Nelsj099

Where are you going?  If Alaska I would take the Crown... because it goes through the inside narrows to Vancouver that the Royal can't go through.  I spent 21 days on the Crown last summer and I was on the Royal in April.  I like the smaller ship vibe a lot better, but I also had a great time on the Royal. I will be on the Royal to Alaska in a few days, but it had to do more with the dates that I have to be places this summer and being able to stay in 1 room for back to back sailings.  If you are talking about doing any tender ports.... Crown is also much better, the lines for the tender in Port Aurthur and Kangaroo Islands were hours long (Australia).  I plan to be back on the Crown next Chinese New Year... 

I would also do Lake Bennett I have done a few of the train rides as well but I loved the Lake Bennett route last year! 

11 hours ago, Veinless said:

That is exciting! I know there were some problems with the rollout initially; great if that’s been fixed!

 

Do you know if it also counts as two cruises with respect to Captain’s Circle loyalty?

Yes it does count as 2 cruises with 2 bookings. 

I book as 2 separate and have done it a few times.  I buy Premier so that restarts on each reservation, 3 prints and 2 speciality dinners reset after the first 7 days.  So you double those benefits.  I book with casino comps so I have to pay 2 deposits.  I don't know about shareholder perks. 

It is fun, I was looking at booking it again.  But, the price is higher this summer than last summer.  I am not ready to spend 200$ for 60 seconds either.  I got the T-shirt. 

There were a few people on my cruise last January who went over the packaged 15 and they just had to pay for their following drinks.  No one seemed to care, they were drinking beer in the casino they kept getting drinks. 

I have used mine for the past 3 cruises in the casino. 

Last summer I did the Crown to Alaska, causing the narrows was beautiful.  I am on a Casino fare, and the difference was more than 6000$ to take Royal.  So I booked a balcony on Royal, I am concerned about the size of the ship, but I know it will be Amazing either way.  6000$ will buy a lot of excursions.  

This is part of why I booked the Voyage of the Glaciers 14 nights as 2 bookings of 7 days each.  I figured this scheme last year when they were shocked that I got more free prints in the photo studio.  I was like it is a different booking so I get a new round of benefits.  I also get 4 cruises on my status (sailing solo) instead of 2.  It was more deposit money... as a casino comp that went up by 200$ but I get that back as OBC when I board.  All in all a good deal.  But, it should be fixed by Princess. 

I would say Grand for the windows in the casino.  I loved sitting there and being able to see outside.  I felt like the Crown was in a dungeon, and the Island well it was small. 

2 hours ago, wolfie11 said:

Was the lecture boring or were you just tired?

It wasn’t only me. I was with 2 other peashooter had slept and they felt the same.  The person on the other side of me spent the whole time yawning.  And probably 15/20 people stood up and left in the middle.  If you have done 10 minutes of research on Alaska none of the information was new. 
 

2 hours ago, gottagoacruzn said:

Hey Nels, when you took pictures at dinner, did you use the flash?

I did not.

Today was a good day. I spent the rest of the morning sitting in the aft deck by the terrace pool in the sun. We saw some porpoises. I went to the lecture on wildlife and almost fell asleep.  We also saw a whale.  I then went to the casino… and donated some money to princess… I have 1400ish points now.  I played a few hours on the tables and a few on the slots.   We also did a group pull. 
 

I went to dinner at the crown grill! It was delectable.  
 

I did miss the whales bubble feeding.  I hope I can see them another time. I am still on the lookout for an orca and a breaching whale it may take for the rest of my life.  But I will keep looking.  😂

When I was changing into my dressy jeans for dinner, we got an announcement that our port stop in Sitka will be delayed due to yesterday’s multiple delays. I was able to contact my tour provider while at dinner and he can reschedule me for next time on Father’s Day.  Sorry dad I’m going kayaking.  

5 hours ago, arizonaperson said:

Usually the buffet. Some evenings in the Platinum,Elite, & Suite Lounge.

If op doesn’t answer, this is where I have seen it.

I got it from room service.  

8 hours ago, gottagoacruzn said:

Oh nice picture of you upside down. 

I can’t flip them on my phone.  When they uploaded like that, I went in edited them on my phone made them upside down on my phone and reuploaded them.  And they were still upside down. And I gave up.  I don’t have a computer this summer so it is what it is.  😝

Did a quick photo walk to get some steps in before everyone wakes up.  

