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Finally LIVE from the Sapphire Princess 28 Day sailing

Toto2Kansas

By Toto2Kansas,
in Princess Cruises

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spingal

spingal

Posted
Posted

Toto,

 

One of my friends Mother is on board and should have been at the Meet and Greet. Her name is Mary Ann and her cc name is Cotodisco. If you see her please tell her that Jamie said hi!

 

ENJOY the Grand Suite. I have had the pleasure of sailing in that cabin with my folks and it is definitely GRAND!! Now that is the way to travel for a 28 night cruise. ;)

 

Thanks for posting!!! :D:D

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A1A

A1A

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Toto,

As one of the most objective posters I have followed, I really look forward to your remarks on this cruise! Hope you have a grand voyage and hopefully you will have time to share some photos!

Ken

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caribill

caribill

Posted
Posted
Toto-

 

Hmmmm, so they've cut down on the selection of foods in the HC. That's a bit concerny. Can you elaborate a bit? What sorts of foods are missing?

 

Combine that with the dining room being closed on port days and the selection is really limited.

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kath00

kath00

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Actually, now that you mention it, the HC was set up this way for us in May too! I was really surprised. Also we were on the Golden in May (B2B) and noticed the same thing. They had a dividing "cable" between the two sides and they were identical. I still found a nice variety of food but it sure is different than the HUGE buffets they have on Royal Caribbean, where the selection is just awesome!

 

Katherine

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Toto2Kansas

Toto2Kansas

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Quick question about the Sanctuary! Is it open yet? And do you think it's possible to get two spots next to each other where one person has sun and other has shade -- are umbrellas used, or are you just in the open or under cover? Thanks, and have a great trip!

I haven't been up to the Sanctuary yet, but can tell you it is being advertised in the Princess Patter, so they must have completed it. As far as locations of chairs or umbrellas, I have absolutely no idea until I go have a look.

 

UPDATE-We visited the HC at lunch time for some cheese and rolls and it was the normal set up with the same chaos as always. So, the split buffet may have been just because it was embarkation day, or possibly a test run. Will check a few more times at different meals to see if they keep it this way, or go back to the split.

 

As for the sub-whatchamacallit, so that is what that thing is? LOL We were wondering. Guess we might have to look into this a bit more to see if it works or not. We have had workman fixing a few things since last night. Half the lights on the balcony weren't working, fixed now. And our frig (just as has happened before with other ships) was not working at all. But they really fixed them quickly................no delaying at all.

 

Food has been very good so far, absolutely no complaints. And we have had dinner each evening in the dining room, for those who know us, they know that is just not like us at all. ;) But it looks like we have found our nitch and the table, service and everything else has been great. So, maybe, just maybe we will be having dinner in the MRD most nights (although the menu for tonight doesn't look great to either of us so we have decided to find something different). Jean-Paul told us last night to just call the dine line and tell them to page him and he will call us back immediately and come up with whatever we request (if it's at all possible), but I think we will save that little favor for another night when we are more settled in. We are pretty low maintenance, even when booking the GS suite onboard. :o

 

I totally missed the Hula lessons today, a nap called my name instead. Darn!

 

Off I go, time to dress for dinner, but I will try to check in again tomorrow before our next M&G.

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Hulagirl

Hulagirl

Posted
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Toto:

 

Glad the "Suite" is being good to you. Even with the 3 of us in the cabin we never even came close to filling up all the space in there. It is a nice way to cruise. Thanks to Jamie (Spingal) and her recommendations of the GS's is what got us started on them.

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

 

CruisingJ's: Here is our link to the pictures of the Sapphire GS when we stayed in it. I doubt much has changed. So you don't have to wait for Toto to post pictures, you can take a look now!

 

http://family.webshots.com/album/549360351LFqUcp

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compozer

compozer

Posted
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Toto, I am looking forward to visiting here daily to check on your adventures and will be keeping notes.

 

Awesome! Better keep posting!!!

 

By the way, the suites and minisuites are ALL sold out for the 2012 cruise. UGH UGH UGH!

 

Katherine

 

They have been sold out on the March 2013 cruise for months.

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kath00

kath00

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Toto, I am looking forward to visiting here daily to check on your adventures and will be keeping notes.

 

 

 

They have been sold out on the March 2013 cruise for months.

 

Yeah, and that one is the Star Princess. I don't like that class of ships so I think I am gonna wait for the Sapphire Oct 2013 cruise! Kath

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kath00

kath00

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Toto I am so happy you are loving the suite, you so deserve it.

When you have 3 in the room, where does the third sleep?

