LIVE from the Grand Princess - 49 days from FLL thru South America to SFO

[trbarton]

Pia1913, were these the night lights you purchased? We found them best for adequate light and yet did not disturbed anyone when the door opened.

 

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af114/Yarkerhill/31zgknv1MCL__SL500_AA300_.jpg

 

Where do you purchase these night lights from?

 

Tom

[trbarton]

Hey! That's the same nightlight I purchased for our Hawaii trip last November. Minimal light but enough to get by. We found them at K-Mart though...

 

I've looked at the KMart web site. Can you post a link to which night light it is?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom::)

[aaerobear]

Pia,

 

Will you be taking one of the early buses to the airport? Let me know.

 

I have a question for you. There has been a rash of whining on CC about Princess susposedly clamping down on bringing locally purchased wine onboard during port calls. Have you bought any and brought it on yet during this sailing? Let me know and I will repost, no need to waste your time posting on the thread with all the whiners threatening to never ever sail Princess ever ever again (yeah, right)

[Thrak]

trbarton...

 

I just found the package and it seems mine is a slightly different shape. - a bit more rounded. I got a 2-pack at a brick and mortar K-Mart. The item number on the package is 11311. The package says Electroluminescent Night Light. The brand is GE.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

[trbarton]

trbarton...

 

I just found the package and it seems mine is a slightly different shape. - a bit more rounded. I got a 2-pack at a brick and mortar K-Mart. The item number on the package is 11311. The package says Electroluminescent Night Light. The brand is GE.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

 

I found this one: GE Indiglo Night Light Elite 2 Pack Sold by Kmart Kmart Item# 005W614260110001 | Model# 50826

 

Is this what you found?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom:)

[Cruisin' Chick]

Those night lights look like ones we had years ago.

 

Hope the draining problem gets resolved. You would think if this is from the cleaning process, the problem would happen all the time and not just this week.

[NSWP]

Pia, we are enjoying your 'live' from Grand Princess, some adventures!. We are doing a similar run, Buenos Aires to LA on Golden, albeit without the West Indies bit, in March next year.

 

Keep up the great work!

[jnc411]

Pia: Thank you for letting us join you on your adventure, your live threads are always great ... :)

Cori

[caribill]

there’s an Ultimate Deck Party starting at 9. No mention of food, but I assume there will be something to eat around 11 PM.

 

I have not seen a food spread at the Ultimate Deck Party in the last two years. Just another cutback.

[phabric]

Where do you plug in the nightlight - desk area?

[Pia1913]

Trinidad and Tobago are two separate islands, treated as one single country. Good morning from Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad. We know we’ve visited Tobago previously (Amazon cruise in 2009), but not sure whether or not we’ve been on the Trinidad side. Will soon find out. Meanwhile, weather is supposed to be mid 80’s with what I hope will be low humidity. Sun is shining brightly, gym was only ½ full and we’re well.

　

　

Trinidad is the second richest (Bahamas is first) country in the Caribbean and is listed in the top 66 high income countries in the world. Has to be the oil. Trinidad produces over 100,000 barrels of oil per day; quite significant I think. Another little bit of info is that Trinidad is considered the birthplace of Calypso music and also the steel pan. They say that this is the only acoustic musical instrument invented during the 20th century.

　

We did in fact see Al Katz last night and enjoyed this show as we have all his others. He’s on with us until Fortaleza, so I expect he’ll do at least one more show. After that, back to our cabin as usual. I lose most of my “steam” when evening comes and early to bed seems to work for me.

　

So what’s on for today? Nothing much. We’re in port until 5:00 and other than two trivia sessions, all that’s happening during the day is the movie Robot and Frank at 2:00 PM. Evening offerings are The Dark Knight Rises on MUTS, the Intouchables (French movie; English subtitles) in Vista, and Amy Abler in the theater who is advertised as Piano Divalicious. Dark Knight is not for us, we’ve seen the movie (we liked it) and piano virtuosos are not our cup of tea/coffee. Maybe some casino. Maybe nothing but more R & R which seems to work well for both of us.

You guys are hysterical, So much chatter about nightlights. :D

Ed: Yes, we will probably take the :Princess transport to the airport, but as late as they allow. We have a redeye that night. As for wine, we brought on a lot so will not have to replenish for a while. I will advise when I do.

Water: I have no clue what's going on with the balcony above me on Aloha. If it happens again, I will personally go and check it out. I know my steward isn't watering.

Now it's time for breakfast and then a look-see at Trinidad. Later.

