Semi-live: Crown Princess, “Mexican Riviera” Dec 12 to Dec 22

[oakridger]

Crown Princess is on the move at about 1:20am on Wednesday morning.  12/13/23

 

Bon Voyage!!

[sfpd3000]

Finally!!!  1:30AM.  Enjoy your cruise!

[CaribbeanIsland]

Can you check the status of the Cigar Bar (Speakeasy or Churchill's - don't remember the name) - off the lower level of the Theatre? I hate to ask, it is not for me. A relative is sailing over Christmas. Is it still oven or renovated?

[mk-ultra]

So, finally managed to set foot on the ship at 9:42PM last night.  There were people who started the process much later than I, who didn't board until two hours later after braving a massive line wrapping around the terminal and down the sidewalk.  Needless to say -- lots of grumpiness that first night.

 

Ate a chili dog, had two cocktails, and zonked out in my cabin.  Ain't no delay gonna make me grumpy.  Laugh and shrug it off.

 

Wednesday morning now.  Chugging along southbound at 19 knots abeam Monterey.  I'm an early riser, so beat the crowds to the Horizon food court trough for brekkies.  Sea day.

 

Internet is Starlink.  Usable, but nothing to write home about nor better than the old o3B service.

 

Ambitions for today: Blackjack in the casino (lots of it).  Some stuff I bookmarked in the Princess app I can't remember at the moment.  More blackjack.

 

Elevators are every bit as messed up as I remember from Ruby Princess.  How hard is it to get that right?

 

Beautiful morning out.  Smooth seas.  Coffee on the balcony.

 

[mk-ultra]

I've got to say, I'm fairly impressed with the Medallion (RFID puck) experience so far.  I can see the potential for accidental billing if you and 10 other people belly-up to a bar and the bartender doesn't attribute the purchase correctly... but so far, so good.

 

Being a security weenie, I naturally tried to see if I could clone my puck with the Proxmark3 in my mess-with-things kit.  Nope.  Decently encrypted.

 

 

[mk-ultra]

4 hours ago, CaribbeanIsland said:

Can you check the status of the Cigar Bar (Speakeasy or Churchill's - don't remember the name) - off the lower level of the Theatre? I hate to ask, it is not for me. A relative is sailing over Christmas. Is it still oven or renovated?

Will check and report back.

[mk-ultra]

20 minutes ago, mk-ultra said:

Will check and report back.

On Crown it’s Speakeasy, deck 6 port side of Gatsby’s casino.  Temps normal. Smoke level forest fire. 

[OttawaJohn]

1 hour ago, mk-ultra said:

Elevators are every bit as messed up as I remember from Ruby Princess.  How hard is it to get that right?

 

 

Can I ask what the elevator issue is?

[mk-ultra]

1 hour ago, OttawaJohn said:

 

Can I ask what the elevator issue is?

 

Usual mix of stuff that seems endemic to Princess.  Various elevators out of service.  Random up/down call buttons inop.  Way more broken stuff than I see on (cough) Royal.

 

In the not-broken-but-poorly-designed category: elevator lobby with 6 elevators.  4 in one bank, 2 in the other.  Hitting a call button on one bank doesn't call both banks.  You have to hit a button for each one.  Why?  Who knows?  That just chafes the engineer in me.  Personal OCD-ish problem.  😛

Edited December 13, 2023 by mk-ultra

[OttawaJohn]

33 minutes ago, mk-ultra said:

 

Usual mix of stuff that seems endemic to Princess.  Various elevators out of service.  Random up/down call buttons inop.  Way more broken stuff than I see on (cough) Royal.

 

In the not-broken-but-poorly-designed category: elevator lobby with 6 elevators.  4 in one bank, 2 in the other.  Hitting a call button on one bank doesn't call both banks.  You have to hit a button for each one.  Why?  Who knows?  That just chafes the engineer in me.  Personal OCD-ish problem.  😛

 

I hear you, hope it's not too noticeable for us on next week's Hawaiian cruise. 

 

[memoak]

51 minutes ago, mk-ultra said:

 

Usual mix of stuff that seems endemic to Princess.  Various elevators out of service.  Random up/down call buttons inop.  Way more broken stuff than I see on (cough) Royal.

