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Live From May 1 2017 Caribbean Princess British Isles cruise

pkt1976

By pkt1976,
in Princess Cruises

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cnkgirl

cnkgirl

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Loving your review, we will be hopping on the Princess Caribbean as you are getting off on May 13! Thank you for the tip about the my Vegas reward at The Hippodrome casino, we will be spending 3 days in London after the cruise so I will order this reward. Have a wonderful cruise :)

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gottoseeit

gottoseeit

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It's a beautiful sunny day day. I have wifi on the bus so will try to get some photos up. Our guide is Joe and he's very nice and helpful. He also has a nice singing voice. Blarney Castle and grounds was so beautiful

 

 

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Thank you so much for your postings! My husband and I are on the August 29th sailing and this is the first time I've joined a roll call although we've been on 6 previous cruises. I love reading about all the ports and getting information to help me with my plans. I've subscribed to this thread and will be with you all the way. Happy travels!

Nancy

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pkt1976 Great Review Rare

pkt1976

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Last night was rock and roll night on board. I was planning to go to bed but was convinced to dance for a bit. It wasn't that hard... I love to dance. The band was great and played great music for dancing.

 

Today we are in the port of Dublin. This is an industrial port. Princess and pre booked bus tours pick up right outside the ship. You can not walk through the port and there is a free shuttle offered into the city.

 

I booked a tour with Paddywagon tours In This port as well. Imagine my surprise when I came out and found that my driver was... Joe again! He was fabulous yesterday and I was happy to see him again.

 

We departed the port and drove through the city for a bit while Joe pointed out various landmarks and told us stories. We drove out through the Wicklow mountains on the way to Glendalough. We had a couple hours here to walk through the Monastery area or to follow the path to the lakes. Those reading this who know me know what I did, straight for the lake away from the other tourists! It was a lovely walk and the quiet was very relaxing.

From there he took us back to Dublin where we have a few hours to wander around.

 

Joe recommended The Bank of College Green for lunch. The mango and passion fruit cheesecake a s ice cream were delicious. Now off to shop for a bit !

 

 

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Beach710

Beach710

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Last night was rock and roll night on board. I was planning to go to bed but was convinced to dance for a bit. It wasn't that hard... I love to dance. The band was great and played great music for dancing.

 

Today we are in the port of Dublin. This is an industrial port. Princess and pre booked bus tours pick up right outside the ship. You can not walk through the port and there is a free shuttle offered into the city.

 

I booked a tour with Paddywagon tours In This port as well. Imagine my surprise when I came out and found that my driver was... Joe again! He was fabulous yesterday and I was happy to see him again.

 

We departed the port and drove through the city for a bit while Joe pointed out various landmarks and told us stories. We drove out through the Wicklow mountains on the way to Glendalough. We had a couple hours here to walk through the Monastery area or to follow the path to the lakes. Those reading this who know me know what I did, straight for the lake away from the other tourists! It was a lovely walk and the quiet was very relaxing.

From there he took us back to Dublin where we have a few hours to wander around.

 

Joe recommended The Bank of College Green for lunch. The mango and passion fruit cheesecake a s ice cream were delicious. Now off to shop for a bit !

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks for your reporting.

 

Can you double check to verify if the shuttle was free? Previous reports and Patters have shown the shuttle was $8 / per person each way.

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cityguy300

cityguy300

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Thanks for your reporting.

 

Can you double check to verify if the shuttle was free? Previous reports and Patters have shown the shuttle was $8 / per person each way.

 

I just came off the previous sailing. The shuttle to Merrion Square was free, and met by all the hop on hop off operators (reduced rate of 10 euros for one of them since it was a Sunday).

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Knolmom

Knolmom

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pkt1976.. can you tell us more about the menu at Bank of College Green? What did you enjoy besides the cheesecake ice cream? Was this a pub or a restaurant, and, if others were with you, did they order anything different. Thanks again. Enjoying your reports!

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newport dave

newport dave

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pkt1976.. can you tell us more about the menu at Bank of College Green? What did you enjoy besides the cheesecake ice cream? Was this a pub or a restaurant, and, if others were with you, did they order anything different. Thanks again. Enjoying your reports!

Here you go, google helps a lot.

 

http://www.bankoncollegegreen.com/restaurant

 

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triple7tahoe

triple7tahoe

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Love Captain Fortezze!! Hope he is still on in October for my cruise!

During our TA we had the chance to talk with him at length. He told us that he would be aboard when the ship starts the Panama Canal cruises later this year. He was going home (Genoa) just before that but will be back. I do not know the exact dates.

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jovisoul

jovisoul

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During our TA we had the chance to talk with him at length. He told us that he would be aboard when the ship starts the Panama Canal cruises later this year. He was going home (Genoa) just before that but will be back. I do not know the exact dates.

