Live from the Caribbean Princess: Panama Canal - Apr 26 to May 14 - SF to FTL

[Ken the cruiser]

Friday, Apr 29, Princess Patter

 

 

[GonzoWCS]

7 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I finally found the craps table on the port side of the casino. Yay!!

 

Thanks again!

[sherman931]

Hi,

Whenever you happen to be in the casino can you check the minimum bet for 3 Card Poker and Blackjack. Was generally $5, hope they didn’t raise it. 

[memoak]

3 minutes ago, sherman931 said:

Hi,

Whenever you happen to be in the casino can you check the minimum bet for 3 Card Poker and Blackjack. Was generally $5, hope they didn’t raise it. 

In the past blackjack had a $6 minimum

[sherman931]

I’m on the Allure right now and all the table games start and $10 and go up from there 

[CruzeQueen2]

21 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Will do and I have found he knows his wines! 😁

Is Francis from India? I met Francis as the bartender in Explorers, in Jan 2019 on the CB and before that on Star in 2018 in Vines. Same guy? If yes, Donna from Vancouver says hi. Nice to know which ship the crew that we love, are now. @Ken the cruiser If he knows his wines, as you say, it's likely the same guy. Nice to know and thank you!

Edited April 29, 2022 by CruzeQueen2

[Ken the cruiser]

6 minutes ago, CruzeQueen2 said:

Is Francis from India? I met Francis as the bartender in Explorers, in Jan 2019 on the CB and before that on Star in 2018 in Vines. Same guy? If yes, Donna from Vancouver says hi. Nice to know which ship the crew that we love, are now. @Ken the cruiser If he knows his wines, as you say, it's likely the same guy. Nice to know and thank you!

I believe Francis is the same person you are referring to. 

[Ken the cruiser]

Some pictures from our aft-facing cabin after waking up in Cabo San Lucas this morning. 

 

 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

A little while ago, I started a thread entitled “What is your strategy for staying safe on a cruise” and in it I listed our strategy. One area I mentioned that we don’t lounge around in is the pool area.

 

Well, with every rule there are exceptions.  In our case it’s when every one is ashore on a port day and they’re playing a 2+ hour Journey concert movie up at the outdoor theater in the pool area with 2 lounge chairs in the shade. 😂😂
 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

OK, we found a quiet place to eat lunch on a port day on the ship that has tasty sandwiches, salads, pot pies and desserts, but you can’t tell anybody. 🤫

 

[Ken the cruiser]

One of the nice things about being anchored in the Cabo San Lucas Bay are the tide swings. In the morning you may have one view from you balcony (see post 158), but by lunchtime your view will have completely changed. 😁

 

The views now on the port side from our balcony

… the aft 

… and on the starboard side from our balcony

BTW the current internet download speed right now while we’re anchored is 1.53 mbps.

Edited April 29, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[cruisingpeople]

26 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

OK, we found a quiet place to eat lunch on a port day on the ship that has tasty sandwiches, salads, pot pies and desserts, but you can’t tell anybody. 🤫

 

 

Amazing.... That display case has more than twice as many choices than we had last week on the Ruby. I was extremely disappointed in the selection. At least now I'll have something to look forward to in May & June.😂🥪

[runner2013]

43 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

OK, we found a quiet place to eat lunch on a port day on the ship that has tasty sandwiches, salads, pot pies and desserts, but you can’t tell anybody. 🤫

 

It looks like the crew serves you while in the IC, have you happened to go through the buffet area yet? Are they also serving folks or has it gone back to self serve?

[cruisingpeople]

5 minutes ago, runner2013 said:

It looks like the crew serves you while in the IC, have you happened to go through the buffet area yet? Are they also serving folks or has it gone back to self serve?

I'm sure that Ken will come back with an answer about the buffet, however, to my recollection, the crew always served you at IC.

[Ken the cruiser]

13 minutes ago, runner2013 said:

It looks like the crew serves you while in the IC, have you happened to go through the buffet area yet? Are they also serving folks or has it gone back to self serve?

The crew still serves the hot dishes up at the buffet. However, the area you walk through with the salads, breads and stuff to get to the “hot line” in the back, is pretty much all self serve from what I could tell.

[Ken the cruiser]

Looks like the tide is heading back out as we’re starting to swing back the other way, and look what now is coming into view, RCI’s Navigator of the Seas. This is becoming a show all by itself sitting on the balcony! 😂

 

Edited April 29, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

Have you noticed I’m easily amused. As the ship continues to drift around, we were able to get a glimpse of this whale jumping off in the distance for about 5 minutes! I have to admit, it was quite a rush to watch and a lot clearer that the picture my iPhone took!! 😁

 

[Ken the cruiser]

2 hours ago, cruisingpeople said:

 

Amazing.... That display case has more than twice as many choices than we had last week on the Ruby. I was extremely disappointed in the selection. At least now I'll have something to look forward to in May & June.😂🥪

BTW that was just the display case with the sandwiches, pot pies and salads. There was a whole assortment of desserts in the display case to the left.

