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Crown Princess ABC islands Jan 12 to 20, 2018


Bimmer09
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Oh goody another great Norris review. Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver.... and yes I am. Santiago Chile to Buenos Aires aboard the Emerald Princess next month. So great to follow you and all your beautiful pictures.

Diana

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Norris (Bimmer09), following along and loving your review. Your pictures are super! We will be on the Royal Princess in November for a 8 day cruise to the ABC islands. I hope you don't mind, but I posted the link to your review on our roll call. I figure we will get lot's of insight from your review. Looking forward to reading more.

 

Cheers - Ken & Darlene

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Norris, these photos are even more fantastic than the ones on your last review, especially the one of the waterfall. Which Canon are you using? I've been hoping to buy a camera and this is wonderful.

Hi Taer- I was following your review before I boarded the Regal but on the ship even though I had 250 free minutes loading CC was a minute-burner. I'll get back to it soon as it was a bright and breezy read. Kudos!

The waterfall one I had taken before two years ago in daylight and I went to photograph it again, thinking it would be lit but it was in complete darkness. I could only see the white foam where the fall hit the black water. The camera is a Canon 6D Mk II and I got it last day of July 2017 when it came to the stores. The ISO was at 12,800 but the camera can go up to 40,000. I hand held it at 4/10 of a second to get the water to look silky.

My favorite of the photos so far (as I haven't seen all of them since I took them) is the 6 a.m shot of Carnival Conquest coming into PE. That was at 20,000 ISO at 1/50 second, again hand held. My other camera, used in zoom shots, is a Canon T3i which maxes out at ISO 6400.

The 6D Mk II is full frame, touch screen, wi-fi (operated remotely by my iPhone) has GPS and a 360 degree swivel screen for taking selfies.The two shots I just mentioned used my walk around lens a 24-70mm L with image stabilization. I am learning to use the camera. I shoot in Aperture Priority in RAW so all the pics have to go through Lightroom which I enjoy using.

The camera has its own FB page where some very expert photographers show what it can do. I am learning to crawl.

Thanks for the comment and compliments!

Norris

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Norris (Bimmer09), following along and loving your review. Your pictures are super! We will be on the Royal Princess in November for a 8 day cruise to the ABC islands. I hope you don't mind, but I posted the link to your review on our roll call. I figure we will get lot's of insight from your review. Looking forward to reading more.

Cheers - Ken & Darlene

 

Ken and Darlene, thanks for the roll call idea- I certainly don't mind as it can only heighten anticipation for the Roll Call members and maybe bring some new readers to my reviews.

All are welcome!

Norris

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Norris, I'm here! Much earlier on than your last review, the one when I was fortunate enough to be in the ABC islands when you started writing it! I'm excited to see those islands we enjoyed so much through your eyes, and, of course, through the lens of your wonderful camera!

 

I think I may have to consider staying in that Marriott the next time we cruise out of Ft Lauderdale. It looks beautiful! Do all of the rooms have balconies, or just the suites? After our last trip, we decided that even though Ft Lauderdale is normally just a 3.5 hour drive from our house, we can't always count on everything being normal. :eek: We did drive to FLL the day before our last cruise, and were very glad we did. We plan to do the same on any future cruises out of FLL or MIA.

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We are on her in December and it's our first with Princess so of course I want to know about the most important thing.... dinner! Bring on the food porn please :D

 

I'm already comparing the sea day picture you put up of the pool/sun deck against the sun deck of the NCL Escape on sea days- such a different kettle of fish! And by that I mean you could actually fit a fish (in or out of a kettle) between the loungers on the Crown...

 

Squish- welcome and where are you in the UK? I am British and an ace at geography. FOOD PORN is guaranteed as I photograph everything we eat while on vacation. It raises some eyebrows in the MDR as I drag my huge bag along with me.

Thanks for the comment!

Norris

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Squish- welcome and where are you in the UK? I am British and an ace at geography. FOOD PORN is guaranteed as I photograph everything we eat while on vacation. It raises some eyebrows in the MDR as I drag my huge bag along with me.

Thanks for the comment!

Norris

 

Just wanted to ask - were you in the Sanctuary at all? I did see a man with a large camera bag there.

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Yay, Norris and Carol are back from the ABC's!! I've been waiting for this review since I finished the Royal review just a few short weeks ago! I can't wait to hear of your adventures on the islands as we will be doing this itinerary in November, on the Royal. Also looking forward to your review on the Crown as we sailed her January, 2017 for 14 days and enjoyed the ship very much!

Cheers!

Tracy

 

Tracy, so good to see your name pop up again! I have so much"stuff" in the can and in my head and in Carol's notes to share. But all in good time as I have a life to lead and a job etc.

I have all the Patters to scan, videos to watch as I don't check them after I shoot them as I am usually wrestling with 2 cameras around my neck. 1300 photos to tweak in Lightroom.

Sunrises- I got them.

