Live from the Island Princess Dec 5-20 Panama Canal

[js4rq]

LOVING the photos!! :D I wish we were going on our partial Panama canal cruise now!

 

Have fun in Cabo - it's beautiful!! :)

Edited December 15, 2015 by js4rq

[scanditaly]

Hello Gary and thank you for doing this thread.

 

Do you (or anybody else) know if there are chess/checkers/backgammon tables in any of the lounge/bar places?

 

We like to play backgammon and prefer a nice open place where we can sip an adult beverage; after five of course!

 

Any info is appreciated.

 

Scanditaly.

[DJS09]

We are going to be in B741 looking forward to voyage.

[mdgary]

Hello Gary and thank you for doing this thread.

 

 

 

Do you (or anybody else) know if there are chess/checkers/backgammon tables in any of the lounge/bar places?

 

 

 

We like to play backgammon and prefer a nice open place where we can sip an adult beverage; after five of course!

 

 

 

Any info is appreciated.

 

 

 

Scanditaly.

 

 

There are plenty of tables for games in the Library/game room. They have chess, backgammon and a lot of board games to use.

[mdgary]

Few pics of Cabo sunset with the Crown or Grand leaving port ahead of us.

[scanditaly]

There are plenty of tables for games in the Library/game room. They have chess, backgammon and a lot of board games to use.

 

Good to know. Thanks for responding.

 

Scanditaly

[InTheSticks]

How often have you had to change your clocks/watches and on which days? Thanks for posting the pictures. It's fun to see what we'll be seeing in April.

[mdgary]

How often have you had to change your clocks/watches and on which days? Thanks for posting the pictures. It's fun to see what we'll be seeing in April.

 

 

We had to go back one hour before Aruba and then forward the next day. We then go went back again yesterday (before Cabo) and think we go back one more hour tonight.

[missdenise]

Thanks for all the pictures. We will be on the Island Princess next month. Do you remember seeing B1G1F Happy Hour drink specials in the afternoon? If so, was this just at certain bars?

[GonzoWCS]

Thanks again for all of the pictures we will be on board on Sunday the 20th for the return trip and the pictures helped us get wound up!

 

Cheers

Steve & Vicky

[mdgary]

Thanks for all the pictures. We will be on the Island Princess next month. Do you remember seeing B1G1F Happy Hour drink specials in the afternoon? If so, was this just at certain bars?

 

 

They have buy one get one for a dollar in the afternoon and later in the evening. Days is usually explorers and nights in wheelhouse

[InTheSticks]

Thanks for the information. We always have early dining, but this time we'll have anytime dining. I want to time dinner before or after sunset times. We've missed too many sunsets eating. Enjoy the rest of your cruise. Looking forward to more pictures.

[mdgary]

Final sea day tomorrow and almost out of internet minutes. Will give a full recap and photo dump once we get back to reality. Hope this had been helpful and will answer any other questions once we get home. It's been a great trip with a fantastic crew.

[missdenise]

They have buy one get one for a dollar in the afternoon and later in the evening. Days is usually explorers and nights in wheelhouse

 

Thanks!!!!

[kazes2004]

Awesome post! Thanks for the content & can't wait for you to catch your breath & post a recap.

[mdgary]

We made it home late last night after a great 15 day cruise. The crew did a fantastic job the entire trip. Will give a full review and recap in a few days after we rest up. Here is one quick link for a little mishap when going through the locks: (It's around the 30 second mark in the video)

 

Edited December 22, 2015 by mdgary

[elliair]

Boarding the Island Princess tomorrow for Panama Canal transit from Ft Lauderdale to Los Angeles. We have one of the new aft facing cabins (B741) and will post pictures and updates as we go. If therevare any questions I will try and answer if possible.

 

We were on the same cruise, and the biggest complaint we heard from people who were in the new cabins on the Panoramic deck were the two doors on opposite ends of the deck constantly slamming with people going into and out of those doors constantly. It seems to be the deck where people do the walkathon - including me.

[Colo Cruiser]

We were on the same cruise, and the biggest complaint we heard from people who were in the new cabins on the Panoramic deck were the two doors on opposite ends of the deck constantly slamming with people going into and out of those doors constantly. It seems to be the deck where people do the walkathon - including me.

 

 

Panoramic deck?

