CARIBBEAN PRINCESS Jan 11 2014-Photo and video review

[bhopal21]

Bimmer09 interested in your opinion of Brett as a CD.

 

Personally I think he is the best of the lot. He always speaks to everyone and seems to go out of his way to offer assistance to passengers.

 

Mike:)

[lovevacadays]

A reader had asked about the suite we were in so here are a few photos.....

 



 

The hallway as seen from the couch area. Bathroom door on left, partially hidden.

 



 

 

 

 

Bedroom with curtain drawn aside

 

The couch as seen from the bedroom

 

The free mini-bar had 10 bottles of spirits but I had them changed out for 10 bottles of Beck's beer. The face on the TV screen is Brett Siborne the cruise Director.

 

I'm loving your review. I have cruised 16 times but never in a suite. I've done mini-suites but never could bring myself to pay for a suite. Your photos make me want to book a suite!

[rdsqrl]

Enjoying your review and photos immensely. Especially the food porn: you had me at vitello tonnato.

 

Since the CB is in the Caribbean this summer, and since I'm whined and moaned and just generally been a PITA about no Princess ships in the Caribbean in summer, I guess there's a good chance I'll be sailing on her soon, putting my money where my mouth is and all that. So all the ship photos you care to post will be welcome!

[Bimmer09]

Bimmer09 interested in your opinion of Brett as a CD.

 

Personally I think he is the best of the lot. He always speaks to everyone and seems to go out of his way to offer assistance to passengers.

 

Mike:)

 

Mike, Brett was only onboard for 3 weeks or so, I imagine filling in, so was likely just going with the program already in place.

 

I have only ever been to one Meet and Greet (Roll Call) and that was my first on the Coral where only 6 of 20 responders showed and Brett came along and stayed for over 30 minutes and he was super enthusiastic and easy to talk to so he got my personal stamp of approval right there. I only spoke to him once on the CB as he was rushing from show to show. He is a dynamo of enthusiasm and very relaxed in front of a microphone or camera. I watched some of his Wake Show segments on MUTS as I walked from deck to deck and he is witty and bright.

So I am a fan. He's off the ship now.

 

Entertainment wise Carol tells me Billy Highgate is the bomb but I missed him on the Diamond in Alaska as I was up at 4 each day and wore myself out taking photos and having wine-laden dinners. My favorite ship/crew/captain etc

 

There was more entertainment on my Ruby cruise a year ago, especially in the Piazza...acrobats, jugglers etc than on the CB where I only saw bands or the lonely guitarist.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Enjoying your review and photos immensely. Especially the food porn: you had me at vitello tonnato.

 

Since the CB is in the Caribbean this summer, and since I'm whined and moaned and just generally been a PITA about no Princess ships in the Caribbean in summer, I guess there's a good chance I'll be sailing on her soon, putting my money where my mouth is and all that. So all the ship photos you care to post will be welcome!

 

Annie- I have a ship load of photos to show you...over 500. She's a fine looking tub considering she hasn't had much rest in 10 years. You'll see that our balcony furniture needs sanded and re-stained and there are rust spots here and there (mainly there) but the crew were working at every opportunity, painting and varnishing, inside and out. Public rooms are immaculate.

 

I liked these ports and what they offered excursion-wise. The Roatan beach was great and I had a good swim there. Two of the countries are 3rd world and piss-poor, which is saddening. The people there that we came face to face with (i.e people with jobs and probably a toilet at home, maybe even a lightbulb) were joyous, witty people...and wit goes a long long way with me in a world of whiners.

 

Book a ticket. Ever been to Houston? Stay downtown- it's a must-see city for me but then I love the Opera and striking modern architecture and clean streets.

 

I didn't come across any beggars on my trip-until I landed back in Chicago, where according to Carol their radar picks me up on their screens like a beacon of opportunity (which is soon snuffed out by my caustic sarcasm)

 

Go. Get some sun.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Enjoying your review, we will be on this cruise 3-29. As it will be our 1st. Princess cruise, we are especially interested in what you have to say and to see your pictures. Looking forward to the rest.

 

Doug

 

Doug this was my 5th Princess cruise and I remember taking my first less than 2.5 of your Earth years ago....took 4 more with a 5th booked and have FCCs for our 6th in 2015 (as yet unknown destination). I notice a lot of Carnival in your past.

