Host Caroline Posted February 10, 2009 #1 Share Posted February 10, 2009 This was only going to be Half of "a live" from the Crown because I don't want to spend all my time where I do at home i.e. at the computer... But, alas, it was almost literally "half of a Live" when my DH nearly dumped my tush into the Atlantic at Princess Cays piloting a hobie (not one he had piloted before) in 20 knot shifting breezes.... to say that we were as close to the water on a tilt as we will probably be when we do the America's Cup race in St Maarten again is not really accurate.. we were closer to the water... then the sail broke loose from it's jib(?) and we were half dead in the water needing a tow... :rolleyes: so much for being impressed... but the clothes are dry and he has admitted he had no idea what he was doing so..... all's well that ends well or it would have been a silent rest of the week with "the look"..... soooooo We are rockin' and rollin' out here somewhere bet. the Bahamas and Turks and since I like to "feel" the ship move and have a good supply of Bonine that is fine w/ me.. We have an oceanview on Plaza deck 3 doors from the International Cafe so we only need to step outside for the coffee bar (a 15-drink card is $24), freebies at the international cafe, sushi at Vines and entertainment.. we call it our deli.. room is smallish but more than enough storage, big picture window and we are not missing a balcony at all. A few tidbits: If you are onboard when Roland Moore is doing comedy.. go see him.. a southern guy with a fabulous act!! The dance band in Explorers whose name escapes me is on till April.. our favorite place for a drink and trivia and dancing and they also have cabaret in there. Sushi is 3 for $3, tapas are 4 for $4 adn well worth it IMHO.. I don't mind paying a little extra for appetizers this good. We are signed up for Chef's Table (I think) ..we were #8 to call and have to go to a meeting in the dining room at 10 tomorrow to sign papers etc.. you can't do this if you have any food allergies.. so hoping this means we are going to get to do this. Dining: anytime was a zoo the first night, will see how calling for a reservation at 8am. goes.. you can only reserve for that day. Food was good last night, prime rib, but we went to German buffet upstairs tonight. IF you love German food, it was really good although the service in Cafe Caribe and Horizon is a little off.. set ups not always on tables and had to ask for more water. There's a lot to do evenings... lots of day activities.. we won our first trivia match today!!! So we have more luggage tags and hope to repeat again tomorrow. One observation that I hope won't generate a bunch of controversy.. I don't want my thread poofed:eek:... the crew (so far) on Grandeur of the Seas (with exception of bar folks and waiters in Int'l Cafe) were much friendlier and approachable.. it's kinda business like onboard here.. Any questions I will check back later tomorrow or early Wednesday. Later and be good while mom's away.. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rianvi Posted February 10, 2009 #2 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Caroline...thank you for posting. Wish we were there with you but will have to wait until Feb. 22. We really enjoyed meeting you on the Mercury to Bermuda . We are also on Plaza Deck...#322. There was a thread a couple days ago about noise in the staterooms from the decks above/below. Do you have any of that? We are trying anytime dining for the first time. Thanks again...Anna:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcacace Posted February 10, 2009 #3 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Good luck with the reservations. By 8:20 AM or so they're so busy your call goes into voice mail (assuming the mailbox isn't full). :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWJs Posted February 10, 2009 #4 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Happy to find and read your "Half-a Live" report. hahaha..."Half-a Live"...that's funny. Thanks for the info on your inside cabin. Always interesting to know how to get along without having a balcony. :D Keep on having a wonderful time.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tucsoncruisers Posted February 10, 2009 #5 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Have a great time Caroline :D Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lv2teach Posted February 10, 2009 #6 Share Posted February 10, 2009 enjoy your cruise, there will always be pit falls on every vacation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasGreen Posted February 10, 2009 #7 Share Posted February 10, 2009 We're about to do the "first time in an inside" thing ourselves on the Crown in a few weeks, so I'm quite interested to hear how it goes! On the Sushi (at Vines, I'm assuming) the 3 for $3 - is that a specific kind of roll? Is that 3 pieces or 3 full rolls (with 6-8pc. per roll)? Sushi pricing/portions can vary so wildly... Enjoy your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynda90 Posted February 10, 2009 #8 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Hi Caroline, thanks for sharing your cruise with us. Will look forward to more posts. Let us know how you liked the Chef's Table. It was the highlight of our cruise on the Ruby. I just know you will love it. Funny how on some ships you have to go to a meeting. On the Ruby, it was just an an initial phone call when we called to sign up, followed by an instruction sheet that was delivered to our cabin outlining the details. We did have to sign some forms that they gave us when we all met for the dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted February 10, 2009 #9 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Enjoy. Stay away from the puter and relax. