LIVE: Geoherb's solo Island Princess cruise, June 4-14, 2024 (Halifax, Boston, Norfolk, Charleston)

[geoherb]

Before lunch, I played the bean bag toss: passengers vs. officers. We lost.

 

I enjoyed the history of whiskey talk at Crooners after lunch. They served samples of three: Johnnie Walker Double Black, 12-year-old Chivas Regal, and Crown Royal. They used the small round shot glasses for the samples (until they ran out), but they made us give them back. Crooners is not a very good location for something like this. I'm glad I got there 10 minutes early to get a chair. The speaker stood in front of the screen so most people could not see. 

 

My favorite was the Johnnie Walker Double Black. Meanwhile, I watched Barbie on the TV. I like that I could watch it in segments, picking up where I left off. I started this morning before breakfast and finished it after participating in the carpet bowls competition. My partner and I placed second. We won two matches and lost in the finals to 18-year-old twins from Florida who are on a birthday/graduation cruise with their parents. The pair we were supposed to face in the finals ended up having to leave. I'm fine with not winning a notebook.

 

At trivia this morning, Nick, the assistant cruise director, said they had a surplus of the coasters. I don't need them either. The good news, according to him, is that the supplier of the coasters is out of business, so they won't be getting any more.

 

 

[geoherb]

Here is the Patter for tomorrow in Halifax:

[geoherb]

Afternoon trivia was difficult for those for whom it wasn't a repeat. One team, though, had a perfect score. I enjoyed a light bite at the Platinum and Elite event. Tonight's features were chicken satay and herbed goat cheese with rosemary flatbreads and tomato bruschetta topping. I have to wait until the last night for it to be sushi. That's one of my favorites.

 

They set up the champagne fountain for the first formal night. I did not receive an order form for hors d-oeuvres yesterday. I did not think about it until I saw a crew member with a tray of them for another cabin. The same thing happened on my last cruise a couple of summers ago. It's not so much that I definitely want to order them--I just want to have the opportunity to do so since it's a promised benefit.

 

Dinner tonight was very nice. I had the crab cake appetizer, an appetizer portion of the gnocchi with truffled cream sauce, and the slices of beef tenderloin. The latter was much better than it was at yesterday's lunch. For one thing, it was rare as ordered. It also had a better flavor. They served me a minuscule amount of spinach. The assistant waiter brought me more when I asked for it.

 

They had the chocolate hazelnut dream on the dessert menu. It's one of my favorites. Thankfully, Princess has not tweaked the recipe very much. It's always dependable. One of the women at my table ordered the love boat dream. She received the red version. It's a shadow of its former self. She decided to order the chocolate hazelnut dessert after seeing my slice. She loved it.

 

One of the head waiters visited our tables. I asked him why they did not have the flourless chocolate cake on the menu last night. He said there's someone new at corporate creating the menus. He said he could ask the chef to make it for our table, but I declined since I probably won't be seeing the two couples again at dinner.

 

Bravo was enjoyable. I've seen it countless times. All four of the production cast singers have good voices. The guest soprano is excellent. I hope she'll do a solo show later on during the cruise like the ones on other ships have.

 

I caught the late comedy show in Explorers Lounge. They're billing it as the "Laugh Lounge." Dave Konig was the comedian. I was hoping the late show could have been a little bit more adult, but the assistant cruise director said he would be doing basically the same show as the earlier ones. I thought he was pretty funny.

 

 

 

 

[arizonaperson]

@geoherb

The flourless chocolate cake from long ago was my favorite. Use to be served first night only in the DR.

 

 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

@geoherb did you enjoy the Salty Dog Gastropub enough to pay for it if it was not included in your plus package? I am really enjoying your review! 

[geoherb]

3 hours ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

@geoherb did you enjoy the Salty Dog Gastropub enough to pay for it if it was not included in your plus package? I am really enjoying your review! 

 

Thanks. Probably not. It was not as good as the lunch I had at the Pinnacle Grill on a Holland America ship. That is a lunch I'd be willing to pay for again.

[geoherb]

6 hours ago, arizonaperson said:

@geoherb

The flourless chocolate cake from long ago was my favorite. Use to be served first night only in the DR.

 

 

I discovered that they also served it in the buffet at dinner on the first night as well on some cruises. I was always tempted to take some back to my cabin to save for the next few days but never did.

[CPASam]

Enjoying the live thread of your cruise!  Watching the Pier 21 cam from Halifax to see the Island sail in this morning!

[geoherb]

Someone on this cruise's Facebook group said the captain announced last night at the champagne waterfall that there were just 1,638 passengers on this cruise. No wonder nothing has felt crowded.

[geoherb]

Another person bemoaned the fact that not many men bothered to dress up for formal night last night. I saw a few in tuxedos and a few more in dark suits. A lot wore sports coats, with or without neckties. A few wore dress shirts with neckties. I wore a dark dress shirt without a tie. There were some in the dining room in casual shirts. I did not see anyone there in shorts.

[CPASam]

Island Princess from webcam turning around in the harbor at pier 21.

[CPASam]

Island Princess docked at Pier 21 from the Halifax webcam

[MsSoCalCruiser]

11 hours ago, geoherb said:

 

Thanks. Probably not. It was not as good as the lunch I had at the Pinnacle Grill on a Holland America ship. That is a lunch I'd be willing to pay for again.

I’ve only sailed once with Holland America but I still remember The Dive-In.  I wish that place was on Princess ships. So good! 

[Therese S.]

