Live From the Emerald Princess 10/15/21 LA-Port Everglades Panama Cruise

[Level six]

13 minutes ago, milogurd said:

These? 

Chair hogs!!  hehe

[TucsonIllini]

Yes, Carlos, the Portugese Head Waiter, is working in Botticelli. Delightful person.

Concur with reports of vibration in back. We are in E721, and were pleased to read report by one of you that vibration issue should be resolved in PVR -- otherwise we, too, would move (would hate to give up covered balcony -- rain ahead).

Casino is no smoking, and no tournaments due to Covid (said they), but no distancing at Blackjack tables, which operate at full capacity (when there are enough people to fill the table, which is rare).

Have not met any of our fellow CruiseCritic passengers, but have benefited from their postings. Thanks!

Despite the low occupancy, almost all of the restaurants are open. Crew of 1300 includes some in training, who will leave in FLL for other ships, so we are getting fabulous service.

If you like sailing with a big ship, without the big waits, go sooner rather than later. This won't last.

--Scott

  On 10/16/2021 at 12:20 PM, LACruiser88 said:Con

Rui Pereira....

Yeah!!!!  I wonder if Carlos from Portugal is still on Rui's team as a head waiter?

We are excited to be with Rui again.

[CruzeQueen2]

40 minutes ago, TucsonIllini said:

Yes, Carlos, the Portugese Head Waiter, is working in Botticelli. Delightful person.

Concur with reports of vibration in back. We are in E721, and were pleased to read report by one of you that vibration issue should be resolved in PVR -- otherwise we, too, would move (would hate to give up covered balcony -- rain ahead).

Casino is no smoking, and no tournaments due to Covid (said they), but no distancing at Blackjack tables, which operate at full capacity (when there are enough people to fill the table, which is rare).

Have not met any of our fellow CruiseCritic passengers, but have benefited from their postings. Thanks!

Despite the low occupancy, almost all of the restaurants are open. Crew of 1300 includes some in training, who will leave in FLL for other ships, so we are getting fabulous service.

If you like sailing with a big ship, without the big waits, go sooner rather than later. This won't last.

--Scott

  On 10/16/2021 at 12:20 PM, LACruiser88 said:Con

Rui Pereira....

Yeah!!!!  I wonder if Carlos from Portugal is still on Rui's team as a head waiter?

We are excited to be with Rui again.

Was Carlos a maitre d on Golden? 2019? Thanks in advance.

[4cats4me]

7 hours ago, farsight said:

@PescadoAmarillo I had more problems on DW's and my Alaska sailing than I am currently having at home. However, it is still being a pain. I mostly use a laptop but have had the same problems on a Samsung tablet. Sometimes it appears that I should be able to 'like' a post but I get an error that says it was unsuccessful. Additionally, when trying to reply to a topic, it looks like it was submitted but it shows at the top of the page I am on vice the bottom. In both cases I appear to be logged in (user-id shows and 'Log Out' is selectable). What I have found is that if I log out and log in the site is functional once again.

 

 

 

I am probably preaching to the choir on the following: I usually copy any text that I am trying to submit in case it doesn't submit and no longer available in the "Reply to this topic" field. On really long posts I sometimes just use a word processor and copy from it.

 

 

 

CC just seems to be offering up more problems than a month ago and it doesn't seem to be device specific or a MedallioNet issue. However, I do wonder whether the latency inherent via satellite connections adds a bit more failure.

 

This is the exact problem I’ve been experiencing for months.  

 

[Ken the cruiser]

5 minutes ago, 4cats4me said:

This is the exact problem I’ve been experiencing for months.  

 

Me too. What I have found is if I go to my web browser’s “history” and clear the cache for just “today and yesterday”, it seems to clear out any issue I’ve been having; although I’ll need to log back in to CC.

[gmcwalker]

Still shaking and rolling this evening! It's not so bad if you wear ear plugs and pretend it's a vibrating bed. It has actually helped my sore back. I'm in a aft balcony cabin deck 14.

Hopefully things will calm down for everyone as the cruise progresses. 

Update for the CC gang on board, I spoke to Riu and two other dining room managers today and they said they can probably do the Chef's table this cruise on a yet to be determined date but they need enough people to be interested in it to do it. So call the Dine Line/ Dining Inquires button on your cabin phone and let them know you are interested and spread the word to other passengers you meet who might want to do it also. 

[Bgwest]

Per casino staff, there is a smoking is located in the port side of the casino. 

[4cats4me]

18 minutes ago, gmcwalker said:

Still shaking and rolling this evening! It's not so bad if you wear ear plugs and pretend it's a vibrating bed. It has actually helped my sore back. I'm in a aft balcony cabin deck 14.

Hopefully things will calm down for everyone as the cruise progresses. 

Update for the CC gang on board, I spoke to Riu and two other dining room managers today and they said they can probably do the Chef's table this cruise on a yet to be determined date but they need enough people to be interested in it to do it. So call the Dine Line/ Dining Inquires button on your cabin phone and let them know you are interested and spread the word to other passengers you meet who might want to do it also. 

We’ve had several aft cabins on Emerald, Crown, et cet , over the years and there’s always been a pronounced shimmy back there, especially C752, D737, E733,  and not so much from E719-E731.  

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, gmcwalker said:

Still shaking and rolling this evening! It's not so bad if you wear ear plugs and pretend it's a vibrating bed. It has actually helped my sore back. I'm in a aft balcony cabin deck 14.

Hopefully things will calm down for everyone as the cruise progresses. 

Update for the CC gang on board, I spoke to Riu and two other dining room managers today and they said they can probably do the Chef's table this cruise on a yet to be determined date but they need enough people to be interested in it to do it. So call the Dine Line/ Dining Inquires button on your cabin phone and let them know you are interested and spread the word to other passengers you meet who might want to do it also. 

