a restless night's sleep. My daughter, parents and I are fine but our friends, not so much.

Headed to trivia now....will continue more later. Please feel free to ask questions and I'll answer when I can!

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I'm scheduled to leave on the Crown on Saturday and our departure time has been moved back to 7:00. Have your heard why that is by chance? Thanks!

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Can anyone who has recently sailed the Crown let me know what the hairdryer is like? Do you have to hold a button down to get it to work?

Thanks!

We were there last month and were very disappointed.

You can get loungers and umbrellas on the beach but you have to pay for them. After having spent $65 on the day pass, I wasn't about to spend money on loungers and umbrellas on the beach.

We headed to the pool and we did find three loungers together, but the umbrella didn't work. We asked for help but no one ever came over to help us. Thankfully it was somewhat overcast that day and we weren't sitting there frying in the sun!

We were told when we arrived (9:30 am) that there were chairs on the beach (not so much) and that the bars were open. Bars didn't open until 10:30...couldn't even get a glass of water until 10:30.

The lunch was okay, but nothing to write home about.

The beach is beautiful but the pool area left a lot to be desired. Most of the pool tiles were chipped and the water was FREEZING.

We talked to a couple of ladies who'd been staying there for the week and asked them what they thought. Their response was "it's a 2 star resort." That pretty much summed it up!

For us, Jolly Beach Resort just didn't cut it. I'd much rather spend the day at a beach and pay as I go. This particular all-inclusive just wasn't worth it to us.

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I actually had the same question!

I've been to Valley Church beach before and it's beautiful. What I didn't care for was how crowded it was and the steep drop off into the water.

Last month when we were there we did a day pass at Jolly Beach Resort and were super disappointed. Our original plan was to go there again next month but we were so disappointed I wasn't about to go there again.

For next month we went back and forth about where we wanted to go. I've read so much about Beachlimerz recently I reached out to them to see what they offer. Here's what's included in their "day pass"

DAY PASS INFORMATION

​​​ CRUISERS ONLY

Day Passes are USD60 PP (including tax). The Day Pass includes the following:

(a) Use of Water Sports equipment (kayaks, body boards, standup paddleboards, snorkeling equipment)

(b) Use of Chaise Lounges and Beach umbrellas

© 2 Rum Punches (OR 2 Wadadli Beers) AND 2 Waters per person

(d) Beach BBQ - Ribs, Chicken, Fish, Hamburgers Sides - Fries, Potato Salad, Grilled Vegggies, Rice, Sauteed Potatoes & Green Salad.​ Dessert - House made Bread Pudding drizzled w/coconut rum sauce.

(e) We are located seconds from Fort James itself and some guests enjoy a walk around the old Fort which itself dates back to the early 18th century and retains most of the old structure .

Groups of 10 or more pay USD53 PP ( including ABST).

Distance from port - about 2miles. Currently taxi cost is US$3 per person each way.

When we started to figure out how much it would cost us to spend the day at Valley Church we decided the day pass at Beachlimerz was well worth it.

The cost of the cab round trip to Valley Church is $16 per person....cost round trip to Beachlimerz is $6 per person. By the time you pay for a few drinks, chair, umbrella, and lunch at Valley Church you're paying the same as the day at Beachlimerz but without the water toys our teens want.

The kids want the paddle boards and kayaks so ultimately we chose Beachlimerz. Gail is super nice to work with and the beach pictures look just as pretty as Valley Church, just on a smaller scale. And hopefully, without the crazy crowds!

We come back from our cruise on April 2nd. I'll let you know about our experience as soon as we get back!

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What is the earliest time we can begin checking in at Port Everglades? What time do the doors open!?

 

 

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When I cruised on the Royal last month we arrived at 10:30 and waited in line until they opened the doors around 11:00. Please note, preferred line enters first...so if you are not Elite or Platinum the wait can be a bit longer. My mom had gone to park the car so when the doors open I waited to the side for about 10 minutes before she got there. They were still only letting people in that were in the preferred line. We walked right through security and into the check in line and were on-board by 11:45, not having to even sit and wait as the ship was cleared.

When we sailed in December on the Royal it was a similar experience, except the ship didn't get cleared as fast and we sat and waited after checking in until almost 12:15 to board the ship.

Hope this helps!

We will be on the 3-25-17 sailing of the Crown Princess. I saw on You Tube that there is a FREE phone app for on ship texting. It mentioned you cannot download the app until you are on the ship. Can anyone verify this and have you used it? Thanks for the info from those in the Know.

