Live from Tahitian B2B Transatlantic

[MMDown Under]

August 9 – Bergen, Norway

 

We awoke this morning to mostly cloudy skies as we were docking in Bergen. I think it is in the low 50’s. The temperatures are climbing. Many people have changed to shorts. We sat out on our balcony for about an hour. This is the first time we have sat there since we left Brooklyn.

 

 

Pleased to see you are enjoying some summer weather, Paul.

[Mimg Pao]

Hi Paul

 

Thanks for a very well written and informative thread.

 

I started a thread this morning inquiring as to who the CD and assistant CD will be on the Ocean in December. I was informed that JJ King and Frankie are on board now but will be departing when the ship goes into dry dock.

 

It would be wonderful if you could find out who will be replacing them in December. We sail on Dec. 18, Shanghai to Bangkok.

 

Thanks so much for your anticipated help.

 

Lynne

Princess Elite Passenger

[paul929207]

Hi Paul

 

Thanks for a very well written and informative thread.

 

I started a thread this morning inquiring as to who the CD and assistant CD will be on the Ocean in December. I was informed that JJ King and Frankie are on board now but will be departing when the ship goes into dry dock.

 

It would be wonderful if you could find out who will be replacing them in December. We sail on Dec. 18, Shanghai to Bangkok.

 

Thanks so much for your anticipated help.

 

Lynne

Princess Elite Passenger

Yes, JJ & Frankie are onboard. I will ask them who will be on after drydock.

[Minoushka]

I have looked at this cruise .I met a lady at the pharmacy who liked my Alaska pictures who suggested Iceland due to my fondness for Glaciers and fjords So I found this cruise BUT ......

What I don't understand is the price ;( :( :( over 6000$ PER PERSON

WHY SO MUCH?????Can someone explain that?

How much can I expect the cruise to go down to?????Will iT ?????

 

Am I under the impression it's a quiet scenic journey.One I would enjoy

 

At this price ..it cannot be for me ...boohoo

[Mimg Pao]

Yes, JJ & Frankie are onboard. I will ask them who will be on after drydock.

 

 

Paul, if you have a chance, please let JJ know that we will be on board in December. Dh's birthday is Dec. 24 and when we last sailed with JJ two years agao on the Pacific, he announced to the audience in the entertainment lounge that it was Tong's birthday and he then proceeded to sing happy birthday with the whole room joining in. JJ then presented Tong with a bottle of champagne. It was a lovely gesture and not to be forgotten.

 

Frankie is also one of the most caring people I have met on board a Princess ship. We first met him on the old Pacific when we did our West Africa cruise. Frankie was the cd then and not the assistant cd. Since then, we have sailed at least two or three times with him.

 

Lynne

Princess Elite Passenger

[paul929207]

August 10 – Kristiansand, Norway (Continued)

 

Princess collected our passports when we at checkin in NYC. We could pick them up after we sailed from Iceland. I just picked mine up, and I could only find one new stamp in it – from Iceland.

 

August 11 – At Sea

 

This is the last day of the first cruise. Tomorrow morning we will say goodbye to a lot of new friends. I have heard that anywhere from 200 to 275 passengers are staying on for the cruise back to NYC.

 

After we spent several days early in the cruise avoiding ice bergs, today, we are avoiding oil rigs in the North Sea.

 

We won the final trivia this afternoon and got a Tahitian Princess refrigerator magnet.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Arrived nice and early in Dover

 

 

 

[paul929207]

Paul, if you have a chance, please let JJ know that we will be on board in December. Dh's birthday is Dec. 24 and when we last sailed with JJ two years agao on the Pacific, he announced to the audience in the entertainment lounge that it was Tong's birthday and he then proceeded to sing happy birthday with the whole room joining in. JJ then presented Tong with a bottle of champagne. It was a lovely gesture and not to be forgotten.

 

Frankie is also one of the most caring people I have met on board a Princess ship. We first met him on the old Pacific when we did our West Africa cruise. Frankie was the cd then and not the assistant cd. Since then, we have sailed at least two or three times with him.

 

Lynne

Princess Elite Passenger

JJ & Frankie will both disembark when the ship reaches Singapore on November 19. They will be on vacation until January when they board the Pacific for the world cruise.

[paul929207]

August 11 – At Sea (Continued)

 

We had a Cruise Critic luncheon today. I think there were 34 of us at it. Sylvio, our Maitre D’ and all his staff did a great job.

 

August 12 – Dover

 

This is turnaround day, so we are saying goodbye to many of our friends. About one third of the passengers are staying on for the return to NYC. We received notification last night that we will not be going to St. John, Newfoundland, but will go to Sydney, Nova Scotia instead.

[caribill]

August 11 – At Sea (Continued)

 

We received notification last night that we will not be going to St. John, Newfoundland, but will go to Sydney, Nova Scotia instead.

 

 

Did they say why?

[paul929207]

Did they say why?

"Operational Reasons"

[paul929207]

"Operational Reasons"

August 12 – Dover (Continued)

 

Princess has introduced a “Treasure Hunt” on embarkation day. You get a card that has eight places on the ship on it. You must go to all eight and get the card stamped. The places are all ones that make money for Princess – the Casino, the Boutiques, the Lotus Spa, etc. You turn the cards in at sailaway and they draw for prizes. These included $50 at the boutique. $22.50 for the internet, two free martinis, etc.

 

They announced that there are 240 passengers on from the prior cruise and about 430 new ones.

[poppy3]

Can we hear more about the food, entertainment, and casino? We are going on the Tahitian/Ocean out of Bangkok in Feb. The only really small ship we have sailed on is the old Sky Princess.