 

The Panama Canal cruises start the week after our Circle Caribbean cruise :(

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pkt1976 Great Review Rare

pkt1976

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May 5th we arrived in Belfast to another blue sky day. It is quite windy and chilly so layers are still a must.

 

We docked a bit late and ship clearance was late as well so there was a nice long line to get off. This is an industrial port and walking through is not allowed. Princess did offer a free shuttle to and from town.

 

There were two ladies from the Philippines who were on the bus in Cobh and Dublin the last couple days who's mission in life those days was to set me up with Joe the guide.... despite the fact we'd only be here a short time. Both days they were singing his praises. How smart and handsome and strong he is and how we both have blue eyes , what a great singer he is and on and on. He mentioned being single a few times which got me winks and jabs from them [emoji23] I'm a bit onery so when he was out of earshot I egged them on a bit. If you can't beat them, join them right? I Of course behaved when he could hear me. I saw them talking to him and giggling at times so at least I wasn't alone with their teasing. This morning they were near me In Line and asked if Joe would be our guide again but he said yesterday he wouldn't be, which makes sense as we are now in Northern Ireland. I told them it's better this way as if I'd spent 3 days with him I may have left married. [emoji38][emoji183] They are on the tour in Scotland tomorrow so they are now hoping for a single Scotsman to set me up with [emoji23] Good to have wing women right?

 

Today I've booked a tour with Odyssey tours. Our guide was Gail and there were 31 of us.

 

The tour departed just after 8am and headed first to view the ruins of Dunluce castle. We stayed there about 15 minutes before heading for Giants Causeway. We had 1 hour and 15 minutes to visit. You must pay to get into the tourist center which also contains a gift shop and restrooms. I think this is quite stupid. I'm not paying 10 gbp to go in to shop. Had I been able to go to the gift shop at no cost, I likely would have bought something. There are 3 bathroom stalls by the entry for free. You then enter the causeway through the tunnel.

 

There is a shuttle that is 1GBP each way to and from the area by the causeway and they do also take euros. You can also walk down and back. I chose to walk down and ride back. There are some beautiful spots to take photos along the way. It was about a 10 minute walk down. It's quite steep on the way back.

 

Volcanic activity created this amazing place where the stones are like steps by the ocean. There were workers in red vests to assist if needed. There were easier and harder ways to go depending on your abilities and love or fear of heights. I climbed to the top but not onto the ledges. I'm clumsy and so far I've not injured myself on this trip (knock on wood) and plan to keep it that way.

 

The Nook is a cafe at the entry to the Causeway. They offer coffee, tea and other hot Drinks, but no food until noon. I went in and had a hot chocolate with marshmallows and looked out the window for a bit.

 

The next stop was Carrick a Rede bridge. The entry is free unless you want to cross the bridge, which is 6 GBP. The views were spectacular in this clear beautiful day. I will tell you the walk to and from the bridge is long. It is steep in some places and there are stairs and areas of loose gravel. If you cross the bridge, you have to climb a rock area to get to the top. It is beautiful up there so if you can do it, it's very worth the effort. There is a cafe and gift shop here as well.

 

The next stop was a beautiful coastal town called Ballycastle, though there was no castle there. We had and hour and a half to get lunch and wander the town. I went into a small shop and purchased a beautiful wood photo frame with Celtic carvings. I spoke with the shop keeper a bit and she said tour buses rarely come there. The shops here are small and family owned. I wish we'd had more time here and was very happy to be here n a place with less crowds.

 

We proceeded along the coast with views of blue, green and turquoise sea against the blue sky. We've been so fortunate so far on this trip with the weather. She made a quick stop and purchased Gorse for us the try. It's dried seaweed from the area and was quite salty.

 

Next we were driven through Belfast where she discussed "The Troubles" when people were persecuted and murdered for their religious and political beliefs and a wall was constructed to keep the two groups apart And how they needed to be high enough to keep the two sides from throwing bombs over. Gail lives in the country and said she's raised her children to respect those who have different beliefs and had to explain the wall and the painted murals to them as they got older and how she hopes this will never happen again.

 

As we entered the port we could see the Titanic experience building to the rear of the ship.

 

It was a day of beauty and for me ended as a day to reflect on how we as humans treat each other. I wish that we as a human race would do better and be kinder to each other, including those we don't agree with.

 

Im exhausted tonight and went to the buffet for dinner. I do not like going to the buffet but a shower, clothing change and a couple hours at dinner just was not working for me tonight! I am having another relax In my cabin night, which is also rare for me, but you play you pay!! [emoji12]

 

On cruises I normally go dance or see shows every night but this cruise for me is about the experiences on shore. I kept thinking today how I could have never seen this amazing area and how fortunate I am. My ankles are already swollen (wearing compression socks again tonight to get them back down) but it's worth it to see and experience it all. "Suck it up and go " is my mantra this trip [emoji23]

 

 

 

 

 

 

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