Live from the Grand Princess, Dec 20-30th, Christmas cruise

[Coral]

It is a cold 47 in San Francisco today. I seem to always hit this city in December/January when the temps are cold and wet. It appears rain will hold off until this afternoon so will probably venture to Pier 39 and walk around Fisherman's Wharf.

 

Here are tonights menu - I need to consult with my friend but I think it maybe a Crown Grill or Pizza night. Not impressed with tonight's dinner menu -though we will miss our new waitstaff.

 

 

[jondfk]

Thanks for doing this Live From.  We too are on the January 4th sailing to Hawaii, if you hear anything about the likelihood of that sailing either happening or not happening, we'd like to know.

 

Grand is our favorite and we are very much looking forward to getting back on board, hope it happens!

[XBGuy]

3 hours ago, Coral said:

It is a cold 47 in San Francisco today. I seem to always hit this city in December/January when the temps are cold and wet. It appears rain will hold off until this afternoon so will probably venture to Pier 39 and walk around Fisherman's Wharf.

 

 

Mark Twain said the the coldest winter he ever experienced was a summer in San Francisco.

 

Some years ago I was on a business trip to San Francisco.  I know it was in July and I think it was for three or four days.  I was joined there by two colleagues from Ohio.  This was prior to the "business casual" standard of dress.  So, we wore suits for meetings at the customer site.  It turned out that the only casual clothes that my colleagues brought were, well, resort casual.  "We thought we were coming to California."  They were very uncomfortable walking to dinner in the evening.

 

Yes, there is supposed to be some headed your way.  It is supposed to be down here in SoCzl tomorrow morning, and it looks like we're going to get quite a few storms for the next week.

 

I'm enjoying your posts, very much, @Coral.  Thank you, very much.

[azbirdmom]

Sounds like you are having a wonderful cruise.  I'm enjoying following along!

[Grace on the Water]

Thank you for all the info you're sharing.  The new health and safety protocols are helpful to know about.  Would you be able to find out if smoking is allowed in Snooker's Cigar Lounge?  It says no smoking in the Casino, just outdoors. But I believe your ship has a cigar lounge.  We're scheduled to sail on the Regal early February and my husband is a smoker, so I'm curious what is happening right now on your ship.

[caribill]

2 minutes ago, Grace on the Water said:

 Would you be able to find out if smoking is allowed in Snooker's Cigar Lounge?  It says no smoking in the Casino, just outdoors. But I believe your ship has a cigar lounge.  We're scheduled to sail on the Regal early February and my husband is a smoker, so I'm curious what is happening right now on your ship.

 

Other "live froms" say that no smoking is allowed in the cigar lounge also.

 

Rule for casino and cigar lounge due to covid is that masks must be worn there and you cannot smoke with a mask on.

 

No one has posted on the other threads if any outdoor smoking of pipes/cigars is permitted now.

[Coral]

3 hours ago, jondfk said:

Thanks for doing this Live From.  We too are on the January 4th sailing to Hawaii, if you hear anything about the likelihood of that sailing either happening or not happening, we'd like to know.

 

Grand is our favorite and we are very much looking forward to getting back on board, hope it happens!

I asked at the Passenger Services desk and they seemed to indicate that all things are ago for Hawaii. They said everyone will need to test 2x (passengers and crew) during the trip.

[Coral]

1 hour ago, XBGuy said:

 

Mark Twain said the the coldest winter he ever experienced was a summer in San Francisco.

 

Very familiar with this quote. I used to go to a conference every year in January and it was always cold. Haven't been here in the summer but it wouldn't surprise me if it was cold then also.

 

We ventured out about 11:15ish and it was cold and rainy. I had a long sleeve t-shirt, a windbreaker, a zip up sweatshirt and then a rubber type rain jacket over and had gloves on.  My friend is from this area and recently retired and moved out of state. Neither of us are shoppers - we decided to just go back to the ship. If I had never been here - we would have continued on but it was just cold and wet.

 

We ended up going to Alfredos for pizza and deck 7 was cold. It had the entrance/exit for crew on that deck and we could feel it. The pizza was delish though.

 

I ended up grabbing a book and reading it in the Wheelhouse lounge. The ship seems to have a lot of new furniture and it was a comfortable couch. I will probably go there after these posts.

 

I walked by the covered pool and there were some kiddos having the time of their life in the pool - basically their private pool.

 

We are going to do the Crown Grill tonight.

 

I am still on Central time zone.

[Coral]

1 hour ago, Grace on the Water said:

Thank you for all the info you're sharing.  The new health and safety protocols are helpful to know about.  Would you be able to find out if smoking is allowed in Snooker's Cigar Lounge?  It says no smoking in the Casino, just outdoors. But I believe your ship has a cigar lounge.  We're scheduled to sail on the Regal early February and my husband is a smoker, so I'm curious what is happening right now on your ship.

I will find this out.

[Coral]

18 hours ago, travelin.sisters said:

thank you! if you have time could you list the captain & cruise director please, we are (hopefully) sailing her to Hawaii on the 4th

 

CD is Gary Golding.

 

I had thought everything was really loud on the first day. Things have toned down quite a bit sound wise (thankfully).

[Coral]

1 hour ago, azbirdmom said:

Sounds like you are having a wonderful cruise.  I'm enjoying following along!

This trip is exactly what I needed.

 

I feel pretty safe with low numbers onboard. The crew are doing everything they can to provide a safe environment. The passengers seem to be abiding by the rules. No one is complaining about anything. The passengers on this sailing are all very friendly and polite!

