LIVE LIVE LIVE from the Crown Princess 7/11/06

[Merion_Mom]

Slept late - 11 a.m. That's a result of staying up until two eating, drinking and talking.

 

Nancy got up early and went to the gym and worked out. :p

 

We had a very nice lunch in the dining room. We did that yesterday, too, in case I forgot to mention it. Lots of choices. I had a Greek salad and roast leg of lamb and something else.....my brain is fogged. I can't imagine what is causing that. :)

 

Tonight at dinner, we ate again in the Michelangelo dining room. This time we were there right when they opened the doors at 6:15. At least, I thought they had just opened the doors. But there were lots of people there already, so I guess that I was hallucinating.

 

Really excellent table service again. I already mentioned the wine corkage fee of $15. They were UTTERLY APOLOGETIC about charging it.

 

I had light salad, onion soup and veal cordon bleu. Let me say that it was all good. I must be honest, for all of you intensely critical Princess foodies, that it wasn't fabulous. Edible, good even, but not excellent. Red cabbage under the veal. DOES NOT MATCH. Same cabbage under Nancy's duck a la orange. DOES NOT MATCH.

 

All salad dressings are the goopy, cream - based kind. I have NEVER seen "balsamic vinaigrette" dressing that wasn't, well, vinegar-y. This was creamy. Tasted fine, BUT.................

 

I splurged on dessert. Had raspberry creme brulee. Tasty, but not brulee. No crunchy topping. Maybe someone forgot to run it under the broiler??? ;)

 

Back to activities (I wanted to get food out of the way first).

 

After lunch (remember, I had no morning today), I wondered if Vicente would pardon my being in the room until almost noon and still make up the room. He did. He's wonderful.

 

I put on bathing suit, cute little skirt coverup, sunscreeen, packed my "beach bag" and head up to the Lido Deck. It took about ten minutes to find an unoccupied lounger. I WANTED to be away from the pool's edge, and traveled up to the top level. Later, at dinner, others complained about how loud MUTS was, but it didn't bother me. E.T. - only the shrieking distracted me.

 

The loungers themselves are packed tightly next to one another. I had to put my "stuff" UNDER the lounger, and had to crawl/kneel onto it to get into my reclining position.

 

I was sitting next to a nice young Italian-speaking couple. After a while, he turned to me with a pack of Marlboros in his hand and asked very meekly, "Do you mind if I smoke?"

 

I told him that I didn't mind, and thanked him for asking so nicely and courteously. You have to pat these people on the back and give them positive reinforcement for sociable behavior.

 

Who has said on these boards, "Princess doesn't HAVE *pool games"? sniff, sniff, nose in air, sniff, sniff? It sure as hell does. The HOT BODIES contest was yesterday, and today it was the Battle of the Sexes. That pool water was sloshing like a waterfall!

 

Princess Passenger Feud (yesterday) was both fun and funny. Princess Price is (almost) Right today was very funny. A much better, more jovial and "into it" crowd.

 

Had a nice light snack at the Piazza's International Cafe. Most things are free. You have to look carefully at the price list - only a few fancy pastries and chocolate covered strawberries are on it. If it's not on the list, it's no extra charge. I had marinated mushrooms with basil, shrimp something and greek salad. Love that feta cheese!

 

Went to trivia in Crooner's Bar. Ania was the member of the CD's staff running it, and she's Polish. Many moments of laughters as we struggled to understand her fractured pronunciation.

 

I got there too late to be part of a group, so I just kibbitzed with this family. I think that the wife became annoyed that I was talking to her husband, and she took her two daughters and left. I gave him lots of answers, and he didn't do too badly. I couldn't help him with the questions that I had missed. :)

 

Nancy made a donation to Gatsby's tonight at the craps table.

 

Did I mention that my *poison* is the slot machines? They suck. Literally. They just suck the money out of your wallet. :)

 

There is not a big variety of slot machines. My preference is the quarter slots, and there are only so many, and lots are of the same variety, i.e., graphics and appearance, and I don't happen to like that particular one. About five 2 cent machines, and some one and two dollar machines, and some five dollar machines. Often over-crowded.

