CARIBBEAN PRINCESS Jan 11 2014-Photo and video review

[Katecat]

Thank you, Noris, for the wonderful review of the cruise. We sailed on February 8, so it was wonderful to relive the memories through your eyes. Fabulous writing, keep up the good work. There are so many of us who thoroughly enjoy it.

Hopefully, someday, we will meet in person. Until then, safe travels.

[Bimmer09]

Thank you, Noris, for the wonderful review of the cruise. We sailed on February 8, so it was wonderful to relive the memories through your eyes. Fabulous writing, keep up the good work. There are so many of us who thoroughly enjoy it.

Hopefully, someday, we will meet in person. Until then, safe travels.

 

Katecat- I am glad you enjoyed it and then had the pleasure of taking the same cruise soon after or did you just see it after your cruise?

 

I would certainly have booked the same itinerary for next January when the Emerald does it but Carol wanted a change (of sorts) so we are escaping the 2015 winter for a week with the Ruby to St Thomas and St Maarten again. We did this itinerary in January 2013.

 

Meanwhile I am still on the fence with the blog idea....have already written a fair bit and uploaded video in preparation but wondering if the world really needs another "blog". Once started I'll have to keep going as there is an avalanche of material and memories.

 

Thanks for the kind words on the review!

 

Norris

[douglinc@msn.com]

Thanks again for a really wonderful review.

 

Doug

[Bimmer09]

I have published the first episode (of many) of my land travels on what is now my blog. More to follow so if interested you can subscribe (It's FREE) for updates. Here's a photo from Bamberg, Germany, to give a flavor...cathedrals, mountains, lakes, gardens, food porn etc etc. Photos and video of course.

 

 

the blog is found here....

 

norrisadair.blogspot.com

 

It's early days and I may be the only person reading it, but if you'd care to pop-in I'll try to make it entertaining and informative!

 

Norris

[melody hounddog]

Norris - Your blog is fabulous! We are heading the Munich later on in the year. Can't wait to hear about your trip and see the wonderful photos. How do we subscribe to your blog?

[Bimmer09]

Norris - Your blog is fabulous! We are heading the Munich later on in the year. Can't wait to hear about your trip and see the wonderful photos. How do we subscribe to your blog?

 

Thanks Melody!

 

We have had trips to Munich in 2003 (first time to pick up my car) 05/07/08/09 and 2013 so have a wealth of chronological blogging to do (going backwards in time maybe, or sideways or through a worm hole in the space/time continuum.)

 

I have kept the layout simple without a lot of flash and links and advertising (but as soon as the Guinness/Hertz deal comes through I'll be Golden!)

 

There should be a subscribe link at the bottom, following the text and there is also a final thoughts area called "And another thing" at the bottom. When I figure out how to change the layout there will be a section called "Them belly full..." which will talk about food....reviews of restaurants and recipes from our kitchen.

 

It's very early days with a lot of trial and error in draft form but a work in progress. So glad you liked it!

 

I have to say the photos will offer a lot of diversity and beauty. Some castles, rivers and riverboats, hot air balloons, fast cars, slow lazy punts near Berlin, helicopter rides in Sedona's Red Rocks, mountain dining in Switzerland etc etc. All over the map.

 

I'll put another excerpt up tonight and more on Weds when I have a day off.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

[wifeofbedo]

Hi, A quick question about your CB itinerary. How many time changes did you have during the cruise? I booked a private excursion in Belize and on the confirmation was a blurb about being certain of the time...ship time vs local time . I am pretty sure that princess matches ship time to local?

Thanks!

[Yuk0n Jack]

Will enjoy reading your blog. I tried to leave a comment but it said comments were restricted to just team members - not sure what that means. Anyway, the clock tower video was cool and the beers on your table look so delicious!!

[MGnut]

Thanks Melody!

 

 

There should be a subscribe link at the bottom, following the text and there is also a final thoughts area called "And another thing" at the bottom. When I figure out how to change the layout there will be a section called "Them belly full..." which will talk about food....reviews of restaurants and recipes from our kitchen.

