Honest Must Read Recap: Star Princess 10/30

[Nitemare]

My favorite thin crust pizza is from NY, John's Pizza, and although the pizza on Golden 6 weeks ago certainly wasn't as good as John's, it was better than 90% of pizza I've had (and I've had more than my share).

 

Pizza Hut & Domino's are better than frozen, and that's about it.

 

On Golden the only day we saw fresh burgers was on Day 1, after that they took 'em from a warming bin and finished off the hockey puck treatment as you ordered them. Agreed that the dogs and fries were topnotch.

[Nitemare]

 

I'm not too big into gay buzz words, but in the Princess Patters, I saw numerous events for "Friends of Dorothy" and "Friends of Dr. Bill and Bob" which I believe are gay getogethers. No one cared a whit or mentioned those at all.

Friends of Dorothy are gay get-togethers, they have those on just about every cruise. Dr. Bill & Bob refer to alcohol and drug 12 step programs, also a regular feature on every cruise.

[bdjam]

Well, that depends on what the research reveals and also the intellect of the one doing the research.. I never had a misunderstanding of the Bears. I researched before I ever responded to any threads about the Bears. I have no problems with the Bears and would probably enjoy cruising with them as much as any group. I was against the fact that it was a porn industry sponsored cruise on a family friendly ship with 50+ porn actors.:)

I’ll bow out of the debate because I don’t want the thread to again go poof – and I would suggest to Tink that if I’ve crossed the line with this post that it be removed and not the whole thread. The opinion on the bears on this cruise – 10% of which were purported to be adult film models – was decided before the ship left the dock and smelled very much of prejudice from postings here and on other boards. In fact reports of outlandish behavior have come back from those who don’t wish to substantiate it – “I’ve got pictures but I’m not showing them, I’ve got emails from Princess but I’m not telling you about them.” It is very unfortunate that a group of people who are out to enjoy a vacation have been categorized by some extremes in behavior. I doubt that would have happened if the bears had been straight, but believe it or not, extremes in behavior occurs in the straight community as well. My issue is prejudging based on extremes - that's exactly what was done.

That's all! :D

[coiran]

BTW - Having missed Cozumel because of the storm damage the ship made a supplies relief stop at Cozumel - dropping tenders to deliver supplies. Some people were slightly angered that we did not go to Costa Maya in it's stead. I was advised by Captain Nash that there are only two berths in Costa Maya and they were both occupied that day - so - it was either make a supply stop at Coz or spend a day at sea going around in circles.

 

Ron

 

I'm sorry if I offended anyone with this post - This information came to me directly from the Captains mouth to my ear - about two feet away from him - He also volunteered the info, I didn't ask him.

BTW - in the 5 months a year he is not assigned to a ship he drives a public transportation bus 2 days a week in his home town.

Ron

[cruise182]

I’ll bow out of the debate because I don’t want the thread to again go poof – and I would suggest to Tink that if I’ve crossed the line with this post that it be removed and not the whole thread. The opinion on the bears on this cruise – 10% of which were purported to be adult film models – was decided before the ship left the dock and smelled very much of prejudice from postings here and on other boards. In fact reports of outlandish behavior have come back from those who don’t wish to substantiate it – “I’ve got pictures but I’m not showing them, I’ve got emails from Princess but I’m not telling you about them.” It is very unfortunate that a group of people who are out to enjoy a vacation have been categorized by some extremes in behavior. I doubt that would have happened if the bears had been straight, but believe it or not, extremes in behavior occurs in the straight community as well. My issue is prejudging based on extremes - that's exactly what was done.

 

That's all! :D

 

Where is there a debate??? I have no problem with the Bears!! More power to them!! However, I do not appreciate you quoting me to insinuate that I am trying to debate!! Everyone is free to read my comments!! I have stated more then once that I do not have a Problem with the Bears!! My problem and only problem WOULD be if I had discovered that I was going to sail on a ship with 50+ Porn stars...that were traveling as porn stars (not porn stars that were on vacation) BUT porn stars filming porn in their cabins to sell on the internetand it was an advertised group cruise geared towards the fans of the said industry. That is all. I have no problem with gay folks. Why do you not see the potential for problems? The reports of misbehavior have been censored....so with that we will never see what may or may not have transpired on the cruise. I do know that bear films shows a Porn star on the Star Princess in a public area signing a Pornographic calender with others in line. obviously if I post the picture the thread will certainly be pulled. I just want to be perfectly clear, regardless of how you will constru7de this statement, I have NO problem with gay or the like but I do have a problem with pornography being this close to my children on a vacation!!

