Bit of a Blog : Crown Princess : Buenos Aires - Valparaiso : February 1st 2017

[NorbertsNiece]

 

It is announced that we are making a diversion to land a sick person. in my lift back down I am riding with the Captain who informs me it is a 44 year old crew member. We are heading for Concepcion.

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

We had a group CC lunch.

 

 

 

 

It was during lunch that a rescue vessel arrived to take the patient off the ship.

I was incredibly rude. Sorry guys. Went up to deck 7 to see what was going on.

 

Something is approaching.

 

 

 

Chilean Navy

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

I have been running up and down stairs..... they had difficulty getting close enough even when the ship manoeuvred to try and enable it to. Eventually the patient was transferred and we resumed our course.

 

I have the last edition of cruise long trivia to go to. There is a Tango demonstration in the Piazza.

 

We came third!!!

 

 

 

 

Then there's a bar tenders demo and competition in the Piazza

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Three bartenders gave a display of their craft and each made a different drink that was judged by three guests.

 

 

 

 

This last one had a fan club

 

 

He'd achieved full marks for his display and just under for the taste of his cocktail. He won over all

 

 

There are small vessels in the vicinity

 

[NorbertsNiece]

How many people does it take to change a light bulb?

 

 

I give out a few of these.

 

 

We had a CC Slot Pull. We won absolutely nothing.

The casino manager was a sweetheart and he we all had a free drink on the house.

Plus two $1 tokens to play on one of those games of skill..... a grabber and a point and shoot.

We failed at those too. He gave us each these :

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

Doesn't matter where you are there's always someone on a phone

 

 

 

 

At this point i have to leave the table. I am extremely unwell.

My guess is the sauce on the steak wasn't GF.

I hadn't checked with the server ..... before now the sauce had been served on the side.....

First time I have been ill on board. Sigh.

 

There is to be a party in the Piazza.

 

 

This sight makes me feel no better

 

 

I recover in my room and manage a walkabout to get some personal pics around the ship.

 

End of day 21

[NorbertsNiece]

Just received these three pics from the lovely couple from the land tour with whom I shared the helicopter above Iguazu Falls. Thank you so much!!

 

 

 

[easyboy]

This sight makes me feel no better

 

A sight to avoid !!

[bconley351]

A kind of strange question. Our friends who cruised with you came home and said that they didn't feel the service on the ship was what they had been accustomed to. They felt the staff wasn't as pleasant and helpful as they had been in the past. Also, the ship upkeep they were used to seeing didn't happen. I realize that this was subjective, but did you notice any of that? Curious because our neighbor just returned from a r/t Hawaii and didn't notice any change of service level.

[NorbertsNiece]

A kind of strange question. Our friends who cruised with you came home and said that they didn't feel the service on the ship was what they had been accustomed to. They felt the staff wasn't as pleasant and helpful as they had been in the past. Also, the ship upkeep they were used to seeing didn't happen. I realize that this was subjective, but did you notice any of that? Curious because our neighbor just returned from a r/t Hawaii and didn't notice any change of service level.

 

 

Hi. This is a very subjective question indeed though not strange. Last year I spent 4 weeks on board a Celebrity ship and to be honest any other ship would be hard put to match that whole experience. So Crown. I had amazing service from my room steward and the Head Waiter in the deck 5 dining room. The Casino Manager was lovely and was one of the few who went above and beyond expectations. The Customer Services Manager helped me out with CC requests; she was at a loss to understand why my requests through the UK Call Centre had not been forwarded to her so she could at least have had a heads up.

 

Some of the service elsewhere was not as punctilious. I was always extremely polite at Guest Services but it was often hard to get a smile out of them. I only went to the Excursions Desk the once and that was to complain about my day in Ushuaia. I was spoken to with politeness and listened to (bit hard to avoid mad exhausted Brit with her shoes off!). I'm used to being addressed by my name on board every ship's dining room as I've entered. This never happened on Crown. I only ever dine 'My Time' or 'Freedom'. Sometimes a waiter would say, 'Are you P223?' in reference to my room number to link it to my GF meal but I don't think that was because I was recognised other than that. The girl on the door by the hand sanitiser was curt with me a couple of times ('We don't have any tables for two or four available' when they did.) She was also a server in the International Cafe so I cut her some slack. The Head Waiter at the door never addressed me by name. Sometimes at dinner the waiter would give the suggested items of the day. Mostly they didn't. I may have ordered MY food the day before but none of the others I sat with had.

