Sadebud

Our waiter was Dusan from Serbia I believe and we were welcomed warmly and presented with menus. They are short-maybe 4 options for each course but you can ask for an Opus menu to see what they are eating in the MDR and order from that. We can find some tasty dishes from what we are given.

 

Carol's Prosecco was accompanied by my generous glass of Malbec, both covered by our Premium Beverage Package included in the fare.

 

An amuse bouche was brought while we were waiting for appetizers-a prosciutto mousse cannoli with pistachio but I pounced on it like your dog would if you dropped a pork chop in the kitchen and didn't get a photo.

 

Let there be crab cakes!

 

 

Meanwhile Carol had a sugar snap pea salad which appears in the video only.

 

My lamb shank on a bed of mashed potatoes with a Merguez sausage hiding at the rear.

 

 

Carol was delighted with her soft-focus Sea Bass with salsify, brussels sprouts and oxtail marmalade (try it on your toast-or not!)

 

 

More wine sir? Why yes my good man-can I just take a photo of the bottle to remember the name?

(Pours enough wine into glass to bathe a small baby). "I'll leave the bottle sir".

 

 

Someday we will be in Argentina going on a cruise around Cape Horn to Valparaiso and there's plenty of Malbecs awaitin' there.

 

A fine meal is being had I must say. Service on point. Care for dessert I asked as I poured another glass from the wine they left with me.

 

A macaroon took Carol's fancy while I found a dark chocolate mousse shortbread with cherry marshmallow and Mandarin gel thing that fired on 8 cylinders and had me doing a seated happy dance.

 

 

 

Had we not had other plans for future dinners we would have been back to Luminae.

 

I had put up a video of our meal on Youtube yesterday and watched it. Today it was just a white screen for part of it and so I deleted it and reloaded it but Youtube has a headache and the video is in a queue to be uploaded, so as 20 minutes have passed, I'll show it to you later.

 

Doh!

 

Norris

Hi Norris,

I am visiting from the Princess board as well...we, too, sail both lines, and I lurk on other boards as well, just to keep informed.

We are just back from the Crown P, Rio de Janeiro to Valpairiso, and YES...I drank my fair share of excellent Malbecs!!! Definitely a good trip for wines!!

Looking forward (although sad to hear it is winding down) to reading the rest of your review!

Cheers,

Tracy

What's in store is a Chronological account of our vacation so don't expect to see the ship in the first few days of writing as we will be spending those in South Beach.

 

Segway video through the Art Deco area

Dining at Joe's Stone Crab

The Ritz Carlton

Lunch in Luminae

Sailaway

Dinners in Lawn Club Grill/Murano/Qsine/Luminae (food porn!)

Blu

Sunset Bar where I took up residence

Live shows in photos and video

The Alcoves

Just about every room and bar on the ship

Ship art

Segway tour in Cozumel

Turtles and stingrays

Jamaica the good the bad and the ugly

Labadee

All sailaways including other fine cruise ships in port with us

The ship at night

Sunrises and sunsets

Officers and guests pool volleyball

Bocce ball

People enjoying themselves

 

and whatever else I happened to photograph/video

 

The review is written for me and Carol so we can't forget it as time passes and our memories dim.

 

It is also written for people who have never sailed this ship and for those who have and want to be reminded of the time they spent on her.

 

And it is for my friends who live on the Princess Board where I happily dwell most of my time.

 

With that being said I will start the story, or Seafaring Gentleman's Journal as I like to call it.

 

Norris

Hi Norris,

I just saw your post on the Princess Boards alerting me to the Celebrity Review...I knew you had a cruise in January but I forgot it was on Celebrity. I will be catching up all weekend!

PS--Just off the Crown Princess Rio to Valpairaiso, around Cape Horn. Fantastic trip but there were some hiccups and we didn't make all the ports. Still had a fabulous time and would sail the Crown again anytime!!

Tracy

We are getting off the ship the 4th. Will let you know. I will have a blue shirt on.:D My guess is yes as they served SE Asian Cuisine on Diamond.

I will look for you!!!! Enjoy your trip, and take good care of the Crown for us, please!

Cheers!

Hi,

Does anyone know if they have special menu items from the SA region on the South American route? If so, any examples?

Thanks!

Another brilliant review, Norris!!! Love your pictures and you witty remarks! Look forward to the review in January, which is right when I will be coming off the Crown around SA!

Cheers,

Tracy

PS--thanks for reminding me how to change my signature in my CC profile!

Hey Tracy (Sadebud) We're on that cruise from Rio too! I've been "readying" for the cruise by reading here on CC too! :p Have you joined the Roll Call??

Hi SoCalJo,

Yes, I am on the roll call!!! I think we're on a tour with you or something...I seem to remember quoting and/or commenting on something you wrote (maybe not, but I've definitely seen your posts!). I am sooooooooo excited!!!! Looking forward to meeting you!