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Caroline Posted February 10, 2009 Author #10 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Seas are still about 15-20 feet but not raining.. got some awesome video of the water action. Sushi is per piece and you can have one of each... all the same.. and it varies by day.. Also this was Sushi buffet day for lunch in Cafe Caribe AND Pub Lunch (also Saturday) in the Wheelhouse.. we opted for that and it was very good... esp. the fish and chips. No noise at all in our cabin ex. ship creaking in these seas.. no casino, music noise etc.. .we are closer to atrium than 322... I will say there has been great entertainment in the atrium this cruise... steel drum, a great acapella group called SPANK that is leaving tomorrow and a classical group that includes an accordion player! yes.... Tonight is formal night and then tomorrow is chef table... he said last week they had hardly anyone and this week there are 25 or so wait listed so I guess it varies. Doing America's Cup race in St Maarten again tomorrow.. And in Grand Turk they cx'd dune buggies.. not sure why???? Photographers are a major PITA as always but they are just doin' their job and trivia is harder than it's been before.. but we are holding our own:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob&Nancy Posted February 10, 2009 #11 Share Posted February 10, 2009 "he said last week they had hardly anyone and this week there are 25 or so wait listed so I guess it varies." It does indeed, we signed up for chef's table as soon as we got on board on Feb. 1st, we got a call on Thursday that we were in and had to come to a meeting on Friday morning for the dinner Friday night. Then we had a letter that there were too many cancellations, and there would be no chef's table. Following the cancellation of our stop in Grand Turk, it was a sad day all around. I'll be posting my review shortly of our first Princess cruise on the Crown Feb. 1-8. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaws1234 Posted February 10, 2009 #12 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Sounds like you are having a good time. Did you get a coupon book that had a 2 for 1 coffe card in it? Thanks for keeping us up to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rianvi Posted February 10, 2009 #13 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Caroline...thank you for the cabin info. Good luck with the trivia. Anna:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trucruz Posted February 11, 2009 #14 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I am glad I caught your post. Sorry to hear about missing the dune buggies. That is an awesome excursion. DH owes you, for that near mishap on the hobie. Have fun at ST. Maarten. Hope your seas calm down soon, and that you have a great time on the rest of your cruise. See you soon. Kathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Caroline Posted February 12, 2009 Author #15 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Dang.. I love rockin' and rollin' on the ship, I really do, but the America's Cup race today in 8 foot seas, with a gale force wind was insane!! totally insance.. done this before in calmer waters but ::: dumb me:: got the primary grinder job.. for those of you unfamiliar w/ that let me just tell you that you work your tush off... spend half your time hoping that it really isn't YOUR shoulder really touching the water your are leaning so far over... and then spending 1/2 hr getting the salt water out of my totally unstylish hairdo so I could get ready for Chef's TAble in 45 minutes!! Whew... 60 is NOT the new 40 tonight.. we are sore but happy. Re Chef's Table.. all I can say is "The Giuseppes" were divine hosts, truly a fantastic evening... if you want to be treated like royalty and have truly amazing cuisine hosted by two gentlemen who really love what they do (and it shows), don't miss this... it's worth every penny.. sign up early. the internet is slow as blazes here and I'm just about out of my "Elite" minutes but I can say that it is not formal, "smart casual"... you really need to NOT be a picky eater to appreciate this.. and there has to be a place in the food hall of fame for the orange mousse... We were had champagne and appetizers in the galley, then on to dinner with a great selection of wines, limoncello, cookbook gift with the menu and just great company... One couple had dnoe before and "main course" she said was the same but nothing else... Another thing.. re the coffee card... these folks really know how to make a capuccino and latte... dare I say better than my favorite Starbucks... We are on the way to St THomas now.. a little less rocky... and a dry day.. between DH practically dumpnig me in the water in the Bahamas and a Jamaican captain trying even harder to do it on these racing yachts.. I'm ready to shop.. I don't think the Pirate boat shopping thingy in St Thomas can get me soaked no matter how hard it tries. any questions fire away.. will try to be back on tomorrow or Fri. a.m. before Grand Turk.