 

Norris

 

Hi Bimmer09 (Norris)

 

I have been following your CC reviews for some time (love 'em!), so when I saw you were doing the blog, I jumped over there to see it. A great start so far. I can hardly wait to follow it.

 

Problem is, when I try to figure out how to subscribe to it, I keep striking out.

 

When I click the 'subscribe' button, all I get is a huge page of text, but no way to subscribe. Am I missing something (won't be the first time!)?

 

Howard B

[Bimmer09]

Will enjoy reading your blog. I tried to leave a comment but it said comments were restricted to just team members - not sure what that means. Anyway, the clock tower video was cool and the beers on your table look so delicious!!

 

I'll open the comments up- I was just worried about Trolls trying to be smart asses when that is really MY job! (LOL)

 

Thanks for reading the tip of the Iceberg...

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hi Bimmer09 (Norris)

 

I have been following your CC reviews for some time (love 'em!), so when I saw you were doing the blog, I jumped over there to see it. A great start so far. I can hardly wait to follow it.

 

Problem is, when I try to figure out how to subscribe to it, I keep striking out.

 

When I click the 'subscribe' button, all I get is a huge page of text, but no way to subscribe. Am I missing something (won't be the first time!)?

 

Howard B

 

MG I will try to fix the subscribe link. Such a learning curve with this but I have a lot of stuff I want to show everyone....some of it is weeks ahead and it makes me excited to show people new things, or things they were unaware of. One day at a time so please just type in norrisadair.blogspot.com until I work it out.

 

Thanks for taking an interest as without readers it is perhaps pointless!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hi, A quick question about your CB itinerary. How many time changes did you have during the cruise? I booked a private excursion in Belize and on the confirmation was a blurb about being certain of the time...ship time vs local time . I am pretty sure that princess matches ship time to local?

Thanks!

 

Hi- we did not have to change our watches/clocks even once on that itinerary.

Everything was ship's time which was Houston time.

 

Norris

[caribill]

Hi- we did not have to change our watches/clocks even once on that itinerary.

Everything was ship's time which was Houston time.

 

That was before Daylight Savings Time started this past weekend in the USA. So this week all three ports on the itinerary will be one hour earlier than Houston.

 

DST will start in that part of Mexico the first Sunday in April.

 

Belize and Honduras do not switch to DST at all.

[wifeofbedo]

That was before Daylight Savings Time started this past weekend in the USA. So this week all three ports on the itinerary will be one hour earlier than Houston.

 

DST will start in that part of Mexico the first Sunday in April.

 

Belize and Honduras do not switch to DST at all.

 

 

Oh aaack..!! I forgot about daylight savings. Does Houston observe DST? So which ports will be Houston time? I'm so confused...:confused:

 

Ok just reread the post.... DST is different in Mexico... makes sense now. Guess we will switch beginning and end of cruise to make the times the same.

Edited March 11, 2014 by wifeofbedo

[melody hounddog]

Thanks Melody!

 

We have had trips to Munich in 2003 (first time to pick up my car) 05/07/08/09 and 2013 so have a wealth of chronological blogging to do (going backwards in time maybe, or sideways or through a worm hole in the space/time continuum.)

 

I have kept the layout simple without a lot of flash and links and advertising (but as soon as the Guinness/Hertz deal comes through I'll be Golden!)

 

There should be a subscribe link at the bottom, following the text and there is also a final thoughts area called "And another thing" at the bottom. When I figure out how to change the layout there will be a section called "Them belly full..." which will talk about food....reviews of restaurants and recipes from our kitchen.

 

It's very early days with a lot of trial and error in draft form but a work in progress. So glad you liked it!

 

I have to say the photos will offer a lot of diversity and beauty. Some castles, rivers and riverboats, hot air balloons, fast cars, slow lazy punts near Berlin, helicopter rides in Sedona's Red Rocks, mountain dining in Switzerland etc etc. All over the map.

 

I'll put another excerpt up tonight and more on Weds when I have a day off.

 

Cheers!

 

Norris

 

Norris- You ate dinner at my favorite German place - Andechser! We have a set of their steins and still use them every once in a while. I didn't know they had a place in Munich! We have only been to the one in Mannheim. We are going out to the Andechs Monastery on our next trip. We will have to check out the Munich location as well.

