live from the Golden Princess Feb 28 to Mar 14

[mycruz]

flammo, you can order as much as you like in the Crown Grill. The only exception are the 8oz tails and whole losters, those come at an additional cost.

 

I have to say it's my favorite restaurant on board and we'll probably be back before the end of the cruise.

 

I've been restricted out of the casino for the rest of the cruie by doctor's orders. Came down with a bad sinus infection and the Dr. feels that the smoke is too bad in there for me, I have to agree with him on that one. Glad to hear there will be another formal night which means smoke free in the casino!!!! I guess in some respects that a good thing! :o

 

Seas today are vey calm, wish it was a tad warmer though. I agree with Vada, make sure you have some kind of jacket or sweater to wear, even in the day it's been needed.

 

Aloha!

[Kreuser]

I have a question going back to the first day of the cruise: do you know if it's typical that the counters don't open until 11 and boarding doesn't begin until 11:50? We took another cruise out of San Pedro and they began boarding much earlier.

I don't know what is "typical" but it was true of our boarding experience. I can't imagine them letting us on much earlier than that as they have to get the ship cleaned up before embarking the new pax. I was impressed that our rooms were ready though. RCL usually makes you wait until 1pm or so before you can go to your room.

 

The day we were in Kauai they served fish and chips (fries) in Horizon Court. They were excellent. And they had the most scrumptious tiny quiches made with goat cheese and artichokes. To die for!

 

Time must be standing still here on the high seas. We still have today and tomorrow before we hit Mexico Saturday. We have settled into a very lazy pattern. Jerry goes to breakfast and I finally roll out of bed - today it wasn't until 8am! But that was 7am yesterday since we changed our clocks again last night. We are now on mainland time. OK, so I fix myself a cup of coffee and have a granola bar, get dressed and get down to the International Cafe to buy a good cup of coffee. Then across the atrium to the Internet Cafe and get caught up on the real world. I meet Jerry at the room at 11:30 and we decide where we're going to lunch. Then it's reading all afternoon and Jerry catches a nap.

Then it's to the showers and getting ready for early traditional dining @ 5:30. That takes 2 hours and we have an hour or so to wait for the show to begin.

 

Last night we stayed in and watched The Informant with Matt Damon. It was pretty good. Tonight they are showing An Education and I'm tempted to stay in again to see it. Talk about lazy!!

 

Vada

[cruisingready]

OMG its been so great to read these posts. We will be on the golden April 11th and just can not wait. Have a great couple days that you have left.

[MTJSR]

Thursday, 3pm

 

Well today was a very informative day. David Cole said the reason for Princess dropping Kona (big island) and the 15 day Hawaii cruises is that Princess looses it's preferential docking position in Los Angeles, by coming in odd days each week, it also looses first right to Aloha tower in Honolulu and preferred docking in Hilo and Kauai. The reason for selecting Hilo over Kona was it's central proximity to most of the big islands attractions.

 

The shows you see on the Golden, Grand and Star are all produced thru the Santa Clarita Princess offices, and are rotated on just those three ships. The performing groups work in four month contracts and are then off for several months. All entertainment is hired and selected by Princess main office. The cruise director is given a schedule from the main office of who (which entertainers) are coming and going at each port of call. Princess fly's them in the day before boarding a ship. The cruise director has a suite onboard and works 14 hour days. The “Wake Show” is recorded the day before it is shown. David Cole travels with seven suitcases and has been in this business 22 years.

 

The crew has there own doctor, dental services are provided onshore wherever they are in the world. Crews bunk two to a room, four to a bathroom and their uniforms are provided (duh) Food not consumed on the public side, CAN/sometimes appear soon after in the crew mess. There are 43 nations represented here in the crew. Eighty percent is from the Philippines. The Golden sits in the water with 27 feet under water, uses 20 tons of fuel and hour and goes 45 feet per gallon.

 

Today is amazingly smooth. The seas are like glass. While at lunch in the Horizon Court, people started standing and moving to the windows. What they were watching was a huge pod of small dolphins chasing a school of fish (I assume) but they were popping in and out of the water moving pretty fast. Our first sign of life going this direction.

 

Those of you getting ready to board are lucky lucky lucky. Looks like you will have nicer weather in Hawaii. It was somewhat cool for us. When I do this trip again, I will make a point of getting onto a beach and into the water. It doesn't feel like I just visited Hawaii. Much different doing ships tours and sitting on busses and cabs.

