Live From the Golden...YVR...LA...HI

[nanato3]

I'm happy to hear the weather in Hawaii isn't stormy. Could you please let me know if the 4 days at sea going there were rough seas. We sail this coming Sunday Oct.11th. A lot of the people on our thread are talking about getting sea sick patches. I've never been sea sick on a cruise ship, only on a ferry crossing. Would you recomend the patch?

Thanks, Nanato3/Linda:confused: I forgot to mention that our cabin is on Aloha deck A210. We've always been midship before. I don't know if that will make a difference in the motion . Thanks again. L

[MTJSR]

Great job reporting on your trip. I am glued to this thread, as we are going in February.

 

Question; have there been any poker games or tournaments on board. We had them on Grand Princess a couple years ago, but I am not clear if they are still even played.

[SFParrtHd]

Thanks so much for your postings, they are making us very excited about our 10/25 cruise. I am relieved to know we won't have Lee Childers on our cruise (JMHO).

[Protirees]

I'm happy to hear the weather in Hawaii isn't stormy. Could you please let me know if the 4 days at sea going there were rough seas. We sail this coming Sunday Oct.11th. A lot of the people on our thread are talking about getting sea sick patches. I've never been sea sick on a cruise ship, only on a ferry crossing. Would you recomend the patch?

Thanks, Nanato3/Linda:confused:

 

Hi, Linda. I think it will be very hard to predict although ccrain will have a more current view than I can offer. Certainly it is still the tail end of the hurricane season but I've crossed oceans in very calm seas and I've also cross in rough seas. I've also travelled in small(er) sailboats in rough water as well as large cruise boats. I don't normally get sea sick but always carry precautions with me just in case (ginger, nausea pills, etc.) and just packed them for next week's cruise to Hawaii (so I will have them if you need them!). Knock on wood, but I haven't had to use them yet. Of course, there is always the one time that you need them and wish you had them.

 

I know other people that have gotten ill cruising in the more (relatively so) protected waters of the Carribbean. I think some of it depends on what kind of cruiser you are, where your cabin is located on the ship if it is rough, and many other variables (including eating and drinking).

 

Doubt if this helps much but I really don't think we'll know what the seas will be like this far out--especially for the return trip. You can monitor the marine weather though (including wave height) at a variety of sites including http://www.oceanweather.com/data/.

[carmensmom]

You'll love the Chef's table, we did it on our Alaska cruise it's well worth the extra charge. We will be booking a Hawaii cruise soon, which side of the ship will be best for the Hawaii sailings? We enjoy sitting on the balcony at the end of a day in port and looking ashore. I just don't want to end up on the side facing the water in each port. Thanks

[IECalCruiser]

Hi, Linda. I think it will be very hard to predict although ccrain will have a more current view than I can offer. Certainly it is still the tail end of the hurricane season but I've crossed oceans in very calm seas and I've also cross in rough seas. I've also travelled in small(er) sailboats in rough water as well as large cruise boats. I don't normally get sea sick but always carry precautions with me just in case (ginger, nausea pills, etc.) and just packed them for next week's cruise to Hawaii (so I will have them if you need them!). Knock on wood, but I haven't had to use them yet. Of course, there is always the one time that you need them and wish you had them.

 

I know other people that have gotten ill cruising in the more (relatively so) protected waters of the Carribbean. I think some of it depends on what kind of cruiser you are, where your cabin is located on the ship if it is rough, and many other variables (including eating and drinking).

 

Doubt if this helps much but I really don't think we'll know what the seas will be like this far out--especially for the return trip. You can monitor the marine weather though (including wave height) at a variety of sites including http://www.oceanweather.com/data/.

I have a problem with motion sickness and have used the SCOP patches since our first cruise, Port Canaveral to Nassau. The seas we so rough the first night of that cruise that they had to cancel the stage show and they were giving out bonine like candy. The chocolate mousse for desert almost did me in but I was OK! Our waiter got sick that night for the first time in his 11 months on the ship. On our most recent Mexican Riviera cruise my first patch fell off and forgot to replace but had no problem for the rest of the cruise, even with 8-12 foot waves on the last day. You can run into long stretchs of 10-15 waves the first day or two out of LA. I will wear a patch for the start of the cruise to Hawaii to be safe.

[carmensmom]

Horsefeathers75 your friends on the Aloha deck will not have any noise problems with noise from the Horizon court buffet area. We had cabin A718 on our Alaska cruise and didn't hear a thing. In fact we are planning to book a cabin in that area for our Hawaii cruise because it is just a short walk to the end of the hall where there is a door that goes out to the aft pool area. Its also a short distance to the Horizon court from there, just up a flight of stairs from the pool.