 

I was aware of public spaces on the ship being cleaned. Thought it a bit odd that 'sick' bags were attached to bins. Would have thought specific holders on the stairs was more appropriate. I tended not to use the public restrooms. The personal hygiene of some of my fellow travellers left a whole lot to be desired (not anyone I could put a name to thank goodness). On the TV they were keen to have public information scroll through with regards to how to get into a life raft, put on the jacket, recognise the officers by their stripes..... but nothing on hygiene. I was not happy to have been a part of the coughing fraternity on board.

 

On the days we were out on deck 'scenic' cruising they had hot drinks carts. They were also pushing alcohol up there. I was prone to go and get me some fries!! There were blankets made available for those who had otherwise dressed inappropriately. Tendering was beyond belief and if you had to wait in the theatre you had no refreshments for an extended wait whilst they did in the dining room. And ashore? Well forget it. There was none when it was badly needed.

 

International Cafe : Would get a smile out of one of the servers there.... the others appeared to be engrossed in their work. In the Buffet the staff were always polite and professional.

 

Service was OK overall IMO. Sort of evens out. However it certainly did not live up to expectations. One of the group I was with was told by a crew member, "What do you expect from a budget cruise?!!" Budget? I don't think so.

 

Other observations not service related.

 

The 'Princess@Sea' app is very useful.....if one wants to cart a mobile phone around.

 

I mislaid my room card twice. And my camera once. (mislaid my Kindle at Lima airport security heading to Cusco..... got it back on my return..... that's how forgetful I can be!) Was easier when I had the tote but honestly I didn't want the phone with me. Signage on the ship is in the elevator lobbies and in the lifts themselves. I'd have quite like some orientation elsewhere too. Frequently passed people looking for the deck 6 dining room which is not actually accessible from the rest of deck 6. Quite a ways into the cruise people were unaware that there was a lunch time service there on sea days.

 

Don't get me started on the layout of the 'Patter'. It's no worse than any other 'daily' on a cruise ship but it's no improvement either. Way too much information in too small a space, so really hard to disseminate. And as for the forest of paper that went straight into the bin from the 'Art' auction and Spa etc......

 

Not sure I like having my name on the room door. This may have helped on the one occasion I came back slightly inebriated but I wouldn't swear on it! It did help however when I was delivering invitation cards to CC participants in the events I'd organised so I guess the jury's out on that.

 

The Library..... writing room....whatever.... again I'm used to a noticeboard by the reception desk where people could post requests for Bridge partners or Bill W events etc. These were hidden away in the library. I have no idea what the quality of the books available was like..... they had loads of games though.

 

No doubt I will be flamed again on social media for airing my thoughts. I would like to reiterate that I had a super time with amazing people. I'm still tired! None of the above impacted my holiday..... just my likelihood of booking with Princess again has been tarnished somewhat. I understand the Captain was new and I appreciate that attitude passes down..... but the CD..... other than seeing him on the TV as I flicked through the channels I didn't see him out and about at all.

 

Think I'll stop now.

Has this turned into a rant? Hope not. Did not mean it to. Need lunch.

[easyboy]

Think I'll stop now.

Has this turned into a rant? Hope not. Did not mean it to. Need lunch.

 

 

No, not at all. Your impressions are very important and useful for us, We wll be guided by them on our B2B on the Crown next month.

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 22 : Disembarkation and flight to Lima

 

Just sharing first a few posts regarding disembarking from the roll call

 

Just read about the port strike. We had no idea since we had a tour and left the ship at 8 :15. I'm feeling a little better about the tour now. But, let me tell the Princess tour that left Valparaiso with visits to Vina Del Mar and lunch in Olmue ending at Santiago airport was a horrible 10 hr ride to nowhere. We had one stop in Valparaiso then a brief slow drive by of the flower clock in Vina Del Mar . Stopped for 2 hours for lunch in the middle of nowhere. Drove 2 hours to Santiago when finally we stopped and walked around for 45 minutes. The guide was awful. Then we were dumped at the airport to find our luggage and wait 2 hours until the Delta ticket counter opened. Booking this was a terrible mistake but live and learn

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Sorry you had a bad experience with the Princess tour at the end.

