LIVE from the CROWN PRINCESS - Dec. 14th to 21st, 2013

[bronxgirl25]

FYI....we are havng some shower problems. Water won't stay at the same temp throughout the shower. Goes from hot to cold. My BIL and SIL are on the same cruise and are having the same problem. We are both on Emerald, one forward, one aft.

[CeeCee59]

Do they have any martini tastings onboard?

[hpeabody]

I am so disappointed with the changes Pia mentioned. IMO the IC is (was?) one of the best things going on Princess. How can they get rid of popular favorites like the cashew chicken salad and grilled veggie salad for the new ones mentioned, YUK, none of them sound appealing to me. I can not believe the decisions Princess makes sometimes. Is it all about cutbacks and not caring about customer satisfaction (likes and preferences) these days? :(

 

PS, Thanks for your live report Pia

Edited December 18, 2013 by hpeabody

[Pam in CA]

I am so disappointed with the changes Pia mentioned. IMO the IC is (was?) one of the best things going on Princess. How can they get rid of popular favorites like the cashew chicken salad and grilled veggie salad for the new ones mentioned, YUK, none of them sound appealing to me.

I agree. I'd never get any of those options. Love the chicken salad!

[Ethel5]

I am so disappointed with the changes Pia mentioned. IMO the IC is (was?) one of the best things going on Princess. How can they get rid of popular favorites like the cashew chicken salad and grilled veggie salad for the new ones mentioned, YUK, none of them sound appealing to me. I can not believe the decisions Princess makes sometimes. Is it all about cutbacks and not caring about customer satisfaction (likes and preferences) these days? :(

 

PS, Thanks for your live report Pia

 

I agree. I'd never get any of those options. Love the chicken salad!

 

I guess Princess doesn't know about "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" I love the shrimp salad and the Greek salad. My sister just got of the Royal and said they are serving chicken curry salad and shrimp curry salad. I don't like curry at all in any shape or form. Maybe they know people aren't fond of curry and this saves them money.

[Pia1913]

Popping in now before I shower and change for the early CC party.

I did in fact see one of the heads near the IC as well as their manager. And I did in fact voice complaints about the changes. He of course told me it wasn't his choice, but at least I let it be known that lots of passengers are totally dissatisfied with the menu changes. I told him it was understandable to have a new salad, but to change ALL of them??? :eek:

For the person who asked yesterday, yes there is soup. I went over to look and the sign said soup of the day. I asked what soup, and she responded clam chowder. I then said it would be nice if the choice was listed without having to ask. Passing by 1/2 hour later and.......... it said clam chowder. I'd like to think I had something to do with that. hahaha

Also, tuna sandwich was there today. Could be it was there yesterday and I didn't see it because of being incensed about the salads.

CeeCee: no clue about martinis

Edited December 18, 2013 by Pia1913

[AKman2495]

I am so disappointed with the changes Pia mentioned. IMO the IC is (was?) one of the best things going on Princess. How can they get rid of popular favorites like the cashew chicken salad and grilled veggie salad for the new ones mentioned, YUK, none of them sound appealing to me. I can not believe the decisions Princess makes sometimes. Is it all about cutbacks and not caring about customer satisfaction (likes and preferences) these days? :(

 

PS, Thanks for your live report Pia

 

I agree. I'd never get any of those options. Love the chicken salad!

 

So...let me get this straight....Princess deliberately got rid of everything anybody liked at the IC and replaced it with stuff nobody likes...just to make you guys suffer?????:confused:

 

As far as cutbacks go...they are still serving stuff, the fact that you guys don't like it does not mean what they put out is free....

 

I'm just saying.....

[fabby50]

I was looking forward to trying the roasted veggies, but I love beets and the couscous sounds good too. I'll try just about anything and will wait to make up my mind until I've tasted things.

 

Thanks for the updates. Haven't been on a ship with an IC yet, and am looking forward to it.

[jetstorm]

I am so disappointed with the changes Pia mentioned. IMO the IC is (was?) one of the best things going on Princess. How can they get rid of popular favorites like the cashew chicken salad and grilled veggie salad for the new ones mentioned, YUK, none of them sound appealing to me. I can not believe the decisions Princess makes sometimes. Is it all about cutbacks and not caring about customer satisfaction (likes and preferences) these days? :(

 

PS, Thanks for your live report Pia

 

 

I agree 100% with hpeabody. I was really looking forward to trying the chicken salad and shrimp salad I've read about of cc. The IC was one of the things I was looking forward to the most food-wise but the new selections don't appeal to me in the least. I do appreciate Pia saying something to the Princess staff. If people don't mention their likes and dislikes how are they to know?

[FritzG]

I agree 100% with hpeabody. I was really looking forward to trying the chicken salad and shrimp salad I've read about of cc. The IC was one of the things I was looking forward to the most food-wise but the new selections don't appeal to me in the least. I do appreciate Pia saying something to the Princess staff. If people don't mention their likes and dislikes how are they to know?

 

I agree; I wish they would have just changed one or two of the salads, not everything at once. I've been dreaming of enjoying chicken salad on my sunny balcony as a way to get through the next couple of snowy weeks here in NE Ohio.

 

It seems that more people give great reviews to the IC than any other eating venue. Getting rid of the items that nearly everyone raves about doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Edited December 18, 2013 by FritzG

[mrell345]

Do they still have those chocolate mousse cups at the IC ?

[hpeabody]

Do they still have those chocolate mousse cups at the IC ?