I hope you'll like the look of the public rooms on PCL when I get to showing them.

 

I think you'll find them classy and understated, rather than brash and tacky, which is how I would describe Joe Farcus' designs on most of the Carnival Ships.

 

You'll see just about every public area on the ship if you keep coming back here.

 

I don't write short "reviews" ( I am not grading Princess on a 1 to 5 scale usually)

I basically write these for my own use-as a way of remembering one cruise from another while I still have a decent memory but sharing them is enjoyable, especially knowing that some people are seeing these ships and Princess for the first time. I'd be very happy if while reading this you felt you had made a good decision choosing Princess or the CB. Seeing all the rooms way before you board may be a "Spoiler" but for me I like as much intel (to quote Jack Bauer from the sadly departed "24" TV show) as I can get so that I am savvy when I step aboard. It's like going to the Colosseum in Rome even though you have seen 100 photos of it...everything changes once you are actually there. Photos are just the

amuse bouche before a very fine meal.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Loving your review! DH and I were on the CB the week before you and I am enjoying reminiscing :D

 

Thank you! I know you didn't have the best of weather. Maybe you'll enjoy my excursions which included Dolphins, Air Boats and Submarines (not the N.J sandwiches).

 

Haven't gotten to those yet but I will soon.

 

I loved the itinerary. I would do it again.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I came on over to the Princess board hoping to find you had started your review. I was delighted to find you already had it started! I've got my popcorn ready and I'm waiting for your next installment! :D

 

I am very happy to have you on board! I think you have made an appearance in all my reviews and so now I grant you Platinum Status! Have as many free internet minutes on your home computer as you wish!

 

Welcome.

 

Norris

[douglinc@msn.com]

Doug this was my 5th Princess cruise and I remember taking my first less than 2.5 of your Earth years ago....took 4 more with a 5th booked and have FCCs for our 6th in 2015 (as yet unknown destination). I notice a lot of Carnival in your past.

I hope you'll like the look of the public rooms on PCL when I get to showing them.

 

I think you'll find them classy and understated, rather than brash and tacky, which is how I would describe Joe Farcus' designs on most of the Carnival Ships.

 

You'll see just about every public area on the ship if you keep coming back here.

 

I don't write short "reviews" ( I am not grading Princess on a 1 to 5 scale usually)

I basically write these for my own use-as a way of remembering one cruise from another while I still have a decent memory but sharing them is enjoyable, especially knowing that some people are seeing these ships and Princess for the first time. I'd be very happy if while reading this you felt you had made a good decision choosing Princess or the CB. Seeing all the rooms way before you board may be a "Spoiler" but for me I like as much intel (to quote Jack Bauer from the sadly departed "24" TV show) as I can get so that I am savvy when I step aboard. It's like going to the Colosseum in Rome even though you have seen 100 photos of it...everything changes once you are actually there. Photos are just the

amuse bouche before a very fine meal.

 

Norris

 

Hi Norris,

Think you are doing an outstanding job with your review. We have always enjoyed Carnival, but you are right about the decor, it's usually pretty tacky. The Magic is much better than the others, but the service wasn't as good. Being our 1st. time on this ship, would really love to see some "ship" pictures. I'm sure we will enjoy Princess. We are pretty laid back and not the type to "look" for problems.

 

Thanks again,

Doug

[greenie082756]

Norris, like the rest, I too enjoy your witty humor:cool:, your thoughts and your photos with explanations. My DH is sitting near me on another computer and I'm telling him, "Look! Isn't this beautiful!" with your sunrise picture. A smile on his face emerges as he remembers on the Golden, sitting early in the morning (5am), in the Horizon Court by a window drinking coffee and watching the sun come up. Thank you your bringing back memories and the hope of new ones in our future cruises.

From another Norris fan! Thanks!!:)

[Bimmer09]

I mentioned Promenade deck earlier and I have photographs of it but seemingly only night shots on the camera ( day shots on video). Being narrower than the P Decks on Diamond and Coral (and therefore Sapphire and Island) there is only space for upright padded chairs rather than the stretched out loungers on the other vessels.

