Island Princess 10-Day Panama Canal Review - Not quite LIVE ... but close

[SweetAngel]

Hi Sweet Angel,

 

Another person wrote a reveiw of their Island princess cruise and she said that the bed linens were worn, torn, and full of holes. Could you please comment on that?

 

Sloney,

No problems with the sheets here. Isn't Island Princess scheduled for dry dock soon? So, the sheets may be reaching their limits. Some people thought the beds were hard, but JD and I both like a firm mattress. You can ask your steward for an egg crate to soften the bed.

[SweetAngel]

For those of you awaiting the end of my review:

 

I've got company here for the holidays, but I do plan to start finishing up the last three days of the review on Friday night. :)

[sunsetbeachgal]

Dear West Coast Cruiser,

 

We just visited Cartagena-based on Angels's review we decided to book a tour with Lee Miles as did about 15 other folks from our roll call. It was an excellent tour with a very knowlegeabel guide and I would highly recommend his company. We like to "do it yourself" in ports whenever possible (which we did in Aruba as we had been there before) but in Cartagena I think a tour is a good idea. It is lovely and there is alot to see and a good guide is so important. Plus, the Lee Miles tour is about $15 or so less per person than a comparable Princess tour.

 

Tomorrow is the Panama Canal-we can't wait! We are doing the boat excursion. Be sure to pre-book the Panama excursions-seems as if many are sold out.

 

Angel, thanks again for your tips and photos-I loved Cartagena and would have not seen as much as we did unless you had shared your experiences with us!! Have a great Thanksgiving!!

 

Carole (on board the lovely Island Princess!!)

[darkenstormy]

Another person wrote a reveiw of their Island princess cruise and she said that the bed linens were worn, torn, and full of holes. Could you please comment on that?

 

sloney

 

Do you honestly think a major cruise line would use linens in that condition?

 

They were fine. Of course.

[west coast cruiser]

Dear West Coast Cruiser,

 

We just visited Cartagena-based on Angels's review we decided to book a tour with Lee Miles as did about 15 other folks from our roll call. It was an excellent tour with a very knowlegeabel guide and I would highly recommend his company. We like to "do it yourself" in ports whenever possible (which we did in Aruba as we had been there before) but in Cartagena I think a tour is a good idea. It is lovely and there is alot to see and a good guide is so important. Plus, the Lee Miles tour is about $15 or so less per person than a comparable Princess tour.

 

Tomorrow is the Panama Canal-we can't wait! We are doing the boat excursion. Be sure to pre-book the Panama excursions-seems as if many are sold out.

 

Angel, thanks again for your tips and photos-I loved Cartagena and would have not seen as much as we did unless you had shared your experiences with us!! Have a great Thanksgiving!!

 

Carole (on board the lovely Island Princess!!)

 

Thanks for the info. Glad you are enjoying your cruise.

WCC

[pjs9876]

Your post is wonderful and I have really enjoyed it. I appreciate your time and hard work. I am planning my trip now and have created a link for myself so I can go back and read this again and again.

[CazBar]

Sweet Angel,

 

Thank you so much for your detailed review. My OH and I are off on the Island princess for our first ever cruise in less than 3 weeks, and it's your review that's got me most excited about it!

 

I've joined the roll call for our cruise and, like the Panamaniacs, we are arranging a meet and greet. Could you give me the details of how you arranged it with Princess? We were just all going to meet up in the Explorer lounge, but you seem to have managed to arrange something whereby some of the crew joined you? Did you have somewhere reserved for your group? Was there a charge?

 

Any info gratefully received!

 

Many thanks

[Colo Cruiser]

I've joined the roll call for our cruise and, like the Panamaniacs, we are arranging a meet and greet. Could you give me the details of how you arranged it with Princess? We were just all going to meet up in the Explorer lounge, but you seem to have managed to arrange something whereby some of the crew joined you? Did you have somewhere reserved for your group? Was there a charge?

 

Any info gratefully received!

 

Many thanks

 

 

Call the appropriate ship rep tro arrange your meeting....

