h-sar

3 hours ago, hllwdcruiser said:

@h-sar I just want to thank you again for this wonderful live review. I feel like I've been cruising right along with you. And again, a huge thank-you for checking out our cabin for us.

It looks like the rain is holding off for you today in Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood - at least until later today. Are you heading straight back home? 

It’s been a pleasure conversing with you over a number of months 🙂. I think we’ve crossed paths a few times on here. Heading to the airport in a few minutes. Flight to Edmonton via Atlanta and Calgary, will see us at home in about 13 hours from departure time. Good thing nobody has to go to work or school on tomorrow. Although, poor daughter has to trek back to Calgary tomorrow afternoon with her car loaded down for a four month co-op position with Imperial Oil for the semester from the University of Alberta. Starts Monday! 

4 hours ago, CruiseVA said:

We've had static on our last 2 cruises, Caribbean Princess FLL-Quebec City in July/August & the Sky on Dec 4th - awesome. Same CD as well on both of them. Made for great cruises.  Thanks for all the posts & pics. Safe travels.

Their energy, esp the male, is unmatched by any other band I’ve seen on Princess. It seems like their number one priority is not to sing AT the audience, but rather engage the audience in the performance in whatever way they can. The foot  moves from the male last night - wow -  he could be dropped into any Motown band from the 50’s  and fit right in.

Ummmm... Why have you, my friends, been holding out on me?  Why have I not heard or seen of this before today, my last morning on the ship? Topped AND filled with chocolate! 

If you want a log of the cruise, request at passenger services. They don’t give you one in cabin - the last couple of yrs.
Just picked mine up now. used to keep the paper copy, but now just scan it as a memento and  reduce the amount paper at my home.

World Princess Orchestra was fantastic last night in the piazza at 9:30. Had seen it on Regal last yr and was disappointed it didn’t happen last week. Almost every single band, including the house orchestra (they are phenomenal and don’t get enough public credit), Static, the ladies of the string quartet, etc got together and gave us a rousing concert. I have such a  respect for the string Quartet after their performance last night. They were such a powerhouse and, at times, stole the show. Have a short video I’ll try to upload later as can’t seem to do it on the ship wifi. Don’t ever miss this if it happens on your ship. 

11 hours ago, tere247 said:

We board in a week and your posts and pictures have gotten me more excited.  Can't wait.  Thanks so much for taking time from your vacation to do this.

You will love the Sky!

3 hours ago, FlorenceItaly said:

Thank you for your LIVE postings.  I really enjoyed it and greatly appreciated ALL your effort!

It made the cruise even more enjoyable having all of you along for the ride 😊

Finally had to call passenger services to get info on escape room:

It’s $14 pp; $11 for under 12yo

Takes about 35 min

Have to sign up on embarkation - forgot to ask where

Open 9:00 - 10:00 every day

They take new groups through every 90 min rotations

Was sold out for this cruise on first day 

On 12/28/2019 at 4:12 PM, Colo Cruiser said:

Saw many people playing board games at the Crown Grill during off hours on the sea days.

Trying to remember where they stored all the games.

I also noticed a few times in the Patter that board games were taking place in a dining room, unhosted, 9:30-2:30.

On 12/28/2019 at 6:43 AM, Heavy's wife said:

Thanks for all the photos.  

Any chance anyone has a pic of the new specialty restaurant, Bistro Sur la Mer?  

...or any feedback from anyone who has eaten there?  We are trying to book our specialty dining before we get on the ship.

 

So, never did make it to Le Mer. Kids said all of their friends whose families did said that you really have to like seafood to properly enjoy it. Just as well I didn’t go! Did not like the openness of a pay for restaurant. If you’re paying that much, passengers shouldn’t be walking through by your table. 

Quite annoyed: Walked through the outside area of Alfredo’s around 330 this afternoon. May or may not have just polished off a pizza and salad by myself as a post-post lunch meal LOL. As I walked the outer area, where no one was sitting, noticed a large leather, distinctively printed, ladies’ tote on a chair.

Immediately went in and told one of the waiters that it was out there and that I was wanting to let him know rather than handle it myself. He said he, too, had seen it out there and was about to call security as he did not want to be handling it himself, either. 
 

I left it at that,  still wondering if perhaps I should just have taken it downstairs myself. Figured he knew about it and was about to del with it.
 

A few minutes ago, just after 7:00, 4 hours later, my husband and I were taking a pre-dinner stroll and happened to walk through the  same area and guess what? The bag was still sitting there!!! This time, I picked it up and brought it inside to the manager in Alfredo‘s. The bag was open and I could see that it had a big wallet, and a tablet of some kind in it. It was also quite heavy. I felt ill at ease with in my hand, Thinking the owner would see it in my hand at any second and accuse me of theft! When I got to the manager, I told her I had found it outside and that I could take it to security. She said lost and found items don’t go to security, but to passenger services, and that they were really busy right now, but that she would get it down there. Again, I left uneasy that someone might be getting off the ship tomorrow without their bag and valuables. The restaurant just seems so lackadaisical about getting the bag down to lost and found so that whoever was looking for it could be reunited with it before getting off the ship tomorrow. My husband is annoyed with me. He feels like I should not have gone into the restaurant, but straight down to 5 with it myself. 

