Review Emerald Princess British Isles May 9-26, 2022, plus one week in London!

[ROWSE]

1 hour ago, BuckeyeMark said:

This is the info we're here for! How warm is "very warm?" T-shirts and shorts?  And how much rain did you see and what'd you wear (or wish you had worn!) to be able to carry on through it?

I can only report on what UK in May was like for us.  It was usually high of 50's.

In London the high temperature one day was low 60's and we did see people in T-shirt and shorts.  We did not ever feel we would wear shorts.  It was usually high 50's.  We were so lucky and only had a couple really rainy times.  Some sprinkles but not much.  I had a rain coat, a vest, and one fleece pullover top with mainly long sleeve tops underneath.  Of course it depended on the forecast that day to what I would put on.

 Did have a short sleeve underneath those sometimes, but really only went down to that a couple times.  Layers!  If I were to go later than May, my raincoat would have been way lighter than what I took for May.  

You will see every kind of weather hit in the exact same day.  

Weather is just too hard to predict to really advise anyone, though!  

[nini]

On 6/2/2022 at 2:36 PM, BuckeyeMark said:

Why did they take your passports?!  That kinda would make me nervous...

 

We were also concerned about this. They were collected the night before Cobh and returned to us the day after Dublin. Our cabin steward was quite efficient in this process. Yes, a bit freaky! However, I always make photocopies to keep in the safe.

 

BTW- After the Bushmills stop, I think it was cute of Kitty to say, "I think I now like whiskey".

[ROWSE]

May 13, 2022, Belfast Northern Ireland Continued...

 

Our next stop on the tour was Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.  This is a rope bridge that links the mainland to the windy island of Carrickarede.  It spans 20 meters (66 ft) and is 30 meters (98 ft) above the rocks below. 

 

 

 

Lovely church a long the way.  

 

 

And river 

 

 

 

Our lunch stop was in a lovely little town called Cushendall.  We joined the others at a place called Harry's.  I think they were surprised at the size of our group too, but they were amazing getting us all fed in a timely manner.  

We had their fish and chips!   DH tried the beer on tap. 

 

 

 

Walking back to the bus, I saw this unique way they did laundry here at outside a little store.  I have never seen that kind of set up!

 

 

We had some long hours driving today but the scenery was so beautiful.

 

 

Our last stop before Belfast was at ‎⁨Carrickfergus⁩ Castle.  We just viewed the outside and it was a nice comfort stop as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

We came back in to Belfast at about 5:20 p.m. and saw some of the results of the 1969 to 1998 unrest and bombings in Belfast.  It was both political and religious and such a shame to damage their lovely city.

This is part of the peace wall.  

 

 

This mural was on a side of a building.  Rather unsettling!

 

 

Other sites

 

 

 

I am so glad we chose to go outside of Belfast for our tour as this city gave me an

uneasy feeling and I was glad I was in the bus.  I am sure there is so much more to 

see and learn here than just seeing the surface like we did.  

 

Once back on board we rushed to our 6:00 dinner being just a little late.  Our fish meal was pretty filling so we just had some rolls, salad, and pasta.  

 

 

BUT of course there was room for dessert!  This chocolate cookie dessert was one of the best things I had had so far!

 

 

DH had the key lime pie.

 

We were too tired AGAIN to go to the show but I recorded the show the birds put on for us as we left port.  What on earth is the ship spewing out that attracts them like that!  Another amazing day, and tomorrow we will be in Liverpool.  

 

 

[anierai]

On 5/30/2022 at 6:38 PM, ROWSE said:

We returned very late Saturday night May 28, from our amazing trip and still have major jet lag, but just aching to get this 

started!  

This will be one of those LONG reviews with pictures and will probably add our week in London at the end.   It

seems awhile since I have read one,  and I aim to entertain or possibly help those who may be taking this cruise

in the months to come!  Lucky you if you do have an upcoming cruise, as it was a wonderful even in this challenging Covid times!  

