Regal Princess October 14 to 21, 2017 New England/Canada

[Silkroad]

Norris, I’ve only sailed on Celebrity. My DH and I had narrowed it down to Princess or Celebrity when researching our first cruise. Celebrity won the toss because their Mediterranean itinerary dates allowed us to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary at sea. Having read enough of your reviews to know we share similar tastes, I was especially happy to read your review comparing the two lines. Hope to meet you and Carol aboard someday:)

 

Cheers, Michelle

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I’ve only sailed on Celebrity. My DH and I had narrowed it down to Princess or Celebrity when researching our first cruise. Celebrity won the toss because their Mediterranean itinerary dates allowed us to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary at sea. Having read enough of your reviews to know we share similar tastes, I was especially happy to read your review comparing the two lines. Hope to meet you and Carol aboard someday:)

Cheers, Michelle

 

Michelle, I am glad you read my Princess vs Celebrity comparison review. I found that Princess "won" many of the categories but that didn't negate my liking for the Celebrity Experience . While on board an S Class I am not thinking of Princess (and vice-versa). Best of both worlds is a phrase that applies. Itinerary is what will sway us to either line and if we are booking far enough in advance the aft suites come into play. We always buy an FCC on Princess with no cruise in mind but on X we choose a cruise on our last day when they are throwing perks and OBC around to cinch the deal. Anyone can read the comparison review and choose what is important to them. I have only sailed the S Class ships with the Lawn Club Grill on board and that just blew me away-the combination of BBQ meats and that beautiful grass lawn. The other 3 ships don't make me drool, even though I hear the Glass blowing show is cool (or hot). I have never bought a glass ornament and likely never will but I have bought many a filet mignon cooked over an open flame and will continue to do so forever.

Should you consider a Princess cruise I don't think you will be unhappy-there's many a good reason why we have done so many in a short time and any of my photo/video reviews will tell you what we enjoyed.

Norris, 10 days away from our next....

[Silkroad]

Norris, though you've got me seriously considering a Princess cruise, I have one serious reservation...coffee syrup?? Urk!😨 Asking me to function on bad coffee is like asking your BMW to run on corn syrup!

 

But I'm salivating over being able to have proper bangers & mash and afternoon tea. And those desserts looked mighty fine:D Princess definitely looks like a contender for Alaska and the Pacific.

 

Coincidentally, my first S-class ship was Silhouette, and I thought she was beautiful. My second was Reflection, also beautiful. Because I can't choose a favorite, I'm sailing on both again this year:cool:

 

I hope you and Carol have a wonderful time on your upcoming cruise. You're off to the Caribbean, right?

 

Michelle

[Bimmer09]

Norris, though you've got me seriously considering a Princess cruise, I have one serious reservation...coffee syrup?? Urk!😨 Asking me to function on bad coffee is like asking your BMW to run on corn syrup!

 

But I'm salivating over being able to have proper bangers & mash and afternoon tea. And those desserts looked mighty fine:D Princess definitely looks like a contender for Alaska and the Pacific.

 

Coincidentally, my first S-class ship was Silhouette, and I thought she was beautiful. My second was Reflection, also beautiful. Because I can't choose a favorite, I'm sailing on both again this year:cool:

 

I hope you and Carol have a wonderful time on your upcoming cruise. You're off to the Caribbean, right?

Michelle

 

Michelle, correct-we are sailing to the ABC islands. We have been to A (Aruba) and C (Curacao) before ( I have been there twice now) in 2012 on the Crown Princess and as there are 4 sea days the itinerary is right up Carol's alley. We are also seeing B (Bonaire) which we like the look of from it being featured on several episodes of House Hunters International on TV.

As Carol picked the itinerary and the excursions (most with my blessing but one in particular will require me to be sedated) she has succumbed to my desire to eat ashore in each port and we have confirmed reservations for local vittles so my food porn will be more interesting than the usual MDR or Sabatini's shots I take (although I am happy with the Princess food). I am looking forward to some fresh fish although that's normal as I never hear of anyone "looking forward to some very fishy smelling fish that's maybe past it's prime". As Emeril Lagasse says-if it smells like fish, order the chicken!"

We have a wonderful event waiting for us when we board-a first for us-but I'll keep that for the review.

The coffee on Princess is some kind of syrup with hot water but with a couple of sugars and some cream it gets me started in the morning. On Celebrity they serve Italian coffee- Lavazza and that is worth drinking just for the flavor and aroma. Ah, Roma-that's where I go overboard on espresso or cappuccino. I haven't found a good memorable cup of coffee in 30 years so in living in the USA so I am used to settling for less. At home I drink Peet's but am not kidding myself. Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France- there I order coffee with confidence.

Princess for Alaska? Oh , Yes! it will always be our first choice there as they do the land tours and have access to Glacier Bay. HAL has a good reputation there too but their interior decor colors have me reaching for my shades and some Advil. Not ruling them out entirely though as they have a loyal clientele and many Filipinos onboard which every ship afloat should have IMO.

