Star Princess North to Alaska! Sept 10 2016

[TreacleScone]

Long time reader, first time poster on a Bimmer09 thread as I've never managed to catch one 'live' before. It's promising to be another epic and I'm settling in for the long haul as it's all research for our Alaskan cruise in July 2017.

 

 

TreacleScone (aka Julie, niece of Norris).

[G&Gcruisers]

Hamlet! Post #67

 

I've heard that boarding in Vancouver can be intimidating. Anxious to hear your experience there.

Margie

[Gabrielle R.]

I've been scanning the boards looking for your signature. So happy that you posted on the Celebrity board and that popped up in my email. Ready to settle in and read! SO ENJOYED the first day.

Gabrielle

[perfect match]

OK, Norris, I'm all caught up now! Feel free to carry on with your awesome - as usual - review. I am all settled in and ready to follow along. :D

[ROWSE]

I was so excited to see the start of another wonderful review. I must admit to stalking your "recent posts" a few days ago, as I remembered you were cruising soon.

 

I had been disappointed to not find a review starting, and then to my great joy I saw your announcement off the Silhouette thread!

 

Thank you so much for keeping so many of us entertained!

[Bimmer09]

Long time reader, first time poster on a Bimmer09 thread as I've never managed to catch one 'live' before. It's promising to be another epic and I'm settling in for the long haul as it's all research for our Alaskan cruise in July 2017.

 

 

TreacleScone (aka Julie, niece of Norris).

 

Shiver me timbers!! Folks this is indeed my niece Julie who is (a) an avid cruiser (b) absolutely bonkers and has a sense of humor in which I see a lot of myself as we have shared in the same gene pool. I haven't seen her in 13 years.

 

Anyway, Julie,set yer mainsail for a voyage o' delights! There has to be a good reason why Carol and I have sailed to Alaska 3 times out of 10 cruises...30%!

I have about 1400 of them in my camera to share.

 

Now I have to know- which ship will you sail on?

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Josumello I too am along for another Norris review. You write with such enthusiasm and a nice sense of humor. Also love your positive energy, your no negativity, and of course your great photos. Thanks!!

 

Thanks indeed for the kind things you say! Enthusiasm is good as is sense of humor- I am just so fortunate to have many reasons to smile and few things to complain about...all first world problems really. I take no nonsense nor prisoners when there is a need to complain but in this you won't see that side of me until way near the end. I roll with the punches typically.

 

Glad you like the photos! I enjoy taking them and have been taking steps to learn more about photography with becoming a geek.

 

Boats07 Have enjoyed read your review and pictures so far. Looking forward to more. We will be on the Star next August for a land/sea cruise. We have sailed to Alaska twice but this will be our first Land/Cruise.

 

Thanks for joining us-if you have enjoyed the pics so far then I think you will continue to as the best is yet to come-the cruise! I envy you your cruise tour booking on the Star. Someday...

 

Lin336 Another Norris review! We very much enjoy following along.

 

Linda & Mike

 

Welcome guys and nice to see you again. Cyber bar is open! I have a new "mixologist" who shakes a mean Guinness.

 

Shimsdan Me, too! I love your reviews Norris. In fact, I'm reading your review, instead of my own roll call for my Celebrity cruise next year! Please don't tell anyone!!!

 

Thank you! So glad you enjoy my stuff. Lots more to come!

 

G &GcruisersHamlet! Post #67

 

I've heard that boarding in Vancouver can be intimidating. Anxious to hear your experience there.

Margie

 

Margie, hi again, yes I am quoting Shakespeare but it could just as easily be Bob Dylan or Larry David. I'm sure I'll get to them both at some point.

 

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol will be featured soon when we try to board the ship.

 

Norris

 

Gabrielle R I've been scanning the boards looking for your signature. So happy that you posted on the Celebrity board and that popped up in my email. Ready to settle in and read! SO ENJOYED the first day.

Gabrielle

 

Thanks Gabrielle- i really enjoy posting on the X board and I'm glad you are tuned in. A long read is in store...

 

Thanks for the comments everyone- I'll answer some more Tuesday.

 

Norris

[Lucky TGO]

Norris,

Wow I love your review and your photos are fantastic.

Thank You,

Tony

[TreacleScone]

Shiver me timbers!! Folks this is indeed my niece Julie who is (a) an avid cruiser (b) absolutely bonkers and has a sense of humor in which I see a lot of myself as we have shared in the same gene pool. I haven't seen her in 13 years.

 

Anyway, Julie,set yer mainsail for a voyage o' delights! There has to be a good reason why Carol and I have sailed to Alaska 3 times out of 10 cruises...30%!

I have about 1400 of them in my camera to share.

 

Now I have to know- which ship will you sail on?

 

Norris

 

 

I'm choosing to take 'absolutely bonkers' as a compliment in this instance. I've definitely been called worse ;) Cruising is definitely in the blood - Mum and Dad are off transatlantic again next month aboard the P&O Britannia.

