bitsey66

Will be in port in November. We are renting a Harley for the day and hubby wants LOCAL ISLAND cuisine! Suggestions anyone please! We are there from 10-6 and like I said, renting a bike so we can get to anywhere on the island

It's been a couple years since I've been there, but I think there are. Not 100% positive though. Orient beach is GORGEOUS! Enjoy!

We've just had a wonderful 14 days on the Crown - from 16th November to 30th November. The ship looked great to us, not tired at all. The food, staff, shows were all excellent. Yes, they were painting and varnishing, but we thought that was a good thing, keeping the Crown 'ship shape' and fresh. We will definitely sail on her again. Have a great cruise JBird!

I was on the first leg of this voyage and it was absolutely amazing! I saw the painting and varnishing but in no way did that hamper our trip (or in my opinion anyone elses). Of course I encountered 2 seperate instances where one woman was bi***ing because she couldn't get her own apple juice and another woman bi***ing because they don't have ice sculptures anymore! I couldn't believe these people...I was just grateful to be able to be on a lovely ship having the best vacation ever!!!

Go, enjoy and don't sweat the small stuff!

Honeymoon cruise on Crown Princess last month was my 2nd cruise & my husbands 1st.

We decided we were going to do what we wanted and not skimp but also, not put ourselves in debt! My 1st cruise was a bit disappointing due to my friend, who had cruised before and insisted everything was a "waste of money or time" and all she wanted to do was barter/shop & go to the casino! Personally, throwing money in the "trashcan" is not my idea of fun. MY opinion, and bartering for knock off handbags is just not fun for me either. Sure, some people would've gone off solo on excursions etc, but I'm not the solo type girl & having no experience in this type of vacation, going solo was stressful & daunting.

All that being said, the things I DID learn & experience, I wanted my hubby to try it all & I wanted to enjoy it all with him. We crammed as much as we could into our trip, scheduled dining, formal nights, formal photos, specialty dining, excursions booked thru ship, with no experience I wasn't ready to risk it on our own & miss the ship leaving port), casino (HE threw $5 into a slot, won $50, cashed out and we left!) We bought 8 professional photos as well as I am a photo snob and feel if they are great pics, it's worth it to me. We shopped a bit on board and in each port, buying unique or cool things. My parents and I have a tradition that we buy each other Christmas ornaments when we travel, but only if its someplace new. hubby and i aren't interested in diamonds/gemstones, name brands, watches, art or wine so that's not even considered. We prefer things unique to that locale and while I DO love jewelry, we just can't afford thousands to pay for it. I bought a gorgeous ring and necklace, CZ for less than $100 & get tons of compliments! Also, we made amazing new friends we keep in touch with as this was not only our honeymoon but the Marine Corp Veterans birthday cruise. Hubby is a Marine and meeting brother vets while having a traditional cake cutting ceremony was truly meaningful! We are joining them next November again on the Ruby for the annual trip.

Since we experienced most everything we wanted, we have decided this next cruise will be much more laid back and less expensive ;)

"Skimping" by not going to casinos, no specialty dining, will choose anytime dining, will do exploring or excursions on our own or with the group IF its something we really want to do. We are leaning towards renting a Harley and sightseeing/beaching on either St Thomas or St Maarten, Ive been to St T twice & St M once. Won't buy anything from the ports unless REALLY different. I've already bought parents ornaments from the ports except Grand Turk. I don't drink soda but hubby does & we brought a 12pk of sprite, we are more than fine with regular coffee, tea and water. We don't drink wine or champagne, no interest in art, bingo, spa treatments and I only used a few minutes on Internet minutes when they were half off, just to check for email from my attorney & to check on his daughter in Chicago during the tornado. We do want the balcony again but would go OV if we HAD to. We will buy a few drinks each per day to try the DOD but brought our own bottled "wine" and will again.

We did and will drive to FLL. We stopped at the state lines for hotel coupons and spent $100 round trip, except for in Ft Lauderdale. We did a pkg for $130 w/room, breakfast, parking for the week & shuttle service. We will do that again but possibly stay with new friends and/or hubby's friend we met up with in FLL also from the Marines. They hadn't seen each other for 28years! He and his girl took us out on the town!

When all is said and done we had the most amazing vacation of ours lives and will again. No matter if you spend $5000 or less or more... It comes down to who you are making memories with! And what you each feel is meaningful:D:)

Sorry this was soooo long! I'm in the hospital and can't sleep! Pain meds make me chatter a lot :rolleyes::o

What's the easiest and cheapest way to get off the cruise ship, spend the day at St. Johns' beach, and return to the cruise ship? Do we need an excursion, or can we take public/private transportation?

I can't give you EXACT details of who/how much etc, but when my friend an I went, we took a taxi/jitny from port to a ferry and took the ferry to St John and then a taxi/jitny to Trunk Bay to snorkel. It was rainy that day so snorkeling wasn't good so we took a jitny back to town to check out the shops. If you're a drinker, there's an awesome little rum bar right by the ferry dock. Bone's Island Rum. You pay for your choice of frozen mix and add as much rum as you want, for like $9. I do know we spent a good bit on transportation/tips at that port. Hope that helps

Vacation is one of the rare times I drink. I might have 2-4 beverages per day as a result of that. I have no work in the morning, no obligations and I don't have to drive home. So I can let down my hair and have a few drinks with no stress or guilt.

