Julie reporting Live from the Grand

[love2bonboard]

We are leaving today to fly to FLL. We had debated quite a bit about cabin selection on this cruise. We couldn't decide if we wanted to upgrade to a balcony or buy more art. Well, we took a third option (as suggested on this board) and did not upgrade, will not buy art, rather we decided to spend the money on booking a Panama Canal cruise in November :D. Getting to the point...yesterday I got a phone call from a Princess rep saying we got a free upgrade from an inside cabin to an oceanview cabin (P329). This will be our first oceanview so I will keep you posted on the pros/cons. We typically like inside cabins because they are quiet and they are nice and dark in the morning. Of course a balcony would be our first choice, but we like to be frugal and it puts more money into our retirement accounts. Anyway, this upgrade puts us right behind the art gallery...hum...think they put us there on purpose???:rolleyes: So, we are excited as we like the location of the cabin. I am a little nervous as the casino is right above us, but I will let you know if it is noisy. Anyway, we are finishing packing and looking forward to getting into FLL tonight. I will keep posting on the ports, service, food, entertainment, MUTS, casino luck or not, and so on. I will try and answer some questions if you have them. Nothing beats the thrill of the day before boarding!!!

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for posting live.

You will love the Plaza deck outside cabin.

Its real quiet and close to the Piazza. Don't think the casino will be an issue.

Enjoy! :)

[jfv379]

Congrats on the upgrade and enjoy your cruise.

 

Just think "will power" about being that close to all that art work.

 

Good choice on booking the second cruise.

[paul929207]

Thanks for the Live Post. Have a great cruise.

[12Cruise]

Thanks for the Live post and we look forward to more! :)

 

I also prefer Inside cabins for the quietness, darkness, etc. We normally get an Inside, or a balcony if the price is right or the itinerary is extra special, or we are having a special occasion. I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts on your Outside cabin.

 

Bon Voyage!

[love2bonboard]

I made it here. We flew in last night and stayed at the Marriott Residence Inn in Dania. It is a very nice hotel. We used Marriott points, so it was free. The had a shuttle to the cruise port for only $8.00pp. We got to the cruise port (12:30) and from the time we got out of the shuttle to our cabin was less than 30 minutes. The room is nice although they NEVER get our request for two single beds vs. one queen size. So, I had to do my ritual removal of the bed linens and seperated the bed. I don't know why they just never get it right. We like to have the beds seperated so that we have more space right in the middle of the room. The bed linens were badly stained. All of these are very minor things for us...I'm just waiting for the 1st room steward to get our beds right and I will slap a $20.00 bill on him :D. We had to walk through the art gallery to get to the room...hmm so many temptations. Anyway, we are very excited to be back on the Grand. Looking forward to a great time. We are going to lunch now. I will keep you posted.

[Colo Cruiser]

We usually have to ask for the beds to be changed too.

About the sheets, thats nasty and unacceptable to me and surely would not warrant extra$$$ this early in the cruise. But everyone handles the tip thing differently. ;)

 

Have a great time.

[mississauga]

The bed linens were badly stained. All of these are very minor things for us...I'm just waiting for the 1st room steward to get our beds right and I will slap a $20.00 bill on him :D.

 

 

:confused: I'm confused. Why would you reward the room steward for putting the stained bed linens on the beds? He's probably the one who made the beds or didn't re-make the beds with fresh linen.

 

Enjoy your cruise and thanks for the Live.

[DKNYC]

All of these are very minor things for us...I'm just waiting for the 1st room steward to get our beds right and I will slap a $20.00 bill on him :D. Looking forward to a great time. We are going to lunch now. I will keep you posted.

 

Thanks for posting this live thread. I will be on the Transatlantic on April 9th.

 

The way I read the $20 tip thing is like this:

They are waiting for some steward on some future cruise to get the beds configured correctly...That's the one who gets the $20 :D

 

Denise

[lovevacadays]

Thanks for posting this live thread. I will be on the Transatlantic on April 9th.

 

The way I read the $20 tip thing is like this:

They are waiting for some steward on some future cruise to get the beds configured correctly...That's the one who gets the $20 :D

 

Denise

 

Yeah, I read it that way too.

