Bon Voyage Dave (DMWNC1959)!!!

[GeeDunk]

Thanks for the heads up on the weather. Haven't been keeping up with it, so it's nice to be forewarned.

 

Dave --

I'm from Monroevile, PA.

A tad north of Clarksburg, WV.

 

Weather Guessers are forecasting rain for "Almost Heaven";)

 

Many thanks for your Pics.

Seems that I missed some areas on the Maiden TA.

[S'villeGals]

Well - I'm jealous on two counts:

 

Our veggie carving demo produced nothing like these marvelous creations - thank you so much for the pictures so I know what was missed.

 

And I don't recall a Mr. Sexy Legs Contest - we had an Ugly Tropical Shirt Celebration, but not quite the same!

 

Enjoy the delightful Afternoon Royal Tea and your diner tonight.

 

Busy day with lots of activities like vegetable carving demonstrations, bingo, dance classes, trivia, lectures, and oddly enough, a Mr. Sexy Legs Contest. I will not be a contestant.

 

Carving Demonstration

 

 

 

[Retiring cajun]

Pam, how does intranet work? Need to purchase? Thanks!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Pia1913]

Pam, how does intranet work? Need to purchase? Thanks!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Not Pam, but no, intranet is free. When you can get it to work. ;)

[Astro Flyer]

Pam, how does intranet work? Need to purchase? Thanks!

 

Not Pam, but no, intranet is free. When you can get it to work. ;)

Not Pam either. ;)

 

You use your Wi-Fi capable device to create a password to access the intranet. It's like a Patter & map plus access to your onboard folio account & standard menus but not for the dining room. I found it quite helpful & didn't have any problems. The Royal's techs are still working on eliminating dead spots.

 

Hopefully it'll be implemented fleetwide & here is a screenshot example.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Astro Flyer

[Jasperdo]

You use your Wi-Fi capable device to create a password to access the intranet. It's like a Patter & map plus access to your onboard folio account & standard menus but not for the dining room. I found it quite helpful & didn't have any problems. The Royal's techs are still working on eliminating dead spots.

Wow! That sounds like a great idea. I assume you can hook it up to a smart phone without having to worry about getting any cell phone charges.

[Astro Flyer]

Wow! That sounds like a great idea. I assume you can hook it up to a smart phone without having to worry about getting any cell phone charges.

Yes, anything on the Royal@Sea intranet is free. If I recall correctly there is an option to go to your email which requires a sign in to your paid internet minutes.

 

Last summer a Princess pre-cruise email said the intranet was available on the Coral but was not. As far as I know it's currently only available on the Royal Princess.

[dmwnc1959]

Royal Princess had been gathering the various departments together that day for group pictures in the atrium and I happen to also catch them staging the Casino staff as well as the staff of the retail stores. I was told it was for official holiday images. I had more time during the Entertainment staff picture to better position myself and grab a better final result.

 

The person that won the $57,000 in the casino was one of our Cruise Critic members, but unfortunately wasn't me.

 

I did speak with several guests from Allure of the Seas on the pier while we were docked in St. Martin and they verified all the details reported by others earlier, but it appears all her lifeboats are on board, or that's at least what it looked like from the dock when I checked out her port side as well. She is steaming just off of our starboard beam approximately 10 miles and I got some nice pictures with my regular camera.

 

Went topside after lunch for some pool deck pictures.

 

Also attended the lecture in Princess Live! on the 'Birth of a Cruise Ship' and it was very informative.

 

Royal Afternoon Tea was really nice, and virtually a meal in itself. There were seven of us, we sat in the area under Bellini's, and the piano player entertained with music that added to the wonderful atmosphere. There were three different specialty teas and the tiered trays were refilled if you wanted more. It was a lot of food! Make sure you don't eat lunch, or have a later dinner, if you schedule this.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2013 by dmwnc1959

[dmwnc1959]

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2013 by dmwnc1959

[Pam in CA]

Wow! That sounds like a great idea. I assume you can hook it up to a smart phone without having to worry about getting any cell phone charges.

