Crown Princess ABC islands Jan 12 to 20, 2018

[Bimmer09]

I agree about the cruise director. Corey has been our CD on 2 different cruises in the past and he is very enjoyable.

 

I gave Corey a good mention on the post-cruise survey and also thanked him as he was there at the gangway saying bye-bye as we left the ship and we were among the last dozen people to leave last Saturday.

Norris

[AF-1]

Great review. Love your pictures; they tell so much of your story. Your narrative is funny; but spot on. It was nice to see Corey in your review. He was our cruise director on our Alaska cruise this past July. Very nice and will stop and chat with anyone. Likeable and great CD. Thanks for taking the time to post your review.

[Bimmer09]

SEA DAY # 1 SATURDAY JAN 13 2018

"There's nothing to do on Princess" I heard the Einstein family say as I poured my coffee in the buffet this morning.

Today is a Sanctuary day for us with a Pub Lunch (yippee!)

Tonight is Formal Night. Family portrait Night. Champagne Waterfall Night. Captain's Welcome aboard and Introduction of the Officers Night and Auditions for the Voice Night and a Show in the Princess Theater Night, Titans and Patriots "it's a game of inches" on MUTS Night and Put your clocks forward an hour Night.

Each day we start with a sit down breakfast in Da Vinci, deck 6 Midships. We love the elegant room, the warm service, the ambiance and the cooked to order vittles. No buffet for us.

We would meet there at 9 a.m as we would always be coming from different parts of the ship and every morning we would be given a happy and welcoming greeting by this gal

Georgine from Philippines

 

 

She would pass us on to this cool Italian head waiter, Filippo

 

Filippo earned my respect this morning when he sent a hairy man away from the line to go back to his cabin and take the wife-beater tee off and cover up his big arms. I thought the guy was wearing a mohair sweater.

Napkins on lap, smiles, coffee and OJ (not Simpson), sticky pastries but if there's not an apple turnover I am having a croissant. I have 4 pats of butter. Pub Lunch is in 4 hours so I restrict myself to this simple dish. Carol had the pancakes too as they were her "recommendation". She skipped the meats.

 

 

I went up on deck while Carol went to prep for the Sanctuary. We were not alone on the sea but the only ship heading South.

 

 

 

Wake view from our room

 

 

Calm sea

[voljeep]

have you posted any current patters? - we're on the Crown in March...

[terrysko2000]

I have never been a fan of mohair!! Lol! Keep up the good review, 4 weeks and counting til we are on Crown!

[Bimmer09]

 

We have been booking the Sanctuary since cruise # 1 on the Coral August 2011 and that week we were the only people to book it all week and used it even though on our first 5 days it drizzled.

We had picked loungers under an overhang so we didn't get wet and the Serenity Stewards wrapped us in blankets and brought hot chocolate. It was $20 a day then ($15 after the booking by the week 20% discount). Quiet and Peaceful in a world of elevator music, phone hold music and people babbling into cell phones. Yada yada yada.

The only ship we didn't book it on was the Ocean Princess (RIP) which was too little and too old to have one.

The Regal/Royal etc have a top notch state of the art one with toilets!! Carol says "yippee!"

I took most of these pics on a later visit.

 

It's a big airy space. There are 2 Lotus Spa massage tents and we are next to the one on the right. They don't get a lot of use.

Our view looks straight ahead

 

 

It is Carol's favorite place on any Princess ship

 

 

Carol is stressing out

 

 

The view when I stand up

 

 

More...

[Bimmer09]

There's a metal superstructure above our seats which can help keep them dry when it rains. You could see rain up ahead in that last photo of the bow of the ship.

 

 

 

Most of the loungers have a nylon or some such sail above which has gaps in it for the wind to whistle through. White noise to help you nap...

 

 

 

You can help yourself to any of this but you don't have to as the Stewards, none of them called Stewart by the way, live to serve you from the moment you arrive. They will even go and fetch you a beer or cocktail. If you want pizza or a burger and fries there is a $3 charge as they may have to go a long way and wait for your order.

 

 

More...

[Bimmer09]

The Sanctuary, as it serves food and service falls, under the responsibility of the Maitre d' Hotel who in this case is Mr Everywhere, Neville Saldanha. He came through a few times during our days up in the Sanctuary and is always checking to see that you are happy and well looked-after.

He will also leave you chuckling if you get into conversation with him. Simply the best MD we have sailed with.

 

Menu

 

 

Sorry if writing is hard to read...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have use of the Sanctuary from 8 a.m when it opens until closing at 5.30 p.m

There is a small adult pool with available wave machine and two hot tubs on the deck below and easy to access. No need to bring towels.

[Bimmer09]

have you posted any current patters? - we're on the Crown in March...

 

No not yet. We are off to an Opera now but late this afternoon I will try to scan and upload our first two days on board and then continue as each new day comes.

