Live from the Land of Princess

[AKR2011]

18 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

I don’t know! Do I mix them?

Irish Car Bomb! Ask for one 😊

[YVRteacher]

The bartender just ruined my first Guinness experience. He just told me I don’t look like my picture and the picture looks 15 years younger. He thought he was funny. I just said “are you insulting me?”

It’s a recent picture. I felt so good about myself this morning with my Scottish suntan and rosy glow cheeks.

 

I wasn’t going to write this but might as well. This morning in Horizon Court I sat at a high top near the waiter station. The waiters were talking about which female crew members they wanted to sleep with. Then a waiter came and put his tray of dirty dishes right next to where I was sitting. I have already complained about this and have been assured it wouldn’t happen again.

[www3traveler]

1 minute ago, YVRteacher said:

The bartender just ruined my first Guinness experience. He just told me I don’t look like my picture and the picture looks 15 years younger. He thought he was funny. I just said “are you insulting me?”

It’s a recent picture. I felt so good about myself this morning with my Scottish suntan and rosy glow cheeks.

 

I wasn’t going to write this but might as well. This morning in Horizon Court I sat at a high top near the waiter station. The waiters were talking about which female crew members they wanted to sleep with. Then a waiter came and put his tray of dirty dishes right next to where I was sitting. I have already complained about this and have been assured it wouldn’t happen again.

WOW!!!!  I hope you reported the crew conversation!!!  WOW!!!

I would report the dirty dishes, too.  Sounds like someone needs to be re-trained AND re-assigned!!

[Muckyduckway]

1 hour ago, YVRteacher said:

Thank you for reading! Yes, I’m on the NCL Jewel with my dad for a B2B from Vancouver to Seward and back.  I have written so many trip reports from the Jewel to Alaska that I won’t be doing another one this summer.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

[Muckyduckway]

37 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

*I apologize in advance if this post is offensive to some.

 

Last night I was sitting in Crooners, writing, sipping my French 75 and enjoying sail away when a disaster occurred. It sounded like a feral cat was slowly being tortured. The guy next to me and I both immediately flinched in shock. 
 

Bagpipes.

 

Can you imagine bagpipes amplified throughout the piazza? I couldn’t even take the trombone, but the bagpipes were next level loud.

 

The wife of flinching man looked it up in the Patter and said “it’s 15 minutes…

 

…of torture!” This couple told me that on their shore excursion bus tour to Glasgow they had to endure 4 bagpipe songs.

 

 

 

 

I have teenage trauma from bagpipes. If you recall I mentioned earlier that my parents were professional dancers and are in the Guinness Book of World Records. 
They were Scottish Country Dancers and they practiced a lot. Both my mom and my dad loved the bagpipes so much they had cassette tape holders bursting with bagpipe music tapes. 
 

My parents were the chaperone types so they were always the ones volunteering to drive. They drove to Girl Guide camp, Band Camp, and grade 7 camp.

 

Can you imagine the mortification of being 13 and having your parents drive you and 6 classmates to camp 3 hours away to the soundtrack of bagpipes?

OK, you get a bye for that. I personally love the bagpipes, love the Uilleann pipes more. But admittedly they can be torturous if played badly or are too close (closeness is a personal preference - may be measured in metres or kilometres!)

[Muckyduckway]

21 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

The bartender just ruined my first Guinness experience. He just told me I don’t look like my picture and the picture looks 15 years younger. He thought he was funny. I just said “are you insulting me?”

It’s a recent picture. I felt so good about myself this morning with my Scottish suntan and rosy glow cheeks.

 

I wasn’t going to write this but might as well. This morning in Horizon Court I sat at a high top near the waiter station. The waiters were talking about which female crew members they wanted to sleep with. Then a waiter came and put his tray of dirty dishes right next to where I was sitting. I have already complained about this and have been assured it wouldn’t happen again.

That's downright rude and so inappropriate in every way.

