Bruinboy

Great thread. I may have to put this on my future cruise list. I was born in Hilo and we go back to the islands just about every year for a couple of weeks of R & R. Charles, good choice of Wings over Kauai. We took that with friends this past May. Great crew and inspiring views. DW and I love Kauai.

Norris, I had an epiphany this evening while dining at an Italian restaurant here in Omaha. I decided, after reading this review and your previous review on your Caribbean cruise, that I will choose future cruises based upon two factors ... one, a place I have never sailed before and two, at least one cruise in my lifetime with Carol and Norris. I'm not sure which would be more fun.

 

Thanks for sharing the joys, and the challenges, of your travel with us.

Going on the Star for the first time in Feb so appreciate your quick review of the ship. Glad you enjoyed your cruise.

We are flying to Buenos Aires in February. Using flex air through Princess. DW went on Delta web site and upgraded to premium seats. We had to pay the difference in price for upgraded seats but not the full price of the ticket. Did this a few days ago.

It still is a guilty pleasure ... I watch it whenever I come across it while surfing through the channel guide. Anyone have Isaac's signature cocktail as yet? We head out Feb 29th so it will be awhile until I experience it. If available, I'll probably order during sail away ... while waving to the dock workers :)

Dang. The Love Boat TV show is not realistic? That's why I signed up for our cruise. What do we do now? We have prepaid gratuities and onboard credit. Isaac is featured on a the Princess web site. I thought he would be serving us drinks. Don't tell me anymore. Next thing you are going to tell me is the Santa I saw at the mall is not the real Santa. Of course he is the real Santa. Everyone knows that!

Great advice. We do this all the time now. We didn't our first cruise, and got there in time, but was anxious about it the entire time. Our next cruise goes out of Buenos Aires, so will fly in a couple of days early, just in case. We have never been in BA so it will be fun to explore if everything goes as planned. If not, we have a cushion. We also booked airlines through Princess for a little extra cushion ... just in case.

 

Have a great cruise ... and let us know when and if you made it out tomorrow.

Tell me more. What did the dinner include?

Thanks for the reports. As my wife and I are scheduled to cruise the Star in South America early next year, we look forward to your take on the trip. Also ... because I was born in Hawaii and go back just about every year (in Kauai in May this year) we are looking forward to hearing what you decide to do on the islands.

 

Have a great trip.

Potato ... Potahto. Norris, thanks for the videos. Have you had many conversations with others while in ports? What have you heard from non-Princess folk about their cruises?

Norris, thanks for the reports. Funny, no plans to go on the Ruby and no plans to go to the Caribbean, but absolutely love you sharing your experiences and insights while on board. Sadly my wife and I aren't booked for another cruise until Feb 2016 (South America on Star Princess), but this helps to enjoyably pass the time here in Omaha.

 

I love your camera work. Beautiful pictures. The videos are equally fun.

 

Richard

For your fourth Nat and Ro's Excellent Adventure I suggest you pick up Rosie :) Thanks for taking time to tell us about your trip. You are right ... TracieABD's trip report is fabulous. Have a great time. Can't wait to hear what befell you on the way the ship today. Old wive's tale, or maybe it's an old husband's tale, is that bad things come in threes ... so given the late pickup, the forgotten CPAP and the Comfort Suites no longer accepting guests .., it should be smooth sailing from here on out. Have fun.

 

 

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Jase ... great review and how thoughtful of you to take the time to share your experience with the rest of us. I've never been on the Emerald or the places you visited. I'll have to check it out. The next cruise for us is in South America and anything positive I read about cruising, whatever ship, gets me more excited for my cruise.

 

I hope you post again soon and tell us where you are planning to go next.

 

 

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Barcelona is a great, great city. We have cruised out of there a couple of times and always went in a couple of days early ... that being said I would get to the ship at least two hours early. I would not want to miss the cruise!

