Hi, I’m Julie McCoy, Your TR Director Review of the CB

[stobe1]

For an inside room I really thought it was spacious.

Mom was going to take a shower so I went back outside to just enjoy us sailing away.

There goes the Vision.

After a bit I roamed around a little bit and ran into a pirate.

Who knew Princess had a pirate night? Of course it is nothing like Disney’s and no one dresses up like pirates, but it was fun to see one none the less.

 

Thank you for your detailed photo review. We are considering giving Princess a try next year on this ship.

 

I haven't read every single reply, so my apologies if this has been pointed out, but just as a point of correction, the RCCL ship sailing away is the Majesty out of Miami, not Vision. I can tell from the way the Viking Lounge has a 360 degree view above the rest of the ship. The Vision, like the one in port with you in FLL, has a 180 degree view. Also, my apologies for quoting the entire post. I couldn't figure out how to single out the Majesty pic.

[Homosassa]

Going back a few pages, you posted a picture of an "aardvark" looking animal. It was a tapir.

[lynwar]

Good Morning! I was up at 7:25 and I don't know why. Now, it's about two hours later and hubby is still sleeping. Usually, it's the other way around on a cruise! :)

 

We had pirates in the dining room on our Sun Princess in 1998. The most I've seen them is during the Princess Cays stop. They greet us as we get off the ship for a picture and then again at the beach, and pop up, perhaps that night in the dining rooms. We didn't notice them on our trip, but then, we disembark late and eat up in the buffet most of the time. They are a nice touch, though.

 

Homosassa-thanks for the tapir clarification. It's good to know, and will be good for a Scrabble word. :D

We deal with armadillo and raccoons parading through our back yard. :)

 

A cruise sounds great about now. It's cool for Florida standards and we're due for a freeze in some areas over the next couple of nights. As a former northerner, I'm ready for the warm air to stay around for longer than a couple of days at a time. My son and his girlfriend are arriving from Ohio next week, just in time to have the temperatures heading down again. UGH. However, it will feel warm to them at 68 (after a weekend in the 70's, almost 80-at least, inland).

 

Keep your photos coming, Jen. I'm enjoying them very much.

 

Take care for now. Lynne

[jenseib]

Thanks for yet more lovely clear photos to drool at!

 

Your mention of t-shirts has reminded me to go to my local Spotlight-fabric, craft, linen, home wares etc store, and have a look in the sewing pattern catalogues and copy down the US and Australian sizes. My friend did say she would like a Princess t-shirt or sweatshirt, I'm guesstimating between $20-50. Am I guessing right please? I know your prices may be different, I'm allowing 20% over USD prices to allow for any currency fluctuations. My friend DID say she'd send the money with me, RATS, there goes a cruise souvenir idea

 

Again, thank you for your time and trouble sharing your lovely photos.

 

Crochetcruise:cool:

 

Gosh I no longer remember how much the t-shirts were. I would say probably around $20, but I can't remember at all.

 

Thank you for your detailed photo review. We are considering giving Princess a try next year on this ship.

 

I haven't read every single reply, so my apologies if this has been pointed out, but just as a point of correction, the RCCL ship sailing away is the Majesty out of Miami, not Vision. I can tell from the way the Viking Lounge has a 360 degree view above the rest of the ship. The Vision, like the one in port with you in FLL, has a 180 degree view. Also, my apologies for quoting the entire post. I couldn't figure out how to single out the Majesty pic.

 

Hmmm. maybe there were 2 ships in port with us? I know I had probably wrote the Vision because it's what was on the side of the ship in my pictures.....I will have to go back and look through them again.

[jenseib]

Going back a few pages, you posted a picture of an "aardvark" looking animal. It was a tapir.

 

YES! I knew I had read the name and it was totally escaping me. Thanks!

 

Good Morning! I was up at 7:25 and I don't know why. Now, it's about two hours later and hubby is still sleeping. Usually, it's the other way around on a cruise! :)

 

We had pirates in the dining room on our Sun Princess in 1998. The most I've seen them is during the Princess Cays stop. They greet us as we get off the ship for a picture and then again at the beach, and pop up, perhaps that night in the dining rooms. We didn't notice them on our trip, but then, we disembark late and eat up in the buffet most of the time. They are a nice touch, though.

 

Homosassa-thanks for the tapir clarification. It's good to know, and will be good for a Scrabble word. :D

We deal with armadillo and raccoons parading through our back yard. :)

 

A cruise sounds great about now. It's cool for Florida standards and we're due for a freeze in some areas over the next couple of nights. As a former northerner, I'm ready for the warm air to stay around for longer than a couple of days at a time. My son and his girlfriend are arriving from Ohio next week, just in time to have the temperatures heading down again. UGH. However, it will feel warm to them at 68 (after a weekend in the 70's, almost 80-at least, inland).

