Crown Princess ABC islands Jan 12 to 20, 2018

[LC1950]

Aaah, Windmills of your Mind - The Thomas Crown Affair. Practically every singer back in the day covered it, Noel Harrison sung it for the original movie (no idea who did the remake) but personally I prefer Dusty Springfield's version. Oh Dusty, sadly missed.

[Bimmer09]

I was shooting video, as I said, and here is the result which I hope gives you a better flavor of this fun excursion.

 

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To everyone who has read this far and especially to those who have commented I say thanks for committing to read something that requires a lot of your time. You swim against the modern tide of instant gratification and cliff-note thinking. Kudos to you.

[Bimmer09]

We are heading back to the marina

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

and we approach our berth



 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

We both loved the excursion and gave the crew a nice tip as we disembarked for our walk back to the Crown and a dinner in Da Vinci-it is Italian Night!

 

The fantastic "dolphin beak" bow, which is one of my favorite Grand Class attributes. I could also mention the deck on top of the bridge where you can go (wind permitting) to watch the ship sail away or come into port. The design offers a lot of different vantage points, at varying heights, to view the world and the ship itself.

 

 

 

 

Our second time sailing on this ship and we would have no hesitation booking a third.



 

 

[Bimmer09]

It was such a luxury to be able to come back to the ship in the dark. We have done so many cruises where we left beautiful ports like Charlotte Amalie,St. Thomas and Philipsburg, St Maarten just as the lights were coming on. Now my goal is dinner on shore, not lunch, and to sit drinking afterwards on a beach with the sound of a Caribbean band by the light of some Tiki torches or a bonfire. I may get my chance in Havana a year from now...

 

 

We walk through the little cruise terminal

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

We don't browse, we don't buy. There's nothing we have to have here. We are in the uncluttering phase of our lives. We step off Aruba and back onto the Crown.

[A Pisces]

Thank you for taking the time to post this review with photos and details! It takes a lot to write these things, and I am loving it!

 

Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk

[Bimmer09]

Here's a couple of photos I forgot to include as the sailboat returned to the marina.

Funfair



 

 

Stern



 

Norris,

off to work followed by a night at the Chicago Opera

[Bimmer09]

Thank you for taking the time to post this review with photos and details! It takes a lot to write these things, and I am loving it!

Sent from my GT-P5113 using Tapatalk

 

Thanks Kathy!

Good to have you onboard.

Norris

[Jimorel]

Mr. Norris,

In 2013 we moved from our house to an apartment and pitched tons of stuff (or so we thought) Then in the spring of last year we bought into a condo and thought we pitched more stuff. And yet when we look into our garage it seems like we have so much more clutter to pitch, I envy you being able to "unclutter". The pictures of the Aruba port terminal showed lots of T-shirts and I have way too many, but based on your review of this cruise and the picture of a cute Tee for my grandson I may have to take this cruise in the future.

Also I started exploring the YouTube lessons of Mike Browne that you told me about. We leave on the Regal in one week and I hope to pick up a little help thanks to your pointing me to those videos.

Hope you enjoyed the opera!

[mellon1]

was the spa pool open while you were on? We have been on since 1/28 and it has been empty most of the time

[Bimmer09]

Tonight, Tuesday the 16th of January, now a month ago as I write, was another night in the MDR after missing a couple of such delights. We were sat at a different table every night as we hadn't found that elusive waiter/busboy combination that we crave-a couple of jolly guys who can take a joke and bring us the right dishes. They were all very competent and efficient but were missing the X Factor we seek.Didn't find the X either on Regal but then we moved around in that dining room as well. Star Princess was the last ship we found The Team and then asked the Head Waiter to seat us with them each night even if we had to wait. Whomever was attending us did so well and brought us food we could not complain about in any way so kudos to the Exec Chef and the Maitre'd for the high standards.

Tonight is Italian Night when the waiters dress in red and white hooped tee shirts with bandanas (or maybe bananas as I can't read Carol's notes-and she typed them). Bananas around their necks doesn't make sense, but then not much that I write does, he said in a moment of introspection.

