Shogun Live From The Sea Princess

[Shogun]

Hi All,

 

 

Well not on board yet but taxi is on its way to pick us up, as we head for the air port, should be on board the Sea in around 30 hours time.

 

Bags have got GPS fitted and a web cam in case they land up seeing more of the world than what I do.

 

We have crossed packed and taken an extra carry on this time as well.

 

Wife has been tickets and passports so that I can not get the blame for leaving them on the taxi.

 

As to my dealings secert weapon has now been sent do not think I will get the result until I get my mail when I get back home.

 

However have also sent the Executive VP of Fleet Operations a letter,

so might get a reply to that while on board.

 

With ice on the ground here its not to hard to leave home and follow the geese to warmer parts. ( In the fields around us geese stop over night to feed before flying to some place far away I , any way hundreds and hundreds of birds a nice sight,)

 

 

yours Shogun

[chrysalis]

Have a great flight over the big pond, and we look forward to your live reports.

[paul929207]

Have a wonderful trip.

[wrp96]

Hope you and your luggage have a great trip - together!!

[sherman931]

Look forward to your reports and advenures. Does that taxi have Wifi? :D

[TorontoTL]

Have a great cruise Shogun, looking forward to your postings onboard the Sea Princess.

[regnig]

Shogun you are sooooo due an uneventful cruise. I'm hoping that's how this one will be for you two. We all here on CC may end up being bored, but heck you do deserve a hassle free holiday.

 

ENJOY and we look forward to your postings. Barb

[Northender]

Have a wonderful cruise. If anyone deserves it, you and DW do.:)

 

Will be watching for the Shogun Live From the Sea post:cool:

[Red Hat Cruise Cat]

Have you discovered a "secret place" with great views, that the other passengers don't know about? We're in an inside cabin and need to scope out a good viewing area for the glaciers. Hoping to find a nook or cranny that's not 10 deep with ohter people.

[robanddiane]

Have you discovered a "secret place" with great views, that the other passengers don't know about? We're in an inside cabin and need to scope out a good viewing area for the glaciers. Hoping to find a nook or cranny that's not 10 deep with ohter people.

I think the Sea Princess is identical to The Oceana which has an unmarked door at the front of deck 10 which leads out into a nice little area which very few people know about.

[tillyduster]

Have a great cruise Shogun, looking forward to your postings onboard the Sea Princess. will be joining you on 17th in montego bay.....any info greatly appreciated

sue xx

[BLS]

Safe travels to you. (and your luggage!)

[Shogun]

Hi All,

 

From A very quite Sea Princess,

 

Some info for many us Brits,

 

Birmingham Airport has a new IBIS hotel opened late last year, clean morden, nice enough basic type air port hotel, very small rooms, very good TV/IT set up TV is your computer screen. Its only a short uncovered walk to the hotel.

 

Some thing most of US folk will not understand but try and picture this its early morning its dark cold you have never been to this airport before, you walk in the main entrance and there to greet you is a girl waving a Princess board, you smile your holiday has started, we are directed to check in, and the screens all say Princess as this is a charter, we are where we belong.

 

Fkight out was meant to be a Thomsonfly plane but its was First Choice same company I think, plane was old but got us here very nice on board staff. Food etc was at the lowered of OK, did not like that Princess had alowed you one bag of nuts if you wanted 2 you paid for the extra, basic movies did not like selection, but you could pay 5.00 more to up grade but there choice was not much good either.

 

Land up playing battle ships instead, hey it past the time.

 

Barbados is such an easy place to meet a Princes ship take not US Customs, as we have come from a scure airport in England, we are collect on the run way and taken to a scure port we never touch down in Barbados itself, so no passports, no searchs no ques just straight onto ship. Why can others not work this system.

 

Check in went with out any problems as half the ship already on board this helped as well, I like 14 day cruises which are made up of folk on there first week and half on there second week, gives the ship I nice mix plus you get to ask a lot of questions from folk who know.

