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

[CruiserRob]

Empty aft pool

 

[Buckeye10640]

1 hour ago, CruiserRob said:

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

If the bar gives me bowl of snack mix can i call it 'eating' while sitting at the table....lol

[DistinguishedCruiser]

2 hours ago, CruiserRob said:

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

This is why I got a good deal on cruise with the Drink Package

[LreedCA]

4 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

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. 

We also have enjoyed the band Symphonee.  They are very talented and put on a great show!!!  Princess scored with this group.  Hopefully they are with us for the entire trip.

[milogurd]

2 hours ago, CruiserRob said:

Empty aft pool

 

With Sam's Club and Walmart in the background! 🙂

[eyelash]

If anyone on the cruise now could post a screenshot of the Lotus Spa services I would appreciate it.

[pd7277]

Would love to see one of the daily papers.  Curious if they have extended the hours of the outdoor bar(s) to make them more Covid friendly.

[CruiserRob]

1 hour ago, LreedCA said:

We also have enjoyed the band Symphonee.  They are very talented and put on a great show!!!  Princess scored with this group.  Hopefully they are with us for the entire trip.

I believe they said that they will be on for 3 months.

 

 

[milogurd]

@pd7277 Pescado Amarillo has been posting the daily Patters on her blog of the cruise.

 

http://pescadoamarillo.blogspot.com

 

[Bgwest]

9 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Thank you for this!  Where is it located?

Stand at the piazza railing on 7 with the Wheelhouse Bar at your back and look across the piazza into the far elevator lobby. 

[farsight]

Has anyone seen Don Terris on the ship? He is a cruise vlogger on YouTube and has the second most subscribers of all cruise vloggers on YouTube. Somehow we hadn't put it together until we were watching one of his v logs tonight. He has a couple of vlogs when he was on the Majestic in Alaska where he was playing the yes/no game. He has three channels. One channel is for cruise news; one is his general thoughts/experiences about various things, and one is movie reviews with his nephews.

 

I would say tell him hi from Farsight but I only subscribe to his channels and like everything he posts. He won't know me. He gets thousands of views and hundreds upon hundreds of comments.

[2 cruises a year]

7 hours ago, CruiserRob said:

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

This is a question for people onboard now.

I read on another topic that someone thought (which does almost seem logical but take this with a grain of salt) the mask cover rules depend on the purpose of the room, related to crowd size.  Venues, like Princess Live and the Atrium are venues, very crowded, not much social distancing, sip and cover.  But bars and restaurants have more space between tables hence social distancing, mask off while eating and drinking.

Does this fit anyone's experience these days?

[Ken the cruiser]

1 hour ago, 2 cruises a year said:

This is a question for people onboard now.

I read on another topic that someone thought (which does almost seem logical but take this with a grain of salt) the mask cover rules depend on the purpose of the room, related to crowd size.  Venues, like Princess Live and the Atrium are venues, very crowded, not much social distancing, sip and cover.  But bars and restaurants have more space between tables hence social distancing, mask off while eating and drinking.

Does this fit anyone's experience these days?

I could be wrong and I’m not onboard now either, but I believe it more depends on the length of the cruise based on what Princess has noted in their FAQ section on their website.

 

Mask policy varies depending on voyage length.

Voyages less than 10 days:

First, we strongly encourage guests wear face masks when in public spaces indoors. ALL guests will be required to wear a face mask – with no exceptions – in elevators, retails shops, in the casino, and other designated areas except while eating and drinking. Guests will also be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the buffet area, and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate. As a reminder, masks are required during embark and debark in the terminal, and masks should also be worn during the debarkation process on board.

Voyages 10 days or longer:

All guests must wear face masks covering their nose and mouth while indoors at all times. Exceptions are made while they are eating or drinking, receiving spa treatments relating to the face, during high-intensity exercise, in pools, whirlpools or sauna, as well as in their stateroom.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Ken the cruiser

[LreedCA]

2 hours ago, farsight said:

Has anyone seen Don Terris on the ship? He is a cruise vlogger on YouTube and has the second most subscribers of all cruise vloggers on YouTube. Somehow we hadn't put it together until we were watching one of his v logs tonight. He has a couple of vlogs when he was on the Majestic in Alaska where he was playing the yes/no game. He has three channels. One channel is for cruise news; one is his general thoughts/experiences about various things, and one is movie reviews with his nephews.

 

I would say tell him hi from Farsight but I only subscribe to his channels and like everything he posts. He won't know me. He gets thousands of views and hundreds upon hundreds of comments.