[jennew]

No matter how many times we say "It's not the gay thing, it's the PORN that is the problem" people will still say we are being prejudiced. I would feel EXACTLY the same way if I was on a cruise with a group from a straight PORN company.

 

I would like to think that Princess kept things in hand and that nothing too outrageous happened.

[cruise182]

No matter how many times we say "It's not the gay thing, it's the PORN that is the problem" people will still say we are being prejudiced. I would feel EXACTLY the same way if I was on a cruise with a group from a straight PORN company.

 

I would like to think that Princess kept things in hand and that nothing too outrageous happened.

 

I hope they did!! GOD, why does it have to turn into a debate? How can any parent not be worried that they were going to be on a "group cruise" with 50+ porn stars, sailing as porn stars and making a PORN movie while on board, and not show some concern?

[jennew]

nevermind, I can't post the link. There is a pic right on the website of a bear signing a porn calendar right out in public.

 

I would be furious if my child was exposed to such a thing on vacation.

[MarsMc888]

I don't like Bears. Nor Lions or Tigers. Oh my.

 

;)

 

You know they are going to pull this thread, why not just tell us how you really feel and give the "PC" stuff a rest? It will only last about 2.2 seconds anyway, before it is gone forever.

Poof!

(please excuse the pun)

 

-M

[cruise182]

nevermind, I can't post the link. There is a pic right on the website of a bear signing a porn calendar right out in public.

 

I would be furious if my child was exposed to such a thing on vacation.

 

Amazing...is it not?? I am sure Princess did a Phenomenal job keeping the ruckus down......but as a parent I would have been on edge the whole cruise!! Call it prejudging or what have you.......I call it being a protective parent trying to shield their children from porn!!

[cruise182]

I don't like Bears. Nor Lions or Tigers. Oh my.

 

;)

 

You know they are going to pull this thread, why not just tell us how you really feel and give the "PC" stuff a rest? It will only last about 2.2 seconds anyway, before it is gone forever.

Poof!

(please excuse the pun)

 

-M

 

You know what???? You are right!! On that note I will NOT be posting or even READING this thread!!! I will go about trying to protect my children from destructive, pornographic, harmful crap that inundates them day after day!! So long thread!!

[jennew]

moderators must be eating dinner. I can't think of another reason that this thread is still here....

[Moondawgie]

I like the pizza debate better ... go NY thin crust pizza!

[crusdiva]

I'm not too big into gay buzz words, but in the Princess Patters, I saw numerous events for "Friends of Dorothy" and "Friends of Dr. Bill and Bob" which I believe are gay getogethers. No one cared a whit or mentioned those at all.

codex57,

You're half right; "Friends of Dr. Bill and Bob" is an AA meeting - every cruise I've ever been on has this listed.

[spongerob]

Everyone knows that the only good place to get pizza is a college town. :)

[coiran]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]We were on the cruise in question - never did we see any gay porn stars doing anything out of the ordinary or signing porn calendars with people waiting in line. The Bears we encountered were very polite and didn't bother anyone - as far as what they did in their cabin would be whatever they want to do just as a man and wife may opt to do. What they do in their cabin, unless it is against the law, Princess has no jurisdiction over. Again, the Bears (450 of them) were not a problem. We discussed it with several couples at lunch and dinner and noone that we talked to had a problem with them.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]This is not just my opinion, but fact. The captain and the entire staff were well aware of their group and, if there was a problem, Princess did an admirable job at controlling it.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]Ron[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Casshew]

[quote name='TimandKathleen'] better......

What is the pizza cook your Brother?.[/quote]

LOL I don't have an opinion on the pizza but that was funny!

[coiran]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]I had a pizza as shown in the pix, however, I prefer the pizza on the Sun Class ships.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=3]Ron[/SIZE][/FONT]

[gambit57]

I think we should start up the pizza debate again.

The bears are pretty much a non-issue. I saw some odd costumes on Haloween, but I'd say they were PG-13 at the worst and not enough to really offend. Other than that, they kept to themselves. Princess did a great job of blocking off their areas so that you couldn't accidentally stumble upon them. The Bears did a great job of not doing any of their porn stuff out in the common areas. I think parents had a right to be worried, but luckily, nothing came of it. My cabin was very close to where they had most of their activities and they did a good job of keeping out of sight of the doors.

