LIVE from Grand Princess 01/07/06 Sailing

[slappy1974]

It depends, today they are being given out in the Explorer Lounge, it depends where the pontoon is (where you board the tender). We don't want to send people to the stern if the pontoon is forward so we move it. You will have to listen to the anouncements when you are here, as this information changes for many reasons.

 

Admiral,

We're sailing 1/21. Do you think the Playa switch will be on then as well, or are we heading to Cayman as scheduled?

 

Thanks.

[TXMary]

Just curious in case I need to know...is Playa del Carmen a tender port or do you dock there? TIA!!

[writrgirl]

Admiral,

 

We'll be sailing on Saturday the 14th. Will we be going to Grand Cayman or Playa?

We too are meeting in the Oasis after muster. Bring your Mardi Gras beads - if you can :)

BTW: Have the generators been repaired yet? Is that the problem?

Thanks for all the info.

[Host Anne]

I don't think Princess has plans to make Playa a permanent port of call on this itinerary. We're only here due to the technical problems the ship is having.This is a tender port and the tender process was pretty darn awful today. They are using large vessels (I'm guessing they are usually ferries that go from Playa to Cozumel) that hold a bunch of people. Therefore, they have been waiting until they load an entire tender before leaving. Our tender time (from getting in line to loading, sailing and unloading) each way was close to an hour and it's only a five minute ride once you are on your way. So, it takes quite a bit of time to load and unload each vessel. At most, they were running two today. Here's hoping the tendering in Coz tomorrow is a bit quicker.In addition to the very slow tendering process today was rainy weather. It poured for about two hours shortly after noon. We are not spending a night anywhere. We'll depart Playa this afternoon and head out to sea where we'll "hang out" for the night (I'm not sure how far out we'll go but far enough to open the shops and casino) and then head into Cozumel on Thursday morning. Friday is a day at sea back to Galveston.If the Admiral checks in, can you tell us why we're experiencing a significant tilt to port side? We noticed it when we boarded in Galveston but it's gotten worse all week. Today it is very noticable. Just curious.The good news....the sun is back out and it's a beautiful sunset! Time to get ready for dinner....

[Host Anne]

Sorry for the run on copy in the last post.... for some reason, it's not taking paragraph breaks at the moment even though there were there (it wouldn't insert smile icons either). Very strange!

[scootepie66]

Tilt, hmmmm that sounds like our old waterbed. lol

The server for the boards seems to be experiencing technical difficulties for the last day or so (maybe its a cousin to the Grand), every now and then I get a message after clicking on a topic that says "Service Unavailable" and at times I get the page not found message.

Glad you are able to keep a good attitude and have fun even with all the difficulties you are encountering. :)

[Guest AdmiralNelson]

Admiral,

 

We'll be sailing on Saturday the 14th. Will we be going to Grand Cayman or Playa?

We too are meeting in the Oasis after muster. Bring your Mardi Gras beads - if you can :)

BTW: Have the generators been repaired yet? Is that the problem?

Thanks for all the info.

 

You wont be going to Grand Cayman on cruise A603. The ship will be going to Playa Del Carmen (90% sure). We are most likely going there for the next two cruises. Playa is a tender port. And the problems we had today mentioned by Anne was not because of the size of the tenders which hold 285 each, it was because of swells. Normally we can load one of these tenders fairly quickly, but today it was a little rocky so we slowed down the process so nobody gets hurt.

 

Don't be put off, Playa is beautiful (in my opinion) and there is lots to do. Plus you get a whole day there instead of 6 hours in Cayman.

[tkbk]

is this by chance our CC friends? these folks were waving at the camera but then it changed shots before i copied it

---oh no, very embarrassing......the picture appears to still be the live shot ....yikes ignore my whole message...I apparently am not smart enough to figure out how to delete this post........eeekkkkk

[ojaidenny]

Sounds like Playa is the port to stay with. I hope, I hope, I hope.

[writrgirl]

Thanks kindly Admiral. I've briefly pouted about Grand Cayman but I'm happy now we'll have a whole day to snorkel and hang out. Playa has snorkeling right?

BTW: is the ship really listing? What are you feeding these people? :)

[Guest AdmiralNelson]

Thanks kindly Admiral. I've briefly pouted about Grand Cayman but I'm happy now we'll have a whole day to snorkel and hang out. Playa has snorkeling right?

BTW: is the ship really listing? What are you feeding these people? :)

Check out Xcaret Park http://www.xcaret.com/ It's about a 10-15 minute taxi ride from Playa (it says Cancun on the website but it's actually in a place called Calica near Playa Del Carmen), they have excellent snorkeling there, there is even an underground river that takes you through the park and is filled with fish. Quite breathtaking!

[wendya2J]

'HI,

 

We are on the Feb 4th Grand Princess....do you think we will be cancelling Grand Cayman as well? if it does get cancelled, does princess offer excursions from Playa?

 

Does anyone know what the MUTS movies will be that week? Will they show the superbowl that sunday or have a superbowl party on deck?

