Crown Princess Hawaii/Tahiti B2B

[JF - retired RRT]

We just spent 43 days on the Crown. Hawaii (15 days) and Tahiti (28 days). Some thoughts about our adventure.

Hallways – blue/pink runners are still here. Lets you know with a glance if you're on the port or starboard side.

 

MDR – the great butter controversy lives on. No butter on the tables at dinner (only lunch and breakfast). The waiter brings butter around and asks how many you want. Also, haven't seen anything labeled margarine in the buffet...butter only. But the butter doesn't taste like the butter I use at home...very mild butter flavor (not worth the calories IMHO).

The rolls are warm at lunch and cold at dinner. I want warm rolls!!

MDR food was for the most part good to very good. Desserts, as always, hard to decide which one to pick. Sorbets are a delicious way to end the meal.

 

Fettuccine Alfredo – no more Parmesan basket (at least not on this ship). Just a slice of Parmesan on top of the fettuccine. And the slice of cheese was dry and hard.

 

Brian and Rowena were the Hawaiian ambassadors. Rowena did the destination lectures (she wasn't very well prepared). Two other lecturers with some interesting topics. Brian plays a great guitar/banjo thingy. Very strange...the ukulele lessons didn't start until on the way back from Hawaii. Or I wasn't paying enough attention to the Patter.

 

We always get a gift card for wine from our TA which we've exchanged in the past for $20 OBC (we don't drink wine). Pax services refused to allow it. The rep stated it had been allowed in the past, but corporate says that's not what it's for, so no more. At least, not on this ship. Going in December on the Star & will try again.

 

Crown Grill – no “surf n' turf” (at least on this ship). You can have lobster and steak, just not at the same time (2 separate courses).

 

Our stewards were amazing. Glenn on Aloha deck in the 500s and Sayan on Baja deck in the 700s. If you have either of these gentlemen you won't be disappointed.

 

Chef's Table – OMG!! Whether you've done this before or not...do it on this ship! The executive chef is Manlio Cuzzolin. He is amazing! Several people who did this with us said they'd done the CT many times and this was the best one ever. Run...do not walk to sign up.

Note: one of our CC members asked the Maitre D' to do a table for us (we had 10 signed up). The MD (Jean-Francois Ferat) scheduled a second table. You may be able to talk him into doing that for you, too.

 

Captain Circle hostess told us there were 880 Elites on the Tahiti leg. There was a separate lounge for Elites to wait in for tendering. This could have been a problem for those with early AM tours on the tender ports. The lines for both tender lounges started at 6:30.

 

No fruit bowls!! Used to get a card in the cabin asking if we want a fruit bowl. No more (at least not on this ship).

 

There was no crew talent show on the first leg (Hawaii - 15 days). There was one on the Tahiti leg.

 

Of interest – In San Pedro, when we disembarked from the Hawaii leg of our cruise, since we were “in transit” we were the last group off the ship. Someone in Border Control decided not to use the usual computers on the desks on the upper level. Instead EVERYONE was sent downstairs to get their luggage and get in line. No computers. Four or five agents. All of you luggage dragging with you. (I'll bet the porters were upset) It took at least an hour for us to work our way through the line. Be prepared if they try that one again. When we came back for our final disembarkation, they were using the computers upstairs again. Off in a flash.

 

Final thoughts: Enjoyed Hawaii...this was the 4th and 5th time we've gone to Hawaii on a ship. Tahiti was our first and probably our only visit. We were disappointed with the Samoas. We went to $2 Beach in Pago Pago - once was definitely enough. Apia was underwhelming - took a taxi tour and saw all we wanted to see in the first 15 minutes. Bora Bora was beautiful - did a wonderful snorkel tour with CC friends (the highlight of the trip). Moorea was nice, although we didn't do much. On Tahiti we had a tour scheduled with Adventure Eagle Tours. He was supposed to show up at 8 AM, we waited until 8:45, then left and walked around Papeete instead. It was less expensive, but a disappointment.