Thank you for the live from the Island Princess, I’m enjoying your daily updates.  Can you please confirm whether or not there’s some sort of International Cafe?    I’ve read posts that says there’s a small one (forget where) but others say no.  If not, where do you get Lattes, other speciality coffees,  etc and the extra good almond croissants?  

[lljost]

16 minutes ago, Therese S. said:

Thank you for the live from the Island Princess, I’m enjoying your daily updates.  Can you please confirm whether or not there’s some sort of International Cafe?    I’ve read posts that says there’s a small one (forget where) but others say no.  If not, where do you get Lattes, other speciality coffees,  etc and the extra good almond croissants?  

Just got off the Island. On deck 5 at the Good Spirits bar they had one display case in the morning with a few choices of croissants and then changed over to a few sandwich choices at lunch. Never looked to see if anything out in the evening. There is also a coffee bar at that location. I believe it opened 6am. Up in the Horizon Court there is a specialty coffee bar all the way in front also a huge choice of breakfast croissants and muffins.

[geoherb]

44 minutes ago, Therese S. said:

Thank you for the live from the Island Princess, I’m enjoying your daily updates.  Can you please confirm whether or not there’s some sort of International Cafe?    I’ve read posts that says there’s a small one (forget where) but others say no.  If not, where do you get Lattes, other speciality coffees,  etc and the extra good almond croissants?  

 

What I miss from the International Cafe are the mini cheesecakes. They are so good. I haven't made it down to Good Spirits to see what's offered there. I got a specialty tea this afternoon at the place at the Horizon Court where they make the coffee drinks. 

[geoherb]

Here is the Patter for our day at sea tomorrow. My cabin steward left me a notice about the immigration process in Boston. They have assigned times to each cabin. I'm glad I don't have any urgent plans of what I wanted to do since my time isn't until 8:45. And at least the ship isn't at capacity. Hopefully, there won't be a backup in the process. 

[cr8tiv1]

When we did immigrations/customs in Portland, ME, I don't recall anyone checking times.  But the line went from the Club Fusion (Caribbean Princess) down the hall....all the way past Crooners...to the start of the Casino on Deck 7.  Gave up and came back at 10 AM.  They weren't checking medallions, only to look at your passport.

 

As for what's missing....may I add the tiramisu from the IC in those cute little glass cups.

 

Thanks for doing a live.  So point on.

[geoherb]

I enjoyed my day in Halifax. I was there two years ago on the Caribbean's cruise to Greenland. I went to the Maritime Museum. We went there 22 years ago on our first cruise to New England and Canada. They have interesting exhibits including ones about the Titanic. 

 

Several years ago, we met the owners of the Halifax Distilling Co. on a cruise. I stopped by after my time at the museum and ran into one of them. I had run into the other two years ago. It was nice to see her again. The exciting news is that the bar area right next to the distillery is reopening under new management tomorrow. It looked like a great space. The owner of it said he will be working to highlight some of the rum creams the Halifax Distilling Co. makes. I bought a bottle to take home. It's delicious. 

 

I walked up the hill to the Public Garden. It's lovely this time of year with lots of azaleas and rhododendrons blooming. Halifax is a couple of months behind us in Raleigh. I ran into one of the women with whom I waited at LaGuardia. We walked together to the Citadel. I continued down the hill and repeated my lunch from two years ago at Salty's on the waterfront. I had the same thing I had two years ago: the seafood platter with half a chilled lobster, fried scallops, haddock, and shrimp. It came with potato salad and coleslaw. I asked the waitress about the rumor the restaurant was closing. She said it would be in October. There will be another restaurant taking over the space after renovations.

 

Back on the ship, I decided to try the violet cloud. It's $1 more than the Plus package limit ($1.18 with the automatic gratuity added.) It was a fun drink. I'm glad I asked for it when the bartenders were not busy. I wish I had taken a video of the process the bartender did to make it--and the dramatic moment the smoke-filled bubble burst.

 

[geoherb]

I asked the future cruise consultant about the missing choice of hors d'oeuvres on the first formal night. He did not realize that was a promised benefit for Elites. He knew that people in suites got them.

[cr8tiv1]

Your lobster plate looks better than the awesome lobster roll I got across the street.  

 

I guess in the back of my mind, I should have remembered that the Future Cruise Consultants were now "taking care of" Elites (all things related to Captain Circle stuff).  No wonder there's inconsistencies with perks.  I stopped attending Captain Circle parties post pandemic.  Another miss by Princess.

 

51 minutes ago, geoherb said:

I asked the future cruise consultant about the missing choice of hors d'oeuvres on the first formal night. He did not realize that was a promised benefit for Elites. He knew that people in suites got them.

 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

That drink is beautiful. Do you remember the ingredients? 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

Have you ordered anything using OceanNow? If so, please let me know if you have time and feel like checking something for me. 

[sunviking90]

2 hours ago, geoherb said:

 

What I miss from the International Cafe are the mini cheesecakes. They are so good. I haven't made it down to Good Spirits to see what's offered there. I got a specialty tea this afternoon at the place at the Horizon Court where they make the coffee drinks. 

Yes! The mini cheesecakes are our favourite too. 
Thank you for your trip report. We loved the smaller size of the Island Princess when we were in her a few years ago. Enough the forgo the cheesecakes.

Edited June 7 by sunviking90

[geoherb]

6 hours ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

That drink is beautiful. Do you remember the ingredients? 

 

It's cucumber, basil, lime juice, simple syrup, creme de violet, and vodka with the smoke cloud on top. I found a video of a bartender making it. There are several other videos posted on YouTube of passengers getting served one.