Crown Princess ABC islands Jan 12 to 20, 2018

[tukogirl]

We are new to your trip reports and are thoroughly enjoying so far! Your pictures are lovely and the commentary really keeps the reader engaged. We will be on the Crown for our first Princess cruise for the 8 night Eastern the first week of March. the patters and Sanctuary photos are much appreciated.

 

Husband noticed in your pub lunch photos that you had a nitro can of Guinness next to your glass. Is there anyplace on board to get a Guinness on draft, or are the nitro cans the only Guinness available onboard?

Edited January 28, 2018 by tukogirl

[rdsqrl]

I see by the Patters that on your cruise, afternoon trivia was still at absurdedly early times. 3.15 is just ridiculous; totally ruins an afternoon of sunbathing. This was my only complaint about Corey the Cruise Director, but it was a big one as trivia is one of the highlights of my day. Of course, some people seemed to enjoy it at that time as it directly followed Zumba in Club Fusion most afternoons (and 2.30 is a stupid time to have a workout class, too, come to think of it): there appeared to be a contingent of "gentlemen" [using the term loosely] who got there early for trivia just to ogle the show. Pretty pervy.

[Bimmer09]

We are new to your trip reports and are thoroughly enjoying so far! Your pictures are lovely and the commentary really keeps the reader engaged. We will be on the Crown for our first Princess cruise for the 8 night Eastern the first week of March. the patters and Sanctuary photos are much appreciated.

 

Husband noticed in your pub lunch photos that you had a nitro can of Guinness next to your glass. Is there anyplace on board to get a Guinness on draft, or are the nitro cans the only Guinness available onboard?

 

Saw the word Guinness and had to respond pronto- nitro cans only.

Crown-first Princess cruise-heap good idea Kimosabe! (Lone Ranger/Tonto flashback)

You are in for a great cruise!

Thanks for finding my review! I have 13 or more to read on these long winter nights....

Norris

[Bimmer09]

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

 

Thanks bun38 but it's common knowledge that I never make a mistake! Further investigation finds this.......

 

I HAVE BEEN HACKED BY THE RUSSIANS!!

Will the real Saturday Jan 13 Patter please stand up?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now we have Patters for the first 3 days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

[Bimmer09]

I see by the Patters that on your cruise, afternoon trivia was still at absurdedly early times. 3.15 is just ridiculous; totally ruins an afternoon of sunbathing. This was my only complaint about Corey the Cruise Director, but it was a big one as trivia is one of the highlights of my day. Of course, some people seemed to enjoy it at that time as it directly followed Zumba in Club Fusion most afternoons (and 2.30 is a stupid time to have a workout class, too, come to think of it): there appeared to be a contingent of "gentlemen" [using the term loosely] who got there early for trivia just to ogle the show. Pretty pervy.

 

Annie I imagine Zumba, being exercise, is best done in the morning before the extra weight of lunch plays a factor. Trivia is something Carol says I would ace as my mind is full of stuff. My long term memory is good, short term rather foggy with a chance of drizzle. Pop music and geography would seem to be my strongest suits but my favorite cruise ship pastime besides photography is staring into space-turn off your mind, relax and float downstream....my favorite song by.....?

Good to see you here again and oh by the way there is more FOOD PORN in the offing...

Norris

[Bimmer09]

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.

 

Hey Sandra! Good of you to drop in. Pull up a chair and sit a spell.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Coming up tomorrow

AFTERNOON TEA

WONDERFUL SUNSET

TOO MUCH GOING ON TONIGHT

DINNER AT THE I.C (SAY WHAAAAT?)

CHAMPAGNE WATERFALL

CAPTAIN'S ADDRESS

VOICE AUDITIONS

PRODUCTION SHOW "ENCORE"

SLEEP

Norris

[perfect match]

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

 

I watched that show, too, but unlike you, I didn't notice the yacht Alucia appearing in both Norris' Gentleman's Seafaring Journal and the David Attenborough show. Excellent yacht spotting, Trip!

[CruiserRob]

Annie I imagine Zumba, being exercise, is best done in the morning before the extra weight of lunch plays a factor. Trivia is something Carol says I would ace as my mind is full of stuff. My long term memory is good, short term rather foggy with a chance of drizzle. Pop music and geography would seem to be my strongest suits but my favorite cruise ship pastime besides photography is staring into space-turn off your mind, relax and float downstream....my favorite song by.....?

 

 

 

Good to see you here again and oh by the way there is more FOOD PORN in the offing...

 

Norris

 

 

 

It is not dying. It is not dying

 

Tomorrow Never Knows might be yours, but my favourite Beatles song is A day in the Life

 

Robert

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Bimmer09]

I returned to the Sanctuary from a visit to Tradewinds at 3 p.m for Afternoon Tea, served at our loungers. It is served in one of the MDRs too or in your suite/cabin if you are Suite or Elite-you have to give Room Service advance notice of that i.e book a time during the tea window which is 3 to 4.30p.m.

 

We had a discussion about dinner as there was so much going on tonight that we wanted to see. We like to eat around 8 as it guarantees we get to the 10pm show early enough to get our seats. However there was the First Auditions for the Voice of the Ocean singing contest at 9 p.m in Club Fusion. Could we go to dinner earlier? Not ideal as between 7 and 8 I planned to be in the Piazza watching the Champagne Waterfall and video taping the Captain's Welcome Aboard address. I suggested Trident Grill but Carol preferred my International Cafe idea. Having had breakfast, Pub Lunch and Afternoon tea already we certainly didn't need to have a 4 course meal in the MDR.