 

In the not-broken-but-poorly-designed category: elevator lobby with 6 elevators.  4 in one bank, 2 in the other.  Hitting a call button on one bank doesn't call both banks.  You have to hit a button for each one.  Why?  Who knows?  That just chafes the engineer in me.  Personal OCD-ish problem.  😛

There are many people who do not care for  the glass elevators where you can look out at the piazza. I believe that is why they operate separately 

[mk-ultra]

It’s not even quite sunset, but today has been getting warm enough for t-shirts and shorts on an open deck. 😎

 

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by mk-ultra

[mk-ultra]

For blackjack nerds: every table here uses a CSM.  You aren't going to practice your counting.  $5 and $10 tables are 6:5.  Entertainment value only.  There is one weird hand-dealt BJ-ish game I wouldn't touch with a 10' pole.  $25 tables are 3:2.

Edited December 14, 2023 by mk-ultra

[CaribbeanIsland]

18 hours ago, mk-ultra said:

On Crown it’s Speakeasy, deck 6 port side of Gatsby’s casino.  Temps normal. Smoke level forest fire. 

Sorry - I meant is it still open (not oven). It appears to be still open. Thanks. I personally wish it would go away. I said I would ask. I appreciate you reporting back.

[mk-ultra]

Up at the crack of before dawn.  Ships time went +1 hour overnight, which I assume is for our first stop, Manzanillo.  Captain's prerogative -- and something to pay attention to if you like coming back close to sailing time during port stops.

 

Breakfast buffet had some Filipino food (pork adobo).  That was a nice surprise.  Burp.

Edited December 14, 2023 by mk-ultra

[mk-ultra]

Booking it down the Baja peninsula. It got inexplicably colder overnight. Jacket back on. 

Casino-wise, up $1300 😄

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by mk-ultra

[BEAV]

Here’s one of no doubt many news stories about the embarkation in SF on Tuesday. 
 

A good friend of mine is aboard, and she was just about to get into the shuttle to the 
hotel around 6pm when word came from Hyatt that they were curtailing the service. 
She finally got into her room onboard just after Midnite. 
 

I hope everyone on board is recovering from the inconvenience and enjoying themselves! 😉

 

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/crown-princess-passengers-frustrated-delay-san-francisco-mexico-cruise/3396692/?amp=1

 

 

[mk-ultra]

Starlink suckage this morning.  Oddly enough, I had a work call on my cell using cellular-over-wifi during the suckage.  No problemo with that.

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by mk-ultra

[mk-ultra]

Piazza decked out handsomely for Christmas. PA switched to holiday music 24x7 yesterday. 
 

 

[OttawaJohn]

3 hours ago, BEAV said:

Here’s one of no doubt many news stories about the embarkation in SF on Tuesday. 
 

A good friend of mine is aboard, and she was just about to get into the shuttle to the 
hotel around 6pm when word came from Hyatt that they were curtailing the service. 
She finally got into her room onboard just after Midnite. 
 

I hope everyone on board is recovering from the inconvenience and enjoying themselves! 😉

 

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/crown-princess-passengers-frustrated-delay-san-francisco-mexico-cruise/3396692/?amp=1

 

 

 

Getting on next week for the Hawaii cruise, hope there isn't a repeat.  Like to think they'll get it resolved by then.

[mk-ultra]

I am absolutely loving the Captain's ship-wide PA announcements.  Zero fluff, and chock full of useful information, including a brief (nerd alert) explanation of how far away the visible horizon is.  Free classic trig lesson for the uninitiated.

Edited December 14, 2023 by mk-ultra

[startedwithamouse]

1 hour ago, OttawaJohn said:

 

Getting on next week for the Hawaii cruise, hope there isn't a repeat.  Like to think they'll get it resolved by then.

It's silt buildup combined with low tides.  You can't "resolve" nature. 

[startedwithamouse]

23 minutes ago, mk-ultra said:

I am absolutely loving the Captain's ship-wide PA announcements.  Zero fluff, and chock full of useful information, including a brief (nerd alert) explanation of how far away the visible horizon is.  Free classic trig lesson for the uninitiated.

Who is your captain?

[Mike & Zen]

20 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Who is your captain?

Captain Christopher Lye.

 

Have sailed with him a couple of times…very personable.  While ship at Pier 27, he disembarked, walked to the end of the long line, and proceeded to chat with the passengers apologizing for the delay.

 

 

[OttawaJohn]

27 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

It's silt buildup combined with low tides.  You can't "resolve" nature. 

I more meant, if they know the berth isn't viable at the time, possibly planning ahead and using an alternate one.  And if none are available, having a plan like the Hyatt or another option in place and ready.