Norris

[Leo Mcgary]

Following along from Sacramento, As always a great review, I hope to be doing a " live from " on our 19 day sail aboard the Island Princess in April.

[Bimmer09]

Here is the Patter from Embarkation Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

My time in the Sanctuary is usually taken in chunks of half an hour or so and then I go down to Tradewinds and have a beer and a smoke and chat with someone there then pop back to the Sanctuary. Of course I have cat naps there. Carol can stay up there all day, eating, napping, swimming or using the hot tubs. Make a point of fetching her at 1 pm so she can have a Pub Lunch. It's in Wheelhouse Bar which is now an odd room with some jarring hightop white tables which are the Salty Dog-a Ghastly looking Gastro pub within what used to be a room which evoked Gentlemen's Clubs and the Sea. I can't imagine those tables score high among the age demographic on board. So we tell the Officer (in whites) at the door that we don't want one of those white hightops and get a normal table with chairs that you sit down in rather than climb up to.

It's a taste of Jolly Old England and always a big draw. Served 11.30 to 2pm and always on a Sea Day. The food comes fast and piping hot.

 

That's a Steak and Kidney pie, Guv'nor. Superb. Hot and tasty straight from the oven. Served with a cold Guinness.

 

The thick cut British style "chips" get two thumbs up. Heinz malt vinegar is a nice touch. The plate is cleaned without delay.

Carol enjoys a Ploughman's lunch that Gertie the Missus had made for him out in the fields with his horse Neddy and his dog Rex.

(pic from Regal Princess PL)

Not enough Branston Pickle on the plate. If you have eaten BP you will agree. We always have some in our fridge at home.

Now I wasn't going to have a dessert but I was here and it was in the kitchen and who knows when I will have another Pub Lunch?

 

 

Bread and Butter pudding came to the table but didn't stay long

 

A fine meal-another fine meal I should say. The Afternoon would now definitely be a lazy relaxing one!

Edited January 28, 2018 by Bimmer09

[perfect match]

A relaxing day in the Sanctuary sound like a wonderful idea right about now! :cool:

[macsford]

Hi Norris,

Looks like I'm late (but got an excuse note) so looking forward to catching up and following your review and pictures.

 

Just what is needed in January as this will be my winter sunshine this year.

Sandra.

[Bimmer09]

WHEELHOUSE BAR

As we were just in here dining I thought I'd show you the lay of the land. If you enter from the Princess theater end you'll see the Gentleman's Club ambiance I was talking about.

 

 

 

 

A nautical theme

 

 

More...

[Bimmer09]

...or you can enter from the starboard side, opposite the EFFY store

 

 

 

 

 

 

the jarring high top tables

 

 

[MisterMet]

Oh, it seems I did take a couple of pics while up at Tradewinds...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and now I am on our balcony after Muster

 

 

 

 

 

 

Port Everglades is the home to many fine yachts, motor and sail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Harbor Sheriff is ready to escort us out

 

 

 

 

Norris,

 

I was watching Smithsonian Channel the other night. Show about The Great Barrier Reef hosted by Sir David Attenborough. The ship they were on was the Alucia which you have capture here, second from the bottom.

 

Trip

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Bimmer09]

Following along from Sacramento, As always a great review, I hope to be doing a " live from " on our 19 day sail aboard the Island Princess in April.

 

Leo, welcome and I am glad you are enjoying as this slowly unfolds.

19 days on the Island? I'm envious as we can't go away from work or the cat for that long. This 8 day Crown trip has been our longest cruise to date.

I'll keep an eye out for your live report!

Norris

[smilz]

Hoping you are planning to post more patters soon! Sailing Friday and boy would the first 2 sea days help to coordinate everyone! Thanks for your review! Enjoying it!

[Bimmer09]

Hoping you are planning to post more patters soon! Sailing Friday and boy would the first 2 sea days help to coordinate everyone! Thanks for your review! Enjoying it!

 

Sea Day January 13 Patter

 

 

 

 

 

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Norris

[voljeep]

Thanks - Calypso Bar it is for bloody marys and screwdrivrs

[sawtooth]

No not yet. We are off to an Opera now but late this afternoon I will try to scan and upload our first two days on board and then continue as each new day comes.

Norris

Did you go see Live from the Met's Tosca?

Fabulous performance!!!

[TSM AND JP]

We are going on the 8 day Eastern Caribbean Explorer, so I'm sure the Patters will be similar. Thanks for posting. I think we'll need to check out the pub lunch while on board. :)

[Bimmer09]

Did you go see Live from the Met's Tosca?

Fabulous performance!!!

 

We sure did! It was in two theaters due to demand. Ours was full but we buy our favorite seats in advance-leather recliners. The movie theater is within15 minutes walk from us so Carol lives there when not working.

It was as good as Opera can get. Seen as far away as China.

Glad you saw it and enjoyed!

Norris

[bun38]

It seems the last Patter you posted was for 1/14 not 1/13.