 

 

It was often windy there at night as we raced along but I found myself usually sitting on the starboard (smoking) side around lifeboat # 17 where there was a vent above me (Emerald deck) blowing out warm air.

 

A lot of passengers walked the Prom deck in the mornings, usually two-wide with big smiles on their faces (where else??)

 

One of them was me today as Patter Carol had told me there would be a Pub Lunch served in the Crown Grill where the Executive Chef stood outside holding the menu.

 

 

EDITOR'S NOTE....Before going on this cruise I said that I would go with the intention of writing a review and had planned to take photos of every menu but once on board all that went out the window and I Escaped Completely and just went with the flow. I have the Pub Lunch menu on the video cam.

 

Two Pub Lunches on this trip and the menu changed for the 2nd one but what I was looking forward to most was on the menu.

 

Steak and Kidney Pie-great British pub fare which is what the lunch is all about. A little reminder of my roots

 



 

 

 

I chose the perfect beverage for such a hearty gravy-rich treat. A Guinness!

 

 

The pie came alone so I asked the waiter for an order of crisp delicious fries and they were procured and consumed. It had been over 3 hours since breakfast but the sea air had made me ravenous. I forgot to ask for bread so I could make a "chip buttie" or French Fry sandwich, which Liverpudlians among you might be familiar with.

 

Carol didn't eat as she was saving her hunger for Afternoon Tea a few hours later.

 

We met Cindy, Alice and Daniel in there, loving the experience and who doesn't?

[Bimmer09]

I had been engaged in the Roll Call from this trip arranged by Cheryl whose screen name is SeeUOnboard or something like that. The venue kept changing as the ship had a lot of groups looking for rooms to hold events in.

 

With all the delays and having the Cindy family on board the Roll Call went on the back burner unintentionally. I remembered before lunch and went on a ship crawl of the Public rooms looking for people wearing Mardi Gras beads. Anywhere with an open bar. No luck. After lunch Sunday Carol told me she had opened her Internet Account (150 free minutes for Platinum Card holders) and I thought-I'll have to do that too.

 

I had brought along my laptop and fired her up in the cabin and found that the roll call had already happened at 11.30 in Skywalkers which is the one venue I didn't check as I figured there was no daytime bar service there.

 

Opportunity lost.

[RocketMan275]

Bimmer,

 

Several things.

 

First, my thanks for the suite photos. That's a Penthouse Suite, correct? Your thoughts on the Vista v. the Penthouse.

Two, you mentioned the Pub Lunch as two days. Which two? Also, you mentioned a menu change? What was the change? Fish and Chips both days?

Third, Fox has announced that "24" will return summer 2014. Slightly different format 12 instead of 24 shows. Sutherland will return as Jack Bauer.

[Bimmer09]

Bimmer,

 

Several things.

 

First, my thanks for the suite photos. That's a Penthouse Suite, correct? Your thoughts on the Vista v. the Penthouse.

Two, you mentioned the Pub Lunch as two days. Which two? Also, you mentioned a menu change? What was the change? Fish and Chips both days?

Third, Fox has announced that "24" will return summer 2014. Slightly different format 12 instead of 24 shows. Sutherland will return as Jack Bauer.

 

Yes 749 is a Penthouse Suite. Not sure about Vista suites unless it is the one next door that has a beam coming up through the deck. Cindy's E733 suite had one of those.

 

Pub Lunch was Sunday and Friday, both sea days. Fish and Chips came along Friday. I usually take the pie over the fish and chips, which is delicious but the fish is little strips instead of a whole filet, head to tail, as I am used to in N Ireland and on my trips to Ontario. No pie on the Friday nor Bangers and Mash.

Carol ate Friday with me so I have photos of the F and C and Chicken Curry later on.

 

Good news on 24!

 

Thanks!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

A sunny day and after lunch Carol went to the Sanctuary (nap alert!) and I had a short nap up there myself before taking my station at the Tradewinds bar.

The raised eyebrow ordered a Beck's beer.

 

Interesting thing- I spoke to many people at Tradewinds as we sipped beer and smoked (port side of ship) and drew blank stares when I mentioned CC.com.

I wrote down the directions on napkins for folks who seemed interested but I was the only one who used it and therefore had facts and figures at my fingertips and was the fount of all knowledge. It surprised me.