 

We have been on about 19 Princess cruises to date, my husband maybe slightly less as I had a few times I went with

other family members or friends.  Total now of 39 cruises under my belt.  Not one was a bad apple in the bunch!  

We were like many others, and just about to get on a British Isles Cruise in May 2020, when the world turned on it's ear with Covid!

I kept moving it forward thinking this would pass quickly and WELL, we all know how that turned out!  

 

Finally, this one for May 2022, looked like it would be happening.  We were on pins and needles or should I say we were "on" 

that cotton swab stuck up our nose, but we had a negative Covid test in our hands!!!   We used the Abbott BinaxNow Proctor home

test on Friday and flew out on Saturday, getting on the cruise on Monday, May 9.  This was our first time to this area of the world!

 

We flew Delta and were lucky enough to have the two seater area.  Booked with EZ air and it changed a few times but in the

end flew from Spokane to Seattle then to Heathrow.  The best part was the whole center section next to us

was empty so my husband moved over to have the whole center row and I had the two to myself.  SCORE!!!! 

There were a lot of empty seats this flight! 

He was sprawled out sleeping shortly after this picture!  Or trying to at least!

 

 

 

Our first view of England after landing.  Wait!!!  Is this right???  We had read it rained her all the time!!

This was endless blue skies!  We were extremely lucky in our weather for these 3 weeks.  Only had

rain a couple times!  

 

 

I had pre-booked National Express Bus to take us to our hotel in Southampton for the night.  

The ticket we bought could be changed for 5 pounds if we got there earlier or later.  We just

missed getting on the earlier bus but passed the time sitting outside enjoying that lovely day 

near the bus station.

 

 

 

Inside the station.

 

 

 

Peeking out the other door we saw the buses that I associate with London.  My heart skipped a beat!!!

We were really HERE!!!!  JOY!!!!  

 

 

The reader board was a little tricky and I had to ask which bus do we want.  Turns out it said Poole!

The boarding number outside does not appear till right before.  This picture is a bit blurry as were our eyes from that red eye flight!

 

We are going on this cruise on 26 June. Thank you for posting such an informative review. I will continue to follow until the last day!

[Mark_OH]

Thank you for posting this!  My wife and I and another couple are taking the BI cruise that starts June 26 and this is helpful information.

[Lucky TGO]

Thanks  Kitty & Jim,

I felt like I was on the trip right next to you. I love all the great photos!! 

Your Friends forever!! 

Tony & Margie

 

[ROWSE]

13 hours ago, anierai said:

We are going on this cruise on 26 June. Thank you for posting such an informative review. I will continue to follow until the last day!

So glad you are reading along!  My best information came from all of you on Cruise Critic!  

[ROWSE]

12 hours ago, Mark_OH said:

Thank you for posting this!  My wife and I and another couple are taking the BI cruise that starts June 26 and this is helpful information.

Lucky you, wish we could do it again.  Thank you for reading along!  

[ROWSE]

10 hours ago, Lucky TGO said:

Thanks  Kitty & Jim,

I felt like I was on the trip right next to you. I love all the great photos!! 

Your Friends forever!! 

Tony & Margie

 

So glad you are along for the virtual ride!  Isn't it funny how you meet certain people on cruises and they are life long friends!!!  

[Bimmer09]

On 6/3/2022 at 3:24 PM, ROWSE said:

 Even though my bartender son assured us it was fantastic here, it was a bit too strong for us.  To tell the truth I don't like any beer, so no big surprise for me.  I am sure @Bimmeris rolling his eyes at me if he is still reading along as I know from his reviews that he loves it.    

Kitty, Guinness has been savored since 1759 and is sold in 120 countries so I am not the only one who loves it. I didn't like my first pint all those years ago. The people I was with told me it was an "acquired taste" and by pint number 3 Guinness had acquired a new customer. I was also told I looked good with a "Guinness mustache".

Here is the pint they poured for me in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin....I heard angels sing...