[Protirees]

We will be booking a Hawaii cruise soon, which side of the ship will be best for the Hawaii sailings? We enjoy sitting on the balcony at the end of a day in port and looking ashore. I just don't want to end up on the side facing the water in each port. Thanks

 

I don't know about Hawaii ports but I've given up trying to predict what side the ship will be docked on. I try to book the side that will have the sun/shade/view depending on where I am travelling. The problem with trying to predict the side you will dock on is that it usually depends on what other ships are in port that day where you berth. I carefully studied the bridge cams one year to determine the side the ship most often berthed (you might want to try this) but it proved to be completely different on my cruise. So beware!

[ccrain]

I know on the Island, Coral and the Sun Class there are such doors. I will check when I get a chance.

 

The doors on the front of the aisle do go to an outside deck, but are clearly marked for crew access only.

[ccrain]

OH my, I can't wait to hear your report on VNP! We are looking forward to visiting it on our trip as well. I was wondering if with your recommendations on dining would you do these all on the "at sea" days? We are booked for "anytime" dining and would love to hear what you would reccomend. Also, what is the procedure or number to call to book the Chef's/UBD etc. Thanks so much again for taking the time to post! I just love Cruise Critic for making this type of thing possible!

 

The port days are hectic and I don't think they offer UBD on port days.

 

As soon as you get on the ship, find the matre de and sign up for Chef's Table. We are having 4 on this cruise and there is still a waiting list. The dining reservation line doesn't work the first day, so you have to read the patter, some MD's have a set time on the first day to change dining reservations around. Another option is to drop a note at the purser's desk to the Matre De, by name, requesting you be put on the list for Chef's table.

 

For UBD, call the room service line and set up the reservation, not the reservation line.

 

For Crown Grill and Sabatinnis, you can go to each resturant on the first day and make a reservation.

[ccrain]

Hey Ccrain, did you have a live band playing for sailaway? Have a great hike today, I'm quite envious of your cave hike, have always wanted to do that, take lots of pictures!

 

LeiAloha and Dave (Eula) played the HI songs live, but the line dances and group dances were CD music.

[ccrain]

Have you noticed how the smoking is on the ship, my dh is very allergic and do people tend to abide to the smoking and nonsmoking side of the ship. Have you noticed if there are any nonsmoking nights in the casino?

 

Are there a lot of children aboard? What are the drink prices like?

 

Thanks again for all your wonderful answers, tips and remarks. We are really looking forward to this cruise.

 

Have fun in Hawaii.

 

Debi

 

Smoking is MUCH improved. They have severely restricted smoking areas. Skywalkers is the only dance venue with smoking now. There is no smoking from the Vista to the Casino on deck 7. There are a few non-smoking nights in the Casino.

 

The bad news is that you do have to walk either through the casino, out on the deck or by Player's, on Deck 6, to get to and from the Princess Theatre. So there will be some smoke to get through. Its not that bad.

 

We have about 40 kids on board. Holiday cruises will be packed, but for right now its great.

 

Drink prices. Up and Up. Standard drinks are pretty much $6.95 + 15% tip. Most drinks have a large and medium option with the large being $1-2 more - and a better barain. They have at least 30% more volume than the mediums. But alas, my drink of choice, Long Island Iced Tea, only comes in medium. Someone has to drive home. Comparable to land prices, but they do not water down the drinks, except the rum punches during Captain's Circle.

[ccrain]

Will do!! THANK YOU so much for taking the time to answer my (and everyone elses) questions!! I am following this thread closely and getting excited about our cruise in November!! :D:D

 

I talked with Mario last night. He is leaving on vacation after the next cruise and will join up with the Crown in the Caribbean after 2 months at home.

 

Sorry!

[ccrain]

I have more.....

Did David Cole say what date he was

leaving. I was afraid he would be gone

at that time because he was on the

Alaska cruises longer.

 

Before you mention going to a lecture

on cruising ships..does he plan to give lectures/

talks throughout the cruise about different ships

through all the years. Can you tell me the persons name?

Hope he is the one we had a few years ago.

He was great!

 

Thanks again.

 

I will ask Dave when he is leaving. He's not scheduled to come back, but then I doubt they will leave HI to any other CD.

 

For the other one, I have to dig up my old patter.

[ccrain]

I'm happy to hear the weather in Hawaii isn't stormy. Could you please let me know if the 4 days at sea going there were rough seas. We sail this coming Sunday Oct.11th. A lot of the people on our thread are talking about getting sea sick patches. I've never been sea sick on a cruise ship, only on a ferry crossing. Would you recomend the patch?

Thanks, Nanato3/Linda:confused:

 

Diana is using a patch and having no trouble. Not that we have had any rough water at all. Quite frankly its been smooth with no swell's over 7'.

 

The big drawback to the patch is cottonmouth. Dry, dry, dry, which will lead to severe halitosis if you're not careful.