 

 

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Sox, thanks for taking time to post about your cruise. We do a South America cruise in 2016. I have been to Rio before ... great city, so we are skipping that and heading out of Buenos Aires. I look forward to hearing about your experience in different ports. Thanks for doing this. It is much appreciated.

 

Pats-Ravens this coming weekend, right? Don't know why Flacco plays so well in the playoffs. Thankfully, you have them at home!

 

I like your bar routine ... before and after dinner. I'll have to tell Mrs. Bruinboy about your routine. It may become ours.

 

 

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For someone like me, who has a wine cellar in our home, my wife and I enjoy a good wine from time to time. I do hope they provide wine for all palates, but if they don't sell I can see the rationale behind discontinuing those that don't. I love wine, but my favorite is always the one in my hand at the moment :)

DW and I go to Mexico every year ... Mazatlan, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun ... we always eat out, but always drink water or beer or wine. Never had a problem. Would not eat from a food stand, but others great. Most of restaurants around the marina in Cabo are terrific. The salsa ... a small taste of heaven. Enjoy.

 

 

 

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Got back on Sunday night from a week in Mazatlan. No problem. We go every year. Never felt unsafe. Take a pulmonia ride. Enjoy the town. Great place.

 

 

 

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She must be in the hot tub. How else can we explain so long since the last post :)

 

Love the post, and your attitude about cruising. Fun read.

 

 

 

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Great posts. I'm looking forward to more. We did the Panama Canal going the other way from Ft Lauderdale to San Diego. I look forward to "reliving" our cruise through your posts. Wasn't sure I would enjoy the cruise as much as I did. The Canal is remarkable. Can't remember exactly the book I read in preparation. I think it was David McCullough's. Enjoyed the history behind it. Love your attitude. Have a great time.

[quote name='BruceMuzz']Easy. You can ignore their advice and arrive as early as you want at the terminal.
Everybody else does it - why not you?
After all, this is the ME, ME, ME, ME, ME Generation you are cruising with.
Then you can have a nice leisurely wait standing in line for a few hours to check in.
Then you get shuttled to the buffet, because your cabin is not ready yet.
At the buffet you can fight the mobs trying to eat their money's worth on the first day, then get in some exercise trying to find an empty table where you can eat.
That all sounds very relaxing, don't you think?

The civilized passengers arrange for a late check out at the hotel, then go to a nice restaurant for a leisurely lunch, stop back at the hotel to pick up their bags, arrive at the terminal after all the mob scene at check-in has disappeared, check-in takes about 2 minutes, stroll aboard with no lines in front of you, cabin is ready, mob scene at the buffet has been cleared up, have a nice snack and a drink, fully relaxed and already in vacation mode.[/QUOTE]

Bruce, you said it much better than I could have said. Entitled ... you bet. With all the problems in the world people are bent out of shape by not being the first one on board? Really??? Glad we will not be on their cruise. And Bruce, thanks for the tip. We will do that on our South American Cruise. I never thought of that. Much, much more relaxing.

Thanks, Jasperdo. Going on the Star in Jan of 2016 ... a long way off. Did you sail to Hawaii out of LA? Recognized Kauai. My wife and I have been going there yearly for the past 7 years. Great spot. Mahalo!

Vino100 ... any connection to Vino100 wine shops? Just curious. We had one here in Omaha.

 

To all, thanks for the info about Ultimate Balcony Dining. I'll see if DW thinks it's a good idea, and I too became extra curious due to Norris' posting on Crown thread. Thanks.

Wow, glad I found this thread today. My wife and I will be on the Crown in 11 months, doing a California Coastal. Loved the info on the sanctuary. I wonder if it will be a little too cold for that cruise? We begin in Vancouver and end up in LA.

 

Thanks for doing this. What a gift as we plan and look forward to our ship.

Dang, I'm sorry your cruise is over. Your sense of humor and thorough reporting has made the time waiting for my next cruise, much more enjoyable. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, and your pictures. I wish you were heading on your next cruise sooner. I love reading what you have to say. I hope reentry is going well.