[Pia1913]

Can we hear more about the food, entertainment, and casino? We are going on the Tahitian/Ocean out of Bangkok in Feb. The only really small ship we have sailed on is the old Sky Princess.

 

The Sky was a horrible tub. You will love Tahitian/Ocean. Completely different than the Sky.

[poppy3]

We thought it was a tub, but sailing on most of the bigger Princess ships, there were some pleasant things about a smaller ship. The food and service were special. Everyone got to participate in the champaign waterfall and other ship-wide activities. There was no rush to get a seat in the Theater. We are hoping to have all of these positives in a newer more elegant ship with a mini-suite. We enjoyed some of those qualities on the old Regal and Crown porpoise shaped ships.

We also prefer the fixed seating, and will not miss anytime dining or fee restaurants. Our evenings with the same three other couples is a very enjoyable part of our cruise. We also love eating lunch in the dining room and meeting other couples. People in the buffet do not seem to mix as freely.

[caribill]

Can we hear more about the food, entertainment, and casino? We are going on the Tahitian/Ocean out of Bangkok in Feb. The only really small ship we have sailed on is the old Sky Princess.

 

 

If you go to http://fp.caribill.com/ you can see pictures of the Tahitian Princess which include food, entertainment, and the casino.

[paul929207]

Ruth,

 

I did not see Steff on her birthday, so I asked ou of the other dancers to pass your message to her.

[paul929207]

August 12 – Dover (Continued)

 

Princess has introduced a “Treasure Hunt” on embarkation day. You get a card that has eight places on the ship on it. You must go to all eight and get the card stamped. The places are all ones that make money for Princess – the Casino, the Boutiques, the Lotus Spa, etc. You turn the cards in at sailaway and they draw for prizes. These included $50 at the boutique. $22.50 for the internet, two free martinis, etc.

 

They announced that there are 240 passengers on from the prior cruise and about 430 new ones.

 

August 13 – At Sea

 

Today was a quiet day at sea as all the new passengers settled in and recovered from the trip to Dover. It was also the first formal night and the Captain’s Welcome Party. We decided to skip the cocktail party.

 

We won at trivia this afternoon and got the much sort after Princess Gold Medals.

 

August 14 – Dublin

 

One of our tablemates needs a walker to get around, and has not been off the ship since we sailed from NYC. Today, she got a wheel chair from Princess, and we took a taxi into town. I then pusher her as we walked thru the city.

[paul929207]

August 15 – Greenock, Scotland (for Glasgow and Edinburgh)

 

The weather today is pretty back heavy clouds, some fog and rain. Forecast is for more rain and winds up to 25 miles per hour. Therefore, we have reluctantly decided to cancel the tour to the Edinburgh Tattoo that we had scheduled for this evening. Although we may lose the cost of the tour, Jeannie’s health is more important and there is just too much chance for her to get sick sitting outside for hours in this weather.

 

Good news. An hour and a half after we canceled the tour, the excursion desk called and said someone had bought out tickets, so we go a full refund.

[CTGirl]

August 15 – Greenock, Scotland (for Glasgow and Edinburgh)

 

The weather today is pretty back heavy clouds, some fog and rain. Forecast is for more rain and winds up to 25 miles per hour. Therefore, we have reluctantly decided to cancel the tour to the Edinburgh Tattoo that we had scheduled for this evening. Although we may lose the cost of the tour, Jeannie’s health is more important and there is just too much chance for her to get sick sitting outside for hours in this weather.

 

Good news. An hour and a half after we canceled the tour, the excursion desk called and said someone had bought out tickets, so we go a full refund.

Too bad about the weather and missing the Tattoo but I understand and I'm glad you got your money back. I hope you got to see some of the area around Greenock. It is beautiful. Did you get to see the welcoming committee at Greenock? It was one of the best we ever experienced. Say hi to Jeannie.

[paul929207]

Too bad about the weather and missing the Tattoo but I understand and I'm glad you got your money back. I hope you got to see some of the area around Greenock. It is beautiful. Did you get to see the welcoming committee at Greenock? It was one of the best we ever experienced. Say hi to Jeannie.

Hi Shelley,

Jeannie says Hi.

 

We got off and walked around a little, but it is very windy, so we did not stay out long. We were to Greenock several years ago so we have seen the city before.

 

No welcoming committee this time. I assumeit is because of the Tattoo.

[sunsetbeachgal]

HI Paul,

 

Just booked this ship for a Med Cruise next Sept. Is our first time on one of Princess small ships!

 

What are the dining options at night? Do they offer a dinner buffet like Cafe' Caribe on the larger ships? How does it work with Crown Grill/sabatinis?

 

Thanks and enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

Carole

[brucedodge]

Hi Paul,

 

We miss you on the Ocean thread! :)

 

But it's nice to follow this thread since it's the same ship.

 

Paul,

 

Any chance you could obtain a dining room layout chart? If so, I'd love to have a copy. It's been about five years since I was on the Pacific Princess, and I don't know if the layout is the same (plus I didn't get a chart back then). If you're able to do so, you could let me know at: brucedodge at comcast dot net.

 

Many thanks,

 

Bruce

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Approaching Torshavn, Faroe Island....

 

 

 

[paul929207]

HI Paul,

 

Just booked this ship for a Med Cruise next Sept. Is our first time on one of Princess small ships!

 

What are the dining options at night? Do they offer a dinner buffet like Cafe' Caribe on the larger ships? How does it work with Crown Grill/sabatinis?

 

Thanks and enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

Carole

Dining in the evening - They only offer traditional in the dining room. There is also a buffet every evening. I think it starts at 5:30 and go well into the evening.

 

Sterlings and Sabatinis - only one is open each evening. I think one is open for three nights and then the other is open for three nights.