Sunsets-for sure

All meals-of course

Docking and sailaways-yes

Shows-I was there

90% of the ship-yes ma'am

Island excursions in photo and video-indeed

Champagne waterfall, Captain and Officers, Culinary Show, Bands, Deck parties, MUTS

Lots of night shots of the ship and ports

Sunset yacht cruise in Aruba

Glass Bottom Boat in Bonaire

Ostrich Farm in Curacao with the ship's videographer in tow (Carol featured in the Reflections DVD)

Butterfly Farm in Aruba

In short-lots of material to waffle on about.

Unfolding day by day...

Norris

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Just wanted to ask - were you in the Sanctuary at all? I did see a man with a large camera bag there.

 

Yes, we booked the 4 sea days upon boarding so I was up there 4 times with the large black and green Canon bag. I never stay for long as I smoke and am restless and there's always a vase somewhere I haven't photographed. We were very well looked after and it was nice to see the Maitre 'd who is responsible for the food and service up there come through several times to check that all was OK. More on Neville Saldanha later.

I was seldom without the camera bag-took it to every meal and every show.

Norris

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Yes, we booked the 4 sea days upon boarding so I was up there 4 times with the large black and green Canon bag. I never stay for long as I smoke and am restless and there's always a vase somewhere I haven't photographed. We were very well looked after and it was nice to see the Maitre 'd who is responsible for the food and service up there come through several times to check that all was OK. More on Neville Saldanha later.

I was seldom without the camera bag-took it to every meal and every show.

Norris

 

Yes, I did see you! Can't wait to see all of your pictures! We had been to Aruba and Bonaire several times before and my husband took a 'leave of absence' from taking a lot of pictures on this cruise. When we cruised from Venice for 12 days in October, he took over 1500 pictures that we still need to organize.

I agree that they take good care of you in the Sanctuary! We are addicted to the afternoon tea served at your lounger:D

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I am dying to get you onto the ship with us so am pushing the narrative forward although I would love to respond to everyone who has commented. All in good time.

After 7 hours sleep I was up at 5.30 without an alarm (Spidey sense). Looking out the window I saw the Crown heading to port. I quickly set up the tripod to get a zoom shot with my weakest lens.

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Now things had been going well for us-flight landed early after leaving Chicago late (just 15 minutes), hotel suite was a huge bonus, great meals. One thing had not gone according to plan and it was this- a FB and CC friend called Chris had suggested we meet on the Crown for lunch and to that end had booked a BVE (Bon Voyage Experience). Last night I got a text from him telling me the ship would be doing a Noro cleaning and the lunch with him and his wife Brenda would alas not happen as the ship wasn't allowing visitors. We were bummed as we were dying to meet them in person. I kept checking my e mail to see if Princess would advise us to delay boarding but it never came so we proceeded as planned. I guess they had the cleaning process in hand by the time passengers were due to board. Hopefully we can meet up with our cyber friends in a future Florida sailing.

I got dressed and went downstairs at 6 and scored a coffee from the Starbucks in the lobby. There I paid $3.45 for a small cup of coffee which costs $1.89 in the real world.

The two young ladies behind the counter may have been standing on a mat coated in a sticky molasses or had some 3 toed sloth bloodline in their ancestry. I need coffee and I need it now.

 

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This why I get up early on vacation

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Sunrises and sets are always changing by the minute so I can't look away for long and enjoy my coffee and cigarette. I am up and down out of my wicker chair with the camera.

To be continued...

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Yes, I did see you! Can't wait to see all of your pictures! We had been to Aruba and Bonaire several times before and my husband took a 'leave of absence' from taking a lot of pictures on this cruise. When we cruised from Venice for 12 days in October, he took over 1500 pictures that we still need to organize.

I agree that they take good care of you in the Sanctuary! We are addicted to the afternoon tea served at your lounger:D

 

The Sanctuary is a wonderful Princess feature. It is worth it to us to spend $40 each for a quiet refined and comfortable space where we are waited on hand and foot. Carol makes good use of it while I pop in and out for just a half hour or so at a time. The Regal Princess has the most superb Sanctuary we have seen. I picked the two most forward seats starboard by the massage tents as they have a metal cover over them rather than the nylon/canvas shades which have gaps to let the rain in. I told the Serenity Steward that we had these seats before on the CB and the Lotus Spa girls broke our tranquility by their chattering between clients-he assured me he would silence them if they made a noise. That was good enough for me.

Afternoon tea-served at your lounger. Now that is special!

I did a Venice to Rome review and I couldn't put the camera down for a minute. Ocean Princess was a lovely little intimate ship but she is now with Oceania. I particularly loved being out taking pics from 5 a.m to 7 a.m in Venice. That was a highlight of my life.

Norris

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Just found your review and am subscribed. Norris, you write the best reviews and I always take away great tips and information. Keep up the great work and please post links to your upcoming cruise reports here on Princess for Celebrity and Azamara as many of us read on our iPhones and don’t have signatures turned on.

 

Looking forward to sailing with you and Carol one of these days.

