Live from Caribbean Princess 12/5-12

[mykidsmom]

look forward to reading your posts as you kept me interested on your first post. have a great week.

[cdamion]

I'm so sorry to bother you, but can you explain to me why you, and others, refer to the Caribbean Princess as the CB??? I haven't been able to figure it out on my own.

 

Don't know if somebody else answered, and I dont want to read all the posts while logged in. CP is used for the Sea Princess. Crown Princess is KP, and Caribbean Princess is CB. They are the codes used by Princess to ID the ships.

[cdamion]

Day 1 - Embarkation

 

 

I woke up early in my futuristic hospital hotel room. I was hoping to sleep in until it was time to go, but I guess I was too eager to get on the ship. I just hung out in my hotel room getting some business taken care of until it was time to go.

 

 

Finally the time arrived and I went down to the lobby to get a taxi to the terminal. I hopped in the back of the van and the driver stood outside waiting, waiting, waiting... I finally asked if we were waiting for somebody else, and he said “there is nobody else? You are going alone?” I told him no and we went on our way. There was some sort of festival by the convention center right near the port plus the Caribbean Princess and Serenade of the Seas were both discharging passengers, so there was a massive traffic jam to get to the port. The cab driver got on his cell phone and started complaining about the mess in Spanish.

 

 

Once I got in the terminal I was there less than 30 minutes before I was in my stateroom. A balcony cabin about 1/3 of the way back on the Aloha deck. I left a note & tip for the room steward, Raymundo, to give me a topsheet and robe. I saw him later and introduced myself. He is very very friendly, looks like he will be quite helpful. I wasnt really paying attention to time, but I was on board right about noon.

 

 

I explored the ship, and design, layout, etc. is definitely right up my alley. Not to knock Carnival, but this understated decor on the ship is very nice. All of the bars, lounges, dining rooms, I wandered through all looked to be in great shape. I think I have probably walked several miles exploring this ship. I am impressed. I can see where some things are not brand new, if that's important to you (it really isnt important to me) but this ship is in great shape. Fantastic first impression. I went down to guest services and dropped of the Meet and Greet invitations for the officers, took numerous pictures of the ship, stopped by Horizon Court for a salad, and then went to see the Maitre D about changing my dining room table to a big table. I was initially assigned to a 4top.

 

 

Seeing the Maitre D was like going to see the Godfather. He sat in a corner in front of a white curtain backlit by the sun. One by one people who had requests went to the table and sat down to talk to him. It was amusing to see. He was helpful and said he'd get back in touch with me tomorrow. For tonight, he said I could sit at the 4-top or go to anytime dining.

 

 

The rest of the day was spent wandering, eating and drinking. Just a salad from Horizon Court, the muster drill, trying out different bars. So far the bartender at Skywalkers (can't remember his name) and at the bartender Don at the bar by the aft pool. Don remembered my name after I visited and then came back later. I wandered back up to the room and unpacked and hung out until the muster drill.

 

 

For dinner, I decided I didn't want to do the late seating I was assigned to because I wanted to watch the Serenade sail away at 8:30. I figured for at least tonight I could try any time dining, so around 7:15ish I went, but the lines were too long and I didn't feel like waiting to sit in the dining room. This just proved to me that I really am a traditional dining guy. I went up to Horizon Court where there was a line earlier, but none now. They had a seafood buffet with lobster claws, which I had way too many of. The food was o.k. When I was looking for a table, one opened up and I sat after the server cleared the plates. He came and put my napkin and silverware down without wiping it off first. I asked him to wipe it off because there was food spilled on it from the last folks, and he seemed irritated and went and got a towel to wipe it off. He took my drink order, but never came back with it. Then another server stopped by and I asked her for my drink and she brought it right away. A minute later she came back because I was having difficulty cracking open the lobster claws. She showed me the proper technique to get at all the meat. She was very friendly and helpful. This is what I have found so far, some of the wait staff are exceedingly friendly and bend over backwards to help people, but then there are a pretty high percentage who just seem indifferent. I will be getting the names of the great ones so I can let guest services know at the end of the cruise. These guys bust their butts for the passengers and deserve to get some recognition for it.

 

 

After dinner, back to the bar by the aft pool to watch Serenade take off for St. Croix. By then it was around 9 and I was more than ready to have us leave, but we still had 2 hours left. I wonder why we leave so late. So back to the stateroom where I started writing this entry for a little bit. I then headed to the Welcome Aboard show. Not really sure why because I always end up thinking I should have skipped it. Dan Styne is actually pretty funny, we'll see how he is as a cruise director. He asked a couple that had been married over 50 years why they weren't on Holland America, where instead of mints on the pillows they give their passengers a glass of water to put their teeth in.