 

The casino is smoky without being overbearing MOST times. Sometimes it WAS bad.

 

I got a "large" strawberry daquiri tonight in the theatre before the Destination: Anywhere show. Warning: do not do this. The waiter asked, "small, medium or large?" Large SOUNDED like a good idea at the time.

 

WAY too huge. Just monstrous. Mutant, even.

 

I went to two shows tonight. Destination: Anywhere was a repeat from last night, but we missed it then, and were glad to get another opportunity. I LOVED it. The Princess singers and dancers are top-notch, as were the costumes, staging and choreography. We sat in the front row. Don't. Serious sweating going on up there.

 

The comedian was the same Ralph Harris who performed on Tuesday night. VERY VERY VERY VERY funny. Truly for all ages. I love a comedian who can be funny without swearing or being IN THE LEAST BIT off-color. This does NOT meant that I don't like dirty humor - I do. But it's a talent and a gift to be a good comedian without it.

 

Well, I would tell you that I'm going off to bed now, since we have a shore excursion at 9:20, but that would be a lie.

 

Stay tuned.

[GMoney]

Carol - thanks for all of your comments. They are very interesting and a great read. Have fun!

[Guest BeckyThane]

Carol, I absolutely LOVE your sense of humor! :D If you ever want to take off on a girls-only cruise, please call me!!! Sounds like we could have a blast. :cool:

 

I would say, "Have a good time!" but I know you are already having a ~great~ time, and would make a great time out of any circumstance.

 

~ Becky

[kruzeesuzee]

There is a moron passenger on board with a friggin' blow up sex doll that he hogs his lounger with. It's not ruining my cruise.

 

Did anyone deflate his uh, balloon? :D Or toss "her" in the pool? Hey, she floats, so no harm done. :p

 

Nancy said that she saw someone save HALF A DOZEN loungers with *cute* little teddy bears in bikinis this morning. Not ruining my cruise.

 

Really? Where were the pool attendants? What did they do?

[cprofits]

You are in our room. :)

 

We'll be there on July 29th.

 

How do you like it? Do you have lounge chairs on the balcony?

 

Do you like your steward? Can you ask him/her if they keep their cabin assignments for a long time period, i.e., will they be the steward for C752 on July 29th?

 

If so, this is great. I will get a sneak preview.

 

Have fun!!

[Suncat]

C752 - corner aft

 

:DThat will be mine on the next voyage! Hope you enjoy your cruise!:D

[SusieCruisie]

Hi Carol! I am enjoying your review so very much! You are so informative, funny, but yet honest, without sweating "all the small stuff". Continue having a great time for the rest of your trip. Thanks again for sharing! :)

[The Big Booper]

Carol -

 

I always have considered you the best poster here for your "Live from ....." posts and you are still going strong.

 

After two unsatisfactory cruises on Princess in the 90s we have avoided them for the last 6 years but are following your experiences closely to see if we should try them again, considering that Cunard / Princess goes out of Brooklyn, 90 minutes by car instead of *%^flying*&^ somewhere.

 

Keep up the good work :).

 

note - you dropped your history / coming events from your signature. I always liked your layout.

[kingtns]

funny about the hair dryer, I too couldn't find it for a FEW minutes, & I overheard a neighbor telling her steward she didn't have 1 in her room, I laughed & told her where it was...it is in the strangest place & on the other side of the bathroom....about the creamy balsomic dressing...I couldn't wait to get my salad as I thought it was amazing!!! They didn't have it at the lunch buffet:

[kingtns]

funny about the hair dryer, I too couldn't find it for a FEW minutes, & I overheard a neighbor telling her steward she didn't have 1 in her room, I laughed & told her where it was...it is in the strangest place & on the other side of the bathroom....about the creamy balsomic dressing...I couldn't wait to get my salad as I thought it was amazing!!! They didn't have it at the lunch buffet:

^balsamic

[kingtns]

Hi Carol...so glad to hear you not sweating the small stuff & enjoying what we all live for CRUISING!! Enjoy overlooking that beautiful blue sea!!

