**Golden Princess May 14, 2011 - Vancouver To Seattle**

[willysgrandma]

Carol, my 20 have decided not to attend the M & G - I don't want to have you hold that many spots for people who aren't interested in attending. As long as they don't hold me up that day, I will be attending myself.

[Carol & Jim]

It's okay, when I emailed the coordinator I estimated 20 people, it's a big room so more or less isn't a big deal. And, having not heard from a number of the people on the list and then just knowing that some people forget, some find something different to do, some just plain "chicken out"! So I figure if we get 20 we're probably doing good!!

I'll be there, hope you all will too!;)

[Carol & Jim]

Added Kathy! Love Zeyphr Cove! We take our dog up there to play in the lake, they have a doggy park area. Then lunch at the restaurant, good food! It's a great day trip for us.

 

Della1955………………Debra……………….Toronto

Alliegirl…………………. (30+) .…………..Richmond, BC

Carol & Jim.........Carol & Jim...................Placerville, CA

Skibear..................Tom & Karen................ .Incline Village, NV

Kath00.................Katherine & family...........San Diego, CA

jbeb.....................Jan & Ed....................Sparks/Reno, NV

auntkani...............Karen & DH......................Augusta, GA

Kyana...................Pat & Karen.& Sean....Victoria, BC, Canada

Willygrandma............................................. New York

SlyOldLady............Steve & Val................. Seattle, WA

cherrypop..............Cherie & Tom.................Delta, Canada

travelcoupletoo........Lisa & David..................So. Calif.

2BeOnaBoat........................................ ..........Northern VA

itsajoke.......................................... ................???

jauyeung.......................................... ...............???

crazycatlady0..................(4)................ .............???

hmstins................Margie..................... .......Houston, TX

bellebaby.............. Tom & Mary................ Houston, TX

gatorpwr.......................................... ..............St. Cloud, FL

karenannie.................Karen.................. ...........Utah

maple............................................. ...........Lubbock, TX

Jolie214.................Mary..................... ........Florida

[alliegirl]

I love my city and am so proud of those incredible photos. I hope we have a sunny day as we sail under the Lions Gate Bridge as it is an incredible experience. If you are out on deck at that time look left at the point (Prospect Point) incredible that's all I can say. We live in Richmond and go to Steveston on Sundays to buy fresh fish and seafood off the docks. All I can say is thank you for coming to our wonderful city. I am bringing some Canadiana for gifts.

[alliegirl]

Here are some of our names so far

 

Alliegirl -----------Mel and Trish Vogler -Richmond BC

Jo-Anne and Albert Watalla - Richmond BC

Kaz and Betty Inouye - Ladner BC

Adrien and Ruth Robert - Vernon BC

Lydia and Tom Cook - Victoria BC

Vivian Kraeling - Surrey BC

Nicole Congiu - New Westminster BC

 

I am just checking with the rest to see if they are interested

Yes you can add names if you wish, or we can wait til we get there and just have name tags to fill in. Here is the list so far:

 

Della1955………………Debra……………….Toronto

Alliegirl…………………. (30+) .…………..Richmond, BC

Carol & Jim.........Carol & Jim...................Placerville, CA

Skibear..................Tom.......................Incline Village, NV

Kath00.................Katherine & family...........San Diego, CA

jbeb.....................Jan & Ed....................Sparks/Reno, NV

auntkani...............Karen & DH......................Augusta, GA

Kyana...................Pat & Karen.& Sean....Victoria, BC, Canada

Willygrandma.................(20).......................... New York

SlyOldLady............Steve & Val................. Seattle, WA

cherrypop..............Cherie & Tom.................Delta, Canada

travelcoupletoo........Lisa & David..................So. Calif.

2BeOnaBoat..................................................Northern VA

itsajoke..........................................................???

jauyeung.........................................................???

crazycatlady0..................(4).............................???

hmstins................Margie............................Houston, TX

bellebaby.............. Tom & Mary................ Houston, TX

gatorpwr........................................................St. Cloud, FL

karenannie.................Karen.............................Utah

maple........................................................Lubbock, TX

Jolie214.................Mary.............................Florida

 

Still not sure if everyone on here is still sailing with us but we'll find out at the party!

 

Here is a beautiful photo essay of Vancouver:

http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2011/04/18/photo-essay-vancouver-architecture/

Seems like there are lots of things I've never paid attention to before until I see these photos. Just beautiful!

[2BeOnaBoat]

From last trip.

 

 

Sorry - off to find image posting instructions.