And now, back to Tracie Lynn...lol

Hi Tracie,

I have been following your blogs for a while now (just coming out from lurking as they were all binge readings...this is my first LIVE live), I love your style and commentary! I was happy to sign on yesterday and see your latest and wanted to thank you! Your blog is helping me pass the time till we board the Crown in January down in Rio.

Incidentally, you are one of the reasons we chose the Crown around South America. DH and I were booked on the Grand in January for Hawaii, just the two of us, when my parents decided to book the Crown and go around Cape Horn (bucket list for Dad) and asked us if we'd like to join them. Well, it is a bucket list for me too, and I had just finished reading your "last hoorah cruise" and subsequent Panama Canal Christmas cruise, and we decided that we should (and we WANT to) cruise with my parents while they (and we) are still able to. Because you never know. We have done 4 TAs with my parents, and they have all been great trips...we are just adding one more! Thank you for reminding us. And FWIW, I am sorry for the loss of your Mom.

Sadebud (aka Tracy too)

Hi Tracy, I'm glad you are enjoying the read and the photos/video. I love the Go Pro as a small tool that can go anywhere and get footage I would be reluctant to use the Sony camera for. I bought it to get Segway shots when we were in Puerto Rico on the Silhouette and am so glad I did. It leaves my hands free and can get wet. I use it when we visit the glaciers soon.

 

Hi again,

 

Real quick, I will be using a GoPro for my visit to Volunteer Point to see the Penguins in the Faukland Islands in January when we are on the Crown around Cape Horn. I will do my best to upload here, but not sure if I am tech savvy enough!

 

Tracy

PS--I forgot how to edit my signature on CC to change from the listed Hawaii on the Grand to South America aboard the Crown. Tech Savvy, remember?

Hi Norris,

Just a quick interruption to tell you how much I am enjoying your commentary and your photos and GoPro videos are truly amazing!! I've done the Alaskan cruise twice (once as a small child of 6) and as you've said repeatedly, there are never too many times to see Alaska. I think it's back on my bucket list...and combine the land portion this time. But a must is the dog sledding!!!!! That was unbelievable!! Thanks again for all your hard work (and thanks for travelling so much so you can write these wonderful blogs!).

Cheers,

Tracy

 

I'm very glad you are still reading this. I can imagine many give up or die...

but I write for people who like to read. People like me.

 

 

 

Norris

 

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Hi Norris, I'm still reading too!!! It is a fantastic read!!!!! Can't wait for more!!!

Tracy

I'm sort of surprised that being a married couple, you have 2 different levels. My husband was automatically made Elite when we were married and maybe that's because it was part of Sitmar previously that all carried over to Princess. Of course, now, he would've made Elite a long time ago but he for the most part, has been Elite alongside with me. One thing I found out is that for the free wine tasting, I thought I could just give my pass to a friend but then they asked to see her card to make sure it matches up so they didn't let her in. This time around, we will switch cards so she can enjoy some free wine because I don't drink! LOL

That's kind of what I thought, he automatically gets Platinum but on the cruise personalizer it clearly shows me as Platinum and him as Ruby. It is going to be a fantastic trip so I'm not going to sweat little things but still, it makes no sense if we aren't allowed. I'm sure it won't be a problem...right? :-)

One thing is that she won't be able to use the disembarkation lounge... they're pretty strict with that. As for the platinum/suite/elite lounge, she'll have to pay full price for her drinks.

Are you saying that my husband (Ruby) will not be able to wait with me (Platinum) for disembarkation? That makes totally no sense, and I certainly do NOT want to be separated from him in a foreign, non English speaking country at the end of my South American cruise in January! I hope this isn't the case!

Another review by Norris...woo hoo!! Knew you were cruising this month but didn't remember if it was Princess or X...I think you have another X coming up, right?

So glad to have caught this one early so I can follow along. All your others I read "after the fact"...sometimes waaaaaaaaaay after the fact, but have always enjoyed, no savored your reviews!

We had a cruise booked on the Grand in January to Hawaii, but have since changed it to South America around Cape Horn on the Crown, also in January. Your reviews have helped filled the time!! Looking forward to more!!

Tracy

How sad! Loved our stop in Madeira...beautiful island! Poor people

We're sailing this beauty in January to Hawaii. With all of the mixed comments about the Grand on these boards, it is great to see her in such good shape!! Thanks again for posting!

Hi Tracie,

Congratulations on your 25th! We celebrated our 25th in May, on a land trip down to Cancun. Will be still celebrating our "year of 25" in January on the Grand to Hawaii (also an early 50th for me...yikes).

