LIVE LIVE LIVE from the Crown 7/11 2nd Try

[Merion_Mom]

BTW, disembarkation at ports is on Deck Four, whether docked or tendered.

[cnmiranda]

Sounds like you're having a great cruise Carol! Did you have a chance to try the caramel or candy apples yet? That's something that would definitely attract my husband to the ship, just for those treats! Have a great week:)

[Chris]

Sounds like you are having a great cruise!! Keep up the great posts-so funny :)

Chris

[kingtns]

Sounds like you're having a great cruise Carol! Did you have a chance to try the caramel or candy apples yet? That's something that would definitely attract my husband to the ship, just for those treats! Have a great week:)

Caramel apples are my faaaaaavorite!!! So I decided on the last day (trying to keep my diet) I was having 1...(my kids went to every carnival just so I could get a caramel apple...lol) My eye was on the marshmellow one, told the guy behind the counter it has my name on it, anyway went there midnight the last night with our new friends, had them cut it for me, gave some out to everyone & YUK...funky type of caramel, I was sooooo disappointed, just didn't taste like I was hoping!!! Guess it was a good thing, after 1 piece I was done:(

[The Big Booper]

Carol -

 

A question on dining. It sounds like you have pc dining. Are you going in to eat fairly early and if so how are the beeper lines when you finish? We are considering the Crown for next year but like to eat late and I have read bad stories about trying to get into the dining rooms from 7-8 PM if you are forced into pc.

 

Otherwise, on to the Explorer for the 12 nighter out of Bayonne, in lieu of the Crown from Kings county.

[cnmiranda]

Caramel apples are my faaaaaavorite!!! So I decided on the last day (trying to keep my diet) I was having 1...(my kids went to every carnival just so I could get a caramel apple...lol) My eye was on the marshmellow one, told the guy behind the counter it has my name on it, anyway went there midnight the last night with our new friends, had them cut it for me, gave some out to everyone & YUK...funky type of caramel, I was sooooo disappointed, just didn't taste like I was hoping!!! Guess it was a good thing, after 1 piece I was done:(

 

I know, caramel obsessed here too. I tend to gain a pound or two in the fall when they apples start showing up in grocery stores! If I was desparate I think I would even eat a second apple even with funky topping, they are hard to come by which is good for my waist:D:D:D:D

[funduo]

Hi Merion,

Thank you again for your all the information and your great wit. I was wondering, are there any hot tubs open after midnight?

 

Thanks - Enjoy the rest of the cruise. We pass you in 3 days!!

[wrp96]

Carol, tell Nancy that she should partake of some adult libations (like the stuff the NY stevedores slipped into your luggage) before she participates in the finals.

[rubrrick]

Wrona..........don't go there!

 

What happened to this thread. It was up and jumping ( as I would expect from Carol) and all of a sudden it takes page 2!!

 

Well, it's back to page one, and unless the guy at the pool has suddenly found out that he is caught with the blow up doll (nothing sexy here folks) and CC has restored all of Merion Moms posts, we are really going to have a hard time following her!!!

 

Oh, Mister moderator!!!!:D

 

Funny how the moderators on Princess just delete anything that says.........sex.

[Cruisin' Chick]

"Things that make you go EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW. There was a thread a long time ago that got pulled. Remember the guy who wanted to know if he could walk around shirtless? Today in the buffet, I saw two shirtless guys. The sneeze guard may protect against errant mucous discharges from the face but will NOT prevent the invasion of chest hairs."

 

I would think if swimming suits aren't allowed, then the "no shirts, no shoes, no service" rule would be in effect too.

[Merion_Mom]

Carol -

 

A question on dining. It sounds like you have pc dining. Are you going in to eat fairly early and if so how are the beeper lines when you finish? We are considering the Crown for next year but like to eat late and I have read bad stories about trying to get into the dining rooms from 7-8 PM if you are forced into pc.

 

Otherwise, on to the Explorer for the 12 nighter out of Bayonne, in lieu of the Crown from Kings county.

I don't eat stuff like caramel apples, so I can't answer those questions.

 

The one time that we went around 8, there was a LONG wait, even then. Since then, we've been eating much earlier because there are so many things that we want to do after dinner. (6 or 6:30 for the past several nights) Tonight we had a reservation, but when we didn't, we were escorted directly to a table.

 

According to the Princess Patters, no wet place on the Lido deck is open after midnight, whether pool or hot tub.

 

Today was a sea day, and I slept until a little after 11. (Hey, it's vacation!) Nancy thought that she was "sleeping in" by not getting up until 8!

