Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 5, 2017 Author #651 Share Posted December 5, 2017 Yes, I do lurk from time to time. I've been around on the boards for years (even before my official sign up date, back when it was on AOL). I pretty much stick to reading reviews and checking up on things when new policies are rolled out (or if I haven't sailed a particular line for awhile and want to see if something unexpected has changed). Oh and I guess roll calls too. Well, I guess i'm on more than I thought! lol. I can't believe I missed Dylan. I guess it didn't stick out as a song to me, but I should have recognized the title! That was fun! I read your Star Princess cruise to Alaska. I believe it was the NB route. Wonderful review there too! And took an entire day. But I loved it! I'll be on the Star next August on a return trip to Alaska. It definitely whetted my appetite for a return. I can't wait for your next installment with the Crown cruise. I didn't see, what is the itinerary for that one? Mexican Riveria? Hello again! We really enjoyed the Star Princess to Alaska cruise so thanks for reading that one. The Crown is 8 days to ABC islands with no stop in Princess Cays. 4 sea days for Carol. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 5, 2017 Author #652 Share Posted December 5, 2017 This is exceedingly sad to me (and looks exceedingly dangerous as well)! I spend many hours at sea walking the promenade decks, often with binoculars in hand. I think the only way I would try a royal class would be on a very port intensive or short repositioning itinerary. I liked the photo of the Ruby promenade, I will be trying it out for myself in January. Thank you for another vicarious journey! Glad to have you along once again! Thanks for reading. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daydreamer16 Posted December 5, 2017 #653 Share Posted December 5, 2017 We call that building on Park Ave "the cube"! Very tall and not much in architectural details! Enjoying your review as always, first time on the Regal next month, our first Princess cruise since 2015! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 6, 2017 Author #654 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Thanks Norris...a little light reading!Susan Susan, I liked writing that Princess/Celebrity comparison as it got me evaluating what each line excels at in my opinion and re affirmed the many things that I like about Princess which have drawn me (and Carol) back time and again. The bottom line for me is that I have enjoyed both lines although I have to say I have only sailed X twice and both of those were on the best of the S Class (Lawn Club Grill and the Alcoves sets them apart from the 3 earlier ships) The Silhouette trumps every ship I have been on to date for initial love at first sight impact and we are booked on her again to Norway next September 1. My Shipmate app tells me we sail in 37 days...on the Crown Princess. Thanks for the response! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 6, 2017 Author #655 Share Posted December 6, 2017 We call that building on Park Ave "the cube"! Very tall and not much in architectural details! Enjoying your review as always, first time on the Regal next month, our first Princess cruise since 2015! Glad to have you along on this Regal report. Yes that building is pretty hideous-function over form but I imagine it sold out and there are a couple of similar ones on Central Park South in my CP photos that are even higher. Stick around if you can for our Architectural Boat tour around Manhattan. Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 6, 2017 Author #656 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Home Sweet Home in the Omni We are in possession of our room keys to a room on the 20th floor (out of 21) so high that any street noise on Madison Avenue at 52nd is negligible Fluffy robes that shame the Princess ones, await Just the thing after a nice hot shower and a sit down I have no doubt that a nap will take place, in this quiet and comfort. It has to at some point as we are going to the Opera tonight-the Metropolitan Opera of New York, no less, where we met in 1994 when Pavarotti was singing. You don't ever want to fall asleep at the Opera. You need to be fresh and focused. It's not a 35 minute Princess show. Tonight's is a shortish one at 2 1/2 hours of music and a couple of 30 minute intermissions. Wagner ones (our favorites) can be 5 1/2 hours of music before intermissions but they seem like 2 hours. We had thought to wait until 11.30 pm to eat but luckily changed our minds as a rumbling stomach in an acoustically superb opera house that holds 4,000 people quiet as mice can sound like a cement mixer churning.Let's catch up later at dinner... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 6, 2017 Author #657 Share Posted December 6, 2017 We set off for the opera 2 hours before the 8pm curtain as we wanted to eat. A warm Saturday night in New York so the streets were busy. Our cab let us off at 63rd and Broadway with the opera house in sight. There is a row of restaurants along Broadway there, all with outdoor seating. One was Italian and Carol had eaten there many years ago. We walked up and got the last available table at that time. The restaurant tables outside were packed, as was what we could see of the inside, yet the waiters were hustling full speed. There was a roof high over our heads as we were in a colonnade of a large building and there was scaffolding out at the sidewalk as it seems New York is taking advantage of the summer weather to freshen up the buildings and of course build some more. Their complimentary flatbread was a real winner My spaghetti ala carbonara Carol's chopped Roman salad with egg Decent Italian food but it could never erase the memories of anything we ate in Rome. It was our first full meal since our 7 a.m breakfast and filled our tanks. All we had to do now was walk across the street to the Opera.(all pics iPhone 5) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 6, 2017 Author #658 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Being late October the sun had set soon after we sat down to eat. The Met Opera is on the left and on the right is the home of the New York Philharmonic which used to be called Avery Fisher Hall but now has David Geffen's name on it. I had left the camera bag at home as I would have had to check it at the opera house and there was no compelling reason to take it. The fountain is a good place to meet in this vast Lincoln Center plaza 4,000 music lovers are making their way here by subway, car, foot, taxi and bus to see and hear this Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. The well known song Nessun Dorma is part of it but there is great music from the start to finish and lavish giant sets depicting a royal court in China. It's a spectacle and we have good seats. There are more than 100 people on stage in some scenes. Written in 1924 but Puccini died before he could finish it. We have been in this theater over 200 times The Opera was thrilling as it always is and all thoughts of the Regal Princess were pushed aside. That boat had already sailed. She was heading East on a 5 day cruise without us and we were ok with that and now looking forward to our second day in New York.We filed out of the Met with 4,000 other people, all of us talking about what we had just seen and heard, on an Opera high. A taxi back to the Omni and a good night's sleep was in order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 6, 2017 Author #659 Share Posted December 6, 2017 NEW YORK CITY We both love being in New York City or more specifically Manhattan or more specifically Midtown as most of what we enjoy lies between 42 nd and 77th. We are staying on 52nd at Madison Avenue with Central Park at 58th-a short brisk walk for me but it's Sunday morning October 22 and I am going to get some coffee as I am up early. A one block walk gets me to my closest Starbucks on 51st. I always drink Pikes-the house blend and a no-nonsense manly drink it is. I enjoy it sitting on the wall of this cool fountain I sip and savor my coffees as I do every beverage (no chugging down shots for me) and decide to explore Midtown on foot for a while. I have to be back at the hotel at 9 when the complimentary coffee, tea and juice will be delivered. 50 Rockefeller Plaza-stunning art! The skating rink by 30 Rockefeller Plaza The camera data tells me this was shot at 8.15 am EST. It's a hushed Sunday morning, a far cry from the activity and noise of a weekday when the streets are teeming with buses, trucks delivering, taxis unloading, construction drills and thousands of workers heading to their offices. It's quiet and I love it. The Statue of Prometheus, god of ice rinks Just a few yards further on is NBC studios and across the street is Radio City Music Hall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteTraveler Posted December 7, 2017 #660 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Ah...Turandot! One of my favorites! How lucky that was the show running at the Met! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judie Posted December 7, 2017 #661 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Loving everything about this and all reviews by you. Carry on! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daydreamer16 Posted December 7, 2017 #662 Share Posted December 7, 2017 My husband and I ate lunch at Fiorello's last month as we were in NYC to see a tv show taped. They have a good priced fixed at lunch and not as crowed as dinner. Your food looked great! We're also Pike people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 7, 2017 Author #663 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Ah...Turandot! One of my favorites! How lucky that was the show running at the Met! Lucky indeed! It's not often we get to go to the opera in a cruise port-Venice (La Fenice theater) was the only other time. The Liceu opera season hadn't begun when we were in Barcelona via Emerald Princess. It's so much icing on an already rich cake for us when we can hit an opera after a cruise. Oh wait!