 

The band Passion (well the drummer and the bass player lived up to the name) was on deck at the Neptune pool, opposite Tradewinds . They are from St Lucia but don't sound like they are from "The Islands" but more like your average top Forty band (but not so much contemporary material). My toes tapped.

 

 

Plenty of open loungers

 



 

I see Vlada in the green shorts and white shirt in the bottom Left of this photo

 

[Bimmer09]

I was excited to come across some oil rigs on this voyage. I had to use the zoom lens to bring them closer. I imagine they all have t have a supply ship nearby incase of evacuation, so far from land.

 

 

 

Later up in Skywalkers for the first time where there were just a couple of people quietly reading I saw this from out the window

 

 

A wedding ceremony outdoors-on a ship-in the sun-on a calm sea. Brilliant memory for the couple!

 



 

Skywalker's

 

[drlynn]

I'm enjoying your review as we are doing this trip next month. One quick question, are there any vaccinations required for these ports? Thanks!

[Bimmer09]

I'm enjoying your review as we are doing this trip next month. One quick question, are there any vaccinations required for these ports? Thanks!

 

None.

 

Norris

[RocketMan275]

Yes, E733 would be a Vista Suite.

 

Glad I was able to give the good news on 24.

 

Thanks. You've been so helpful.

 

RM275

[audobon_tx]

I was excited to come across some oil rigs on this voyage. I had to use the zoom lens to bring them closer. I imagine they all have t have a supply ship nearby incase of evacuation, so far from land.

 

 

 

Later up in Skywalkers for the first time where there were just a couple of people quietly reading I saw this from out the window

 

 

A wedding ceremony outdoors-on a ship-in the sun-on a calm sea. Brilliant memory for the couple!

 



 

Skywalker's

 

 

that's a drill ship, not a rig. must have been very deep water to need a drill ship. and safety boats are North Sea requirements, not in the Gulf of Mexico. the boat adjacent is called a work boat, they haul stuff to the rigs and drilling vessels.

Edited January 25, 2014 by flyingshoes

[Bimmer09]

Thanks for the info re the Drill Ship. So it anchored to keep over the well?

Any idea how deep it has to be to exclude the use of a rig? I am familiar with rigs as they build them in Belfast (Harland and Wolff Shipyard). In the photo it looks like there is already a supply ship alongside and then one waiting some distance away. I guess they have lifeboats to escape disasters just like a ship.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

When I would chat to people up at Tradewinds there was a common topic of conversation-how cold it had been where they lived just a couple of days ago and the struggles some of them had (Canadians particularly) just to get to the ship

which then boarded late. We were all escaping the Polar Vortex (LOL). Regarding the late boarding it was very heartwarming to see that everyone, me included, had already moved on and adjusted as if nothing had happened. It was no disaster or vacation spoiler.

 

The sun was shining. I had beer and good cruising company. There was a band playing. My stomach was enjoying the steak n kidney pie and chips. A Guinness had been consumed as a nod to my heritage. I was on a big beautiful ship with a panoply of events and entertainments to enjoy (or pass on). Food was everywhere for the taking and I didn't have to cook it (even though I enjoy cooking) and there was no dishwashing to do. Someone made my bed and turned down my sheets as there was obviously no way I would have the strength to do that after an exhausting day of relaxing. I was on a cruise that I had planned 9 months before and watched my Shipmate app count down each day.

 

I heard all sorts if languages as I sat there for an hour or so at a time-except profane I am happy to say. People were buying buckets of beer but no one was wasted or falling over or slurring their speech. It's just not that sort of crowd.

At some point though I have a schedule to keep as I had ordered afternoon tea to be delivered to our balcony and at 4.30 pm there was a knock on the door and I was in position to open it and help the Room Service girl in with the trays heaped with Afternoon Delights. I tipped her $3.

 

This is tea for two....

 

 

After that onslaught of feel-good treats it was time for a nap in the cabin, lulled to sleep by the foaming wake you saw in the photo.

 

It was Formal Night (Sunday) and our plan was to be in Skywalkers for the Elite/Suites/Platinum nightly get-together for munchies and half priced drink specials (which I usually don't take advantage of as I stick to beer which doesn't get me intoxicated as I know I'll be drinking wine at dinner). Spirits and then wine just put me to sleep so I stay away from spirits if there's wine on my horizon.