Let's make it bandanas. Anyway it's not Italian enough for me. Where's the passionate knife-fight in the kitchen spilling out into the dining room with Guiseppe and Romeo trying to strangle each other on someone's four-top? Strolling mandolinist? Nowhere to be found. They seemed to have dialed back the Limoncello sales which we always partook of and got a souvenir glass into the bargain ($4 a shot of the heavenly nectar). It was on the menu for $3 but that was a soft sale and I am all about margins and $$ in the till.

Onto the vittles.We love our MDR meals and Italian Night offers some good ones but alas I didn't take pics of all the dishes. No need to show you another one of my Caesar's salads-my old standby- but I did follow it with an irresistable minestrone, lika mamma useta make (Chico Marx accent).

 

 

 

Carol's melon and prosciutto

 

 

If there is veal on a menu then that's what I am having.

Veal Scallopini



 

Carol in the meantime had Penne Arabiata and for dessert gelato torincino which didn't get photographed as I probably had my head down scarfing delicious food. My dessert was fittingly Italian and also my go-to when feeling on top of the World. Sambuca Romana and a double espresso. The coffee required me to whip out my coffee card from the Regal. The Sambuca was charged to our account. $8 I think.

 

The waiter brought me my Sambuca and in the right glass ( a snifter where I could slosh it around, releasing the licorice aromas) but he omitted the traditional coffee beans -usually 3 of those. I asked him for the coffee beans and off he went. I did get my 3 beans (see photo) but some extras also...

 

 

The genial head-waiter from Italy-Alfonso- strolled by as he usually did to see that all was well and complimented me on the choice of after-dinner drink and then he saw the plate of coffee beans and laughed. It was a well-meaning try on the busboy's part.



Another first-class meal from the busy galley but we had lingered too long over dinner and getting a good seat for the show called "Disco" was now a lost cause. We were sailing away soon too so we bagged the show idea in favor of that and an early night as we had walked a lot today.

[Bimmer09]

was the spa pool open while you were on? We have been on since 1/28 and it has been empty most of the time

 

Yes-Carol used it on our Sanctuary days. One choppy water day it was covered with a net.

Norris

[rdsqrl]

Excellent food porn both ashore (that grouper had me drooling) and aboard, although I'm docking your pay slightly for no photos of the penne arrabiata or Carol's dessert.

 

"A Night at the Opera" --> the Marx Brothers.

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Excellent food porn both ashore (that grouper had me drooling) and aboard, although I'm docking your pay slightly for no photos of the penne arrabiata or Carol's dessert.

"A Night at the Opera" --> the Marx Brothers.

 

Annie, I was dumbfounded when I went to retrieve the pics for the Italian Dinner, to find that I had left those dishes out of my shooting schedule (which loosely is "whenever I remember to pick up the camera").

Yes the pan fried grouper was a good looking plate of food and tasted as good as it looks. I know we will eat there (West Deck) again if we go back to Aruba some day. The ABCs are very affluent and well maintained compared to some of the poorer islands (which figures). As much as I love Roatan and Belize it is very saddening to see how some of the people live outside the resorts and cruise ports. I didn't walk downtown in Falmouth Jamaica either as it is not usually advised.

We are eating ashore in Bonaire too and then have a Sabs and a Crown Grill meal to finish off our ship time. Plus another Pub Lunch and breakfasts in the MDR.

Thanks for stopping by again!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Mr. Norris,

In 2013 we moved from our house to an apartment and pitched tons of stuff (or so we thought) Then in the spring of last year we bought into a condo and thought we pitched more stuff. And yet when we look into our garage it seems like we have so much more clutter to pitch, I envy you being able to "unclutter". The pictures of the Aruba port terminal showed lots of T-shirts and I have way too many, but based on your review of this cruise and the picture of a cute Tee for my grandson I may have to take this cruise in the future.

Also I started exploring the YouTube lessons of Mike Browne that you told me about. We leave on the Regal in one week and I hope to pick up a little help thanks to your pointing me to those videos.

Hope you enjoyed the opera!

 

Having just recently enjoyed the Regal I am sure you will have a great cruise so I'll wish you Bon Voyage!