- when we got off the Caribbean Princess in Houston in January 2014 we went to the Houston Grand Opera that night to see a new (and good) opera called The Passenger, which dealt with Na__ (Can't spell the 4 letters on CC as it has a filter!) Concentration Camp-a sombre topic but hey! that's opera for you! We are actually seeing Turandot in Chicago at Lyric Opera this Friday but of course it won't be the lavish production you see at the Met in New York. Nessun Dorma isn't even my favorite song from that opera but its justifiably world famous thanks to the Three Tenors and Luciano Pavarotti (RIP). It's also playing in san Francisco this season. Great to see we are not the only Opera lovers on CC! Thank you! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 7, 2017 Author #664 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Loving everything about this and all reviews by you. Carry on!Sent from my iPhone using Forums Judie! where have you come from? It's so nice to see new names popping up and to know you have read all my CC ramblings. I will carry on, even as I know I am losing readers who are only interested in the Regal (fair enough). The cruise, like "The Dream- is over" (John Lennon-someone who helped shape my life without knowing it) but I am still on vacation in the story and I am dying to show what I saw of New York to those still checking in. So thank you and welcome! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 7, 2017 Author #665 Share Posted December 7, 2017 My husband and I ate lunch at Fiorello's last month as we were in NYC to see a tv show taped. They have a good priced fixed at lunch and not as crowed as dinner. Your food looked great!We're also Pike people! I enjoyed the whole vibe at Fiorello-a warm October night as the sun went down and a lively hopping restaurant with no pretensions. The food was solid if not up to Roman standards where they cook with such simplicity but the ingredients are (a) few and (b) slap yo mama fresh. Look at this plate of food...one of the best dishes I have ever eaten (in Italy) Some grated cheese, arugula and tomatoes washed down with a Pinot Grigio-Heaven!! (Positano) Or this from Monterosso, Cinque terra Sea bass with fried potatoes. So simple! So tasty! Pikes blend in Starbucks (name is an homage to their first store in Pikes Place, Seattle) is just simple coffee bean flavor which floats my boat and doesn't need a Barista to pour. Anything that masks the flavor of a roasted bean, I scorn. Hazelnut? Oh no thanks, save that for Nutella. Flavored vanilla creamer? Yikes, I'll pass. Italians would raise an eyebrow (and the French would shrug) at what passes for coffee in the USA. Norris, Coffee is Life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC1950 Posted December 7, 2017 #666 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Well come to Melbourne then Norris. The coffee capital of Australia! Coffee is almost a religion in Melbourne. Funny thing, Starbucks opened up, oh a few dozen cafes spread around the city and suburbs down here a few years ago ... think there might be 1, maybe 2 left in the city itself? Big fail. You see we have been spoiled by the wonderful Italian and Greek immigrants who came in the late 40's, 50's and 60's who brought us their delicious cuisines ... AND THEIR COFFEE!!!!! Thank the Goddess (the Goddess Caffeinia that is) for them. And yes, I've been following this edition of your Gentleman's Seafaring Journal from the start and will continue till THE END! Wonderful review yet again ... thank you my friend. Sue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmorton3360 Posted December 7, 2017 #667 Share Posted December 7, 2017 We were at Rockerfeller Center last Sunday. A few thousand more people. Pam Sent from my LG-LS777 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 7, 2017 Author #668 Share Posted December 7, 2017 A cool window display for the pet lovers Cheap wines from Australia Only in New York? As I cross the street I hear a homeless guy yelling "let me on the *!*!!! bus!" and when the bus moves to pull out around him he pushes his cart full of essentials in front of it. The bus driver sits with his arms folded, waiting for the guy to come to his senses or waiting for the Police to show up. The line to get into the Stardust Diner for breakfast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 7, 2017 Author #669 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Quiet streets Ed Sullivan Theater Currently home to our favorite Late Night comedian but also the theater where the Beatles made a couple of historic appearances in 1964. Scaffolding! 