I saw him chatting with a couple by the pool this morning!

[farsight]

1 hour ago, LreedCA said:

I saw him chatting with a couple by the pool this morning!

Thank you. I would love to be there and get a chance to chat with him for a bit. Oh well...

[PescadoAmarillo]

Good morning from the Emerald Princess. It’s overcast today, warm and muggy. The back of the ship has calmed considerably, as we had hoped it would after PV. I think there are only three cabins back here currently occupied; everyone else relocated after that first really rough night. 
 

All this chat about mask wearing…when you’re on board, it’s much more straightforward. You have one on nearly the entire time you’re not in your cabin unless you’re at a table in a dining venue or on the open decks. For example, we did not wear masks to watch MUTS last night, or in the hot tub yesterday.  
 

Far more than on the Majestic Princess, the crew is very much enforcing the mask wearing. The only (only!) grey area I’ve seen is in Skywalkers for the PES lounge. I realized yesterday we had finished our nibbles and were talking but hadn’t put the masks back on and no one said anything. But that’s a kind-of dining venue, at least at that event. 

Edited October 19, 2021 by PescadoAmarillo

[TXcruiser13]

Thank you for your updates, Pescado!!! We are on the Emerald on 11/06. We’re retooling our usual cruise strategies to accommodate the least amount of mask wearing. Pool, decks, a small lounge here or there, and our balcony will be the mainstays of our trip. 
 

I hope the cabin vibration stays minimal for you!!!! Enjoy your trip and thanks again for sharing! 

[puggymom]

Appreciate all these updates. Glad to hear about the back of the ship calming down. 
I have 2 paperbacks and 2 puzzle books. So I also am planning for lots of deck time👍🏻

[PescadoAmarillo]

Just spoke with Rui at breakfast.  I am reporting this because it does seem to explain the vibration on the back of the ship, and because it came from the Technical Department (there are a lot of rumors circulating on board about what the issue might be that I didn’t mention).   Apparently, the ship largely at anchor for 18 months allowed a lot of algal growth and barnacles to accumulate on the hull that is impeding the flow of water. The higher the speed, the worse the issue. Apparently, those of us dining in Botticelli might be relocated to Michelangelo, and the crew dining in Michelangelo moved to Botticelli. 

[nini]

Were they able to address this when in Puerto Vallarta? Someone mentioned that the ride seemed smoother. Regardless, have a great time!

[PescadoAmarillo]

6 minutes ago, nini said:

Were they able to address this when in Puerto Vallarta? Someone mentioned that the ride seemed smoother. Regardless, have a great time!

No.  I have no idea when it will be addressed. The ride is smoother because we are cruising at 18mph instead of 22mph and not bucking the current. We are in the forward part of the Botticelli Dining Room 

for dinner and it’s not horrible. But then, we’re an old married couple who don’t have to say much to each other over dinner. 😆 People sitting in the back of Botticelli are having difficulty holding a conversation at a table for 6. 
 

We’re on our balcony right now on Deck 14 right now and it’s fine up here. Sabatini’s is noisy because Share was designed with hard surfaces everywhere and every rattle is magnified ten times (haven’t these people ever been on a ship?). It hasn’t been redecorated now that it is Sabatini’s again. 

[nini]

11 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

No.  I have no idea when it will be addressed. The ride is smoother because we are cruising at 18mph instead of 22mph and not bucking the current. We are in the forward part of the Botticelli Dining Room 

for dinner and it’s not horrible. But then, we’re an old married couple who don’t have to say much to each other over dinner. 😆 People sitting in the back of Botticelli are having difficulty holding a conversation at a table for 6. 
 

We’re on our balcony right now on Deck 14 right now and it’s fine up here. Sabatini’s is noisy because Share was designed with hard surfaces everywhere and every rattle is magnified ten times (haven’t these people ever been on a ship?). It hasn’t been redecorated now that it is Sabatini’s again. 

Thanks for the response... that makes sense. Enjoy!

[Bgwest]

Share - gone but the ghosts remain! 😃

[MWcruiser]

On 10/18/2021 at 3:41 AM, vickie_bernie said:

 

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.

Thanks for this info.  There is a lot of conflicting info on the web.  

[JF - retired RRT]

4 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Good morning from the Emerald Princess.

In your blog you mentioned that the crew is eating in one of the dining rooms...just wondering...are they being served? or is it set up as a buffet?

I'm fairly sure that their usual dining room is a buffet. How about now?

Just wondering.