Emerald Princess 10/31 - 11/10/2008: 1008 photos

[PugsRuleATL]

It's my first post, but thought I'd share pictures from the Emerald Princess cruise of October 31 to November 10, 2008.

 

We had a great cruise - even though it rained at Princess Cays and on our last day at sea. We had an incredible trip - including Eli's Eco Adventure tour in Antigua and zip lines in St. Lucia - with my 65 year old mom!

 

Don't want to write a review, but wanted to share some of the pictures from the trip. Hope you enjoy!

 

You can see over 1000 pictures from the trip here:

 

http://web.me.com/tarreld/Emerald_Princess_Cruise_Pics/Welcome.html

 

If you have any questions, etc... let me know.

[sunshine426]

Wonderful pictures. I am in the process of writing a review of this cruise and stopped to view your wonderful photos and arranged so well. I was on the Antiga eco adventure as well. Were you the man who lent me the cap?

[PugsRuleATL]

sunshine426:

 

Actually, that was my BIL that lent you the cap. Glad you had a great time. It was a very memorable trip, indeed. I'm ready to go again. ;-)

[sunshine426]

I knew I recognized you! What a small world we are on. I have a review in progress. I know that I will refer to your thread with the photos. I think that the Eco tour was my favorite, but now that my legs have recovered, the Volcano Hike on St Kitts is coming in a close second.

[MaryPoppinz]

Very nice! I love Emerald Princess and that itinerary - thanks for taking the time to share. :)

[Clutterlady]

Thank you for the great pics. Can't wait to board the Emerald:)

[Perky1]

Great Pics!!! Thanks for posting. Can't wait till we go in March.

[TwinCruiserMom]

Your pictures are beautiful! Everyone in my family is enjoying them.

 

Do you have the patters from the trip and if so, are you planning on posting them?

 

Thanks so much!

[PugsRuleATL]

We did not save the Patter each day, so cannot post. Sorry about that.

[sunshine426]

I have all the patters, but am not planning on scanning and then posting them. But, if anyone has any questions I would be happy to look the information up for you.

[Hulagirl]

Your pictures are fantastic! We leave for the Emerald in a little over a month. Now I really can't wait to get on the ship. It looks beautiful.

 

Thank you for posting your website of pictures.

[Adventures ahead]

Hi,

 

Wow, great job! I have at least the same number of pictures from our 15-day Panama Canal cruise but haven't taken the time to organize them yet. We had three full-day excursions where I took 200+ pictures each day. Makes me wonder if I ever saw anything through the human eye!:eek: In my own defence, we were on the bus for at least six hours and my camera takes great action shots.

 

I haven't checked all of the pics yet but wonder if you booked the canopy tour with Princess?

 

Did you notice anyone near the ship offering a zip line tour?

 

We were 54 and 58 when we did this in Roatan two years ago. It was so much fun and we did 16 lines. We found a tour on the dock and were taken to a place where no cruise tours were going, at least on that day. We had two staff who went along with us from platform to platform but we were allowed to go on our own too. We felt completely safe and pampered. The taxi waited for us, then took us to a beach (and waited for us) and then back to the ship, all for $35/person.

 

I don't mind heights when I'm 'connected' and would love to do it again.

 

Mind you, it's the first time I'd seen beads of sweat on my husband's ankles that were as big as peas (well, small peas...at least)!:D

[sunshine426]

I've just written a review of this tour on my thread and have advised people to come check out your great photo's. Hope you don't mind. I would post a link, but am not sure how.

[Tadhg]

Thank you so much for taking the time to organize and post these photos. We'll be sailing on the Emerald November 30th, and your pics have given us much to look forward to.

 

Question - Do you know if The Speakeasy is anything more than a room with chairs? I look forward to an occasional cigar and single malt after dinner, and we've enjoyed (on some ships) late evenings "kicking back" in a dark, intimate lounge, listening to live, quiet jazz music. Perfect end to a day for us. On some ships, however, the area designated for cigar smoking was just a room and chairs. No bar, no bartender, or even music. Not inviting in the least. From what I'm seeing of The Speakeasy, this may (unfortunately) be the case.

 

And, should this be the case, what lounge/bar might I/we enjoy as a late-night "hang-out," cigars aside? Some place my wife could have her cruise martini, and I my single malt scotch?

 

Any feedback regarding this would be appreciated.

[rcacace]

Did the cruise director still have his morning show with the question of the day?

[JWJs]

Sure enjoyed your pictures! Thanks so much for sharing. We are on the 12/20 Emerald sailing with Hulagirl!:)

[BalconyBumz]

Thanks for sharing the photos. I really loved the way you categorized them into groups. It made for easier viewing. The Emerald is certainly a beauty!