 

 

Went up top for the sailaway party which was packed. I couldn't get a spot on the rail, so I went first to the area over the bridge - locked, then down to the promenade on emerald where there were only about 5 people. I stood there in the quiet watching Old San Juan slip by.

 

 

Back inside around midnight looking for a bar to hang out at. Almost all of them are closed. Skywalkers was open, but there were only about 10 people in there Fusion, Wheelhouse, Crooners, Churchill's all closed. Only the casino bar and Skywalkers were open. The sidewalks seemed to just roll up after midnight. The casino is busy, but the rest of the ship is very quiet.

 

 

Now I'm sitting on the balcony typing this having a rum and coke. So as I end day 1 of the cruise, my initial thoughts re CB are that the ship is fantastic, the crew needs a little customer service help, but maybe it is because it is turnaround day. Also, there are a ton of non-English speaking people on board and I have noticed the crew getting a little frustrated not being able to communicate with them. We'll see how they are tomorrow. The casino is a bit small and outdated for a ship this size. These are minor quibbles, I am not complaining. Just reporting. Oh, my biggest complaint - the elevators are packed and slow. That is irritating. I have been taking the stairs, but as much as Ive been back and forth between the Piazza on deck 5 and Aloha deck 12, I am certainly getting a workout. Which is fine, because now I have an excuse to eat all that food.

 

 

The passengers are about 45% American, 15% Canadian, 35% Puerto Rican (a couple huge groups and a high number don't speak English, so Im guessing they may be from outside of San Juan), and 4% British. There are about 150 kids and teens aboard. Both the captain and cruise director said something about the high number of kids.

 

 

So, as I end my day (after I run and get one last thing to eat), we are 45 nautical miles from San Juan, moderate seas up to 7.5 feet heading west along the coast of Puerto Rico. Picture count: 198.

 

I did speak to my fiancee several times today while I had coverage. Now the phones are off. I brought both my laptop for work, and my little netbook to do these updates. Turns out that I forgot the power cord for the work laptop. (darn). I guess it will just have to be 7 days off the grid. Something I have really needed for a while.

 

 

As far as the solo perspective, the only folks Ive talked to are crew, this is kind of an odd situation with so many non-English speakers, and my Spanish is very poor. The Meet & Greet is tomorrow, so I will meet people then. Also, I should be at a bigger table for dinner.

 

I keep thinking Im done. For you alcohol thread lovers, as I was walking by the entry to the ship late this afternoon, they confiscated somebody's alcohol purchased at the duty free store. Very strange because when I boarded earlier about 50% of the people had bags from the duty free store with alcohol and nobody said anything about it.

 

 

until tomorrow (sea day)...

[u2cruiser]

Well, thank you for such a comprehensive report on day 1 of your cruise.

LOL at the Godfather :D

 

I think you will find a completely different atmosphere onboard on your first sea day as everyone has unpacked, sussed out the ship, had a night's sleep after having the stress of travelling, and will have settled into the cruise. Also, the crew will have recovered from what must be a very difficult turn around day for them.

 

Wonder if pursers desk/internet room may be able to help you with a power cord?

 

Have a great day at sea :)

[kendon]

Just off the CB several weeks ago so I'm really enjoying your posts! Looking forward to more. Wishing you good weather. Dan Styne is a very good CD.

[cdamion]

Day 2 - Sea Day (part 1)

 

 

Woke up a little after 8 and decided to head to breakfast in the dining room. My fiancee's birthday is next month and I had told Princess we'd celebrate it tonight - the first formal night. Well, when I left the room, there were 'happy birthday' balloons hanging by the door. Like I think I wrote before, I was holding out hope that she would make it so I did not cancel until 24 hours before. That is enough time to cancel for Princess' computers, but not enough time to get word to the ship, so last night about an hour before departure they called looking for her.

 

 

I had a chuckle about the balloons on the door and headed down to the Coral Dining Room for Breakfast, had nice conversations with a couple from Michigan and one from Dominica, so the day has started out well with meeting nice people. I can see that I am going to have to explain my story every time I eat with a new group of people if they ask who Im on board with. I did not miss my fiancee at breakfast because I always head to the dining room for breakfast while she prefers having room service breakfast.

 

 

So far, I'm slightly disappointed with the food on board, but I have only had breakfast in the dining room, which was some bland poached eggs, and lunch and dinner in Horizon Court yesterday, so there is plenty more food to try - starting with the pub lunch in the Crown Grille this afternoon.

 

 

After breakfast I strolled around a bit and checked out the 'outlet sale' in the Island Dining Room. I'm hearing several Caribbean accents on board today. It seems a group of folks from the islands boarded late yesterday. They sound a lot like some of my great aunts and uncles who were from Barbados.

 

 

I forgot to mention yesterday I did get to have my hot spacious shower finally. I forgot to bring something like clothes pins or binder clips to weigh down the curtain, so I felt a little like some kind of roast at the grocery store wrapped tightly with plastic. Actually, it wasn't that bad. I can imagine it's worse for women who have to try to maneuver in there to shave.

