Yet Another One - 8.16.06 Crown Review!

[thepinkpanther]

I know there are like 8 or 9 reviews already, but here goes mine! As a warning, IT'S LONG!

 

After taking the past few days to relax and mope (more moping than anything), it’s time for me to join the masses and give a review of my voyage on the Crown Princess. Some of this may be a bit repetitious from my “Live from” thread, so please bear with me. :o

 

Travel - As I posted from my “Live from” thread, we left NJ (Exit 13-A on the Turnpike) at 10:15 and got to Red Hook at 10:55. 10-15 minutes of check in, then a 45 minute wait inside the terminal for to start boarding. We were #10 on the boarding. Once boarding started, it went by fast. From what I read from those who were getting off when we were getting on, there was a delay with disembarkation which probably accounted for the 45 minute wait, which was no biggie. I was very happy that I brought a sweater and made BF wear a long sleeve shirt, the waiting area in the terminal can be VERY COLD, with air blowing right down on top of you. We were one of the few people that weren’t cold from what I saw.

 

Accommodations - Our room was ready when we got to it, later in the evening we met our steward, Enrique. We were in P205, which is starboard & fore. Our steward was very attentive, and our room was always clean and tidy. Size wise, things were what I expected, and it was a nice fit for the two of us. While walking by other cabins on our deck, I saw that one or two had a 4-person set up, and I’m not exactly sure how that would work out! The closet area was nice and wide; I hung up all our clothes and put the luggage under the beds. You can fit about 2 suitcases under each bed, so if it’s set up as a queen, you’ll be able to get at least 4 bags under it.

 

Whenever we pulled into port, we could look out our window and see the pier or the huge ropes that are tied to the piers right outside our window. BF and I thought it pretty cool, and it was pretty nice that we were one floor up from disembarking for port calls. Very little movement noticed in our room, except from some rough seas the evening that we left Port Canerval.

 

Food – BF and I both enjoyed the buffet, BF especially liked it in the evening because he didn’t have to get dressed or wait for his food (as opposed to dinner in the dining room). We usually had breakfast and lunch at the buffet and dining in either of the two anytime dining rooms. The first formal night and last night we ate at the buffet, and one of the evenings I ordered room service.

 

I felt all the food offered onboard was pretty good, but some of it was hit and miss. BF did the cold seafood buffet the first night and said the lobster and crab was very salty. He had the poached eggs for brunch in the dining room one day and couldn’t finish them because of the saltiness. Also, for some reason, the 3 times that he ate eggs he ended up with a mildly upset stomach. It was nothing too serious, but enough to keep him from eating the eggs for the rest of the cruise.

 

I really liked the Neptune Grill and enjoyed the pizza as well. Didn’t get a chance to try out the free ice cream, but then again I was too busy sitting in the sun drinking Pina Coladas and Seabreezes! I was sure to enjoy the fresh fruit offered at breakfast & lunch in the buffet, and often snuck in to Café Caribe to grab a slice of watermelon for dessert while hanging out neat Outriggers.

 

Port Calls – The itinerary proved to be very nice, with a nice balance of sea days & port days. We did kayaking & snorkeling on Grand Turk, ATV Adventure on Ocho Rios, Reef & Stingray Snorkeling with Captain Marvin’s on Grand Cayman, and trekked down to Cocoa Beach in FL. Grand Cayman 1st place, with Grand Turk & Ocho Rios tied for 2nd, and Port Canaveral 3rd.

 

Grand Turk is pretty slow and aside from the watersport excursions and Margaritaville, there’s not much.

 

ATV in Ocho Rios was great, but seeing my BF being offered drugs no less than 4 times really ticked me off. Don’t get me started on how the guard at the port gate (who checked everyone’s cruise card) blatantly hit on me more than once, going as far as to follow me to the “Cruise Booze” area. BF and I got more than a few stares from people while in Jamaica, I'm not sure if it had to do with race, but he is from the former USSR and my family is Egyptian/African American (aka, we are different colors :D). Definitely didn’t feel safe walking around anywhere, even the shops literally outside of the gate from the ship seemed a bit sketchy.

 

Totally loved Grand Cayman, loved the stingrays, loved the rum cakes, loved it all! I highly recommend Captain Marvin’s, there were only 6 people total on our snorkeling tour.