 

Have only seen one teen on board, might be another, as to those that are more mature 98% would fall into that group, you can pick what age this starts at as I want to get of the ship alive.

 

Dinning we are any time or we were until on going to my cabin the phone was flashing and a message from the man I have a table for two for Mr and Mrs Shogun. Such a nice man, he is going to move us from anytime to second seating a nice round table with a window, now I have never had service like this before, if you are wait listed then thats it, but this guy is good as we left the dinning room he had knew our names.

 

Sail away was around 11.00 at night , so no real party just a few hardy folk, as to the bags arrived save and sound within minutes of boarding the ship. However did meet one US couple who asked if I knew where to go to report lost bags and whhat happens, so I gave them a bit of info. Did not tell them that I never saw my bags again.

 

CC meet was quite as there have been only a few of us so we are going to meet up one evening for dinner. Starting to get day light so will need to log off and start the days eating.

 

As to the Sea Princess well a few years ago I was on board and was not happy , however from what I have seen so far she is in better shape, she is 10 years old and there is some rust, some stains and some wear and tear, but everything works she is clean and crew have all been very nice, ship has a very relaxed feel, or is that nearly dead feel, part animals need not join this cruise.

 

Chat to you all soon

 

yours Shogun

[regnig]

YEA!!!

 

So glad that you two and all your luggage arrived. As far as the dining room situation, good things happen to good people. Looking forward to more posts.

[robanddiane]

We are on the Sea Princess in april from Barbados, Pleased that they do the same as P&O and have no immigration. You will need to clear immigration on the last morning of your cruise but it is quite quick and done in one of the theatres. Look forward to hearing about the entertainment onboard.

[gooch47]

I wondered about the immigration issue. When we arrived (from the US) two short weeks ago, the line in the immigration area was huge and I sort of assumed (you *KNOW* what that means) that it was all the UK folks making the line so long. But that obviously wasn't the case. The line DID move very quickly. I was impressed with the large number of agents working.

[Shogun]

Hi Linda,

 

Good to see you made it home,

 

Well the floating retirement home is looking very good, after a good inspection pleasedd to say say she is in better shape and cleaner than my cruise on her a few years back. Now seen 3 teens and one poor kid under ten, pools were empty, Dominca has been damp all day, expected but a few folk were looking for white sandy beechs etc, but they will get them tomorrow.

 

had a chat with PSD very nice lady caled Heather.

 

Matre D is a star, best I have come across, the reason he is the best is apart from inviting me to chat and have coffee with him, is that he says his job is to make sure I have a great cruise, anything that 100% he stays just let him know, some thing I want not on the menu just let him know, in other words nothing is to much trouble, if he keeps this level of service up he will get a letter praising him set to HQ, He was telling me he was First Mare D on The Sea all those years ago then on Queen Mary 2 and Victoria.

 

He has organised a table in second seating for us, letter in cabin this afternoon, table mates will be folk our own age.

 

He has also organised a meal for our sma;; CC group.

 

Other points a lot sticky tape in use around the ship, old lady could do with a week in dock , but I have been told that this is already booked but do not know the dates.

 

Brother and Sister act still on board.

 

Dark Knight is on MUTS tonight.

 

Captain Russel has a nice touch about his broad casts looking forward to meeting him about the ship.

 

 

yours Shogun

[regnig]

Shogun sure sounds like somebody knew you were going to be aboard! ;)

Since you are now on first name basis with the Matre D how about asking him to see to it that there is an abundance of Lamb Chops on the Emerald sailing 3/10/09. I'd certainly appreciate it! :D

 

Keep the chats up. Barb

[Debathome]

Shogun, I hope that everything continues to go as smoothly for you.

Sounds like a wonderful cruise so far! Keep the posts coming, we appreciate it.