Tonight was Formal Night and we had bought our dressy duds but we didn't have to wear them and could just dress smart casual to carry our our plan.

Plans made, we would eat at the IC after the Captain's address. In the meantime we were free to nap at will before sunset.

[Bimmer09]

I was at my Tradewinds station for the arrival of sunset

 

 

 

 

I thought the land in the distance might be Cuba

 

 

CLOUD PORN!

 

More...

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

calm sea

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jimorel]

Norris, I really love your sunset pictures, a different look then the standard orange ball sinking into it's bathwater.

[MisterMet]

I watched that show, too, but unlike you, I didn't notice the yacht Alucia appearing in both Norris' Gentleman's Seafaring Journal and the David Attenborough show. Excellent yacht spotting, Trip!

 

 

It was an excellent show, and weird that I noticed the yacht. Hope you enjoyed it!

 

Trip

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I really love your sunset pictures, a different look then the standard orange ball sinking into it's bathwater.

 

If it is a cloudless sky then I have no interest in taking pictures. It's the sun shining up into clouds from its hiding place over the horizon that produces the best colors and variations for me. The most vivid ones are shot with a fast shutter speed. I just looked on Flickr at that first photo and it was shot at 1/2500th of a second to underexpose it. Usually I am over 1/600th and beyond. The slowest was the portrait shaped one with the island @ 1/125th but I doubled the ISO. In RAW there aren't many photos I take that can't be rescued from experimentation.

Only camera shake-at the dinner table, low light, close up, can't be fixed in Lightroom. Those have me kicking myself for not figuring things out better beforehand.

I'm glad you like my sunset and sunrise pics as I am sure I have many more.

Norris

[lovevacadays]

I love reading your threads Norris. You and Carol seem to be a couple that gets great joy from the many aspects of cruising. Plus, your pictures are always amazing!

[Bimmer09]

Now that we had decided not to eat at the first Formal Dinner so we could be freed up to take in all the events that were tempting us, Carol decided to add another! The hilarious, quick-witted Dan Grueter was having a show in Explorers Lounge at 6.45. I didn't go and instead hit calypso Cove the Duty Free shop to score some ridiculously cheap cigarettes (a quarter of the Chicago price). They would be delivered to our cabin on our last sea day.

I also put together a bag of laundry (free for Elites) and had it back next day (winning!)

 

By 7 pm I was on deck 7 looking down on the champagne fountain

Corey Moir is introducing the Maitre 'd, Neville Saldanha

 

 

An excellent band called Static are on hand to provide some songs

 

 

and there is an attentive audience

 

The audience is asked to guess the number of glasses in the pyramid. They shout out guesses. The answer is 616 and Corey says he hopes no one falls and knocks them over at which point Neville pushes him towards the tower but catches him before he hits it. A good little piece of schtick.

Neville starts the bubbles

 

More...

 

 

[Bimmer09]

A line of folks are ready to join Neville on the rostrum and have their pictures taken by a ship's photographer/videographer (for the Reflections DVD to be sold at the end of the cruise)

 

 

 

 

This wonderfully romantic man climbed the steps with his girlfriend and then got on one knee to propose to her. The crowd cheered wildly! Very moving.

 

 

 

I had the whole bag of cameras with me as I was planning to video the Captain's Welcome Aboard speech

[Bimmer09]

I have videotaped some fine witty Captains on Princess, such as Nick Nash and John Foster who are jolly British wits full of fun. Captain Lubrano doesn't have their command of English so keeps it short. His daughter is with him. I was hoping to hear how many Scotsmen etc were on board, how much Guinness was loaded in PE etc but alas... still it keeps the video short.

You'll notice how hushed the audience is when Corey is speaking....

 

 

Norris

[deladane]

I'm all caught up! Great review, as always :) Can't wait to read more!!

[Bimmer09]

I love reading your threads Norris. You and Carol seem to be a couple that gets great joy from the many aspects of cruising. Plus, your pictures are always amazing!

 

Thank you! Great feedback indeed.

We do enjoy cruising and take what little rough there is with the smooth. It's all good from morning to night. We're at sea, very well fed and entertained and surrounded by people in a holiday mood.

Thanks for your kind compliments.

Much appreciated.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I'm all caught up! Great review, as always :) Can't wait to read more!!

 

Dana-and I can't wait to write more and see what photos I have to show you.

More coming up at 5 a.m tomorrow.

Great to see you are still reading along!

Norris

[donswife]

Hi Norris! I am late to the party as I just got off the Ruby a couple of days ago and have been busy catching up on life, including back to work today.

 

I also got beeped for a random search in the TSA pre line...but they were so busy dealing with the woman who refused to remove her 2 pounds of metal jewelry that they just did the wipe test on my phone and let me go.

[Working 2 Cruise]

Sorry Norris, I'm very late to this party!

 

I noticed that you like Top Chef and Stephen Colbert, love them both!

 

I had to cancel our cruise to the Caribbean, sniff! :(:mad: Instead, my husband was hospitalized for 18 days! So, i have to live vicariously!

 

Looking forward to more!

[chsalas]

Thank you for the great review, we are on the Crown in Feb 10, 2018 for the same ABC cruise. My Wife and i are looking forward to it, as it's been 2 years since our last cruise. One questions, does the crown have video on demand / movies on demand like the Regal? Thanks in advance and keep on cruising.