CROWN PRINCESS remembered in photos and video

[Bimmer09]

We had no Formal clothes packed so as it was formal night we had booked dinner in the Crown Grill.

 

In the Piazza they had balloons in place for a ballon-drop which we missed.

 

 

On the first Formal night I had videotaped the Captain's Welcome address, which is where,following the champagne fountain pour, the Cruise Director, Lisa Ball, introduces the ship's officers. I shot it from the highest balcony over the Piazza and at an angle and haven't put it on youtube. Suffice to say that Captain Nash was very witty.

 

Crown Grill is my kind of steakhouse room-rich dark woods, art on the walls and subdued lighting. The steaks are also flavorful. The various cuts are presented table side for you to choose. They are wrapped in clear plastic. There was a set fee then of $20 (now $25) and of course you can order multiple sides/appetizers/desserts if you haven't eaten in a while or have been bench-pressing one of the lifeboats on Promenade Deck, which is the level the grill is on.

 

 

So people promenade past the window...

 



 

 

 



 

Ribeye steak, medium

 



 

Filet mignon

 

 

Neville Saldana, the Maitre 'd came along towards the end of our meal and sat and chatted for a few minutes. As always witty and lively.

 

There was nothing to do after such a fine meal other than head back along the Promenade deck to Club Fusion to enjoy a beer and some karaoke singers.

[Bimmer09]

This is the yummy dessert that didn't fit into the last photo batch...

 

 

Norris

[RNGALNG]

After our meal there, all we could do was to have us wheelbarrowed back to our cabin so we could groan the rest of the night! Where ever did you find room to put a beer?????? :D

 

I also loved the photo of the fountain outside of the Italian restaurant! On our night there, it sloshed water all over the sides as the ship rocked! It was wonderful to watch!

 

Keep this up, and we will want to get on the Crown tomorrow instead of late winter!!! Thank you for the photos and your sense of humor continuing!

[EmpressofPurple]

Pin from our cc group in 2007 :-)

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

[EmpressofPurple]

Hmmm why isn't photo uploading? :-(

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

[Bimmer09]

What method of uploading are you using? DO you know there is a TEST forum highlighted at the top of the CC menu, where you can practice?

 

Norris, hoping you can upload as I am curious.

[Bimmer09]

That last photo was Carol's Key Lime Pie in the Crown Grill but I believe we will tackle the Crown Independence Chocolate Extravaganza next time. On land we grill our own steaks over charcoal in the summer or in winter I use a cast iron skillet and the oven and produce a restaurant-quality steak (we have used the same butcher for 12 years in Miichigan-Iowa corn-fed beef) but my favorite steak house is still Ruth's Chris where the steak comes to the table on a 10,000 degree plate, spitting hot butter at you. They provide welder's masks if you are a wussy.

 

Crown Grill was good though-will repeat!

 

After Club Fusion's karaoke we like to take an elevator up to the quiet part of the ship at night- just below the Outrigger bar where we can see the foamy wake trailing the ship, disappearing into the darkness. An 80 degree night, sweet sea air, Sambuca and espresso dancing a tango through my veins. We love our land holidays and pack a lot in when we go to Europe or California/Arizona/Nevada/NYC but none of them have moments like standing on a big powerful ship, sailing smoothly through the night, looking up at the stars with no land, no cars or buses, no people going to work, no offices, no food shopping , no cooking, no dishwashing, no making beds and doing laundry. No panhandlers and pickpockets and people on the make. No police and ambulance sirens ( I am living in Chicago)

 

There's often just us with maybe another couple wandering by, maybe feeling the same way about the magic of being at sea having one happy moment after another for 7 days straight and already planning their next cruise (FCCs!!!)

 

From here it is a simple matter of walking back inside the ship, often through Adagio and taking an elevator down to 10...Caribe deck, the only deck we have sailed on in 4 cruises with Princess.

 

Here's Outrigger Bar at night on the Crown

 

 

Once back in the cabin, maybe a pre-bedtime beer on the balcony to help counteract the espresso ( I just like the taste and kick of it with Sambuca and never have a problem getting to sleep). Then I set the phone alarm for "early O'clock" and fall into a deep, deep sleep on a nice firm Princess bed....

