Live from Crown 4/24-5/1/2010

[Grannycb]

Thanks for posting live. I look forward to reading more.

[choochella]

We just got off on the 24th. I just love the Crown. Look for Ronnie in the International Cafe. aka, Cookie Monster. He was in the International Crew show and was great! I even got a formal "happy birthday" song from him!

[AFT_LOVER]

quite funny that we had to either get off the ship at 7:30AM or wait an hour for Carnival to dock, since they were removing our lines an then replacing both ship's lines & it is Legend not a big guy, Celebrity Soltice, and another Carnival ship way back behind Soltice that is unknown.

 

Shows are pretty petty, MUTS has Up, Nine, Avatar & Blindside with 4 concerts. So today we are off MUTS. A hyponist is in the theatre at 7PM, a juggler is in a lounge if not under the stairs as he was yesterday. We had the martini mix party with 4 bartenders who dance with bottles dropping them also. People next to us got blue ones.

 

It was confirmed this morning that we survived the 106 temp in Routan & many were treated for heat exhaustion. We are bright RED today even after spraying ourselves with USF 15 Bull Frog. I hit the pool to cool off and then layed on the web boundry as did Jerry so that is when we toasted. He had chills last night but we both slept 12 hours. So that bed is comfy in C522.

 

Today we had a strange lunch. I had a beef roulade that was hamburger wrapped in thick fat. So I cut it into 4 & stripped it to just eat the meat. Roast potatoes with it. Jerry had roast beef sandwich that was covered in horseradish. Folks next to us had it also & pulled the meat out of the bun to eat it. The Mozarella sticks were great Jerry said since they are breaded with rye flour. A great taste. Desert was Strawberry daquiri ice cream & I had a frozen chocolate mousse call a Chocolate Clarrisse.

 

3 days after my BD I got my cake last ight. Jerry snapped a photo so you can see the glass size cake of chocolate mousse, cake wrapped in Princess logo chocolate. One person serving.

 

We hit Diamonds International after a 2 kt diamond tennis bracelet Jerry got me for our 30th anniversary broke. It just fell off my arm & he found it in the carpet. So it went into the case, in the luggage to go back to them. No one in Grand Caymen would change it or fix it, in fact they wanted $1400 for a 3 kt. I told them $1400 for a 4 kt was the price in Deceber when we bought this. Then Routan took a needle nose plier to it & called it fixed. It fell off as we walked for drinks. So back to the room to put it back in its box. So in Cozmel the manager of the stoore took it, promised to have it like new since he saw the mistakes in it. 2 hours later, as it was pouring outside and not too many stores to visit, so we went back to the store, sat on their sofas, they served us Pepsi Light tha read CERO CALORIES. Not Zero! Very nice treatment and when it was done they brought it out, showed us the difference, he laughed as I counted my 49 stones but stated I now jewelry. It is polished also and the shine is incredible, SPARKLE CITY! Then he asked me to take it off, I can't & that is good ince a jewler should remove it to clean it. He told us lotion can get trapped in jewelry making the connection not tight. So clean it monthly he told me, so my warranty will be good since it is stamped by the jeweler.

 

Sea Day Tomorrow.......

[Rala]

How are the ports...what have you seen of interest? I am considering a cruise that includes some of the ports you are visiting.

 

Wow, that was a lot of information about your tennis bracelet...glad you got it fixed!

[AFT_LOVER]

Hot stone message for both of us comps of the spa as models for a tour group. It was heaven! $179 for 50 minutes is the price.

 

They featured Eggs Benedict today, tho I have had it daily & it is not on the menu, just ask for it. Papaya & melons also with half a grapefruit.

 

Then we did a champagne art auction & they had a pice for $8.15 but someone beat me to it & I got $10, so I took it "Gabriela & Amelia". Princess frames it for free but $70 shipping (Fed Ex). Then I win a drawing for "Final Preparation" (2 ballerinas fitting each other) & it will march Annabella that I won on Norwegian, so it is becoming a joke.

 

Then Wheelhouse had a pub lunch fior free. Irish menu with fish & chips, Steak & Kidney pie & Currey chicken. And as we walk on 7 the Matre D of DaVinci's yells that we are late for lunch, so we go there too for salad & the swan on a lake Princess desert.

 

Then we have Captain Nic talking in the Atrium, he is on vacation in September & is hearing he is going to Sapphire. Folks were shocked.

 

So I am going to shampoo my hair & walk promenade to dry it then bed. Tomorrow is Princess Cays, then back to Cleveland & reality.