 

First we went to the Spelling Bee, which I SHOULD have won. I knew EVERY SINGLE word that Jacinta asked, except MINE. (about round four) I asked her to define, then to carefully pronounce it. (she has a very thick accent) She even had audience members pronounce it. Well, as far as I am concerned, they all mispronounced it, so I misspelled it, by following their pronunciation. Then every word after that, I knew, even those that knocked both of the final two out. She had to give them each another three words, which they kept misspelling, before ONE of them got one right, becoming the winner. But I made friends with them, and we all played Jeopardy together an hour later. We came in second there.

 

Later, we all met up again and played Geography and Statistics Trivia. WHOA! This sucker was impossible. We did very badly. ;)

 

Lunch in the dining room: very good. Oriental soup, hungarian goulash, fruit and cheese for dessert as usual.

 

Dinner back with Nik and Adrian, by reservation. Greg and Ferris, a father and son team from Brooklyn and from our Roll Call, joined us. I'm not sure what poor Ferris (who is all of 13) made of us and our shenanigans. I brought a LOVELY '85 Beau Tour Cabernet Sauvignon that was tasty, but a bit past its prime (which surprised me). I was forced to drink the entire thing, since neither Joani nor Nancy cared for red wine. Greg and Al (and Ferris :)) declined. Amazingly, it all disappeared by the end of dinner.

 

Two soups, one hot one cold. Mango/pear/yogurt and lobster/shrimp bisque - both yummy. Venison terrine - feh. King crab legs - plain and the better for it - just lemon and butter - YUM. I could have eaten more, but felt like a pig, and was too busy drinking wine. I splurged and had blueberry sorbet for dessert, along with my cheese plate.

 

8:30 show - Motor City. I have read other passengers' posts from previous Crown Princess sailings and some didn't like it. Ignore them. IT IS EXCELLENT. Remember, my son is a dancer and I have a very critical eye. These guys are GOOD. It is a very well-staged and -produced show.

 

Let me repeat from earlier: I like James Lay. He is a GOOD Cruise Director. He says, "Oh dear, oh dear" a little too much, but that's hardly a fatal flaw.

 

Tonight: The famous International Crew Show. OMG!

 

Let me backtrack a little. Before tonight, I would have told all of you that so far, in my comparison of Princess and Royal Caribbean, the only line which I had cruised before, Princess would have been ahead of RC in quite a few categories: food, elegance, variety and number of evening entertainments. But I would have told you that RC was WAY ahead in the FUN and HAPPY PASSENGER VIBE department.

 

Wellllll.....................

 

As some of you know, the Crew Show is very popular. Since I knew that from these boards, we got there and grabbed our seats early - Al and Joani went first and grabbed four seats, then Greg and I joined them at 10:40. The place was packed. (Nancy pooped out after Motor City).

 

So, the place is crowded. At least 20 minutes remain until the start of the show. Cameron, one of the assistant CDs, ran around the Princess Theatre throwing out ZILLIONS of balloons, straight out of the bag. Everyone started to blow them up, then tie them, then start batting them around. The theatre was filled with hundreds and hundreds of balloons, all being swatted around and being kept aloft by delighted and happily childish cruisers. (yeah, there were some stick-in-the-mud party poopers who ignored all the activity) So, for 20 minutes or so (I didn't check my watch to see if the show started at 11), we all PLAYED WITH BALLOONS. It was a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The show was hilarious. Six crew members performed normally. Three singers, one dancer, one guitar-playing singer and one (uh oh, I lost someone. Oh well). They were all very good. The Cruise Director's staff did two funny bits.

 

Then, the famous "If I were not upon the sea" (which two of them mangled to "If I was not upon the sea" - English teachers take note). My sides still ache from laughing. I don't know what the CD has done/been on all of YOUR cruises, but James Lay is a BALLERINA, and he does the whole role VERY convincingly. :D

 

Tomorrow is a VERY early day. We are only in Port Canaveral from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nancy and I have to be in the Princess Theatre at 6:50 a.m. for our excursion to the Kennedy Space Center.

 

More tomorrow. PLEASE keep on posting questions. You may be getting bored with my daily rundowns, so I'm happy to speak to your specific concerns.

 

Still didn't get to the Terrace Pool, because I got so busy with "indoor games" today.

 

Oh, the blowup doll guy, according to ONE source, is not just a passenger. He's either the magician or the magician's opening act.

 

OH, and in Jamaica, four young men were arrested and thrown in jail. They bought some ganja, took it back to the ship, and were so please with themselves for accomplishing this that they went back into Ocho Rios and tried it again. They were caught, and thrown into a Jamaican jail. Since this was on a Sunday, the courts were closed. Their parents (God bless them), told them that they were stupid, and legal adults (21 and 22), gave them enough money to get out of jail and for airfare back to NY, and told them that they would deal with them at home. (Princess had said that they would be allowed to re-board in Port Canaveral, but their parents told them to GO HOME) Supposedly they had a hearing on Monday or Tuesday, paid a large fine, were driven to the airport and told never to return to Jamaica.