[Happy fool]

I like bagpipes in very small doses. However, IMHO bagpipes are not INDOOR instruments!  Bagpipes on the dock at sail away…great!  Indoors in an atrium with loud acoustics 🙀

[WisCruiser2]

1 hour ago, YVRteacher said:

Thank you for reading! Yes, I’m on the NCL Jewel with my dad for a B2B from Vancouver to Seward and back.  I have written so many trip reports from the Jewel to Alaska that I won’t be doing another one this summer.

Well, just enjoy the journey, then! I'll have to look up your past reviews to see the photos then 🙂

[lennythenose]

10 hours ago, Muckyduckway said:

Oh oh! Do not go down the rabbit hole of an Internet search on kohlrabi versus turnip versus swede. 

Horticultural they are all related but different, but where you live heavily influences what you call them!

 

Yvonne, you have succeeded in getting us talking about vegetables 😀

🤣. I was going to say it looks like a turnip so I googled before posting. I’m from Texas  

[WisCruiser2]

1 hour ago, sharonsharona said:

I’m hunting for this cruise next year, but can’t find it.   Can you share ship & date?   Thanks

Sure can -- Island Princess, Aug 1 - 19. I found it by going to the Canada cruises and filtering for the Island.

[www3traveler]

Hi Sweetie,

I pray that the rest of this cruise goes smoothly and you have an uneventful journey back to Vancouver.

 

I hope that you will write about your Jewel cruise.  I would love to hear about any changes you may find.  I know that Captain Vicente is currently on vacation ad supposed to return to The Pearl.

 

BIG BIG BIG BIG HUG

 

Love and prayers always

[Muckyduckway]

Sorry that your 'first' Guinness was sullied. Are you normally fond of stouts?

There are many combos made with Guinness and I'm of the opinion that most were created for those who want to like Guinness but don't. Holds hand up in embarrassment 😳 

I actually love the name recognition and international cultural association that Guinness has developed - it's almost always the first thing people say back to us wherever we are on the world when they find out where we're from.

I'm old enough to remember when it was an old geezers drink or prescribed as a "pick me up".

Amazing what a good marketing campaign can do!

[bluesea777]

3 minutes ago, WisCruiser2 said:

Sure can -- Island Princess, Aug 1 - 19. I found it by going to the Canada cruises and filtering for the Island.

 

We're also booked on this same cruise!!

 

Greenland is still sitting on our bucket list ... we went on the NCL Star 2 years ago for the Greenland and Iceland cruise but when we boarded the Captain made an unfortunate decision (based on weather) to swap Greenland with Norway. It caused a bit of an uproar as the majority of ppl went on the cruise for Greenland. I was wondering why didn't the Captain just swap the countries around, meaning do Iceland first and then Greenland when the weather improved. We got 25% refund.

 

This year we went back on the NCL Star for the Arctic Norway, Svalbard and Iceland. The cruise and ports were very good but the food (especially the Garden Cafe) had downgraded to the point that we vowed not to go on the NCL Star again.

 

After reading YVR's review about the Island Princess, I went online to search for a Greenland cruise, and bingo I found the Aug 1-19 2025 cruise - round trip out of NYC (1hr 45m hop from Bermuda and back) and going to just 2 countries - Canada and Greenland - perfect as we've been to Iceland and Norway many times already.

 

Thanks Yvonne!! Keep it up with your reviews and pictures!

 

 

[kluv2cruz]

5 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Does anyone know if there is a bar on board that serves Guinness? I would like to try a little sip.

 

Just be aware, it tastes shockingly yummier when served on tap at a bar, and even yummier in Ireland. The can is a close approximation. The bottle is a distant 3rd best. I like it served with dark rum and bitters, what used to be called a “Caribe Guinness” on Princess about 5 years ago.

[Justpackingmybags]

Don’t forget the Black Velvet - Guinness and Champagne 

[kluv2cruz]

1 hour ago, YVRteacher said:

Is it supposed to be this ice cold?

No, not supposed to be served cold. That’s part of why it’s better in Ireland as they serve it at the perfect temperature and perfect amount of carbonation, hence texture and mouth feel is as intended.