Why not ask them about a WM Dinner?  More likely to fill a table as it costs far less and is still a nice evening.  Even if they do a CT, there is no Galley experience. 

[Steelers36]

On the casino and no tournaments.

 

Makes no sense if BJ tables are running full operations.  So is it more non-sensical Covid rules, or perhaps the casino mgr figures won't get enough participation to make sufficient profit on $500 prize.

 

Princess has a fixed prize pot no matter how much they collect in $20 fees to qualify.  I have seen other line in the past... long ago admittedly.. pay out a percentage to 1 and 2 with 3rd getting $20, say.  

[gmcwalker]

7 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Why not ask them about a WM Dinner?  More likely to fill a table as it costs far less and is still a nice evening.  Even if they do a CT, there is no Galley experience. 

I did ask about the Wine Dinner and was told that it might be a possibility but the senior dining management has not discussed it yet. It seems as that would be a better choice to me also. I will know more after we leave PV and head to Panama.

[Steelers36]

1 minute ago, gmcwalker said:

I did ask about the Wine Dinner and was told that it might be a possibility but the senior dining management has not discussed it yet. It seems as that would be a better choice to me also. I will know more after we leave PV and head to Panama.

Thanks for update.  Seems like they didn't plan ahead or think of it ajead of time for some reason.  I assume they are letting guest dine at shared tables as other ships have done?

[farsight]

3 hours ago, 4cats4me said:

This is the exact problem I’ve been experiencing for months.  

 

Kind of frustrating. I can work around it but shouldn't have to.

[caribill]

13 hours ago, farsight said:

Sometimes it appears that I should be able to 'like' a post but I get an error that says it was unsuccessful. Additionally, when trying to reply to a topic, it looks like it was submitted but it shows at the top of the page I am on vice the bottom. In both cases I appear to be logged in (user-id shows and 'Log Out' is selectable). What I have found is that if I log out and log in the site is functional once again.

 

 

 

I have had the same problems the last couple of weeks at home on a desktop Windows PC using Firefox for a browser.

[caribill]

15 hours ago, Bgwest said:

Ghost ship indeed!!

 

840 pax = 27.3%

 

 

 

About the number that the recently sold Pacific Princess could have.

 

Maybe this ship could take over the itineraries that had been planned for the Pacific Princess.

[vickie_bernie]

On 10/16/2021 at 4:05 PM, MWcruiser said:

Thank you to gmcwalker and other passengers for taking the time to do this Live from thread.   I always enjoy reading these and especially one from Emerald Princess which is a favorite of ours.  Also there is some learning for me and maybe others that have not yet returned to cruising but plan to do so soon.

 

We are doing an ABC cruise in January and I am wondering what the specific entry requirements for cruise passenger are for each island.  I know that you are not arriving to these islands til later in the cruise, and I am assuming there will be some onboard Covid testing prior to arrival in these ports.  I have read so much conflicting information and it is difficult to interpret the information that applies to cruise passengers on each countrys' official websites.  Please let us know if/what online forms need to be completed and if testing is required within 2-3 days of visiting any of these ports.

 

Have a great cruise!  Wish we were there.....

 

I am sailing to the ABC islands - with another line - next week and I know that we have been informed that only vaccinated guest can travel ashore independently - unvaxed (those under 12 usually) must take ship's tour.  Masks are mandatory inside, and proof of vaccination could be requested so have ready.   Aruba does have some rules currently with no one on beach in evening, curfew at night.  Bonaire and Curacao are same as above but no curfew.

[PescadoAmarillo]

22 hours ago, Bgwest said:

Thank you for this!  Where is it located?

[PescadoAmarillo]

We just arrived in PV and I am able to post on CC using local cellular, but haven’t been able to post through ship’s WiFi since sometime yesterday morning from either my iPhone or iPad. I don’t understand what’s going on with this, but really appreciate others mentioning that they are facing the same issue. I thought it might be related to iOS 15, but apparently not. 
 

Last night was definitely calmer but there is still room for  improvement. Party band Symphonee from Barbados was  fantastic, as well as production show Sweet Soul Music. There has been no shortage of entertainment on the ship (we had worried there might be) and we even get Monday Night Football on MUTS tonight!!!

 

We have no plans for today and may end up staying on the ship. It’s really nice to be here without all the vibration on board. 

[CruzinNoony]

20 hours ago, 1emerald1 said:

Nice to see Kelvin Joy is on board!  He was on another Emerald cruise I was on as CD and is hands down my favorite.  Wish he was still in that position, hilarious!

Wow!  That is great news.  He is also our favorite.  

[CruzinNoony]

In fact, to you lucky folks onboard, if you run into Kelvin Joy, please tell him that Bob and Meredith say hello and that we are so happy he is back onboard.

[CruiserRob]

13 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Thanks for update.  Seems like they didn't plan ahead or think of it ajead of time for some reason.  I assume they are letting guest dine at shared tables as other ships have done?

We have been asked every night if we would like to share a table in the main dining room.

 

During trivia they ask you to play with your travel party only.

[CruiserRob]

We had and aft room as well but asked to change.  We are now midship and it is much calmer.

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Thank you for this!  Where is it located?

Scavenger hunt!!

[Grego]

1 hour ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Thank you for this!  Where is it located?

It's usually on Deck 7 near the midship elevators on the starboard side.

[CruiserRob]

23 hours ago, traceytd said:

Did you by any chance ask why sip and cover on a 10 day and over cruise but not on 7 day cruises?

 

I think it’s a new protocol.  What nobody seems to know is why some bars are sip and covers while others are mask off when seated at a table