 

Thanks, wendy

[Snoozeman]

Check out Xcaret Park http://www.xcaret.com/ It's about a 10 minute taxi ride from Playa, they have excellent snorkeling there, there is even underground river that takes you through the park and is filled with fish. Quite breathtaking!

I just posted on our roll call about Xcaret. I was at Calica in November before the park reopened and it was extensivley damaged. It can't be 100%. I've committed to telephone the park tomorrow and make some queries. It would be nice to stay long enough for the show if the Grand will leave late enough. What time did you leave PDC today? Thanks.

 

Did anyone on the Grand now visit Xcaret today?

[wendya2J]

sombody posted on the Cozumel boards that they had been there recently and it was in pretty good shape,,,butterfly house not opened yet and something else not opened yet, but the snorkeling and river was in great shape, with many replantings observed. we went here a few years ago,,,very expensive excursion through carnival but we loved it,,,i think we were at the port of calica though, is this the same or different from playa?

[Guest AdmiralNelson]

I just posted on our roll call about Xcaret. I was at Calica in November before the park reopened and it was extensivley damaged. It can't be 100%. I've committed to telephone the park tomorrow and make some queries. It would be nice to stay long enough for the show if the Grand will leave late enough. What time did you leave PDC today? Thanks.

 

Did anyone on the Grand now visit Xcaret today?

 

Forgot about that possibility. I haven't been there for a year or so, so yes, should check that out before going. The ship leaves at 1800hrs.

[wendya2J]

This was the post from solita on the 2nd page of the Coz boards,,,,,,

 

Yep...went about 10 days ago. Everything is up and running great. The only visible damage is the isla restaurant that was damaged from Emily...in the process of rebuilding. The other 3 are open. There aren´t many butterflies yet in the pavillian yet and the stainglass house is closed. Other than that, it is lush, green, and just as great as ever. All other attractions including the underground river to snorkel and float down is fine. And the icecream is still fabulous! I will be going over again tomorrow.

[Quenby]

Admiral - on Feb 4th we're meeting after the muster drill on Lido Aft for the sailaway. Stop by if you can!!! We appreciate your information.

[srpilo]

Admiral..

 

Yeah, as "Host Anne" asked, whats up with the ship listing to the port side ???

 

 

 

Inquiring minds want to know ..(plus I'm sailing Saturday :) )

 

Srpilo

[bjkTX]

..is looking at where you're going and deciding what tours to take - if any. Unfortunately on the Grand it's take whatever you can get because you sure as hell can't plan anything but to be away from home for 7 days the way things are going. We decided on 2 tours on this upcoming trip - and one of them is at GC - looks like I need to budget more money for the bar (since we can't smuggle booze onboard....)

[cloveygrl]

When they have to do a port switch like this - do they help with figuring out what to do? or just drop you off and make you fend for yourself?

[writrgirl]

Thanks for suggesting this Admiral and Snoozeman.

Is the snorkeling in Xcarat okay for kids? DD is 9 will turn 10 on the ship. DS is 6. My kids would love the butterfly house.

I don't suppose any other ports of call offer snorkeling with stingrays?

[jmeliz]

We were at Xcaret last year and it is beautiful. There are some shallow areas for kids to snorkel that are well protected from the open ocean. I wouldn't mind at all changing from Coz to Playa if we can go to Xcaret. Anyway, I won't be in Texas where it's so dry everything is burning and I won't be at work so wherever Princess drops us, I'll be happy.

 

Does anyone know anything about Xel-Ha ecological park? Is that too far from Playa? I'm wondering, too, how they handle the excursions since the ports have changed. I'm assuming the 2/4 cruise will go to Playa and skip GC.

[Guest AdmiralNelson]

Admiral..

 

Yeah, as "Host Anne" asked, whats up with the ship listing to the port side ???

 

 

 

Inquiring minds want to know ..(plus I'm sailing Saturday :) )

 

Srpilo

 

There is nothing 'wrong' with the ship as far as listing goes. The ship was only listing whilst we tendered. Sometimes the bridge will force the list to help raise the pontoon to a better height, sometimes the tide pushes the ship and thrusters are used to counter and it makes the ship list slightly. We can't anchor in Playa because of the coral reef so we have to use engines/thrusters to stay in position. The listing is a common occurence in these situations.

[darthwolf]

Admiral,

 

you said most likely the you won't be going to the caymens for the next 2 cruise. Do you mean including the one staring Jan 21?

 

What's there to do @ Playa, and does princess offer any shore excursions there? Don't really want to do a whole day of snokeling since i've planned to do that in Cozumel. Really was looking foward swimming with the stingrays and getting some rum cake.

 

btw, will we know ahead of time if we don't go to the caymens or will it be announced the day before?

 

regards,

darth

[Guest AdmiralNelson]

Admiral - on Feb 4th we're meeting after the muster drill on Lido Aft for the sailaway. Stop by if you can!!! We appreciate your information.

Actually I wont be here then, A603 is my last cruise before I go home for my vacation. Two months of no work, can't wait!

 

As for cruises yes, A603 and A604 as far as I know will both be doing the same as this week (but that could change). Playa, has lots to do, there are shore excursions being sold on the ship (of course) and you can buy official GC Rum Cake onboard!