[kool kruiser]

Hi Shogun

 

Don't forget to get those FCCs....nothing to pay now remember and a ''heads I win tails I can't lose '' opportunity:D

[Shogun]

Hi all,

 

Maitre D, Is great we have a table for 6 in a nice corner of the dinning room, we are all around the same age. As for choice of food he has already offered a few times to get the chef to cook anything we want, either from an old menu, the Princess cook book anything that will make this cruise the best yet, pity there were not more guys like him out there, and for remembering our names, wish I could do this.

 

May be because the ship is full of Brits but there are very few ques for anything getting on or off the ship, any time dinning, the ship is so relaxed.

 

Lots of maintenance being done mostly just painting.

 

Went to MUTS last night no pop corn, grill was closed and no waiter, basr is next to MUTS and this was open, horizon court is very close as well.

So do not go with out food or drink.

 

It was a pity the movie was not as good as the evening, last night was a Shogun evening for those that can recall.

 

Did not see any computer at sea classes bloke is onboard, was thinking it was about time that I learnt to type.

 

The Boudicca is just pulling in next to us, expect Antigua will be hot and busy.

 

So far from what I can see the front desk might as well close down for the cruise, everything seems to be running very well, no lines of folks complaining, un like some ships I have been on, in fact I would say there are more times that it is empty compared to having a single person at it.

 

Chat soon.

 

Shogun

[yorky]

Hi all,

 

Maitre D, Is great we have a table for 6 in a nice corner of the dinning room, we are all around the same age. As for choice of food he has already offered a few times to get the chef to cook anything we want, either from an old menu, the Princess cook book anything that will make this cruise the best yet, pity there were not more guys like him out there, and for remembering our names, wish I could do this.

 

May be because the ship is full of Brits but there are very few ques for anything getting on or off the ship, any time dinning, the ship is so relaxed.

 

Lots of maintenance being done mostly just painting.

 

Went to MUTS last night no pop corn, grill was closed and no waiter, basr is next to MUTS and this was open, horizon court is very close as well.

So do not go with out food or drink.

 

It was a pity the movie was not as good as the evening, last night was a Shogun evening for those that can recall.

 

Did not see any computer at sea classes bloke is onboard, was thinking it was about time that I learnt to type.

 

The Boudicca is just pulling in next to us, expect Antigua will be hot and busy.

 

So far from what I can see the front desk might as well close down for the cruise, everything seems to be running very well, no lines of folks complaining, un like some ships I have been on, in fact I would say there are more times that it is empty compared to having a single person at it.

 

Chat soon.

 

Shogun

 

It all sounds good, thanks for the updates it jsut makes us wish our cruise on her on the 7th fabruary was closer.

[Shogun]

HI There Folks,

 

The photo boys and girls must be the best I have come across, you never see them, when we boarded, I did not see them, there was not a long que of folk just wanting to board but getting delayed by those well meaning folk pointing a camera at you and saying smile, even when leaving the ship there ae two of them, but instead of blocking the gang way and chancing you down the peir, they just ask anyone for photos,

 

Stopped by the casino last night it was dead, when I was there, put in $10 and got $20 so just left. Machines are the old style so no card readers, so those that love using pots of coins can have fun.

 

Went to Darkwood Beech yesterday, very nice quite beech, has bar changing rooms etc, white sand clear water, there is a sharp drop as you enter the water then you climb up onto a soft sandy bank. Cost is $8 each way. Lots of folk headed of for Nelsons Dock Yard etc taxis were costing $98.

 

Weather is not so hot, showers every day so far, captain was saying hang onto your hats and take some wet weather protection if going ashore.

 

Teen count now at 8

 

Chat latter

 

 

yours Shogun

[fiona page]

Shogun Can you check out the oblong shape inside cabins for me as to whether they feel claustraphobic. Hope the weather picks up for you. We are not sure whether to do river tubing in Dominica or Grenada one is half day and thought might be best to do it then any thoughts.:p

[Floflegs]

Fiona, The oblong inside cabins are more spacious than the ones with the cut away doors. We were in both and never felt claustrophobic. Hope this helps.