JustVinney

4 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

You will find no bigger fan of the IC then moi :).  It is my Princess "hang out" and a strong incentive for us to book Princess cruises (we cruise on many different lines).   On most mornings, I will be out of our cabin (while DW sleeps) and down at seat near the IC enjoying my cappucino and a donut, egg sandwich, pastry, etc.  We seldom go to the Lido (or MDR) for breakfast.  The IC/Atrium area is also a great place for people watching, meeting new folks, socializing, etc.

 

Hank

First time sailing Princess, and only the second morning… both have been lovely with an IC coffee and croissant, sitting near a window and watching the oceans and distant mountains go by… all while very few are up & about! Not even 48hrs into Princess cruising and I can totally see why it’s your hang out!

6 minutes ago, Meekos7 said:

Does anyone know or have a video showing how to put the blue premier  clip around the medallion.It doesn't seem to fit no matter each way I try. Thank you

It confused me at first as well! The medallion will go all the way through the ‘back’ of the clip but cannot pass through the ‘front’ - the clip openings are slightly different sizes. 

Unlike the lanyard that was already attached when I picked up my medallion, the clip does not snap or clamp in. It’s magnetic and that’s how it holds. 

I typically don’t like lanyards - and yet the premiere clip is so large and the actual clip part not very strong (at least on mine) that I may be going back to the lanyard. The lanyard is surprisingly small - both the actual strap and the part that holds the medallion - so not as bad as I expected it to be.

If only they sold a clip / attachment that could be added to the watch band already on your wrist…

55 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

As a long time fan of the IC, I would point out that their coffee is "small batch" vs the huge machines in the Lido and MDR Galley.  Small batch means it is much fresher and they also use decent beans as opposed to the more commercial brew found in other venue.  

Currently on the Crown and I agree this is certainly true - and also the most important distinction. 

International Cafe and Coffee & Cones are the two places where I have found decent coffee. 

Everywhere else is commercial - either from concentrate (I suspect) or very large batch brew that is quite weak. Even the ‘espresso’ ordered to the cabin was definitely not espresso - I think it was just a very small volume of the regular coffee. 

@Coral Thanks for bringing us along with you for this trip. I hope things are smooth for your return to Vancouver today. Safe travels when you head home… and for your next cruise! 

2 hours ago, Coral said:

I asked the shop people - I don't think they understood "fountain" part. They did show me the pens they have for sale - I hope this helps:

 

Thank you so much for your efforts. I did not expect you to take the time to talk to the staff, gather what they had and take a snapshot to post - I appreciate it very much! I'm very happy to know what they have a plan accordingly. 

Loving all your posts so far - thanks for sharing your trip with us!

I hope you are on board and already enjoying your trip... or perhaps I should say part two - Whistler looks incredible! Thanks for the posts - wonderful photos and great to read as well. 

I have an unusual request should you be in the shops on board. If you notice fountain pens in any of the shops, I would love to know. I'll be getting on the crown just after you disembark, and that's the one item I am hoping for as a souvenir for my whole trip. I fear the onboard shops won't have any - and it's not terribly likely in Alaska - so I may have to look around on my one day in Vancouver before cruising. 
I know it's an odd one - but if you happen to notice I'd appreciate it. 

Regardless, I hope you have a marvellous cruise and will certainly be following along. Thanks for the great posts!

10 hours ago, RedIguana said:

Buy a nice bottle of Scotch, Tell them to leave it in cabin D714 for the May 23rd sailing.......

@RedIguanaIf you find the scotch in your cabin, I'm sure I'll stumble upon some cigars in mine - also on Dolphin deck for May 23rd sailing - and we can meet up to toast @arctickittyand their wonderful live! 

52 minutes ago, arctickitty said:

@JustVinney regarding doing a live, you can do it however you want, a lot or a little.  I’ve read a lot of live froms and cruise bloggers who post the full menu and patter every day and give a blow by blow as it’s happening.  I generally don’t want to spend that much time during my trip online so I don’t make any promises to do so.  I did a live from my last cruise when I didn’t even have internet!  I posted highlights during the ports and travel days and then did the blow by blow when I got home.  So you can have your own style, make it your own, make it work for you.

That's excellent to know. I'm new to Cruise Critic but enjoying thus far - especially following your posts. Thank you for posting and for the info & advice. Even in my most social moments, I would describe myself as very much an introvert - so detaching from the internet & most communication is not at all hard for me. Nice to know some occasional posts when the mood strikes would be acceptable - the thought of an expectation for consistent posts would likely prevent me from doing a live. Something to consider, that's for sure! 

Thanks again - hope you continue to enjoy your time on board! 

How do you find the internet working on this voyage? 

I'll be on the Crown in Alaska late may. Never really thought about doing a live before, but very much enjoying yours, suddenly considering it...

On the one hand, torch lighters are so much better than a regular bic / soft flame. On the other hand, I don't want to risk losing my favourite EDC torch. 

I have one day in Vancouver before getting on the Crown - hopefully a gas station or convenience store will have one of the cheap-o torch lighters I can pick up for a few bucks that day. Near me, they even sell some half decent ones at the dollar store. I'm sure they wouldn't last any amount of time or refills, but work well when new - so that's my hope. If I don't find that, a bic will have to work for the trip. 

I know torch lighters on planes are a no-go, but from what I've been able to find so far there's no issue as far as the ship is concerned. Confirmation or contrary information is of course always welcome! 

Thanks all for your input so far! 

On 2/13/2023 at 12:09 AM, roboref said:

I always bring my own cigars, as there isn't a large selection and mostly overpriced and not always properly humidified.

Thanks @roboref - your reply was most helpful. Especially knowing those little bits about selection - I'll definitely bring my own for the duration of the trip with that info. Enjoy Hawaii!

I am working if anyone can share their experiences of cigar smoking and the cigar lounges on Princess ships.

I have a cruise booked on the Crown Princess to Alaska, and would like to enjoy a cigar often, probably nightly.

How is the Speakeasy cigar lounge? Fully interior or any windows for an ocean view?

Is it best to bring my own cigars for the whole trip, or is there a humidor on board to purchase from? And what might the selection & pricing be like?

Any experience you can share would be appreciated.