[Carol & Jim]

Can you visit Steveston on Fridays? Museums and such are open? It looked like a neat little town. Had never heard of it until I saw those photos. Those photos make you want to just walk the neighborhoods and see how he took them. Just beautiful!:)

[skibear]

Hi Jim and Carol: Yup, about 2 inches of snow greeted me at Heavenly Ski Resort this morning. Heard about the chain controls over the passes on the radio. Let it snow!!!!!!!! Got my $100 Veteran's credit. Thanks Princess! However, my TA didn't know about it. Couldn't get the $4+ Govt Tax overcharge credit! The Princess cost for the Skagway Bus/Train combo went from the $199 that I reserved to $219! Can anyone give me a clue about the ship's nightly drink specials/where? What's the recent cost of cold Alaskan or Canadian beer on board? Thanks for adding my GF, Karen! Tom

[skibear]

2BeOnaBoat: I moved from NorthernVA to paradise (Lake Tahoe) about 14 years ago. Uncle sugar now supports my mountain lifestyle of skiing and hiking. Retirement is great! I'll be passing through NoVa later this week on a Great Eastern Tour to visit my kids for Easter. jbeb (Jan & Ed): I look forward to meeting neighbors from the Northern Nevada area. I don't get to Reno very often. Carson City is a better shopping/gas destination for me when I have to leave the mountains. Carol & Jim: Don't forget the Placerville gold samples...yes! Tom

[Carol & Jim]

I was just reading through the "Princess" posts and here's a list of "secrets"(??) Tom, your drink question is in there, it says $2.99 after 8pm, good deal!

 

• Complementary plate of assorted stuffed olives at the martini bar.

• Pre purchase internet minutes before you leave you’ll get free minutes based on the package you pick.

• Escargot!!!

• Insulated travel coffee mug

• One of the dining rooms will be open for lunch on embarkation day.

• Volcano dessert, available on children's menu basically a huge banana split.

• When you open the little door under the TV for the plug, well, there are extra outlets not being used. But not if it’s a flat screen

• Ask for Egg crates, top sheet, robe, slippers, bed topper, and upgraded pillows.

• Always ask if there is a charge.

• Under your bed is more bedding.

• Cocktails for $2.99 in all the bars after 8.00pm.

• Request that the steward remove the soft drinks and bottled water from inside and on top of the fridge to make room for our own drinks.

• Request extra hangers.

• Passenger Service Desk (also called the Hotel Manager) will make a hole in our card which we hang on lanyards. They will also do that for you in the casino and give you a lanyard.

• There is another electrical point under the bed.

• Bring a roll of quarters and laundry supplies.

• If you decide to eat in a specialty restaurant you may want to make the reservation for the last night

• Sabatini’s reservation for the night that they are serving Italian food in the main dining room.

• Reservations for the steak house ask to sit at the counter overlooking the kitchen area, fun to watch the staff put it altogether and see the teamwork involved.

• The Fettuccine Alfredo!!! Plus it’s served in a Parmesan bowl, a crispy melted cheese bowl.

• Bring along a small electric alarm clock.

• On the first day, we simply ask to see the week’s menus and look over what’s happing for the week. Then make plans for the week there and then. The MD or any head waiter can show them to you.

• Can go up to the Spa to shower.

• Take 3 or 4 of those black metal binder clips or plastic clothes pens and hang them on the bottom edge of the shower curtain.

• Computer station in the Future Cruise booking area or Internet Cafe, free e-postcard, 300 character limit but you could send more than one message to the same email address if you need to get a longer message out.

• Befriending the maitre'd, the head waiter, and everyone who takes care of you.

• Appetizers and sushi are free in the Vines wine bar but not the cheese.

• When you get off of the elevator to go to your room, one side of the ship on every passenger deck the hallways have blue carpeting. The other side has blue carpeting but there is some red in that side.

• Duck liver pâté appetizer.

• Various lamb entrees.

• Last night of the cruise, head up to the Horizon Court (or the International Café) for some pre-travel treats. Cookies are always available. We put a couple cookies in our zip loc bag(s) for our travel home the next day.

• Ask for anchovies on your caesar salad at dinner.

• Take a pop-up mesh hamper for your dirty clothes.

• Empty luggage? The Steward will stow it for you.

• Find out when/where the Muster drill is and go get your life jacket. Take it with you a little ahead of time and "beat the crowd".

• Highlighters for Princess Patters and highlight times/ places/ activities, etc for the next day

• Sticky notes for when spouse sleeps in to leave a note on the MIRROR or DOOR

• Magnet to put it on the door.

• Water bottles for on shore.

• Clothes line in the bathroom for swimming clothes

• On disembarkation day if you are trying to get on an elevator to get down to the disembarkation decks, push the up button, ride up and then down as the up elevators are not full.

• We take our empty water bottles up to the buffet and fill them from the water spigots there (late at night just before we go to bed) oh and we might pick up some desserts to eat too lol!!!

• twice-baked goat cheese soufflé,

• Lobster and Scampie Dinner with a side of Alfredo.

• Purex 3-in-1 strips

• air freshner

• waterproof case, that will go around your neck and will hold your ID, cruise card, credit card etc. while swimming/snorkeling in port.

