Crown Princess ABC islands Jan 12 to 20, 2018

[MisterMet]

Carol here: I am appreciating greatly these gorgeous sunrise photos. Better you than me, I say to Norris. In real life my alarm goes off at 6:30 am every weekday morning, soon after which I plunge into a ten-hour day of fairly strenuous brain work, typically writing on a deadline on a topic I have only chosen that morning based on the business news of the day, after which I usually cook us some dinner and/or squeeze in a nap if Norris is working late and comes home at 11 pm so we can dine together and have some social time. So when I'm on vacation I try to eschew the alarm clock unless we have an early excursion. This means no sunrises for me. But as I like to say, everybody has his or her own cruise -- it is the ultimate in customization. I love my sleep and I love to get more of it when I'm on vacation. Norris is gallant enough to have a second breakfast with me when I get up, which is usually about 8. And I am lucky and grateful that he is out there taking these wonderful photos of the scenes I am missing.

 

Deck Chair Queen aka Carol the Sleeper

 

 

 

Carol,

 

I can definitely understand your thinking on getting up early. I'm up by 5:15 am and at work by 6:30 am. I often tell myself that I'll get up early on a cruise like Norris one day and take some photos of the sunrise, the empty ship decks, or whatever, but it has never happened. I've prayed for motivation to do this is, but somehow I receive wisdom and stay inside the cabin for some extra shut eye, knowing that my room service breakfast delivery will be my alarm clock! It looks and sounds like you had a wonderful time and I'm eagerly looking forward to your thoughts on your Cuba cruise coming up.

 

Trip

[CRLess]

 

I heard a voice I recognized talking to some diners behind me- it was Neveille Saldanha the Indian Maitre 'd whom I had seen a couple of times in the dining room this week and of course at the Champagne Fountain. He was our MD on our first two cruises on the Coral and the Crown back in 2011 and 2012 and we had had several breezy chats with him at tableside.

When he stopped at our table to ask how everything was at dinner I reminded him of our previous meetings all those years ago and of our now mutual friend CRLess who writes on this board. He recognized Carol from his walks through the Sanctuary this week to check on guests just as he was doing in Da Vinci now. She was napping. No surprise there! I mentioned that CRLess had told me to seek out the famous Carmen in Vines but Neville told me she was now tending the bar in the Crown Grill. I said we'd be booking a table there for our last night. Before he made his way to the next table he asked if there was anything he could do for us? I said we'd love a window table for our Specialty dinners...."Leave it with me" he said.

He still stands as the most personable and visible Maitre d' we have sailed with and so I have mentioned him in many of my reviews, comparing the MD of my cruise to Neville. Some are invisible.Some energize their large teams and it shows in the service and team spirit. None have been more witty and engaging and willing to spend time meeting their guests.

We have a show before bedtime. I make a quick detour to the Crown Grill on deck 7 aft to book a table for our last night. They can take us! (It's been sold out on our last night on a couple of ships, so best to book early). I see a smiling bartender and confirm with the hostess that that is Carmen so go up to introduce myself. I told her a friend had suggested I come see her. Which friend? When I told her it was CRLess she broke into a big beaming smile and reached both hands across the bar to hold mine. She is a sweetheart for sure!

Time was pressing me to continue on to the show where Carol was already seated...

 

Norris....Neville has become a true friend of mine and he is indeed the shining star of the Princess fleet as it relates to MD/s. We stay in touch on a regular basis and always try to make time to get together off ship for lunch on turnaround days when he is on a ship down here. But alas, he has seemingly been exiled to the other side of the world to finish this contract. He is now on the Sea Princess taking care of our friends Down Under until May. You are among the fortunate to have sailed with him multiple times.

[Bimmer09]

My favorite public restroom on the ship in the morning is by the Princess Theater, starboard side. It gets little traffic in the morning and I'm usually the first person to sign that visitor book pinned to the back of the door. Here's the cool art that greets me outside in the hallway.

 

 

A less-travelled way to get to the center of the ship-the Piazza-is to go down one deck to deck 6. Nice stair art here....

 

 

Now I can cut through here, where I am unlikely to meet anyone at this hour

 

 

It's the Casino



 

Even though I don't gamble I like ships that have Casinos as they offer more variety to the other passengers and they are colorful and lively (when staffed and open). Some of my early morning coffee buddies would end their fun day here, win or lose. It's a venue they may not have access to in their home town or state.

Let's take a look...

[Bimmer09]

 

 

It's colorful!

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

It's not all slot machines



 

 

More....

[Bimmer09]

It has it's own bar

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

More....