[bronxgirl25]

Pia...really enjoying your live from! Glad you are enjoying and feeling better. Hope they resolve your balcony water problem. When we were on the Grand in December, I think someone had that problem also.

[ONT-CA]

 

You guys are hysterical, So much chatter about nightlights. :D

 

WALMART Fort Lauderdale $3.98 for a pair. A must!

[Pia1913]

Hello from Trinidad terminal; free wifi. Slow, but free.

1. Phabric: Nightlight can be plugged into desk outlet or outlet in back of TV.

2. I paid $3.99 for two at the supermarket in St. Thomas. No Walmart. Surprise. Surprise. :)

3. RCJM: We are on Baja forward

OK. Nothing else to add, except that there are a few stores in the terminal and just outside there are lots of vendors. I got a plate and Mike got his shirt. What more do we need? ;) In any event, he's having some gait problems, so we really can't walk too far. There's a large Hyatt Regency adjacent to the port area and we walked there. When it started to drizzle, we headed back. Now I'm in the terminal and he's at the IC. Good tradeoff.

Will check in later today if there's anything to say. Otherwise will be back tomorrow morning.

[san diego sue]

Hi Pia,

Your pal here. We leave the Caribbean princess tomorrow. Has been areally wonderful cruise. Read your last two posts. Will go back and read all when we get home tomorrow night. Miss you.

Love:D:D

[Kiwi Kruzer]

[maria1963]

Oh I'm enjoying your thread so much now that I know what you're talking about! We disembarked the grand on the 19th after our first cruise and are obsessed with thinking about our next one! Definitely got the bug. It's interesting to hear about the cruise director as the previous one , Peter, was on our flight back to the uk! First class! We got used to hearing him on our tv each morning and even started laughing at his corny jokes. Since we got home weve missed the patter , we' ve had to think for ourselves which is hard work. So jealous of your trip the staff we talked to who didn't get off in FL we excited about it. Keep it coming , it's hard with the ships wifi, my one and only gripe! It's awful. Oh btw, we didn't have balcony mats or night lights but survived the experience, lol!

[DonahCBrown]

Aloha Pia and Mike and Tina and Ken - sounds like you are having a great trip so far - and sounds like you're feeling better too, Pia. When you have a minute give our regards to Sammi - we keep missing her by a few days. Know you are all having a ball. We're in the mddle of the kitchen project and I just found you. Will follow along from here. Great job, as usual, with your live!

[Pia1913]

Good Saturday morning on the first of the next four days at sea. Sun is out and temp supposed to again be in the 80’s. So far we’ve really had little to no humidity. I’m waiting. I know it will be there in Brazil. We did nothing last night other than a quickie visit to the casino and then back to the cabin to watch the Discovery Channel whose programming was all screwed up. As an example, what was supposed to be on at 10:50 came on at 8:45 and the 8:45 show was shown some time around 7:00. Then we saw something that wasn’t due to be shown until 3:00 AM.

　

I didn’t get the whole story, but it seems that it has been discovered that three different future entertainers are aboard without Brazilian Visas. I know one is a magician; not sure about the others. Someone really dropped the ball on this one. Brazilian authorities are not going to allow them to perform. As stated, didn’t get the whole story, so when (if) if do, will report further.

　

Today’s schedule is not very gratifying, since there are tons of spa stuff/lectures, in order for them to drum up more business. There’s to be a power point presentation on Fortaleza by Sammi. Where oh where is our South America lecturer? At 10:45 there’s a rum tasting and raffle and at 11:00 one of the passengers will give a talk on pirates. Our Most Traveled Luncheon is at noon, so that will keep us occupied for two hours.

　

Kellie Karl the “hypnotist” will be holding a seminar at 1:30 and in the Princess theater at the same time is the movie Men in Black 3. They must love that movie since it’s always shown over and over and …………… A beginners Spanish class is at 2:30 and MUTS will show Big at 3:00.

Evening brings us my all time (hahaha) favorite Motor City in Vista, the movie Moonrise Kingdom on MUTS and magician Jean Boucher in the theater. Since we are not yet in Brazilian waters, I have a feeling that the aforementioned magician is able to do his stuff before we get there.

Hi Donna. We talked about you yesterday; to Sammi. Tina and Ken are with me now, so hi from them and Mike too. And from all of us to Dennis. We really need you here; especially trivia time. :D

Breakfast time.

[trbarton]

Hey! That's the same nightlight I purchased for our Hawaii trip last November. Minimal light but enough to get by. We found them at K-Mart though...

