Ocean Princess South China Sea Explorer - Jan 23-Feb 8 Semi-Live from....

Alright here's the scoop...

I am trying to get everything set up before I leave for Shanghai, and since I still have to work tomorrow I decided to start this thread tonight. (I want to send the link to a few people I know)

I will be attempting a live thread... (if connection, and all the planets allign it might even happen) - Although pictures will not be posted until I get back to my apartment.

I will also check in and try to answer questions. This will also be my first review.

Now, let the thread begin.

BACKGROUND

This will be my 7th cruise total (second with Princess) - first 16 day

I am a 26 year old teacher, from Canada working a contract in China (mainland 3 hours in from Hong Kong). We had a 3 week break, first thing I did was search for a cruise - everything worked in my favour except for someone joining me so I shall be a solo cruiser. (another first).

I fly into Shanghai the morning of January 22 and am spending the night at the Howard Johnson Plaza Shanghai, and will board the Ocean Princess on Sunday January 23.

I am booked in an Inside GTY (single supplements are the reason for that) and am in cabin 7071 (right behind the laundry room :P)

The Itinerary is

January 23 embarkation Shanghai

January 24 day at sea

January 25 Okinawa, Japan

January 26 day at sea

January 27 Keelung, Taiwan

January 28 day at sea

January 29 Hong Kong (overnight)

January 30 Hong Kong

January 31 day at sea

February 1 Da Nang/Hue (Chan May) Vietnam

February 2 day at sea

February 3 Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) Vietnam

February 4 day at sea

February 5 Bangkok (Laem Chabang) Thailand

February 6 Ko Samui Thailand

February 7 day at sea

February 8 disembark at Singapore

(I am flying out of Singapore February 9 at 6:40 am)

So I hope you enjoy my cruise review, if any of the people on my roll call want to add their comments please feel more than welcome too!

Sounds like a wonderful itinerary. Looking forward to cruising vicariously with you. Thank you for doing a Live.

Thanks for doing the Live thread. I am looking forward to it as we will have the same itinerary in April.

Have a great cruise on the Beautiful White Lady

We did this itinerary on the Ocean Princess last year. It was wonderful. Have a great time. I look forward to reading your live--- will bring back lots of memories.:p

cnd crsr

Hi Celandine!

We just loved our recent Greek/Med cruise on the Ocean and hope you do as well-what a special ship! We had an inside cabin too (but were on deck 8)-not to worry as it will get you out and about to the decks and public spaces more and you will meet so many folks and the wonderful crew who will all be like family! I hope Captain Ravera is on when you are-he was a very special treat-the most gracious captain we have ever encountered!

Bon Voyage!!

Cant wait for the live, thanks for taking the time to do it :)

Day 0 - pre-stay in Shanghai

I got up after a nap at 3:30 am, packed my few last minute things and headed downstairs. Once there I realised I forgot to pack my toothbrush, figured I'd get one in Shanghai.

I got picked up by my driver at 4:30 am, got to the Guangzhou airport by 6 am, through check in and security by 6:33 am.Funny thing, I had booked first class and the first/business class security line up has red carpet. I had to stifle my giggling. Then I sat and waited for Starbucks to open to get some breakfast. A tuna melt and blueberry muffin and Orange juice later, I was waiting to board my place.

Flight had some turbulence, and was 20 minutes later, other than that not bad. I spent most of the time napping. Staff of China Eastern Air are very friendly. Small plane though, and we walked down a staircase onto the ground to board a bus to take us to the arrivals.

Car service rep met me right after I waited what felt like an eternity waiting for my luggage (my last 3 trips I have been spoiled, with my bags being one of the first 5 on the belt)

About an hour ride in a nice van to my hotel, the Howard Johnson Plaza Shanghai, got there around 12 pm was able to check in right away, I have a nice room, free internet, 2 free bottles of water and basic toiletry items. Very useful.

I walked around a little bit, hit a few shops, and bought that toothbrush I forgot. Now I'm just going to watch a movie (Terminator Salvation) on HBO and figure out something for dinner. And have a boring early night as I'm still exhausted from yesterday. Cannot wait to board the Ocean Princess tomorrow....

Hi Celandine!

 

We just loved our recent Greek/Med cruise on the Ocean and hope you do as well-what a special ship! We had an inside cabin too (but were on deck 8)-not to worry as it will get you out and about to the decks and public spaces more and you will meet so many folks and the wonderful crew who will all be like family! I hope Captain Ravera is on when you are-he was a very special treat-the most gracious captain we have ever encountered!

 

Bon Voyage!!

Too funny. I was just saying to my mum a few days ago that if I had a balcony I probably wouldn't leave the cabin... which is not what I want at all!

Enjoy your cruise! I am looking forward to your live posts!

........and any one else who has been on this itinerary.

Do you need visas and/or shots?

........and any one else who has been on this itinerary.