[Ken the cruiser]

Attention Princess sweet wine drinkers!! I need your help. I need recommendations for sweet (low acid) white wines I can get by the glass (as I have a beverage package) on our current Princess cruise. I found the wine list on the App, so if you can give me some suggestions, I can see if they have it.
 

At home I drink blueberry and blackberry wine. However, when I was stationed in Germany for 7 years back in the 80s, I found their Riesling, Spatlese and Auslese (ice) wines quite tasty with very little acidic (dry) aftertaste. But lately I have found a taste for Moscato, which is a sweet white wine with low alcohol and no desirable acidic bite what so ever.

I had no problem finding the types of white wines when I purchased a premium beverage package on our Celebrity cruises. But now we’re on our first Princess cruise and there is no Moscato nor is there a resident Sommelier in Club Class dining, just the waiters. They have a non German Riesling, which is ok, but it has a strong acidic bite.

 

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

Update: here’s what available according to the App. But this can’t be the extent of their by the glass as I know I can get the “cheap” Riesling by the glass.

White wines

 

Blend Conundrum - $12

Chardonnay Decoy - $11

Chardonnay Domaine Aussieres - $10

Pinot Grigio, Attems - $11

Pouilly - Fume, Pascal Jolivet - $12

Sauvignon Blanc, Dashwood - $10

 

Sparkling wines

 

Prosecco, Mionetto Brut - $11

 

 

Edited April 29, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[Ken the cruiser]

I found the Coral Dining Room wine list and below I’ve listed possible candidates. If nothing else, I’ll try the most expensive first. 😂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KKB]

40 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Attention Princess sweet wine drinkers!! I need your help. I need recommendations for sweet (low acid) white wines I can get by the glass (as I have a beverage package) on our current Princess cruise. I found the wine list on the App, so if you can give me some suggestions, I can see if they have it.
 

At home I drink blueberry and blackberry wine. However, when I was stationed in Germany for 7 years back in the 80s, I found their Riesling, Spatlese and Auslese (ice) wines quite tasty with very little acidic (dry) aftertaste. But lately I have found a taste for Moscato, which is a sweet white wine with low alcohol and no desirable acidic bite what so ever.

I had no problem finding the types of white wines when I purchased a premium beverage package on our Celebrity cruises. But now we’re on our first Princess cruise and there is no Moscato nor is there a resident Sommelier in Club Class dining, just the waiters. They have a non German Riesling, which is ok, but it has a strong acidic bite.

 

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

Update: here’s what available according to the App. But this can’t be the extent of their by the glass as I know I can get the “cheap” Riesling by the glass.

White wines

 

Blend Conundrum - $12

Chardonnay Decoy - $11

Chardonnay Domaine Aussieres - $10

Pinot Grigio, Attems - $11

Pouilly - Fume, Pascal Jolivet - $12

Sauvignon Blanc, Dashwood - $10

 

Sparkling wines

 

Prosecco, Mionetto Brut - $11

 

 

OOh, boy, white wines by nature are fairly acidic.

And NONE of those listed are sweet like a moscato or Riesling.

I am a sauvignon blanc (NZ or Europe) or Pinot Grigio fan so love these choices.

But my friends who like sweet wines don't like these.

Ask at guest services about a sommalier!!

[KKB]

19 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Friday, Apr 29, Princess Patter

 

 

 

OK, I just HAD to respond to a photo.

The movie offering is EDWARD SCISSORSHANDS??!!

I mean, I'm all about classic movies, but with all the John Hughes movies of a similar time period, THIS is the movie of choice? 

Ugh.

 

Edited April 29, 2022 by KKB

[lynn247]

Ken. Go to Vines and ask there.  Once I was offered a taste to make sure I liked it before I ordered it.

[nreeder]

Ok, I’m going to suggest that if you can, try a glass of the Camus Conundrum.  Following is description from winery:  “Blending wines was almost unthinkable when Conundrum White was born in 1989, launching a trend that continues to this day. Grapes for this blend come from sought-after California AVAs from Napa Valley to Santa Barbara County. While the exact blend is under wraps, every vintage includes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscat Canelli, and Viognier. Conundrum White is amazingly versatile, with intriguing tropical notes, natural acidity and a refreshing dry finish. Best served chilled. “ 

 

The last time I tried it, it was quite smooth.  As you can see it has both Semilloon and Muscat Canelli, as well as Viognier.  All of those are quite smooth.  Worth a try!  From a well known Napa winery.

 

Norm

[srice]

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

...But now we’re on our first Princess cruise and there is no Moscato nor is there a resident Sommelier in Club Class dining, just the waiters. ....

 

 

There will be at least 2 wine tasting events and the presenters always seem knowledgeable.  You might ask a head waiter in one of the dining rooms if he knows anyone on the staff that can help.  Keep trying and no doubt you will find some knowledgeable employees.   You can always sign up for the first wine tasting event and talk to the staff afterwards.

 

Perhaps someone who works in Vines could be of help.