 

Good Saturday morning on the first of the next four days at sea. Sun is out and temp supposed to again be in the 80’s. So far we’ve really had little to no humidity. I’m waiting. I know it will be there in Brazil. We did nothing last night other than a quickie visit to the casino and then back to the cabin to watch the Discovery Channel whose programming was all screwed up. As an example, what was supposed to be on at 10:50 came on at 8:45 and the 8:45 show was shown some time around 7:00. Then we saw something that wasn’t due to be shown until 3:00 AM.

　

I didn’t get the whole story, but it seems that it has been discovered that three different future entertainers are aboard without Brazilian Visas. I know one is a magician; not sure about the others. Someone really dropped the ball on this one. Brazilian authorities are not going to allow them to perform. As stated, didn’t get the whole story, so when (if) if do, will report further.

　

Today’s schedule is not very gratifying, since there are tons of spa stuff/lectures, in order for them to drum up more business. There’s to be a power point presentation on Fortaleza by Sammi. Where oh where is our South America lecturer? At 10:45 there’s a rum tasting and raffle and at 11:00 one of the passengers will give a talk on pirates. Our Most Traveled Luncheon is at noon, so that will keep us occupied for two hours.

　

Kellie Karl the “hypnotist” will be holding a seminar at 1:30 and in the Princess theater at the same time is the movie Men in Black 3. They must love that movie since it’s always shown over and over and …………… A beginners Spanish class is at 2:30 and MUTS will show Big at 3:00.

Evening brings us my all time (hahaha) favorite Motor City in Vista, the movie Moonrise Kingdom on MUTS and magician Jean Boucher in the theater. Since we are not yet in Brazilian waters, I have a feeling that the aforementioned magician is able to do his stuff before we get there.

Hi Donna. We talked about you yesterday; to Sammi. Tina and Ken are with me now, so hi from them and Mike too. And from all of us to Dennis. We really need you here; especially trivia time. :D

Breakfast time.

 

Pia:

 

I sounds like there is 2 movie theaters on board. What is the outside theatre at the pool area called? Will the ship broadcast the Super Bowl?

 

Thanks for all of your information.

 

For any of us traveling on the Grand later this year to Alaska anything we should know, suggestions?

 

Thanks!

 

Tom

[caribill]

I sounds like there is 2 movie theaters on board. What is the outside theatre at the pool area called? Will the ship broadcast the Super Bowl?

 

 

 

 

The outside screen by the pool is called MUTS (Movies Under the Stars). The Superbowl will be on it (but without the ads that many look forward to seeing).

 

There is no dedicated movie theater inside, but they often lower a screen and show a movie in the main show theater (Princess Theater) and/or the rear lounge on deck 7 or the Explorers Lounge on deck 7.

 

There will probably (in addition to MUTS) be a Superbowl party in the rear lounge on deck 7 with the game, food, and decorations.

[aaerobear]

Pia,

 

The last bus usually leaves about 9:00am or so, but a cab is about the same as what Princess charges for two people (give or take a couple bucks) so you can be last off the ship and take a cab to the airport. That way you don't have to hang at SFO so long. Princess also has a UK bus that leaves the terminal at 1:30PM (you load your luggage on the bus in the morning and then are on your own in the city and return to the terminal at 1:00 or 1:30pm and the bus heads to the airport for the late UK flights (you would need to check with Princess onboard about if they would let you use this option)

[Pia1913]

OK. Here’s the info about who is not allowed to work in Brazil. It’s the port lecturer, John Maxtone-Graham and the bridge instructors. Evidently they do have Visas, but not the proper kind. They have tourist Visas and need to have work Visas. Port lecturer has taped his stuff and they will broadcast it. No clue about Graham. We don’t do bridge, so no interest there.

　

We had a good MTL today; I drank too much wine. And I had my usual chicken, asparagus and baked potato while everyone else had what was on the menu. I had requested to be seated with Sammi and request was honored. That means we had a really fun lunch. Only one other couple and a nice table in the corner.

Thank you Bill for answering the questions and thank you Ed for the bus info. Now we need to get ready for dinner. See you all in the AM.

[tequilasunrise]

I found it interesting that they had a Spanish basics class; but not Portuguese. Both are useful in South America, true, but as the ship is headed for Brazil I would have offered Portuguese first.

 

Thanks for taking us along, next best thing to being there in person :)

[Gaznjo]

I found it interesting that they had a Spanish basics class; but not Portuguese. Both are useful in South America, true, but as the ship is headed for Brazil I would have offered Portuguese first.

 

Thanks for taking us along, next best thing to being there in person :)

 

It probably just depends who they have on the staff available... we had spanish lessons on our cruise from Barbara when she was on the Cruise Directors Staff.... most of the other staff where English!!