 

Do you need visas and/or shots?

Visa for China

No shots.

Visa for China

No shots.

Thanks!

Thanks so much for doing the live. It is one of the cruises we are considering in the next year or two.

Have a great trip!

Okay, couldn't get wirelss internet to work last night, but have it up and running now.

Day 1 – embarkation in Shanghai

I had trouble sleeping last night, kept waking up. I finally got up for good around 9:30 am. I watched Wuthering Heights as I got ready and packed up. I went downstairs around 11:15 am to check out and grab a cab over to the cruise terminal. I want to add that the hotel I stayed at was beautiful and the bed was comfortable and I would easily stay there again. Of course it seemed no one knew what I was talking about when I mentioned the cruise terminal. But I did get there in about 8 minutes,

I arrived at the check in, and was through the paperwork, check in and whatnot around 12 pm (check in on our paperwork said 12:30 pm) but we weren’t able to board until 1 pm. Once that hit, we went through customs and boarded the ship. I met 2 lovely couples, retired teachers, and we chatted the time away. Once on board I went to my room and unpacked my carry on.

The weather was foggy rainy and blah. You could barely make out the skyline from the ship. My room is an inside, 7071. It is perfect for my needs, loving the little couch. Once done unpacking my carry on I went for lunch. Due to our boarding time, lunch in the dining room was canceled, but the buffet had some nice food, I had some brioche battered scallops, chicken wings, some fish and a few other little things. It was nice.

I wandered around a little bit, and then went back to my room. My luggage arrived about 3 minutes after me, so I unpacked and watched the end of Marmaduke. Then I went out again, went up to check out the Spa, got a free demo massage, might go back for one later on this week. Then I sat in the Tahitian lounge for a bit and enjoyed the ship. Sailaway was originally for 8 pm, but it was delayed until between 9:30 and 10 pm.

I went for dinner around 8:20 (tonight it was a bit later). I forgot to take pictures of my meal tonight, but I had the porcini mushroom soup (delcious) ceasar salad (very good) and the prime rib which was very good and normally I’m not a fan of Prime Rib. Then I had the carrot cake for dessert, very nice. Our waiter, Ben is very nice as is his assistant who’s name I cannot recall at the moment.

We were eating and chatting until about 10:25 pm and then someone checked the time, and ost of us all but ran out to catch the welcome aboard show. Which was really good, Man the theatre is small, but the talent is good in this group. Susan Rawlings is our CD, she seems very nice. Her staff also seem nice, more will come about them as the cruise goes on. Then a guitar player/story teller from Australia performed and he was great and interesting. I look forward to attending his shows later on this cruise.

Tonight we lose an hour, but tomorrow is a sea day and that’s alright. I am going to check out the book club (reading James Patterson’s Big Bad Wolf) so I should be able to report on that and the book. My room steward is Luis, and he is very nice. Tomorrow is our first formal night, and I’m looking forward to that.

I will write about our first sea day and my Okinawa excursion tomorrow...

Thanks for the notes. Is Captain Ravera onboard? We have had him several times and always enjoyed him. I know he is scheduled to be on in April when we board.

Appreciate your doing the live thread- we are with Paul (above) on the Shanghai to Singapore in april, so will be keeping up with your adventure. Have not done a Book Club before- do you know the book prior to the cruise? We also have not had tablemates before- always did Anytime Dining- do you get assigned to a table of any size or can you request a certain number? Hope you have a great day in Okinawa- we were wanting to do a Japanese Tea Ceremony but can't find one- if you see anything about it, please steer us in that direction.

Have a ball,

Sandy

I will write about our first sea day and my Okinawa excursion tomorrow...

Celandine,

Thanks for doing the live thread (or semi-live thread)...I look forward to reading about your adventures. I'd also love to hear your thoughts & impressions on the Ocean Princess since this is your first cruise on a small ship. BTW, we're sailing on her (different itinerary) in a few weeks & it'll be our first on a small ship too. Have a great day in Okinawa!

2 – Day at sea

I woke up around 8:30 am, went to the buffet for breakfast then headed to the book club meeting at 10 am to sign up. Then I sort of wandered around then I went and watched the fruit and vegetable carving demonstration, which was very neat. I took some pictures of that. Then I wandered around the shops and bought a few souvenirs.

I went for lunch, and met some very nice people. I had the mussels in the teriyaki ginger broth, the Philly cheese steak sandwich and the blueberry frozen yoghurt for dessert. The sandwich was only okay, everything else was really good.

After a long lunch, I went and did the journal making for crafters at sea. Then wandered around a bit more before going back to my room to relax, and get ready for formal evening. I watched some of the second Nanny McPhee movie, which was really cute and just sort of enjoyed my time until I went out for the captains welcome party.