 

Some people report that food tastes different under the patch.

 

For real rough seas, and you should always prepare for them, I would bring it just in case. Its better than being sea sick for sure.

[ccrain]

Great job reporting on your trip. I am glued to this thread, as we are going in February.

 

Question; have there been any poker games or tournaments on board. We had them on Grand Princess a couple years ago, but I am not clear if they are still even played.

 

They have poker tournaments almost on a daily basis on the way over here. I think I saw two of the new electronic poker tables in the casino.

 

The Donation Lounge has all kinds of other tournaments as well.

[ccrain]

You'll love the Chef's table, we did it on our Alaska cruise it's well worth the extra charge. We will be booking a Hawaii cruise soon, which side of the ship will be best for the Hawaii sailings? We enjoy sitting on the balcony at the end of a day in port and looking ashore. I just don't want to end up on the side facing the water in each port. Thanks

 

And very happy so far. For Hilo, we could look across the bay, while the other side looked out over the wharfs. For HNL, we docked on the starboard side and could see downtown, but the other side faces Pearl, so its no bad either. So far, either side would be good.

[ccrain]

Yesterday was about as good a day as it gets when cruising.

 

We've never been to Hilo before, so we were up and at em. We did the Volcano Hike, Princess Tour, which covered about 4.2 miles, walked a lava tube, along a crater lip, down into a crater, around the vents, and up the other side. Then went over to the Volcano Observatory to see the current eruption. Left the docks about 9, got back about 315.

 

We felt sorry for the helicopter people. It drizzled the whole time, overcast, grey, but perfect hiking weather. Rained really well in Hilo as well. We carried rain gear, but didn't use it. Needed the cooling rain to cool us down while hiking. A great excursion.

 

Now some people used local guides, not Princess, and paid much less, got just as good a tour, had lots of fun, but one couple got back at 525 for a 530 all aboard. Too close for my OCPD nerves. Independent tours are always an option and there are a lot of them right outside the warehouse doors, but just be aware of the time. The ship will not wait for you.

 

Keith and Diana did not get back until 515 and then promptly crashed so Judy and I, hungry after our hike, and I mean really hungry, did dinner alone.

 

Another Princess menu, but that was promptly tossed aside as Mario brings Anti-pasta to the table. Think Sabatinnis. Thinly cut sausage and hams, grilled zucchini, eggplant and peppers, then add the assorted cheese plate ( a double), the freshly breaked bread, a Long Island for me, a sour apple martini for Judy and you have a wonderfully tasty appetizer treat. OMG this was good.

 

The only thing that caught my eye on the meny was co co van (phonetically). Chicken cooked in a heavy wine sauce. This was the single best dish on the cruise(s) so far. WOW, OMG, lick the bowel clean good. My mom's side of the family is Swiss. The Swiss, and I do at home, make a rabbit, or beef or liver stew, with red wine, to go over polenta (coarse ground cooked cornmeal).

 

This CoCoVan wine sauce rivaled my Grandmother's polenta stew. I literally was scraping the bowel clean with the spoon to get the last drop. It was that good.

 

Dessert was coffee creme brule for Judy, and the apple streudel for me. Both excellent.

[ccrain]

So after dinner we run up to MUTS to see Ghosts of Girlfriends past. Yes it had rained, yes the chairs were soaked, yes the movie started without sound AND IT DID NOT MATTER.

 

We were having a blast. (I was translating the movie for her.) Then when the sound picked up and we enjoyed the movie together. (Keep in mind the ship is rocking pretty well going out of Hilo.) After the movie we went back to the cabin and almost, almost crashed, but we had to go see Cinematastique. So I drug my lazy rear end out of the cabin, and its a good thing I did, because

 

It gets even better...

 

So we go down to the Princess Theatre early and have a great discussion with Ben (Deputy CD), Martin and Alex (ACDs). For about 30 minutes we just talked about cruise critic, cruising, princess, HI, just a very nice conversation. The staff seems so much more relaxed in the past few days. I think getting off the Alaska itin and then getting the HI itin settled in has helped them get into a bit more of a groove.

 

And then WOW...

 

Ok folks, we've been to every Princess production on a lot of ships. BUT we've always sat about halfway up in the theatre. Vian recommended we sit front rows, center, and so for the past two shows we have. IT MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. First of all, the performers can see you and they look directly at you while performing. It is a personal, direct connection, slightly uncomfortable at first, to me, but almost hypnotic. Secondly, you can see, and appreciate, the facial expressions they work so hard to project during the show. IT ENHANCES THE ENTIRE SHOW. Trust me.

 

So I've mentioned that this is a more "mature" cast of performers. In other words they don't all look 18, but it shows in their performance.