 

We will be sailing on the good ship Disney Wonder - let's just say someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse and if you're going to sail Disney, best to do it a) on one of their most beautiful ships (I hope it's still as beautiful when it comes out of dry dock in November), b) with a 5 year old who still believes in the magic, and c) for free :)

[Bimmer09]

Sailing on the Harmony. Unlike you, I love the big ships. A year ago did Regal on a first solo cruise. Really enjoyed the ship, made many new friends. Not sure the solo is for me. This cruise my son is going with. A new and different life for me now. Have moved to Baltimore from Michigan.

Mainly Rome in Limo for 8 with guide for Vatican. Can hardly wait. Also , I want to see some of the side streets.

 

Thanks for the response Pam.

 

If you are super lucky (or ask Jany for him) and have Franco as your driver then you are in for a treat as his English and humor is good. If Massimo shows up at the Vatican to guide you then that's the Double Whammy!

 

The Silhouette at 122,000 gross tons and only 2900 pax is the biggest ship I have sailed on. Also the most beautiful.

 

Enjoy the Harmony! And Baltimore!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

For those who are new to my "reviews"- I call them A Gentleman's Seafaring Journals as they are my cruise experiences day by day in Chronological order. I highlight that word as in my Diamond Princess review a poster was bouncing up and down in his playpen complaining "where is Alaska in this review?" while the narrative had us in British Columbian waters. "Where's the Star Princess? The Glaciers? The sled dogs?...they are coming in the order they happened.

 

I don't divide the "review" into sections-Food, Entertainment, Service etc unless I am writing a Comparison Review (see the Princess vs Celebrity Comparison for an example)

 

I don't start the journal without the intention of writing every day until it's done.

No breaks. No forgetting to finish it. When I am not working(like Sunday and today) and out of the house for 11 hours it's my focus.

 

I respond to everyone who comments-positively or otherwise.

 

I am currently uploading video to iMovie and thence to Youtube where my videos are found on the Norris Adair channel. I use 2 video cameras-one handheld and the other a Go Pro which I attach to something and let run. I carry 2 cameras and 2 video cams around. The Go Pro I can operate via wi-fi with my iPhone and the GoPro app.

 

I usually forget to photograph the many great people I talk to on the ships, such as Kevin whom I met on this Star cruise. I kick myself later.

 

I welcome any questions but try to answer them in the narrative before they are asked.

 

I write these long things for the following reasons;

 

As a way for me and Carol to remember our vacations so they don't blur together

 

For people who in this case have never sailed the Star/Princess Cruises or been to Alaska

 

For people who haven't cruised yet and wonder what it's like

 

For people who have sailed the Star and been to Alaska and don't mind going back while sitting in an armchair eating bonbons.

 

For people who don't really enjoy Dry Dull Rambles...theshipwasnicemyhusbanddidn'tenjoythefoodthesteakwaslikerubberbutthejugglerwasgood...

 

For the people who like to read what I write

 

For myself as I like writing and showing my photos to strangers

 

So that's it.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Welcome back...looking forward to the review!

 

Chris, I had to scroll back a few pages to thank you for joining us again.

The review shall proceed with all due speed which is hopeful thinking as I have just been in iMovie which I haven't used since May and which seems to have a mind of it's own. The first of many movies is in the Youtube oven.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

hooray! something to read just in time for me to take my own adventure in a few days! thanks Norris!

 

 

Sweet! Crown Princess to Mexico and before we build the border wall-good timing!

 

Nice to see you here! Always welcome.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

5.10 a.m found me in the Plaza outside the hotel waiting for my ship to come in.

5.30 a.m found me holding a cup o' Joe from Starbucks which had just opened and I expected the ship to poke it's nose (bow) from behind Stanley Park around 6. So I wasn't going anywhere. I fitted the zoom lens and waited on a bench, eyes glued to the sea.

 

My only distraction was a beggar lady who was painfully thin and haggard and wore a nice pair of sneakers. She was working the Plaza with her hand out for a coin. Usually I am a magnet for down-on-their-luck people who need cash for the latest sneaker designs or need a cigarette but today she passed me by.

Am I losing my magnetism?

 

As I sat in the benign weather of a perfect sail away day I thought back over the 13 hours we had now been in Vancouver and my mind (such as it is after surviving the 1960s) replayed the events of the day before....

 

[YOUTUBE]91Ycttm_jl8[/YOUTUBE]

 

It all came back to me vividly.

 

My stomach now asked me why I didn't get a muffin or such while I was in Starbucks...my mind drifted back to that memorable dinner...

[YOUTUBE]BhWW5SwQuy8[/YOUTUBE]

 

* This is just 3 friends having dinner with a nice view and maybe not riveting viewing. That will come later. It's here just to aid the narrative.