I left a bit before 7 pm, and no one was around…. Then people started showing up maybe 10 minutes later. At 7:30 we went into the cabaret lounge for the party, I had some non-alcoholic punch and some hors d’ouevres. It was nice to meet them all, and after that we went for dinner.

I ordered the crab quiche which was absolutely delicious, and the shrimp newburg style which was pretty tasty and the chocolate pudding pie which was very nice. I also had a ceasar salad and that was also very good.

After dinner I went to listen to Daniel Oliver at the piano in the casino bar, which is great, while I waited for the show to start. Tonight’s show was “Cinematastic”. It was a really good show. It is a totally different feeling seeing the show in such a small venue, but the singers and dancers did a great job.

After the show, I went to my stateroom and bed. Immigration for me is 6:45 am, and I meet my tour right after that.

Hope you enjoyed Daniel Oliver. He was on last year and always had a full house when he played. He was so popular that they had him do a concert in the theatre towards the end of the cruise.

Looking forward to reading your impression of Okinawa.:)

Appreciate your doing the live thread- we are with Paul (above) on the Shanghai to Singapore in april, so will be keeping up with your adventure. Have not done a Book Club before- do you know the book prior to the cruise? We also have not had tablemates before- always did Anytime Dining- do you get assigned to a table of any size or can you request a certain number? Hope you have a great day in Okinawa- we were wanting to do a Japanese Tea Ceremony but can't find one- if you see anything about it, please steer us in that direction.

 

Have a ball,

 

Sandy

Sandy,

You can request the size table you want (2 to 10 people). They do not guarentee you will get that size. You should contact your TA or Princess.

Book Club - I have not done one, but on the Princess website they have the books for the next six months.

Enjoying reading, we will be doing the same cruise in April. Thanks for taking the time.:)

Yes Captain Ravera is on board. He seems nice.

I found out the book of the month on Princess' website...somewhere.

Day 3

Day 3 – Okinawa, Japan

Early morning. I was up at 5:30 am, grabbed a quick breakfast and then onto immigration. The birth date on my form (and many others) was incorrect. Mine was especially odd because it said I was 10 years old. The guy asked if it was correct, and I had to tell him it wasn’t. He just crossed it out and we moved on. Not a big deal.

My tour met and we were all on time. Luckily our guide told us we could use US dollars at the stores we were going to, because the only place to exchange money was in town. I chose the Shikinean gardens and Ryukyu Mura. We first went the Ryukyu Mura which has old buildings/dwellings transplanted to the site, people dressed up in traditional clothing and cultural performances – including a neat lion dance. I quite enjoyed it here. They also made Japanese donuts (1$ each) they make have a sugar mill and make a lot of pottery.

We had time there, but not enough in my opinion. There was a post box at the gift shop area, and they sold stamps so I have attempted to mail a postcard home, we’ll see if it makes it.

Then we went to the Shikinean gardens, which was very nice, and the cherry blossoms are just starting to bloom so we saw some of those. Very nice. Not as many flowers as I’d hoped, but some lovely tress and scenery. The first stop was 40 minutes from port, then the gardens were 40 minutes from that and we were still 40 minutes from the ship. We ended up seeing quite a bit of the area, and our guide was very informative and helpful.

We got back to the ship around 1:20 pm; I handed in my landed passenger card, because I knew I wasn’t going back ashore. I went to my room, freshened up and then went for some lunch at the buffet. I had some of the gnocchi in gorgonzola sauce, and it was delicious. After lunch, I went to the spa to make a hair appointment, got one for 2:45, I went and chatted with a cruise member until my hair cut.

Lisa from Northern Ireland did my hair, and she did a great job. I am very pleased. Then I went to afternoon trivia and met up with 2 lovely couples from the UK who invited me to join their team. The topic was geography, and we did not win but did well.

After that, I came back to my room to change, and get ready for the evening. I went back out right around 7 pm, just in time to catch Glen Amer’s show (piano player and singer). Again, he is very good. After that I had a few minutes to listen to Daniel Oliver again, and then it was dinner.

Tonight I had smoked trout with cream cheese mousse, the fettuccini alfredo, and the grilled kebabs of fruits of the sea…. All in all it was really good. Then for dessert I ordered the cheesecake.

After dinner I watched Daniel Oliver again, and stayed there until he was done his late set. I talked to him about some music I might like to hear, he’ll look into it. I met some more great people, another Canadian teacher who is working in China (at a University). Tomorrow is a sea day, and we get out hour back!

Hi Celandine,

My mouth is absolutely watering hearing about all of the food!! :D

We had a waiter named Ben on the Ocean in September---he was tall and I think from the Phillipines or Indonesia (other than that don't remember much) and very efficient. Wonder if it is the same man??

Enjoy...loving your live thread!

Hi, Celandine,

Thanks for the informative description of your trip. We will be going through the same itinerary in April. BTW, do you know whether Princess is providing a free shuttle to the downtown area at Okinawa?

Ming