 

And, as always, these were MY impressions and thoughts...YMMV.

[LEESRE]

Will be joining Crown Princess early next year, can you say is the ship in good shape, seen quite a few reports that it is looking tired??

 

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[skynight]

"Of interest – In San Pedro, when we disembarked from the Hawaii leg of our cruise, since we were “in transit” we were the last group off the ship. Someone in Border Control decided not to use the usual computers on the desks on the upper level. Instead EVERYONE was sent downstairs to get their luggage and get in line. No computers. Four or five agents. All of you luggage dragging with you. (I'll bet the porters were upset) It took at least an hour for us to work our way through the line. Be prepared if they try that one again. When we came back for our final disembarkation, they were using the computers upstairs again. Off in a flash."

Are you saying that you had to remove your luggage on turnaround day? We have done many b2b's and we never had to take our luggage off the ship.

[JF - retired RRT]

Will be joining Crown Princess early next year, can you say is the ship in good shape, seen quite a few reports that it is looking tired??

 

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Looked fine to me. But I don't walk around looking for small problems. I'd be concerned if there was a leak in my cabin ceiling or all the carpet was filthy...didn't see any large issues.

The faucet in our bathroom sink was dripping. The steward called and it was repaired about an hour later.

[JF - retired RRT]

"Of interest – In San Pedro, when we disembarked from the Hawaii leg of our cruise, since we were “in transit” we were the last group off the ship. Someone in Border Control decided not to use the usual computers on the desks on the upper level. Instead EVERYONE was sent downstairs to get their luggage and get in line. No computers. Four or five agents. All of you luggage dragging with you. (I'll bet the porters were upset) It took at least an hour for us to work our way through the line. Be prepared if they try that one again. When we came back for our final disembarkation, they were using the computers upstairs again. Off in a flash."

 

Are you saying that you had to remove your luggage on turnaround day? We have done many b2b's and we never had to take our luggage off the ship.

No. Guess I didn't word that properly. Everyone who got off before the "in transit" folks had to grab their luggage and a porter (if they needed one) and stand in line to wait while the 4 or 5 agents slowly processed each of us...one at a time.

The poor porters were standing there with one (maybe 2 or 3) passenger's suitcases on the dolly, instead of waiting at the luggage area and taking their customers out, then running back in to grab some more.

[easyboy]

No. Guess I didn't word that properly. Everyone who got off before the "in transit" folks had to grab their luggage and a porter (if they needed one) and stand in line to wait while the 4 or 5 agents slowly processed each of us...one at a time.

 

The poor porters were standing there with one (maybe 2 or 3) passenger's suitcases on the dolly, instead of waiting at the luggage area and taking their customers out, then running back in to grab some more.

 

 

Thanks for the clarification. I thought CBP already changed procedure for our next b2b.

 

 

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[Thrak]

We have only had issues with the port people twice. Both times it was in San Pedro. That place is messed up.

[greenie082756]

Thank you for your review of your cruises on the Crown. We found it to be as you stated.

 

DH and I were on the 15 day to Hawaii portion.

Of the 3 ships we have been on with Princess this was not our favorite. There was something about the design where the public places just seemed to be smaller.

 

I agree about the food and the cold rolls and the doling out of the butter @ dinner.

Seems foolish to set the rolls down and then 15 minutes or so later walk around the table and see who need butter.

However the Curtis Stone chicken and leek pot pie was so good I plan on making it myself.

 

When we are retired we would like to do what you just did but not on the Crown.

[JF - retired RRT]

There was something about the design where the public places just seemed to be smaller.

 

 

However the Curtis Stone chicken and leek pot pie was so good I plan on making it myself.

 

DH thinks the crowding is because there is one whole deck extra with that many more people than on some of the other ships.

 

I had the chicken and leek pot pie once. It wasn't bad, but the chicken chunks were way too big. And it would have been better if there had been more veggies...a few carrots, some potatoes, something besides chicken and leeks.