 

Norris, enjoying your review!

Edited June 5, 2022 by Bimmer09
spelling

[ROWSE]

May 14, 2022, Port of Liverpool

 

We were up bright and early and up to the buffet.  Today we were doing a tour with Busy Bus called Day Trip Tour of North Wales.  

It was also an 8 hour tour.

 

In the buffet we are asked to wash at stations like this.  I really appreciate these places!  

 

 

After breakfast we head down to International Cafe to get some coffee.  We just had a hard time finding the perfect drink but by the end we decided we liked a large latte, almond milk, with Chai flavoring.  Some pictures of the atrium in early hours....

 

 

 

A view as we come in to Liverpool

 

 

Our port time was 8:00a.m. and we were to meet Busy Bus at 8:30.  The ship was again late and we were panicked.  

We could see everything getting ready and note the ramp in this picture.  It was fairly parallel.  Didn't even register to me we went up. At end of day the tide was out and it was a huge down hill on that ramp!!!  

 

On most of the facebook pictures on Busy Bus it is a van and I was looking for that but it was a big bus for our trip today.  The picture of the bus is at one of the sites but wanted to show what it looked like.  

We were in the bus by 8:45.  We had to wait for a couple people so our tour started a bit late.  That happened a lot on this tour.  We had to wait past meeting time for the same people every time!!!  

 

 

Finally we were off with a wonderful guide named Stewart and he and the driver did an amazing job today.  Our first stop was this amazing site called the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct built by Sir Thomas Telford ( Thomas Telford built so many things that it was a joke for us later to just say oh that was built by Thomas Telford).  

It was built  in 1795 for 47,0000 pounds and still in everyday use taking canal barges across the valley.  

Pictures from this site...

 

 

 

Loved these long boats!  What a way to travel!!!  

 

We were able to walk it and it was very high!

 

I made it out there! 

 

@nini has made it too!  

 

The view down!!! 

 

The best part was that we got to see boats using it!  

 

Note the leaning direction of the driver.  I would not lean the other way either!!  There is no guard rail on that side!!😳

 

We had the most beautiful weather today!! 

 

 

This was a pull in to area and then you had to turn and go back out over the aqueduct as it was a dead end here.  

Next we were off to a cute little town for a comfort stop and snacks if we chose.

Name of town was Betws-y-coed.  Just lovely area.  

 

 

We found a little ice cream!  

 

 

 

 

Edited June 5, 2022 by ROWSE

[ROWSE]

16 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

Kitty, Guinness has been savored since 1759 and is sold in 120 countries so I am not the only one who loves it. I didn't like my first pint all those years ago. The people I was with told me it was an "acquired taste" and by pint number 3 Guinness had acquired a new customer. I was also told I looked good with a "Guinness mustache".

Here is the pint they poured for me in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin....I heard angels sing...

 

Norris, enjoying your review!

Norris, I am so glad you chimed in.  I was beginning to worry about you as I saw you were liking my posts but had not heard from you.  PHEW!!!  Glad you are still here to drink another Guinness!  Cheers!!   

[ROWSE]

May 14, 2022, Port of Liverpool continued.

 

Correction, as it would not let me go back to last post, but it was another tour that we had to wait for people, this one everyone was on time!  Sometimes it is hard to keep it straight.

Next on our tour we drove through their lovely Ogwen Valley to Snowdonia.  Beautiful area!  

 

 

 

Headed to that mountain!

 

 

We did a short walk up to this cascading water. 

 

 

It looked like there were amazing hiking trails around here. 

 

 

Next stop was the walled town of Conwy constructed by the English monarch Edward I between 1283 and 1289 as one of the key fortresses in his 'iron ring" of castles to contain the Welsh.  The wall around is 3/4 miles long and guarded by 22 towers.  The Conway Castle is amazing and built by James of St. George.  It just took our breath away!  

