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Live from the Land of Princess


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22 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

I would like to know where I am today, not on July 26😂

Love it! Ask around ,perhaps you can find out where you are today🤣 or just go to the bridge and knock on the door,nope don’t do it . Might be just like the emergency flashlight -not what I thought.

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2 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Does anyone know if there is navigation information on the Island Princess? I mean, obviously there is for the bridge, but is there something passengers can view?

 

It should be on your tv. It's under something weird like 'live tv'. I think there is both a view from the bridge and a map if I am remembering correctly....

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28 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

I didn’t know there was a fitness center!

My DH laughs at me.  I always go to the Fitness Center.  I take two steps in, do a 180 and walk out.   Checklist: Go to Fitness Center.

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For anyone tracking the Island Princess, you will notice we are now heading south toward Sydney.

 

There is a very sad situation on board associated with an incident that occurred in the dining room tonight. In his announcement, the captain said the best case scenario for the passenger who needs significant medical intervention is for a medical evacuation helicopter to meet us close to Sydney.

 

My heart goes out to the gentleman and his family.

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Timeline

5:45pm Bridge calls over the PA for the medical response team to report to the dining room

8:50pm Captain announces we are heading to Sydney for a medical evacuation helicopter to meet the ship 

9:15pm deck 14 and 15 outdoor areas are closed

9:20pm cabins on decks 11 and 12 portside are evacuated

9:55pm Cruise Director Aaron comes on the PA to inform us that the medical evacuation has been delayed by one hour and all evacuated passengers may return to their cabins. They will be evacuated close to the time of the helicopter’s arrival.

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Posted (edited)

Here's the link to Cruise Mapper:

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9230402

 

Here's a link to your weather:

 

https://www.passageweather.com

 

I haven't received a cruise log for several voyages.  I think it was discontinued post pandemic.  Too Bad, that was a great take away.

 

 

Edited by cr8tiv1
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Posted (edited)

Acute medical emergencies at sea being one of the worst nightmare when those urgent response calls are heard ship-wide over the PA system ... thoughts & prayers for the passengers and others traveling together with them.  

 

Maritime conditions looking favorable this evening for ship to medevac, light wind & sea state are calm, etc. in that area and from the latest ship tracking, still heading toward Sydney at 20.2 nm and roughly 60 to 75 nm from port.  Coast Guard chopter typically cruise at 125 kts (capable to making the trip in about 1 hour or less each way, plus hovering) and with a flight crew available, should be on scene or approaching the ship by now to hoist and transfer, etc. Nighttime ops are always challenging. 

 

 

 

I.P. has slowed down to around 11 nm, perhaps the long range chopter (like those "giant" Sikorsky MH-60T or variants) is approaching.  Let's hope for the best outcome and pax's well-being for a smooth & safe, timely rescue ashore soon.  (FlightAware App's non-commerical version only display aircrafts flying overhead in Canada air space, whereas with the USA, I can also track helicopters & other private aircrafts with transponders ...) 

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Edited by mking8288
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The helicopter has been with us for an hour.

It hovered port side from 11:11pm through 11:24 pm before changing position.  At 11:24 the helicopter moved higher, paused then came past the port side, overtaking the Island Princess. It never disappeared from sight or earshot and came back to the ship at 12:10pm.

 

At 12:12pm the Captain came on the PA system to say that we have successfully completed the medical evacuation by helicopter and that our thoughts and prayers are for the passenger and their family. The captain addressed the crew who responded to the medical situation throughout the evening (this was an hours long process with decks being blocked off, doors closed, walkways closed and cabins evacuated. The captain told the entire team “good job” and “please stand down.”

 

We are now making a turn to the southwest at 10kph and will soon be heading full speed north to Cornerbrook, Newfoundland. Our scheduled arrival was 7:00am and the captain is projecting a revised arrival time of 11:00am. 
 

For the last couple of hours we were heading south at a speed of 20 kph. When the helicopter was here we slowed to 12kph. I thought we would stop but we didn’t. The helicopter shone bright lights onto us and the power from the blades sent the ocean spray up to at least deck 9. That was one powerful helicopter!

 

As I was typing this our position has now changed and we are heading north at 10kph before we pick up speed.