[Working 2 Cruise]

The way it sounds, and that may not be your intent, but it seems the only thing out of the 43 days you liked is the Chef's table... the rest is a litany of complaints. Did you not find anything else to be enjoyable?

[JF - retired RRT]

The way it sounds, and that may not be your intent, but it seems the only thing out of the 43 days you liked is the Chef's table... the rest is a litany of complaints. Did you not find anything else to be enjoyable?

 

I didn't intend for it to sound like it was bad.

Love sea days.

The entertainment venues that we were able to get into were very good, just not able to get into very many. We had early TD and if we didn't rush, we were too late for a seat. We aren't night owls, so the late shows were beyond our endurance.

Loved Bora Bora. Hawaii was as good as it always it.

MDR meals were (as I stated) good to very good.

Crew was marvelous.

It was very nice to be able to watch MUTS at night and not need a blanket.

 

But, for us, the value wasn't there.

[Working 2 Cruise]

I didn't intend for it to sound like it was bad.

Love sea days.

The entertainment venues that we were able to get into were very good, just not able to get into very many. We had early TD and if we didn't rush, we were too late for a seat. We aren't night owls, so the late shows were beyond our endurance.

Loved Bora Bora. Hawaii was as good as it always it.

MDR meals were (as I stated) good to very good.

Crew was marvelous.

It was very nice to be able to watch MUTS at night and not need a blanket.

 

But, for us, the value wasn't there.

 

That's the thing about cruising... nothing can and will be 100% perfect. Those cruises sound blissful to me! Are there hiccups, of course. But I don't think you'll get perfection anywhere! Are the rolls better warm? Yes. Do I complain about cold rolls? No. They're still very good. Maybe you just need a break from cruising?

[osofish2]

We were also on this cruise.To get surf and turf at the Crown Grille, we just ordered the lobster the course before our steak, and waited to eat it with our steak, which worked perfectly.

 

In the dining room, our waiter was able to manipulate to have our surf and turf at the same time. You get all the butter you want, if you ask. If you are ordering a baked potato for dinner, just have them leave extra for you. You can have eggs benedict every morning in the dining room, even though it is not on the menu.

 

Our table ordered a cheese platter every night before dinner, which was always there when we arrived, and just got better each evening-we like to eat cheese on our bread.

 

We had a great cruise. Yes, the Crown, and our room, had a couple small problems, but all the the staff was exceptional, and we found the dining room food to also be very good. We found the tropical atmosphere and music to be lacking, the casino empty and boring.

 

We would not have a problem cruising on the Crown again. Again, all the staff were friendly and professional, which made our cruise very enjoyable.

[dickinson]

I too was on this cruise (28 day) and enjoyed it very much. We took a tour around Moorea and thought it was much better than Bora Bora. On Bora Bora all the pretty scenery could be seen from the ship. We also took a tour around Tahiti. That too was pretty.

 

Fettucini Alfredo - one night at dinner (anytime dining) someone at our table had it with the parmesan basket. They said all you have to do is order it the night before so they have time to bake it.

 

Rowena and Brian - I wasn't impressed although they were not bad by any means. I think I am spoiled because last year we did the 15 day Hawaii cruise and had Elua. They were wonderful. I did not go to the port talks for Hawaii but did catch a little bit on the tv. Five minutes was the most I could take (and that is being generous!). I could tell she was disorganized and way too giggly.

 

Onboard was Gary Shahan. He is a guest lecturer. He does the Hawaii runs. We saw him last year and he was fantastic! Especially his Route 66 lectures which he expanded from 2 days to 3 days. He told me that Princess has decided that the Hawaiian ambassadors would do the port talks in Hawaii and that is why Rowena was doing it. He said she is really nice but obviously not a public speaker. He is doing 7 cruises on the Star with Elua and they have said he could do the port talks. After that it is up to Princess.