 

I have thought about the calories and sugars involved with it... but it's vacation and I let myself have fun for a week and eat all the deserts I want as well. :) I lost 105 pounds and I know how to eat properly, one week off is not going to harm me since I have the willpower to get right back on track the next week.

I lost 104 pounds! Congratulations to you! One week of fun might only "cost" a few pounds but you come home and return to your healthy ways!!

Ghosts! :D:p:eek:

Well, like I said, we don't know for sure if he does get seasick, he did once, on a deep sea fishing boat which obviously is smaller and it was shortly after he broke his back, now it's 12 years later. We DO KNOW for sure that if he ends up vomiting (any time, any place or for any reason) it puts him in so much pain because he broke his back 12 years ago and has steel cages around his vertebraes. The heaving hurts him so that he's miserable and useless for a day or two. We want to prevent it as much as possible. I also have 4 Dramamine in my bag. All medications have side effects. He's used to the dry mouth from his Tramadol, and also has Anisocoria, so we're not concerned with the pupils dialating either.

Whomever posted to try it at home first, that's a great idea. We will do that tonight!

I was a girl scout, I'm prepared, LOL! :p

@tag- the only cruise I've been on it was rough the last 2 days, I was nauseated enough to go ask for something & they gave me Meclazine & all was well again. My husband has only been deep sea fishing and got sick. He's Not sure if it was due to his broken back & surgeries, rough waters or if he just gets seasick. It may be overkill but it's better than him being sick, in pain worse from vomiting, and having a lousy honeymoon!

We got these "just incase" as hubby has never cruised. It says change it after 72 hours, my question is... After swimming do the need changed even if it's not been 72 hours??

We are doing Celebrity Eclipse in January and are interested in an excursion that goes on the SeaWorld Explorer sub and I am concerned that I get a little claustrophopic and am concerned about the steps and is there room to move around, not like a Disney sub ride. Any info would be appreciated. Please answer me privately martyandgail@hotmail.com

We are doing this excursion in a couple weeks. I will try to remember to come back and let you know

We were fortunate to be able to book our cruise paid in full last November due to a settlement, but, as far as our spending money etc, we simply have a change box that we throw our change and $1 bills into, sometimes larger bills. We now have close to $1000 from that box since last November :D It will continue to be our "box" for whatever need arises. Vacations mostly!

I am not a coffee drinker, but even I think the concept of "coffee syrup" is just plain wrong! :eek:

I AM a coffee drinker, and this idea just left me speechless...:eek:

I had no idea there was a such thing!

13 days and counting!!!

Yes in carry on 1 bottle per pax

Thanks!

No alcohol, one bottle of wine. Check out http://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/onboard/experience.jsp and select "Alcohol Policy."

I hate to be asking this one, as I'm aware of the policy, I cant seem to remember or find the info, does the wine have to be in our carry on??

Perhaps since it's our honeymoon they will make us one of those lovebird ones! It's adorable! Otherwise, I too won't ask for them. They do have plenty to do already!

Personally I've always thought the towel animals stupid and a total waste of time. Yes, I am a grumpy old curmudgeon. However my grumpiness does NOT extend to chocolates on my pillow!

LMAO @ curmudgeon! Haven't heard that in a long time!

We also had a cabin steward who loved to make us the towel animals. Pehaps because we had brought a picture of our 2 pugs and hung it in the room. He thought we missed our pets, (which we did) and made us temporary ones!

That's the greatest story! I am going to miss our pets horribly, I always do! 2 kitties and a big sissy Rottweiler! We have a friend house sitting so at least they won't be alone except while he's at work!

This post is just for fun, comment if you wish.

I understand there are no towel animals on Princess cruises? :(! On my first cruise I EXPECTED and impatiently anticipated towel animals. Lucky for me, I was on a cruise line that makes them. However, I was ticked when they removed them the next day:mad:. From day 3 on, we stashed all the rest of them in our closet behind the clothes until the last morning and took a group picture :o

I'm not upset about no towel animals this time because we get chocolates and what woman doesn't love chocolate??!! :p

Happy cruising everyone! We sail in 16 days!!!

Save all your change during the months/weeks prior to the trip

- trade it in for $1 bills just before you leave to use for extra tips and incidental spendng. I had over $150 last cruise from doing this.

GREAT TIP...I've got $600 extra to spend by saving change or extra ones and fives in my wallet, over the last 10 months since booking

This is for curacoqueen and isa....

How far from the ship is Baoase? Can we walk there or is a bus or cab a better option? I'd rather spend the money on dinner than transportation to get there if possible. Is it far from Kokomo? One other question, sorry. Is it worth the money and is dinner actually ON the sand? (not just sitting on a patio in front of the water) I know, that was 2 questions :o

Thank you for your replies. I have plenty of earplugs :) Sometimes we sleep heavy, sometimes we don't :rolleyes:

Thank you so much for posting these menus!!! Your efforts are truly appreciated!! :)

Yes, thank you! I can see my husband and I will be trying a lot of things we've never heard of or never seen! :)

This is our stateroom...does anyone have any reviews or opinions about it? We were "upgraded", which I'm not sure what the upgrade was, other than we are now mid ship vs aft, same deck, which I'm hoping is better for my husbands back. This is his first cruise and my 2nd (1st on Princess). Seems everyone likes middle decks better? Also, how is the balcony for this room?