 

Here is the most recent list of meeting/event contact people I have for all Princess ships:

 

 

Berda Davis

Star, Tahitian,

(661) 284-4451

bdavis@princesscruises.com

 

Diana Hall

Diamond, Sun

(661) 284-4449

dhall@princesscruises.com

 

Jenny Streeck

Sapphire, Dawn

(661) 284-4444

jstreeck@princesscruises.com

 

Berna Grayr

Emerald

(661) 284-4448

bgrayr@princesscruises.com

 

Sue Tieman

Grand, Pacific

(661) 284-4446

stieman@princesscruises.com

 

Coleen Reyes

Crown, Sea

(661) 284-4447

creyes@princesscruises.com

 

Renee Wittwer

Island, Coral, Ruby

(661) 284-4443

rwittwer@princesscruises.com

 

Elizabeth Williamson

Caribbean

(661) 284-4442

ewilliamson@princesscruises.com

 

Jan James

Royal, Golden

(661) 284-4452

jjames@princesscruises.com

 

Candice Lemell

Special Diets

(661) 284-4450

clemell@princesscruises.com "

 

Fax 661-284-4885

[darkenstormy]

we are arranging a meet and greet. Could you give me the details of how you arranged it with Princess? We were just all going to meet up in the Explorer lounge, but you seem to have managed to arrange something whereby some of the crew joined you? Did you have somewhere reserved for your group? Was there a charge?

 

I arranged the Meet & Greet on this cruise. I contacted the coordinator as Colo Cruiser mentioned. I made up invitations to the senior staff and delivered them to Reception onboard - and they were delivered to their mailboxes. Most of the invitees stopped by for a quick hello. There was no charge; we held ours in the Wheelhouse and there was a waiter to take individual drink orders if desired. You can order (and pay for!) many different options for your meeting if you'd like - the coordinators have details - but all you really need is a public space in which to gather.

[CazBar]

Colo Cruiser & darkenstormy,

 

Thank you both for your replies, both very useful.

 

I'll get back to the roll call gang and see how they fancy going about it.

 

Thanks again :)

[sunsetbeachgal]

Our M& G was held at "Crooners" which is very centrally located-we enjoyed meeting everyone, and we did private tours in Cartagena and Cost Rica that some of the CC folks also went on. And the Island is such a nice size that you see people out and about on the ship (some of the larger ones you never seen people again!), Enjoy!

[SweetAngel]

Angel, thanks again for your tips and photos-I loved Cartagena and would have not seen as much as we did unless you had shared your experiences with us!!

 

Carole, thanks for your comments sent from aboard Island Princess. It was fun to hear from you LIVE!

 

I'm glad this thread was able to help you enjoy your trip. I've been trying to include all the things that I would have liked to have known beforehand.

 

Research ahead of time always helps us enjoy our travels more. That's why so many of us use Cruise Critic.

 

I remember three children who had such a great time on an all-day excursion to the Mayan ruins simply because the pictures we had studied "came to life." I remember their looks of wonder when we stood in the exact same Mayan ballcourt from their history books.

 

Thank you so much for your detailed review. My OH and I are off on the Island princess for our first ever cruise in less than 3 weeks, and it's your review that's got me most excited about it!

 

I've joined the roll call for our cruise and, like the Panamaniacs, we are arranging a meet and greet. Could you give me the details of how you arranged it with Princess?

 

I arranged the Meet & Greet on this cruise. I contacted the coordinator as Colo Cruiser mentioned. I made up invitations to the senior staff and delivered them to Reception onboard - and they were delivered to their mailboxes. Most of the invitees stopped by for a quick hello. There was no charge; we held ours in the Wheelhouse and there was a waiter to take individual drink orders if desired. You can order (and pay for!) many different options for your meeting if you'd like - the coordinators have details - but all you really need is a public space in which to gather.

 

Thanks, Paul. I was hoping you'd answer this one. :cool:

Paul was the man in charge. We were fortunate to have him.