[Coral]

My friend got some amazing pictures sailing under Golden Gate Bridge this morning. I will try to get them and post them. We are here until late tonight.

[Coral]

1 hour ago, Grace on the Water said:

Thank you for all the info you're sharing.  The new health and safety protocols are helpful to know about.  Would you be able to find out if smoking is allowed in Snooker's Cigar Lounge?  It says no smoking in the Casino, just outdoors. But I believe your ship has a cigar lounge.  We're scheduled to sail on the Regal early February and my husband is a smoker, so I'm curious what is happening right now on your ship.

I believe the answer is no. I just stopped by and it was empty. There was no sign right there but about 10 feet away is a sign that say “no smoking indoors” and then lists the areas outside where it is permitted. I will post sign later when not on my phone.

[cr8tiv1]

Thank you @Coral.  I enjoy live threads.  Glad to hear the January 4 cruise to Hawaii is still slated.  No word on this side of the Pacific.

 

I would imagine Princess would be testing prior to arrival.  They did the same thing on the Emerald to Panama.

 

 

[lbfluffy]

We are going next week to Cabo on the grand. Do I need to order the N 95 masks? I have the double layer masks but not the K 95 or N 95.

 

Jessica 

[Cruise Raider]

38 minutes ago, Coral said:

CD is Gary Golding.

 

 

 

OMG ... Gary is the best!!  He was our CD on our Sept and Oct cruises on the Grand.  I call him the new Matt O.  His assistant, I cannot remember her name but she a blonde and was always smiling!  What a team!

 

If you happen to go by Vines, please tell Amel his biggest fans say hi.  He will know us by the guy with the Santa beard and his blonde wife.  We were hoping to see him today while you were in SF but he had plans and we just got our booster and feel kind of icky today.  

Anyway, enjoy your cruise.  I'm having so much fun following along with your posts!  

[jondfk]

1 hour ago, Coral said:

I asked at the Passenger Services desk and they seemed to indicate that all things are ago for Hawaii. They said everyone will need to test 2x (passengers and crew) during the trip.

 

Thanks.  Fingers crossed.  We are aware of the additional onboard testing requirements.

 

[Coral]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

If you happen to go by Vines, please tell Amel his biggest fans say hi.  He will know us by the guy with the Santa beard and his blonde wife.  We were hoping to see him today while you were in SF but he had plans and we just got our booster and feel kind of icky today.  

Anyway, enjoy your cruise.  I'm having so much fun following along with your posts!  

I just showed him your post. He started laughing!

 

Amel said that he loves you both, he is sorry he missed you two today and that you need to book the GRAND Princess ASAP. He misses both of you! He said something about you only leave Vines for lunch and dinner! LOL!

 

 

 

[Coral]

1 hour ago, lbfluffy said:

We are going next week to Cabo on the grand. Do I need to order the N 95 masks? I have the double layer masks but not the K 95 or N 95.

 

Jessica 

They recommend bringing a KN 95 mask. I can tell you that all crew are wearing them. Some passengers are but right now they are not required. In my room, they did provide the blue surgical masks.

 

I am wearing a cloth mask by a medical scrubs company (Jaanuu). I have not felt uncomfortable enough to put on my KN 95 masks but did bring them in case I felt like I needed them. I bought 10 at Lowes for probably $20.

 

There will be far more passengers on the next sailing. I have heard both 1000 and 1500 passengers on your sailing.

[Coral]

3 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Other "live froms" say that no smoking is allowed in the cigar lounge also.

 

Rule for casino and cigar lounge due to covid is that masks must be worn there and you cannot smoke with a mask on.

 

No one has posted on the other threads if any outdoor smoking of pipes/cigars is permitted now.

There was no sign near the cigar bar but about 10' away I saw this sign:

 

[lbfluffy]

1 hour ago, Coral said:

They recommend bringing a KN 95 mask. I can tell you that all crew are wearing them. Some passengers are but right now they are not required. In my room, they did provide the blue surgical masks.

 

I am wearing a cloth mask by a medical scrubs company (Jaanuu). I have not felt uncomfortable enough to put on my KN 95 masks but did bring them in case I felt like I needed them. I bought 10 at Lowes for probably $20.

 

There will be far more passengers on the next sailing. I have heard both 1000 and 1500 passengers on your sailing.

My husband said he can get 50 k95 from Amazon for $37

[Coral]

4 minutes ago, lbfluffy said:

My husband said he can get 50 k95 from Amazon for $37

I didn’t have time to go through Amazon. I got the email Sunday morning and my flight was at 6 am Monday.

[cr8tiv1]

@TravelTrotterSaw your post on your roll call.  Interested in finding out how your Princess Transfer worked for you.  

 

Open question for anyone else that may have used Princess Transfers.  

 

Thank you

[Coral]

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

@TravelTrotterSaw your post on your roll call.  Interested in finding out how your Princess Transfer worked for you.  

 

Open question for anyone else that may have used Princess Transfers.  

 

Thank you

I did use Princess transfers. They did not work out well for me. I think due to the low number of passengers, I had to wait at the airport for a long time as they were running less buses. We were getting frustrated on the wait.

 

I have met up with @TravelTrotter a few times on this sailing - we had lunch together yesterday. She was on the same transfer as my friend. I don't know how long she waited but my friend thought they took the first transfer from the airport.

[PescadoAmarillo]

I am enjoying your reports, especially since we actually had flights and a pre-cruise hotel from this one, thinking we would jump on at the last minute. I wondered how many passengers would be on board…think I’ll keep it to myself how few there are. At least five times a day my DH is saying he wishes he was on the ship right now.