 

If you experiment with a can again, be sure to let the widget do it’s thing and don’t rush to pour it. 

[Thrak]

1 hour ago, AKR2011 said:

Irish Car Bomb! Ask for one 😊

 

A more "correct" name is Irish Slammer. The "old" name is frowned upon by many for obvious reasons.

 

The drink can be a shot of Bailey's dropped into the pint of Guinnes or a shot that is half Bailey's and half Jameson that is dropped into the pint. Not a bad drink at all. It's only 10:30 AM here but I'd take one now if offered. 😃

 

[ceilidh1]

5 minutes ago, Thrak said:

 

A more "correct" name is Irish Slammer. The "old" name is frowned upon by many for obvious reasons.

 

The drink can be a shot of Bailey's dropped into the pint of Guinnes or a shot that is half Bailey's and half Jameson that is dropped into the pint. Not a bad drink at all. It's only 10:30 AM here but I'd take one now if offered. 😃

 

Thank you - that's exactly why I didn't mention the old name...

 

[latebloomer56]

25 minutes ago, kluv2cruz said:

No, not supposed to be served cold. That’s part of why it’s better in Ireland as they serve it at the perfect temperature and perfect amount of carbonation, hence texture and mouth feel is as intended.

 

If you experiment with a can again, be sure to let the widget do it’s thing and don’t rush to pour it. 

I enjoyed one on a pub tour in Northern Ireland for the first time many years ago. My traveling companions didn't. But don't go by me I liked haggis at an inn in Ivanis but not the black pudding the next day go figure. 

Next time you get the opportunity go to a local pub and be patient they will pull you a Guinness. Not a smooth ale but a rich dark brew.

Sorry you haven't had the best of crew this leg of your journey. 

[Samkitty1]

3 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

*I apologize in advance if this post is offensive to some.

 

Last night I was sitting in Crooners, writing, sipping my French 75 and enjoying sail away when a disaster occurred. It sounded like a feral cat was slowly being tortured. The guy next to me and I both immediately flinched in shock. 
 

Bagpipes.

 

Can you imagine bagpipes amplified throughout the piazza? I couldn’t even take the trombone, but the bagpipes were next level loud.

 

The wife of flinching man looked it up in the Patter and said “it’s 15 minutes…

 

…of torture!” This couple told me that on their shore excursion bus tour to Glasgow they had to endure 4 bagpipe songs.

 

 

 

 

I have teenage trauma from bagpipes. If you recall I mentioned earlier that my parents were professional dancers and are in the Guinness Book of World Records. 
They were Scottish Country Dancers and they practiced a lot. Both my mom and my dad loved the bagpipes so much they had cassette tape holders bursting with bagpipe music tapes. 
 

My parents were the chaperone types so they were always the ones volunteering to drive. They drove to Girl Guide camp, Band Camp, and grade 7 camp.

 

Can you imagine the mortification of being 13 and having your parents drive you and 6 classmates to camp 3 hours away to the soundtrack of bagpipes?

LOL..... I loved the bagpipes on board...you knew you were in Scotland!

[BamaVol]

2 hours ago, Muckyduckway said:

Sorry that your 'first' Guinness was sullied. Are you normally fond of stouts?

There are many combos made with Guinness and I'm of the opinion that most were created for those who want to like Guinness but don't. Holds hand up in embarrassment 😳 

I actually love the name recognition and international cultural association that Guinness has developed - it's almost always the first thing people say back to us wherever we are on the world when they find out where we're from.

I'm old enough to remember when it was an old geezers drink or prescribed as a "pick me up".

Amazing what a good marketing campaign can do!

I do love a dry Irish stout but am not partial to Guinness.  However I can drink Black and Tan after Black and Tan.  I’m sure an Irishman sees that as an abomination, but I like what I like.

[WisCruiser2]

3 hours ago, Muckyduckway said:

Sorry that your 'first' Guinness was sullied. Are you normally fond of stouts?