[SweetAngel]

Day 8 – Day at Sea

 

If you turn on the Princess Channel anytime from 6am-10am, you’ll see “The Wake Show with Paul and Leah.” It’s a cute show with your cruise directors to get you pepped up for the day. I turned it on one morning to see CD Paul getting acupuncture. You can send a “shout out” to anyone onboard if you like, and each morning there was a shout out to all the Panamaniacs. The cruise directors were really great to our Cruise Critic group.

 

There are other shows you might like to watch on the television. Most sea days there is an afternoon documentary on the Panama Canal. Sometimes the movies shown in the theater are run again later on TV. Just look through your Princess Patter to see what’s playing.

 

By now, the 3rd sea day, I was well-settled into my morning routine: breakfast with JD in Horizon Court, Line Dancing with Lauren (3 new dances each day!), and Team Trivia Challenge in Wheelhouse Bar. JD showed up again for trivia, and then we went together for lunch in Horizon Court. I wish I had read my Patter more closely because I would have loved to go to the English Pub Lunch (11:30-2:30) in Bayou Café. I heard such good things about the traditional cottage pie.

 

Lunch in Horizon Court was tasty as always, and today was the Mexican Buffet with a taco bar, tortilla soup (yummy), black beans, and rice. JD and I chose several non-Mexican selections too, like the roasted suckling pig and fettuccine.

 

 

After lunch, JD talked me into trying another qualifying round of the Princess Cup Golf Tournament. Lauren was in charge this time, and she only had us play four choice holes. That worked well for me – since I usually blow about every fifth hole. I liked how Lauren walked around and actually watched what we were doing. The other cruise directors just went by the scores that people told them. And of course, every golfer seemed to play by their own rules. Now JD is a much better golfer than me, but today was finally my day to shine. All the competitors had finished up their four holes and were waiting for me to slowly analyze my shot and go. Putt … putt … I did it!!! Par on every hole! I was so happy ... but another man was disappointed. I had just squeaked past him and made it into the finals!!! I do think even JD was a little jealous. You know men and their golf game. I thought it was funny.

 

 

Because of our cabin location, JD and I often found ourselves walking through the spa. I was intrigued by the large space in front of the restrooms which seemed to have no purpose other than beauty. I loved the peaceful feeling of this area, the pretty ceiling, the architecture, the foliage, and the art.

 

 

“Duplicity” was showing in the Princess Theater today, but we weren’t quite able to fit a movie in. Instead, JD and I dressed early in our formalwear. We were not planning on coming back to the room before dinner.

 

Self Portrait

Now doesn’t JD look good?

 

Then we went to peek in on the art auction. Now I am fairly particular with my artwork, but I actually liked quite a few of the pieces. The auctioneer moved fast, so you either had to jump in quickly or watch it go away. If you are going to bid on artwork, you’ll definitely want to preview the pieces in the gallery before the auction.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

For those following this thread, check out the thread "Thank you Cruise Critic members" posted yesterday for some very interesting and flattering comments about the Island.

 

Cheers!

[sppunk]

Anyone on the Island coming up, please note the cruise directors have changed. They are now Frank and his deputy Tim. We got off Monday and those are who we had.

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the ongoing review and pictures!!

[SweetAngel]

Anyone on the Island coming up, please note the cruise directors have changed. They are now Frank and his deputy Tim. We got off Monday and those are who we had.

 

Aww. The CD's were so great!!!!!

 

I hoped maybe they'd stick around for awhile since we were cruising at the very beginning of the season. Guess not.

[SweetAngel]

Day 8 – Wine Tasting and Formal Portraits

 

At 3:00 pm, JD and I attended the Princess Grapevine Wine Tasting in the Provence Dining Room. (We had signed up at dinner the night before.) This was an enjoyable way to start our formal evening.

 

 

We tried each of the wines that you see listed on the card, cleansing our palate in between with crackers, grapes and cheese, and finishing up with a sweet dessert wine.

 

 

It was well worth $9.50 each, and we got to keep the little Princess shot glasses.

 

The Wine Tasting ended just in time for the Afternoon Trivia Challenge in Wheelhouse Bar (4:15 pm). Of course we couldn’t miss that. Then JD and I saved the expense of photographers and took our own formal pictures in all our favorite locations throughout the ship.

