Cheapo Dad's Trip Report on the Majestic Princess (Maybe with few pictures added)...

[4x4bob]

2 hours ago, harryfat1 said:

Thank you for your compliment and following along this far into the trip report.  To use the party analogy, by now, most of the food have been eaten and many people have already left.  I appreciate the remaining few who have stayed to the bitter end. 

 

My trip report is like a buffet – you have a little of everything but it’s good at nothing in particular.  Quantity versus Quality. 

 

Here’s my trip report in a nutshell:

 

Lots of pictures although none are spectacular.  Lots of words but mostly non sensical gibberish. Lots of whiney about Princess’ lack of big entertainment venues when we know that’s not that forte. Lots of bad jokes as my comedy writing staff of one is overworked and numerous music videos as fillers when I run of ideas on what else to write…

 

But hey, you got your money's worth in your annual CC membership dues! 🤪

Harry:  Just wanted to say good-by and that your trip report was out standing.  It provided information, entertainment, and some humor along with your photo's.

 

Will watch for future reports from you and sure hope that some day our paths cross at the International Cafe on some ship.

 

As for me, the Wife quoting from the Game of Thrones "Winter is Coming"  is telling me to turn off my computer and go cut and split some firewood or do something else that is useful. 

 

Wishing you and your family Happy Trails. 

 

Bob

[harryfat1]

6 minutes ago, 4x4bob said:

Harry:  Just wanted to say good-by and that your trip report was out standing.  It provided information, entertainment, and some humor along with your photo's.

 

Will watch for future reports from you and sure hope that some day our paths cross at the International Cafe on some ship.

 

As for me, the Wife quoting from the Game of Thrones "Winter is Coming"  is telling me to turn off my computer and go cut and split some firewood or do something else that is useful. 

 

Wishing you and your family Happy Trails. 

 

Bob

Bob,

 

Many thanks for reading along and I especially appreciate all your wife stories.  Those are classic and adds a new dimension to the trip report I can never achieve on my own.  So many of us owe you a "thanks" for contributing to the trip report.👋

 

Sorry to see you have to work on the yard.  I need to whack some weeds in the side yard as well instead of watching various piano videos on YouTube...

 

Cheers,

 

Harry

[harryfat1]

Back to the cabin at 10 AM and the sun is gone

 

 

At 10:15, there’s a culinary show.  Our waiter told us about the show last night at dinner. It’s the typical serious/fun part of cooking demo.

 

Here are the officers of the ship

 

 

Nobody at the piazza area at 10

 

 

 

 

Overhead camera on the cooking demo

 

 

 

 

Afterwards, the workers from various teams came out to say goodbye.

 

 

 

To me, this is always the special thing about cruises in that most people have a begin/end date – unlike most hotels/land vacations.  Maybe some people who have cruised a gazillion time don't care for this but as a newbie +1 cruiser, this still means something to me. Maybe I'm just sentimental...

 

Time to Say Goodbye:

 

 

 

If you are in Vegas, be sure to go to the Bellagio fountains and see if you are lucky enough to see this song performed during the water show. They have the playlist online monthly but somewhat luck of the draw as what song will play when and they also have the holiday music if you go in December.

 

[cr8tiv1]

@harryfat1

It finally dawned on me that you were on the Majestic with Neville.  It's been a long time since I've cruised with him.  By any chance, did you run into an Assistant Manager by the name of Prashant Chimbaikar from India?  He was on the Majestic earlier this year.  I watched him move up from being a waiter, to a server in the specialty restaurants, to Head Waiter in the Piazza/Buffet, and finally to a MRD Assistant Manager.  

 

Thank you for a most fun trip review and for taking us along on your adventure.  

 

Mahalo Nui Loa from the land of Aloha.

[harryfat1]

As I mentioned previously, Princess designed their theaters to be right outside of the gift shop so everyone and their mother/cousin is looking for last minute souvenirs/gifts to bring home. 

 

This is the most crowded I have seen the shops the whole cruise – even more people here than day 2 raffle.  Guess everyone is visiting uncle in prison as his parole request has been denied…

 

 

 

Map of our journey

 

 

So after visiting the uncle in prison (shopping), we had to visit the other relative - the crazy aunt in the basement (photography) as we had our pictures taken by the ship board photographers all cruise long.  Day 7 is the decision day on which pictures to keep.

 

I'm sure many veteran cruisers still remember the old days of hard copy photos being plastered all over the photo area.  With technology advancement, now everything is electronic and that makes finding ones' pictures easier.  However, deciding on which pictures to keep is a harder decision - but not made by me as my wife and inlaws and younger son have stronger opinions on what they like.