 

 

It's a little after 11 now. On tap for the rest of the day is the pub lunch, the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet, and just relaxing knowing that nobody will be calling me for anything...

 

 

...just as I typed that the phone rang. The Maitr'e D has assigned me to a large table for dinner tonight, so I will meet my table mates for formal night tonight.

 

 

Stats: Air temperature is 82 with scattered clouds. Sea temperature is 86 (can that be right? wow!) Still moderate seas to 7.5 feet. We are about 1/3 of the way from Puerto Rico to Aruba.

 

 

Just a quick note. When I mention things like the eggs were bland I am not complaining, just reporting my observations. It is not diminishing my experience in any way. I will take bland eggs sitting in the middle of the Caribbean any day over good eggs in the snow in Chicago.

 

 

More later on... (and keep reminding myself 1.1.1.1)

[cdamion]

Well, thank you for such a comprehensive report on day 1 of your cruise.

LOL at the Godfather :D

 

I think you will find a completely different atmosphere onboard on your first sea day as everyone has unpacked, sussed out the ship, had a night's sleep after having the stress of travelling, and will have settled into the cruise. Also, the crew will have recovered from what must be a very difficult turn around day for them.

 

Wonder if pursers desk/internet room may be able to help you with a power cord?

 

Have a great day at sea :)

 

Im sure the pursers desk/internet room absolutely, positively, most certainly can not help me with a power cord to the laptop I use for work.

 

...and that would solely be because I don't want them to.

[LollyMoz]

Thanks for this thread. Makes me nostalgic. Enjoy!!!

[antomoli]

Keep the reports coming! I´m sure everyone is enjoying them.

[Colo Cruiser]

Very nice!

[Coolmama_1]

Thanks for the live thread and enjoy your cruise!

[CrusinAgain]

The first day is always very crowded on the elevators and dining until people start spreading out and get situated. If you like omelletes, the Horizon Court buffet does make them to order if you don't go to the dining room. We rarely had time to hit the dining room for breakfast. Leaving from San Juan is always a different passenger makeup from our experiences.

 

Does the Caribbean Princess offer that 3rd traditional dining time at 5:15 or 5:30 in one of the anytime dining rooms?

[ineptinmate]

C-

I did tell you to celebrate my 40th (tongue in cheek) at the airport when I dropped you off. The balloons are going a little too far though! ;~)

I really enjoy hearing about your days and nights and am thinking about you now at the meet and greet (it's a little after noon here so you should be at the Wheelhouse now). I hope it all goes well and that you get to meet some nice people.

I will be headed out to do some grocery shopping for mom. It's a cozy 15 degrees here and the week looks to be shaping up to be about the same as today.

I miss you and appreciate all the phone calls yesterday.

K-

[B_K]

"I will take bland eggs sitting in the middle of the Caribbean any day over good eggs in the snow in Chicago."

 

 

:) With the possible exception of hot soup in the winter, most everything tastes better in the Caribbean...! Best example is a pina colada - it doesn't really work anywhere else... (or at least nowhere near so well)!

 

Enjoy your cruise and thanks for sharing your experiences.

 

BK

[JanaJohn]

I will take bland eggs sitting in the middle of the Caribbean any day over good eggs in the snow in Chicago.

 

Just to cheer you up, the Chicago area dropped down to single digits last night and it's around 15° right now. No new snow since Saturday but what we did get isn't going away anytime soon. I'd say it'll still be here when you get back.

 

Have a GREAT cruise, relax and enjoy yourself. And thanks for the review!

[u2cruiser]

C-

I did tell you to celebrate my 40th (tongue in cheek) at the airport when I dropped you off. The balloons are going a little too far though! ;~)

I really enjoy hearing about your days and nights and am thinking about you now at the meet and greet (it's a little after noon here so you should be at the Wheelhouse now). I hope it all goes well and that you get to meet some nice people.

I will be headed out to do some grocery shopping for mom. It's a cozy 15 degrees here and the week looks to be shaping up to be about the same as today.

I miss you and appreciate all the phone calls yesterday.

K-

 

Hey! :D Welcome to CC. It's like a World-wide family get together.

So sorry you couldn't make the cruise.

 

Funny about the balloons ;)

[cdamion]

Day 2 - Sea Day (part 2)

 

 

What a difference a day makes. It is now almost 5pm. We are literally in the middle of the Caribbean Sea a little more than half-way between Puerto Rico and Aruba. I spent the day basically eating, drinking and meeting friendly folks. I have not spent any time lounging around up by the pools. It is pretty crowded up there as you would expect on a sea day, but there were still chairs to be had. I spent a little bit of time in the casino and lost, so I left. I have to say I think Princess should update their slots, they are a bit dated. It is better for me in the long run because I will not spend as much time in there.

