Emerald Review 8/29-9/5

[brianroberts2526]

Every cruise I say I'm going to do a long-winded review with photos and stuff. Never do it. This time, I will.

I love reading recent reviews before I go on a cruise, so now that I'm back I'm sure someone else will enjoy this.

 

Some background.

 

This cruise was for me and my wife (ages 26/25). We've been marred 4 years and this is our 8th cruise. We were married on the Carnival Glory. We're expecting our first baby on Christmas Day, and we wanted to get away just the two of us. (All prior 7 cruises have been with some sort of group).

 

We usually book way in advance, to enjoy the anticipation of the upcoming cruise. This was a last minute booking, after finding out how strict they are with pregnant women and their due dates.

 

I'll make some comparisons along the way, but keep in mind we have done 4 RCI cruises: all small/short itinerary. 2 on the Carnival Glory. And this is our 2nd time aboard the Emerald Princess. We did a 10 day in 11/08.

 

So to the cruise. We live in Deltona, FL we try to go out of Canaveral (1 hour drive) but this is our 2nd time in FT Lauderdale (4 hour drive).

 

Over the lat 4 or 5 cruises we stay the night before in a hotel. I enjoy doing that, it adds a day to the vacation and it's less stressful in the morning. In 08 we stayed at the Comfort Suites, but the road is so loud we couldn't sleep. This time we stayed at the Sheraton across from the airport. Used credit card points.

Some mixed feelings about the hotel.

 

That night we ate at Ernies BBQ, which we always do in Ft Lauderdale.

 

We also drove down to the beach about 5:45-6:00 and arrived just in time to watch the Emerald come in to port with lights a-blazing. Very cool.

 

 

We drove to the port. Hotel offered shuttle at a price. Price wasn't worth it IMO. Plus, last time in Lauderdale it wasn't a pleasant experience getting off the ship and getting a taxi.

So we parked, arrived around 1030or11. Sat and waited for about an hour or more, and was among the first people on the ship. Yay.

 

Wanted to do our tradition of touring and pictures before the crowds.

Then it started pouring.

So we did the scavenger hunt thing, which was ok, but you had to wait for so long at the end for the drawing. Between songs while everyone was under cover from the rain and watched the cruise director team pretend to have fun dancing.

 

It was really nasty out for most of that day.

 

We had 8:15 traditional dining. We love traditional. You get to know your waitstaff which is nice. We had Arman and Giselle (sp?). Probably best waitstaff ever.

We arrived to find our table at a table for 6. An older couple. And a couple that didn't show all week.

We are used to either being at a table for 2 or being a table with a group of friends/family. We weren't sure how it would be, I mean we enjoy going to breakfast/dinner and meeting new people.

It was nice, but it was a little uncomfortable having to be "on" for 2 hours for 7 nights in a row, I don't know if I am explaining that very well.

 

The ship. AMAZING. Last time we explored her from head to to, this time we just enjoyed the things we knew we would enjoy.

But, as far as to the eye, the ship is decorated so nice and designed so well.

And the Piazza is a favorite of ours to enjoy Vines, some coffee, and the International cafe.

 

Let me post a couple pictures, and I'll make more review in a bit of the ship and the next day PRINCESS CAYS

 

[Colo Cruiser]

Very nice, thanks.

[Layla]

Can't wait to read more....thanks!

[alwayslisad]

Looking forward to reading more :)

My first Princess Cruise is 6 months from today on the Emerald :)

[brianroberts2526]

OK, so more on the ship.

 

Dining:

As I said earlier we did traditional @ 8:15. It was in the Boticelli. I think next time we just might go against every cruising instinct we have and do anytime dining. At l;east if it is just the two of us. Another reason is the times. We don't like early seating. We love enjoying the ports and the sun and just don't like cutting it early for dinner. Also, we do like to relax in the process of getting ready for dinner, don't like to be rushed.

But late dining this time was just too late. It's 8:15 and it takes approx. 2 hours. Plus half way through you go forward an hour, so your getting done around 10, but really, by your bodies time it is 11:00, that's late for dinner.

 

The Michelangelo and DaVinci dining rooms are nice as well, very nice layout, you don't feel the people. Which is a Princess specialty. All the people on that ship, and you rarely feel crowded at all.

 

We ate breakfast once in the dining room and the rest in the buffet, which is another first for us, we usually only do buffet if we're getting off early at a port. We also didn't do any room service, which is a first.

**Comparison. Food quality, my favorite is RCI. Buffet quality goes to Princess and it's not even close. Their buffets at every meal are top notch, a lot of healthy options as well.

 

We did pizza bar once, their pizza is also better than CCL and RCI.

Didn't do the ice cream bar.