Just put your phone on Airplane mode and after a minute or two, turn on the WiFi.

 

Here are some screen shots of the various menus:

 

 

 

[Pam in CA]

And more:

 

 

[Retiring cajun]

Thanks, Pam, and also the other nice CC folks who responded to intranet questions. I will definitely use that! However, i do not plan to purchase minutes.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[#1winelover]

Thanks again for taking us along. After our cruise was over, I still had yours to look forward too!!

 

Your photos have been marvelous. You have the eye for sure. You showed me things I never saw in 19 days! Must be why we are going to book the 20 day Caribbean Explorer in April 2015. We need to get back on the Royal. :D

 

By the way, you had the one wine dinner menu we didn't have. There are three in all and they are all fabulous.

 

Cheers, Denise

I could not agree more, Denise! I have been following this thread since it started, marveling at David's expertise with framing and taking just the "right shot" EVERY time! The more I look the more I miss the Royal. So I am sure that there is a Regal in my future, and probably another royal as well! But first I need to get my Alaska b2b on the Crown out of the way (August 2014). I doubt however, if there will ever assemble another group such as we had on the Maiden and follow-up b2b. What a terrific bunch of people we were graced to share those events with. Miss them all!

[#1winelover]

Dave,

 

Really enjoying your pictures and commentary about the Royal. Looks like you are having a great time.

 

Unless Princess has changed what is on the in-room TV's I'm guessing you are not getting current weather conditions. Pass along to some of your friends that getting home on Sunday might be challenging. Big winter storm coming out of Texas today and moving up the East Coast through the weekend. From the Great Lakes to upper New England predictions of 2-8 inches possible with more once lake effect kicks in. Wintery Mix south of Indianapolis stretching toward New York City. Some areas from Upper New York state to Maine could see 12 inches by Sunday evening. Ft. Lauderdale Sunday morning is predicting mid 70"s and 30% chance of thunderstorms.

 

I hate to be a party pooper but you guys are going to get a hard smack of reality when you get home. I wish everyone safe travel home on Sunday.

 

Marty

Good job, Marty! I was hoping you would kick in with some updates for our friend David, and his shipmates! You, of course, are the ultimate Weather Guru and I just knew in my heart that you would come through with some timely tips for their arrival back at Port Reality! :eek:

 

I've got one more week of actual work, then off until Jan. 6th. I'll enjoy the downtime for sure! I wish you and yours the most blessed Christmas and a very happy New Year. Keep in touch.

[#1winelover]

Not Pam, but no, intranet is free. When you can get it to work. ;)

Pia! I shall certainly 2nd that one!!! And to add to the dismay, I have an ANDROID, which seems to be a nasty word in tech-world anymore! Everything is for the IPhone! However, I did hear that some folks with a different model HTC than I had seemed to have better luck than did I, and the Samsung users were doing even better. Leave it to me to pick a loser phone and miss out on all the fun! However, My chair, glass and lifting arm worked really, really great at Crooners EVERY night! :D

[fielddreamer]

We made it to Ft. Lauderdale and its pouring cats and dogs here tonight . Our flight from Vegas was great and had a great dinner at a Italian restaurant called " Giorgio's " on 17th. street right near pier 2 . As we know all hotels and bars are full of cruise people tonight meeting each other. We are going to take a walk to the bridge on 17th and shoot some pictures in the morning ! One more day !

Edited December 14, 2013 by fielddreamer

[dmwnc1959]

I only found out tonight that The Beatlemaniacs departed Royal Princess in St. Thomas. I'm not sure what entertainers have come aboard in their slot, but they have some mighty big shoes to fill.

 

Tonight's dinner in Crown Grill was again outstanding. I had several of the same dishes as last week. We had to split up into two tables and our group of seven people were seated at what I've called the Manhattan table. After our orders were taken, all 13 of us had a group picture taken in front of the Skyline and Central Park image, and that's one I'd definitely buy. They served the side dishes 'family style' with several dishes of vegetables in the center and everyone had a steak course as well as the little lobster tails.

