alternageek

One great spot we enjoy on the Crown is the Adagio Bar...a quiet place for a drink at night or during the day a place to read a book & it's located next to Sabatini's which has an aft facing view.

I'll make note of it, thank you.

Please do not tell my daughter that she could take a cat on Cunard....I'll never hear the end of it.

Its our little secret ;)

I've enjoyed sailing on CA Coastal cruises twice in the past 6 months on the Crown & would happily sail a TA on the ship. :)

 

I've enjoyed several TA cruises including on the Royal & Regal and think you'd enjoy the Crown. We like the Royal & Regal and the Crown is basically a slightly smaller version of those ships. If price & itinerary were similar then we'd sail on a Royal-class ship but would happily sail another Princess ship like the Crown.

 

The Crown lacks some things that are on the Regal: Alfredo's Pizzeria, Gelato's, Bellini's, Ocean Terrace, the large buffet area (and no free filtered coffee made from ground coffee but instead made from concentrate), no cabin on-demand system with flat panel TV and no Winemakers Dinner. But the layout of most Princess ships are similar with most things in the same place so it's easy for us to find our way around the ship.

 

Overall the food, entertainment & service are the same on all Princess ships and is what we enjoy on a cruise.

 

I think it's a great way to move back to the UK and it will be a great trip for you & Mum! :D

Thank you soo much!! I think what ill miss is the on demand tv (i wound up watching some interesting films i had never heard of and now obsess with!) as well as catching up with what I missed on MUTS. We'll both miss the large buffet, but if its a smaller ship its less people to feed as well.

Everything else sounds perfect though...

I was amazed at how reasonable it was to move my daughter from London to the US. I'd purchased a special orthopedic mattress for her in London. It was essentially the same price to move all her stuff (including the mattress) back to the states as it would have been to replace the mattress when she arrived here. THis included a few pieces of furniture and a desktop computer.

the cost of a one way ticket from FL to manchester is about $1500 atm and for the same price can do the cruise and i still get to sight see!

im going to use a self-packing service for my things (as 90% of them are still packed!) and hoping it wont break the bank.

I just wish I could take my cat with me, like you can on Cunard, but shell have to stay at my Moms place.

While you can bring as much luggage as you want, it will all be in your cabin for the cruise.

 

In recent years, the Crown has been in the Pacific doing Alaskan, Mexican, Hawaii and South Pacific cruises. So there has not been a TA by the Crown recently

yeah april 2017 shell be going from ft lauderdale to southampton.

I'm planning on 5 cases in total, but only living out of one.. Doing laundry on board as well. I dont have a lot of "hanging stuff" and pretty good at Tetrising my stuff into places as well. Mum lives out of a carry on bag, no matter how long she travels for.

Thanks though :)

I'm moving back to the UK next year and was going to use the TA as a cheaper alternative to moving back (as can take as much luggage as i like and leave behind things i can wait for to arrive once im resettled) Mum is planning to come along with me, as shes always wanted to do a TA cruise and see some of the sites on the itinerary

The ship is going to be the Crown and wondering if anyone has sailed on her for this trip?

We've sailed on the Regal in Nov and fell in love with her, and also curious to know if the ships are similar in atmosphere and comfort??

Thanks

I had one of these more than 10 years ago:

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/936386-REG/quik_pod_dslr_pov_extendable_monopod_for_gopro_dslr.html

 

That I used with compact digital cameras with flip-around LCDs.

 

At that time, cameras in phones were a joke.

 

Kids these days think they invent everything...

oh thats true!! vga and grainy!!

but my phones main camera is 8mp, better quality than my point and shoot for most snaps that i tend to take.

also, id kill for a gopro, but its either one of those or upgrade my phone to the newest model.

I believe 'selphie' in this case stands for 'self-absorbed'.

They probably don't realize there is anyone else on the

planet with them.

they do, they just dont want to bother anyone :)

not everyone knows how to use different phones (i, for one, have a non mainstream phone that does use a mainstream OS but the camera doesnt work like others do) so the stick allows someone to be in more control of taking photos from a different point of view without it looking like poop.

the selfie stick isnt for everyone, so if its not for you dont knock it.

Must have been fairly recent. It was also $25.00 the last time we saiiled.....

 

Bob

we cruised in november and paid $65 for 3 photos from formal night (same photo, but one for me, one for mom n step dad and one for my sister stuck in wa state)

we got a "free" photo frame...

I had the soda only card and i kept getting mocktails, hot chocolate and other things for free. When questioning it, staff said no - it was included in my card.

i was very confused

maybe staff cant tell the difference in the stickers and this makes it easier (i know after a week, the coke logo pretty much disappeared)

The key is it needs to be a "mystery" shopper----that is totally incognito. If one person knows their identity, the whole ship knows...

i worked in retail, we were fully aware that the company used secret/mystery shoppers. we never knew when they were coming in, but they would always make a purchase (tend to be about $120 spent and always three items in total - cause that was the ideal amount head office wanted us to sell)

im sure the same applies to princess. staff are aware these people exist and that they are being judged, but generally wouldnt know exactly who they are. as these things tend to be reimbursed it would be someone who has been doing their role for some time and very good at it so no one could guess.