 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Tomorrow (Friday) our last day at sea and our last full day upon the Crown.

[Bimmer09]

Up early and well fed at the Horizon Court before the ship comes alive.

 



 



 

 



 



 

[Bimmer09]

Last breakfast at Sabatini's reads Carol's notes and indeed it was, on this cruise.We said our goodbyes to Pio the waiter and Pedro the host. I just had my usual granola parfait, as did Carol and then I had more white toast and bacon to add to the bacon already in my system. I think of bacon as a "life-force" and am ready for anything (including a nap).

 

We did want to go to the Cooking Demo which is a Princess tradition in the Princess Theater on the last day of the cruise. A played-for-laughs demo where you won't learn any useful cooking tips but will laugh with 700 other people at the antics of the Maitre 'd and the head Chef-in this case the witty pairing of Neville Saldana and Jeremy Snowden, hosted by the bubbly Lisa Ball. I had finally met Lisa and Chris, her Deputy CD at the Captain's cocktail party which was the first and last such party we have attended as it was a bit overcrowded for our tastes.

 

The cooking show is good fun and usually concludes with a visit to the main galley.

 

 



 

The Princess Theater hours after the show

 

[Bimmer09]

We don't play bingo, or take part in the embarkation treasure hunt. We don't play trivia-well Carol does and always comes to tell me afterwards how I would have won as my head is full of useless trivia but I can't be bothered with it-as it's trivial.

 

I was, in my days aboard the Song of Norway in the 1980's the Scrabble and Chess King and had many wonderful games of each with fellow crew. I love Monopoly and Risk board games and playing cards (in the company of people sucking down alcohol)- I had a Finnish mother in law when I lived in NJ and her brothers and I used to play poker and a game called Sergeant Major but haven't the foggiest clue what that was about. We played for small stakes but I won my share.

 

On a cruise I do none of that. No fixed reason. Maybe it's because I can't smoke and the Finns all did and back in the 1980's smoking was more acceptable. I used to smoke in the MDR of the Song of Norway.

 

Now I still smoke but am more restricted but go out of my way (literally) to avoid upsetting anyone who doesn't in public.

 

Just a word to any British readers- when on the Song of Norway I sailed for a few months with a British comedy duo called Hope and Keen (Mike and Albie). Do you remember them? Hilarious act and great friends. I used to frustrate Mike at Scrabble. They were wonderful people whose company I miss to this day.

 

Ok, nice walk down memory lane there. Pardon me indulging myself.

 

As I was saying we don't play bingo- nor do we attend the art auctions on board as we don't feel the need for giant tiger heads on our walls at home. We frame our holiday photos (without people in them) instead.

 

Princess Art Gallery

 

 

 

Santorini no doubt!

 

[rdsqrl]

 

How much extra do you have to pay to get them to cook it?!

[Bimmer09]

 

How much extra do you have to pay to get them to cook it?!

 

LOL. Maybe too much to the rare side of the scale for some but it was cooked as requested. You can always ask them to turn the stove on when they cook it.

 

Norris

[RNGALNG]

LOL. Maybe too much to the rare side of the scale for some but it was cooked as requested. You can always ask them to turn the stove on when they cook it.

 

Norris

 

They will even put it over the stacks and toast it there if you like the 'smoky' flavors! Or flame it till burnt! Whatever your pleasure! :eek::D;)

[Bimmer09]

A lazy afternoon on deck was in store as we sailed back to Port Everglades.

People were enjoying the sun and the pool...

 



 

 

Lunch was from Trident Grill-knackwurst, sauerkraut and really good French fries washed down by a beer brought to my table upstairs at my usual haunt the Tradewinds bar where I could enjoy the sound of the Caribbean band on deck above the Neptune pool.

 

There was a nap with my name on it waiting in the Sanctuary where the soft warm breezes and the sea air worked their magic on me. Carol had to leave this bliss to attend her last Pop Choir rehearsal prior to the performance later that afternoon in the Piazza at 5.15.

