Shogun Live From The Grand

[Shogun]

Hi Folks Shogun Here,

 

We are late leaving port because the QM2 is turning about, so what the sun is out and the party has started,

 

How to get the perfect start to your cruise,

 

Your taxi arrives 15 minutes ahead of plan, you have clear roads all the way to the airport,

 

At the airport there is no que, just walked straight up got ticket then off to customs hey no que straight through,

plane takes off on time, and cuts 25% of the flying time,

 

arrive in Southampton, to clear blue sunny skies,

 

but what to do with the bags, well some bright bloke has got the air port to do a left luggage area, bags get scanned etc but for $8 great.

OK day to kill, train is right at airport round ticket $10

 

So very short walk train pulls in just as we arrive, 7 minutes and we are down town,

 

Great town centre loads of shops, go for lunch in big store up 7 levels what do we see out of the windows the Grand sitting in the sun shine.

 

Now after some shopping back to railway station and again train arrives just as we do, at airport taxi control calls cab, fixed rates great quick service.

 

At cruise port, god what a que 1000 people, then the little sign for us past cruisers, we walk past the lines and lines, a few minutes and we are off, then we arrive in big hall with another 1000 people waiting, they are getting cards with numbers to be called, but we flash our card and we go straight past and onto the ship, I feel sorry for those waiting hours after hours to get on, but hey we did in our time so its just part of cruising.

 

Our cabin not new but everything is clean and works, cabin steward knows we have done a few cruises but takes time to tells us everything we should know.

 

Quick search about and new carpets are getting laid, wet paint signs in a few places even the golf has had a new carpet to play on.

 

Overall the old lady is well maintained, and crew seem as sharp as ever,

 

The captain a young lad has said his bits and all is well,

 

with the luck I have had so far I will be off to the casino tonight.

 

If anyone has questions ask away and I will try and help.

 

Tomorrow France.

 

yours Shogun

[Colo Cruiser]

Enjoy your cruise, look for restaurant manager Antonio Banza he is the best. :)

[FinelyRetired]

Shogun:

 

Thanks for the "LIVE" posting. It did appear on the ship webcam that it was

a sunny day to start your voyage. Glad to hear it was. Great way to start.

 

It will be fun to follow along on your adventure here. Have a great trip!

 

Martha (8/21 BI Sailing)

[Northender]

I hope your luck holds for the WHOLE cruise. :)

Put a dollar in the slots for me and PULL:D

 

Will enjoy your posts, I am sure.

[haggis]

Just seen the weather forecast and it shows sun all the way so far over the weekend.

Have a great trip and as they say ' Get your knees brown'

Jimmy

[PescadoAmarillo]

Shogun...have a SHOGUN evening on the promenade deck for me, okay? (See, I've never forgotten that). And have a great cruise!

[ladyruby]

thanks for the posting we are on the grand in nov so any info would be great, how is she looking for her age ? hope you have a wonderfull cruise enjoy :)

[pretenda]

:) Hope the sun shines for you the whole cruise. Please keep us updated - we are joining Grand in FL in January. And get lucky in that Casino!!:D

Glenda and Tony

[Cruisin' Grandma]

Glad to hear your cruise is off to a good start. We are contemplating this cruise for next year so any info would be appreciated.

 

Bon Voyage!

[cabana]

lol haggis

[DougH]

Glad to hear your cruusie is off to a good start. I sail on the Grand in about three weeks on the TransAtlantic and was wondering if you have any tips for boarding in Southampton? I plan on arriving around 11am, it sounds like they had a seperate line for Elite? You mentioned a sign or did they come down the line asking for Platinum or Elite?

 

Who are the Captain and Cruise director?

 

Hope you have good weather and it holds for my trip :)

 

Doug

[qsuzi]

We always look forward to your live posts Shogun. What airport did you land at? Boy were you lucky with the flying part or what! :) What is your itinerary?

[B40 Tha Cruisa]

:) Hope the sun shines for you the whole cruise. Please keep us updated - we are joining Grand in FL in January. And get lucky in that Casino!!:D

 

Glenda and Tony

 

 

I will also be on the Grand in January... What day are you leaving?

 

Thanks for the live post shogun, hope you have a great cruise. The ongoing maintance seems to be a common theme with the Grand, which is great to hear!

[GABY1]

Glad to hear your cruusie is off to a good start. I sail on the Grand in about three weeks on the TransAtlantic and was wondering if you have any tips for boarding in Southampton? I plan on arriving around 11am, it sounds like they had a seperate line for Elite? You mentioned a sign or did they come down the line asking for Platinum or Elite?

 

Who are the Captain and Cruise director?

