Emerald Princess Rome to Barcelona September 26 -October 3 2015 in photos and video

[cormike1]

Beautiful sunset pictures Norris! I am looking forward to our first "alone" cruise in Feb. where we will be outside for sail aways and sunsets. Loved your Rome posts....took notes for next Sept. for our Med cruise. Are you in a Mini Suite? Looks lovely. Looking forward to the rest of your cruise!

[p0240]

Thankyou for the photos of your hotel room and hotel areas, I knew if I waited paitently, and a bit more patiently, you would finally post them, so thank you, the inside of the hotel looks really lovely, so top on my list for Sept 2016, bookings are not yet open for that timeframe, so once again, shall wait patiently.

 

Just one question about your room, was it a suite or a double room, it certainly looked a nice size.

 

Enjoy the cruise, and I shall keep on following your journey.

 

If you ever make it to West Australia, love to have a coffee sometime.

 

Pat

[Bimmer09]

Stunning sunset pictures. Have you ever seen a green flash?

 

I have not seen that yet.

 

Do you have any photos to share?

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Beautiful sunset pictures Norris! I am looking forward to our first "alone" cruise in Feb. where we will be outside for sail aways and sunsets. Loved your Rome posts....took notes for next Sept. for our Med cruise. Are you in a Mini Suite? Looks lovely. Looking forward to the rest of your cruise!

 

It's a Vista suite aft. A mini suite doesn't have a living room that can be separated by a heavy curtain and is much smaller. It doesn't come with the many perks of a full suite like this and doesn't have a wet bar. You shower in the bathtub in a mini.

 

See my last Ruby review for a mini suite close-up view.

 

We like aft Penthouse suites best but they were sold out. The Vista has balcony obstructions and on Caribe deck at least the balcony loses about 3 feet in depth

which is really missed. The Vista cost about $1200 less than the PH so the extra money came in handy to cover our fridge-magnet costs.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Thankyou for the photos of your hotel room and hotel areas, I knew if I waited paitently, and a bit more patiently, you would finally post them, so thank you, the inside of the hotel looks really lovely, so top on my list for Sept 2016, bookings are not yet open for that timeframe, so once again, shall wait patiently.

 

Just one question about your room, was it a suite or a double room, it certainly looked a nice size.

 

Enjoy the cruise, and I shall keep on following your journey.

 

If you ever make it to West Australia, love to have a coffee sometime.

 

Pat

 

Pat it was a double room. If you want to see a suite we stayed in one the year before. It had a terrace with bistro table and chairs where we could sit outside.

If you look at the Ocean Princess review near the end you'll see photos of it.

(found it-Page 31 Post 609) Both suites with terraces are on the 6th floor, just under the rooftop bar.

 

I asked for it again this year but it was booked and I followed up each month to remind them we wanted it-but it stayed booked. It was 500 Euro per night, or 150E more than the double which we were very happy with in the end.

 

My TA review (Dec 2014) is called "our Home in Rome" and that's exactly what it has become.

 

Norris

[hockeyguru32]

The last of the shots were taken from our balcony while getting ready for dinner. This is one of Carol's, capturing the moon. She NEVER misses a sunset.

 

 

 

Coming up next....

 

Crown Grill dinner in photos and Yummovison video

Great comedian in Princess Theater

Sleep

Arriving in Palermo

Breakfast in Sabatini's

City tour video of Palermo-trash capital of Italy

Beautiful Med beach

Bird's eye view of Palermo

 

and much much more! I'll even throw in a FREE set of steak knives (a $99 value!) if you read it.

 

Norris

 

Thanks Norris YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a set of Ginsu knives its slices it dices and it even cuts a can and look (slices a piece of paper) still sharp after that

[Bimmer09]

At some point earlier in the day, on my stroll down deck 7, I stopped in at the Crown Grill to reserve a table for dinner.

 

Yes-we usually eat in Sabatini's on our first night BUT we had just come from Rome and eating Italian food each day and I didn't think it fair to Sabs as our palates had been singing O Sole Mio and didn't want a let-down. Sabs is going away in December on the Emerald to be replaced by Curtis Stone's Share.

 

Crown Grill does steaks and does them justice.

 

We didn't go to the Elites, Suites and Platinum nightly cocktail get together with munchies up in Skywalkers as we didn't want to spoil our appetite between 5 and 7 pm. We gave it a miss ALL week in fact.

 

Other things we didn't do all week....

 

Attend art auctions

Play trivia

Or Bingo

Visit the spa

Or the Casino

Eat ice cream

Visit the International Cafe (I'm serious!!)

Do a belly flop

Get a greeting from an officer was he passed although Carol rode an elevator with the Captain alone and had a chat for a minute.

Buy diamonds

Get our hair braided

Pet a monkey

Play any sports on the ship

Use the laundry rooms

Take photos of martinis

Use a selfie stick (not ruling it out ever)

Use a Go-Pro as I don't have one (yet)

Attend the "champagne" fountain, Captain's Welcome speech

Watch the balloon drop

 

However-we did have a great time.

