What is the International Cafe?

[bjcanady]

A few of the treats that await you...and don't forget to try the breakfast sandwiches in the morning...

 

but the greatest treat in the International Cafe on the Emerald is the evening server, his name is Abdul and he is a real sweetheart.

[cs4225]

Fresh baked warm chocolate chip cookies and milk. Food highlight from my Golden Princess cruise. Just happen to pick up a cookie and a girl was there with a tray passing out glasses of milk.

[kymbakitty]

I get to try all of that in January!! Looks wonderful!!!:) I have been on 6 Princess cruises, and this is the first time there will be an International Cafe on my ship!

 

We've been on the Diamond, Dawn, Grand and soon the Emerald and the Star and we've never experienced it either! I can't wait.

 

The shellfish will make my DH a little nervous (sometimes they mix the spoons in the different salads and if you are allergic to shellfish--watch out!)....but he will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the deserts!

 

I wonder if this is such a nice treat that you tend to shy away from ships that don't have them on future cruises? I know that sounds ridiculous, but people are that way with casinos so who knows.

 

:)

[Colo Cruiser]

I'm going to be the voice of dissent and probably get flamed, but I would never get annoyed with someone sitting and talking or reading a book at the IC. IMHO that's a place to meet and talk or just take a break. Granted, in the morning it's pretty crowded with people grabbing a fast bite, but that still doesn't mean that people have to jump up and leave the minute they're done eating. However, to be honest, my room was on the same deck as the IC, so I'd grab something and bring it back to the cabin to eat while I got ready for the day. I LOVE THE IC! In fact, I love the entire Piazza area.

 

 

I hear what you are saying!

Try an Alaska cruise and attempting to find a seat to "Eat" in the forward facing HC on the Island/Coral Princess while in Glacier Bay/College Fjord. :mad:

[atlasali]

On early port days, a fresh egg, ham, & cheese on English muffin breakfast sandwich is great.

 

That shrimp salad pictured is tasty.

 

Coming back on board and having a warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk handed to you.

[milamber]

I *assume* that since there isn't a IC on the Dawn, there the same holds true for the Sea Princes since they are sister ships...?????

 

No there isn't, sadly.

 

I noticed from another post that you are on the Panama Canal cruise on 9 October. We have an active and very friendly roll call for this cruise which you would be very welcome to join;)

 

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com....php?t=1068733

 

Chris & Julie

[dlbutler5]

We are going on Princess for the first time this November. The IC sounds great. As far as folks sitting around after eating, that bugs me at all food places land and sea. You are there to eat and get out. If you want to socialize go somewhere else like a lounge or on deck.

[Coral]

The chicken Waldorf salad is to die for; there are small tuna salad sandwiches and they mix chopped pimento in for a unique flavor. At breakfast, you can get an egg/ham/cheese on a muffin that's quite tasty. My one negative comment about the IC is that they need more chairs placed around the Atrium. Some days, it took up to 45 minutes for a chair because people were saving them for others with a book or a bag. Often, the person wouldn't show up for an hour. They need to better educate passengers on not being a chair hog.

 

Pam - we ran into the same problems except people were in the chairs constantly - not saving them. We could never get a seat anywhere near the IC (in the atrium area, in Vines, pattisere, etc..). It was frustrating as we would have to get the food and then go back to our room to eat it.

[pmck]

Take a look here.....

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1274872&highlight=international+cafe

 

This is our 5th Princess cruise as well and we have never stopped by the International Cafe either!! What were we thinking:confused:..??? This time we are actually staying on the Plaza Deck, so we wll be too close not to check it out.. Looking forward to it...

 

Patti

[caribill]

We are going on Princess for the first time this November. The IC sounds great. As far as folks sitting around after eating, that bugs me at all food places land and sea. You are there to eat and get out. If you want to socialize go somewhere else like a lounge or on deck.

 

The seating in the atrium was there before the International Cafe was invented.

 

It was there so people could relax, read a book, etc.

 

In more recent years, the addition of the IC was also accompanied by the introduction of entertainment at various times in the atrium, another reason to be seated there.

 

In other words, it is not dedicated seating for IC use, but seating with a dual purpose.

[nho9504]

When the IC was first introduced, there were some free and some cost items offered.

 

Sometime last year they switched to all free (except for Gelato). However, some of the cost items were no longer offered then.

 

I think they caused a lot of confusion when they had both free and cost items. People got upset when they found out some items cost, or they did not want it any more once they were asked for their cards.

