jb008 Posted January 4, 2014 #76 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Great pictures and very interesting review! Thanks for posting and look forward to the rest :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #77 Share Posted January 4, 2014 (edited) Time for lunch! 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr I liked the hotdog. Rachel said the chicken was good. The corn was rather tasteless. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr People started leaving after lunch, and by 3:00 we were among the last on the beach (the last tender was at 4). 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Edited January 4, 2014 by LittleMissMagic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #78 Share Posted January 4, 2014 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Sheltered play area for the kiddos... 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #79 Share Posted January 4, 2014 The line to tender was long. I don't believe that the last tender was actually at 4:00. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr This house is marked as "private" and has children's toys in the patio. It looks as if it's a real residence, and I find it odd that it is so near all of the beaches and touristy part of the island. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr And a satellite dish on the roof! 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysalis Posted January 4, 2014 #80 Share Posted January 4, 2014 That residence is the home of the resident manager of Princess Cays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #81 Share Posted January 4, 2014 We tendered in life boats. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Compared to the other private islands I've visited (Royal Caribbean's Labadee and Coco Cay, and Disney's Castaway Cay many moons ago), Princess Cays definitely the least-developed private island I've visited, and if you're looking for a side-by-side comparison, it is closest in development to Coco Cay. Though it provides a nice beach day where you don't have to take a cab or worry about lunch, it's very basic and really provides just the minimum. I think it's important to note that you can't use the soda card for soda on the island (the bartender gave us juice instead) because they don't have the soda dispensers, only cans. That's something really simple that they're lacking. They have basic water rentals and snorkeling, but now that they're bringing the Royal Princess, I think they're going to really need to step up their game and offer more amenities. I know that I'm especially critical, being an architecture major, but I found myself looking at things like their brightly colored cabanas or Christmas wreaths hung half-hazardly under buffet signs and thinking, "Oh, that's cute that you're trying." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #82 Share Posted January 4, 2014 That residence is the home of the resident manager of Princess Cays. Ah, thank you. I just do not understand why they decided to locate it where they did. I think that particular location would sacrifice the privacy of the resident manager, and I'm sure that despite the "private" sign, they still get people wandering up onto their front porch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winnigirl Posted January 4, 2014 #83 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Wonderful report, as always, Victoria. Your photography really is amazing. Always nice to catch up on your family travels!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #84 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Wonderful report, as always, Victoria. Your photography really is amazing. Always nice to catch up on your family travels!:) Thank you, thank you! Glad to have my favorite Llama reading along! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david737 Posted January 4, 2014 #85 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Thank you LittleMissMagic for the reviews and excellent photos its really given me a good idea as to what the ship is like, I am sailing on her in October out of New York on the New England & Canada in the Fall 7 day itinerary. David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamingBig1 Posted January 4, 2014 #86 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I am enjoying your fair evaluation of your trip, and of course the daily journal with pics. Well done! Question: I am thinking of booking a cruise near Christmas (not on), and I am wondering how cold it gets? Realizing its the Caribbean, it stays warm, but I would imagine it gets colder. From experience, can you give me input? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #87 Share Posted January 4, 2014 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr When we got back onboard, Rachel went immediately to the spa because she overheard some women talking on our tender say that massages were completely booked. Well, they weren't. They were mostly booked for sea days. But Rachel came away very annoyed with the spa staff. She said they were very secretive about what times were available. Their conversation went something like this: "What times do you have open on Wednesday?" "We don't know yet. We don't work in times. If someone books a 90 minute massage, then it would be different if someone booked a 30 minute massage." "I understand that, but what is available right now?" "We don't know yet." "How do you not know yet? If a time isn't booked, that means it is available, correct?" "But we don't work in times." "I understand that, but you said you aren't completely booked, so you must have openings in your schedule. I'd like to know what times those openings are." "Well, what time do you want?" "I just want to know what you have available, and then I'll decide what time I want!" "But we don't work in times." She left without booking. Rachel thinks that the reason for all of this nonsense is that the spa wanted everyone to think that they were really popular and mostly booked so that others would hurry in and book their appointments. That approach wouldn't work for me, because if I heard the announcement that the spa was almost booked completely, I would think, "Oh, guess I missed out on that one." I think that approach to marketing will only work for people who are really set on getting a spa treatment and will turn away others like me who might do it if they had a good deal running or something. While Rachel was debating her spa treatments, I wandered for photos. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #88 Share Posted January 4, 2014 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynda90 Posted January 4, 2014 #89 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Victoria, thank you for your wonderful review and fabulous pictures. This is my first time visiting one of your reviews and I can see why everyone is raving. I was on the Royal in October and I'm thoroughly enjoying the re-visit. Thanks, again for sharing your cruise with us. Can't wait for more!:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #90 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I am enjoying your fair evaluation of your trip, and of course the daily journal with pics. Well done! Question: I am thinking of booking a cruise near Christmas (not on), and I am wondering how cold it gets? Realizing its the Caribbean, it stays warm, but I would imagine it gets colder. From experience, can you give me input? For our Christmas Caribbean cruises, we've had everything from sweltering heat to rain and cold weather. It's really a toss-up and depends on the year. Our first two Christmas cruises from Tampa and Port Canaveral were cold (60s) for the first sea day, and we'd had enough, so decided to depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico for our next to leave from warm weather. The Southern Caribbean route ensures that you'll have warm weather. This year was the first since that we took another gamble with an Eastern Caribbean, but it proved to be warm the entire time. Florida weather is so bizarre in the winter that you never know what temperature you'll be leaving from (or returning to), but I've never found the Caribbean islands to be cold (private islands near the Bahamas, can be, though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clutterlady Posted January 4, 2014 #91 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Loving every minute of your blog and great photos.....Thank You:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carib Posted January 4, 2014 #92 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Thank you! Also, your review of the Royal Princess is one which convinced me to book it! I am glad you chose the Royal when you could have chosen any other ship. You are a good match - her beauty and your ability to capture it. :) Princess Keys is a nice little stop for a relaxing day and your camera didn't miss anything. Cute pic of your family hauling in that shark. You have a nice family. Such a fun dad and a mom willing to put up with all the family antics. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spingal Posted January 4, 2014 #93 Share Posted January 4, 2014 That residence is the home of the resident manager of Princess Cays. Yep. Last time I was there it was a really nice woman who was living there with her husband. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamingBig1 Posted January 4, 2014 #94 Share Posted January 4, 2014 For our Christmas Caribbean cruises, we've had everything from sweltering heat to rain and cold weather. It's really a toss-up and depends on the year. Our first two Christmas cruises from Tampa and Port Canaveral were cold (60s) for the first sea day, and we'd had enough, so decided to depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico for our next to leave from warm weather. The Southern Caribbean route ensures that you'll have warm weather. This year was the first since that we took another gamble with an Eastern Caribbean, but it proved to be warm the entire time. Florida weather is so bizarre in the winter that you never know what temperature you'll be leaving from (or returning to), but I've never found the Caribbean islands to be cold (private islands near the Bahamas, can be, though). I appreciate it. Yes, having lived in Florida for close to ten years, the weather is very unpredictable as far as temperature that time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BettyPC Posted January 4, 2014 #95 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Great review! I've read your others on RCCL and enjoyed those - now you are making me want to jump ship over to Princess. Betty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #96 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Great review! I've read your others on RCCL and enjoyed those - now you are making me want to jump ship over to Princess. Betty Royal Caribbean and Princess are more alike than they are different. I've had an excellent time on both lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #97 Share Posted January 4, 2014 (edited) After Rachel's stressful attempt at booking a massage (ironic, huh?), we went to the top deck to relax and read. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr We were relaxing in loungers reading our books when suddenly, with no warning, music piped and we were blasted with water. We grabbed our things and ran away shrieking. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr This fountain show sprays water EVERYWHERE for an hour on the top deck. If the deck wasn't slippery enough (really, they need to coat it with something that has a grip because I watched so many people slip and fall this week), just try walking around without busting it during this musical water number. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Edited January 4, 2014 by LittleMissMagic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #98 Share Posted January 4, 2014 The fountain show was a unique novelty, but I'm afraid that it went underutilized. Except for those of us getting surprised by water sprays, there weren't a lot of people on the top deck to enjoy the show. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr See how empty! 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr I don't think it helped that the shows went off between 5:15 and 6:15, an hour during which most are either eating dinner or preparing for it. I think they would have better attendance if they did a show later in the evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #99 Share Posted January 4, 2014 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted January 4, 2014 Author #100 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Tonight was Italian night. 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr 12.23.13 by vshingl, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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