Ok...your not at the right slot machine, I'm going to tell you where the lucky 1 is (was for me all week) & my buddy in the casino chatted with me all through my winnings! name something like Tzhdma(ha, couldn't say it if I tried) from Romania...tell him Susan with the dark curly hair said HI!!!

If you walk in from the side where the lobby's desk is the poker slots are on the right, walk down to the last blackjack table on the left, excatly across from that are 3 poker slot machines, the 1 against the wall...be patient, I hit I hit 4 of a kind 6 times, & 1 afternoon (ok, I LOVE to gamble on the sea) I went on the $1 poker slot right behind the 1 I'm telling you about, also against the wall & hit 4 Jacks...won $500

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nick Needs To Know]

Hey Carol,

 

Glad you're enjoying yourself! We're trying to get a group started on Crown Princess in August, 2007...this is INSTEAD of the Explorer out of Bayonne. Give it some thought and maybe you'll like to jump ship and join us! Looking forward to more details from you as you sail!

 

Nick

[TorontoTL]

With respect to the creamy appearing and tasting vinagrette dressings, they don't have dairy in them. They are really really whipped giving them the appearance of being creamy from dairy, but dont' have dairy.

 

Thanks for posting from the Crown, I just booked for the 30th of September and am enjoying all the information on the newest ship.

[cruzin2paradise]

There is a moron passenger on board with a friggin' blow up sex doll that he hogs his lounger with. It's not ruining my cruise./QUOTE]:eek:

 

OMG -- LOL -- Now see, this would make me laugh and I'd take pictures of it . . . and, it wouldn't ruin my cruise either.

 

The visual I'm getting with this is really making me crack up :D - THANK YOU!!!!

[patpme]

I'm not trying to demean anyone, and I've already said that I didn't take the time to read any of those other threads, but any glitches or "problems" are of the INFITESIMALLY MINUSCULE variety. Anyone who says anything else is nit-picking unforgivably. JMO YMMV.

 

It's not ruining my cruise.

It's not ruining my cruise.

Not ruining my cruise.

It's not ruining my cruise.

It's not ruining my cruise.

 

quote]

 

 

Brava la casta diva! :D

[rubrrick]

Carol...........sounds like you are once again enjoying yourself. Listen folks, if anyone can make lemonade from a lemon...........it's Carol. Hopefully there was a bit of bubbly in your cabin by the time of sail away, so that Nancy and you could relax and get into the party experience.

Looking forward to hearing more as the days go by. Is it true that they only have one type of white wine???:D

 

Rick

[cbeach4]

Thanks so much for your live postings, Carol! It's a pleasure to read good information from someone with such an awesome attitude :). Continue to have great fun on your vacation!!

[PokrChick]

Love reading your posts Carol - you're definintely my kind of woman! Glad you're enjoying yourself, and I suspect you always do! Keep the posts coming...

[jillybabes]

Carol, Am loving your postings....Glad to hear that you are having a good time even tho there is no "dueling pianos" on Princess. Say hi to Nancy too...Later, Jill:cool:

[kool kruiser]

Carol

 

Having regard to some other postings on these boards I too am finding it so refreshing to read your excellent and so well-balanced views. As one who tries hard to take the ''glass half filled' perspective, I am relieved that there are so many kindred spirits.

 

I am intrigued by the new Adagio bar, next to Sabatinis. Do you know how it compares with Crooners? What are the differences between the bars and do you have any thoughts you can share with us? What are their respective plusses and minuses?

 

Thanks for spending so much time with us...don't forget to carry on having a great time:D

[MaryPoppinz]

All salad dressings are the goopy, cream - based kind. I have NEVER seen "balsamic vinaigrette" dressing that wasn't, well, vinegar-y. This was creamy. Tasted fine, BUT..................

 

I love creamy balsamic....it's yummy if it's done right. Our grocery store has a house brand (HEB Texas Twists) that has little chunks of gorgonzola and pecans in it. So good! But, it's definitely not called balsamic vinaigrette -- that should not have mayo in it.

 

Sounds like your trip is going well! Enjoy!

[Merion_Mom]

Carol

 

Having regard to some other postings on these boards I too am finding it so refreshing to read your excellent and so well-balanced views. As one who tries hard to take the ''glass half filled' perspective, I am relieved that there are so many kindred spirits.