There are many combos made with Guinness and I'm of the opinion that most were created for those who want to like Guinness but don't. Holds hand up in embarrassment 😳 

I actually love the name recognition and international cultural association that Guinness has developed - it's almost always the first thing people say back to us wherever we are on the world when they find out where we're from.

I'm old enough to remember when it was an old geezers drink or prescribed as a "pick me up".

Amazing what a good marketing campaign can do!

I'm not a dark beer drinker (nor fond of IPAs, picky about my beer) so I'd much rather have a Smithwick's any day!

[Muckyduckway]

36 minutes ago, BamaVol said:

I do love a dry Irish stout but am not partial to Guinness.  However I can drink Black and Tan after Black and Tan.  I’m sure an Irishman sees that as an abomination, but I like what I like.

In Ireland, mixed beer drinks are appreciated by some, and barely tolerated by others; in much the same way as whiskey cocktails are seen as a waste of a good drink by  whiskey purists.

The names, however, should be avoided: the reaction could range from nonchalance to severe admonishment to something worse, so best not to risk it, unless they are listed on a menu.

 

[YVRteacher]

I don’t think I did a very good job capturing this sea day.

 

I really, really enjoyed the art auction. Cameron is outstanding and hilarious and makes the experience so fun.

 

 

 

There’s a Dali on board.

 

I didn’t buy anything because none of the art on board really appeals to me plus shipping to Canada is not free. My money tends to go toward cruising instead of fancy things.

 

I also really enjoyed and appreciated the two destination talks from Cathy X Heaven today. She covered our last 4 ports (Invergordon for Inverness, Edinburgh, Le Havre and Portland.)

 

On my bed a couple days ago was an invitation for today

 

I could tell it was a fun party with about 500 people in attendance. Free drinks were flowing, music was blasting, prizes were drawn and speeches were given by the CD, future cruises guy and the Captain. This was right after my experience with the bartender and I just felt sad.

 

It isn’t so much that the one incident brought me down, it is more that interactions keep cropping up that are disappointing or unprofessional. I loved the shipboard experience on the Island so much and am not having the same feeling on the Regal. I feel like I’m forcing myself to enjoy being on board and the truth is I’m done. I’ve loved the ports and am looking forward to the upcoming ones but overall the entertainment, the activities and the music aren’t for me. This is not a good ship for solos. There are no enrichment activities, no lectures and nothing beyond the same old acupuncture sessions. I look at the Patters and there is nothing that captivates me. Nothing. It’s just a daily disappointment. Tonight I went to the Watercolor Fountain Fantasy. It was listed as a 30 minute show. In reality it was 5 minutes and this was the grand finale.

 

To give credit, the food is excellent overall. I’m eating and drinking too much because there isn’t anything else to do.
 

After the new cruiser party I talked to Fernando, the Business and Brand Ambassador. He has been phoning and leaving messages and I have been calling him back at the Guest Services number but no one ever answers. He wanted to talk to me about the smoke in the casino. He was very firm and not kind at all.  He stated that the casino is a revenue maker then he said “the casino is not a designated smoking area. Guests who are actively gambling are invited to smoke.” 
 

I said “well that ends this conversation” and he repeated his first statement.

 

It is despicable that he flat out lied to me and tried to tell me the casino wasn’t a designated smoking area. If people are smoking there, it is a smoking area.

 

I said again that there was no point continuing the conversation. He had no intention of making me happy or doing anything to make things better. Obviously I have been avoiding the part of the ship where the smoke is most offensive.

 

That one moment, that one little interaction, has significantly impacted my impression of Princess. I’m tired and I’m actually stressed. I have a lot of sensory input issues and have been triggered since getting on board the Regal.

 

I NEVER watch tv when traveling but have resorted to watching a movie in the cabin at night. This is not like me at all.

 

Yes, I reported what the bartender said. It was in Wheelhouse which is connected to The Crown Grill and the restaurant manager was right there so I told him. By the time I arrived at the new cruisers party both the Bar Manager and the Bar Supervisor were aware. All I know is the bartender will receive retraining. 

 

 

[YVRteacher]