 

Coffee and Tea are still cost items, ain't they? The coffee card to us is a great deal because of the free brew coffee and regular tea. One card could last us 3 cruises as we are not much into specialty coffee but we are regular coffee drinkers.

[caribill]

I think they caused a lot of confusion when they had both free and cost items. People got upset when they found out some items cost, or they did not want it any more once they were asked for their cards.

 

Coffee and Tea are still cost items, ain't they? The coffee card to us is a great deal because of the free brew coffee and regular tea. One card could last us 3 cruises as we are not much into specialty coffee but we are regular coffee drinkers.

 

Yes, coffee and tea still cost, but they are at the bar section of the IC, not the food section.

 

I suspect the main reason for eliminating the cost items was that they were not selling well. Just how many candied apples did you ever see being eaten onboard?

[nho9504]

My one negative comment about the IC is that they need more chairs placed around the Atrium. Some days, it took up to 45 minutes for a chair because people were saving them for others with a book or a bag. Often, the person wouldn't show up for an hour. They need to better educate passengers on not being a chair hog.

 

What's a short walk from the IC? Also, I'd rather not carry a plate of food all over the ship. Plus, I could sit on the planter but it's not nearly as comfortable as the chairs. Not to mention that it didn't occur to me that people would be so rude. I expected them to be aware of others who might want to sit down and eat. Silly me.

 

Pam - we ran into the same problems except people were in the chairs constantly - not saving them. We could never get a seat anywhere near the IC (in the atrium area, in Vines, pattisere, etc..). It was frustrating as we would have to get the food and then go back to our room to eat it.

 

I wholeheartedly agree on your sentiment. My husband was annoyed to no end during the Crown sailing this past Feb that people were just sitting there, right in the middle of the area, playing cards or reading books while many passengers holding plates of foods trying to find a place to sit down for a bite. Those bistro-style tables are geared for the eating and short-break purpose in my opinion, not for playing cards or emerging yourself in a book. I guess we also are silly to expect people display some common courtesy by not occupying the tables prolongly when it is so obvious that many other passengers trying to find a place to sit down for a bite. I guess they think they are in Starbuck where is about the only eatery place I would see people have similar behaviors.

[hollon]

any chances it will be on the diamond princess during drydock

[Coral]

Yes, coffee and tea still cost, but they are at the bar section of the IC, not the food section.

 

I suspect the main reason for eliminating the cost items was that they were not selling well. Just how many candied apples did you ever see being eaten onboard?

 

I would have liked to try the fondue! It was gone when I got on a ship with an IC. They did have food on skewers they were charging for at that time. It wasn't selling well. It looked good.

 

While I was frustrated many times for not being able to find a seat on the Crown in order to sit down and eat, I had friends on the same sailing that couldn't find a place to play cards. They were as frustrated as we were.

[Coral]

Yes, coffee and tea still cost, but they are at the bar section of the IC, not the food section.

 

I suspect the main reason for eliminating the cost items was that they were not selling well. Just how many candied apples did you ever see being eaten onboard?

 

I agree with you.

 

Though, they still sell gelato there (my guess is this is popular).

[nho9504]

While I was frustrated many times for not being able to find a seat on the Crown in order to sit down and eat, I had friends on the same sailing that couldn't find a place to play cards. They were as frustrated as we were.

 

I have seen people play cards in the closed section of Horizon, by the pool, and even in the pubs.

[caribill]

any chances it will be on the diamond princess during drydock

 

Originally scheduled to be, but now thought not to be included.

[Coral]

I have seen people play cards in the closed section of Horizon, by the pool, and even in the pubs.

 

On our cruise - it was quite chilly. The pubs were loud and full, the pool area was not usable due to cold and winds and they eventually did use the Horizon Court at night (during the day didn't work).

[cruiseron36]

I agree with you.

 

Though, they still sell gelato there (my guess is this is popular).

 

The gelato is my favorite, unfortunately, it is not available on all the shipa with the IC. I think there are only 3 or 4 with the IC that have it. I don't think they are including it on the conversions.

[popspansy]

So I guess there wont be one on the Sun Princess either...what a tragedy!!

[Coral]

The gelato is my favorite, unfortunately, it is not available on all the shipa with the IC. I think there are only 3 or 4 with the IC that have it. I don't think they are including it on the conversions.

 

So I guess there wont be one on the Sun Princess either...what a tragedy!!

 

My next few ships I am on won't have the IC on them either.