It's not an app but you use your web browser (Safari on an iphone). You connect to the ship's intranet and set up an account and are able to "message" other passengers on the ship at no cost (note, you do not need to be connected to the "pay for" internet). You do have to jump through a couple of hoops to get people added to your "contacts" (people sharing a cabin are automatically added to your contacts once they set up accounts). The only downfall to this is the only way you know if you have a message is if you check. There are NO alerts with this system, meaning no notification of a message received.

When you get on the ship connect to the ship's wife and in your browser go to crown.princess.com

Once there you click on "create account" and you can get all set up to use the service.

Good luck!

Will be in Antigua next month with three teens that like to paddle board, kayak and jet ski. Which beaches are the best for water sport rentals? Thanks for the help!

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We were in Antigua last year and went to a private beach called beachlimerz. It's owned/operated by a couple. It's incredible, quiet, gorgeous....chairs/umbrellas, unless it's changed, food is included. You can email her. Her name is Gail

Info@beachlimerz.com

They picked us up at port. Great day!!!

Can you proved information on the cost for the day and what all was included?

Thanks so much!

The wine you're "allowed" to bring on has NO "corkage" fee. You can drink it anywhere.

That's incorrect. If you take the bottle to the dinning room or a specialty restaurant you may be charged a corkage fee. Now, I've had times in the main DR when I wasn't charged a fee and plenty of times where I was. Last month on the Royal the head waiter in Crown Grill waived the fee, but we were charged the fee plus 15% gratuity in Sabatini's.

They also add on 15% to the corkage fee when you bring your own wine to the dinning room.

I've been to Antigua before and did an island tour. This time I'm looking to spend the day at a resort. I've narrowed it down to three resorts and can't decide which one to choose. I've seen good reviews of all, however the prices are quite different (all are food and drink inclusive). What are your thoughts?

 

Blue Waters Resort day pass - $125

 

Sandals day pass - $100

 

Jolly Beach Resort day pass - $75

Having just been to Jolly Beach in January here's my opinion...skip it. We were not impressed. We arrived around 9:30 in the morning and were told the resort was ours for the day....go have fun!

There were NO chairs on the beach, let alone umbrellas for use. We made our way to the pool where we found chairs, but the umbrella didn't open and even though I asked two different people for help, they never came back. None of the bars opened until 10:30, couldn't even get a glass of water until then. I was told we could "rent" chairs and umbrellas on the beach...like really? I want to do that after paying for a day pass?? I'll skip it...thank you very much!

The pool tiles were all either chipped or missing, just generally looked very run down. The water in the pool was super cold as well, not inviting at all.

We met some nice ladies by the pool who'd stayed there for the week. I think they put it best....it's a 2 star resort...Period.

Wish we had just gone to a beach for the day, I personally won't ever go back to the resort. A big let down to say the least!

Can anyone tell me the smoking areas on the Crown? Sailing in March...thanks!

Can't wait to read your blog. I lived in Brazil and can't wait to hear your thought son Iguazzu falls and Rio. Two of my favorite places on earth! Have a great trip!

Don't judge ;) My mother is a wine snob and would much prefer to bring her own wine on a cruise- even if she has to pay a corkage fee. I see that Princess Policy is 2 bottles of wine per adult can be brought on without the fee.

 

Question is--my son is 18. We are doing a cruise in the Baltic this summer. Can he carry on 2 bottle of wine? I know on a US based cruise he could not, but it appears the drinking age for European cruises is 18, which makes me think he could carry on wine? That would be an extra 2 bottles without the corkage fee, which would be nice.

 

Just wondering. thanks!

One bottle per adult....and you can also bring one bottle per adult on in each port of call.

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I'm going to be on the Royal's next cruise (1/29 with the other Eastern Caribbean itinerary) and it's my first time with Princess, so this really whets my appetite. Is the donut in your picture the one from the International Cafe? If so, looks yummy!

 

 

 

I noticed from your Patters that Ron Goodman is the CD. The email that I got was from Kelly Rose. Not that it's of great importance since I don't know either of them, but is there any way you could find out which one is going to be the CD for the 1/29 sailing?

Ron leaves on the 29th as does Tobi...Kelly will be the cruise Director stating the 29th!

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Tracie-

You can always ask the cruise director's staff to substitute the prizes for the elusive magnet. They're always happy to do so!

If not, I got three on my last sailing and I can mail you one [emoji12]

I really hope the shower curtain is still behaving itself!

Cheers-

Nat

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Yes you will! And I'd assume a transfer from the cruise line will be the easiest way to get to the airport.

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