 

Here’s one of my favorite shots in one of my favorite spots, the entryway to Wheelhouse Bar.

 

 

All it takes is learning how to use the self-timer on your camera. This was my first cruise without buying a single portrait.

 

 

We enjoyed trying different angles, poses, and backgrounds. I don’t remember any photo session ever being this much fun.

[SweetAngel]

Day 8 – Formal Evening

 

We chose to eat dinner when the Bordeaux Dining Room opened at 5:30 pm. Despite the crowds, and despite the fact that there were more people requesting tables-for-two tonight, Princess went out of their way to accommodate us. Instead of making us wait or making us sit with a large group, the Bordeaux dining room sent one of their waiters as an escort to take us up the glass elevators to the Provence Dining Room, where there were more tables-for-two. I thought this was so elegantly handled. Obviously, we could have made it up the one flight without an escort, but the escort added such a nice touch of class. I was so tickled that I had my picture taken with the waiter in the elevator.

 

 

For our appetizers tonight, JD and I split three of them between us. We tried the ravioli, the asparagus, and a seafood pate, all delicious.

 

 

The formal night entrée was the highlight, and we both had it; lobster tail and king shrimp.

 

 

This was truly the best piece of lobster I’ve had on any cruise. I heard people rave about the king shrimp, but honestly, I don’t think it compared to the delicious lobster. As soon as I was served, I looked for the melted butter, but the efficient wait staff brought it around before I could even ask. The lobster was so good, though, that I didn’t feel my usual compulsion to smother it in butter.

 

As much as I hated to do it, I skipped dessert tonight to go and meet a fellow Panamaniac, Carole, and escort her to the Princess Captain’s Circle gala for past Princess cruisers at 7:00 pm. JD ordered our desserts to go, and Princess kindly packaged up the Love Boat Dream for us (which tastes just as heavenly six hours later).

 

During the Captain’s Circle event, Princess brought us drink after complimentary drink. Carole liked trying the different varieties, but I stuck with the tropical green Midori drink. This was a well-organized event with door prizes. The couples with the most cruises on Princess got some nice awards too.

 

 

All the cruise directors were there, and they all knew Carole since she was one of our Panamaniac leaders. Carole mentioned the beautiful formal dresses of the CD ladies. I, too, was impressed with the extensive wardrobe of those ladies, changing several times a day to match the theme of each new event. I never noticed that so much on any other cruise, but I never noticed a cruise director staff this fun and friendly either.

 

After the party, I just stayed in the Universe Lounge to stake out front row seats for the 8:30 pm Adrian Zmed Show. As I was moving about the place, Cruise Director Garrett spotted me and said, “Hi, Angel.” Impressed that a second cruise director knew me by name, I stopped to talk to him. He could have only known me from introducing me at karaoke. The CD’s did not even know I was a Panamaniac until they saw me that night with Carole. I told Garrett that I thought it was nice how he remembered my name. He said, “Well you know my name. It’s only right that I learn yours too.” I turned to CD Lauren, who was standing next to him and teasingly said, “What’s his name again?”

 

It’s really too bad if this group of CD’s has left the Island Princess because they truly were the best!

[SweetAngel]

Day 8 – Formal Evening Nightlife

 

The show “Adrian Zmed in Concert” was as good as everyone had said it would be. It was completely designed to be done only in the Universe Lounge. The stage is made up of multiple levels that are constantly shifting around throughout the performance. The Island singers and dancers are all there, too, giving a full-scale production show. Now Adrian Zmed was a star of the 70’s and 80’s who earned his fame co-starring with William Shatner in “T.J. Hooker” and starring as the leader of the T-Birds in “Grease 2.” He also starred as Danny Zuko in the Broadway production of “Grease.” It was fun seeing him relive his career, singing under the big screens which showed clips of his films. He even made a guest appearance in the old “Love Boat” TV series. The Adrian Zmed Show was great fun with top-of-the-line dancing, singing, and stage choreography.