9 a.m and back in the room for coffee and orange juice. Carol had made a trip out to the excellent Europa Cafe a block away to bring back tasty pastries to ease us into the day. I enjoyed a chocolate eclair We could have a relaxed morning as our next commitment wasn't until 1pm, when we would take an architectural boat ride around Manhattan. We would of course get to the harbor early-Always Be Early is our motto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbinMich Posted December 7, 2017 #670 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Norris, I'm enjoying your stay in NYC! I first visited it in 1957 with my folks and sister and have been back many times for a day and sometimes longer. Last visit was pre-cruise in Sep 2015. We stayed at Lexington and 39th with a perfect view of the Chrysler Bldg (one of my very favorites) out our window. Played the tourist and re-visited Rockefeller Center one day and another went down to see the 911 memorial area (we were last down there a year or two after that tragic day and before they started rebuilding--just a very big hole in the ground). The Cube was not yet finished, but getting there. Looking forward to "going along on" your architectural boat tour! BTW, did you visit Seafair, a Newport mansion? Just read that Jay Leno has purchased it. Has a 6-car garage so he'll have a place to store a few of his cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 7, 2017 Author #671 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Well come to Melbourne then Norris. The coffee capital of Australia! Coffee is almost a religion in Melbourne. Funny thing, Starbucks opened up, oh a few dozen cafes spread around the city and suburbs down here a few years ago ... think there might be 1, maybe 2 left in the city itself? Big fail. You see we have been spoiled by the wonderful Italian and Greek immigrants who came in the late 40's, 50's and 60's who brought us their delicious cuisines ... AND THEIR COFFEE!!!!! Thank the Goddess (the Goddess Caffeinia that is) for them. And yes, I've been following this edition of your Gentleman's Seafaring Journal from the start and will continue till THE END! Wonderful review yet again ... thank you my friend. Sue. Sue good to hear you have reliable sources of great coffee in Melbourne! I can't blame Starbucks for trying to carpet the globe with their stores and they do provide options for those who like to disguise or dilute the flavor of the roasted bean. They are like McDonalds in their pervasiveness. They are handy though as you don't have to go far in any city here to find one. Italy, Germany and Austria have raised my expectations regarding coffee. Thanks for still following and for the compliments on the GSJ! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 7, 2017 Author #672 Share Posted December 7, 2017 We were at Rockerfeller Center last Sunday. A few thousand more people. Pam Sent from my LG-LS777 using Forums mobile app Pam, we are both very familiar with that mob scene at Christmas time as we used to stay in the city then even though I was working in New Jersey-I would reverse commute to work and return to NY for opera evenings with Carol and we always went to the Met Opera on New Years Eve and watched the ball drop at Times Square from a safe distance, teeth chattering. Thanks for the pic! Norris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bimmer09 Posted December 7, 2017 Author #673 Share Posted December 7, 2017 CHELSEA PIERS A taxi took us to Chelsea Piers on the West side of Manhattan, arriving over an hour early. It was a beautiful sunny day and there was a park with benches where we could sit and relax. Of course I can only sit and relax for so long before I have to explore I am hankering after finding somewhere with a waterview to eat as it has been 3 hours since my chocolate eclair but the pickings are slim down here. We will be on a boat for 3 hours but that's an hour from now... Nice spot to sit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sadebud Posted December 7, 2017 #674 Share Posted December 7, 2017 I'm still with you, Norris!! We love NYC (Manhattan) as well, but it's been a while! Thanks for continuing your vacation journal beyond the Regal!! Cheers, Tracy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macsford Posted December 7, 2017 #675 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Norris, thank you for another interesting review with more great photos. I was also interested in your positive reports of the Regal as last time we cruised with Princess (Emerald May 2015) we were unimpressed and have only booked with Celebrity since then. It had been our 4th Princess cruise, maybe we should just think of it as a one off not so good experience . The good news is that your review isn't finished yet and I can enjoy another visit to New York while following it.We visited New York for the first time earlier this year before visiting son and family in Toronto. We really enjoyed it. The pictures will be so much better than ours! Still following and still enjoying. Sandra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now