 

 

They still do not understand that my fiancee is not on board, which I just find humorous now. I understand, they got their passenger list days ago and I cancelled the day before, but she never checked in. I will probably get a call before we leave Aruba tomorrow asking if she made it back on board. Today the Maitre D dropped off the seating reassignment and on both my fiancee and I are listed on it. I called to make sure they didn't put me on a 2-top, they didn't. I told them she isn't on board, which they sounded surprised to hear.

 

 

Lunch was the pub lunch at Crown Grille. I walked in and an older woman came behind me. Each of us told the hostess that we were just one. The hostess went to seat both of us and the woman looked at me, stopped and said, “I'll just wait”. I just thought it was funny. Maybe she wanted people in her own age bracket, maybe she found me worrisome looking, who knows. I was seated by myself at a 2-top right near a window. I had bangers and mash for the 1st time ever. I enjoyed it, but I don't know what it is supposed to taste like. Next I walked around the ship a bit and must say people are much more evenly distributed across the ship, so no one area feels overcrowded. Also, now that the elevators are not being reserved for those boarding, they are much more efficient - and my knees are very thankful for that after all the up and down the stairs I did.

 

 

At 2pm went to the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet at the Wheelhouse lounge. I think maybe 20-25 people showed up? I didn't really count. The captain, cruise director, assistant cruise director, somebody from engineering, and assistant Maitre D joined us, which was pretty cool. I have never attended a meet and greet before, but this one seemed successful. It was nice putting faces to the Cruise Critic names.

 

 

Afterwards, I went back to the casino for a bit and won back exactly what I lost earlier, so I left and headed to the Coral Dining Room for Afternoon Tea. They sat me at a table with a friendly family from Toronto and and a grandmother and granddaughter. We had a nice conversation on a variety of topics. Very friendly folks indeed. The food and service was good.

 

 

At the meet & greet, the cruise director said there were 180 kids on board. While you run into pockets of them here or there, I really haven't seen that much of them at all. This ship really has a way of absorbing everybody, nice design. We are sailing full too. Apparently they had some kind of last minute deep deep discounts for Puerto Rico residents over the course of the last two weeks.

 

 

Now, I am sitting on the balcony typing this, it has become quite overcast and it feels like it is in the high 70's. It may be drizzling, but I cant really tell because the balcony is covered and the wind is coming from the other side. Tonight is formal night, I will get to meet my table mates for the rest of the cruise. (it will be funny when they bring the birthday cake to the table - you know it's going to happen)

 

 

I have to say, whatever trepidation I had about going solo is melting away. As everybody said people have been very friendly.

 

...ooh. somebody just delivered a dish of pastries with a note from the Maitre D saying he's sorry he couldnt be at the meet and greet.

 

 

more to come later on tonight...

[cdamion]

 

Does the Caribbean Princess offer that 3rd traditional dining time at 5:15 or 5:30 in one of the anytime dining rooms?

 

Yes, Coral Dining Room is early seating from 5:30-8pm, then it turns into Anytime from 8-10pm.

[Liz54]

I think this may be the best thread in a long time! Looking forward to hearing about the cake at dinner:D

But there sure are a lot of witnesses looking forward to the "Live From...." when you take your fiancee on that cruise you owe her!!!!

[amindu]

Great to hear you are enjoying and having a good time cdamion

[Woobstr112G]

Sounds like another great day. Thanks for the continued reports.....:):):)

 

Bob

[Socref124]

Well done. I am really getting excited about our Jan 16th sailing on the CB.

[StLouisCruisers]

It's been fun hearing about your adventures on your solo cruise. Quite unique, actually. Thanks for taking so much time to update us all.:)

[ineptinmate]

I think this may be the best thread in a long time! Looking forward to hearing about the cake at dinner:D

But there sure are a lot of witnesses looking forward to the "Live From...." when you take your fiancee on that cruise you owe her!!!!

 

 

;) Hey Martha-

Glad to hear you like the thread. My fiancee is fantastic at putting experiences together. You all should see what he did with our Honduras trip last year. Check out "cdamion" on youtube. He put music to his amazing pictures and I'm sure he'll do the same with this trip.

 

He probably wont be able to answer too many questions or respond to everyone that comments but he sure appreciates it. He has to write his posts before putting them on the net because it's so expensive.

 

I don't think he will be taking me on a cruise. He said the refund would go toward some kind of vacation for my mom and me. A cruise? Maybe.

I love this man and am so happy to hear he is having a good time.

K-

[rdsqrl]

Really loving your posts! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this; we know you're having to pay for Internet so it's much appreciated! And love all the details. (By the way, the birthday cake -- definitely one of Princess's best desserts, so enjoy!)

K- hope your mother is doing better.