[missdenise]

We made it home late last night after a great 15 day cruise. The crew did a fantastic job the entire trip. Will give a full review and recap in a few days after we rest up. Here is one quick link for a little mishap when going through the locks: (It's around the 30 second mark in the video)

 

 

 

Loved the way they had a hold of, the guy that was trying to line up the waywalk, by the back of his jeans.

[mdgary]

Here is our review of a wonderful Panama Canal transit from Ft Lauderdale to Los Angeles on board the Island Princess from 5-20 December 2015.

 

We flew in the day before our cruise and stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port. The shuttle from airport to the hotel was pretty quick to pick us up and it's just a short drive to the hotel. We arrived well before check-in time but had requested a early check-in which they accommodated with no problem and the staff was very friendly and helpful. It's a nice hotel with small rooms with good service but there is nothing close by if you do not have a car. They do offer a free shuttle to restaurants and the mall but they advise there may be a decent wait to be picked back up. The hotel offers a very convenient shuttle to the cruise terminals for a reasonable price.

 

Check in day:

We took the second shuttle bus to the terminal and were in line to check-in around 12:15 and the line was circled around the outside of the terminal. Check-in went very quick and smoothly and we were walking onboard around 1:00 (Princess email stated check-in time was 2:30 but there was no problem going early).

 

Our cabin: B741

We had cabin B741 which is one of the new aft facing cabins. The cabin is very nice and has plenty of space for 2 people. This cabin is next to a suite which has it's balcony on the starboard side so there is only one balcony neighbor which is separated by a full wall divider. The balcony is not huge but fully covered with plenty of space to sit and relax. We met our cabin steward Nilo Casilao and he was the nicest person and does a fantastic job. Whenever he saw us he would address us by name and ask how our day was going. You couldn't ask for better service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More to follow.

Edited December 22, 2015 by mdgary

[mdgary]

Let me try this again and hopefully the pictures will actually show up :)

 

Here is our review of a wonderful Panama Canal transit from Ft Lauderdale to Los Angeles on board the Island Princess from 5-20 December 2015.

 

We flew in the day before our cruise and stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port. The shuttle from airport to the hotel was pretty quick to pick us up and it's just a short drive to the hotel. We arrived well before check-in time but had requested a early check-in which they accommodated with no problem and the staff was very friendly and helpful. It's a nice hotel with small rooms with good service but there is nothing close by if you do not have a car. They do offer a free shuttle to restaurants and the mall but they advise there may be a decent wait to be picked back up. The hotel offers a very convenient shuttle to the cruise terminals for a reasonable price.

 

Check in day:

We took the second shuttle bus to the terminal and were in line to check-in around 12:15 and the line was circled around the outside of the terminal. Check-in went very quick and smoothly and we were walking onboard around 1:00 (Princess email stated check-in time was 2:30 but there was no problem going early).

 

Our cabin: B741

We had cabin B741 which is one of the new aft facing cabins. The cabin is very nice and has plenty of space for 2 people. This cabin is next to a suite which has it's balcony on the starboard side so there is only one balcony neighbor which is separated by a full wall divider. The balcony is not huge but fully covered with plenty of space to sit and relax. We met our cabin steward Nilo Casilao and he was the nicest person and does a fantastic job. Whenever he saw us he would address us by name and ask how our day was going. You couldn't ask for better service.

 

PC050002 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

PC050007 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

PC050015 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

PC050009 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

PC050016 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

 

Hope it works this time.

 

[Colo Cruiser]

Nice photos! I see them now! :)

[elliair]

Panoramic deck?

 

Yes, PANORAMIC DECK.

[mdgary]

Just a quick note on our cabin. There has been much discussion on vibrations/noises in this cabin (B741) and with the exception of the first night when the ship was going around 22 knots there was little or no problems with vibrations or noise. We would definitely recommend this cabin for future cruises.

 

And now a few more pictures for now:

 

PC050023 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

PC060037 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

Relaxing on the balcony!

 

PC060038 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

Looking down from balcony.

 

 

PC060054 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

Lido deck

 

PC070069 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

Promenade deck outside Bayou Cafe

 

PC070076 by mdgary21043, on Flickr

 

Crooners bar. They have the best servers (Sandeep and Dunya) and the best bartender onboard (Aldrin).

 

More later.

[missdenise]

Yes, PANORAMIC DECK.

 

I do not see a Panoramic Deck, either?? Where is it?