Live from the Land of Princess

[cr8tiv1]

38 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

"Finally he moved and another passenger chose this time to argue with the flight crew about why she had to check one of her 3 pieces of onboard luggage."

 

Been meaning to ask about the picture of your luggage (all carry-ons). It looks to my weary, old eyes that you had three pieces. No?  Again, maybe I'm seeing things.

 

Also, Mrs.Schmoopie is insisting for our upcoming cruise that we each take a carry-on roller, along with a backpack. Problem is, we have bulkhead seats each way. I'm freaking out because we have no seat in front of us to stow the backpacks. Will they make us check them?

I know you're a teacher and not an airline employee, but I'm sure you've had bulkhead seats at some point in your world travels.

 

It depends on the aircraft equipment and airline.  Generally...they try to reserve the overheads above the bulkhead for only those seated in the front seats.  Unfortunately, there are some airlines that have smaller overhead compartments above those seats.  Hard to tell which you will have.  

 

They will make sure your carry on gets stowed as close to you as possible.  If your personal item doesn't fit, they will stow it for you during takeoff/landing.  Most often, bulkheads are priority boarding...which should help your situation.

[cr8tiv1]

@YVRteacher ... did you know?

 

Are Tim Hortons and Dunkin donuts the same company?

The two chains became subsidiaries of Toronto-based holding company Restaurant Brands International 

 

 

[ceilidh1]

1 minute ago, cr8tiv1 said:

@YVRteacher ... did you know?

 

Are Tim Hortons and Dunkin donuts the same company?

The two chains became subsidiaries of Toronto-based holding company Restaurant Brands International 

 

 

No. Way. My mind is blown. Having lived many years on the East Coast of the US, I have a bit of a Dunkin obsession. Now I live in Canada, I have a Tims obsession. This makes it all make sense. 

[cr8tiv1]

If Trivia groups had an "alternate" team member (7th), I would fit in just fine.  I have very (few) random factoids.  I once helped a team win a trivia game by letting them know those stone things were located on Easter Island.  And that banana's have 5 peels on another.  (I don't have much more than that to offer).

[YVRteacher]

5 hours ago, mimi'sgirl said:

Have a wonderful trip! Looking forward to your new adventures on Princess and more cake pictures! 🍰

Yes to cake!!

[YVRteacher]

2 hours ago, arizonaperson said:

Maybe an ocean view cabin? Does not look like a balcony door slider  in the photo. But nice that you have a small little couch.

Do you have another chair besides the desk chair?

So many cruisers on Princess are disappointed when they’re traveling with two people in a cabin that there’s only a desk/ vanity chair to sit on and some/ most cabins have no couch at all. This looks like a cabin that others may want to know about on the Island princess, especially if it has seating for two people besides the bed .

Yes, there are two chairs in addition to the couch. It is a spacious, gorgeous cabin. I’ll share the cabin number once I disembark.  If you are a hot rich fella staying solo in the Enclave (or whatever the rich people section is called) then I will happily add you to Shipmates within the Princess app!

 

 

[YVRteacher]

1 hour ago, schmoopie17 said:

"Finally he moved and another passenger chose this time to argue with the flight crew about why she had to check one of her 3 pieces of onboard luggage."

 

Been meaning to ask about the picture of your luggage (all carry-ons). It looks to my weary, old eyes that you had three pieces. No?  Again, maybe I'm seeing things.

 

Also, Mrs.Schmoopie is insisting for our upcoming cruise that we each take a carry-on roller, along with a backpack. Problem is, we have bulkhead seats each way. I'm freaking out because we have no seat in front of us to stow the backpacks. Will they make us check them?

I know you're a teacher and not an airline employee, but I'm sure you've had bulkhead seats at some point in your world travels.

Hi, friend!

Yes, in the photo I have 3 pieces. The smallest is a thief-safe, security fitted travel PAC Safe bag and I love it! It fits inside the medium sized bag for boarding so I only board with two pieces of luggage: the carry on suitcase and what the airlines call a personal item.

 

In my experience, even when in seats without a seat in front to store luggage I have never had an issue with bringing this luggage on board and never had trouble finding room. Flight crew can always do some Jenga magic and rearrange the overhead bins if needed.

[YVRteacher]

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

@YVRteacher ... did you know?

 

Are Tim Hortons and Dunkin donuts the same company?

The two chains became subsidiaries of Toronto-based holding company Restaurant Brands International 

 

 

I didn't know this! Canadians out there may want to bypass this post…

 

I don’t like Tim Hortons.

[YVRteacher]

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

If Trivia groups had an "alternate" team member (7th), I would fit in just fine.  I have very (few) random factoids.  I once helped a team win a trivia game by letting them know those stone things were located on Easter Island.  And that banana's have 5 peels on another.  (I don't have much more than that to offer).