 

OK-back to the

Crown Grill

 

We always like a window booth, even though it just looks out onto the Promenade deck. The headwaiter came along as the hostess was humming and ha-ing and took charge, offering us a seat at the bar while he fixed a table for us. We declined the drink as I was prepping to buy a bottle of red once we sat.

 

A few minutes later he led us to our window table. The joint was rocking.

 

Someone came along and took our drinks order and I ordered my usual Robert Mondavi Oberon (about $42 plus 15%)

 

Waiters were working in teams to serve some 6 and 8 tops. The people at the tables may have been lumberjacks just in from cutting down some Giant Redwoods judging by the amount of food that was coming out to them.

One of the waiters was working at double speed as if he had been recorded on time-lapse and then sped up while the others worked at human speed. His name was David from Serbia and was obviously fond of Red Bull

 

We declined the offer of the Show of Steaks where they bring over the cuts wrapped in Saran Wrap. We knew we wanted the 8 oz Filet Mignons which we cook at home as there is no fatty waste. We love Rib Eyes too which are at the opposite end of the fat scale but too big for our appetites tonight.

 

Here's the food

 

Carol waiting for the victuals to arrive (a lengthy wait but no worries)

 

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She gets her salad (described on video)

 

 

My tiger shrimp

 

 

We both ordered the medium Filet photographed in too shallow a Depth of Field

 

 

The waiter INSISTED on bringing us "all the sides" despite my "nah, we'll never eat them all". They are on the video.

 

NORMAN LOVE DESSERT TO FOLLOW

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Thanks Norris YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a set of Ginsu knives its slices it dices and it even cuts a can and look (slices a piece of paper) still sharp after that

 

OK- the free knives are on their way.

 

Shipping and handling is $49.99

 

Norris, liking your humor!

[Bimmer09]

One thing you'll notice in some of the pics and I noticed throughout the room is that trays of leftovers, including lobster shells, we left to stand for 5 to 10 minutes before getting cleared away. Not good and the CG loses a Michelin Star for that.

 

Anyway-already stuffed as I felt I had to eat those sides I asked for a half slice of the Norman Love peanut butter thing. We were Norman fans before he hooked up with Princess (great move by Princess)

 

A tray of leftovers and used plates sits close by

 

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Chocolate and Peanut Butter HEAVEN

 

 

Chocolate and Peanut Butter ECSTACY

 

 

I didn't use the word REVIEW in my thread title. I usually refer to my rambles as Trip Reports or A Seafaring Man's Journals but this will definitely be a REVIEW in that I- a Princess Cheerleader for the most part-will go into the Good, the bad and the Ugly with regards to criticism.

 

I give Princess a ton of positive feedback in the Survey after the cruise and beat them up like a rag doll for their failings (as I see them)

 

Anyway, you'll see as I go on...constructive criticism.

 

Here's the video from our dinner...

 

[YOUTUBE]BDUp4CXN1w0[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

We are still on our first night onboard. We have had lunch, canapés at sail away and now a steak dinner. Life is good.

 

After a lengthy dinner it was time for a stroll on Promenade deck to breathe in that warm Mediterannean night air before our next Patter Engagement-the welcome aboard show in the lovely Princess Theater.

 

We walked through the busy photo gallery on our way there.

 

No photos or video from the show. It's main highlight was a stand-up comic called Ricky Jay from England. He was loud, fast and energetic and had original material and a beautiful sense of timing, building jokes on top of jokes until we had tears rolling down our cheeks. He did two shows to accommodate the dining times and would appear later in the week. Definitely worth seeing twice!

 

After the laughter it was Full Sleep Ahead. The sea was flat calm but we didn't need rocking to sleep.

 

Next morning we would have a rare opportunity to dine in Sabatini's for breakfast which is a Suites Only option. Even Elites get turned away and if they insist on coming in they get boiling soup thrown in their face or their pockets filled with maple syrup. Tough maybe-but fair.

 

Before leaving home I had made up a spreadsheet as this was such a port-intensive, long excursion trip I had to keep track of our times, what days we could eat in Sabs and which days and what time we would have to order room service. Same thing with when we could go to the Sanctuary.

 

As we are docking in Palermo at 10 a.m tomorrow, September 27th we have time for a Sabatini breakfast. So be it.

 

Meantime we are sleeping so I can't write anymore.

 

Norris who will be up early no doubt.

[Bimmer09]

A nice morning on deck just before 8 a.m. I was up earlier but it was still dark.

 

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The varnish had dried so I removed the sign after this

 

[Bimmer09]

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Even though it was now 8 a.m I was surprised to see no Wake Show on the MUTS Screen (Movies Under The Stars-a Princess innovation in 2004)

or the loungers yet laid out by the pool as I am sure not everyone was going ashore today. Palermo and Paradise can't be confused.