[riclop]

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Duffysmom]

Thank you for your review. It always amazes me when people take offense when a review is not in line with their experiences and they tell the reviewer to get lost (or take a break from cruising).:eek:

[JF - retired RRT]

Thank you for your review. It always amazes me when people take offense when a review is not in line with their experiences and they tell the reviewer to get lost (or take a break from cruising).:eek:

 

Thank you!!

[cherylandtk]

JF thanks for your review. I too did not find it to be a litany of complaints, just honest and succinct assessment.

 

BTW, there is a message for you from Just Mike on the 2017 Roll Call in case you have not checked back there since leaving.

[Hokkaidocruiser]

We just spent 43 days on the Crown. Hawaii (15 days) and Tahiti (28 days). Some thoughts about our adventure.

Hallways – blue/pink runners are still here. Lets you know with a glance if you're on the port or starboard side.

 

MDR – the great butter controversy lives on. No butter on the tables at dinner (only lunch and breakfast). The waiter brings butter around and asks how many you want. Also, haven't seen anything labeled margarine in the buffet...butter only. But the butter doesn't taste like the butter I use at home...very mild butter flavor (not worth the calories IMHO).

The rolls are warm at lunch and cold at dinner. I want warm rolls!!

MDR food was for the most part good to very good. Desserts, as always, hard to decide which one to pick. Sorbets are a delicious way to end the meal.

 

Fettuccine Alfredo – no more Parmesan basket (at least not on this ship). Just a slice of Parmesan on top of the fettuccine. And the slice of cheese was dry and hard.

 

Brian and Rowena were the Hawaiian ambassadors. Rowena did the destination lectures (she wasn't very well prepared). Two other lecturers with some interesting topics. Brian plays a great guitar/banjo thingy. Very strange...the ukulele lessons didn't start until on the way back from Hawaii. Or I wasn't paying enough attention to the Patter.

 

We always get a gift card for wine from our TA which we've exchanged in the past for $20 OBC (we don't drink wine). Pax services refused to allow it. The rep stated it had been allowed in the past, but corporate says that's not what it's for, so no more. At least, not on this ship. Going in December on the Star & will try again.

 

Crown Grill – no “surf n' turf” (at least on this ship). You can have lobster and steak, just not at the same time (2 separate courses).

 

Our stewards were amazing. Glenn on Aloha deck in the 500s and Sayan on Baja deck in the 700s. If you have either of these gentlemen you won't be disappointed.

 

Chef's Table – OMG!! Whether you've done this before or not...do it on this ship! The executive chef is Manlio Cuzzolin. He is amazing! Several people who did this with us said they'd done the CT many times and this was the best one ever. Run...do not walk to sign up.

Note: one of our CC members asked the Maitre D' to do a table for us (we had 10 signed up). The MD (Jean-Francois Ferat) scheduled a second table. You may be able to talk him into doing that for you, too.

 

Captain Circle hostess told us there were 880 Elites on the Tahiti leg. There was a separate lounge for Elites to wait in for tendering. This could have been a problem for those with early AM tours on the tender ports. The lines for both tender lounges started at 6:30.

 

No fruit bowls!! Used to get a card in the cabin asking if we want a fruit bowl. No more (at least not on this ship).

 

There was no crew talent show on the first leg (Hawaii - 15 days). There was one on the Tahiti leg.

 

Of interest – In San Pedro, when we disembarked from the Hawaii leg of our cruise, since we were “in transit” we were the last group off the ship. Someone in Border Control decided not to use the usual computers on the desks on the upper level. Instead EVERYONE was sent downstairs to get their luggage and get in line. No computers. Four or five agents. All of you luggage dragging with you. (I'll bet the porters were upset) It took at least an hour for us to work our way through the line. Be prepared if they try that one again. When we came back for our final disembarkation, they were using the computers upstairs again. Off in a flash.