Good Morning from Day 2 and a slightly behind schedule Crown Princess cruise. I am on the crown for 20 more days and am happy to call the Caribe Aft home for the next few weeks.
To get here I flew to Seattle via Emirates (the long way) from Hong Kong.  Which is my home airport for where I live in China as a teacher.  Wooohoo happy summer break with open borders!  I took the train up from Seattle to Vancouver and stayed at the Cambie Hostel.  This made for a short 39 hour long June 1st.  

People talk about boarding in Vancouver.  It was fine. I dropped my 2 way to heavy bags off at 11:16 and was in my room by 12:30.  There were some lines and people struggling with the US customs kiosks. But immigration was fast.  (Remember what I said earlier about living in China this may be relative to my own life.) 

Once on board I came to my room unpacked and watched my safety video, unpacked my carry on and filled in some information needed about my weight for balancing a helicopter to fly to the glaciers in Juneau.  I went to check in to muster station E, drop my paper off to shore ex staff and headed to Botticelli for some lunch. I had the salmon no starters no dessert (remember I’m here for 21 days).  

After wandering about, a really sugary Ultimate Cooler and some G&Ts I watched the sail away show for a bit before heading to my sail away party for 1 in my cabin with guacamole and chips. I had to shoo away massive seagulls but enjoyed my snack. But we still weren’t moving.  As we finally pulled away from the dock, and I was done with guac, I headed up to the Terrace pool to meet some people from our Facebook group.  Sail away was lovely with about a 5:30 pm departure. 

Only to make it just under the bridge before the captain came on to say, we had to stop for a medical emergency which took about 2 hours sitting waiting for the coast guard and then medical team to return from escorting the passenger off the ship.  I hope he is doing well.  

We finally picked up the anchor and we’re back off to Alaska?  I stopped in the buffet (which is small) for a light dinner. I had the mushroom chicken a few bites of potatoes and some stir-fried veggies. The casino wasn’t open so I was going to my room to “wait”. When I fell asleep sitting up with all the lights on only to wake up around 2:40 this morning.  Guess I missed it. 2:40am is 6:40pm my standard China Saturday afternoon nap just ended, oops hope that I can beat jet lag to day then. Hope for the best no naps. 😂🤦‍♀️

Now we are sailing through Northern BC in the narrows near Bloedel now. The coast is just meters (oops yards) off the side of the ship. Not that you could touch it but It’s narrow.  Alaska here we come.  We did have to do one little turn around  to come in I don’t know why but we made a hard turn and about face before we came in the second time we approached. 

Right now the pink sky is peeking from behind the mountains. So I am going to order a coffee and keep watching!  

Thanks Coral! 

I am cruising on the Island this summer.  I have read all of the negative reviews.  I am also cruising on the Crown this summer.  Which has had horrible feedback since last summer with the engine issues.  I am sure both will be fine.  I am really there to look out the window at the glaciers, fijords, and wildlife while sipping some vodka by the Ultimate Texas Hold'em table or a slot machine.  The food will be fine, the decor will be fine, the vodka will be cold, and crew will smile and do their jobs that require them to work obnoxious hours every day for little money.  I am not complaining about anything the 36 days I am spending at sea this summer cost less than my Emirates flight.  

Ideas for some Island benefits -

• Small - less people, easier to get on and off the ship 
• Cheaper - all those people want to be on the big fancy ship with all the bells and whistles 
• Better Ports- Island is a smaller boat so it can get into some of the more difficult to dock and reach ports.  

This has been happening a lot lately @Guardsy they have been overselling the ships. 

On 5/17/2023 at 8:26 AM, Coral said:

I have been there 2x, once as the Soviet Union and later as Russia. There are some foods I do like there.

Me too! 

I chose Princess for my dad and I this summer.  He struggles with Princess all the time.  He tries to call them.... because he can't make the website work.  Let's say it will probably be his last cruise . 

There are actually a few Russian foods that I miss.  But for those who are not as adapt to Russian food... Asuka Chocolate? 😄

I loved the Russian shop you shared, it reminded me of when I lived in Russia.  (Tatarstan)  I hope to find some tasty Russian treat while I am there in June!  - Thank you for continuing to share! 

@hairbflo I am getting in just before midnight.  I understand what you are saying for sure.  I booked a hostel to pretend like I am going to sleep before boarding.  I will be flying in from Asia so the time difference will be killer too.   Jet Lag is real.