 

I was woken by the sound of teaspoons in cups and the aroma of fresh scones and was happy to find Afternoon Tea-a great Princess tradition-being served in the Sanctuary. We usually took it in the MDR but now I didn't even have to get up from my comfy lounger! Hooray!

 

At 5.15 I was in place in the Piazza which was busy. I found a place up on the highest level to record it from on the camcorder. Carol had been back to the cabin to change so was unaware of exactly where I was. As I was recording it for the sound I knew I wouldn't be able to take photos as well as that would kill the continuity. I did record the whole 20 minutes or so of music but won't lay that on you here. It was a big choir and there was a lot of people watching from the various levels around the Piazza. I think it is a great thing that people participate and give up a lot of free time to put on a show and I know Carol loved the experience and even signed up for the next one on the Diamond where, sadly, only 7 singers took part. She still went through with it though, much to her credit.

 

Here's a clip from the video...

 

[Bimmer09]

I met up with Carol in the Piazza after the show which was well received by the other supportive passengers and rightly so. She was having a complimentary glass of champagne and talking with some of the choir.

 

Back on our balcony we relaxed and stared at the wake. I was finishing off the last of my bucket of Beck's beers I had bought from room service, delivered by the delightful Russell from our UBD experience, as I had drained my free mini-bar dry. The beers are 6 for the price of 5 in the popular bucket format.

 

We headed to Skywalkers for the nightly cocktails and munchies before going on to dinner.

 

 

I love the view from up there

 



 

 

As we had the starboard window seats all to ourselves (it is a smoking section) I played back some of the video of the Pop Choir to Carol. On my way to a bathroom break I was stopped by a British couple, Dave and Noreen who had been in the choir also. I told them to go over and introduce themselves to Carol as she was watching the video of their performance. They were firm friends by the time I got back and we spent a very pleasant hour chatting with them. They were on their last week of a B2B cruise on the Crown and were sad to be leaving her. Who wouldn't be??

 

Carol had already packed her bags before Skywalkers but I would have to scramble to do that after we had dinner in the MDR followed by the finals of Princess Pop Star, a karaoke competition which I believe I left early to get to the packing. Now it's all a blur, a frenzy of activity and wanting to get as much done as possible with time running out. You know how that is.

 

I took a last walk on the decks before calling it a night....

 



 



 

[Ren1216]

I am actually SAD that the cruise is coming to an end... even though it was over a year ago! Isn't that crazy? .....feel like I'm right there with ya, takin' that last walk.

[Bimmer09]

I am actually SAD that the cruise is coming to an end... even though it was over a year ago! Isn't that crazy? .....feel like I'm right there with ya, takin' that last walk.

 

 

Ren-that is crazy-take these pills and call me in the morning.

 

As we are at the end of the cruise we are also at the beginning of the 'after-cruise" portion which is a day in F.L and the watching (and videotaping) of the ships sailing away on a Saturday, including of course, the Crown.

 

More to come, as time permits.

 

Thanks for following along!

 

Norris

[perfect match]

Norris, another awesome review! You and Carol really seem to know how to enjoy yourselves on a cruise. Since both Curacao and Aruba are both really high on my cruise itinerary wishlist, I was thrilled to find this review. As usual, you did not disappoint! I felt like I was cruising right along with you.

 

As your review draws to a close, I'm even feeling some post cruise depression. Oh, wait, I was already feeling that, having just returned from a cruise of our own with way too much time to pass before our next one! I think I've missed one of your Alaska reviews so I'll have to go find the one I missed and sail along with you on that one. As soon as this one is finished. Thanks for sharing your and Carol's cruise with us!

[Bimmer09]

Norris, another awesome review! You and Carol really seem to know how to enjoy yourselves on a cruise. Since both Curacao and Aruba are both really high on my cruise itinerary wishlist, I was thrilled to find this review. As usual, you did not disappoint! I felt like I was cruising right along with you.

 

As your review draws to a close, I'm even feeling some post cruise depression. Oh, wait, I was already feeling that, having just returned from a cruise of our own with way too much time to pass before our next one! I think I've missed one of your Alaska reviews so I'll have to go find the one I missed and sail along with you on that one. As soon as this one is finished. Thanks for sharing your and Carol's cruise with us!