Love this sitting area in the  very back of 7 with the wake. 
 

Is this new? Build your own burrito station at lunch? You give them your ingredients on a plate and they make the burrito and grill it for you. Chicken, steak, seafood. Lots of veggies. Mine was grilled properly after it was assembled; DD had another person make hers and he simply grilled the tortilla by itself before assembling it and gave it to her cold! So best to specify. Also, I wish I’d asked for a bit longer on the grill. Insides could have used another minute. 
Was not part of the taco station; was in other part of buffet 
 

Really delicious! 

The new pool towels on the Sky (an unattractive shade of blue) will give the Sky the top ranking in ugliest pool towels at sea. 👎🏽👎🏽
 

Please tell me this is not going fleetwide?! One of the biggest symbols of a Princess ship was the striped blue and white towel. New ones are like an uglier copycat of RCL. 

Just now, dickinson said:

I think your cruise that had the Captain Circle Party in the Princess Theater was a one time thing for whatever reason.  All of our cruises have had them in either Vista Lounge or Club Fusion with drinks and hors d'oerves passed around so that way of doing it never went away. 

Seemed like a number of our Christmas time Regal cruises had it in the theatre. 

Just had the most exquisitely blissful 50 minute Swedish relaxation massage up in the sanctuary. The kids surprised me with it yesterday as a belated birthday present. When they booked, the only availability was in the sanctuary in one of the cabanas tucked off in the back corner on the opposite side of the entrance.
 

This morning, they called to see if I wanted to switch it to the spa level on 5 as they had a cancellation. No way! And I’m glad I did not take them up on their offer. Can’t tell you how blissful it was to be in one of the cabanas with the flowy curtains shutting out the rest of the world and a breeze gently coming through as the ship rocked ever slightly. It was also very quiet With not much sound coming over from the Retreat which was on the other side of me. 
 

Amy, the young UK girl who did my massage, followed my instructions about not going too deep.  My sister-in-law had a not so great massage last week so I consider myself pretty lucky. Could not have asked for a better experience on the last day. I am old I am able to hang out for a short bit in the cabana next-door to the massage cabana and that is where I am at the moment.

Next year, I have to get in early to book at least a half day in the sanctuary as it is blissfully quiet up here. Is anybody keeping track of how many times I’ve used the word blissful in the last couple of paragraphs?
 

Picture of the massage cabana and the sitting cabana. The curtains are not at all see through from the outside. I sat up there for about half an hr after.

Just now, kywildcatfanone said:

My biggest regret not eating in the DR are the Fettuccine Alfredo and the chilled appetizer drinks.

DD Shared her fettucine with extra sauce with the rest of us and it was pretty divine. Forgot to ask if they would do a Parmesan basket on request. I’ll try to remember tonight.

Dinner last night.
 

Was not as enamoured with the twice baked goat cheese soufflé as I have been in the past. It was quite oily this time and a little bit on the two salty side. And one thing you have to know about me, I really love my salt. Missed getting a pic of it. 
 

Kids had the tenderloin which they said was very good. DH had the chicken from the favourites side and really enjoyed it. I had the trout - yummy! We shared the very small charcuterie plate - very good. Also pictured is the ceviche and fettuccine Alfredo with extra sauce. The salted caramel creme de pot by Curtis Stone was pretty good.  

Just now, Luckiestmanonearth said:

What was the condition of the beach at Orient?  I had heard that there was a lot of plant life growing in the water as a result of the hurricanes 2 years ago

on our visit, there was just a little bit of seaweed at the edge of the beach, but nothing significant. The water was pretty clear.

Just now, kywildcatfanone said:

In our 2 weeks I threw away the equivalent of 10 pounds of trash advertisements.  I wish they would just move to digital for all of that if they really want to protect the planet.  All printed in color as well. 

100% agree. I think they are probably afraid that, if they don’t stick with the in your face paper advertisements, they will lose some sales.

Just now, worldtraveller said:

Thanks so much h-sar, this really helps.

 

One other question if you don't mind.  What time does the Enclave open?  Someone had stated that it closed late (like 10pm) but not when it opens.

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise

8-10

I‘ve gone at 7:45 and it’s been open 

This week, we saved a whole buck 89 as a result of my son forgetting to buy his soda card until an hr after sailing. Last week, he bought it immediately upon boarding and paid $1.89 FL tax. Just an FYI 😀. 
 

There has been no pub lunch this week, nor was there last week. Makes me very sad. On the other hand, they have had tea every single day for the last two weeks. Makes me extremely happy.
 

There is also no royal tea in the piazza as there was on the regal and no display of different teas by the international café. Don’t really miss either.