[mississauga]

 

The way I read the $20 tip thing is like this:

They are waiting for some steward on some future cruise to get the beds configured correctly...That's the one who gets the $20 :D

 

Denise

 

 

You're Denise! I guess I read the sentence too fast and misinterpreted it :p:eek:

[love2bonboard]

Yes, I meant the first room steward on any upcoming cruise who finally gets the room arrangement right will get a $20.00. Our current room steward came in and gave us new sheets...a very nice guy. I told him the previous sheets and mattress cover both had blood stains. Next, our safe broke down. I had to wait around for the person to come and fix it...ugh. Lastly, I would like some help from you..in our safe a cell phone and car keys were left kind of hidden under the little ledge. I cannot call the number (the person has it written on the cell phone) and I would like someone to call them and ask them if they want me to mail the items to them when I get home, or if they want me to turn it into the service desk (which I'm afraid will never get back to the person who left it behind). Anyway, can someone call 240 281 0545 and leave a message (hopefully the person can still check his messages even though I have the phone) and please ask him to contact me via this thread to tell me what to do. I am in P329, so I assume it was the person on the cruise just prior to me. I would appreciate your help. Please post a thread reply to this if you can help. Anyway, back to the cruise. I just lost $65.00 in the casino fast, so I think I'm done w/ that. The crusie sail away featured a live band and was a lot of fun. Tonight my husband ate at the seafood buffet (I don't eat any seafood) and he said it was very good. I had a hamburger and fries (my favorite on Princess). The feature on Muts tonight is, It's Raining Meatballs, a very cute cartoon. They have a pre-dinner snacks and discounted cocktails for platinum and above members every night of this cruise. We didn't go tonight, but will go to the one tomorrow. We are really enjoying ourselves. That is all for now. I will check in tomorrow. Thanks in advance to whomever calls that person for me regarding their phone and car keys.

Julie

[love2bonboard]

It is Saturday, our first sea day. We had a great night of sleep, the room was extremely quiet. No noise from the Casino above us at all. The captain on the ship is Captain Anthony Herriott. Todays activities include (for us) a diamond and exotic gemstone event, jackpot (which is the same time as the Meet and Greet), Pub Lunch, Champagne art auction (yes, we are going to go, just not buy anything), Afternoon tea. MUTS has a lot of concert series by day...Elton john, Barry Manilow, Tina Turner. Tonight is NCAA Play off games and a movie, "500 Days of Summer". Todays drink special is a Raspberry Mojito for $6.75...might try that one! I haven't heard anything about the "Happy hour" drink special that the previous cruisers were offered on this last cruise. Tonights entertainment is the newest show, "Stardust" and a comedian, Jim Mcdonald. Of course the champagne waterfall party is tonight, as well. That is the update.

[love2bonboard]

BTW, if anyone gets a chance to call that phone number from the person who left behind the cell phone and car keys...would you have him email me at mjfeaster @ yahoo dot com so they can tell me what to do w/ them. I'm worried if I turn them into the service desk that the people will never get their items back. I will be happy to mail it to them myself.

[nceyeguy]

Julie, thank you for the "live from" info. I know there is no "real" International cafe, but is there a place to get regular ground coffee and specialty ones on the Grand? We can live without the sandwiches and salads, just not the coffee.

[billco]

Don't be so sure the Passenger Services Desk won't do the right thing.

 

Last year on the Emerald Princess, I reported to the Passenger Services Desk that I had left a GPS device on a tour bus in Belgium. That evening there was an envelope in my room with the GPS.

[Putterdude]

Thanks for your posts, I assume you are doing the Caribbean Collection which what we did in January and enjoyed it a great deal. I look forward to your posts.:)

[nerysj]

Yes, I meant the first room steward on any upcoming cruise who finally gets the room arrangement right will get a $20.00. Our current room steward came in and gave us new sheets...a very nice guy. I told him the previous sheets and mattress cover both had blood stains. Next, our safe broke down. I had to wait around for the person to come and fix it...ugh. Lastly, I would like some help from you..in our safe a cell phone and car keys were left kind of hidden under the little ledge. I cannot call the number (the person has it written on the cell phone) and I would like someone to call them and ask them if they want me to mail the items to them when I get home, or if they want me to turn it into the service desk (which I'm afraid will never get back to the person who left it behind). Anyway, can someone call 240 281 0545 and leave a message (hopefully the person can still check his messages even though I have the phone) and please ask him to contact me via this thread to tell me what to do. I am in P329, so I assume it was the person on the cruise just prior to me. I would appreciate your help. Please post a thread reply to this if you can help. Anyway, back to the cruise. I just lost $65.00 in the casino fast, so I think I'm done w/ that. The crusie sail away featured a live band and was a lot of fun. Tonight my husband ate at the seafood buffet (I don't eat any seafood) and he said it was very good. I had a hamburger and fries (my favorite on Princess). The feature on Muts tonight is, It's Raining Meatballs, a very cute cartoon. They have a pre-dinner snacks and discounted cocktails for platinum and above members every night of this cruise. We didn't go tonight, but will go to the one tomorrow. We are really enjoying ourselves. That is all for now. I will check in tomorrow. Thanks in advance to whomever calls that person for me regarding their phone and car keys.