[Bimmer09]

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to present the

 

 

STAR PRINCESS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between photos (and shooting video) I was walking down the long pier where I would have to cross over to the other dockside to watch her dock- will I see you over there? Let's go!

[MisterMet]

For those who are new to my "reviews"- I call them A Gentleman's Seafaring Journals as they are my cruise experiences day by day in Chronological order. I highlight that word as in my Diamond Princess review a poster was bouncing up and down in his playpen complaining "where is Alaska in this review?" while the narrative had us in British Columbian waters. "Where's the Star Princess? The Glaciers? The sled dogs?...they are coming in the order they happened.

 

 

 

I don't divide the "review" into sections-Food, Entertainment, Service etc unless I am writing a Comparison Review (see the Princess vs Celebrity Comparison for an example)

 

 

 

I don't start the journal without the intention of writing every day until it's done.

 

No breaks. No forgetting to finish it. When I am not working(like Sunday and today) and out of the house for 11 hours it's my focus.

 

 

 

I respond to everyone who comments-positively or otherwise.

 

 

 

I am currently uploading video to iMovie and thence to Youtube where my videos are found on the Norris Adair channel. I use 2 video cameras-one handheld and the other a Go Pro which I attach to something and let run. I carry 2 cameras and 2 video cams around. The Go Pro I can operate via wi-fi with my iPhone and the GoPro app.

 

 

 

I usually forget to photograph the many great people I talk to on the ships, such as Kevin whom I met on this Star cruise. I kick myself later.

 

 

 

I welcome any questions but try to answer them in the narrative before they are asked.

 

 

 

I write these long things for the following reasons;

 

 

 

As a way for me and Carol to remember our vacations so they don't blur together

 

 

 

For people who in this case have never sailed the Star/Princess Cruises or been to Alaska

 

 

 

For people who haven't cruised yet and wonder what it's like

 

 

 

For people who have sailed the Star and been to Alaska and don't mind going back while sitting in an armchair eating bonbons.

 

 

 

For people who don't really enjoy Dry Dull Rambles...theshipwasnicemyhusbanddidn'tenjoythefoodthesteakwaslikerubberbutthejugglerwasgood...

 

 

 

For the people who like to read what I write

 

 

 

For myself as I like writing and showing my photos to strangers

 

 

 

So that's it.

 

 

 

Norris

 

 

 

 

Don't change a thing about your writing style! It's the reason that so many follow your reviews.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Bimmer09]

 

 

I temporarily stop waving the Captain to come forward and look behind me to make sure he has enough room to park.

 

 

The Captain is waving his arms wildly. He's either got a mosquito flying around his head or is waving me off the dock.

 

 

Inching forward

 

 

[Barky]

I've spent a good bit of the summer reading reviews and I must say yours are the best. Thank you for all your efforts to provide an interesting read. Well done!

[Bimmer09]

There are 5 balcony cabins you can see on deck 8 (Emerald) which I haven't seen on a Princess Grand Class before. The path to the bow goes right by them.

 

 

 



 

 

Getting really close now. I motioned to the mooring team to throw me a line but they made a gesture that I can't repeat here.

 

[Jasperdo]

Wonderful photos of the Star Princess arriving at Canada Place. We love Vancouver. And it's only a 2 hour drive from our house.

[Bimmer09]

About this time my senses told me that I must relocate as I could feel a ship coming in. So I took a last couple of pics of the Star. I'm not going to show the Bridge close-up where the Captain was bent over with his trousers down, mooning me. That's just unprofessional in my opinion.

 

 

 

I packed up my gear and went back to the other side of the pier.

 

 

 

While waiting for her to get closer I took a look around

 

 

The Star is now docked

 

[Bimmer09]

I've spent a good bit of the summer reading reviews and I must say yours are the best. Thank you for all your efforts to provide an interesting read. Well done!

 

Thanks so much-that's very high praise indeed. I'm glad you enjoy them.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

The light is getting better now...

 

 

 

 

Handsome! I get my iPhone set to flashlight app and using my hand as a shutter, signal the bridge- "Captain, please keep your trousers on". They hoist a new ensign to join the other flags fluttering. It's the "Captain fully clothed" flag.

 

 

With a screech of brakes and the smell of burning rubber she approaches the dock.

 

 

I head back over to the Plaza and thence to the Star side of the dock again...

[IECalCruiser]

There are 5 balcony cabins you can see on deck 8 (Emerald) which I haven't seen on a Princess Grand Class before. The path to the bow goes right by them.

 

Those cabins are only on the first three Grand class ships, the Grand, Golden and Star. They are ocean view cabins on the other six Grand class ships.

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Edited September 20, 2016 by IECalCruiser

[AZ Ocean Lover]

Do my eyes deceive me? Another Bimmer review? I actually went "Oh No" when I saw it because I knew that my next 30 - 60 minutes would be taken up with the review and I have so much work to do.

 

Of well, you have to have priorities.