 

Adrian played well to his audience. At one point, he pointed right to me as the woman he had a crush on in one of his songs (the joys of sitting in the front row). In one very sweet moment, Adrian brought a lady up from the audience to sing to her. Then, in one lively number near the end of the show, one of the dancers wrapped me up in his hula hoop and pulled me on stage. There, I was expected to do the hula hoop in front of everyone!!! It was really fun, and I tried, but I was just lousy at the hula hoop (and my silky dress didn’t help much). The dancer (a very cute one too) then pulled me into a quick jitterbug and escorted me back to my seat. Fun, fun, fun!

 

After the show (9:30 pm), we walked straight over to Explorer’s Lounge to watch the hilarious Marriage Game Show. Before we arrived, three couples had been chosen to compete, one long-time married couple, one middle-aged couple, and one set of newlyweds. The three couples had to share the most intimate details of their relationship with the audience, but the prizes they all received were fantastic.

 

Of course, JD and I stuck around for Heat 3 of Princess Pop Star directly after the game show at 10:30 pm. It was the last night of karaoke, so we gave it our best shot. Before singing, I ran up to the bar to get a glass of water with lemon. But I could see that the bartender was already making a drink, so I waited patiently … Then he put that drink down in front of me and said, “Water with lemon, right?” Oh I just fell in love with the staff on this ship!

 

At 11:15 pm was something very special. In the Plaza Atrium, the Maitre d’Hotel, Mario Propato, held “Mario’s Madness.” This was an hour of dancing and partying with the dining room staff, and what wonderful dancers they were!

 

 

The band, Celebration, played their standard set of party songs (same songs for every party), and everyone did the Electric Slide. The waiters all invited us to come up and dance with them. Although it was late, many people came to watch, looking down from the different levels of the atrium.

 

 

The strippers in the glass elevator were a highlight of the party.

 

 

Here we were again partying until after midnight with another shore excursion early tomorrow morning.

 

And to think I had actually read reports of Princess being a ship for the elderly, that it had few activities and little nightlife. The people who wrote that couldn’t have possibly read their Princess Patters. I have sailed the party ships, and, yes, I have traveled with much younger crowds, but I have never had so much fun doing the ship activities as I did here on Island Princess.

 

What a wonderful, wonderful experience this cruise has been for us!

[Crown Prince]

Angel, Dear,

 

I have never, ever, seen such wonderful pictorials and text as you have given us all here.

 

You are an exceptional writer and photographer. Thank you, so much, for all your time and effort in giving us this great gift.

:D:D:D:D:D

[m steve]

I didn't order it but my partner did and I took a taste. It was so good I had the waiter bring me one for myself. I never did that before.

As for Adrien Zmed, I checked his bio and saw he has a supporting part in Grease 2, movie but no credits as Danny. Maybe he did this in a road company but it's not in his Google Bio. That doesn't mean he wasn't good.

[tmitchell82]

Angel,

Great pictures and info. We booked for our Panama canal cruise in April and it great to hear about everything.

 

Tim

[SweetAngel]

As for Adrien Zmed, I checked his bio and saw he has a supporting part in Grease 2, movie but no credits as Danny. Maybe he did this in a road company but it's not in his Google Bio. That doesn't mean he wasn't good.

 

The information I wrote about Adrian Zmed was from memory of what I learned from watching his show.

 

Since you wrote, though, I went and looked up in Wikipedia to verify.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(musical)#1972_Broadway_premiere

 

Adrian Zmed was one of two actors who played Danny in the 1994 Broadway US Tour of Grease. He was in a cast that included Sally Struthers, Davy Jones, Debbie Gibson, Lucy Lawless, and Brooke Shields.

 

In the movie Grease 2, he played Johnny Nogerelli, leader of the t-birds (third in order of starring roles).

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_2

 

I thought it was fun how Princess played the movie Grease 2 on the stateroom televisions all night after the Adrian Zmed show. I enjoyed watching it as I got ready to go to sleep.

[lovetocruise1960]

Angel, what a GREAT job you are doing! Thanks so much.

 

Sara