[AlaskaGolden]

...Then we have Captain Nic talking in the Atrium, he is on vacation in September & is hearing he is going to Sapphire. Folks were shocked...

 

Any idea when in September Captain Nic goes on vacation? Before or after the transatlantic?

[A1A]

Hey Aft-Lover!

I have been enjoying your posts and living vicariously throuh them! I am recently off the Ruby March 20-30, but did drop off my parents, Jane and Lou, from West Palm Beach, (PH Aft) for your cruise last week and will be there Saturday to pick them up. Next cruise we will get them actively involved on Cruise Critic, and sorry we did not for this cruise! We have been watching the weather and hope there was no adverse effects and eveything went well! Still havn't heard from Mom and Dad but it sounds as though everything went well. Enjoy Princess Cays and we will see you on Saturday for pick-up!

Ken!

[Pythian]

Hey – We (my DH, and about 12 other CC members) had a GREAT Cruise. Roatan was indeed 106 degrees (hotter in the sun) but was wonderful. As for the promenade café (coffee bar and vines) -- WOW!!!! Ronnie and Amy are the BEST!

 

For those sailing in the near future, the dining rooms were great, the food was quite good. They had excellent Escargot and I we got it on the table 4 times because we asked. Also got a huge patter for calamari to share! We did the Chefs Table for the first time, and it was WONDERFUL.

 

This ship is fun (well, some of the piano players were not on my top list) and the CD is entertaining. Would we sail her again? YES. Oh, and we had an Aft balcony suite that was fabulous. We could keep the slider open all night and only heard the sweet sound of the wake. And our balcony mates were super fun.

 

Also, for those sailing, the photo crew was really good, and the spa was quite nice. We also has the CD, hotel Mgr, and a few others at our M&G… very nice…. – and if she is reading – Cathy and Lou were some of the best folks we have ever run into on-board (we include VB1 in this small group… and a couple Nationals fans too……).

 

If you are booked in the near future, you are gonna have FUN! Promise…. A 99 out of 100 (and we have sailed Princess 10 times….)

 

Dan

[arnold03]

Hot & humid in Grand Cayman, but so beautiful and great people to enjoy here. Carnival Dream is the other ship but tomorrow 11 ships!

 

Woke to the Captain announcing a fire in the galley smoke was on lower floors but everyone stay in your staterooms & many are asleep but we thought we would wake you to tell you it is under control. If you smell moke it will go away with the fans on all the floors.

 

Dinner last night at Sabatini's for my BD. fabulous food and very entertaining with the use of 2 forks to serve or a fork & a spoon for pasta. You oder you main corse, I had lobster (no extra charge) & Jerry had scallops with sea weed. Before they serve 10 side dishes, 3 I did not want. Great taste of good Italian food, then you get soup & a salad. Then the sun was going down & the sea was a mirror with the light coming thruu the windows, so they loved us to finish dinner since the curtain are fake & do not go down. Burlee & Tirimisu for desert bu tmy NBD cake never showed, still not today either.

 

Just had lunch at Divinci's which has become our dining room with a great Matre D, and waiters that are fast with the food. Lamb with New England Clam Chowder & oyster crackers for me, Jerry had Chicken Parmigan & a great salad with various greens. The lady next to us added a burger to hers with olive oil & balsamic vinegar.

 

But Satuday night we dined at Michalangelo & we both had the pina colada but dinner was 45 minutes to serve us Prime rib. So they shot themselves in the foot for bad service.

 

Shows are pretty boring with a Cole Porter show last night & tonite, so far no idea what else but MUTS had folks dancing to a Tina Turner concert at 2PM, Cirque Du Soleil followed but watching while laying in the sun drains the colors out. So we agreed with many that night shows win.

 

$2.99 drinks after 8PM and served at all bars but not in restaurants, casino, or poolside. The greatest bartender is CHRIS at the pool bar.

Massimino, the Matre D is the baby sitter of the year with babies he serves as well as making sure everyone is delighted at dinner, lunch and even breakfast. Egg Benedict is not on the menu but they makke it & very well I will add.

We were on this cruise as well. I agree about the great food and service in DaVinci's dining room. All of the servers and staff were friendly and quick. We also recieved very slow service in Michelangelo dining room on our second night so we stuck with DaVinci's and were very pleased with the experience.

[moyaroo]

 

The personal invite that you are talking about. Was this a private party with you and the Captain (We have been to a couple of these, great food and service) or the Captains Circle repeat passenger cocktail party where around 75% of the passengers are invited?

 

It would have been the repeaters party at 5:30. The most traveled passenger lunch was also that day but at noon.

 

Regarding the temps, Roatan was HOT Cozumel the next day with occasional rain was quite pleasant.

 

Mahogany Bay is an interesting place. I saw it from the hills a few years ago before the development and although I recognized the shapes . . .

It is quite deceptive and I can see why people don't think it is a big deal after all the channel isn't more than 100 yards or so, it is tight with obviously shallow water on both sides. One gets the impression that heavy use of the thrusters would actually just draw a lot of muck from the side and make the passage that much worse - it is that narrow. I don't think that there is an evil purpose here or incompetent design. They wanted an alternative to the industrial pier and this is what was a best case compromise. If there were a better solution, Carnival would have gone for it.

 

Though I could do without the ubiquitous DI TI Fat Tuesday etc, the beach was quite nicely laid out and at a walkable distance from the ship. like Grand Turk no local color, but for tourism purposes quite nice. Read hated the stores loved the access to the beach.

 

Just back myself. Wish I were still aboard!

[A&L_Ont]

– and if she is reading – Cathy and Lou were some of the best folks we have ever run into on-board

 

We too agree with you. We met them last fall on our roll call and on the cruise. I would definitly cruise with them again.

 

Andrew and Lisa

[Coral]

 

I googled temperature in Roatan and it seems that it's in the 90s. With the high humidity the "feels like" temperature is 100+, so maybe that's what the OP is referring to.

 

I checked a couple of sites also and it had the high that day at 90 or 91 with the maximum humidity at 88% (average was 70% that day).

[Pythian]

Hummm. I've lived in Saudi Arabia and Singapore, and the temp seemed a lot hotter than 90 or 91, but who's to say? I'd have placed it at 100 - but accepted the 106 as reported on-board the ship from the bridge - maybe they took a on-deck in the sun reading. In any case, it was pretty hot. On the port itself, it was really impressive watching the ship back into the channel - as it was very tight, and quite long. I can see how the ship got stuck for a while due to high winds a while back - a few meters each way and you are aground.

[Coolmama_1]

I checked a couple of sites also and it had the high that day at 90 or 91 with the maximum humidity at 88% (average was 70% that day).

 

We were on the ship as well and the report from the bridge was 106! It was also reported to us from the locals. Not sure why those who were not on the cruise feel the need to correct those that were:rolleyes:. At any rate folks, IT WAS HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AFT_LOVER]

Great work with the M&G but it took us an hour to join you on 18 from 15. why no one told us to go AFT to catch an elevator to 18. Never needed to go that high. We took the stairs to 18 and got a lookout perch but no bar......

I had a bad heachse so no casino.

 

Great time on a great ship with a great crew.

 

 

We were on the ship as well and the report from the bridge was 106! It was also reported to us from the locals. Not sure why those who were not on the cruise feel the need to correct those that were:rolleyes:. At any rate folks, IT WAS HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AFT_LOVER]

Grand Cayman is one beautiful place. Captain Marvins in one great company to go snorkling with to 3 areas & then play with his stingrays. 1950 he was a fisherman for restaurants & the movie folks who loved great food. He cleaned his catch & noticed the stingrays coming to eat. So he took the folks out to see them & many went right in the water to feed them. Thus became Captain Marvins & it is the best.

 

Great stores with homemade articles like a Mayan calendar tablecloth, as I ought years ago & it is like new. Not cheap! Clothes are also well made. Visit Diamond Internations for the free charm bracelet & start collecting them. I have 30 charms & still getting new ones.

 

Roatan was boring last December when we cruised NCL Jewel. But with Princess you have Carnival Corp's beach which is 1000 loungers on the beach, some under palm trees. Right hand of the beach is a sand bar that you can walk to the end of the swim area & only be in chin high water, yet middle is straight down about 6 feet out. Peace & quiet, no drunks or the silver salesmen with their cases as in Mexico. Really enjoyed it.

 

Cozumel is the best place for shopping with a store called LE BEST. $4 T-shirts, $2 magnets, $5 caps and other great finds. So I got 3 new charms for my bracelet & a cruiseship for my 31st.

 

Our last day was Princess Cays, but waking us at 1:46AM for another fire in the galley freaked me out. Twice in a week with the Captain called for help from his crew, Princess has an amazing buffet lunch cooked on the BBQ there, fresh fruit bowls to serve yourself. The beach was rocky as you try to walk out and the water was colder than Roatan. On the right was a huge rick wall laying in the water that folks were slipping on entering the water think it was sand. No sea shell either. Snorkelers said they only saw toes which we got a laugh out of. They also have a great T-Shirt for $15. It is written upside down "If you can read this , then pull me onto the boat". Many were wearing them in the water.