 

 

The Golden, The Star and the CB share unique Skywalker's designs on the exterior. The bar is directly above the stern not snuggled against the funnel on ships like the Crown and Ruby and Diamond. There is also the unique entrance up a long sloped tunnel which features a people-mover walkway up the center (great for wheelchair access).

 

 

Carpet detail

 

[trvlgrl64]

Hi,

 

We will be on the CB on 22FEB - hoping for no fog or norovirus. I love your reviews, just the right balance of facts and fun (and a touch of sarcasm, which having British roots myself I completely enjoy).

 

Is the afternoon tea room service available just for suites or is it something a mini suite could order?

 

Were the sea days relatively warm, we have been having awfully cold weather and I wondered how far south you had to get before it was "pool" weather.

 

It sounds like the Sanctuary week pass is something you enjoy - would that be a high priority do you think?

 

I haven't been on Princess for years - just toured the Royal when she was in port and was impressed. I realize the CB is rough around the edges but it sounds from your review that she is aging well.

 

Thanks so much - looking forward to more review and photos!

 

Barri

[luvseaside]

Wow, thanks so much for the detailed review. I have cruised on CB before but did not know you could get afternoon tea through room service. I may have to do that next week! Lovely!

 

Already looking forward to pub lunch; my husband loves the shepherd's pie.

[Bimmer09]

Hi,

 

We will be on the CB on 22FEB - hoping for no fog or norovirus. I love your reviews, just the right balance of facts and fun (and a touch of sarcasm, which having British roots myself I completely enjoy).

 

Is the afternoon tea room service available just for suites or is it something a mini suite could order?

 

Were the sea days relatively warm, we have been having awfully cold weather and I wondered how far south you had to get before it was "pool" weather.

 

It sounds like the Sanctuary week pass is something you enjoy - would that be a high priority do you think?

 

I haven't been on Princess for years - just toured the Royal when she was in port and was impressed. I realize the CB is rough around the edges but it sounds from your review that she is aging well.

 

Thanks so much - looking forward to more review and photos!

 

Barri

 

Barri, the photos on this page are from the first sea day so people were tanning.

Houston weather was beautiful the day we sailed-low 70s F. The pools were in use but not a lot of swimmers and those that did hit the hot tub where people like to dwell. Roatan weather was great and I swam on the nice beach by the ship in Mahogany Bay. Belize saw some rain when a lot of people were on shore. I know some of the Mayan ruins tours got a downpour as I had friends on two different tours. One got rained on at the ruins. The other was on the way back from the ruins in a fast open boat and wasn't dressed for wet weather in a speeding boat.

It rained at sail away there. Cozumel was sunbathe weather again as was the last sea day.

 

Afternoon tea on the balcony I believe is only for suites and elites and maybe platinums. We get most of the perks available just through the cabin choice except for free internet minutes but our Platinum cards got us 150 mins each.

 

They serve the tea in the Sanctuary too each day and we took some there on occasion.

 

The Sanctuary is a priority for us as we like peace and tranquility. We both have Kindles on our phones but Carol has a real Kindle and reads the newspapers to stay in touch with the business world. The loungers there invite one to nap and the staff will bring blankets if there is a cool breeze. We book them for the week, even in Alaska where the weather can be iffy. The Sanctuary and the UST are splurges-luxuries to suck every nutrient from the Princess cruising experience. We can only cruise a maximum of twice a year. Last year we cancelled one of those cruises to the Med to go to the Bayreuth Festival in Germany instead. We love our European trips as much as any cruise so you'll never see us at a "Most Traveled Luncheon".

 

It's also quiet on the deck leading to the Sanctuary (i.e above the Tradewinds bar and forward) and people there can use the Lotus Pool which the Sanctuary folks also use. You can just book the Sanctuary by the half day ($10) -morning or afternoon, based on your schedule or the weather. Wear are on Ocean Princess this September where there is only one sea day. The ship doesn't have a Sanctuary but we won't have time to use it if it had. We will use our balcony (bigger than the CB one) as a substitute.

 

The Royal is a stunningly beautiful ship indeed but just not right for us. The CB is in great condition for a 10 year old ship that sails 52 weeks a year less any dry dock visits.

 

Norris