 

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I’ll share more about my dinner and evening tomorrow. It just doesn’t feel respectful to share right now. When the announcement came on that we were changing course I was at Good Spirits bar. I went outside to take some sunset photos then returned to the cabin for the rest of the night.

 

See you tomorrow, and I really, really hope the passenger gets the immediate medical intervention he needs.

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Posted (edited)

I feel for the medical evacuee.  They will be taken to a medical facility in Nova Scotia.  I do hope they have insurance because Medicare (if American) will not cover the costs of their treatment/stay.  

 

Thank you for being so respectful and compassionate.  I hope the other passengers understand the delay to your next port.  

Edited by cr8tiv1
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30 minutes ago, wallyj said:

@cr8tiv1, I believe some Medicare Advantage plans WILL cover you when you are outside the US. Meaning they will reimburse opposed to accept billing.

 

I was referring to a straight Medicare plan.  Regardless, this will be an expensive medical event.  (No charge for the helicopter), but it must have been urgent/emergency to air lift off the ship.

 

All I am saying is that I do hope they have cruise insurance.

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Have been following along with great interest, as we embark Island Princess in Southampton on July 26, and are on board until Barcelona.  We always sailed Princess when we started cruising about 8 years ago, but lately have branched out - due to itineraries working better with other lines. We love Princess and are looking forward to getting re-acquainted after too long away (although DH will miss his favourite late night snack stops at the International Cafe).  In August we're on NCL (Viva, Rome to Trieste) for the first time, so comparisons will be interesting - but I've never been on a ship I didnt love.

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Last night was poke bowl action station! It was amazing. Each item had been seasoned to perfection so I ended up with a bowl of umami.

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I added some noodles and tofu and requested some extra edamame at the poke station for a little more protein.  The sous chef who persons the action station is excellent: he knows every ingredient in every sauce and he is also a vegetarian. He gives me vegetarian eggs Benedict in the morning.  Does Princess have crew recognition cards similar to Vacation Hero cards?

 

Last night was not only poke bowl night but also our first formal night. I was surprised to see so many people in ball gowns and suits dining in the buffet.

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Because I had stayed out in the sunshine reading on deck, I had a late-ish dinner and just had time to change out of suntanning clothes and into casual theatregoing garb before the early show started. At 7:20pm there was a line up out the door for seats. At 7:25pm they released the Premium reserved seats and the accessible seats but there were still more people than seats. I had to stand but didn’t mind. The show was called Spectacular.

 

Did it live up to its name?

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Absolutely! It was a high octane variety show of music through the ages. From boogie to Beyoncé each number was excellent and I highly recommend taking in Spectacular if you have the chance. Just arrive early to get a seat!

 

Overheard in the theatre:

(This anecdote will only be funny if you know there is passenger on board who is a priest. He wears his floor length, heavy black robe everywhere.)

Tonight the priest left the theatre production extravaganza early (Lord knows why: it was excellent!)

 

As the priest ascended the stairway a man near me turned to his wife and not-quietly-drunkenly-whispered

“It’s dress up night and that man dressed up as Harry Potter!”

 

He got elbowed by his wife who whispered back “he’s a priest!”

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22 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

Does Princess have crew recognition cards similar to Vacation Hero cards?

Yes, go to Guest Service desk and ask for a card or cards. I always fill out several every cruise. They do get read and I've gotten feedback on those I've submitted.

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23 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

Does Princess have crew recognition cards similar to Vacation Hero cards


ask for a comments card at guest services, return it to them when you have filled it out.  These forms are then shared with all the directors onboard.

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41 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

I  Does Princess have crew recognition cards similar to Vacation Hero cards?

 

 

 

In addition to the comment cards at guest services, you will be emailed a survey at the end of the cruise. If you take notes and remember the names of people you want to commend, you can put them in there. It's  very important to the crew to be recognized in these ways as apparently their bonuses and promotions depend on it.

 

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After Spectacular I went to Good Spirits. They were still doing the cocktail presentation

 

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and the drinks they were making weren’t ones I had seen before. This one,

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Starry Night in Oslo, is black and glittery and definitely looks like something one could find in Diagon Alley.

 

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I ordered a Mai Tai and got this. I’m not convinced it is a Mai Tai but it was good.  Many drinks on Princess seem to be excessively sweet and I’m still working my way through the cocktail menus.

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