Enjoy your view to Hawaii. Glad you are enjoying the suite life of dining in your room.

 

Despite the size of the suite, there is only room for a king size bed (in it's own bedroom). 3rd and 4th have to sleep on a pretty uncomfy fold out couch! The only Royal stuite set up with actual beds for all 4 people I believe is on the Disney ships, where there is a separate room for 3/4th guests!

 

I know NCL has some very large suites too with separate bedrooms for extra people but I believe those rooms have 3-4 rooms connected by a hallway and they are super $$$$$$$$. Plus they are on the very top floor of their ships usually, where there is a LOT of motion.

 

Katherine

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jnc411

jnc411

Posted
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TOTO: Thank you thank you for posting on the cruise. We also will be on the Sapphire right after you on the Nov. 26 sailing. The 28 day cruise is on my bucket list , and I so envy you right now :) I hope you and all the great CC people on board have a wonderful time together on this cruise. Look forward to reading more about your cruise.

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LSJC

LSJC

Posted
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If you have time, please answer a few questions:

 

How many formal nights in the 14 day cruise? Do many men wear Tux's?

 

Any advice on tours? Is it possible to book on arrival? Particularly in Kauai. Rent a car for a day?

 

Thanks!

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Toto2Kansas

Toto2Kansas

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Tonight was the first formal night of four total on our cruise. We were not impressed by the menu, so we decided to totally skip it. We do dress nicely, even for the buffet in the evening (no shorts or T's for us at night normally). Although John-Paul said he would have anything we wished delivered to the suite, we decided to just pop upstairs to the HC for a quick dinner. We then made our way to the atrium to watch the champagne water fall. Many men were in suits, a few tux's (but not many). The HC was packed, as it seems that there are a lot of passengers on this sailing that do not care to attend formal attire night.

 

The production show this evening was Motor city (we have probably seen it 5 or 6 times in the past) but decided to go again. We arrived at the theater 45 minutes before the ship, and even that early, there were no two seats together to be had. So, we deicded to skip it and visit the casino (tiny win, nothing to write home about unfortunately), then back to the cabin to order dessert from the dining room to be delivered.

 

I received a phone call from John-Paul earlier this afternoon, asking me if the room service supervisor had visited us yet. Nope, hadn't had any visitors this afternoon. Just after I hung up a knock came at the door, and it was 'Able', the room service supervisor stopping by to introduce himself. From what he told us, his best friend in the entire world is Roni (our favorite Ass't Maitre d' from the Pacific and the Royal that we have sailed with many times in the past) and he would make sure we were taken care of throughout the voyage with anything we desired. We even had an offer for him to serve our meals if we wished. OH MY am I being spoiled rotten on this cruise, so much more so than I ever imagined. We have had top suites onboard ships before, but nothing at all like the treatment we have been given this first three days.

 

I didn't mention earlier, but after we received our luggage that first late afternoon, our two largest bags had been damage quite badly while being loaded on the ship (luggage was perfectly fine when we left the hotel that morning). One had a huge (like 12") tear across the front, and the other a large hole. We are actually lucky that we didn't loose any of the contents of the bags, especially with the one being ripped so severely. Anyway, I just filled out a paper they delivered to give them permission to attempt to repair the bags. Wish me luck on this one. Without the repair we will be the passengers checking our clothes for the return flight home in garbage bags. lol

 

Weather has still been quite cloudy, but it is warming up nicely. Tomorrow we are supposed to get more sunshine and a few degrees warmer. We had a bit of clouds today, and in the distance, there was the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen.............every color imaginable. Rainbows at sea are always a welcome sight to me. :)

 

I need to run for now, and as soon as I am able, I will attempt to post a few pictures. Right now that can't happen until we reach Hawaii (I won't go into an explanation why here), a bit of netbook problems that I can solve the moment we get to the Islands.

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Shelly97060 "Live from...." Rare

Shelly97060

Posted
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Thanks so much for posting! Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. We will be boarding Sapphire on the 19th for the Thanksgiving voyage, reading your thread has me really looking forward to it.

 

Can you tell me if they have the International Cafe on Sapphire?

 

Thanks,

Shelly

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dchip

dchip

Posted
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Toto has pretty much said it all. Food has been great, although last night's formal dinner menu was weird. I had great ravioli though.

 

Weather is wonderful, getting lots of sun.

 

On my way to Ribbon Lei making and then our second M&G. Donna, hope you will be there today!!!!!!

 

Thanking Princess every day for our balcony upgrade!!!!

 

It has been a treat to meet so many folks we have been chatting with for 16 months! This is going to be the best cruise ever.

 

Cheers, Denise

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