Our Crown Cruise June 12, 2005

[Win1now]

My husband and I just arrived from our cruise June 12-19, 2005. We were so leary about going after reading so many negative responses. This was my 7th cruise over the years and my husband's 2nd. In July 2003, we went on the Dawn and found it very boring. It had children running wild throughout the ship and the ports were the worse. The Crown is a much smaller ship, but we had a ball. We found it easier getting around, the rooms were larger, and even though Bermuda can get a little boring after 3 days, it was still alot of fun. The french and Italian restaurants on ship were wonderful. The food was ok in the main dining room, but the way they set up their tables for two made it very uncomfortable for some couples. They were about 2 inches of space between them, so there was little privacy. The only way to avoid this is to go to dinner about 9:00pm and then there is hardly anyone there. We dined in Hamilton at one of Bermuda's pubs and had a great time. The Casino was opened 4 nights and if you enjoy gambling which we do, then you will have a great time. Even though it gets crowded sometimes, it also empties out quickly. The staff everywhere was friendly and helpful in so many ways. We stayed on the 6th floor with oceanview and had full breakfast every morning with our room service. If you want something that is out of the ordinary it is like everywhere else, you have to tip extra. Even though people say the tip is already included then you will only get the standard treatment and all the extra's we got weren't standard. On shore we bought 3 day bus pass which is the way to travel in Bermuda, except the buses travel too fast for their winding roads. I prayed before every bus tip and after we got off.

Shows and nightclubs were entertaining.

If anyone is going on the Crown, have fun and enjoy!!!

[e.durban]

Thanks for the review! We're a couple, but we eat late (9pm is no problem for us) so I guess the closeness of the tables for two shouldn't affect us too much. We'll make sure to waste a lot of time in our room while we're getting ready for dinner, have a few pre-dinner cocktails, etc... ;)

[DakotaDog]

We are planning a group cruise on the Crown, and was happy to see your post. We plan on having 20+ people on the cruise, and we will be sailing June 25th, 2006. Thanks for the review!

 

Scott

 

PS: I know when we were on the Sun, the service was a little lax since it was freestyle and there was no personal aspect to the wait staff. Did you find this to be an issue? Also, how much was the specialty restaurants?

[niya305]

Also, how much was the specialty restaurants?

 

There's only 1 specialty restaurant on the Crown, Le Bistro, & it's $15pp

[Poohb]

Altho' the Pasta Cafe does not cost extra, make your reservations early in the week. We could not get in there at all because it was always booked (June 5-12)

[Dolphins]

1. Was there a Cruise consultant on board to book future NCL cruises?

 

2. How were the aerobics, yoga and other fitness classes?

 

3. What time does the swimming pool open in the morning? Do they put a net over it at night?

 

Thanks for your help.

[Goldryder]

Thanks for the review, sounds like I have chosen a good ship to spend my Christmas and New Year aboard.

 

I am aboard her for 14 nights, with 2 nights each end in Sheraton Hotels, sailing round the Cape horn from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires from Dec 15th thru January 4th.

[TxRose]

Dolphins...Yes, there was a cruise consultant onboard to book future cruises. I believe her name was Sherry. There was a net on the pool at night, at least on the nights I noticed it. I don't know much about the fitness classes besides what was listed in the dailies. We enjoyed the Crown and the smallness made it easy to find our way around.

[CruiseShelly]

Sailed the Crown May 22-29 to Bermuda. Had a fantastic time. The ship becomes "yours" after a very short time aboard. They set part of the Yaght Club (buffet) restaurant up at night for an Oriental restaurant. We thought the food in the main dining room was very good and didn't bother with the French (extra charge), Italian or Oriental ones that were offered. We did not find service lax. Maybe because we had two 22-year-old ladies with us, we received plenty of attention from the waitstaff. Our cabin steward was very attentive and so I tipped extra at the end. He helped "make" the cruise very easy for us when we needed something.

 

I had never sailed "Freestyle" before, and thought I would hate it. But I didn't. We ate early, never had a wait. But when we came out at 7-7:30 there was always a line.

 

Also - hint - line up for the Chocoholic Buffet 20-30 minutes ahead or you will have a VERY long wait. It is quite a sight and tasty, too!

[DakotaDog]

Sounds like a good time. Cant wait now!