We should be on a trivia team! I know the colour of yak’s milk and which pasta means little ears.

[ceilidh1]

4 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

 

I don’t like Tim Hortons.

How are we even friends???????

[cr8tiv1]

At least I provided you with the questions and the answers.  

 

How will I grow my factoid data bank if I don't have the answers to your bits of information?

 

11 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

We should be on a trivia team! I know the colour of yak’s milk and which pasta means little ears.

 

[YVRteacher]

@cr8tiv1

pink

 

Orecchiette

[arizonaperson]

1 hour ago, YVRteacher said:

Yes, there are two chairs in addition to the couch. It is a spacious, gorgeous cabin. I’ll share the cabin number once I disembark.  If you are a hot rich fella staying solo in the Enclave (or whatever the rich people section is called) then I will happily add you to Shipmates within the Princess app!

 

 

Absolutely you do not need to give your cabin number out . I had just never seen this type of cabin before. (so many people miss the barrel chair, which I am assuming is  your second chair, )I’ve also been on the Island Princess two times ,but I’ve always gotten a balcony room,so that is also why I haven’t experienced this category cabin. And no, I’m not on the ship with you to share in the Shipmates app. And I am female, heterosexual ,& married, so can’t help you out on the “ hot” rich man 🤣

Edited July 5 by arizonaperson

[YVRteacher]

What did I do this afternoon?

After lunch I wanted a coffee so I headed to Good Spirits and somehow ended up with an Espresso Martini. On NCL this is an upcharge and on Princess it is included in the Princess Plus package.

The bartenders are amazing!

The drinks were so good I had two!

I messaged @ceilidh1 and asked if I should stay at the bar and drink or go to the 

Princess Welcome Presentation. @ceilidh1is wise so I took her advice and took Espresso Martini #2 to the gorgeous Explorers Lounge. Aaron, the cruise director, provided an overview of the app, Princess Plus and Princess Premier. There were no prizes; essentially it was a talk to upsell Plus and Premier. 

 

After that I went to the Internet Cafe to get the Princess app fully working then I did a little exploring.

 

It should surprise no one that I found the buffet and the cake.

 

On What’s App, @fstuff1 asked me today in what ways is Princess better than NCL. I replied that Princess has a meat station:

😂

 

My phone needed a charge so I went back to the cabin, watched the safety video in the app (with the sound off), made sure my shore ex tickets were correct, found my Sabatini’s meal credit and admired the view. I also had a little moment of regret over not going to Books Are Magic in Brooklyn.

 

With the app now working, internet stopped working. I went to the Internet Cafe but no one was there so I sent a chat and no one responded. Then I went to guest services but they didn’t know how to help me. I did request a robe though. They also directed me to a little stand on deck 6 where a helpful person showed me how to set up the app to get wifi.  The little stand was close to the Explorers Lounge where an event was being held for Platinum and Elite cruisers. Sitting at the bar, this happened

What can I say? It’s hot.

 

A woman came and sat next to me and started to complain about how narrow her mini suite is and complained to the bartender that the special drink menu for Elite

is too expensive and that the drinks don’t change anymore. Having been to the presentation earlier this afternoon, I suggested she may want to purchase Princess Plus. 

 

She ordered a glass of water.

 

I went to the solo gathering but it was unhosted and sailaway started so I hustled outside. There’s no way I’m missing a NY sailaway! One time my dad and I stood outside on deck in a blustery lightning storm, drinking frozen drinks in December and had a wonderful NY sailaway! We don’t miss sailaways!

[latebloomer56]

On 7/3/2024 at 5:00 PM, YVRteacher said:

Thank you for the reassurance about not needing heels!

One of my students gave me a gift card to a local environmental store so I bought some laundry soap sheets and have packed those and some dryer sheets. I also plan to do the undies-get-washed-in-the sink thing. Since I packed  so lightly for this adventure I had to leave my travel clothesline behind.

On Princess there is a line in the shower to hang wet swim suits we use this for our towels.

[latebloomer56]

On 7/3/2024 at 7:16 PM, WisCruiser2 said:

While those who enjoy dressing up for formal nights do so, you won't be out of place (and no one will care) if you stick to the "smart casual" suggestion. A friend saw a rumor on another forum that they may be doing away with "formal nights" alltogether soon!

Wish they had like NCL on formal nights they use the larger dining room (on Gem & Pearl anyway) as a formal dining room. They have dress up or not we flip back and forth. Would be nice is other lines had this.