[Stevesan]

Cozumel begins DST April 6, ends October 26.

Belize and Honduras (Roatan) stay on standard time.

 

http://www.timeanddate.com/time/change/mexico/cozumel

 

http://www.timeanddate.com/time/zone/honduras/tegucigalpa

 

http://www.timeanddate.com/time/zone/belize/belmopan

[Bimmer09]

Norris- You ate dinner at my favorite German place - Andechser! We have a set of their steins and still use them every once in a while. I didn't know they had a place in Munich! We have only been to the one in Mannheim. We are going out to the Andechs Monastery on our next trip. We will have to check out the Munich location as well.

 

Melody it was our first time at Andechser and we might not have been there if our favorite The Spatenhaus hadn't been closed for 6 months for renovations in that square it sits in -opposite the Opera House. Rick Steves steered us right.

 

Later on in the blog (about a month from now) there is our new favorite dining spot in Munich (photo) where the food is good but the location is stunning! We have yet to find a restaurant we didn't enjoy in Germany. Simple grub with consistently good preparation wins the day.

 

 

 

 

Dem belly full...

 

Norris on a day off so go back to the blog this evening for updates as we visit Bamberg cathedral.

[Mekamax]

Hi- we did not have to change our watches/clocks even once on that itinerary.

Everything was ship's time which was Houston time.

 

Norris

 

 

Now that we are daylight savings time spring forward this may not be accurate information.

[Mekamax]

I'm sorry you missed Roatan. Having never been there before I wasn't sure what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised by the Carnival-built Mahogany Bay landing village. I know that is not the real Roatan but if I had not an amazing dolphin excursion booked that village and the beautiful beach would have been a fine place to spend a lazy day.

 

Looking out the window of the bus as we drove along it was very sobering to see the poverty-it wasn't the slums of Mumbai by any means-but a place where one could lose hope of a better life very quickly and settle into a routine of boredom and resignation. Sadly lacking in the infrastructure and organization (via taxes) that we take for granted in the USA. A landfill and a few weeks of trucks hauling away the trash that adorns the front yards instead of flowers might help people to realize that there is a better way if you can just get off your knees. The people lack motivation and leadership it would seem. I'm no expert-just a guesser.

 

The people I interacted with in Roatan all had jobs and were some of the friendliest wittiest people I have met casually. We really felt in good hands on our excursion but worldly wise and as well traveled as I am I had no desire to get out among the people in the towns and mingle. I had enough camera equipment around my neck to buy one of the shacks I saw and put the owner in my service for a year. The have's and the have-nots....such a wide gulf between the visitor and the (accidental) host.

 

I would return to Roatan tomorrow and hope you get to visit it on a ship one day.

 

Norris

 

Agree with your view of Roatan. Many don't see what you describe. We first went into the port in 1999 with NCL as one of the first ships coming into the island and it seemed way worse then than now. Then drugs moved in from the mainland Honduras by 2005 when we went... Sad really..

[Bimmer09]

Now that we are daylight savings time spring forward this may not be accurate information.

 

Well it's not accurate information now....but I was asked about my experience in January and it was accurate at that time. No time changes then.

 

I am sure the Patters and the ship's announcements will keep pax on the right time for their excursions.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Agree with your view of Roatan. Many don't see what you describe. We first went into the port in 1999 with NCL as one of the first ships coming into the island and it seemed way worse then than now. Then drugs moved in from the mainland Honduras by 2005 when we went... Sad really..

 

Sad indeed as the few people I met were warm spirited and deserve better.

I hope that some of the money coming onto the island through tourism trickles down into improving the infrastructure so that indoor plumbing and electricity are for everyone.

 

I was able to step off the island into the lap of luxury and sail away but everyone else, killing time on their front stoop as darkness came, just had to watch me and dream...

 

Mekamax I would be interested to hear more of your experiences there. Did you go into the towns on foot and walk around?

 

Thanks for responding!

 

Norris

[Mekamax]

While I was at the stern taking photos of Skywalkers I saw way behind us some sea birds and went on with my business.