 

So as they looked through the pictures, I sat in the "bored spouse" seat that Bob would be occupying if he was on the cruise.

 

Other cruisers visiting their crazy aunts in basements as well

 

 

My son and my wife trying to customize the picture (will explain later)

 

 

Here's my seat...

 

 

So what do you do when you have time to kill on the cruise?  Walk over to the art section and see what's there

 

 

Or take pictures of the staircase

 

 

 

So this made me wonder if I was a snail and trying to climb these stairs, would it be my stairway to heaven?

 

 

[harryfat1]

8 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

@harryfat1

It finally dawned on me that you were on the Majestic with Neville.  It's been a long time since I've cruised with him.  By any chance, did you run into an Assistant Manager by the name of Prashant Chimbaikar from India?  He was on the Majestic earlier this year.  I watched him move up from being a waiter, to a server in the specialty restaurants, to Head Waiter in the Piazza/Buffet, and finally to a MRD Assistant Manager.  

 

Thank you for a most fun trip review and for taking us along on your adventure.  

 

Mahalo Nui Loa from the land of Aloha.

Many thanks to you as well in talking to me these past many weeks. 

 

Not that I know anything about running a marathon but when you see the runners at middle stretches of the route, there are nobody around and they are just running by themselves.  Those are the hardest part of the race as you have nobody around you and at times I wonder if I was just talking to myself.

 

By having your contribution to the trip report regularly, the feedback made it less like a monologue and I really appreciate that.

 

But like the commercial says - but wait, there's more  - as we are not done yet.  I still have pictures and story to tell on day 8 on how we almost missed our flight...

[harryfat1]

So while the fam is busy at the photo area, my older son and I went to top deck and watched the ice carving demo

 

 

 

Same dude from the buffet area earlier that told me to come and watch him do the carving

 

 

 

[caribill]

4 hours ago, harryfat1 said:

 My trip report is like a buffet – you have a little of everything but it’s good at nothing in particular.  Quantity versus Quality. 

 

 

 

I found it to be both quantity and quality.

 

Really enjoyed your report.

 

 

4 hours ago, harryfat1 said:

 

But hey, you got your money's worth in your annual CC membership dues! 🤪

 

 

I definitely got my money's worth from my annual CC membership dues.

 

In fact, I will renew in advance because there is an opportunity for a 5X match from an anonymous donor.,

[cr8tiv1]

24 minutes ago, caribill said:

I definitely got my money's worth from my annual CC membership dues.

 

In fact, I will renew in advance because there is an opportunity for a 5X match from an anonymous donor.,

 

Must be that JP guy who is gathering pennies by eliminating blue bags, chocolates, and a sundry of other coveted take aways.

[travelin.sisters]

On 10/17/2022 at 7:05 PM, harryfat1 said:

 

 

My trip report is like a buffet – you have a little of everything but it’s good at nothing in particular.  Quantity versus Quality. 

 

Here’s my trip report in a nutshell:

 

Lots of pictures although none are spectacular.  Lots of words but mostly non sensical gibberish. Lots of whiney about Princess’ lack of big entertainment venues when we know that’s not that forte. Lots of bad jokes as my comedy writing staff of one is overworked and numerous music videos as fillers when I run of ideas on what else to write…

 

But hey, you got your money's worth in your annual CC membership dues! 🤪

I am sorry to inform you that the self-appointed entirely unofficial roving synopsis editor has rejected this summary of the aforementioned trip report. It should immediately be replaced with the following: 

Join Cheapo Dad as he takes you along on a fun-filled recounting of his family's adventures on the Majestic Princess in Alaska. Liberally illustrated with delightful photos & accompanied by a varied video soundtrack, this report will delight & inform you! On this thorough report you will tour the ship (complete with floor plans), salivate over delicious food & beverages, learn what Princess excels at & what she doesn't. At each port you will explore interesting sights (again with extensive photo illustration & accompaning maps & diagrams) while learning how to have a great trip without breaking the bank. Presented with humor & welcoming audience participation, Cheapo Dad's Trip Report on the Majestic Princess is a don't miss experience. 

 

Very seriously, I want to say thank you for all the time, detail, photos, humor, wisdom & joy you have put into sharing your trip, with all of us.

[harryfat1]

23 hours ago, caribill said:

 

 

I found it to be both quantity and quality.

 

Really enjoyed your report.