We have been to all of your ports (on different cruises tho), and did a lot of them DIY style. In Genoa we rented a car and drove up to Parma...ate lunch in a small café and had the BEST prociutto EVER. And all the Parmesian cheese you could hope for! It was a beautiful drive. In Barcelona we did the HOHO bus...it was great! Cartegena (twice) was wonderful just walking up and down the streets. We ate at a little café halfway down the main road...the mussels and brava potatoes were fabulous (as was the Sangria!). Enjoy your trip!!! Congratulations again!

Tracy

My very first cruise was 14 days out of San Francisco to Alaska r/t on the FairSea in July of 1973...I was all of 6 years old, and STILL remember that fabulous ship, and sailing under the GG Bridge! Right then and there I was hooked on cruising! We sailed the FairWind twice to the Caribbean in the late 70s, one of which was a 14 day Christmas cruise! They had Santa arrive on a life boat...we watched them hoist him up and he gave presents to all the kids! It was a wonderful time...and a great cruise line! Couldn't tell you what cabin #s we were in, but we were on the Monte Carlo deck all 3 times. My experiences certainly spoiled me and turned me into a cruise lover. I, too, still have 2 of the cocktail glasses that I bring out every now and then. BTW, my parents had the glasses (I was a child, remember...lol), and gave them to me several years ago. DH and I will once again be sailing under the great GG Bridge in January, on the Grand, to Hawaii. I can't wait!

And yes, thanks to my Sitmar cruises, I am platinum with Princess, working on Elite and having fun!

Hi Norris,

I've been lurking for the past week and half on your reviews, finally finishing the Rome to Barcelona trip (yes, all 52 pages), and following this one "live". Everything is so well written, and your sense of humor makes me laugh out loud. Which isn't good when I am at the office reading instead of...well, what I should be doing. Your photos are fantastic! We have sailed both the Grand Class and the S ships, and your comparison is RIGHT ON!!! Although its been a few years since we've been on either. We are sailing on the Grand P next January to Hawaii out of San Francisco. Am so looking forward to it, though we will not be in a suite. Your reviews and comparisons are a fantastic way for me to pass the time until we sail! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

BTW--so sorry about your incident in November but am glad they have been caught and pray the justice system will give them what they deserve.

Tracy

Enjoy your cruise! Will be following your posts...we sail the Grand next January to Hawaii, so am anxious to read any and all posts regarding her. Have fun!

Your thoughts on the entire ship experience MIRROR ours! We had not sailed NCL since 2004, and recently went on the Getaway (09/12/15 - 09/19/15). While the ship was beautiful, food and service in MDRs was awful. We did do 3 specialty restaurants where food was indeed better, however, service not so much. Flamingo Grill we thought was pretty good, and only ate lunch in O'Sheehan's once. No dinners there. DH and I had fun...we always do try to make the best of it, but we will not be sailing NCL anytime soon either. Especially with their new "upcharges" in the MDR. The new "included" menus do look to be an improvement, but then again, it couldn't get much worse.

I put together a spreadsheet to consolidate the cabin and balcony sqft info. This should be helpful to have on one page. I was struggling between browsers tabs and NCL and CC threads to ascertain what should be a simple quest.

 

I'm counting on you all to help fill in the blanks. All assistance, comments, and suggestion for improvements are welcome.

 

As you can see the Doc needs more input. :p Specifically I know it needs the knowledgeable CC members help with;

 

S9 balconies really 54 sqft?

S6 note #4 accuracy?

M1 note #6 regarding sqft?

Note #9 bump/angle balconies increased sqft %?

B6 sqft in and out?

M6 balcony sqft really varies?

MX and BX need info.

 

Any additional columns needed such as; tubs, # of bathrooms ;), king or queen bed, # of cabins per category, indicate fore, mid, aft location of cabin cat?

 

I will update/edit often.

 

Thanks

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AkRUeqCmOMnGdFZWTVVzZndrc0NkN1N0TGpZb2ZYU2c&single=true&gid=0&output=html

Hi Bear,

We are booked for the 09/12/15 Getaway in aft cabin 11912. Do you know if bed is by balcony or closet, and what the approx size balcony is?

Thanks,

Tracy

Vibe Beach Club is a private sundeck area on deck 17. It has 2 hot tubs, a bar, fresh fruit skewers and padded loungers. It's adults only. It costs $79 per person for the week and they sell a very limited amount of passes. There are also 5 cabanas that are $299 for the week with $100 food credit and you are assigned a particular cabana that's only yours for the week.

Thank you!!!!

Hi, we're thinking heavily of booking a trip on the Getaway in September. We haven't cruised NCL in a LONG time. Anxious to try again. What is a vibe pass? Forgive my ignorance!

Thanks,

Tracy

Hi,

DH and I are considering the November TA on the Island Princess. We have done several TAs before but can't seem to remember if it's better to be on Port or Starboard side? Or does it really matter? Thoughts?

Thanks