Keep getting advertisements in my cabin for the seminar called secrets to a flatter stomach. Are they trying to tell me something? It’s not a secret, you’ve all seen what I’ve been eating, LOL. And I don’t need to attend a seminar to figure out the solution for the secret to a flatter stomach. Don’t cruise. Mystery solved. 👍🏼👍🏼
 

5Skies, one of the two new amazing production shows on the Sky, was shown during the late evening port in St Thomas which was also New Year’s Eve. Good thing we saw it last week, as we weren’t able to attend this week. Seemed like a bad night to have it on. Why not on one of these two sea days? I’m sure it was still standing room only, though. 

For the past few years, we have not gone to the platinum/elite captain’s party. When we first started sailing with princess, in  2006, the parties were held in a lounge with waiters coming around with drinks and appetizers. It was a lovely gathering and a pleasure to attend.When we started sailing the Regal in 2014, due to the size of the platinum elite numbers, the parties started to be held in Princess Theatre with a drink ticket given as you walked in, to be redeemed later at a bar of your choice. As a result of the venue, the event lost its intimate touch and really became nothing more than a promo activity for Princess.
 

We decided to attend this week, mainly because Cpt Tuvo has been such a wonderful person to sail with and we figured we could not miss an opportunity to see him in action. The event last night was exactly what it used to be. It was held in the Vista lounge with the captain and some of the officers greeting us at the door as well as many other officers at various points inside the venue, so you were being greeted every few feet. I got the chance to personally thank the captain for a wonderful voyage and he seemed genuinely appreciative of the comment.
 

We had come about 20 minutes early and there were probably still about 60 people in front of us. We managed to get front row seating and waiters came immediately with alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, as well as appetizers. The captain was his usual witty and charming self and three couples were recognized for their number of days. Couple number three was from Florida, of course, and the gentleman was going to be 100 years old in two weeks! How great is that? He looked in pretty good shape. Cannot remember exactly how many days at sea with princess they had, but it was around 1100. Second couple was from the UK and they also had a similar number of sea days. The first place couple was not at the party, but had over 2100 sea days with princess. Each couple received a bottle of champagne and then they drew three more bottles randomly using the invitation cards we had all turned in. Glad we went and that the Sky put the personal touch back into the event.
 

The Asian couple on the dance floor has been dancing up a storm in the piazza every night. Their outfits and dancing skills are incredible. There are about three couples on board that I particularly like to watch on the dance floor. 
 

There are 735 platinum passengers on this cruise and 541 elite.

Bikini Beach at Orient 

Just nearing the end of our two weeks on the Sky and agree with most of your observations. The carpet in the halls is already showing signs of stain and spillage. It’s a beautiful Selection of muted colours that they have selected, very elegant, but the hallway carpets should’ve been done with a darker brown.

When I went for a walk today, over half the chairs on pool deck had items on them by 6:00, as well as a large number on 17. By 6:30, almost all were taken on 16. 
 

Completely agree with what you said about Cpt Tuvo. I, too, usually don’t think too much about who the captain is. It’s not until you get somebody like him that you realize the impact the captain can have on the overall atmosphere of a ship. His visibility around the ship, his willingness to pitch in where he’s needed, his genuine desire to meet as many passengers as possible, have to impact the morale of the crew. I said on another post that he is a true living example of all the great leadership qualities talked about in the books that some of us are encouraged to read in our professions.

I’ve also found the CD, Adam, to be very personable with a great entertainment crew who work with him. 

Yesterday’s taxi ride to Orient Beach was the set rate, inside the port, of $8 per person each way. Taxis are easily available inside the port. I’m all for looking for cheaper deals outside the port, but this isn’t the place to do it. Too far from anywhere and too hot to walk to somewhere cheaper.  

There were six ships in port, but it never really felt that crowded around the island. As always in our experience, getting off the ship, St M was one of the hottest ports. Thankfully, when we got to the beach, a little bit of cloud cover and a slight breeze off the water kept it from being excessively hot. It was the perfect beach day. 

We had a late start as the kids wanted to sleep in a bit after New Year’s. Very strange to have a 7 AM port right after New Year’s eve. By the time we got to the beach, it was about 11:45. I was surprised that the reservation we had made at the Bikini Bar area for four loungers and 2 umbrellas, in the first row, had been kept for us. I called about three months prior, to make a reservation, after noticing that there were reserved signs on some of the loungers on our stop there last year. I had inquired then and they had said we could phone ahead to the Bikini Bar restaurant for the reservation. I was quite surprised that they did not ask for a reservation payment of any kind. It was really nice to be able to stroll in and still get front row seating. I was fully prepared to have our seats given away. 

They gave us a choice of a couple different locations. Cost was $30 x2. Decent bathrooms, good bar vibe, but fairly quiet, good for families. Thick padded loungers. Motorized rentals available. DS did flyboarding there one year. Kids had a bit of food from the restaurant and deemed it very good. I have a feeling, though, that beach food is always going to taste pretty good to them considering the locale😀. Easy to find a cab in parking lot a few feet away. Lots of little cafes and bars around as there’s a cute little village of condos and resorts close by.