We did pub lunch once. Excellent, in the Wheelhouse bar. Meta Pie and Boddingtons.

 

We haven't done Sabatini's. We did Crown Grill last time, excellent, not this time though.

 

We did International Cafe. This time it was free, last time it wasn't. The ice cream I think they still charge for. Sat in the piazza and had coffee just about every night. Had sushi and wine at Vines, very nice.

 

Did not do any burgers or dogs at the Trident.

 

Did tea time once. We loved tea time last time, but this time our timing just wasn't good. We were always doing something around that time.

 

MUTS: Movies Under the Stars.

This is one of our favorite things. We've seen the vegas-type shows to death. And Princess, their quality of shows isn't as good anyways. BTW the Princess theater, of 17 nights on that ship, other than muster drill (another Princess plus, getting to sit down for the drill) we only went in the theater 3 times. I can't believe how small it is for that ship.

 

But, back to MUTS, we love it. Nice seat cushions, blankets, popcorn, (last cruise they did cookies and milk, this cruise they had candy at a fee, one of the many little things they were trying to sell this time they didn't last.) a huge screen, and good sound.

We did it just about every night last time. This time we went the first or second night and were rained out. Then the 2nd to last night we watched Shrek. We watched one during the day too.

 

Casino:

Smaller than it should be, and this cruise it seemed they would never open all the tables. They would have one blackjack table open and t was usually a 10$ min and no seats available. A bit disappointed with the casino this cruise.

 

Explorers Lounge. Went a few times last time, this time didn't use it at all. Great lounge though, laid out very well.

 

Skywalkers. Didn't go at all this cruise. Went a couple times for the view last time. Nice view, that's about it.

 

Club Fusion. Only time we went in this cruise was for the Princess Circle. Great layout for a lounge, very nice.

As for the Captains Circle. This get together is 100 times better than RCI's or CCL Wlcome Back.

You drink whatever you want, and the waiter is there with another one before you can finish the one you have. Complete opposite of Carnival.

 

Wheelhouse. Great bar. Closest to our room, so when we went to a lounge it was this one.

 

Also, on the same deck as Wheelhouse, 5 I think. Very nice walking deck outside with nice chairs. Great place to get away with a book.

 

Adagio, next to Sabatinis and aft pool. A nice little bar as well. Emerald has some great lounges I must say.

Speakeasy, didn't use it this time. Used it last time, enjoyable.

 

Now to the pools.

The pool decks are laid out great. You can always find one having a spot or activity you want to enjoy.

Calypso Reef. This pool I believe is the one with MUTS, so it's usually got something on the screen. 2 hot tubs and it's designed so you can sit in a bit of shallow water.

 

Neptunes Pool is similar but it's where the band and a lot of the games go on.

 

The Terrace or aft pool is really small with not very much seating but is a nice spot.

 

And our favorite is the Lotus pool.

This pool is all the way forward. A quiet area (supposedly) with some bleachers and about 8-10 Adirondack-type chairs in the shade.

On our 10 day this was our spot. We would go here every day and find a spot and relax. Quiet and secluded.

This last weeks cruise, it was impossible to find a chair. We did on a couple of occasions and it was still nice. But, on the sea days it was a mess. Super crowded and loud. Which led us to the Sanctuary.

Last time, I looked at the Sanctuary and laughed that I would never pay to relax in a chair, that's what I paid to go on the cruise for to begin with.

But, after seeing the Lotus pool look like a Daytona Beach pool, we said the hell with it let's try.

Worth every penny.

Complete relaxation.

Nice chairs, good service, shade, wind, quiet. I'm going to do that again for sure next time.

Best time for Lotus pool is after sunset.

Sports/Fitness.

We are real active. And this is where the ship is really lacking. The gym and sauna/gym bathroom area doesn't hold a candle to the Carnival Glory. And that isn't near the class of ship. The basketball/running track area isn't to par with any ship I've been on, and some of those ships are retired. I mean, they make an effort there, but not a legit effort. But, I think that has to do with their main clientele.

 

Overall, a simply amazing ship. With Princess, you get the best service by far, and Princess s the master at doing the little things that take a cruise to the next level.

Just an example, we were coming back from a long day at Cozumel and they give you the fresh towels before you get on board. So refreshing, but little things like that go a long way.

 

[brianroberts2526]

Wife at the Sanctuary

Our great asst waiter.

 

Here's a couple of pics from our last Emerald cruise so you can really see the great looks of the ship.

[brianroberts2526]

 

 

Up Next...

PORTS (Princess Cays)

[Coolmama_1]

Sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing.

[slugbug]

lovely review ... we got married onboard the Emerald Princess and are due back onboard 27/9 cant wait!

