Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 24, 2018 Author #126 Share Posted January 24, 2018 My short rib ravioli is a bowl-licker dish Carol's spinach and ricotta ravioli (blank space!) It seems I didn't take a photo of that dish. Carol passes her plate over to me to have its photo taken so I may have been too busy eating So here is my beef filet with garlic mash and veggies " I couldn't find anything I liked to eat" said Norris (NOT!) Carol finished with a fruit plate (melon slices and not worth the shot) while I asked for that yummy Orange Souffle. The waiter came back to apologize as they had run out of it but could have one ready for me in 15 minutes. Not wanting to wait I had an apple tart dish. Off to a great start with the cooking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 24, 2018 Author #127 Share Posted January 24, 2018 WOW WOW & DOUBLE WOW...just yesterday I finally got around to starting to read your "Comparing Princess & Celebrity" thread...and now this! That one is close to 50 pages long and I only made it to page 20 (right around to comparing "festive events")...hoping I get caught up before my upcoming Caribbean Princess cruise. I was keeping an eye on your progress last week on the webcam and knew I'd have this amazing review to look forward to.Can't wait for the rest..... Susan Susan, welcome back and thanks for pushing the boat out on the Celebrity/Princess comparison. Glad to have you aboard! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lola2013 Posted January 24, 2018 #128 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Susan, welcome back and thanks for pushing the boat out on the Celebrity/Princess comparison. Glad to have you aboard!Norris My friend and I just booked one of the Edge preview cruises...that will likely be an apples to oranges comparison with Princess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 24, 2018 Author #129 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Hello Norris,So happy to have found this review as we are going on our first Princess cruise on the Crown in March. We've done several cruises on Celebrity and Royal so am off to find your comparison thread. Looking forward to more! Angela Welcome Angela, I haven't seen you before so double-welcome and thanks for taking the plunge. You know this will be LONG I hope. Yes, read the comparison thread when you have time. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 24, 2018 Author #130 Share Posted January 24, 2018 My lack of photographs between lunch (1pm and we left at 2 pm) and Muster Drill (or safety meeting) in Club Fusion one deck below, means that I must have been at Tradewinds Bar on deck 16 (Sun Deck, just above Lido and the Neptune Pool). There I sit at a smoking table and wait for a waiter to swing by. If they are good-i.e can take a joke then they become my go-to. Alas after 5 thirsty minutes I had to walk to the bar which must have been 15 feet away and there purchased a Guinness. No receipts or signing required. When it came time for #2 I did catch a waiter's eye (left eye if memory serves) and she was Sherilyn from Philippines. I told her that from now on a raised eyebrow (either one) meant I wanted an Emergency Guinness. It was overcast but way warmer than Chicago. Looked like rain was possible. Muster was at 3.30 and this time no lifejackets were required to be brought along. After the 7 short and 1 long blast on the alarm system we trooped down the crew stairwell at the port corner of the ship to Promenade deck, being blasted by someone singing about safety to the Love Boat theme. No voice of the Captain from the bridge at this one, just someone from the crew staff talking into a mic. Then the Muster team members put on their lifejackets while we watched. I hope all the first time cruisers on board have total recall when the ship is listing in the dark on fire. The process took about 20 minutes which meant I could get back up to our balcony where I already had 4 cameras and 2 tripods set up for the most exciting Escaping Completely moment of any cruise for me-Completely Escaping the dock we are tied to. I should say that there was no sail away bubbly (Korbel) in our cabin and I met our steward Meilani in the hallway and asked her if we qualified for some. No-suites only Sir but...give me a couple of minutes. Voila-2 glasses of bubbly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 24, 2018 Author #131 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Oh, it seems I did take a couple of pics while up at Tradewinds... and now I am on our balcony after Muster Port Everglades is the home to many fine yachts, motor and sail The Harbor Sheriff is ready to escort us out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 24, 2018 Author #132 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Norris!!! I am so thrilled that I stumbled upon your review! We are visiting the ABC's for the first time in March on our Celebrity Eclipse cruise so I can't wait to read your review and see your wonderful photos! :D Welcome back and I believe you are in for a treat visiting these islands! I know from your stellar reviews-Paul Gauguin being the latest for those not familiar with deladane (check it out!) that you will do your research and come up with an action/relaxation packed personal itinerary. Cheers! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Pisces Posted January 24, 2018 #133 Share Posted January 24, 2018 The pictures are beautiful, and I am really excited to read your review! We are doing this cruise in 4 weeks!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimorel Posted January 24, 2018 #134 Share Posted January 24, 2018 I have to commend you on the wonderful photos! I am an aspiring photographer (and have been for over 35 years). I couldn't help but notice that you mentioned four cameras, if you don't mind my asking, which do you use most? I only have a Canon EOS Rebel with two lenses. The telephoto is 75-300, and serves me well. Our second cruise will be on the Regal in Feb. going to the Western Caribbean. I only hope to get pictures relatively close to yours. It wasn't mama that took away my Kodachrome, but switching to DSL did. I may be forced to find some more of your well worded descriptions of other cruises. Thank you for the review last fall and this one as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyecantwait Posted January 25, 2018 #135 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Welcome Angela, I haven't seen you before so double-welcome and thanks for taking the plunge. Thanks for the welcome. I generally don't lurk around here until we have a cruise in the offing which isn't often enough. You know this will be LONG I hope. Yes! Will help me while away the countdown to March 3. Yes, read the comparison thread when you have time. Norris Also loving all the photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G&T Cruisers Posted January 25, 2018 #136 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Hi Norris we are enjoying this review as well as your videos on Youtube.Thank you for all the hard work.:) Just watched you guys on PTZTV sail away video:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNGALNG Posted January 25, 2018 #137 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Norris, Can I be a 'pushy broad?' Sail away is a week from tomorrow. Can we hurry this up so I can get all the scoop before I board her and sail into the warm air?? ;p (Just kidding) I'm once again enjoying your photos and review. We've been on the Crown a few times and are looking forward to our return. Carry on. . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 25, 2018 Author #138 Share Posted January 25, 2018 I have to commend you on the wonderful photos! I am an aspiring photographer (and have been for over 35 years). I couldn't help but notice that you mentioned four cameras, if you don't mind my asking, which do you use most? I only have a Canon EOS Rebel with two lenses. The telephoto is 75-300, and serves me well. Our second cruise will be on the Regal in Feb. going to the Western Caribbean. I only hope to get pictures relatively close to yours. It wasn't mama that took away my Kodachrome, but switching to DSL did. I may be forced to find some more of your well worded descriptions of other cruises. Thank you for the review last fall and this one as well! Hi, and thanks for the kind comments on the photos! The four cameras I was referring to are shown below.... The one on the Manfrotto tripod at left is my main camera-a new Canon 6D MkII released end of July 2017. I had been hankering for a Full Frame camera for almost a year and rented a Canon 6D for my Celebrity Reflection cruise January 2017. I wanted one after that but was in no hurry, then in March there was a rumor that an upgraded 6D was in development and I waited and read as much as I could (a lot of it negative from people who didn't own the camera) but the price was right and lenses are where it's best to spend the money, so I have two L Lenses which cost 4 figures each. The camera I use for zooms (55 to 250 mm but on a crop body giving me 88 to 400mm effectively) is the Canon T3i, shown on the table. It is not Full Frame but gets a good result with the L Lenses. The 55 to 250 lens shown is not an L Lens so is weak in comparison to the other two lenses. When I can afford a 70 to 400mm L Lens I will leave this camera at home or trade it and the 3 lenses I have for it in via Amazon. The two video cameras I used at sail away were a GoPro Hero 3 attached to the balcony railing. I use it as a back-up while I am working the other 3 cameras and shot some underwater stuff in Bonaire with it-which I haven't seen yet. For the sailaway video which is coming up soon after the photos I used the Sony camcorder hand-held. My other two cameras are a pocket Canon and an iPhone 5. I bought a really good camera to get better photos, especially in the dark as I love night time photos and the challenge they bring and I can never blame the camera for a crappy photo- I am learning to take better photos but it's not an overnight thing. I don't use auto as I want to use my brain, not the camera's. I am at an age where I want to use my brain and that is why I try to learn new languages when I go abroad to Europe. I have taken photography lessons on the web (not free in some cases) from a wonderful teacher called Mike Browne on Youtube. He's a jolly, witty, self-effacing,down to Earth Brit which strikes a chord with me-and he knows his stuff. Check him out. I use Lightroom on every photo as I always shoot in RAW, not JPEGS. I hope this helps you in some way. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 25, 2018 Author #139 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Hi Norris we are enjoying this review as well as your videos on Youtube.Thank you for all the hard work.:)Just watched you guys on PTZTV sail away video:D Hello again! I tried to watch that video when I got home but it said it was unavailable so I wrote to PTZ and they fixed a typo in the URL which fixed the problem. I am trying to buy it but am waiting to hear if it is OK to upload it to this review before I do. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 25, 2018 Author #140 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Still waiting for the mooring ropes to be dropped in the water and hauled aboard. It's already 4 pm and I'm itching to get moving. I call the bridge and ask to speak to the Captain. "Wassup?" he says. "Dude, let's go!" say I. "OK, I'm on it!" and the last rope drops. Another fine yacht rushes to get ahead of us Ships in adjacent docks More.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 25, 2018 Author #141 Share Posted January 25, 2018 We've made the turn into the exit channel a tug follows but we don't need him and another. They are going out to meet a cargo ship waiting to come in More... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 25, 2018 Author #142 Share Posted January 25, 2018 We have passed the P.E. Webcam location and have completed our waving for the camera. The Marriott is the 2nd structure from the left Carol's gone to sea and she loves to do that! It's her 13th cruise since August 2011 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 25, 2018 Author #143 Share Posted January 25, 2018 SAILING AWAY Here is the video I shot Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 25, 2018 Author #144 Share Posted January 25, 2018 SUNSET OVER MIAMI After another exhilarating sail away Carol stayed put while I went up to deck 16 to make sure the Tradewinds bar was still there and hopefully to video the Deck Party which must be in full swing by now. Alas it had drizzled up there and the band equipment had been dismantled. I don't know where the party was moved to, if anywhere. Tradewinds Bar I was up here, enjoying a soothing Guinness and decided I should hang out incase there would be a sunset worth shooting. There weren't many people around as first sitting was happening in the MDRs and the buffet was also calling. There was nothing much to see up here anyway... 13 minutes later later still More.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted January 25, 2018 Author #145 Share Posted January 25, 2018 I have both cameras around my neck to take these pictures and am standing at the rail starboard side deck 16. (I took 3 shots to stitch into a panorama to make the first picture on the previous post as the camera doesn't have a panorama setting) Bartender's view Even though it means the end of daylight I love it when the ship's deck lights are on Next up is dinner in Michelangelo MDR and the Welcome Aboard show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sadebud Posted January 25, 2018 #146 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Fabulous pictures, as always, Norris!!! You sure know how to make a review come alive!!! Thank you for all your hard work. Can't wait for more!! Cheers, Tracy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancruizer Posted January 25, 2018 #147 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Incredible sunset photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Sister Posted January 25, 2018 #148 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Will be sailing the old girl in March! Thanks for teasing me with your review! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voljeep Posted January 25, 2018 #149 Share Posted January 25, 2018 We're also sailing in March ( and also sailed in November, '17) Question to OP - what is the early morning bar open for bloody marys, mimosas ?:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasperdo Posted January 25, 2018 #150 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Wonderful Sunset Over Miami photos. I took a similar shot a few years ago on the Coral Princess, but the sun was still high in the sky. Yours are waaay better: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now