 

Keep your photos coming, Jen. I'm enjoying them very much.

 

Take care for now. Lynne

 

It's horrid here in Ohio right now. VERY cold and we don't see it getting warmer till sometime in March.

I have a friend in FL right now at Disney and she is running the race this weekend and they have a freeze warning for Friday.

[jenseib]

I have an update ready to post...but just not enough time to post it so hopefully first thing tomorrow morning. Tuesdays are always so crazy for me.

[scubacruiserx2]

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We came to the end and sat on a ledge. This was a view out the window.

No one else was there so I went across the way to watch the jellyfish.

 

I love the jelly fish photos - they look so ethereal ! ;)

[crochetcruise]

Gosh I no longer remember how much the t-shirts were. I would say probably around $20, but I can't remember at all.

 

THAT PRICE is great to start with! Have been warned monogrammed gear is expensive, but it's SOdistinctive! I still have a clear 14 months of saving, so the counting money box is ready to take any "spare" change. I have a list of preferred souvenirs and approximate costs will be working on saving the cost of 1 souvenir for each person first, then any extra money will be allocated. No tours, I will be going straight to Sydney Airport to fly to my home state Capital, whether my cousin can, as she wants to, meet me and transfer me to the airport herself (and collect her goodies!) remains to be seen. She's a teacher and school should go back the day before disembarkation in Sydney. Her headache not mine!

 

I'd read about tapirs but never even seen a photo before-gorgeous!

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

[jenseib]

I love the jelly fish photos - they look so ethereal ! ;)

 

I just love watching them!

 

Gosh I no longer remember how much the t-shirts were. I would say probably around $20, but I can't remember at all.

 

THAT PRICE is great to start with! Have been warned monogrammed gear is expensive, but it's SOdistinctive! I still have a clear 14 months of saving, so the counting money box is ready to take any "spare" change. I have a list of preferred souvenirs and approximate costs will be working on saving the cost of 1 souvenir for each person first, then any extra money will be allocated. No tours, I will be going straight to Sydney Airport to fly to my home state Capital, whether my cousin can, as she wants to, meet me and transfer me to the airport herself (and collect her goodies!) remains to be seen. She's a teacher and school should go back the day before disembarkation in Sydney. Her headache not mine!

 

I'd read about tapirs but never even seen a photo before-gorgeous!

 

Crochetcruise :cool:

 

I wish I could remember. I do know I got a really nice top for around $35ish and I thought that was a fantastic price for what it was as it was super dressy. In fact I wore it for Christmas it was so nice. I am so used to seeing Disney prices for shirts that everything seemed cheap....but the selection was pretty small.

[jenseib]

Our table was once again right next to a 2 top table with very little room between us. Another couple was soon seated there and they introduced themselves. I don’t remember their names off the top of my head right now, but they were super nice. I will call the lady CC for now. They had been sitting in this section every night as they had bonded with the serving team and requested them each night.

We got to chatting and Mom mentioned my job and how I was working towards a certification. Well, wouldn’t you know, CC was in the same profession. So we chatted a lot about that and the different things we did in our jobs. They were seasoned Princess cruisers so I asked CC about the toiletries. I had said how I thought we would get better shampoo and was it normal to get a shampoo/conditioner combo as an “elite” perk. I went on to complain that you cannot shampoo and condition your hair at the same time….and I am a licensed hair stylist…even though I don’t practice anymore, I still keep my license up…..and this just drives me crazy. Well…another coincidence! CC was also a hair stylist as well, and if I remember right, she too no longer practices but keeps her license up. It was like fate had stepped in and put us next to each other. CC did tell me that since Carnival had purchased Princess, the perks and amenities have really taken a hit.

We did a lot of talking and it was really enjoyable.

They also had really bonded with the servers and they were bringing them appetizers that were not on the menu…like mozzarella and tomatoes. MMM! CC brings the plate right over to me (it was huge and full) and scooped some on my plate. YUM!

For my entrée I got some beef tenderloins.

I didn’t take a picture of moms and I don’t remember if we got the same thing or not.

For dessert I got the soufflé….MMMMMMM!

[jenseib]

You can see in the background that Mom got the ice-cream and we got the cheesecake to share.

It was a fabulous dinner….probably one of the best we had while on board. We really enjoyed talking to CC and her husband.

After dinner we still had time till the show, so mom was off to the casino. I went up top and they were scrubbing the floors of my usual sitting area so I sat in another area and started chatting with another couple. She was J and I can’t remember his name, but he worked for Marriott and they had some good stories. They both cruise quite a bit and have been on this ship several years ago. She told me some of the differences in the ship since the last time she sailed.