[brianroberts2526]

Princess Cays. In 08 we went and walked all the way down the beach to where there's nobody and a great view. Also some gravestones BTW.

 

This time we weren't walking anywhere with the sky looking the way it did.

We got up and had breakfast and went to the island, you could tell a lot of people stayed onboard.

 

It drizzled for like 20 minutes, beyond that it was just cloudy. So nice, we didn't want an intense sun on the first day anyways.

My wife surprised me, she packed our snorkel gear and I didn't even know. So we went down and snorkeled a bit, it was actually pretty nice. Saw a small school of squid. Do squids swim in schools? Packs? Squools?

 

Anyways, only other private beach/island we've been to is CoCoCay. Which, you are crazy if you can't have fun at either, CoCoCay is definitely nicer.

They also lay their buffet out better, maybe it's because I've been on the smaller RCI ships, but Princess Cays BBQ is a bit hectic. This time, we lounged around and went back to the ship for a late lunch.

 

[brianroberts2526]

 

Up next:

JAMAICA, JAMAICA

[brianroberts2526]

lovely review ... we got married onboard the Emerald Princess and are due back onboard 27/9 cant wait!

 

Awesome! We saw a couple people being married on board, it looked fantastic.

Our wedding was 4 and a half years ago on the Carnival Glory and it was absolutely fantastic. They do such a great job.

[slugbug]

Awesome! We saw a couple people being married on board, it looked fantastic.

Our wedding was 4 and a half years ago on the Carnival Glory and it was absolutely fantastic. They do such a great job.

 

 

funnily enough we got married 2008 onboard emerald princess a month before you where onboard ... does your marriage certificate like ours have co-ordinates as opposed to a place ???

[BosoxI]

Amazing. Two different worlds we live in. DW and I were on the same ship taking a completely different cruise, apparently. Your pix are great, your wife is lovely, and I wish your child good health and a long and happy life. I am waiting to see if we appear inthe distance in one of your pictures. Hope you got my good side.;)

[6pack]

Sounds like you had an awesome time! Is "SpeakEasy" a lounge? We will be sailing on the Emerald in 32 days :) Really looking forward to it

[brianroberts2526]

funnily enough we got married 2008 onboard emerald princess a month before you where onboard ... does your marriage certificate like ours have co-ordinates as opposed to a place ???

 

I don't remember, I'll have to check, I haven't the slightest clue where it's at. Wrong department, lol...

[brianroberts2526]

Sounds like you had an awesome time! Is "SpeakEasy" a lounge? We will be sailing on the Emerald in 32 days :) Really looking forward to it

 

 

Yes, The SpeakEasy is a small cigar lounge inside of the casino.

It's got a few couches and a nice big tv. A decent selection of cigars, and usually a steward to take care of you and take drink orders. Very nice little quiet spot.

[brianroberts2526]

I'm remembering things as I go along, lol.

The internet service...Atrocious. I remember having a better connection on a cruise 4 years ago.

Also, the CD, Marischalla (I can never remember his name). He doesn't do it for me. Last time I left feeling the same way.

 

Jamaica PT1

I booked a private tour with Peat Taylor tours. I love booking local tours with the locals. It makes sense, right?

He offers a lot of tours, and personalized one for us. I didn't want to go with the masses to Dunn River, plus the risk of my wife slipping wasn't enticing. We knew we wanted to hit a beach, but we also wanted to see something cool. So we decided on "The Cool Blue Hole", something I think only Peat is taking people to.

 

We arrived in port, like most small island ports it's super hectic. After a few mis-communications we found out our tour guide would be arriving shortly. We loaded a bus with about 6 others who booked with him as well. Then we were taken off because they were doing the Falls and river tubing. So we were asked to walk outside the port and meet up with the bossman Peat. We eventually got in a van with another guide, just us.

 

He drove us way up into the island and took us to a spot near the road and said he'd be back in a couple hours and there would be locals to show us around. Needless to say, my wife was a bit scared.

All that went away, when we realized we were at a place words cannot even describe and we had it all to ourselves for 2 hours.

 

It was the best part of the cruise for me.

 

[brianroberts2526]

[brianroberts2526]

[brianroberts2526]

[mdmomof7]

I can't believe this place! Amazing!! You have even done the impossible and made me want to go back to Jamaica!! Gorgeous!!

[vickie_bernie]

very nice, i am enjoying the comparrison, good luck with the new family and to sailing with a third person in a cabin soon :D

[CruisinFinsUp]

Thanks for the fantastic review! Looking forward to the rest!

I love your photos - keep them coming!

[jools28]

Wow........... great place and photos...... thanks keep them coming, we are doing a 20 day on Emerald Feb 6th. We wish you both lots of luck with your new baby:D love your review.