 

Tonight's main show is 'Sweet Soul Music'. Just sitting in the Princess Theater waiting for the show to begin....

 

 

 

 

 

[S'villeGals]

I only found out tonight that The Beatlemaniacs departed Royal Princess in St. Thomas. I'm not sure what entertainers have come aboard in their slot, but they have some mighty big shoes to fill.

 

Tonight's dinner in Crown Grill was again outstanding. I had several of the same dishes as last week. We had to split up into two tables and our group of seven people were seated at what I've called the Manhattan table. After our orders were taken, all 13 of us had a group picture taken in front of the Skyline and Central Park image, and that's one I'd definitely buy. They served the side dishes 'family style' with several dishes of vegetables in the center and everyone had a steak course as well as the little lobster tails.

 

Tonight's main show is 'Sweet Soul Music'. Just sitting in the Princess Theater waiting for the show to begin....

 

Beautiful pictures of dinner - never made it to the Crown Grill and now I'm sorry we missed it.:(

 

Hope your last full day tomorrow is GREAT !! Don't know what I'm going to do to keep my spirits up once you are off the ship and the fantastic photos cease. It has been so much fun and I'm ready for another Royal/Regal cruise, next time with DH.

[Pam in CA]

I could not agree more, Denise! I have been following this thread since it started, marveling at David's expertise with framing and taking just the "right shot" EVERY time! The more I look the more I miss the Royal. So I am sure that there is a Regal in my future, and probably another royal as well! But first I need to get my Alaska b2b on the Crown out of the way (August 2014). I doubt however, if there will ever assemble another group such as we had on the Maiden and follow-up b2b. What a terrific bunch of people we were graced to share those events with. Miss them all!

I agree. Dave's thread is one of the best ever on this site. I'm LOVING cruising with him and am kicking myself that I didn't try all the things he has.

 

We had a GREAT group on the Royal T/A. That had a lot to do with making it a terrific cruise. Quite a few of us are also booked on the Royal's T/A in September. Come along! :) Everyone's welcome! I can't wait to board the Royal again.

[queensquared]

Your pictures are astonishing, your words are enlightening, and your ever encouraging promotion of the Royal have been a great entertainment! I'll miss the daily updates, but we can only hope Pia does a "Live From....." her latest cruise.

To all the regular posters, I also say thanks!!!!! I tend to lurk, but learn so so so much from all of you!!!!!

Our next cruise isn't until June and we've having massive withdrawal!

Wishing all here the Merriest of Merries!!!!

Nancy

[dmwnc1959]

Less than 34 hours remaining...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nasa1974]

Dave,

 

Enjoy your evening and have a great day on board tomorrow.

 

Marty

[Pam in CA]

Less than 34 hours remaining...

 

We took this tour after our Royal cruise last October. It was interesting. When we were dropped off at the boat for the cruise, we were told to walk around before going on the boat. Someone asked if we could board then and were told, "Sure." Which we were glad we did. It meant that we could get seats at a window. You could go topside but we didn't want to be in the sun. Inside, the tables and seats are very close together... too close for anyone to get in or out and quite a few of the seats went empty because people didn't have room to sit back-to-back. The homes you'll see are amazing. Talk about "McMansions"!

 

Have a great sea day tomorrow, fun tour and safe flight home.

[IECalCruiser]

Less than 34 hours remaining...

Say it isn't so :(. What will I have to look forward to reading on Sunday?

 

Thanks for taking us along :) I am looking forward to our cruise on the Regal next September even more :)

[sunsetbeachgal]

Dave,

 

Thanks for taking us along on your wonderful journey! I hope it has been everything you hoped it would be. I know both of us struggled with all of the early negativity about the ship, and at times questioned our choices, but in the end I hope you found the experience as memorable as I did.

 

Safe travels home and treasure the photos, memories and friendships you have made along the way! :)

 

Carole

Edited December 14, 2013 by sunsetbeachgal