 

I am intrigued by the new Adagio bar, next to Sabatinis. Do you know how it compares with Crooners? What are the differences between the bars and do you have any thoughts you can share with us? What are their respective plusses and minuses?

 

Thanks for spending so much time with us...don't forget to carry on having a great time:D

I was only in Crooner's for trivia yesterday, so I have no idea how the entertainment is. Sorry.

 

Art Auction: I didn't hang around for the actual auction, but the warm-up was fun. Nino asked trivia questions, and if you were the first one to call out the right answer, you received a card which is supposedly good for some sort of raffle at the final art auction. I won three. :D It always surprises me that what I consider "common knowledge" so rarely is. :)

 

For some inexplicable reason, I am barred from viewing page 2 of this thread. I can read page one, and it let me go to page 3, but page 2 is blocked by the filters or whatever on Princess. This means that I cannot read any questions that you guys asked there. It also means that I can't go back and read my own posts of last night. And of course I don't really remember what I wrote last night. For elucidation on this topic ask Wrona or Rick. :)

 

Many thanks, Rick. It's a redeemable card, not an actual bottle, so we have not redeemed or consumed it yet. I shall surely let you know when that takes place.

 

I am enjoying my Crystal Light individual packets of juice mix. Of course, we all know that it is sort of plain, and boring, and has a slightly off taste. Never fear - I am masking that taste, with a little help from my Uncle Jack.

 

Grand Turk was a FANTASTIC port of call for us, although many of our friends did NOT like their excursions AT ALL. We went kayaking and snorkeling.

 

I was honestly frightened of snorkeling. I've never tried it. I am the kind who would panic and snort in an entire liter of water, so I was very apprehensive. My daughter is an AVID scuba diver, and told me, "Mom, ANYONE can do this. You'll be fine." I brought HER equipment, instead of relying on the grody stuff from the dive company.

 

I LOVED LOVED LOVED snorkeling! It truly was transforming. What an experience. If you were like me, afraid of icky stuff happening, just take a deep breath (literally) and DO IT. It was incredible seeing all of these things, and floating along, and swimming along, and finding new places where the fish were hiding........it was incredibly liberating.

 

The kayaking was fantastic, too. I told this out of order, because I was so excited. We went kayaking first. We didn't see anything marvelous, although the mangrove swamps/creeks/lake were great in and of themselves. Sometimes one can see barracudas, and our guide, Tanya, said that there's a pregnant shark in the area, but we didnt' see any of that. The expedition was very worthwhile, though. It was good to get the exercise, and get somewhat sweaty, then proceed to the ocean for the snorkeling.

[Merion_Mom]

We went to the buffet for lunch after we returned from Grand Turk. (oh, by the way, it began to POUR as we were returning on the tour bus from the beach. We were SOAKED by the time we got back on the ship. We didn't get to relax at Margaritaville and enjoy our free margaritas. :()

 

The areas of the buffet are set up with ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FOOD. We, at first, made the assumption that everything was duplicated, but it isn't. One area had 5,492 kinds of pasta lunches, and fruit, and dessert. That was it. The salads, salad bar, hot entrees, vegetables were in an entirely different section.

[Merion_Mom]

Have you ever sailed on a Royal Caribbean ship? You know how you can walk into ANY public ladies' room, and there are large bowls of THINGS THAT YOU NEED? ;) (feminine products)

 

NOT ON PRINCESS. Be warned. In an emergency: The ship docks, ship's stores are closed, no stores on Grand Turk.......you are SOL.

[Merion_Mom]

Someone asked what the Princess people are doing about any of the CHOGS. The answer is: nothing discernible to the naked eye.

 

Nancy went UP TO one of the pool attendants and ASKED them to enforce the no-saving rule by removing obvious "stuff" - you know, one flip, a neatly folded towel with cobwebs on it......... and he said, "There's nothing I can do about it." :(

 

kingtns/susan: I play "regular" slots - I don't really know poker. :(

 

Big Booper, I suppress my signature on multiple posts on the same thread to avoid being annoying. :D But here it is, just for you.