[Bahama Mama 40]

Hi Norris enjoying your review. We are taking our first Princess Cruise in November 2018 same itinerary as yours on the Royal Princess. We are usually Celebrity/RCL cruisers and looking forward to trying Princess and this itinerary since we have never been to any of the ABC islands.

Currently trying to plan excursions and wondered if Princess stays on ship time(EST) or switches to local time(AST)?

Thanks!!

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

 

A waiter can unlock the humidor for you. Casino waiters service the smoking lounge

[Bimmer09]

Norris....Neville has become a true friend of mine and he is indeed the shining star of the Princess fleet as it relates to MD/s. We stay in touch on a regular basis and always try to make time to get together off ship for lunch on turnaround days when he is on a ship down here. But alas, he has seemingly been exiled to the other side of the world to finish this contract. He is now on the Sea Princess taking care of our friends Down Under until May. You are among the fortunate to have sailed with him multiple times.

Indeed Chris, after cruise 1 and 2 we assumed all MDs would be similar to Neville but soon learned he was the exception. He seems to really enjoy his work. We have now had him on 3 of our 11 Princess cruises.

Norris, wishing you Bon Voyage on the Royal this week!

[Bimmer09]

Hi Norris enjoying your review. We are taking our first Princess Cruise in November 2018 same itinerary as yours on the Royal Princess. We are usually Celebrity/RCL cruisers and looking forward to trying Princess and this itinerary since we have never been to any of the ABC islands.

Currently trying to plan excursions and wondered if Princess stays on ship time(EST) or switches to local time(AST)?

Thanks!!

Hi and thanks for following the review !

Ship's Time and the ship put the clocks forward 1 hour before we got to the islands and then an hour back on one of the sea days returning. My watch and phone were always in synch with Ship's Time.

I didn't change the time on the cameras or computer which were on Chicago time.

The excursion times will be Ship's time.

Norris

[JF - retired RRT]

Hi and thanks for following the review !

Ship's Time and the ship put the clocks forward 1 hour before we got to the islands and then an hour back on one of the sea days returning. My watch and phone were always in synch with Ship's Time.

I didn't change the time on the cameras or computer which were on Chicago time.

The excursion times will be Ship's time.

Norris

And ship's time is usually also local time.

[Jasperdo]

My favorite public restroom on the ship in the morning is by the Princess Theater, starboard side. It gets little traffic in the morning and I'm usually the first person to sign that visitor book pinned to the back of the door.

I've used that same restroom a few times myself. Have you noticed that the same guy signs the visitor book every hour all day long? I think he needs to see a doctor about that.

[perfect match]

 

 

Money can't buy me love...

 

 

but it sure could buy me the Tatoosh!!



 

At 303 feet she is only the 43rd largest motor yacht in the World so although there would be some embarrassment in owning a boat that small I would take it on the chin if everyone chipped in on a Kickstarter campaign to help me get her. I'll start it with my own money-$100 to show I mean business.

 

 



 

 

 

 

Count me in on your campaign to purchase Tatoosh! I will add my $100 to your Kickstart campaign as long as you assure me that as an investor, DH and I will be free to sail on her whenever we like! :D

 

 

Some people may think I'm a bit strange for saying this, but I think I like your ship porn more than your food porn!

Edited February 27, 2018 by perfect match

[Bimmer09]

 

While I am down here on 6, having passed through the Casino I'll show what else you can find. There is the tour desk....still showing the dates from our cruise.

 

 

 

 

Up ahead waiters head to Da Vinci to start their breakfast shift

 

 

Passenger Services is open 24/7



 

In the Piazza banners for tonight's Mardi Gras celebration and balloon drop are in place even if the balloons aren't. I planned to video the dropping of the balloons for a German reader.

 

 

More...

[Bimmer09]

Looking down onto deck 5

 



 

 

Now some window shopping...



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

More....

[Bimmer09]

All the shop pictures were taken through the window of course as they aren't open at 7a.m. This is the one I shop in . If you ever see me in say, EFFY, then I am obviously disoriented so please guide me outside.

 

 

There is always some art on Princess that reminds me of some of my favorite places and Venice is way high on my list. Cruising form there on the Ocean Princess in 2014 was such a highlight of my (our) lives and I have the review to remind me.

 

 

I like that Princess salutes one staff member each month, although with so many, once a week would be better. They really have a fantastic hardworking staff from ship to ship.

 

 



 

 

This is a standalone machine where you can use your cruise card to check on your running balance of onboard spending. Available in multiple languages-it's on Japanese in the photo.