 

The half white / half dark ones? I hope so, I love them :)

[mrell345]

The half white / half dark ones? I hope so, I love them :)

 

Nope, all dark chocolate, don't contaminate a good thing :D

[FritzG]

I'm sorry! I think we're hijacking Pia's Live From with IC questions now. The changes sure have gotten everyone's attention.

[mrell345]

Sorry didn't mean to hijack if that is what it is, but she is aboard and answering questions that people have about the ship while blogging at the same time.

[raz455]

I am joining this live thread a bit late in the cruise. But, being home from work due to catching the crude that everyone at work seems to be getting, I thought I would spend some time on this cold, rainy day cruising on the Crown with Pia! Thank you for allowing us to tag along with you. Have a great second half of your cruise. :)

[Magellan321]

Popping in now before I shower and change for the early CC party.

I did in fact see one of the heads near the IC as well as their manager. And I did in fact voice complaints about the changes. He of course told me it wasn't his choice, but at least I let it be known that lots of passengers are totally dissatisfied with the menu changes. I told him it was understandable to have a new salad, but to change ALL of them??? :eek:

For the person who asked yesterday, yes there is soup. I went over to look and the sign said soup of the day. I asked what soup, and she responded clam chowder. I then said it would be nice if the choice was listed without having to ask. Passing by 1/2 hour later and.......... it said clam chowder. I'd like to think I had something to do with that. hahaha

Also, tuna sandwich was there today. Could be it was there yesterday and I didn't see it because of being incensed about the salads.

CeeCee: no clue about martinis

 

Pia-

Thanks so much for checking on the soup in the IC!

[southpawsdakota]

Pia, absolutely love your "lives". We were on the Crown last week and had a very relaxing and wonderful althouh time although at times we felt we were on Holland America, lol. We also got upgraded to Caribe balcony which we love and it was great to sit and read. Please say hi to sweet Alex in Crooners if you go there. Tell her Donald, aka Pat and Kathy said hi. She is just great as are the other servers in Crooners. I think I saw that you were also on the Transatlantic next Oct. on the Emerald as we are. Hope to meet with you then. You and Pam from CA are a tremendous source of great information and I thank you for that.

[cubfan63]

On the Caribbean Princess last month, the IC had the new salads, especially early in the week. But on other days, they had the some of the options they had before. I was happy when the shrimp salad I was used to was there later in the week.

 

By the way, the new Thai salad was really pretty tasty.

[Pia1913]

Good Morning everyone as we sail towards the last port of this cruise; Grand Turk. Grand Turk is one of 40 islands in the Turks and Caicos chain, sitting at the eastern end and located a bit under 600 miles SE of Miami. Although discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1512, Spanish settlement began in 1766. Average temperature range from 80 and above in spring and fall, though much hotter in the summer. Even though this is now winter (or very close to it), today’s temp is anticipated to be low 80’s. Captain however says it’s iffy; “iffy we’re lucky it won’t rain.” Right now the sun is shining. Anticipated arrival into port is 1:00 PM, with all aboard at 6:30.

　

For those who want to know, these are the passenger stats: Total Captain’s Circle members are 1849.

Gold ……………………… 631

Ruby ……………………. 335

Platinum ……………… 637

Elite …………………….. 246

　

We had dinner in the dining room; yummy escargot, lobster and huge prawns for me. Then off to the theater to see the new Disco Boogie show. I can live without it. Very loud, with lots of flashing lights. Then on to see Steve Moris who is so talented and very funny.

　

This morning has very little other than art and lots of spa stuff. And Ferris Bueller will have his Day Off on MUTS. Afternoon will show Polar Express on MUTS, followed by Raiders of the Lost Ark. Despicable Me 2 will be shown in the theater. Then in the evening MUTS will have World War Z and stateroom movie will be Cayman West. We will have nothing to do since the only entertainment will be Country & Western Night in Fusion and the worst hypnotist in the world (why is she always on my cruise?) Kellie Karl in the theater. I suppose we will be spending some time in the casino, hopefully receiving instead of giving.

Clocks went back an hour last night, so now we’re even again with EST. I really didn’t get that extra hour of sleep since we went to bed later than usual.

　

As for the IC, I will keep my eye on it to see if anything new happens; like some of the old salads reappearing. Someone asked about dessert cups which I have never seen because I don’t ever look at a dessert. Not sure what I should be looking for anyway. I did see orange jello with white stuff in the middle of it.

Signing off for now. It's feeding time and I haven't had coffee yet. Didn't bring the coffeemaker this trip, but doing well with Via and double shot Americanos. :D

[5326jan]

We did this itinerary on the Ruby a couple years ago. It was very relaxing... one that we didn't even feel the need to leave the ship for more than a stroll. :) Steve Morris was on that cruise too and we really enjoyed him! At the time, he thought that it was going to be his last cruise. I guess his plans changed. We had the hypnotist lady in Alaska... not our favorite either! :rolleyes:

 

So, where are we going next? I'll be looking forward to it! :)

[jetstorm]

Pia,

If you have time, my teen daughter was wondering if there were any theme nights with anyone dressed up such as the country western night or perhaps a 60's /70's theme?

[molme]

Pia

Any idea how much longer Capt Yeomens will be on board? Hope he is still there for our Feb 1 cruise. Enjoying your live from posts.

[molme]

Pia

Sorry about the double post

Edited December 19, 2013 by molme

[Pia1913]

Jan: Ruby on Sunday

Jetstorm: the staff dresses for those nights, not so much the passengers.

Molme: Capt. leaves in February for permanent retirement and golf every day. So he said.