 

Final thoughts: Enjoyed Hawaii...this was the 4th and 5th time we've gone to Hawaii on a ship. Tahiti was our first and probably our only visit. We were disappointed with the Samoas. We went to $2 Beach in Pago Pago - once was definitely enough. Apia was underwhelming - took a taxi tour and saw all we wanted to see in the first 15 minutes. Bora Bora was beautiful - did a wonderful snorkel tour with CC friends (the highlight of the trip). Moorea was nice, although we didn't do much. On Tahiti we had a tour scheduled with Adventure Eagle Tours. He was supposed to show up at 8 AM, we waited until 8:45, then left and walked around Papeete instead. It was less expensive, but a disappointment.

 

And, as always, these were MY impressions and thoughts...YMMV.

 

By the 4th day of the 28-day sailing, Tiffany Chou, the Captain's Circle Host had already garnered 93 complaints at the Passenger Services Desk about her attitude towards passengers.

She told one of our trivia buddies "I have already resigned so that I do not have to face passengers like you".

This comment was communicated to management ashore and onboard and she ended up being let off the ship in Papeete, Tahiti.

Edited November 23, 2016 by Hokkaidocruiser

[JF - retired RRT]

JF thanks for your review. I too did not find it to be a litany of complaints, just honest and succinct assessment.

 

BTW, there is a message for you from Just Mike on the 2017 Roll Call in case you have not checked back there since leaving.

 

Thanks

[JF - retired RRT]

By the 4th day of the 28-day sailing, Tiffany Chou, the Captain's Circle Host had already garnered 93 complaints at the Passenger Services Desk about her attitude towards passengers.

She told one of our trivia buddies "I have already resigned so that I do not have to face passengers like you".

This comment was communicated to management ashore and onboard and she ended up being let off the ship in Papeete, Tahiti.

 

We wondered where she went. Talked to her twice and she wasn't rude, but also not terribly friendly.

[Hokkaidocruiser]

We wondered where she went. Talked to her twice and she wasn't rude, but also not terribly friendly.

 

There is so much to this but let me just say that by the time we reached Kauai (day 4 or 5 of the cruise), plans were already in place to replace her. I am sure you noticed that the last 10 days or so of the cruise, a uniformed female ship officer was filling in as Captain's Circle Host.

[dickinson]

By the 4th day of the 28-day sailing, Tiffany Chou, the Captain's Circle Host had already garnered 93 complaints at the Passenger Services Desk about her attitude towards passengers.

She told one of our trivia buddies "I have already resigned so that I do not have to face passengers like you".

This comment was communicated to management ashore and onboard and she ended up being let off the ship in Papeete, Tahiti.

 

So that explains why her desk was always empty during the 8 sea days! I'm not surprised by this info because we asked her a question and she just directed us to passenger services. I did not feel that she particularly cared.

[envy4u]

We loved Bora Bora. Enjoyed OUR snorkel tour together! Thanks for your review.

 

 

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[Elua]

Onboard was Gary Shahan. He is a guest lecturer. He does the Hawaii runs. We saw him last year and he was fantastic! Especially his Route 66 lectures which he expanded from 2 days to 3 days. He told me that Princess has decided that the Hawaiian ambassadors would do the port talks in Hawaii and that is why Rowena was doing it. He said she is really nice but obviously not a public speaker. He is doing 7 cruises on the Star with Elua and they have said he could do the port talks. After that it is up to Princess.

Aloha,

I certainly agree, Gary is a wonderful speaker and Leialoha and I are looking forward to seeing him this season. But I want those guests sailing with us this season to know that I will be doing the port talks on the Hawaiian runs, not Gary. Princess has indeed asked all of the Hawaiian Ambassadors to present the lectures, and I must say that I am enjoying this new aspect of our jobs very much! I'm sorry if there was a misunderstanding or incorrect information on this matter.

 

I hope to see many of you this year to share the aloha spirit!

 

Aloha No,

Tiki Dave

(Of Elua)

http://www.facebook.com/eluamusic