 

My room steward Jerry, is really pulling out all the tricks as we near the end. I have almost a whole zoo of towel animals in the cabin. If you are lucky enough to get a steward half as efficient and nice as ours, take the time to talk with him/her. He has only enriched our trip with his homeland stories and expertise.

 

I was watching Leialoha giving her Hula class in the vista lounge. She has everyone looking like a well seasoned choreographed stage show. Pretty impressive!

 

When I return home, I will be uploading 400 plus pictures of this trip. I will add a link in this thread for anyone interested.

 

More later!

 

Mark

[Bucky3]

Mark - Your posts have been absolutely wonderful and what great information you have provided for all of us. We'll look forward to the pictures. Aloha and Mahalo!

[flamomo]

Mark, you hit the mother lode on info! Thanks for sharing it with us. There has been much speculation about the reason for dropping Kona, and now that has been put to rest. I have to say it is nice to dock right by the Aloha Tower. But I do wish we were still making the port stop for Kona and having that extra day . I guess we just can't have it both ways!

 

When we get back from our cruise I will be finding this thread and using your link to see your photos.

 

BTW, the weather forecast for LA for your disembarkation and our embarkation looks really great. Sunday will be sunny and a high near 70.

 

If you could, please put a bug in Neptune's ear for some of that nice smooth, glass-like water for our sailing!!! LOL

[Bettyboop66]

Mark,

I've really enjoyed reading your posts. We are on this cruise in April and am now even more ready to go. I have cruised Hawaii once before on NCL and never managed to find time to get in the water except an excursion which was swimming with the dolphins and my DD. While that was WONDERFUL, it wasn't quite the same as swimming on the beach. So I know how you are feeling. On this next cruise I will not be making the same mistake. Can't wait to see the pictures and enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Betty

[ASeaPrincess1]

We are going on this cruise the end of April - I'm really enjoying your comments! I have a question going back to the first day of the cruise: do you know if it's typical that the counters don't open until 11 and boarding doesn't begin until 11:50? We took another cruise out of San Pedro and they began boarding much earlier.

If you're going on the 25th of April, come join our Roll Call.:)

[mikjr]

Thanks for taking us with you on your cruise. we board the Golden on the 14th. And hopefully, you're right... the weather and seas will be better.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Thursday, 3pm

 

Well today was a very informative day. David Cole said the reason for Princess dropping Kona (big island) and the 15 day Hawaii cruises is that Princess looses it's preferential docking position in Los Angeles, by coming in odd days each week, it also looses first right to Aloha tower in Honolulu and preferred docking in Hilo and Kauai. The reason for selecting Hilo over Kona was it's central proximity to most of the big islands attractions.

 

The shows you see on the Golden, Grand and Star are all produced thru the Santa Clarita Princess offices, and are rotated on just those three ships. The performing groups work in four month contracts and are then off for several months. All entertainment is hired and selected by Princess main office. The cruise director is given a schedule from the main office of who (which entertainers) are coming and going at each port of call. Princess fly's them in the day before boarding a ship. The cruise director has a suite onboard and works 14 hour days. The “Wake Show” is recorded the day before it is shown. David Cole travels with seven suitcases and has been in this business 22 years.

 

The crew has there own doctor, dental services are provided onshore wherever they are in the world. Crews bunk two to a room, four to a bathroom and their uniforms are provided (duh) Food not consumed on the public side, CAN/sometimes appear soon after in the crew mess. There are 43 nations represented here in the crew. Eighty percent is from the Philippines. The Golden sits in the water with 27 feet under water, uses 20 tons of fuel and hour and goes 45 feet per gallon.

 

Today is amazingly smooth. The seas are like glass. While at lunch in the Horizon Court, people started standing and moving to the windows. What they were watching was a huge pod of small dolphins chasing a school of fish (I assume) but they were popping in and out of the water moving pretty fast. Our first sign of life going this direction.

 

Those of you getting ready to board are lucky lucky lucky. Looks like you will have nicer weather in Hawaii. It was somewhat cool for us. When I do this trip again, I will make a point of getting onto a beach and into the water. It doesn't feel like I just visited Hawaii. Much different doing ships tours and sitting on busses and cabs.

 

My room steward Jerry, is really pulling out all the tricks as we near the end. I have almost a whole zoo of towel animals in the cabin. If you are lucky enough to get a steward half as efficient and nice as ours, take the time to talk with him/her. He has only enriched our trip with his homeland stories and expertise.