 

 

Ten of us on this roll call took a similar tour at the end with South Excursions, and it was very good. We got off before the strike, and started with 1 1/2 hours walking and seeing Valparaiso (including funicular ride), then a nice lunch in Vina del Mar (including a stop at the clock and some minutes walking around; our lunch cost was not included in the tour cost). In Santiago, we rode up Santa Lucia hill and got out there for a great view, then drove by the other downtown sites, before the hotel/airport drop-offs. Our guide Christopher spoke excellent English and was very good. If you ever do this cruise again, I'd recommend this private tour to transfer back.

 

 

We were so lucky to have great weather and to see lots of wildlife. Hope the end of your next cruise is better.

 

MJ

 

I met a woman on the airporter who may have been on a similar tour and she found out about it on Cruise Critic. We are not seasoned cruisers so I'm still a little nervous about booking independently. I trusted Princess. But, in the future I will do a lot more research. The cruise was so outstanding with the Glacier, Cape Horn and Beagle Chanel I am thrilled to have gone. We loved our stateroom, too. But, with the tender situation and the crowds in the dining area I don't know if I would chose Princess again. Certainly not a large ship. Thanks for your reply.

[hpeabody]

Linda,

Do you remember the name of the captain?

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

People are already disembarking

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

Our luggage is being loaded into a van to be driven to the terminal pickup building

 

 

Sigh...... last time down the ramp

 

 

We've been called about 20 minutes late..... this line is for the bus to the terminal building

 

 

 

This is a very large terminal

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

Erm.....

 

 

 

Transiting through the luggage hall wasn't too bad..... the post cruise tour had its own luggage tag and all the bags were together. We were escorted with our bags to the bus, We had a small tour of the area on our way to the airport which is about two hours drive away.

 

There's a train station near the terminal

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Valparaiso is a city of many steep hills. They have cable cars and staircases to aid connections. The city is divided into many neighbourhoods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

We are driven through very nice neighbourhoods

 

 

 

 

 

In the UK we have people who stand at traffic lights selling flowers or washing windscreens. Here they have talent and have performance skills. These guys are juggling footballs..... we pass someone else on a unicycle.

 

 

It's like knitting

 

[NorbertsNiece]

On our way up the mountain there is an obstruction and we have to go over the central barrier to bypass it

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

We are organised through checkin and bag drop by the tour operator.

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Another van. Another tour guide

 

 

This is going to be a two hour drive to our hotel in Lima. We will be returning to the same airport tomorrow. This was a change in our itinerary which we had been made aware of. The logistics were to prove uncomfortable and exhausting. We've already experienced 2 hours to Santiago and over 3 hours in the air.

 

 

 

 

A chain of chicken fast food restaurants

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

The further we drive the more I feel concerned about the neighbourhoods we are passing through.

 

 

 

It's getting dark and we're still driving.

 

 

A theatre

 

 

In the distance is a lit up Cross

 

 

We get to the hotel and it's now dark outside. Check in was like something out of a Woody Allen film.... people wandering about with no real purpose with pens and paper and seemingly never having done this before. They had been provided with all our details but seemed utterly unable to put name together with key (the old fashioned kind with a tab with the number on so not difficult.)

[NorbertsNiece]

My room is clean and simple. Just for one night.

 

 

Ahhhhh the memory of the toilets..... that little bin haunts my nightmares.

 

 

 

The hotel dining room isn't very welcoming and I head across the road for dinner with some friends. The neighbourhood is OK. About 4 blocks from a Starbucks! This is a fish & chicken restaurant. They don't serve 'Coke'. This is the national soda. I don't like it.

 

 

Very generous portions

 

 

That's the hotel across the road

 

 

End of day 22

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 23 : Lima to Cusco

 

Hotel breakfast. Despite previous instructions / requests they have no GF provision.

 

 

The view from my balcony on the front of the hotel

 

 

 

Another van. Another guide.

 

 

We are taken on a city tour prior to going back to the airport.