 

No Platinum/Elite lounge on a week cruise, so the Purser stated. $2.99 drinks after 8PM are Long Island Ice Tea, Pina Colada & Singapore Sling, beers like Bud lite, and bottom shelf liquor. I ordered a Vodka martini which is a shot & a spit of vermouth, but they stated it was 2 shots so $6. SO I had Vodka on the rocks at Wheelhouse & Explorer. Then I met the Martini Man at a show he did & he poured me a blue one. FREE!

 

At the Art Auction we bought a $15 painting & I won one. Have to check these 2 out at the gallery near us for value. I also got jewelry that is artwork for the guest artist, Eric Waughn, on board all week. He did a painting everyday that folk could watch him work. It sold for $4000 for a charity. They also had a breast cancer walk that raised $95K. $60 for a silk chained necklace that is called MARTINI CITY. Eric ran to his stateroom to get it for me to see when he learned I love martinis. Jerry bought it for my BD present. The chain feels like silk. Everyone on our flight was checking it out since it was different. He autographed the lid of the can that holds it when no worn in a black velvet bag.

 

Funny that we got off at 10AM with half the staff who were on vacation for 3 months after working 5. So we got a free ride with them to the airport. Our steward Edguardo, who we called Ed, was just amazing how he knows when we are gone morning & night. Never need a service or a do not disturb note on the door. No smokers, no one loud, other than 40 staterooms at 4PM last day rooting a drunk guy running for the ship in S formation almost falling into the water, and cheering him on. It was great to hear everyone rooting him on. Then the major applause as he reaches the gangway & he yells DRINKS FOR EVERYONE.

 

The Executive Chef Guiseppe did a culinary show cooking 3 Italian specialties that we didn't get to sample & then we did a tour of the galley. How clean the area is & they win awards for it. Laughed that the desert cooler had a BIG lock on it.

 

But now we are home, sleeping in our own bed was great, & it stormed this morning so we are waiting for the sun to dry it, but it is to storm for 6 hours starting 2 hours. SO in 1 hour I will be out with mower set on highest setting to mulch all the seed I see. I go for high after May but this is over week cut on middle setting.

 

One of the Elite neighbors told us of a S Carib cruise for $299 including air to San Juan. I called my TA on it but it is sold out. So we are ready for another one like it.

 

 

 

 

How are the ports...what have you seen of interest? I am considering a cruise that includes some of the ports you are visiting.

 

Wow, that was a lot of information about your tennis bracelet...glad you got it fixed!

[Coral]

We were on the ship as well and the report from the bridge was 106! It was also reported to us from the locals. Not sure why those who were not on the cruise feel the need to correct those that were:rolleyes:. At any rate folks, IT WAS HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I actually emailed a friend (after checking the sites) in Honduras and she said it hadn't been that hot. So that information came from a local who lives there. Very reliable IMO.

[AFT_LOVER]

he gets off for vacation. Also another cute note: He is a bus driver on a single level bus at home.

 

 

Any idea when in September Captain Nic goes on vacation? Before or after the transatlantic?

[AFT_LOVER]

He is so cute & entertaining & is part of the crew performance at the theatre. What a singer!!!! Get him on American Idol. He sang HB to me also with everyone have a snack at the International Cafe. A chocolate chip cupcake with a candle in it too from a baker.

 

 

We just got off on the 24th. I just love the Crown. Look for Ronnie in the International Cafe. aka, Cookie Monster. He was in the International Crew show and was great! I even got a formal "happy birthday" song from him!

[AFT_LOVER]

The Captain announced it was going to 106 by 2pm. It was great at the beach, the water was like bath water but very clear. Minnows galore were enjoying it too but no dolphins. After the walk back to the ship we went to the adult pool to cool off & the floor was too hot to walk bare foot. So we knew it was cooking folks out there. Medical had many who passed out from heat exhaustion. We drank plenty of the ice water they had there.

 

My husband had the shivers within an hour, so I wrapped him in the bedding to warm up. Got him tea delivered, which was enough for 3 cups. Then he was fine. Noticed folks also shivering with the AC on high as it got cool so we went to bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow is right.

 

I googled temperature in Roatan and it seems that it's in the 90s. With the high humidity the "feels like" temperature is 100+, so maybe that's what the OP is referring to.