I'm in Australia, does anyone know what type of shops would be likely to sell the small, super-absorbent-think it's micro-fibre but not sure-towels please? I have over 10 months still to go, so could look out for 1, if I knew what type of shop to check. Am used to motels where towels are provided.

Daiso. It's a Japanese store where everything is $1.50. Otherwise an outfitting store. There must be something like REI or MEI in Australia. Walmart might even have something.

I know Australia is huge, but Decathalon is an outdoor store who would carry camping/hiking microfibre towels. Online shop isnt working, but should see if theres one near you.

Target AUS carry them as well:

http://www.target.com.au/search?text=micro+fibre+towel

I have never seen this on any Princess cruise ship.....now on the Regal?? Very exciting....cannot wait to hear the responses.

i used it a few times on my cruise.. loved it.. especially when i couldnt sleep

pretty decent selection as well. also all the films from MUTS would be available to view the next day after showing.

edit: films i watched: misstress america (art/indie) into the woods and pitch perfect 2

(disclosure im in my late 30s)

we didnt eat every night there, so not 100% sure if there was - sorry.

i would assume they did, if they had an American night (that was the last night of our 7 day cruise) pretty sure there would be an Italian night there too.

ive been back a week on from our trip on the regal..

they have daily specials and then theres a normal set menu (we mainly ate in symphony) with beef filet medalions, roasted tri tips, fettuccine alfredo, Caesar salad, pan roasted chicken, shrimp cocktail, etc..

specials would be like meatloaf (it was served on our last night - "America" was the theme), prime rib, escargot, etc.. on the regal the menu would be posted outside the dining room itself as well near the outrigger bar.

much prefer the european way of sleeping... nice fluffy duvets with comfy covers... easier to snuggle into bed with

Thanks azdmelani

I did receive this mail but it only mentions an 'array' of entertainment choices and no specific info.

We got an email a couple of days before travelling confirming what would be shown on MUTS, theatres and more. Though for MUTS we were told we would see MI:5 and AntMan; instead we got both Avengers films, AntMan, Capt America: Winter solider and Jurassic World.

So, these things are not always set in stone.

Are you sure about that?

On the Princess site, it does not say they are included anymore.

My DH gets the sodas and more package every cruise and loves the malts and milkshakes. He keeps asking me if I have found out yet if they are still included.

Just got back and my DSF had sundaes every time we ate in the traditional dining room (Symphony) as part of his meal.

At Gelatos, I paid as my sticker didnt cover them.

(On Regal, say hi to Ivan in there, hes so sweet!)

I had purchased just the soft drinks card. I thought it only included soft drinks like iced tea and coke, etc, but did get virgin pina coladas, sex on the beach and more. At the international cafe, we also received our basic hot chocolates with my card (though they were made with the steamed milk and chocolate syrup - and not the mix like whats served in the buffet areas)

Would a charm work on a necklace? Is this available in silver versus gold finish?

there are two different types - one with a black background and one with white. I cant remember if the white one is silver or still in gold..

I like these dresses a lot. Enjoy your cruise.

Thank you!!

Our cruise was amazing... We missed the first formal night, but omg everyone looked amazing. The gowns, the tuxes it was just jaw dropping and reminded me so much of prom...

For our next cruise, I hope to have something much, much more formal to wear on board

You got my curiosity about your cabin fridge. They are normally stocked with an assortment (I think 6 cans) of soda, several bottles of water (including sparkling water), beer and we even had a cider. And if you want a different selection you only need call Room Service and give them your request (you only pay for what you drink). We also thought the lack of any cup holders in the theaters was a design faux pas.

 

Hank

I just got back from being on the regal and my fridge didnt have anything in it

(my first cruise; so no perks) I just had two bottle of water in my stateroom, but they were out and not chilled. (Which was okay, as I didnt touch them)

My mothers stateroom has what you described, but shes ruby.

Got my charm!!!

The the OP - my mother and step fatehr say thank you sooo much for the tip about joes crab shack, i think that was their biggest highlight. both super stuffed from the amount that was on offer.

We *just* got back from our Regal cruise and it was lovely. A first for me, but my mothers 8th and 4th with Princess. Very laidback and easy going, great mix of people of all ages and backgrounds.

Chair hogs: I was noticing the deck crew checking around, especially on the sea days, for these criminals. They appeared to be removing towels if people had not returned to them in at least an hour.

Also remember the British have been dealing with terrorism like this for a long time (thanks to the Troubles).. I wouldnt be stressed while youre sailing within the UK

I was in Paris days after Charlie Hebo attacks last year and I felt just as safe as I did as being in NYC days after 9/11. While in Paris, I did see loads of heavily armed police as well as a heightened (and visible) military presence on the streets and around particular monuments.

Enjoying your reports and photos, one question, what was the green stuff on our plate of fish and chips?

im assuming, mushy peas... though they tend to be more solid peas rather than mashed :D

Congrats!