 

 

Soon, however, some of them were right over the ship so I took some photos while I had the chance. There will be a lot of photos of them but parts of the ship will be included too. Bird-haters can scroll quickly past them of course.

 

Frigate birds....

 

 

 

 

 

These two were focused on remaining above the funnel in the hot updraft

 

 

 

 

 

Just reading through your review. We went in December and had to write mine first before reading others.. :p Love yours!! Very fun and had to say the picture above with the funnel and the birds staying in the heat was an awesome picture!! Great shot!!! :) And very glad you enjoyed TX.

[Mekamax]

A typical cruise day...up early to watch the ship dock. Breakfast at Sabatini's. Hop on a bus and ride through tropical foliage. Meet a nice dolphin. Lunch on the ship. Walk to beach, swim, take a chair lift back, have afternoon tea on the balcony, take a nap, dress in clean clothes (thank you ship's laundry) and then stroll out to dinner. What drudgery!

 

The head waiter scored us another 6 top by the window in the Coral dining room and we were joined by Cindy, Alice and Daniel for Italian Night. We had heard an announcement that the Noro precautions were still in effect and would remain so. Bummer. The magicians we were hoping to see in the Princess Theater-Hawley Magic by name were now cancelled. Bummer # 2.

 

However, when bummed, there is nothing for it but to order a bottle of wine to be brought to the table and the Malbec showed up and jumped into my glass.

Cockaleekie soup came to me and was despatched swiftly. Then veal scallopini met the same fate...

 

 

 

Carol opted for the Penne Arabiata

 

How long will it last?

 

 

For dessert I had to have the Tiramisu which tasted as good as it looks

 

 

 

 

The company was convivial and animated. We all passed on the offer of Limoncello (in my case the wine was enough alcohol for me) which we usually can't resist. It is now $4.95 a glass (you keep the cool Princess glass) instead of the $4.95 on last year's Ruby cruise.

 

Our waiter at table was Milos and he was the only one that week that we really wanted to dine with again. From Rumania he was energetic and a grew engaging talker, full of fun and enthusiasm. Our previous waiter's were just doing their job-and doing it well but this Milos had a personality that rose him above their shoulders in our esteem.

 

Cindy et al had been to the Botanical Gardens followed by folkloric dancing ( something I pass on at every opportunity) then a visit to a Cameo factory where there was some exquisite workmanship. May see that next time. She made some purchases there.

 

 

Was the drink in the glass offered each night at dinner and keep the glass or was it just Italian night? Must have missed this in December and want to get one as we are going again soon.... Thank you!!! Any pictures of the drink and glass you can get? Debbie

[jcw0313]

Would I take this cruise again?

 

 

 

Yes, we both would. Had we suffered more delays or missed ports or had to miss ports AND have our cruise cut short as some sailings did then I think the answer might be different. It has turned out to be a roll of the dice and has led to some very poor reviews in the Member's Review Section. I has cost Princess goodwill and a lot of unplanned expenditure and lost revenue.

 

I imagine our next cruise to the Caribbean won't sail out of Texas.

 

For now it is time to sign off this thread.

 

Thanks to all who have followed along and especially to the many of you who have commented.

 

Bye for now!

 

Norris

 

Norris, thank you so much for the energy and effort you have put into this fabulous tale of your time on the Caribbean Princess. My wife and I are retired and stumbled onto your thread yesterday afternoon. We spent the afternoon yesterday and most of the day today captivated by your great adventure. We are sailing on the CB on March 29 and you have given us some ideas of things to experience, both onboard and ashore. As residents of Houston (we live next to the Hilton Hotel you mentioned in your narrative) we are pleased you have such pleasant memories of our neighbors and of our fair city. Thanks again for sharing your adventure. That being said, y'all come back, ya hea?

[Bimmer09]

Will enjoy reading your blog. I tried to leave a comment but it said comments were restricted to just team members - not sure what that means. Anyway, the clock tower video was cool and the beers on your table look so delicious!!

 

Jack the comments are now open to all but they pass through me for vetting to keep Trolls at bay.

 

Feel free to comment!

 

Norris