 

 

 

 

I definitely got my money's worth from my annual CC membership dues.

 

In fact, I will renew in advance because there is an opportunity for a 5X match from an anonymous donor.,

Thanks for the kind words and the renewal of your membership to CC.

 

I need to talk to CC on my next contract negotiation on how I can be compensated for various folks that are renewing their membership from my trip report.

 

Maybe have CC issue me a special promo code like "Cheapo Dad" where you type that in the renewal box at check out and you can get 20% off and I can earn a commission from referring you to renewal.  Win-Win.

 

I do appreciate all your Princess knowledge throughout this trip report.  As I said before, 2 cruises in 20 years on Princess by no ways makes me a Princess expert to know what's what.  So it's good to have a Princess veteran to follow along and provide insights.

[harryfat1]

43 minutes ago, travelin.sisters said:

I am sorry to inform you that the self-appointed entirely unofficial roving synopsis editor has rejected this summary of the aforementioned trip report. It should immediately be replaced with the following: 

Join Cheapo Dad as he takes you along on a fun-filled recounting of his family's adventures on the Majestic Princess in Alaska. Liberally illustrated with delightful photos & accompanied by a varied video soundtrack, this report will delight & inform you! On this thorough report you will tour the ship (complete with floor plans), salivate over delicious food & beverages, learn what Princess excels at & what she doesn't. At each port you will explore interesting sights (again with extensive photo illustration & accompaning maps & diagrams) while learning how to have a great trip without breaking the bank. Presented with humor & welcoming audience participation, Cheapo Dad's Trip Report on the Majestic Princess is a don't miss experience. 

 

Very seriously, I want to say thank you for all the time, detail, photos, humor, wisdom & joy you have put into sharing your trip, with all of us.

Wow.  If I had a bigger operating budget, I would hire you as my marketing VP to get the word out for people to read the trip report and increases the size of the check that CC sends to me for more people reading the trip report.

 

Thank you for the compliment.  You write live reports that I can never do so I salute your ability to do that.

 

Too bad there's no CC trip writer cruise where various writers cruise together and combine our efforts into one massive joint trip report.  That would be cool...

[harryfat1]

So after the ice carving demo, we met up with the family and went back to the cabin to start packing the suitcase for the trip home.

 

No pictures of the packing trip as nobody wants to see dirty laundry...🤪

 

More bean bag toss in the piazza

 

 

We are humming along at 22 knots on the west side of Vancouver Island

 

 

Last lunch of this cruise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like I said before - Princess loves their dome desserts

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Way-Way back on day 2, we went to a music audition of cruise passengers that wants to be on the talent show.  Well, day 7 is where the top finishers of the auditions will get to compete on the big theater stage.

 

Similar set up as the TV show where the judges pick the top performers to be on their team.  The audience votes for the winner – who is some gals that sang a modern song.  Personally, I don’t think she is the best singer but the audience that went to the show seems to be the younger set from the sailing and they are more familiar with the current songs that songs from the 70s other cruisers sang.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a personal preference thing but coming from sailing on RCI – I prefer the ship provides the entertainment like parades instead of DIY cruise passengers doing the talent show on the amateur hour.

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

22 hours ago, harryfat1 said:

So after the ice carving demo, we met up with the family and went back to the cabin to start packing the suitcase for the trip home.

 

No pictures of the packing trip as nobody wants to see dirty laundry...🤪

 

More bean bag toss in the piazza

 

 

We are humming along at 22 knots on the west side of Vancouver Island

 

 

Last lunch of this cruise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like I said before - Princess loves their dome desserts

 

 

 

OK I have decided that every time a Princess ship is in town, they need to open the buffet & let me eat cruise food. That seems reasonable to me.

[cr8tiv1]

33 minutes ago, travelin.sisters said:

OK I have decided that every time a Princess ship is in town, they need to open the buffet & let me eat cruise food. That seems reasonable to me.

 

You used to be able to do that with the Bon Voyage Experience.  It's too bad that Princess did away with that program.  Great way to convince people to drop you off at the port.

 

Me, I'm not so much a buffet person.

[travelin.sisters]

46 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

You used to be able to do that with the Bon Voyage Experience.  It's too bad that Princess did away with that program.  Great way to convince people to drop you off at the port.

 

Me, I'm not so much a buffet person.

i prefer it for breakfast & usually do a variety of things for lunch & dinner in a dining room please (with my same waiters all cruise)

 

I remember on one cruise when we were delayed getting on because they had so many in the Bon Voyage Experience...didn't get my embarkation day MDR lunch

[Californian]

Thanks very much for spending time to share your cruise with us.  I thoroughly enjoyed following you on the journey.