 

 

 

 

We were urged to grab a bite to eat somewhere here and we didn't want to waste time so grabbed a tuna sandwich at a cute little place.  My credit card says Castle Gallery was the name.  This was the first time we had experienced corn in our tuna sandwich but not the last on this trip.  

 

 

 

Beside the main road was the old bridge and of course we had to walk across that!

 

AND who was it made by???  Of course, Thomas Telford!!!  

 

 

View back to the waterfront of the town.  Can you see how crowded it was???  We stayed at a distance. 

 

 

Lovely little buttercups! 

 

Walking around town we spy a fountain where someone has added something to make bubbles.  The kids were having the best time! 

 

We were able to walk a great deal of the wall before all aboard our bus.  

 

A map showing just how that wall surrounds it.  We saw so many adults and kids dressed in their best pirate attire!  So fun!  

[PescadoAmarillo]

@ROWSELIves the pics of the long boats on the aquaduct. How cool is that?!?

[ROWSE]

May 14, 2022, Port of Liverpool continued... and 

May 15, 2022 a much needed Sea Day!!!!

 

After enjoying our time in Conwy we had a very long bus ride back to Liverpool.  We drove the coastal and some lovely sites along the way.  

 

 

 

We were slightly later than the 4:30 promised, back in to Liverpool and drove straight to the port.  

 

It was a wonderful tour but someday maybe Liverpool city will be in our plans instead.  

 

Ready and off to another fantastic dinner.  DH had a crab cake. 

 

I did the fruit appetizer. 

 

We both had the salad. 

 

DH had the scallops.  

 

I had the Indian Dish offered.  It was very good! 

 

It was served with a good deal of Raita.  YUM!!! 

 

Usually my dinner drink was Mimosa's but joined my hubby tonight with Rieslings.  Wow did that go to my head!  

 

We both finished with this dessert! 

 

Another big day and too much drink, we skipped the show and retired to the room.  We were passing by so many Wind Turbines out in the ocean in this area! 

 

SEA DAY!!!  Wow had we been non stop these last few days and we started today with a leisurely breakfast in the main dining room.  

 

We went to a trivia in the Vista Lounge and only got 10 out of 20 but scored with my favorite Mudslide drink. 

 

We spent most of the morning walking around the promenade deck.  Love that about the Emerald.  You do have to go upstairs at the front, but it is a way to walk all the way around the ship!

Later at lunch from the buffet I tried the Margarita.  It was tasty too! 

 

Lovely fountain up by Sabatini's.  We were very sad it was closed this cruise.  

 

Dinner time and my notes say we got our Passports back today.  I know someone else got there's a lot sooner but we got ours back today.  

 

I had the asparagus appetizer. 

 

DH's appetizer and I am not entirely sure what it is. 

 

One of our almost alone nights in our section of the dining room!  

 

Shrimp

 

Salad.  I absolutely love Princess's Balsamic dressing!

 

Ravioli for me!

 

Fish for DH

 

We both had this dessert.  

 

We were able to make it to the show tonight and it was Disco-Blame it on the Boogie production show.  I am quite dismayed at the lack of masks in the theater and the fact that not one Princess staff member sets foot in the theater.  We always wore our mask but know they work best if everyone does!   The 8:00 show is crowded!  I am sure the 10:00 show would not be.  I loved the disco music!  

We headed to bed as many more port days were coming!  

[insidecabin]

50 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

@ROWSELIves the pics of the long boats on the aquaduct. How cool is that?!?

They are called narrowboats.

 

Longboats are of Viking origin

[ROWSE]

18 minutes ago, insidecabin said:

They are called narrowboats.

 

Longboats are of Viking origin

Whoops!  Good to know.  

[insidecabin]

4 minutes ago, ROWSE said:

Whoops!  Good to know.  

Some call them barges I think that annoys the canal community even more.

 

 

[mnocket]

Great pictures.  The weather Gods have certainly blessed you!

[BuckeyeMark]

Seems like a day ago you were bundled up like an eskimo... now you're in short sleeves! WOW!