 

Jackie

Solivita Lady

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Squish- welcome and where are you in the UK? I am British and an ace at geography. FOOD PORN is guaranteed as I photograph everything we eat while on vacation. It raises some eyebrows in the MDR as I drag my huge bag along with me.

Thanks for the comment!

Norris

 

Yay for Food Porn :D We live in Swindon right now but are shortly relocating to Milton Keynes (exciting I know). However we both grew up in Yorkshire (Skipton for me, Hull for him). And you know what they say, you can take the girl outta Yorkshire...

Where did you live when in the UK? I am very excited for the rest of your review! And also jealous because it's been a month of cold drizzle here.

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Now things had been going well for us-flight landed early after leaving Chicago late (just 15 minutes), hotel suite was a huge bonus, great meals. One thing had not gone according to plan and it was this- a FB and CC friend called Chris had suggested we meet on the Crown for lunch and to that end had booked a BVE (Bon Voyage Experience). Last night I got a text from him telling me the ship would be doing a Noro cleaning and the lunch with him and his wife Brenda would alas not happen as the ship wasn't allowing visitors. We were bummed as we were dying to meet them in person. I kept checking my e mail to see if Princess would advise us to delay boarding but it never came so we proceeded as planned. I guess they had the cleaning process in hand by the time passengers were due to board. Hopefully we can meet up with our cyber friends in a future Florida sailing.

 

Ah...the best laid plans of mice and men thwarted due to deep cleaning of the ship. We'll make it happen on one of your future South FL visits. At least I got the email from Princess before we drove down there!

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....and we are in Florida! And so is our luggage! Hooray!! There are no cruise ships in port today but the luggage carousel still sounds that ship's horn when the bags come out. Such a good mood-setter! Outside a lovely 72 degrees and soon Carol has a Lyft ride to our hotel.

 

(All photos iPhone 5)

 

Blue skies, nothing but blue skies... Ella Fitzgerald

 

Up Up and Away The 5th Dimesion

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Ah...the best laid plans of mice and men thwarted due to deep cleaning of the ship. We'll make it happen on one of your future South FL visits. At least I got the email from Princess before we drove down there!

 

 

Disappointed to hear you didn't get to have your lunch. I know you were looking forward to it.

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There's always some ship traffic to see in the morning

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and that ever-changing "don't you look away" sky

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Daylight come and me wanna go home (NOT!)

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As it is Florida and currently not raining we enjoy breakfast outdoors at the hotel's RIVA restaurant. After this is the packing up and attaching the luggage tags for the cruise. These are an exciting couple of hours! Before breakfast Carol had visited the new Juice Bar-the hotel has done a lot of renovating in the two years since we were here to join the Silhouette. She came away with a Valencia Orange Juice and drank it sitting on one of the boardwalks to the beach.

At 8.30 we filled up on our last American meal for 8 days.

My huevos rancheros

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and Carol's smoked salmon omelette

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After an hour or so of relaxing we checked out and called a Lyft ride to take us to terminal 2 to board the Crown which was the only cruise ship in port. It took 45 minutes to travel less than 2 miles as there was an accident at the foot of the 17th street bridge. We inched along and arrived at the luggage drop off at 11.30 a.m. The ride was only $8 including tip. Tipped the porter of course. Inside and joined the Preferred Line where we filled out the wellness questionaire and immediately called to a check-in desk. I laid down my carry-on bag to get out my Passport and boarding pass. Got our ship map and Cruise Card and then through security which was more stringent than TSA Pre.

At some point in the proceedings we passed through this new art installation

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We arrived at the waiting hall but at a time when they were boarding preferred cards so kept on walking, then up an escalator to the gangway level. The photographers were waiting and I thought I'd put on my sunglasses to look tropical as I was wearing black pants and a black shirt and a black leather jacket which said Mafia more than Martinique. I reached for my carry-on where the glasses were stowed only to find to my horror that I wasn't carrying that bag!

It was back at the check-in desk so back we went swimming against the tide of oncoming passengers. In the check-in hall the greeter ladies pointed me to a check-in clerk who had my bag. She had looked inside it and found my United boarding pass with my name on it. Phew!!

Off we went again, back upstairs, through the photographers and up the gangway for the security photo on deck 5. Wow! small Piazza thought the man who had just sailed the Regal a few weeks before. Off the elevator on Emerald deck found the red bordered carpet for port side and tramped along from Midship to the last cabin aft. Next to us the Ocho Rios Suite. I had asked my Princess booking guy to grab me an Aft suite if one was canceled last minute. That would have been a nice surprise for Carol but balcony cabin E734 it is!

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Leaving on a jet plane Peter Paul and Mary or John Denver take your pick

 

I must say that everyone, including your esteemed self, is bang on target with the song lyrics!

Welcome again!

Norris

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Thank you for your detailed reviews.

I have read them all, including non-Princess.

We will sail on the Royal kater this year.

Have never used the Sanctuary but consenting it got this trip.

Do you remember if it is totally covered or are there some places to get some sun...and, if you choose those seats, must you stick with them the entire time?

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