Julie

 

Is the phone active? Better to ring a number from the phone and ask them to contact the owner who could ring you on your cell phone? There could be a 'mom' or 'dad' contact on the phone that you could ring? Just a thought?

 

How is the Grand looking....is it in good shape? So many negatives recently regarding its state of repair.

 

Enjoy!

[angyl]

I tried to call that number but the voice mailbox was not set up yet. After you get back dial some of the numbers in there and "reach a friend" or family member. There are websites and facebook pages dedicated to missing items and I will at least try to find out information or look for someone posting they lost these items.

[lovevacadays]

I tried to call that number but the voice mailbox was not set up yet. After you get back dial some of the numbers in there and "reach a friend" or family member. There are websites and facebook pages dedicated to missing items and I will at least try to find out information or look for someone posting they lost these items.

 

If you are concerned about just walking up to the passenger services desk and handing over these items perhaps ask for the Passenger Services Manager or I think they have what's called a Hotel Manager. They will the ability to get contact information and get the items in the hands of the original owners.

[AFT_LOVER]

and I get a recording that the person has not set up his voicemail as yet. So I guess you will give it to lost & found or at least the Purser, to return to the person who left it.

 

 

Yes, I meant the first room steward on any upcoming cruise who finally gets the room arrangement right will get a $20.00. Our current room steward came in and gave us new sheets...a very nice guy. I told him the previous sheets and mattress cover both had blood stains. Next, our safe broke down. I had to wait around for the person to come and fix it...ugh. Lastly, I would like some help from you..in our safe a cell phone and car keys were left kind of hidden under the little ledge. I cannot call the number (the person has it written on the cell phone) and I would like someone to call them and ask them if they want me to mail the items to them when I get home, or if they want me to turn it into the service desk (which I'm afraid will never get back to the person who left it behind). Anyway, can someone call 240 281 0545 and leave a message (hopefully the person can still check his messages even though I have the phone) and please ask him to contact me via this thread to tell me what to do. I am in P329, so I assume it was the person on the cruise just prior to me. I would appreciate your help. Please post a thread reply to this if you can help. Anyway, back to the cruise. I just lost $65.00 in the casino fast, so I think I'm done w/ that. The crusie sail away featured a live band and was a lot of fun. Tonight my husband ate at the seafood buffet (I don't eat any seafood) and he said it was very good. I had a hamburger and fries (my favorite on Princess). The feature on Muts tonight is, It's Raining Meatballs, a very cute cartoon. They have a pre-dinner snacks and discounted cocktails for platinum and above members every night of this cruise. We didn't go tonight, but will go to the one tomorrow. We are really enjoying ourselves. That is all for now. I will check in tomorrow. Thanks in advance to whomever calls that person for me regarding their phone and car keys.

Julie

[sk8terchick]

Hi julie:)

Have a great cruise...we just got off The Grand on the 26th. Just an FYI WASH YOUR HANDS often, we had 59 cases of Noro-Virus on our trip. We kept our hands cleaned and sanitized before,during and after we ate:)

Keep health and have a wonderful cruise...we did:D

[sk8terchick]

Hi Julie:)

Have a great cruise...we just got off The Grand on the 26th. Just an FYI WASH YOUR HANDS often, we had 59 cases of Noro-Virus on our trip. We kept our hands cleaned and sanitized before,during and after we ate:)

Keep healthy and have a wonderful cruise...we did:D

[DKNYC]

Don't be so sure the Passenger Services Desk won't do the right thing.

 

Last year on the Emerald Princess, I reported to the Passenger Services Desk that I had left a GPS device on a tour bus in Belgium. That evening there was an envelope in my room with the GPS.

 

Plus, as posted earlier they would be able to contact the prior resident of love2bonboard's cabin very quickly.

 

I hope the movie "500 Days of Summer" is still playing on our cruise. I wanted to see it.:)

Denise

[Yo Eleven]

This posting live thing rocks!

I love it. What caught my eyes was your experience in the casino.

I would like to hear more details about your 65 dollars. Thanks!

Maybe I can help you make some of it back! :D