 

Hope you have good weather and it holds for my trip :)

 

Doug

hi doug me and dh are also on the transatlantic in 3 weeks.we are not meet & minglers but try to keep up with the boards for information. my parents were on the grand in june norway & iceland trip said the weather was warm & sunny!! the captain at that time was nic bommarco & cruise director was james abrahim but i believe the cruise director is now billy london. maybe the original poster i think it was shogan will confirm this. im looking forward to his live posts:)

[spongerob]

Shogun, I hope you have the same good weather we had. The ship should still be in pretty good shape after we were done with her. Please tell Perla and Shane in the Wheelhouse that the Wild Bunch says hello and that we miss them.

[happyscot]

You and Mrs Shogun have a wild time.

 

 

:D :D

[OhioDogLover]

Have a great time. I hope the weather stays nice.:D

Ohiodoglover

 

P.S. We are also on the Grand 1/08

[Christapie]

Thanks Shogun, you lucky man you!!!!

 

We will wait till the Emerald when we meet you. Enjoy this beautiful ship and yes, I want to hear more about the casinos!

 

Christapie

[Shogun]

Hi Folks,

 

Some things you asked,

 

We landed at Southampton Airport

 

CD is Billy London

 

Movies Flags of Our Fathers, with Happy feet on the TV

 

We are doing UK and Northern Europe Cruise.

 

Casino was the bad very bad not that I lost my $20 but that it was gone in minutes, just have to try better tonight, could be a lot more there tonight as it is no smoking night.

 

As for the weather great, not just warm but hot clear skies with a cool wind. For those walking around the ship with winter coats on,appear very odd as the girls are wearing bikinis by the pool side they are happy to see the sun.

 

Now I have done a few cruises with Princess I have never had fixed dinning until this cruise.

 

If my table mates are anything to go by this might be my only time.

 

How to explain, lets take an egg, you can cook it many ways but it is still an egg, add the number of different words used by different folk from around the world that speak english and you start to understand that two folk taking eggs from different parts of the world do not need to be talking about the same thing.

 

So last night my table mate ordered something on the menu but added please do this and that to it, well it came and all looked fine to us, but he was not happy, he called the head waiter again he thought everything was fine this made my table mate more worked up as he was not able to get anyone to see the problem. The problem was he wanted something which he had back home, how does anyone expect to travel the world and expect to get something cooked the way your mum used to do it.

 

This debate went on for 30 minutes, If I am lucky he might choke on his first mouthful tonight and give us all peace.

 

As to the ship well like I said have been on a few and have been on the Grand before, she is not new, things are a little worn, the maintenance never stops, but big items like carpets are being replaced as required.

 

So those that have never cruised and those that have never been on a Princess ship talk about who nice everthing is how clean the ship still has wow factor, those that have just come of the QM2 or other newer ships seem shocked to see a rust mark here and there.

 

I would be happy to cruise the Grand in another ten years if she is maintained to the standard she is today.

 

As to my felow ship mates this cruise has a nice mix of ages and folks from around the world not one big tour party can be found so far, we have folk getting married and others on honey moon, but the ships staff have told us we will not see them around much. If any thing there are a few more older folk than normal.

 

Last tip for you all do not go for two and half days without sleep and expect to get up early on your first day, I do not know if it was the ships movement the dark cabin or just me but I had a great sleep but lost a fair bit of the morning, mind you moving the clocks forward did not help.

 

 

Happy cruising folks

yours Shogun

[cabana]

lol, thank god for anytime . I always seem to find those sorts myself .................or maybe they just flock to me for some reason.

[earljr]

Thanks for the updates Shogun

We are on the Grand 4/12/08 - Fll. to Venice

I am a Princess addict but have never been on the Grand so really appreciate your observations.

 

Hi Cabana

 

Earl

[pretenda]

I will also be on the Grand in January... What day are you leaving?

 

Thanks for the live post shogun, hope you have a great cruise. The ongoing maintance seems to be a common theme with the Grand, which is great to hear!

 

Hi - we leave on 19 January so a couple of weeks behind you. Hope that you have a great time - let us know how you enjoy it.

Glenda

[shelly h]

I had the "wow" factor when I saw her in Southampton.

 

Please let us know how dinner went:D

 

Thanks for posting.

[EmpressofPurple]

Shogun, you are "grand" to share your experiences with us "live"!

 

Have a GRAND cruise... what a terrific itinerary... maybe you'll post pix when you return and internet rates are not so exorbitant.

 

-Empress

[Chivalrygirl]

Shogun, you just look after that Grand for me so its all nice and spick and span and in bristol fashion when we join her on the 18th Sept.

 

Hey take it easy (he he) on the table mate geazer he got to be good for a laugh or two before you finally choke him yourself. Thank god for anytime dining I am thinking.

 

Wishing you bright skies and fair seas

 

Val