 

Port Canaveral/Beach was totally underrated to BF & I. We took the $8 shuttle bus to the beach and met up with friends who were already there, nothing but cigarette butts and broken shells everywhere. BF stated “Brighton Beach in Brooklyn is 10 times better than this!” We did stop at the CVS next to the shuttle bus stop, picked up a few cases of Coronas, went back to the ship, relaxed at the spa pool.

 

Entertainment – We saw Sarge, who is hilarious. We also did MUTS one night – I believe it was “The Sentinel” that was showing. I loved the nice plaid blankets they had on each chair; I wrapped myself up in two and enjoyed the movie. Went to the casino almost every night, playing the penny slots while BF played Blackjack. We both played in the Blackjack Tournament the last day, but didn’t make it to the finals. Kgosi, the Casino Host/Boss is wonderful, gave me a few lessons on how to play blackjack. He’s very lively and personable and makes the tournaments really exciting to play in or watch.

 

All and all, I had a great time and this trip well exceeded my expectations. I’m now dreaming about where we’ll go next – I have a spring break coming up in March and I’ve always worked through Spring Break, and I’ll be graduating in May, which means at least one cruise coming up in the next year! As a first time cruiser, I really like what Princess has to offer and I’ll probably end up favoring Princess, but I am looking at a NCL that leaves out of NYC for my spring break trip. My graduation trip will be Princess all the way!

 

I miss her already!

[Love Boat Dream]

Zia,

I think we win the award for the most reviews of a sailing! LOL!

 

Sorry we didn't meet on board!

[richandkathynaplesfl]

Hello Pink...

Thanks for taking the time during your cruise to share your cruise experience....It was great to follow your exploits...

We're leaving next Sunday for the eastern Crown run and we can't wait.

I did check the "Sarge" website and it looks like he's doing the Alaskan itinerary for a couple of weeks...so he won't be on our sailing.

Anyway, thanks for the posts...go book your next cruise so you have something to look forward to....

R:cool: andK

[swom]

thanks so much PinkPanther. I throughly enjoyed your reviews during the cruise and this one afterwards.

It's so nice to have the "live" reports while on board and also very considerate of you to take the time to do so.

Again, thank you!!!!!

[christinelee]

Thanks for the wrap-up.....we have enjoyed all of your post....leaving on the Crown (9/30/06) .....Best of luck getting back your land legs. Thanks Again:cool:

[mississauga]

It was really nice of you to take the time out during your cruise to do a "Live" thread and then to do a review also. I enjoyed both.

[Chris]

Enjoyed all of your posts :) Will you be posting your photos?

Chris

[Hello-Kitty]

 

 

Travel - As I posted from my “Live from” thread, we left NJ (Exit 13-A on the Turnpike) at 10:15 and got to Red Hook at 10:55. 10-15 minutes of check in, then a 45 minute wait inside the terminal for to start boarding.

 

Sounds like u had a great time, thanks for posting i cant wait for mine i leave on the 3rd.

 

I do have a question about your directions, sounds like u made great time.

I am also coming from the Turnpike 7A, can u tell me what directions you took from 13A???

 

I appreciate it:D

[thepinkpanther]

HelloKitty,

 

We took the Goethal's Bridge (exit 13 on the Turnpike) through Staten Island to the Verrazano Bridge. Once in Brooklyn, we took the BQE towards Manhattan and got off at the last exit before the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel - Hamilton Ave.

 

When exiting at Hamilton Ave, be sure to stay to the right, one of the lanes splits off and leads you back to the Battery Tunnel. Once clear, you can just follow the signs, I believe you make a left at the end of Hamilton Ave. You're just a minute or two away from the terminal.

 

Just don't do what we did and mistake the the commercial terminal for the passenger terminal! They are a block apart, instead of making a left we went straight!:D

[barbarah33]

Thank you very much for all of your posts!

[Gypsea]

One things for sure... I've got to see Sarge. I am jealous since stand-up is my favorite entertainment. Everyone is raving about this guy.

 

What is the link for his website??

[krystall]

I think we win the award for the most reviews of a sailing! LOL!

 

I do too. :D

 

PinkPanther,

I am racking my brain trying to remember if I saw you.

I thought I spotted you in Café Carib one time but wasn't sure.

 

My dh was approached 5x in Ocho Rios. I didn't even notice. I told him one of the guys looked like a policeman when he told me on our way back to the ship.