 

 

 

Next up breakfast followed by arriving in Palermo

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

your photos are just absolutely breathtaking.

 

Thank you!

 

I have some nice sunny beach ones to put up soon...

 

Norris

[azdmelani]

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Even though it was now 8 a.m I was surprised to see no Wake Show on the MUTS Screen (Movies Under The Stars-a Princess innovation in 2004)

or the loungers yet laid out by the pool as I am sure not everyone was going ashore today. Palermo and Paradise can't be confused.

 

 

 

Next up breakfast followed by arriving in Palermo

 

Norris

 

Loving your review Norris! When I was on in September we had the same situation. I like to get up early and lie out, and both Palermo and Sea Day I had to take the middle upper deck loungers since the pool loungers weren't out yet.

 

Cant wait to read more of your adventure!

[hockeyguru32]

OK- the free knives are on their way.

 

Shipping and handling is $49.99

 

Norris, liking your humor!

 

What no doubling of the order so I can take advantage of the free shipping and handling?

[donswife]

I have not seen that yet.

 

Do you have any photos to share?

 

Norris

 

 

I have seen them a couple of times in my youth, growing up in a southern California beach town. I found pictures on Google, but it is the magical experience of witnessing it that makes it so special, photos just don't do it justice. :rolleyes:

[Bimmer09]

Loving your review Norris! When I was on in September we had the same situation. I like to get up early and lie out, and both Palermo and Sea Day I had to take the middle upper deck loungers since the pool loungers weren't out yet.

 

Cant wait to read more of your adventure!

 

Nice to see you here!

 

I found the deck crew "wanting" and that's on the Staff Captain. The loungers might be the CD's responsibility but the condition of the decks is the Staff Captain's....but I'll get to that later when the criticism is appropriate.

 

Stick around.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I'll show you more of Sabatini's later right now we are grabbing a leisurely breakfast before our 11.45 tour.

 

It's a quiet, refined place to eat in the morning. The fountain plays in the sunlight just outside our window table. There are 3 waiters to serve us. First the drinks...

Mimosa? No thanks, I'll have an orange juice and a cappuccino with 3 extra shots.

Iced water comes too. Then the pastries-always apple turnovers and a chocolate covered doughnut for me.

 

They have their own kitchen so everything is cooked to order but our needs are simple. First the Menu...

 

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Yoghurt parfait with Granola is always our starter

 

 

Carol's fruit plate

 

 

Carol's eggs benedict, no hollandaise

 

 

For me the French toast with bacon and hot apple cinnamon compote (plus maple syrup)

 

 

They will keep offering more food but we didn't have time for another nap. Soon we had to meet up somewhere- I think it was Wheelhouse Bar where there would be 8 busses full of people in standing room only-about 400 passengers @ $50 a head if I recall. As the various groups led the room Carol managed to find a comfy chair. We were in the last group which is often the group that doesn't quite fill up the bus....on one trip we only had 33 of us in a 48 seater-score!

 

Anyway-there is an excursion coming up. Palermo City, Beach and Panorama tour.

 

We've got our colored stickers on and we're ready!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Just a quick video to show you what a nice day it was when we arrived in Palermo.

 

Regular readers will know that on our last visit here on the Ocean Princess Carol didn't go ashore and I did but found it noisy and dirty and full of trash in the streets. People weren't cleaning up after their dogs and it was baking in the sun.

Sorry-didn't know you were having lunch...

 

Anyway we are back again according to this video....

 

[YOUTUBE]QJ7OghD8M_w[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

 

Norris

[Colo Cruiser]

I can only wish that our weather will be as fantastic as yours seemed to be. :D

[Bimmer09]

I can only wish that our weather will be as fantastic as yours seemed to be. :D

 

Keith- weather where?

 

Norris

[Colo Cruiser]

Keith- weather where?

 

Norris

 

Why in Rome next week of course and on our Med cruise. Except for the rain. ;)

Edited October 16, 2015 by Colo Cruiser

[Bimmer09]

Why in Rome next week of course and on our Med cruise. Except for the rain. ;)

 

Yikes! I just saw the cruise in your signature!

 

Venice. Rome. 12 days. Island P.

 

Have an amazing cruise!! (is there any other kind in the Med?)

 

Norris

[tigerbeth]

Just come across this Bimmer09 after getting the email from your blog . So I am way behind. Look forward to catching up over the weekend , sitting in the sun with a wine !!!

Perfect ! Enjoy your trip & thanks for taking me with you again .

[Bimmer09]

Just come across this Bimmer09 after getting the email from your blog . So I am way behind. Look forward to catching up over the weekend , sitting in the sun with a wine !!!

Perfect ! Enjoy your trip & thanks for taking me with you again .

 

Welcome! Good to see you here.

 

I had to put something on the blog to explain my further absence as it will be a while before I get back to it and trying got do this AND that at the same time-two different reports- would have me at my wits end.

 

While you are catching up I'll press-on ahead.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris