Another Lap Around the Pond- Live from the Caribbean Princess- May 28 to June 4, 2022

[TracieABD]

Day 1,

May 28, 2022

Fort Lauderdale

Cruise Day! Cruise Day! Cruise Day!

 

Hi friends-

We are back at it… in the blog-o-sphere… this time on the Caribbean Princess to do a week long trip around the Eastern Caribbean. 

 

This trip has already started with some major challenges. The first and foremost… what to do with our stupidly, fussy dog. Luca, the Amazing Italian Greyhound, is safely stowed away with our vet. It is getting harder and harder to leave him. He just celebrated his 2 birthday and he has completely stolen our hearts. And our bed. And our laps. And our home.

 

Our flight was super late leaving, at least we had the luxury of getting lots of advance notice. Then our Uber driver decided to eat a sammich instead of picking us up.  Fortunately, our 16 yo neighbor could drive us. She is the safest driver EVER! The airport was a mess. That serves us right for traveling on a holiday weekend. 

 

And to top off a tough day, only 75% of our luggage arrived. We have been so blessed with luggage in the past many years. I guess it was our turn… they were able to find and track the bag- so we returned to the airport to collect our orphan “child”. Gotta love technology. And that, folks, is why we go in a day or two early.

 

Today is cruise day! The luck had definitely turned. Firstly, we are docked at Berth 2. For those of you who know Port Everglades, this is the best and easiest berth. Traffic was light. We dropped bags quickly- then returned the car to the airport. Our Uber driver was amazing! Yay! Oh and I finally got to meet Julie and Henry!!!! Yes! Bonus!

 

It did not take too long to board, and once we did we hoofed it up to the Sanctuary. We are in an inside this cruise, so having that dedicated outside space is a must. However, there are a lot of transit passengers (I have heard over 500), and even though we were second in line, there were very few beds available. We grabbed two of the last ones. 

 

Then it was off to lunch- in the MDR- which opened early. The food was delicious. Like remarkably delicious. Yay!

 

Luggage arrived. Luggage unpacked. And now it is time to go find Jon- who might have been escorted out of the room so I could obsessively arraigned our possessions. This room is pretty small, but we get on so well- that it is just fun for us!

 

Thank you for following along-

Tracie-Lynn

[Coral]

Have an amazing cruise!

 

Can't wait to follow along!

 

Theresa

[azbirdmom]

So nice to meet you!  And very glad that you were able to secure your beds in the Sanctuary. Hope to see you during the week be it at Outriggers during sailaway or around the ship!

[TracieABD]

12 minutes ago, Coral said:

Have an amazing cruise!

 

Can't wait to follow along!

 

Theresa

Hi T-

 

In the words of Pink Floyd…wish you were here!

 

We have got to get this figured out! 😉

[TracieABD]

We loved meeting you and Henry too!  I think you were our lucky charms!

5 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

So nice to meet you!  And very glad that you were able to secure your beds in the Sanctuary. Hope to see you during the week be it at Outriggers during sailaway or around the ship!

 

[dickinson]

Have a wonderful cruise!

[kabmab]

Have a wonderful cruise!  We know how hard it is to leave an Iggy behind, even for a week.  We lost our beautiful and sweet 10 yo boy in January.  Our hearts are still broken.  We disembarked today, warning to try to take precautions as DH tested positive as soon as we got home.  I masked and he didn't.  Very little masking last week and no social distancing.

[Ken the cruiser]

Have a great cruise! I know we had a fun one a few weeks ago on the CB going through the Panama Canal! If I might ask, what ports are you going to on your first leg? From what Cruise Mapper says, it looks like you’re going to Princess Cays, St Thomas and St Kitts. Are those the ports?

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9215490

 

Edited May 29, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[TracieABD]

15 hours ago, dickinson said:

Have a wonderful cruise!

Thank you so much!

That is the plan!!!

[TracieABD]

13 hours ago, kabmab said:

Have a wonderful cruise!  We know how hard it is to leave an Iggy behind, even for a week.  We lost our beautiful and sweet 10 yo boy in January.  Our hearts are still broken.  We disembarked today, warning to try to take precautions as DH tested positive as soon as we got home.  I masked and he didn't.  Very little masking last week and no social distancing.

I am so sorry about your baby… For those who don’t know the breed, this is the most lovable group of puppies. Ours actually hugs us around the neck. I just cannot imagine how much you miss your Iggy.

 

I wish for your husband a super mild case of COVID, and I hope that you stay negative.

[TracieABD]

13 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Have a great cruise! I know we had a fun one a few weeks ago on the CB going through the Panama Canal! If I might ask, what ports are you going to on your first leg? From what Cruise Mapper says, it looks like you’re going to Princess Cays, St Thomas and St Kitts. Are those the ports?

 

https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9215490

 

You are exactly correct… with the one exception at we may actually not leave the ship. Wouldn’t be the first time…. Surely won’t be the last. For us, in the Caribbean, the ship is the destination!

[TracieABD]

May 28, 2022

Evening 1

Sail Away

 

Ewwww! That Smell!

 

Hi friends-

We are in an aft interior cabin on Deck 12 (Aloha). The other half of the deck is actually the Covid ward, so it is super quiet.

 

However, we have run into a problem that is a first for me… there is this smell. It is pretty awful. It is not sewage, but smells more like very old standing water. It is both rank and acrid. We asked our cabin steward about it and he told us that it was the port. He let us know that once the ship gets going, the ventilation system will kick in and the smell will dissipate. We took that as “the word” and went on about our business.

 

We decided to spend the afternoon in our hard-won seats in the Sanctuary. They have revamped this area so that the cabanas (at approx $200 a day vs $ 40 a day for a lounger) have the front row, as do the massage cabanas. This is different. They also have the new loungers. They are not quite as padded, but super comfy all the same.

 

As a word of warning, if you want the Sanctuary- hoof it up there fast. We have listened to them turn people away all afternoon. I am pretty sure it was fully sold out by 3 pm on embarkation day. It is crazy popular.

 

Dining:

We used Dine-My-Way  on the Medallion App- but we were late comers to this cruise and could only get an 8:00 pm seating for a private table. Once on board, Jon talked to George- the Director of Dining Services. He told us to just show up to our dining room and ask to be seated earlier. We were seated at 5:45 with minimal wait time at a wonderful table. I really hope that this is where we will stay for the balance of the cruise. It was perfect!

 

The food was really good, but we have already hit the “food wall”. So we each had two apps and dessert. It is all about balance! I was not missing the flourless chocolate cake. Also, there have been some comments about service being a bit slow. This has not been our experience so far. The service has been excellent!

 

We decided to attend the main performance in the Princess Theater. We got there about 10 minutes early, and by the time the lights went down, the theater was packed. There were very few masks- we were definitely in the minority. The performance was called Great Balls of Fire- with a trio of a pianist, bassist (electric), and drummer. They were so talented- but there was a lot of schtick- that seemed a little contrived. Some of the selections were a bit off the beaten path (which is a big Yay for us!). Carl Perkins, Stonewall Jackson, Ray Jones were just a few. There was a lot of talent on the stage, for sure.

 

After, we sat in the Atrium, drank ginger tea, and played cards. It was lovely and familiar. There was a female vocalist up in Crooner who was loud, but even that was not disruptive.

 

As stated on other blogs, this ship is sailing at or near full cap. There are times you really feel it. Dining lines, buffet, loungers by the pool, elevators… lots of people. Even in the Atrium, there was some jockey-ing for seats. After our 25% cap cruises on the Regal last November, this feels very different, but I am so grateful that the world is opening back up…

 

I think I will cut here!

 

Thank you for following along!

More later-

Tracie-Lynn

[Host CJSKIDS]

Yay, so excited to follow along! 

Thrilled you got to get your seats in the Sanctuary as I know yuh love it as much as we do. Enjoy every moment.  
 

Wishing both of you as well and Julie and Henry the best of sailings! 

[GonzoWCS]

Following Along

 

Cheers

[TracieABD]

Day 2

May 29, 2022

Princess Cays

 

It’s Back! The Smelly Smell from H3LL!

 

Hi friends-

 

When we returned to our room last night, at least 50 nautical miles behind us, the smell was there. And it was worse than ever. We are not sure what it is (any guesses????), but this was my solution… I dug around my med bag and found a small tub of Vick’s! I rubbed a little under my nose- and voila!!! The icky smell was lessened (there is not enough Vick’s to make that smelly smell go away)! Problem solved!

 

I slept well and I think Jon did too. The gift of an interior cabin is for the most part, they are very dark and quiet. I love that!

 

We negotiated the International Cafe this morning for our coffee. We traded our mini bar for two coffee cards. They have charged our account for the cards- and will remove the charges soon. This is a new procedure to us. And we are trusting the process. 

 

There has been a little confusion (and I use that term liberally) at the Passenger Services Desk. There is a sign for Suite and Elite, but there are no stantions to  divide the two lines. We just stood in the one line. We were actually working with the PS rep, when a man created a new line for Suite and Elite. Then a guy in the reg line said that he was also Suite/ Elite. There were words and tempers. Nothing came of it, but we have noticed that people seem to be a wound a little tighter on this cruise. I chalk it up to the long periods of isolation throughout the pandemic. Many of us are learning to negotiate the world again. It has been hard on many. I am holding a great deal of space for those who are re-entering the world.

 

We are currently in the Sanctuary, with absolutely no plans to tender ashore. (Still listening to the Serenity Stewards turn people away). It is pretty gray and a little rainy, but it is quiet and peaceful and just what the doctor ordered!

 

Would you like cucumber water or citrus water?

 

Thank you for following along! 

 

More later-

Tracie-Lynn

Edited May 29, 2022 by TracieABD

[TracieABD]

Thank you so much Carolyn!

 

Some day, we will meet in person!

15 minutes ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

Yay, so excited to follow along! 

Thrilled you got to get your seats in the Sanctuary as I know yuh love it as much as we do. Enjoy every moment.  
 

Wishing both of you as well and Julie and Henry the best of sailings! 

 

[CineGraphic]

6 minutes ago, TracieABD said:

people seem to be a wound a little tighter on this cruise. I chalk it up to the long periods of isolation throughout the pandemic. Many of us are learning to negotiate the world again. It has been hard on many. I am holding a great deal of space for those who are re-entering the world.

 

 

I don't think it's just this cruise, we noticed the same thing on the Ruby last month.

I never thought I'd hear a woman drop an F bomb at the top of her lungs in the piazza before, but post-Covid, anything is possible. Some people definitely need to take their chill-pills.

[chamima]

45 minutes ago, TracieABD said:

May 28, 2022

Evening 1

Sail Away

 

Ewwww! That Smell!

 

Hi friends-

We are in an aft interior cabin on Deck 12 (Aloha). The other half of the deck is actually the Covid ward, so it is super quiet.

 

However, we have run into a problem that is a first for me… there is this smell. It is pretty awful. It is not sewage, but smells more like very old standing water. It is both rank and acrid. We asked our cabin steward about it and he told us that it was the port. He let us know that once the ship gets going, the ventilation system will kick in and the smell will dissipate. We took that as “the word” and went on about our business.

 

We decided to spend the afternoon in our hard-won seats in the Sanctuary. They have revamped this area so that the cabanas (at approx $200 a day vs $ 40 a day for a lounger) have the front row, as do the massage cabanas. This is different. They also have the new loungers. They are not quite as padded, but super comfy all the same.

 

As a word of warning, if you want the Sanctuary- hoof it up there fast. We have listened to them turn people away all afternoon. I am pretty sure it was fully sold out by 3 pm on embarkation day. It is crazy popular.

 

Dining:

We used Dine-My-Way  on the Medallion App- but we were late comers to this cruise and could only get an 8:00 pm seating for a private table. Once on board, Jon talked to George- the Director of Dining Services. He told us to just show up to our dining room and ask to be seated earlier. We were seated at 5:45 with minimal wait time at a wonderful table. I really hope that this is where we will stay for the balance of the cruise. It was perfect!

 

The food was really good, but we have already hit the “food wall”. So we each had two apps and dessert. It is all about balance! I was not missing the flourless chocolate cake. Also, there have been some comments about service being a bit slow. This has not been our experience so far. The service has been excellent!

 

We decided to attend the main performance in the Princess Theater. We got there about 10 minutes early, and by the time the lights went down, the theater was packed. There were very few masks- we were definitely in the minority. The performance was called Great Balls of Fire- with a trio of a pianist, bassist (electric), and drummer. They were so talented- but there was a lot of schtick- that seemed a little contrived. Some of the selections were a bit off the beaten path (which is a big Yay for us!). Carl Perkins, Stonewall Jackson, Ray Jones were just a few. There was a lot of talent on the stage, for sure.

 

After, we sat in the Atrium, drank ginger tea, and played cards. It was lovely and familiar. There was a female vocalist up in Crooner who was loud, but even that was not disruptive.

 

As stated on other blogs, this ship is sailing at or near full cap. There are times you really feel it. Dining lines, buffet, loungers by the pool, elevators… lots of people. Even in the Atrium, there was some jockey-ing for seats. After our 25% cap cruises on the Regal last November, this feels very different, but I am so grateful that the world is opening back up…

 

I think I will cut here!

 

Thank you for following along!

More later-

Tracie-Lynn

 

 

I hope to hear that by today you've moved into a new "smell-less" cabin.

 

If you could, could you please take a picture of the new Sanctuary arrangement.

In the past we've loved relaxing on those thickly padded chairs just gazing out at the water.

I wonder how much of that will be missing if all we're gazing at it the back of a cabana.

 

I can't wait to read about the what will be a wonderful week for you!

[TracieABD]

28 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

 

 

I don't think it's just this cruise, we noticed the same thing on the Ruby last month.

I never thought I'd hear a woman drop an F bomb at the top of her lungs in the piazza before, but post-Covid, anything is possible. Some people definitely need to take their chill-pills.

There is definitely a palpable shift in attitude.  

<This is me. Just staying in my own lane. >

[TracieABD]

8 minutes ago, chamima said:

 

 

I hope to hear that by today you've moved into a new "smell-less" cabin.

 

If you could, could you please take a picture of the new Sanctuary arrangement.

In the past we've loved relaxing on those thickly padded chairs just gazing out at the water.

I wonder how much of that will be missing if all we're gazing at it the back of a cabana.

 

I can't wait to read about the what will be a wonderful week for you!

Hey!

I will try to take a picture, but if you remember from my past blogs…. I am particularly challenged in this area. 

 

I am not sure if these changes are fleet-wide… We were on the Regal, and it was the “traditional” set up.

 

This is a new experience for us.

 

PS I did it!!!

Edited May 29, 2022 by TracieABD

[kabmab]

1 hour ago, TracieABD said:

I am so sorry about your baby… For those who don’t know the breed, this is the most lovable group of puppies. Ours actually hugs us around the neck. I just cannot imagine how much you miss your Iggy.

 

I wish for your husband a super mild case of COVID, and I hope that you stay negative.

Thank you for your kind words, our boy was just the sweetest ever.  He had a shocking diagnosis of a spinal tumor on Jan. 1 with paralysis the next day.  We let him fly free after a neuro vet consult Jan. 3.  Our first, but hopefully not our last.  I wanted an IG for twenty years.  Nine years with him (we rescued him at 8 months) was far too short.

 

We found tempers to be short last week, not only to crew, but passenger to passenger and just stayed clear.   Most people were lovely though.   Deck chair hogs were out in full force.  The theater was packed most nights.  Only one production show, Bravo, which we missed.  Two comedy shows and the rest musicians including Great Balls of Fire.  Couldn't get the same table for dinner, but most were fine except in an almost empty section seated next to the restaurant manager's office with a constant parade of crew.  Dinners were good but lunch in the Marketplace was very repetitive.  Next time would opt for sandwiches at the IC.  And lastly, we were midship on the starboard side of Aloha and noticed the smell when we walked aft.  To me it smelled like cabbage.  I picked up the smell in other places, but there had been sewage/toilet problem in the 700 numbered cabins on a lower deck the previous week.  Hope the smell subsides and your week is great!  I enjoyed our week with just some very minor hiccups 😊

[TracieABD]

25 minutes ago, kabmab said:

Thank you for your kind words, our boy was just the sweetest ever.  He had a shocking diagnosis of a spinal tumor on Jan. 1 with paralysis the next day.  We let him fly free after a neuro vet consult Jan. 3.  Our first, but hopefully not our last.  I wanted an IG for twenty years.  Nine years with him (we rescued him at 8 months) was far too short.

 

We found tempers to be short last week, not only to crew, but passenger to passenger and just stayed clear.   Most people were lovely though.   Deck chair hogs were out in full force.  The theater was packed most nights.  Only one production show, Bravo, which we missed.  Two comedy shows and the rest musicians including Great Balls of Fire.  Couldn't get the same table for dinner, but most were fine except in an almost empty section seated next to the restaurant manager's office with a constant parade of crew.  Dinners were good but lunch in the Marketplace was very repetitive.  Next time would opt for sandwiches at the IC.  And lastly, we were midship on the starboard side of Aloha and noticed the smell when we walked aft.  To me it smelled like cabbage.  I picked up the smell in other places, but there had been sewage/toilet problem in the 700 numbered cabins on a lower deck the previous week.  Hope the smell subsides and your week is great!  I enjoyed our week with just some very minor hiccups 😊

There have been so many announcements regard what can and cannot go into the toilets on the ship. I really hope people  are listening. Flushing the wrong thing can be very impactful on many people. 

 

I really hope that you find another Iggy LoveBug.  They are so stinking special!

[Host CJSKIDS]

1 hour ago, TracieABD said:

Thank you so much Carolyn!

 

Some day, we will meet in person!

 

That would be fun. We need to get Chris and Brenda along, think of the fun (and great wine) we would have! 

[TracieABD]

15 minutes ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

That would be fun. We need to get Chris and Brenda along, think of the fun (and great wine) we would have! 

I am ALL IN!!!!

[DeltaOne]

2 hours ago, TracieABD said:

When we returned to our room last night, at least 50 nautical miles behind us, the smell was there. And it was worse than ever. We are not sure what it is (any guesses????)

 

Check all the floor drains in the bathroom. Sometimes the traps in the floor drains dry out and you'll smell sewer gas.  Especially if the room hasn't been used for a while.

 

There will be a drain in the shower, of course.  But look for other floor drains by the bathroom door, etc.  Pour a half gallon (or gallon)  of water down each and every drain.  Wait an hour...and hope the smell goes away.

 

Is there a floor drain on your balcony?  Check it too.

 

Longtime Cruise Critic member chengkp75, a retired ship chief engineer, mentions this subject from time to time.