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rianvi Posted February 12, 2009 #16 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Caroline...Thanks again taking time to post live. Please let us know how the Pirates hop on/hop off tour went. We have booked this in hopes that it will get us around easily from Crown Bay to Charlotte Aramalie and Havensight. Anna:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mii Posted February 12, 2009 #17 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Caroline, it sounds like you got a little wet on your excursion:D but probably having lots of fun. I would also be interested in that Pirate thingy you are talking about. I plan to do the chefs table in April and am very much looking forward to it. Have a nice rest of your cruise and try not to get wet again.:D Marilyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom of four Posted February 12, 2009 #18 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Are you saying with anytime dining, you can call for a specific time on a specific day? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host Caroline Posted February 17, 2009 Author #19 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Sorry.. I ran out of internet minutes and the web was sooo slow on board... so we are home after DH's major screw up (left back pack on the ship and we drove BACK to Port Everglades from Vero Beach to get it...) got off with express disembark at 7:30 and by the time we got back on the road from our return it was 2:00.. ladies, you know this was not a happy time for my husband :eek: Pirate Harbor "tour" in St Thomas is great!!!! They have to call it a tour to avoid pissing off the cab drivers apparently. They show up and give a little narration of the harbor.. well well worth the $10 just to avoid the hassle of the cabs and the traffic!!! Re Anytime Dining you can call at 8:00 a.m. and make a res for that evening for a specific time. But you cannot do it for the entire week as you could back in '05 when they started this.. Disembark (express) was a breeze.. off at 7:15...last group for this off by 7:35. More later... ask away if you have any questions.... I'm slogging through moderator emails now.. the 18 hour drive put me, uh, a little behind. Oh, and GT: get off and walk to the right down the beach.. great beach for strolling around the point.. water is still drop dead gorgeous.. then head back to the beach with the chairs at 2:30-3:00.. some were vacant by then... Costa ship gets there at 12:00 so they get a lot of chairs... and if you get the major munchies... head inside and ask a waitress for a $5 order of fries to go with that margarita slushy :) yummy....:). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckleybunch Posted February 17, 2009 #20 Share Posted February 17, 2009 In grand turk which spot did you dock in? We are hoping to get the good pics of the ship right up on the beach. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calval Posted February 17, 2009 #21 Share Posted February 17, 2009 My wife loves to cook and I know she'd love it if I suprised her with this. The one thing that bothers me is we hardly ever drink any alcohol. We just don't like the taste. We use some wine but that is all. Usually everyone is commenting on the drinks. Would we be out of place if we did this and don't drink? (maybe sample a bit of wine but that is probably all.) Using it in cooking is no problem, we do that some at home.... Glad youhad a great time! Later you will laugh about the trip back to FLL for the back pack! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dincus Posted February 22, 2009 #22 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Calval, We did the same chef's table with Caroline. I don't think you would feel awkward not drinking alcohol at the dinner, but be advised they do seem to make it all about the wines. They serve champagne with the appetizers in the galley, white wine before dinner, red with dinner, Grey Goose Vodka (lots) in the bloody mary sorbet, dessert wine after dinner, and lemoncello as an after dinner drink. They have a waitress stationed to do nothing more keep your glass full and she does her job. The whole experience is fantastic, the food fantastic, and our hosts Chef Guiseppe and Maitre'd Guiseppe were the best. It is without a doubt the best meal we have had at sea. (our 36th cruise). But I think the real value comes with the exceptional wines you are served. $150 for two non drinkers when you can have good food free is a hard decision. You won't be disappointed with the experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calval Posted February 22, 2009 #23 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Thanks for the comments! We'll have to see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherman931 Posted February 22, 2009 #24 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Thanks for all the great information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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