 

Thank you for following along and for the feedback.

 

As I explained at the top of this piece a few weeks ago I have a self-serving reason for putting this on CC- as one cruise follows another I want to be able to remember each and not have them become a blurred memory. With a URL to the review on CC each is there for reference and as a momento.

 

I have had to go back to each and write them after the event since I finally got a computer which could make uploading videos workable. I did some text only reviews in the Member's section for my first couple of cruises but they don't tell the story as well as photos and videos (for me anyway).

 

Once this is over I will be caught-up and starting with the CB in January will be able to post reviews soon after the cruise.

 

As we add one cruise after another we realize what we like to do on the ships-and we both have different cruises in a way: Carol uses the Patter and I don't. I drift along just enjoying the ship and people-watching, very laid back. Meals form my timetable. I find the excursions that will appeal to us and we both enjoy our time off the ship. I miss shows and lectures and demonstrations but without regret.

 

I can see that on the Crown I took less photos than any other cruise but on the subsequent cruises on the Diamond and the Ruby that was subconsciously remedied. I expect to shoot even more photos and video on the CB as we have 3 ports with good interesting excursions (submarine, dolphin encounter,airboat) and we sail from a new port for us (Houston). We have never been to Texas before.

There will be a visit to the Space Center which is a photo-op if ever I heard one.

Better food-porn in the future as I have a better camera now and an iPhone 5 with great photo resolution.

 

Yes we do enjoy our cruises as does everyone on CC otherwise we wouldn't live on the board. We still love our land vacations, especially to Europe so we won't be racking up large numbers of cruises in the future and we work so we can't hop on a cheap fare at a month's notice. Two a year will be our max but I think one a year will be the minimum if we continue to enjoy cruising as we have done so far on 4 Princess cruises.

 

This past year we have only done one, having cancelled a Ruby Med cruise in September in favor of going to Germany for something special-the Bayreuth Festival, so by the time we board the CG in Houston in January we will have had a full year's anticipation building up. Two months to go.

 

I'll get back to finish up this review in a day or so as work is getting in the way right now.

 

Thanks to everyone who has followed along with me thus far.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Thank you for following along and for the feedback.

 

This past year we have only done one, having cancelled a Ruby Med cruise in September in favor of going to Germany for something special-the Bayreuth Festival, so by the time we board the CG in Houston in January we will have had a full year's anticipation building up. Two months to go.

 

 

Norris

 

According to this we are boarding the CG in Houston...should be CB. Maybe we'll sail on the CG in the future...

 

Norris,

stickler for detail.

[Bimmer09]

So a week after we sailed from Port Everglades we woke up here...

 

 

For the first few days and certainly before we docked in Aruba it seemed like we had all the time in the world but once those bastards up on the bridge pulled away from Aruba they headed back to PE. So predictable-where's the sense of adventure , the improvisation? "hey passenger people-we've got plenty of diesel and we fancy checkin' out Rio! Who's with us?" (chorus of "Aye, Aye, Cap'n!")

 

All good things must come to an end and the cruise on the Crown was a good thing. Our first suite with the perks that come with that, our first aft (and there's no going back-no pun intended), our first dip into what the Caribbean has to offer (way more than diamond shopping) and -our first Grand Class ship.

 

The Crown wouldn't become our favorite ship-that honor would be reserved for the Diamond some 7 months later and it still holds that title even after sailing the Ruby, but we loved the deck layout moreso than the Coral- the Sanctuary forward, the wrap-around Promenade although narrower than Coral. The access to the top of the bridge and most of all for me the Skywalkers and aft pool for all.

 

Now we are back in Port Everglades. Son of a b****!

 

 

My luggage had been taken away after midnight and now we had a few hours to kill before getting off. We had opted for the latest possible disembarkation as we had no flights to catch and our room would not be ready at the Marriott this early(10 a.m)

 

Today the Sabatini's staff are engaged in helping wheelchair passengers off the ship so breakfast was in the MDR (Michaelangelo) and it was our first there. Oatmeal and pancakes with bacon or ham is my farewell breakfast always.