 

 



 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

I've come round in a circle and back to Gatsby's again

 

 

I have never played this game



 

 



 

 

On deck 6 under the rear of the theater seating is a conference room



 

 

and that concludes this tour

[Bimmer09]

I still have plenty of time left before breakfast so I wander up to back up to that place where I start but never end my day (and they are open to 11 p.m the Patter says). Tradewinds Bar.

Another cup of coffee won't hurt.

 

The deck stewards have been busy unstacking and placing the loungers for another day in the sun.

 

 

 

Time to take a wander forward and up one deck....

 

 



 

8.15 a.m and already people at the pool, some having dropped artifacts to hog their loungers and people are in the Sanctuary. It opens at 8 if you want to book for the day or half day. $20 or $40 respectively.

[Bimmer09]

 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

For the sun-worshipper there are Sanctuary loungers in the open



 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

Outside the Sanctuary is a huge sun deck

 

 

Stairs back down to deck 16 and Tradewinds



 

 

Tradewinds in the sun



 

 

Yeah, right



 

 

Count the loungers with towels and no people in the pool



 

 

[Bimmer09]

Sea Day Patter

 

 

 

 



 

 

I always pack a highlighter for Carol who keeps abreast of what's going on and on sea days there is always plenty. I would occasionally glance at my Princess at Sea app (free).

 

We could message each other through this handy feature but you don't get an alert as you would a text message on a phone. So you have to check it frequently.

 

We usually get 150 free Internet minutes for being Elite on a 7 day cruise but as this was an 8 day that jumped up to 250 minutes. Winning! I used all but about 50 minutes by the end of the cruise, reading e mail, Facebook and CC but the connection wasn't a barnburner by any stretch....

The main reason I take a laptop with me is for Lightroom and downloading photos each day incase anything happens to the camera. It's an onboard app so I don't need Internet for it.



So there's a bunch of things going on a round the ship today but my plan is simple;

Breakfast

Tradewinds

Sanctuary

Tradewinds

Lunch in the MDR as we are at sea and they are serving. Hooray!! I love MDR lunches.

A Wine Tasting....I got a card in our cabin mail, part of the daily flood. EFFY and anything to do with shopping goes straight into the trash. Ditto Platinum Studio or Bingo. The ship actually had a "Shopping Advisor" who gave talks in the theater about where to get the best deals ashore yadda yadda yadda . Helpful if you like shopping and need stuff I guess. The wine tasting was in Michelangelo MDR at 3 p.m and would be hosted by MD Neville Saldanha. He had told me about it at dinner the night before. It would be my first wine tasting. I thought if anyone knows wine it is this man.

Sanctuary again then Tradewinds

Formal Night dress-up but no MDR dinner

Dinner in Sabatini's then a show and somehow video the Balloon Drop.





First breakfast, as it is approaching 9 a.m by now and Da Vinci calls!

[Bimmer09]

As always when I go to breakfast I may see a piece of art that appeals and these two remind me of one of my favorite countries. Guess which one? Begins with letter I...

 

 

Iceland? Correctamundo!

Da Vinci as always a warm greeting and a table for two only. No sharing.

One of my favorite dishes which I don't make at home...hot oatmeal with raisins and Brown Sugar -how come you taste so good?!

(pocket camera)

Carol had pancakes, yogurt granola parfait and toast but the only thing I photographed was her fruit plate

(pocket camera)

The next big event for me would be that MDR lunch. I was more gung ho than Carol and twixt now and then I would carry out my plan of Tradewinds/Sanctuary and at each worked on the many photos I had taken.

At Tradewinds I got a candid shot of one of my daily morning coffee companions. A fine man from Michigan (Grand Rapids) whom I enjoyed talking to. Salt of the Earth and a good talker. Maybe you were on the ship and also enjoyed his company.

 

 

Maybe you also had the pleasure of hearing these two ladies play in the Piazza (and also in one of the shows augmenting the band). Kudos to Princess for having some nice classical music on board.

[Bimmer09]

MDR Lunch at sea

It had been 6 years since we sailed this many sea days and normally on a sea day I would be heading to a Pub Lunch. No Pub Lunch today (but one tomorrow) so I was eager to have a nice sit down lunch and went up to the Sanctuary to fetch Carol to join me.

Lots of other people had the same idea.

Unlike at dinner we were choosing from dishes we hadn't seen before.

Norris had a fish taco that was sublime

 

 

Carol had an artichoke and hearts of palm salad



 

 

Norris licked his plate after his beef roulade



 

 

Carol stayed with the salads-Nicoise in this case



 

This may have been my favorite Da Vinci meal of the week, perhaps because the dishes were new to me. Now we were somewhat weighed down with food and a nap would have to be taken either in the cabin or the Sanctuary. Carol returned to the Sanctuary and later had an abbreviated Afternoon Tea. My next engagement was at 3 pm in Michelangelo MDR for the Wine Tasting, so I had no nap time.