 

 

[Crow9]

Harry, thank you for the awesome trip report.  I really like your writing style and looked forward to reading the posts these last few weeks.

Thank you.

[harryfat1]

9 hours ago, Californian said:

Thanks very much for spending time to share your cruise with us.  I thoroughly enjoyed following you on the journey.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Crow9 said:

Harry, thank you for the awesome trip report.  I really like your writing style and looked forward to reading the posts these last few weeks.

Thank you.

Thank you folks for your compliments and reading along these past many weeks. 

 

One of the nicer aspects of writing trip reports is meeting new friends as sometimes the tones on some posts on CC are very negative.  I hope everyone enjoyed the less serious approach to trip reporting.

[harryfat1]

All righty, let's finish up day 7 of the cruise.

 

Earlier in the day I showed you folks few pictures of us at the photo section ordering customizable products and they were ready in the afternoon so we went and picked those up as well as last minute shopping to use up the OBC we had in the account.

 

What we ordered were customized mugs with a different mug for all 6 of with each person’s preferences of pictures and our names on them. 

 

As I have mentioned, we don’t cruise often so going on a cruise is still a special event for us and we like these special souvenirs.

 

Going back to the photo area to pick up the mugs.  Still few people there visiting their uncles in prison

 

 

Here’s what our 4 mugs looks like with various photos from the cruise

 

 

Ship model we bought

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

One last picture outside as we round Vancouver Island on the Pacific Ocean side on our way to Vancouver

 

 

Yeah, the long way home to wrap around Victoria before heading north

 

 

Menu pics taken from outside of the restaurant - hence the reflection - but you can check out the menu outside all day long to decide if you want to eat at MDR or not.  As posted previously, you can also check the menu on TV or the app (good luck on that one):

 

 

 

Dinner pics:

 

Had to take a picture of the table number as we had to work so hard nightly trying to secure this same table

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guess who took which picture below of the fish?

 

 

 

Actually that was a trick question as my wife took both.  I wasn't happy with the first one being so far away so she took a second one that's a little closer but still not the "in your face" picture I wanted.

 

Yeah, this was me...

 

 

My wife wanted to try one more time to get the Strawberry on Fire from the MDR.  Same bad result - tabasco flavored.  Not the same as ordering for cabin room delivery.

 

 

Baked Alaska - Princess has the personal sized ones.  There was supposed to be a parade but that happened before our dinner at 7 PM.  Don't get me started on why I prefer set dining as then you won't exclude anyone that wants entertainment.

 

 

 

 

Said our goodbye to the wait staff.  As with all cruise lines, the staff is pushing hard for us to  answer the post cruise survey to give them good grades.  He even suggested we take a picture of his name badge in case we forgotten his name after we got off the ship.

 

 

I must think there’s bonuses/promotions involved in getting a good rating.  I gave him high praises in the post cruise survey for checking on the allergy issue nightly

 

I do miss the singing  or dancing waiters from either Carnival or RCI cruises. They are fun/entertaining for newbies and newbie +1 cruisers

[harryfat1]

After dinner, back to the cabin to take out the luggage as they need to be outside

 

 

Always sad to see the luggage outside the cabins on last day of cruise. As mentioned in previous posts, we never appreciate our suitcases until something goes wrong.

 

It’s like your payroll department at work.  Nobody ever appreciates the payroll department for the company as they only goes to payroll to complain when something goes wrong.  Nobody ever goes to payroll department to thank you for getting their paycheck done correctly.

 

So go and hug your suitcase to show your love

 

[harryfat1]

One last visit to the Guest Services to get a final hard copy printout on the balances as the travel agent’s OBC never showed up. Will need to deal with her after we get home.

 

 

One last walk around the ship at the piazza area

 

 

 

 

They were playing Billy Joel's "Piano Man" song at the atrium

 

 

Here's the full song

 

 

Still some late visitors to see uncle in prison

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Before going to the cabin, I realized I had forgotten to visit the laundromat as Princess has something RCI doesn’t have – self serviced laundromat.  So I went down the hall near the very AFT of the ship.

 

 

As you can see, it takes up the entire width of the inside cabin area so it's not a small area

 

For those that want to pack light, you can pack half as much clothes if you just want to do laundry halfway through the cruise.  The money saved on doing check in luggage will more than pay for the load of laundry on the cruise