 

Glad you enjoyed your first cruise.

[Guest BeckyThane]

All and all, I had a great time and this trip well exceeded my expectations. I’m now dreaming about where we’ll go next – I have a spring break coming up in March and I’ve always worked through Spring Break, and I’ll be graduating in May, which means at least one cruise coming up in the next year! As a first time cruiser, I really like what Princess has to offer and I’ll probably end up favoring Princess, but I am looking at a NCL that leaves out of NYC for my spring break trip.

Zia, what about a winter break trip?!? We'd love to see you and George on the Norwegian Dawn on 12/28! :cool:

 

I've ~still~ not got my land legs back underneath me. The only relief I got was taking the train back and forth from the city on Saturday. It must be a sign -- I've got to get back to sea! :D

 

~ Becky

[thepinkpanther]

Becky,

 

Don't tempt me! December is my birthday month, so I realistically have every reason to go and cruise! I just took a look at the Dawn leaving on the 17th (the 18th is my birthday) and checked out yours that leaves on the 28th. One of the online sites is offering good deals for both!! I get my tuition refund check from my school in a few weeks - more than enough to cover a nice 11 day trip & onboard charges!

 

Now I just have to talk George into it - he's still licking his wounds from spending too much time in the casino!:D

 

Now I'm addicted big time...:o

[Hello-Kitty]

HelloKitty,

 

We took the Goethal's Bridge (exit 13 on the Turnpike) through Staten Island to the Verrazano Bridge. Once in Brooklyn, we took the BQE towards Manhattan and got off at the last exit before the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel - Hamilton Ave.

 

When exiting at Hamilton Ave, be sure to stay to the right, one of the lanes splits off and leads you back to the Battery Tunnel. Once clear, you can just follow the signs, I believe you make a left at the end of Hamilton Ave. You're just a minute or two away from the terminal.

 

Just don't do what we did and mistake the the commercial terminal for the passenger terminal! They are a block apart, instead of making a left we went straight!:D

 

 

THank you sooo much, that was a great help!!!! i wanted to compare to my directions that i had, yours may be better:D

[Guest BeckyThane]

Becky, Don't tempt me!

:p <snicker, snicker> ;)

 

Now I'm addicted big time...:o

With your background, I didn't figure it'd take much!

 

I'm looking for a solo traveller who can go in a moment's notice this fall. (I signed up for Princess' stand-by program. :D ) DH will be gone all of September, and it looks like most of October and at least November, too. Know anyone?

 

~ Becky

[paulhinrichsen]

Another review with no mention of hte brownie riot..was anyone else there for the real memory of the 8/16 sailing?

[Guest BeckyThane]

Another review with no mention of hte brownie riot..was anyone else there for the real memory of the 8/16 sailing?

You mean the incredibly poorly behaved youths who decided it would be "fun" to trash the place by throwing brownies all over the place? :eek: Yeah, real "grown up." Maybe they'll go back to Carnival next time. One can only hope.

[paulhinrichsen]

You mean the incredibly poorly behaved youths who decided it would be "fun" to trash the place by throwing brownies all over the place? :eek: Yeah, real "grown up." Maybe they'll go back to Carnival next time. One can only hope.

 

The hilarious part about it is, how narrow minded you are...the riot was started by people 25 and over.

[TourneyKit]

The hilarious part about it is, how narrow minded you are...the riot was started by people 25 and over.

 

The only "riot" was the one in your mind. You would have to see a real one to even begin to know what one was. But then, you're just a wet behind the ears kid with nothing better to do than "think" you are cool. I'm sure you make mamma and pappa proud:rolleyes:

[TourneyKit]

You mean the incredibly poorly behaved youths who decided it would be "fun" to trash the place by throwing brownies all over the place? :eek: Yeah, real "grown up." Maybe they'll go back to Carnival next time. One can only hope.

 

Becky, Let me introduce you to the child that filmed the incident and posted it on the web, meet Paulhinrichson. He's come back for "more attention" like most insecure children do......"Hey Mommy, Look at Me!!"

[camperhawk]

Becky, Let me introduce you to the child that filmed the incident and posted it on the web, meet Paulhinrichson. He's come back for "more attention" like most insecure children do......"Hey Mommy, Look at Me!!"

 

Touche!