[sunsetbeachgal]

Thanks SO much for the beautiful photos-we go on this same itinerary on January 19th, and can't wait. I am re-thinking my excursions thanks to your photos!

 

Question-The Crane Resort in Barbados looks lovely-did they sell you a day pass? How much and how did it work? Did you need to arrange it ahead of time?

 

Thanks!

Carole in NC

[PugsRuleATL]

I haven't checked all of the pics yet but wonder if you booked the canopy tour with Princess?

We did not book the tour through Princess. My sister found the tour through a private provider on the island. The cost was comparable to the ship's, but left earlier - which meant we weren't standing in long lines at each of the platforms, as we got to the Treetop Adventure Park before the crowds.

Did you notice anyone near the ship offering a zip line tour?

Honestly, no. My mother and I had to walk the long way around the dock area to get to where we were picked up, near the Carnival Victory ship (also docked in St. Lucia that day). We were too concerned with missing our ride to look around - at that point anyway.

We were 54 and 58 when we did this in Roatan two years ago. It was so much fun and we did 16 lines.

I'm 38, my mother is 65. We both had a great time. We did 11 lines - one of them very short and very low to the ground (though it was not the first one). There were staff on each platform, and they were more than patient. They allowed us to get the camera ready, pose for pics, etc - and always asked if we had fun, etc. We were very pleased with them.

I don't mind heights when I'm 'connected' and would love to do it again.

I'd do it again in a heart beat! It was TONS of fun!

[PugsRuleATL]

I am re-thinking my excursions thanks to your photos!

Wow - thanks! That's a great compliment. I appreciate it.

Question-The Crane Resort in Barbados looks lovely-did they sell you a day pass? How much and how did it work? Did you need to arrange it ahead of time?

We took a public bus from the main bus terminal - about 3/4 mile walk from the cruise terminal - for 75 cents each person, one way. The bus on the way to the resort was very clean and comfortable. A couple people in our party struck up converstions with local passengers on the bus, which was nice.

 

The local passengers helped point things out along the route - the Prime Minister's home, the hangar for the Concorde at the airport, laws/taxes on the island, etc. One passenger reminded us that all beaches on the island are public, we could not be barred from accessing any of the beaches.

 

When we arrived at The Crane we could freely wander the resort's public areas. We did not stop to actually use any of the facilities, but we wandered and enjoyed the resort. One of us asked the front desk staff about the beach, and if we could go down to look at it, as we were clearly in street clothes and not beachwear. The staff member's response was simply that it was the resort's "policy" to charge for access - though we took that to mean they wouldn't enforce it. Having heard the beaches on the island were all public, we were curious to say the least. We didn't press the matter, and simply remained around the pools above to enjoy the views.

[PugsRuleATL]

Did the cruise director still have his morning show with the question of the day?

 

Yes! Neil (Chandler, the Cruise Director) does still do Wakey Wakey TV. It's a fun start to the day. Make sure you listen for the question of the day - it's a chance to win a free cocktail in Adagio. They also played a "sound of the day" for a chance to win dinner for 2 at the Crown Grill - though no one on board got either of the sounds correct during out 10-day cruise.

[PugsRuleATL]

Question - Do you know if The Speakeasy is anything more than a room with chairs?

The Speakeasy is, in fact, a reasonably small space with chairs and sofas. There's a humidor as well, but no bar or bartender. The Speakeasy *is* in the casino, so a bar is quite handy, I suppose.

And, should this be the case, what lounge/bar might I/we enjoy as a late-night "hang-out," cigars aside? Some place my wife could have her cruise martini, and I my single malt scotch?

I'm neither a smoker nor a drinker, but it seemed to me that Adagio would be a great after-dinner relaxation spot. Crooners Bar - midship, deck 7 - would be good, as there is a pianist there in the evenings, but you might not want to be there with the foot traffic. I never stopped by Explorers after dinner, but there was usually an act of some sort on stage there - not the relaxing thing you're speaking of.

[sunshine426]

We enjoyed Adagio for that reason. The piano background was lovely, and a nice relaxing way to end the day. You can just listen to the music or have quiet conversation.

[rcacace]

Did the cruise director still have his morning show with the question of the day?

 

Yes! Neil (Chandler, the Cruise Director) does still do Wakey Wakey TV. It's a fun start to the day. Make sure you listen for the question of the day - it's a chance to win a free cocktail in Adagio. They also played a "sound of the day" for a chance to win dinner for 2 at the Crown Grill - though no one on board got either of the sounds correct during out 10-day cruise.

 

What sort of sounds?:confused:

[OCruisers]

Pugs .... Thanks so much for all of the pictures! :)