 

I was watching Leialoha giving her Hula class in the vista lounge. She has everyone looking like a well seasoned choreographed stage show. Pretty impressive!

 

When I return home, I will be uploading 400 plus pictures of this trip. I will add a link in this thread for anyone interested.

 

More later!

 

Mark

 

What a great amount of info! I wasn't happy that Kona was dropped as that was the port we missed due to high waves on our 2005/06 sailing. We actually, despite the 15th odd day, got to dock at Aloha Tower and got to dock (and not tender) in Kauai, but maybe it was different for some of the other sailings. I had figured they wanted to drop one of the tendered ports and opted to drop Kona, rather than Lahaina.

[Murrah Miss]

Thanks for all the fabulous information! Some of our group are already in LA; the rest of us coming in tomorrow! Can't wait, and thank you again and again for taking us along!

[Kreuser]

We have been fortunate enough to be sitting at the same table as Mark and his family, and have gotten so much info from "the horses mouth" so to speak! :D

 

Last night after dinner, Jerry went to see the comedians at the theatre and Vista Lounge, and I stayed in the room and watched "An Education". I liked it but I wished I had closed caption at times. (Heavy English accents)

 

We change our clocks tonight (Friday) instead of Saturday night like everyone else. Makes sense though since we are disembarking Sunday AM and no one wants a mix up on the time.

 

Tonight is formal night again. Seems like we just had one! Oh yeah, that's because we did! This third formal night seems superfluous.

 

We will be in Ensenada tomorrow around noon for just a few hours in order to make us legal. So we will be packed and ready to disembark first thing Sunday morning. We will take advantage of the Express Off again. We managed to get our belongings into just two bags so it should be no problem toting them off the ship. Our DD will pick us up in San Pedro around 7:30am. And we should be home inside of 2 hours.

 

I will be glad to be home but I don't want to leave the cruise ship. How conflicted is that?!! I must say we have enjoyed the Suite Life very much!

 

Vada :cool:

[Cruising Carol]

I remember how amused I was on a prior roundtrip cruise from San Diego to Hawaii that we stopped at Ensenada just long enough to tie up, let officers do paperwork with port authorities, untie and take off -- something like an hour total. Passengers all remained on board. And our stop was about 11 pm. So I am looking forward to being able to get off the ship in Ensenada. Probably will not do an excursion. Have been on the wine excursion before and enjoyed it.

[grandmaa]

On the previous Hawaiian cruise ending Feb 28..in Ensenada it was raining..and pouring part of the time. Your weather should be better as it is supposed to be a wonderful warm weekend here in the LA area. We were delayed getting into Ensenada because of the tsunami warnings on the coast and then there was a medical evacuation prior to leaving which made the Golden late in leaving the port of Ensenada. We did arrive back in San Pedro an hour+ late on that Sunday morning. We have been home almost 2 weeks and cannot believe it and that your cruise is almost over too...they do go by so quickly..so enjoy every last minute!!!

Safe travels home for everyone.

[Elua]

I must say, this has been a very nice live thread....thanks for taking the time to do it. It's always very interesting for me to get people's reactions on their cruises, both the positive, and even some of the not positives...although there always seems to be more positive then not. For Leialoha and myself, it gives us some nice ideas of what we can do to make our guests experience that much better, in whatever way we can. we have had some nice ideas presented in the past, and I'm sure will continue to glean some good ideas and perspectives.

 

Aloha No,

Dave

Elua

[flamomo]

Our itinerary says that we are scheduled to be in Ensenada (on 3/27) from 1 PM till 8 PM.

 

Vada, are you scheduled for a shorter stop? I was surprised to read your post saying you'd only be there a few hours. Or did you mean you would only be off the ship and into Ensenada for a few hours, and then spend the remaining time onboard?

 

Overall, I am less than enthused about Ensenada, because we were underimpressed when we stopped there a couple of years ago. Might just check out the straw market on the pier, and go back on the ship this time. That way we can finish packing, and have a relaxing last evening onboard.

[Murrah Miss]

We have been home almost 2 weeks and cannot believe it and that your cruise is almost over too...they do go by so quickly..so enjoy every last minute!!!

Safe travels home for everyone.

 

We leave on Sunday on the Golden and I'm ALREADY sad about leaving the ship on 3/28! :o

[Kruising Katt]

Don't worry Murrah Miss, we're boarding the Golden on the 28th and will take good care of the ship.:) Have a great cruise.