[fkwok]

My husband and I just arrived from our cruise June 12-19, 2005. We were so leary about going after reading so many negative responses. This was my 7th cruise over the years and my husband's 2nd. In July 2003, we went on the Dawn and found it very boring. It had children running wild throughout the ship and the ports were the worse. The Crown is a much smaller ship, but we had a ball. We found it easier getting around, the rooms were larger, and even though Bermuda can get a little boring after 3 days, it was still alot of fun. The french and Italian restaurants on ship were wonderful. The food was ok in the main dining room, but the way they set up their tables for two made it very uncomfortable for some couples. They were about 2 inches of space between them, so there was little privacy. The only way to avoid this is to go to dinner about 9:00pm and then there is hardly anyone there. We dined in Hamilton at one of Bermuda's pubs and had a great time. The Casino was opened 4 nights and if you enjoy gambling which we do, then you will have a great time. Even though it gets crowded sometimes, it also empties out quickly. The staff everywhere was friendly and helpful in so many ways. We stayed on the 6th floor with oceanview and had full breakfast every morning with our room service. If you want something that is out of the ordinary it is like everywhere else, you have to tip extra. Even though people say the tip is already included then you will only get the standard treatment and all the extra's we got weren't standard. On shore we bought 3 day bus pass which is the way to travel in Bermuda, except the buses travel too fast for their winding roads. I prayed before every bus tip and after we got off.

Shows and nightclubs were entertaining.

 

 

Hi. Thanks for the great review. We also have OV cabins on deck 6. Ours is forward, I think. Did you feel the rocking of the ship at all?

 

Did you keep your Dailies? Would love to read them before our cruise in 9/05. I would gladly pay for any postage. Thanks.

[Win1now]

My husband and I just arrived from our cruise June 12-19, 2005. We were so leary about going after reading so many negative responses. This was my 7th cruise over the years and my husband's 2nd. In July 2003, we went on the Dawn and found it very boring. It had children running wild throughout the ship and the ports were the worse. The Crown is a much smaller ship, but we had a ball. We found it easier getting around, the rooms were larger, and even though Bermuda can get a little boring after 3 days, it was still alot of fun. The french and Italian restaurants on ship were wonderful. The food was ok in the main dining room, but the way they set up their tables for two made it very uncomfortable for some couples. They were about 2 inches of space between them, so there was little privacy. The only way to avoid this is to go to dinner about 9:00pm and then there is hardly anyone there. We dined in Hamilton at one of Bermuda's pubs and had a great time. The Casino was opened 4 nights and if you enjoy gambling which we do, then you will have a great time. Even though it gets crowded sometimes, it also empties out quickly. The staff everywhere was friendly and helpful in so many ways. We stayed on the 6th floor with oceanview and had full breakfast every morning with our room service. If you want something that is out of the ordinary it is like everywhere else, you have to tip extra. Even though people say the tip is already included then you will only get the standard treatment and all the extra's we got weren't standard. On shore we bought 3 day bus pass which is the way to travel in Bermuda, except the buses travel too fast for their winding roads. I prayed before every bus tip and after we got off.

Shows and nightclubs were entertaining.

 

 

Hi. Thanks for the great review. We also have OV cabins on deck 6. Ours is forward, I think. Did you feel the rocking of the ship at all?

 

Did you keep your Dailies? Would love to read them before our cruise in 9/05. I would gladly pay for any postage. Thanks.

[Win1now]

Hi Francis

We where in cabin 6061 mid ship, not much rocking. Send me your address and I'll send you a copy of the dalies.

Thanks

Alan & Jane

[fkwok]

Hi Francis

We where in cabin 6061 mid ship, not much rocking. Send me your address and I'll send you a copy of the dalies.

Thanks

Alan & Jane

 

 

Hi. Thank you so much for the kind offer! Please mail them to:

 

Francis Kwok

The DMA

1120 Avenue of the Americas, 14th floor

NY, NY 10036

[Bannistm]

My daughter and I are going on our first cruise ever to Bermuda on August 1st on the Crown. :)

Alan and Jane referred to "dailies" - is this an itinerary of everything that is available per day?

Also what do you pay additionally for on the cruise - food, fitness center, activities etc.? :rolleyes:

Do you make reservations at the restaurants on the ship and what's the deal with room service - is it additional and do you pay by what you order or is there just a fee?

Do you bring a hairdryer or are they available in the cabin?

I have been traveling to Bermuda for years and have a very good idea of what we will do when we arrive at each area but am not sure what is available and how much to expect things will cost while we are at sea (which on this cruise is 50% of the time). My daughter is 13 years old. I appreciate any input and any suggestions any one has to help us make this a vacation to remember!!!

[smeyer418]

1.You get a newsletter each night that has all the days activities for the next days. It has what special what is on at the shops what drinks are on specials two for ones etc.

2. You don't have to pay extra for anthing but drinks, You can go to the Bistro which I think is the only extra charge rest on the Crown. But the food at the regular restuarants is fine but you should do this at least one night(I prefer doing it on the Carribean dinner night).