I have sailed on Reflection and Silhouette and the latter wins hands-down with the exception of the popular Sunset bar which has been kicked up a notch (on the Reflection) as Emeril would say. Silhouette is my favorite ship to date.

Princess bangers and mash are elevated by that onion gravy that they add. Great simple grub, served piping hot during the pub lunch. Afternoon Tea is one of our favorite Princess things and so well-done. We had a paler version in Michael's Club on Reflection.

I'm not paid (alas) to endorse Princess but I have to give credit where it is due.

Norris, sailing in 9 days.

[Silkroad]

Norris, I shall look forward to reading about your Caribbean sailing. I’m so happy to have discovered your posts. I await new reviews from you and Miaminice as eagerly as I do a new publication by one of my favorite novelists or historians! Cheers, Michelle

[Bimmer09]

Carol sent me this link regarding Bar Harbor and cruise ships calling there....

 

<From The New York Times:

Cruise Ships Have Made Bar Harbor Popular. But Have They Ruined It?

A Maine town is embroiled in a debate over the ships that have magnified its status and brought huge crowds.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/us/bar-harbor-cruise-acadia.html >

Norris

[nukesubsailor]

Carol sent me this link regarding Bar Harbor and cruise ships calling there....

 

<From The New York Times:

 

Cruise Ships Have Made Bar Harbor Popular. But Have They Ruined It?

A Maine town is embroiled in a debate over the ships that have magnified its status and brought huge crowds.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/us/bar-harbor-cruise-acadia.html >

Norris

 

Go on the Princess website and look at the Canada/New England cruises for 2019. You will see a lot fewer port calls in Bar Harbor and more in Portland.

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I shall look forward to reading about your Caribbean sailing. I’m so happy to have discovered your posts. I await new reviews from you and Miaminice as eagerly as I do a new publication by one of my favorite novelists or historians! Cheers, Michelle

 

Michelle, I am happy to be next to Oliver (Miaminice) in your reading list as I have read and enjoyed all of his reviews. His South America review (along with a HAL review some years ago by ScubacruiserX2) put Buenos Aires to Valparaiso top of my bucket list.

I will be on the Crown this Friday. We are the only ship in port so watch out for us on our aft balcony, waving a towel, captured by the Port Everglades webcam.

Norris

[LC1950]

Oh Norris, a very tres bon voyage to you and Carol for your cruise next Friday. Enjoy your brief escape from those frigid temperatures. (Meanwhile in the merry old land of Oz we're "enjoying" soaring summer temps of 40 - 45 deg C :o)

All the best

Sue

[Bimmer09]

Go on the Princess website and look at the Canada/New England cruises for 2019. You will see a lot fewer port calls in Bar Harbor and more in Portland.

 

Thanks for the heads up which I followed. No stops for Princess in Bar Harbor in 2108 where Portland takes its place. Bar Harbor is back for all of the 2019 sailings.

I thought the fact that cruise ships only account for 6% of BH visitors was surprising but of course the 5500 passenger limit hits the town all at once in Fall Color season. Maybe they will limit visits to one ship a day and suffer the revenue drop?

Thanks for the response!

Norris

[hockeyguru32]

Norris thank you for the great review, as usual. I hope you and Carol have a wonderful Caribbean cruise in the next couple weeks. I for sure will be waiting non patiently for that review and I have the rum already restocked for the occasion.

[Silkroad]

Norris, we’ll watch for you on Friday. Imagine two people shivering on their porch as they wave their glasses aloft and say, “Cheers” and “Buon viaggio!” Naturally, Alan (aka WeeDram) will hold a pint of Guinness, while I shall have a glass of dry red wine. Wishing you and Carol a wonderfully relaxing cruise! Michelle

Edited January 9, 2018 by Silkroad
clarification

[Bimmer09]

Oh Norris, a very tres bon voyage to you and Carol for your cruise next Friday. Enjoy your brief escape from those frigid temperatures. (Meanwhile in the merry old land of Oz we're "enjoying" soaring summer temps of 40 - 45 deg C :o)

All the best

Sue

 

Sue, thanks for the good wishes! Thursday when we fly it is forecast to be 53F with rain which beats the 41F with snow flurries predicted a week ago. 77F forecast for Ft Lauderdale for Thursday, 78 for sailaway day. Next up- Sports with host Trip Fumble.

Last week in Chicago it was hovering between 0 and 8 balmy degreesF.

Hope to see you in the Crown review January 21 in select theaters.

Norris

[seamwoman]

What is the next line and cruise?

[LC1950]

.... Hope to see you in the Crown review January 21 in select theaters.

Norris

 

I'll be there Norris ... especially if those "select theatres" are Gold Class where I will sit on a comfortable reclining armchair with a small side table attached, the staff will bring me chilled glasses of bubbles and tasty little nibblie bits from time to time. ;)

 

 

Sue

[Bimmer09]

What is the next line and cruise?

 

Crown Princess this Friday January 12, to the ABC islands from Ft. Lauderdale.