[Bimmer09]

I was expecting the Wine Tasting to be an intimate affair of maybe 20 people standing around discussing terroir and sniffing corks but the venue, the Michelangelo Dining Room on deck 5, should have tipped me off for there was 4 times that many people at a guess.

Looking around the room I didn't see Neville the MD who was supposed to be hosting. I asked Dorde, one of our Head Waiters from Da Vinci where Neville was and was told he had to go to a meeting. Oh well, no Indian jokes to look forward to.

There were 4 Head Waiters there, including two I was familiar with and each would take turns to talk to the crowd using a microphone through the P.A system in the room. They would talk about the wine growing regions and how climate and soil conditions would effect the grapes.

I was shown to a table which already had 3 passengers seated. Each of us had 5 of the cheap MDR wine glasses-unlikely they would have 400 Riedel glasses of differing shapes for the various whites and reds we would taste. Some cheese and crackers we at each table too.

Each Head Waiter took a turn of about 10 minutes to address us and they were all knowledgeable and witty which made the time fly. They would talk about the next pour and waiters worked the room to ensure we didn't have to wait long to taste. Maybe two mouthfuls. I thought you had to swish it around in the glass first and I did but with maybe too much gusto and I splashed the tie of the gent to my left. I've seen wine tasters on TV where they swirl it around in their cheeks and then spit it out into a bucket. I didn't see a bucket under the table but there was a ladies handbag open near my feet so I used that. She didn't notice luckily.

No mention was made of pricing and there was no hard-sell whatever which made it enjoyable.

The last speaker was an Italian Head Waiter from Brooklyn who did some funny Goodfellas-type impressions with an exaggerated mobster accent. He worked the room like a seasoned comic. As I had the big bag of cameras with me, but didn't want to be a distraction to those at my table, I only took one shot during the whole 45 minutes or so. The Italian mobster....

 

 

It was a fun event and beyond anything I get to do in Chicago which is why I love cruising-there is such a variety of new experiences there for the taking and they are all icing on a very rich cake. The main thing though is just to be on a fine ship out in the middle of the sea-that's the base of the cake and what keeps drawing us back. That Princess offers good food and service and a lot of varied entertainment has won our business over and over, this being our 11th cruise with them since August 2011.

Later after Tradewinds, working on my computer, I was walking aft to go to the cabin when I passed MUTS and saw a few minutes of one of my favorite singers in a live concert-Peter Gabriel. I had only ever seen him live once-at Wembley Empire Pool in London in I think 1974 when Genesis was playing their Lamb Lies Down on Broadway album. I have kept an interest in him since then but not Genesis.

 

We had an invite to the Captain's Cocktail Party this evening at 7 p.m in Club Fusion but we don't go to those and there is always a long line of people in their Formal Night duds waiting to get in. We have been to one and I can't even recall which ship that was on. A free drink is not something I would line up for.

[Bimmer09]

The Crown is such a beautiful ship. The pics you posted yesterday make me want to sail her again :)

 

Crystal yes she is. She has a dry dock soon which will take care of the waterline paint ugliness and she has a fair share of rust on railings (to be expected). She is getting new beds and hopefully sheets and towels are on the way-they take a beating in the industrial washers and we are all guilty of sending towels out to the laundry daily after one use. Does anyone wash their home towels every day? They won't last long nor will the low-thread count sheets used onboard. We all do our part in wearing the cushions out over time. The ship is never at rest, week in week out for years. Only in a brief dry dock can they work unimpeded.

There were some buckets and wet vacs at work on deck 8 outside a couple of port side cabins.

New carpet was laid once the leak stopped after a couple of days.

Also a ridge of rust under our balcony railing-the sea spray taking its salty toll. The public areas were all in great condition.

Cheers!

Norris

[WestTexasCruiser]

Your review was most helpful before we boarded the Crown on 2/10/18 for the ABC Islands. If any of your followers are headed to the ABC Islands, I HIGHLY recommend these two fabulous lunch restaurants:

Bonaire: Donna & Giorgio's Trattoria - a very short walk from the pier. Go early, as all items are fresh-made daily and they'll run out of their seafood pizza and their lasagna (both are to die for)!

Aruba: Asi es mi Peru - about a half block inland from Eagle Beach. Ceviche was out of this world! Be sure to sit in the street-side dining area, not in the main dining room. I can't remember the name of the drink I had (they described it as a Peruvian margarita) but it was very refreshing.