She also heard that this ship is planned to be sold to a company in Europe in a few years, so according to the rumor, they are not doing a lot of upgrading to the ship since it won’t be in the fleet too much longer….whether any of that is true or not, I have no clue.

After chatting a bit, I went back and found Mom. She had found a slot machine that was hot and she was doing really well. I sat next to her and just watched. There were 2 other girls on her other side and they were playing but then kind of slowed down and watched Mom play.

It was getting close to show time but Mom was hot and didn’t want to leave so we waited till the last possible minute. The 2 girls kept telling her to leave. LOL! We knew they wanted her machine.

Finally she said it was enough and we should head out so we made our way to the theater.

We passed this back drop for photos which I thought was neat.

At some point in time I bought this bracelet for myself. I also bought one for my oldest daughter who was due to have her baby any day….which was one reason I kept checking emails. Technically she wasn’t due for another week or so AFTER I got home, but you just never know.

I love this bracelet but it is really hard for me to put it on by myself.

As we waited for the show to start, we had an idea of what the theme would be by the music that was playing beforehand.

Soon the show started and I believe the first song was 9 to 5…though I could be remembering wrong now.

[jenseib]

[jenseib]

The show then went on to basically say work was over and now a road trip was planned….in a Pink Cadillac.

[jenseib]

Sadly the singers did not improve at all this show.

[jenseib]

Though the singing was bad, once again the dancers were fabulous.

The road trip stopped in Vegas.

[jenseib]

You certainly can’t have any fat on your body to wear that outfit!

[jenseib]

[jenseib]

Continuing with more show pictures.

I don’t remember all the songs sang but I know Born to be Wild was one, and I think it was basically the name or at least theming to the show.

[jenseib]

I believe in this segment they had made it to LA/Hollywood.

[jenseib]

Had they had really good singers, this show would’ve been excellent. It was still good with costumes, props and dancers…but the singers……it’s just sad they didn’t have better ones.

[jenseib]

Another amazing thing….all the music was from a live band. I was impressed with that.

After the show was over our Cruise Director, Lee Childers, came out to talk. Now I am sure he is a fine CD. I had read before coming on the ship that Lee was not a favorite. Now he didn’t do anything that would make me not like him, but we thought he looked like a used car salesman and kind of had that mannerism. So though I am sure his is fine, he wasn’t great in my book because I just felt like at any moment he was going to approach people to buy a used car. LOL! I know totally silly, but he really had that look.

After the show, mom wanted to walk by the casino and take a look to see if those 2 girls had taken her machine….sure enough they were both sitting there, the one playing and the other one watching. Mom was mad they took her machine. LOL!

Mom called it a night. I went back up top for a bit with my computer to use up some of my free internet time, chatted quickly via facebook with a couple of friends and then chatted with J and her husband again and a few others.

I then headed back to the room and loaded some pictures to the computer and watched a bit of TV and edited a few pictures while Mom slept away.

We had one more day, a Sea Day left, so it wasn’t a big deal staying up late, but I finally hit the bed and fell right to sleep.

[jenseib]

Skip decided since he was there he would eat after all.

I wasted the time away by taking a few pictures.

Sadly the time had come and we had to get off the ship.

I hate getting off the ship!

We headed out and down the stairs. I had told Skip we could get a porter to help us with our bags and go through customs and then out to the parking lot. I told him we would have to tip him though….Skip can be cheap at times and tipping someone to help us could be a make or break on whether he would go for this. He hates it at the airport when guys try to help you take your luggage in and then 5 minutes later you are in line and you have to tip them. LOL. (We have a really small airport, so I can see why he hates it there.)

He did choose to have a porter help us, which I was grateful for. I really didn’t want to lug bags through the lines and out to the car if I could help it.

We had a little wait, but it wasn’t too bad and once we got outside we headed over to the car. Skip pulls out a 5 on the way over to give to the porter and I hand him a 10 to add to it. He says so loudly….$15!!!!???? I said YES! And glared at him. LOL.

The porter helped us load the bags in the car but since the POC (Piece of Crap) was so small I had to rearrange them as I now knew the best way to fit as many as we could in the trunk.

With that we pulled out and paid for our parking and set Siri to get us to our next destination…..Legoland.

[jenseib]

ugh disregard that last post. I was editing both my TR's and posted it in the wrong spot...and of course I can't remove it. if there is an administrator here could you please remove it.

[metairiegal]

ugh disregard that last post. I was editing both my TR's and posted it in the wrong spot...and of course I can't remove it. if there is an administrator here could you please remove it.

 

Whew! I was all confused! :D

[jenseib]

Whew! I was all confused! :D

 

YES That would be really confusing. LOL!