Norris

[need2cruisesoon]

Crown Princess this Friday January 12, to the ABC islands from Ft. Lauderdale.

Norris

 

I'm not on this one with you brother but perhaps Norway or the Baltic in the future.

 

Stay thirsty my friend.

[Bimmer09]

I'm not on this one with you brother but perhaps Norway or the Baltic in the future.

 

Stay thirsty my friend.

 

Ron our Norway cruise is Sept 1 on the Silhouette if you are jonesing for some fjords!

I am quenching my thirst right now as I have just got home from work at 11pm and am up at 5 for some last minute packing.

I am meeting a CC/Facebook friend onboard who is a wine connoisseur and he will set me on the right path to complete hydration.

Norris

[lola2013]

Safe travels...I plan to watch the sailaway on the Port Everglades webcam...you two will be up on deck wearing Cubs and/or Black Hawks gear, right??? Looking forward to your next review!

Susan

[MisterMet]

Ron our Norway cruise is Sept 1 on the Silhouette if you are jonesing for some fjords!

I am quenching my thirst right now as I have just got home from work at 11pm and am up at 5 for some last minute packing.

I am meeting a CC/Facebook friend onboard who is a wine connoisseur and he will set me on the right path to complete hydration.

Norris

 

 

Norris,

 

Hope you and Carol enjoy your Crown experience. I am looking forward to your thoughts on A, B, C and the Crown itself.

 

Buon Viaggio e godetevi la vostra crociera!

 

Trip

[ams cruiser]

Hi, Norris,

 

I found your review because I just booked a 2019 Quebec-New York cruise. Little did I know I was in for such a treat! Thank you so much for all of the time and effort you put into your beautiful photography and commentary. (Your name popped up when you kindly commented on my first and only review of our Alaska cruise. Writing that review gave me a tiny appreciation of what you do to create these magical reviews for your followers.) I read the entire review in one sitting, and then got myself in trouble by starting to read one of your Alaska reviews into the wee small hours. Finally had to stop myself, since I had to get up early and go to work the next day.

 

If I recall, you might be on another cruise now? Hope you and your lovely wife Carol are having a splendid time. I'll definitely follow your review when you post it, and hope to eventually read through all of them.

 

Thanks for taking us along on your travels!

 

(I'm sure I'll have questions for you as my Canadian cruise gets closer.)

 

Janet

[accio_7]

Norris,

 

Thank you so much for your review and amazing photos! My mother is booked in a D4 stateroom on Emerald, same ship, standard Eastern Caribbean itinerary :)

 

I hope you and Carol have a great time on your Crown Princess cruise tomorrow!

Edited January 12, 2018 by accio_7
reading comprehension issues

[MisterMet]

Ron our Norway cruise is Sept 1 on the Silhouette if you are jonesing for some fjords!

I am quenching my thirst right now as I have just got home from work at 11pm and am up at 5 for some last minute packing.

I am meeting a CC/Facebook friend onboard who is a wine connoisseur and he will set me on the right path to complete hydration.

Norris

 

Norris,

 

Watched your Crown Princess sail away from PE on both the FLL and PE webcams. Could hear the party music (Funky Music White Boy) and everything! Looks like it was a bit rainy heading out the Stranahan River. Definitely saw you and Carol waving from the aft balcony (second in from the left as you're looking at the aft of the ship. You had all your camera gear and Carol was waving heartily with her white towel. Really brightened up my day as we had to put our beloved Golden Retriever Maui down yesterday after 13 years of unending love and loyalty.

 

Hope you have/had a great voyage and look forward to hearing all about it.

 

Trip

[Walt fan]

I dropped off the boards for a while Norris. I just got too frustrated with our internet out here in the sticks. And I started reading a lot more. Here is my report card; I finished your Regal review; and I went back to your Coral review to get the name of the Helicopter tour you did in Juneau; my brother and his family are headed to their first Alaska cruise in May and I thought it would be something they would enjoy (we did whale watching). And I now I am headed over to your January ABC cruise!

 

Your finish with New York blew my socks off. I cannot imagine the hustle and bustle and concrete way of life. I am a native Texan, with lots of hills and trees all around me where we live in the Hill Country. Even growing up in Houston we lived far enough out to have lots of green around. The views of New York through your lens were amazing. I loved how you and Carol met through the opera there.

 

I have already had several slow moments and internet fails this morning finishing your Regal cruise but such is life. I am headed over to your January cruise!!

[Bimmer09]

Safe travels...I plan to watch the sailaway on the Port Everglades webcam...you two will be up on deck wearing Cubs and/or Black Hawks gear, right??? Looking forward to your next review!

Susan

 

Hi Susan, just finding your post tonight! Cubs and Blackhawks gear? No, not our style. I don't wear logo clothing much if ever and White Sox Carol would beat the tar out of me if I wore Cubs jerseys. Blackhawks don't do the style of skating we like-we watched the winter olympics religiously for the ice skaters.

Thanks for the good wishes and as you can see from the Crown review it was a great time had by all!

Norris