 

Cinematastique includes the use of the silk ropes and the two hoops from the ceiling in a Bob Fossy'sh, a bit more risque, sequence with the men in tight white shorts and the women in white bikini "underwear". WOW, this was cocovan on the stage. Vian does the men's silk rope part, effortlessly, with incredible strength, smoothness. Two of the ladies do the hoops and a third does the women's silk rope dance?/trapeze act?/gymnastic? And from the front you can see the strength and grace as they transition through the various moves. Breathtaking.

 

An aside, after the show, Judy commented that she did want to see more of Vian during the cruise, she just wasn't sure she wanted to see that much more of him. I'm not sure I wanted her to see that much more of him!

 

Cinematastique is a high energy trip through dance and music movies. Flashdance, Footloose, Ghost, The Muppet Movie, tune after tune, dance after dance, it was visual mocha, double espresso coffee. We did not dance last night, but it still took me 30 minutes to come down after that show.

 

YOU CANNOT MISS THIS SHOW FROM DOWN FRONT. DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW.

 

Do it as repayment to me. Get a seat rows 2-4 down front near center. You will not regret it.

[ccrain]

So we are headed to Todai's for sushi and shopping.

 

Chocolate macadamia nut chocolates. We have about 4 people on board we are going to buy some goodies for. We have an early excursion tomorrow, so we'll see what time we wake up.

 

Before I forget, in the conversation with Martin, Alex and Ben last night, we talked about something I have been remiss in mentioning.

 

The HI cultural programs during the day on the ship. During the sea days, there are lei classes, Ukelele classes, cultural lectures, (heck Dave's port lectures are a lot of HI information as well), just a whole host of getting to know HI culture, language, dance and people. This is in ADDITION, to the normal sea day pool games, trivia, dance classes and other stuff.

 

Tonight we have a special show from a local HI cultural school that is a do not miss. Can't wait.

 

So, maholo for tuning in and aloha for now..

[LARGIN]

Too bad about Mario leaving. I as going to tell him I was your long lost brother and starving for good pasta.. :D:D:D

[Belle2002]

Thanks so much for your postings, they are making us very excited about our 10/25 cruise. I am relieved to know we won't have Lee Childers on our cruise (JMHO).[/quote

 

We will be on the 12/20 Christmas cruise, I wonder why you feel that you are relieved that this particular CD is not on your cruise.

 

Stephanie

[NotWthOutablcony]

Thanks so much for your postings, they are making us very excited about our 10/25 cruise. I am relieved to know we won't have Lee Childers on our cruise (JMHO).[/quote

 

We will be on the 12/20 Christmas cruise, I wonder why you feel that you are relieved that this particular CD is not on your cruise.

 

Stephanie

LOL, I can actually speak for this one, we too are hoping and praying, that Lee Childers will not be on our 2011 Hawaii cruise, we just had 10 days of that man! Now this is STRICTLY my family and my own opinion, he is the WORST Cruise Director I have ever come by! He doesn't schedule any activities, he doesn't "multi" schedule anything, so no real choice, he's cheesy and somewhat arrogant. His morning show will bore you to tears, and I don't remember his assitants name, but she was a real piece of work too, an "older" gentelman actually cursed at her prior to a "magician" show. Lee Childers would be better at oggling himself in a mirror all day than as a cruise director. He's bad!

[karatemom2]

LOL, I can actually speak for this one, we too are hoping and praying, that Lee Childers will not be on our 2011 Hawaii cruise, we just had 10 days of that man! Now this is STRICTLY my family and my own opinion, he is the WORST Cruise Director I have ever come by! He doesn't schedule any activities, he doesn't "multi" schedule anything, so no real choice, he's cheesy and somewhat arrogant. His morning show will bore you to tears, and I don't remember his assitants name, but she was a real piece of work too, an "older" gentelman actually cursed at her prior to a "magician" show. Lee Childers would be better at oggling himself in a mirror all day than as a cruise director. He's bad!

 

I''m so depressed to hear this since it looks like we will be getting him on the Christmas cruise this year. Of course we will make the best of it, but I'm hoping he keeps Dave's schedule of activities in place. I'm also hoping that perhaps some of the supporting CD staff will be the same ones who worked with Dave so they can help maintain the Aloha spirit that he always brings.

[Belle2002]

 

I''m so depressed to hear this since it looks like we will be getting him on the Christmas cruise this year. Of course we will make the best of it, but I'm hoping he keeps Dave's schedule of activities in place. I'm also hoping that perhaps some of the supporting CD staff will be the same ones who worked with Dave so they can help maintain the Aloha spirit that he always brings.

 

 

I too am not please about the negative response to this CD. However, we can only hope, as you had mentioned, that the rest of the staff will pick up the slack.

 

Stephanie