3.The fitness center is free except for a few classes which are minimal charge. They also add 10.00 per day for service charge in lieu of tips(you can add more)

4. Room service is free except for a tip to the waiter and is available 24/7

5.The hair dyrer in the room is fine(some people don't feel is powerful enough)

6. there are excursions everyone goes to the beach. They will have lectures about what to do...you don't need to do the excursions take the bus and ferries(a pas is 12 per day or $28.00 for three days)

 

do seach on Bermuda and you find a lot of threads to read :)

[Win1now]

Hi Bassistm,

The dailies are the on-board activities. They are sent to you at night for the next day. They also send you off-shore excursions pamphlets. Liquor and soda are extra and the french resturant is $15.00 pp with a $15.00 tip. The first day you should make reservations for the Pasta Cafe and LeBistro's. Both resturants get booked early. Room service menu is very limited, but we ordered off the regular menu the first day, and tipped generously, and the room waiter let us order anything we wanted for the rest of the trip including a hot breakfast every morning, but we also tipped him everyday. He became my husband's best friend. Please bring a hair dryer. Their dryer is the worst. Also bring a surge with a 2 prong adapter so you can plug more than one item in at a time. Everything at sea is free except for the extra's we mentioned. The teens were having alot of fun when we were there. We reserved our chairs by the pool every morning at 9:00 am by putting our beach bag with our towels and pads on our chairs. than ran back to our room for breakfast, or you may have trouble getting by the pool. Alot of the kids in the evening did karoke and danced with the adullts and had a ball.

 

Have a great time!!!

Jane and Alan

[e.durban]

Surely the $15 tip in le Bistro is optional?! Not that the waiters don't deserve it, (maybe it should be more than $15 ;) )but I don't remember the Bistro tip on Dawn in December being mandatory, as the fee for eating there was...

[Mooder]

We were also on the Crown June 12-19. We loved every minute!!! We thought the food in the main dining room was terrific and never felt the service lacked for anything. (we are not young ladies, so I don't think that explains it) We ate at the Bistro one night and thought it was well worth the $15. The only meal in the main dining room we did not enjoy was the PResident's Dinner - that would be the night to go to the other restaurants. We loved freestyle, especially since this cruise has overnights at each port. We didn't have to worry what time we got back to dine. It was much more relaxing this way. And the waiters did remember us. The only tipping we did was for our room steward and felt we got excellent attention from everyone. If busses don't appeal to you, the taxis are an excellent way to get around. We paid about $108 for a tour (split 3 ways it wasn't bad) adn had wonderful tours, both in St. Georges and Hamilton. Between the 2 we saw the entire island, got excellent insider annecdotes from the drivers and felt we had a very personalized experience. We had an inside room on the 4th deck and had lots of room for 3 women. It was worth bringing an extra hair dryer for the power, but brought a shoe holder which was not necessary - there is lots of storage space in the bathroom. Our only excursion from the ship was the helmet diving. It was lots of fun and tough we had some initial nervousness would recommend it to anyone - athletic or not.

[serendipity1499]

Thanks for the great reviews.:) .Only 18 more weeks to go before we board the Crown ..Time used to fly by fast..what's taking it so long this time?..;)

Happy cruising everyone!

[TDCoachmen]

I'm planning to take a cruise as a wedding anniversary present for my wife and I (it's a surprise for her). I've been looking for solid reviews on the Crown because I'm planning to take it in Oct of 2005 from Philly to Bermuda. I've been to the island my self but many, many years ago and wanted my wife's first experience to be fantastic. I was beginning to wonder about the Crown (many bad reviews) until I read some of the reviews here and began to feel ok about my choice again. Did anyone try any of the Romantic packages aboard ship and also what are the shore packages like (should I book them or do my own thing)? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, as I want to make this trip really special.

 

thanks

[fkwok]

Hi Francis

We where in cabin 6061 mid ship, not much rocking. Send me your address and I'll send you a copy of the dalies.

Thanks

Alan & Jane

 

 

Hi. I just returned from vacation and your dailies arrived! Thank you so much for sending them to me. I will read them again and again the next 2 months until our cruise!

[Raine1306]

Hi, you mentioned the buses drove very fast around winding roads. Are these roads up high? My husband is afraid of heights and he would freek out. When we were in St. Thomas, the roads were high and winding. He said he would never go there again because of that. Can you e-mail back at Raine1306@aol.com? I am afraid I won't be able to find this post again. Thanks!

Raine

[JUSRN]

Could you send me a copy of the daILIES FROM THE cROWN?

 

We're going on August 4th!

 

JUSRN@AOL.com

[Surfgirl]

Hi, you mentioned the buses drove very fast around winding roads. Are these roads up high? My husband is afraid of heights and he would freek out. When we were in St. Thomas, the roads were high and winding. He said he would never go there again because of that. Can you e-mail back at Raine1306@aol.com? I am afraid I won't be able to find this post again. Thanks!

Raine

 

I didn't find the buses drove fast. I thought they were very safe and reliable. The hills aren't that bad. We rode from St. Georges to Hamilton and back a few times-- as well as to Horseshoe Bay.

 

Buses are the way to go. You can purchase a three-day pass if you plan to do a lot of trips, or buy tokens.