• empty beach bag a place to put all your purchases

[alliegirl]

Steveston is open 7 days a week. I recommend you go for dinner down on the Wharf. We always eat at the Sokeye City Dinner. That is probably where we will go on Friday once our daughter arrives from Victoria. Lots of atmosphere and good food. You can also have fish and chips wrapped in newspaper cones on the whard at Pajo's. Might see you there

 

Can you visit Steveston on Fridays? Museums and such are open? It looked like a neat little town. Had never heard of it until I saw those photos. Those photos make you want to just walk the neighborhoods and see how he took them. Just beautiful!:)

[DELLA1955]

Carol - what a great list of "secrets" - especially the $2.99 cocktails!! Thanks for taking time to look up!

 

Debra

[Kyana]

I might be getting my cruise lines confused but I don't think they want you to bring or wear lifejackets anymore at the first days muster.

Also when we go to Vancouver we almost always go to Steveston. Great ambiance and great seafood. Envious of anyone that lives there.:)

[alliegirl]

I feel very lucky to be living here and will be treating our daughter and husband to dinner at the Sockeye City Diner in Steveston on the Friday before we leave. I never get tired of an afternoon in Steveston, there is always something going on.

[willysgrandma]

alliegirl, is the weather warming up your way yet??? We are finally getting to wearing a light jacket here in NY. I will be flying to FLL Friday for my NCL Epic cruise and happy as heck to be going somewhere warm - it's been a long cold winter here.

[alliegirl]

The weather is warming up, Saturday was amazing but sadly, by Sunday the rain clouds had rolled in. However the weatherman is predicting warmer weather on the horizon so keep your fingers crossed. I will keep you updated.:o

[Carol & Jim]

Well, we're warming up here in No. Calif.! Good sign, maybe it will creep up north??;) I emailed the Princess rep for a second time asking about our Meet & Mingle, hope she gets back to me this time.

Everyone is so quiet.....must all be shopping and packing!!:D

[Kyana]

Pack those Jerseys, we now go to round two.....:)

[skibear]

Carol & Jim: Thanks for all the secrets!!!!! Tom

[Carol & Jim]

We have our Meet & Mingle scheduled!!:D

May 15, 2011, 11 am to 12 pm, Skywalkers Nightclub, No Host Bar.

Be there or be square, as they used to say back in the day!! Uh-oh dating myself again!!!:p

[Kyana]

will be there. Does anyone know the earliest you can board in Vancouver?:):):)

[Purfectcruiser]

Im booked also on the golden..Very excited this will be my third alaska trip!!! July last year was warm, but as far as I can see this year, May appears to be quite chilly!! any info?

[Carol & Jim]

Welcome Purfectcruiser! Make sure to come to the Meet & Mingle!!

Yes, I think it will be chilly weather. But, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a heat wave!:rolleyes: Fat chance.

 

Kyana, I'm not sure but I think around noon or 1. We sometimes take our bags early and drop them off then come back whatever time they say check in will be. There are porters that will take your suitcases in the morning.

[kath00]

We have our Meet & Mingle scheduled!!:D

May 15, 2011, 11 am to 12 pm, Skywalkers Nightclub, No Host Bar.

Be there or be square, as they used to say back in the day!! Uh-oh dating myself again!!!:p

 

Thank you for arranging this! We'll be there so we can avoid being square. Do they send around any sort of invite with PRincess like they do with RCCL? Probably not, huh?

 

Katherine

[Carol & Jim]

No invites. Probably because, unlike Celebrity, you don't register online for the party so they don't really know who is a member and who isn't. I like the way Celebrity does it better.

 

Think I should send invites to the Captain, Cruise Director, Captains Club rep, etc.? I've read that is what some groups do to get them to show up, and sometimes they show sometimes not. Might be fun to have an official or two show up??

 

Who would you all like to chat with? :confused: Captain, Staff Captain, Hotel Manager, Cruise Director, Asst. CD, Maitre'd, Captains Circle Hostess, Customer Relations Manager??

 

We can send our own invites if you want to post cabin numbers. They get delivered to your cabin from the pursers desk, or you might catch me running up and down the hall!! Here's the list for whoever would like an invite, just add your cabin number:

 

Carol & Jim.........Carol & Jim...................Placerville, CA. Cabin C614

Skibear..................Tom......................Incline Village, NV

Kath00.................Katherine & family...........San Diego, CA

jbeb.....................Jan & Ed....................Sparks/Reno, NV

auntkani...............Karen & DH......................Augusta, GA

Kyana...................Pat & Karen.& Sean....Victoria, BC, Canada

Willygrandma.................(20).......................... New York

SlyOldLady............Steve & Val................. Seattle, WA

cherrypop..............Cherie & Tom.................Delta, Canada

travelcoupletoo........Lisa & David..................So. Calif.

2BeOnaBoat..................................................Northern VA

itsajoke..........................................................???

jauyeung.........................................................???

crazycatlady0..................(4).............................???

hmstins................Margie............................Houston, TX

bellebaby.............. Tom & Mary................ Houston, TX

gatorpwr........................................................St. Cloud, FL

karenannie.................Karen.............................Utah

maple........................................................Lubbock, TX

Jolie214.................Mary.............................Florida

Della1955………………Debra……….Toronto, Canada

Alliegirl…………………. ………………..Richmond, BC