Kudos on checking out Mike Browne on Youtube. He is all about being helpful and explaining things in a very clear way which is just what I look for.

Cheers!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

ARUBA SAIL AWAY AND DECK PARTY

 

 

AgU3RIDGqhw

 

You may hear me say on the video (through the wind noise) that the ship is leaving 15 minutes early which caught me off guard and only gave me time to grab the camcorder and press record. Afterwards I went forward to the Calypso pool where they're having a deck party and drawing a crowd. It only lasted 45 minutes, one Tradewinds friend told me the next morning. It did list that timing in the Patter but he was surprised that they stopped it in its tracks right on 45 as people were obviously having a blast. Corey was hosting the show in 70's clothes (all white with a huge Afro wig). He was definitely having fun!

*I hope to rectify the wind noise problem soon as I am getting a new microphone for my birthday next week

(but it's a secret)

As I was up on deck anyway I took a quick snap of the Sanctuary area lit up



 

Bonaire in the morning and Carol had already turned in at 10 p.m. I managed to stay up until 10.30!

Into a deep cavern of sleep....

[A Pisces]

I see where you mentioned it is your birthday next week, mine is too! We will be leaving on my birthday, Thursday, to cruise on the Crown, but I don't think your review will be done by then. I'll have to catch the end when I return.

 

I hope you get the gift that you want!

[Bimmer09]

I see where you mentioned it is your birthday next week, mine is too! We will be leaving on my birthday, Thursday, to cruise on the Crown, but I don't think your review will be done by then. I'll have to catch the end when I return.

I hope you get the gift that you want!

 

Bon Voyage on that fine ship!! Review won't be done by then I imagine as I have 4 days left to recount.

I will have to look to see where you are going on this cruise.

Happy Birthday on the 22nd. I get there a couple of days before. Birthday Dinner in Chicago at a favorite restaurant (owned by a Top Chef winner) called Girl and the Goat.

Cheers!

Norris

[pretrib1]

Hi Norris! Enjoying your posts immensely! We are sailing the Crown four weeks from today. Can’t tell I’m excited can you? Keep on posting sir!

 

More like 5 days now, Terry! I'm just getting to Norris's blog, but am enjoying it immensely. I'm think at least one day at the Sanctuary sounds amazing. Are you in?

[terrysko2000]

More like 5 days now, Terry! I'm just getting to Norris's blog, but am enjoying it immensely. I'm think at least one day at the Sanctuary sounds amazing. Are you in?

:cool:

[Bimmer09]

I see where you mentioned it is your birthday next week, mine is too! We will be leaving on my birthday, Thursday, to cruise on the Crown, but I don't think your review will be done by then. I'll have to catch the end when I return.

I hope you get the gift that you want!

 

I see you are going to the ABCs so I'd better get us to Bonaire!

Coming up.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

KRALENDIJK, BONAIRE

My day began at Tradewinds for coffee



 

We were scheduled to dock at 7 a.m and all aboard would be 4.30 p.m for a 5 p.m sailing back to Ft. Lauderdale (ouch!) So a short day following two nice long ones. We had never been here before and only had two things planned-a glass bottomed boat adventure and a lunch by the water at a French Bistro.

 

There's a weak attempt at a sunrise

 

 

Looks like a trim little city



 

 



 

 



 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

Now on Promenade deck much lower down

 

 

Lines have been thrown ashore



 

 

That looks like a cool restaurant to sit at! Nice little sub eye-candy.

[Bimmer09]

Now in our aft cabin and a rainbow appears in the distance

 

 



 

 

I hoped that the rain would stay way over there



 

 

Next up-MDR breakfast! Oh boy!

[A Pisces]

Bon Voyage on that fine ship!! Review won't be done by then I imagine as I have 4 days left to recount.

I will have to look to see where you are going on this cruise.

Happy Birthday on the 22nd. I get there a couple of days before. Birthday Dinner in Chicago at a favorite restaurant (owned by a Top Chef winner) called Girl and the Goat.

Cheers!

Norris

 

Thank you, and Happy Birthday to you too! Your plans sound like a lot of fun! Enjoy!

Kathy