 

Meanwhile, Nancy overheard a 10th or 11th grade kid brag TO HIS MOTHER that he was becoming a rum alcoholic, and needed more, and she told him that she would get him some and bring it to the room.

 

A case study of two kinds of parenting!

 

G'night.

[Merion_Mom]

"Things that make you go EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW. There was a thread a long time ago that got pulled. Remember the guy who wanted to know if he could walk around shirtless? Today in the buffet' date=' I saw two shirtless guys. The sneeze guard may protect against errant mucous discharges from the face but will NOT prevent the invasion of chest hairs."[/quote']

 

I would think if swimming suits aren't allowed, then the "no shirts, no shoes, no service" rule would be in effect too.

According to some Princess passengers, Patty, rules were meant to be broken. :cool: Smoking in non-smoking areas, no shorts in dining room, no t-shirts (I won't talk about jeans, because that's not posted anywhere, but shorts and t-shirts are prohibited in writing in the Patters and on a sign at the dining room entrance).

[Merion_Mom]

Carol, tell Nancy that she should partake of some adult libations (like the stuff the NY stevedores slipped into your luggage) before she participates in the finals.

Wrona, don't worry. Nancy is well-acquainted with liquid courage. Her favorite is tequila shots!!! :eek:

[Merion_Mom]

Wrona..........don't go there!

 

What happened to this thread. It was up and jumping ( as I would expect from Carol) and all of a sudden it takes page 2!!

 

Well, it's back to page one, and unless the guy at the pool has suddenly found out that he is caught with the blow up doll (nothing sexy here folks) and CC has restored all of Merion Moms posts, we are really going to have a hard time following her!!!

 

Oh, Mister moderator!!!!:D

 

Funny how the moderators on Princess just delete anything that says.........sex.

Rick, it's not the Princess board moderators on Cruise Critic.........it's the Princess computer geeks at corporate headquarters!

[The Big Booper]

 

The one time that we went around 8, there was a LONG wait, even then. Since then, we've been eating much earlier because there are so many things that we want to do after dinner. (6 or 6:30 for the past several nights) Tonight we had a reservation, but when we didn't, we were escorted directly to a table.

 

 

Sounds like a fun ship. I guess we try to book early and request late traditional and if we are wait-listed for that, cancel and go to Explorer.

[Cruisin' Chick]

According to some Princess passengers, Patty, rules were meant to be broken. :cool: Smoking in non-smoking areas, no shorts in dining room, no t-shirts (I won't talk about jeans, because that's not posted anywhere, but shorts and t-shirts are prohibited in writing in the Patters and on a sign at the dining room entrance).

 

So, the next time one of the smokers here complains about us non-smokers being inconsiderate toward them, we'll know that we could blow smoke into that argument.;)

[spongerob]

No questions here, but I am enjoying the updates. Keep it up, M_Mom!

[Colo Cruiser]

It is amazing how much effort Jamaican authorities put into arresting tourists, but can't control their own citizens selling drugs openly on the streets.

I am not supporting these 2 dummies but must be a big money maker for them. :eek:

[Nick Needs To Know]

Carol,

 

Loving your updates! Sounds like you're having a great time!

 

Nick

[cprofits]

Has your cabin steward been attentive? Do you have lounge chairs in addition to the table and chairs on your balcony?

[makeup face]

Carol...........no questions....just a thank you for all your hard work. I am truly enjoying your updates:D

[editor@cruisecritic]

That monitoring thing is just bizarre but I wanted to chime in and say how much I'm enjoying your posts as well!

Carolyn

 

 

Rick, it's not the Princess board moderators on Cruise Critic.........it's the Princess computer geeks at corporate headquarters!

[CTChickCruiser]

Merion_Mom, I too have enjoyed your posts. I wrote down all of the sayings to the best that i could when the crew show was replayed over and over again on the tv.

 

Also today as i was watching the weather due to this EXTREME HEAT WAVE. They said something about a "TROPICAL STORM" brewing off the coast of North Carolina. How is the weather right now are the seas rough?! I hope you guys have a smooth ride home!!!

 

Anyways thanks for your post i'm so glad you are enjoying yourself!!

[Quenby]

Merion_Mom - thanks so much for all your posts. :D I would love to hear about your excursion to the Kennedy Space Center.

[Host CJSKIDS]

Merion-Mom your posts have been wonderful, sounds like you're a lot of fun. Would have loved to have had a tequila with you!

 

Hope you can skirt the storm and have calm seas for the rest of your cruise. Can't wait to hear the end of the story.

 

Carolyn