[two hoots]

Its always warm and sunny here in Wales 🤥 🤣 

 

[ROWSE]

1 hour ago, mnocket said:

Great pictures.  The weather Gods have certainly blessed you!

Thank you for chiming in!  Yes they did, we could hardly believe it!  Only one serious rain in all our 21 days.  

Edited June 5, 2022 by ROWSE

[ROWSE]

28 minutes ago, two hoots said:

Its always warm and sunny here in Wales 🤥 🤣 

 

Glad to see someone from Wales!  What a lovely area you live in!  We enjoyed it immensely!  

[Zechmanm]

Enjoying your reporting.  My husband and I will be doing this same trip September 18.  Thanks for your detailed posts.

[ROWSE]

May 16, 2022,  Orkney Islands (Kirkwall) , Scotland 

 

Up until possibly two weeks before cruise date or less, we were suppose to have Glasgow as our port.  Princess moved our sea day and put in Orkney Islands on the 16th.  I was disappointed as we had a fantastic tour planned to go to Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond.    I went around the house singing "On the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond" for months, probably to my families irritation, and now it was gone.  

On to new planning and thought Princess would put on some excursions as this was quite short notice and we thought we would go with that.  They did no such thing.  We did not receive any excursion papers in our cabin ever either so I assume if someone wanted to book an excursion with Princess, they had to go search that out. 

I finally did find something that sounded really fun to us.  It was a speed boat/site seeing adventure through Orkney Adventure/OceanTrek  After a lot of e-mails with Alex, we were all set.  I learned along the way he was a young man about our son's age, and I don't think he had had the company going for very long.  

SO to start our day, we had the Captain come over the intercom at 3:11 a.m. (I looked at the clock)apologizing for the early wake up call but that there was a passenger having a medical emergency, and we would be sailing past the islands to get closer to Inverness for the Helicopter Medivac rescue of this passenger.  He said it was a matter of life and death.   We were advised to stay off balconies and upper decks.  It wasn't long till we heard the helicopters.  We hope that passenger had a good outcome but of course no one ever knows later what happens.  Princess is good at keeping things quiet.  

The Captain stated that we would return back to Orkney Island when possible.

 

We may have slept a little more and close to 7:00 which was our port time, we saw the pilot boat coming out.  That was pretty good considering we sailed past the islands.

 

 

We were docked outside of town.

 

 

Orkney Island provided a shuttle service to take us back and forth.  

 

Our tour operator had e-mailed saying the weather was questionable for the ride but he would keep in touch.  It was quite windy today!  He stated we would do something by land instead or we could cancel. 

We later learned it was a go and we were to meet at 10:45 for our 11:00 trip.

 

After a buffet breakfast we headed out and took the shuttle right in to town.  It was about a 10 minute ride.  

 

 

There were shops and I spied one my daughter would like, knitter extraorinair that she is,

She actually knit me the hat with the sheep on it years ago.   I requested mine to have all white sheep and one black.  

 

 

It was a lovely little town!

 

 

This was the main street. 

 

The Church of St. Magnus, built in 1100's with its accompanying cemetery.  

 

There were hundreds of crows in this area and it felt a little haunted!  

 

Beautiful inside! 

 

Nearby was ruins from the Bishop's Palace and the Earl's Palace.  

 

 

 

We were a bit hungry so we searched out a bakery.  WOW was everything tasty!  We got 3 and it came to like 3 pounds.  It was called Argos Bakery.  I got a carmel filled chocolate frosted one and DH got a blueberry muffin.  I think I chose better.  Later we split the one in the picture that you can just see a candy bar on top.  OH MY!  Wish I had one of these today!  

 

My husband is a printer production manager, and seeing this sign, and I think the sugar he consumed made him more extroverted as normally he is rather introverted, we walked in to see what kind 

of "layout" this print shop had.  We encountered the owner and my husband and he talked printing.  

I say he can never entirely get away from his work!!!