The singles group actually caused more of a commotion than the bears cuz one of them passed out during dinner and needed some very light medical attention. That was more exciting than anything I saw the bears do.

Now as for the pizza, like I said earlier, it wasn't good. If in the California Bay Area, try Zachary's Pizza in the East Bay for deep dish or Fat Slice out in Berkeley for thin crust. Yum! I'm still looking for a really good pizza place in SoCal. Come to think of it, the cheese on the Princess pizza looked like the cellulite I saw on <ahem> some of the other passengers. :P We ate 78 tons of food on that trip according to Tim, the cruise director. I believe him too. hahahaha

[Cruisin' Chick]

I remember the cover over the pool being retracted on our cruise on the Star a couple of years ago. That was in the Mexican Riviera so the weather was warm enough. You would figure it would be even warmer in the Caribbean.

I was going to comment on the OP's comment about the bear thing but I guess it was explained by other posters. As long as it's behind closed doors between (among?) consenting adults, it shouldn't be our business. Maybe Princess would have problems with any commercial business done on their ship w/o their permission??

About ten years ago, we had the misfortune of being on a cruise that was featuring a "World Tournament of Bingo." Now this was a group (about a third of the passengers) of addictive personalities. Always drinking, gambling, smoking, eating. Maybe Carnival was happy making money off of them, secondary revenue wise, but we keep our fingers crossed every cruise that if there's a big group aboard, they're not like them. On our last cruise was a group of medical techs (or something like that) but they were not obnoxious at all (we enjoyed talking to the ones we met).

[Northender]

I think that the Princess Pizza is delish:) I come from a college area and we have some really good pizza and some really bad pizza. All depends on your tastebuds. I agree that the burgers need help but hot dogs and fries are very good.:)

How does one go about finding out if there is going to be a large group on your cruise? So far, we have not run in to this, but as Princess handles things very well, perhaps it just was not apparent to the other cruisers.:)

[Dreamer333]

[quote name='cruise182'][B]porn stars filming porn in their cabins to sell on the internet[/B][/quote]

This is a good reason to ask for CLEAN comforters!! ;)


p.s. I LOVE Princess pizza... and I'm from Chicago, so I know good pizza!

[phaelon56]

[quote name='TimandKathleen'][B]You nailed it! [/B]

The cheese was in clumps and Kathleen even mentioned that now that I think about it. Like real bad consistency - exactly!!!

Most of the pasta sauces in the Horizon's Buffet including on the pizza were marginal at best, so maybe these people had a different experience, as ours was as I said earlier AWFUL...............[/QUOTE]

I think the cheese they're using on Princess is the "Grande cheese blend" that many commercial pizza shops have switched over to in recent years (or something like it). The Wisconsin cheese industry made a major marketign push with this product some years back and i'ts gotten regrettably widespread in usage. It doesn't have the same melting characteristics as mozzarella but it's cheaper. By the way... many, many pizza places in NYC have switched over to that (IMHO) crappy cheese blend but the old school NYC mainstay's like John's, Totonno's, Grimaldi's, Lombardi's etc still use either whole milk or fresh mozzarella depending on what pie you order.

The dough was surprisingly good by my standards considering that it's a cruise ship and a gas fired not a coal-burning oven. The sauce was sort of blah. It's unfortunate that they don't take some sauce from the one of the main dining rooms. I had fusilli pomodoro for lunch one day on the Coral dining room on the CB and the red sauce was outstanding - very, very good. Can't comment on the buffet sauces as I never hit the buffet for anything more than fruit, a cookie or a late night snack.

[spiritkat090909]

I really enjoyed the OP's review...the personality & expression was different than what I'm used to, but I was still able to 'figure it out'.

Until I started reading, I thought the Bear expression was just a new term that I was clueless about. Learned something here.

THEN...I realized...Hey... I REALLY wouldn't like it if the porn stars were a [B][COLOR=Blue]Bevy of Beautiful Babes[/COLOR][/B] & I didn't know about it ahead of time. Forget the kids...:eek:

[gambit57]

You know, I never saw the pool with the retracting roof open either? We had some beautiful days in which it would have been awesome to have it open. Never did. I wonder if it costs too much. Sounds weird, but I read that it costs a ton of money (for some weird reason) to open and close the retractable roofs on sports stadiums.