 

Seven days into the cruise and I was seeing many crew members for the first time.

 

I met Neville the Maitre 'd in the Piazza and chatted for a minute before heading off to take some photos. We hope his path crosses ours again someday as he was an M 'd with a face and personality. On other ships they were invisible by comparison.

 

The library which I never used

 



 

Crown Grill detail, from Richard Wagner's opera "Tristan ind Isolde" which happens to be my favorite of all operas.

 

 

 

 

The beautiful Crown Grill

 

Taxis were pulling up on the dock to whisk passengers to the airport. Trucks were unloading produce and more toilet paper. A barge was pulled up tight on the port side refueling the ship. More taxis brought next cruise's passengers and the cycle would begin again. The ship gets very little rest on turnaround day. She works 365 days a year until she can put her feet up for a dry dock and get a manicure, pedicure and her hair done. Some crew may have been at the airport holding tickets to the Philippines, passing new arrivals from England or the Ukraine, part of the huge logistical business of staffing the ship from all corners (the Earth I think-but don't quote me- is round and the 4 corners thing is an odd expression therefore), getting their butts on planes, giving them medicals etc and then transporting them to the ship. No matter who is cleaning your room, compacting your coke cans, reading the gauges as the fuel gets chugged down by the bunkers, packing away 1,000 pounds of lettuce with a forklift, checking the Orders of the Day from the Captain etc...it is still the same ship, growing more tired with each voyage-tired of the sea crashing into it, tired of all the thousands of feet pounding it's carpets, off all the waste flushing though the maze of piping,

tired from the salt air trying to eat it slowly, railing by railing. The elevators are tired from getting more use than their buddies in an office building where people sit still for 8 hours at a time. The ship is a workhorse and a nimble thoroughbred too. In this case, brilliant work by the shipbuilders in Italy-Fincantieri. She is a good investment for the line. She has paid herself off by hard work.

 

Hard work was ahead for Carol and I-readjusting to life on land after the magical experience of a cruise. No airports for us after disembarking- we needed some decompression time before heading back to the cold and gloom of Chicago.

 

We had a day in Fort Lauderdale to acclimate to this life on land. We were supposed to have spent it at the Renaissance Hotel on 17th St but we had nixed that in favor of our future home in F.L.- The Marriott Harbor Beach resort....

[Bimmer09]

Sharing the port this morning, apart from Oasis of the Seas, that engineering marvel I have no wish to sail upon (too many people) was Liberty of the Seas, Eurodam and Grand Princess. Also Queen Elizabeth. Photos and video of these majestic tubs coming up later.

 

 

 

Poesia was back but I didn't photograph her again as her reviews are weak and she's wanting, playing in a man's game.

 

Home sweet home (Royal Princess take note)

 

[Bimmer09]

Because we were afraid of long taxi lines we had booked a car from Hertz and once off the ship and through Customs we were on a Hertz bus to the garage at 84th st. I believe we had a Toyota Camry as our "steed" for the 3 mile or so trek to the Marriott. It would take us to the airport the next (Monday) morning and be at our beck and call if we decided to explore F.L. My vote was for NO although Carol had an idea for an Everglades air-boat ride. That is exactly what back-burners are for. I can foresee us being in F.Lauderdale many times in the future.

 

The room was not ready when we checked in around noon,so we headed to the beach to relax and await a cell phone call. Maybe an hour passed. In the mean time I was stressed out as the photo will testify, Your Honor...

 

 

This thing-which I laughingly call a brain-was still on the Crown. We had taken a couple of shots of her big backside (where we lived for a week) as we crossed the 17th St Bridge....

 

 



 

[cbreit]

We feel the same way... once you go aft, you don't go back... too bad Princess has so few aft balconies. Thanks so much for your review - we leave on the Crown next week!

[Whimsy]

I really enjoyed your report. It was nice being back on the Crown for the week.

 

You might of seen me and my daughter in Club Fusion, the last formal night. If you were lucky you didn't as we really can't sing. She and I did a song together that we did while she was growing up, just for the 2 of us. We had fun and made a memory.

 

Next cruise up for us is the Coral. Do you have a link to a review on her?