 

 

Alan and Karen

[MTJSR]

Friday, 3pm

 

The seas are just smooth as can be today. Hardly know we are on the water. I watched the filming of the Wake Show Live today in the vista lounge. It will be aired tomorrow morning and had a very funny comedian plus Dave & Lealoha came by. To close Dave and David Cole played the Ukulele and sang. Quite good I might add. We just passed a Celebrity cruise ship (name unknown) so we must be getting close to something. We had the pub lunch in the crown grill today. First time trying it, very good. Then we watched the Princess fear factor challenge in the piazza. Very funny!

 

Got back to my cabin and the phone was ringing. Answered it and it was David Cole the cruise director inviting us to meet with the captain at 5pm in the bar next to the International Cafe. He wished to talk to us as we put on the Cruise Critic meet & greet. The Captain is a member and reads everything we post. Hopefully I do not end up in the brig for giving away too many secrets.

 

Tonight is our last formal. Tomorrow Ensenada and then the words you wanted to hear......It's your turn.

 

A little bit more later!

 

Mark

[cruisingready]

Super great posts of your cruise. looking forward to your pictures and can't wait till it's our turn(4 weeks)

[NotWthOutablcony]

Wow! Can't wait to hear what the want to talk to you about!!!:confused::D

[Murrah Miss]

Don't worry Murrah Miss, we're boarding the Golden on the 28th and will take good care of the ship.:) Have a great cruise.

 

 

Alan and Karen

 

Thanks, Katt! We are New Orleans bound in the AM, arriving in LA in the PM! Can't wait!! We will wave to you when we are coming off on 3/28 :( but wishing you a happy cruise then! :)

[MTJSR]

Friday, 8pm

 

Precious is about to show on the TV's in our staterooms. We have been warned that it contains street language. Well I know I can handle it, but I don't know about the over 80 crowd. We might see medivac's hovering later tonight.

 

My aunt (judy) set up the meet & greet with Princess (on behalf of the roll call) and was therefore the main contact (we shared a stateroom). Earlier I mentioned that David Cole called our stateroom and invited us to meet with the Captain and talk. We met at 5pm with both he and the Hotel Manager. Both were very nice. The Captain has a very good sense of humor. The bottom line is they both wanted to make sure the cruise critic group had a good time and an opportunity to tell them directly if Princess fell short in any way. We indicated that we have had a fantastic time and additionally named who we felt made a huge difference for us this trip. We did not speak for others, but honestly have not heard one major complaint. I thought it was nice they both took the time to meet face to face and subject themselves to an open review like that. All staff onboard this ship have done such an excellent job overall, I cannot think of one thing big enough worth mentioning in a negative light.

 

Earlier I mentioned we passed a Celebrity cruise ship. It was actually a Holland America cruise ship. I assume it was the one that left San Diego yesterday for Hawaii. It passed within about one mile. We all waved!

 

Tonight was baked alaska and lobster night. Both were very good. Today we were warned about the risk of drinking grain alcohol in Ensenada tomorrow. I guess they use it pretty heavily in their mixed drinks. One drink equals 4 in alcohol level.

 

More later!

 

Mark

[Cruisin' Chick]

Our itinerary says that we are scheduled to be in Ensenada (on 3/27) from 1 PM till 8 PM.

 

Vada, are you scheduled for a shorter stop? I was surprised to read your post saying you'd only be there a few hours. Or did you mean you would only be off the ship and into Ensenada for a few hours, and then spend the remaining time onboard?

 

Overall, I am less than enthused about Ensenada, because we were underimpressed when we stopped there a couple of years ago. Might just check out the straw market on the pier, and go back on the ship this time. That way we can finish packing, and have a relaxing last evening onboard.

 

After that big dustup with NCL trying to make the PVSA more stringent, Princess and Holland have to spend more time (like six or eight hours) in Ensenada. We were supposed to be there for an hour in 2006, but because we had to skip Kona, we had the "pleasure" of being there for several hours. I think about 80 per cent of our ship stayed onboard. We got off long enough to go to that crappy marketplace so hubby could buy a trinket for his mother and for us to take photos of our ship. We got back on the ship and headed for the pool. Can you tell I'm not fond of that port?

[senior lady]

when we docked in Esenada on our Hawaii cruise a couple of yrs ago, we did the "winery and city tour" that Princess offered. It wasn't very expensive and we had a very enjoyable time. I was very impressed with the port