[YVRteacher]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

5 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Travel day part 2   <  snipped  >

Overall that was a smooth travel day ... found the place to take the bus to P4 to board the hotel shuttle. I don’t know what the speed limit is here ... Hotel check in was smooth and I bought a mini Häagen-Dazs to enjoy for snack dessert. The room was perfect ... and I was able to watch the 4th of July fireworks through the rain drops ... and I had dinner from Dunkin  

 

TGIF and I see that the Island Princess is on her way, heading NE along Long Island passing JFK port side with Halifax, NS next in 2 days.  Quick check of Windy App for you, wind coming E to W, wave height 5' to 8' in moderate sea with swell, a gentle rocking overnight ... 

 

On your Q:  speed limit in that stretch of the highway along Route 1/9 (South & North) by the airport, both express & local lanes is regulated to 50 mph, 55 mph max (80 to 88 km) but for the late evening hours (and aside during busy commuting hours on weekdays) - traffic typically "fly" at / well above 100 km or 62+ mph, well above the speed limit with little speed/radar enforcement.   For Springfield Suites (used to be another major brand) - drivers have to exit the terminal access roads, around and do a big loop and U-turn across overpasses ... be thankful for not hailing a taxi on a metered fare or Uber by the miles/km for possibly a shorter wait for the next shuttle.   On a clear night/day, can easily see the Manhattan skyline in the distance.  

 

I see that some of the "comrades" from the NCL forum are hovering here to follow your journey again ... wondering what & why they are lurking here, hahaha.  Don't ask & don't tell.  You will be visiting 2 Newfoundland ports that NCL cruises typically don't visit, not even on TA crossing and that's going to be very informative.  Are you staying on all the way to Barcelona (35 vs. 21 days ...) or changing, curious mind here.  

 

Thank you for sharing the journey with us.  

[YVRteacher]

We have an interloper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 5 by YVRteacher

[YVRteacher]

 Being a curious sort, I found an open gate and a do not enter sign so of course I entered. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I kept walking and found the place to train for American Ninja Warrior

 

Then decided THIS is why there is a medical centre on board

 

 

[YVRteacher]

The bow on deck 15 was quiet with plenty of seats so I found a deck chair, wrote and watched the view.

 

We approached a bridge 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eep!

 

[latebloomer56]

Following along, we are booked on the Island next May. Thanks for doing this love your photos, can't wait for your food porn 😊.

Safe travels, enjoy Princess we have we are Elite next May after this Oct. on the Grand.

[ceilidh1]

24 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

 

After lunch I wanted a coffee so I headed to Good Spirits and somehow ended up with an Espresso Martini.

Make sure you attend one of the shows at Good Spirits (and sit at the bar). It's lots of fun with great drinks!
Having been to the presentation earlier this afternoon, I suggested she may want to purchase Princess Plus. 

You should apply for a job with Princess...

I went to the solo gathering but it was unhosted and sailaway started so I hustled outside. 

Princess doesn't have great solo gatherings. Virgin has great solo gatherings.

 

[YVRteacher]

5 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Yes, there are two chairs in addition to the couch. It is a spacious, gorgeous cabin. I’ll share the cabin number once I disembark.  If you are a hot rich fella staying solo in the Enclave (or whatever the rich people section is called) then I will happily add you to Shipmates within the Princess app!

 

 

I set up a little situation to showcase the two chairs. Just imagine this with Scenes From an Italian Restaurant playing in the background. 

[YVRteacher]

4 hours ago, mking8288 said:

 

TGIF and I see that the Island Princess is on her way, heading NE along Long Island passing JFK port side with Halifax, NS next in 2 days.  Quick check of Windy App for you, wind coming E to W, wave height 5' to 8' in moderate sea with swell, a gentle rocking overnight ... 

 

On your Q:  speed limit in that stretch of the highway along Route 1/9 (South & North) by the airport, both express & local lanes is regulated to 50 mph, 55 mph max (80 to 88 km) but for the late evening hours (and aside during busy commuting hours on weekdays) - traffic typically "fly" at / well above 100 km or 62+ mph, well above the speed limit with little speed/radar enforcement.   For Springfield Suites (used to be another major brand) - drivers have to exit the terminal access roads, around and do a big loop and U-turn across overpasses ... be thankful for not hailing a taxi on a metered fare or Uber by the miles/km for possibly a shorter wait for the next shuttle.   On a clear night/day, can easily see the Manhattan skyline in the distance.  

 

I see that some of the "comrades" from the NCL forum are hovering here to follow your journey again ... wondering what & why they are lurking here, hahaha.  Don't ask & don't tell.  You will be visiting 2 Newfoundland ports that NCL cruises typically don't visit, not even on TA crossing and that's going to be very informative.  Are you staying on all the way to Barcelona (35 vs. 21 days ...) or changing, curious mind here.  

 

Thank you for sharing the journey with us.  

You are a wealth of information! Thank you!

 

Yes, I specifically selected a hotel with free breakfast and a free shuttle. Overall, it was perfect for my needs and I slept so well.

 

I will be disembarking the Island Princess on July 26 in Southampton.