World Cruise 2023 - Occasionally Live from the Island Princess

[PescadoAmarillo]

They may have butchered the ship but that promenade is beautiful. Friends are with you on the WC and she is blogging. She mentioned something about weigh ins and “so far so good”. Surely that’s not a sponsored event?  Is there just a scale in the gym?

[chamima]

Thank you for taking the time out of your trip to take and post these really informative pictures.

We are signed up for next year's World Cruise so all of your info is really appreciated!!!

[SargassoPirate]

No loungers on what's left of the promenade?

Edited January 27, 2023 by SargassoPirate

[Steelers36]

11 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

They may have butchered the ship but that promenade is beautiful. Friends are with you on the WC and she is blogging. She mentioned something about weigh ins and “so far so good”. Surely that’s not a sponsored event?  Is there just a scale in the gym?

IIRC, there is a scale just inside (outside?) the gym door.  I would hazard a guess that Coral would have one as well??

[We_like_to_cruise]

10 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

They may have butchered the ship but that promenade is beautiful. Friends are with you on the WC and she is blogging. She mentioned something about weigh ins and “so far so good”. Surely that’s not a sponsored event?  Is there just a scale in the gym?

 

Yes, you are right.  I should not have been so quick to criticize the wide Promenade Deck.  It is lovely to walk around on a nice day, even if you can not circumnavigate the entire deck.

 

Not familiar with the "weigh in" so sorry cannot help there.  It does not appear on the daily patter.

[We_like_to_cruise]

Just now, SargassoPirate said:

No loungers on what's left of the promenade?

 

No loungers anymore.  There are sections with chairs and side tables.  I will post a pic later.  IIRC there used to be loungers with comfy cushions on other Princess ships we have sailed on.

Edited January 27, 2023 by We_like_to_cruise
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[btcruz]

Were is the best place to watch the ocean and read when the weather is not so great? We are thinking of booking Iceland and Norway.

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

 

No loungers anymore.  There are sections with chairs and side tables.  I will post a pic later.  IIRC there used to be loungers with comfy cushions on other Princess ships we have sailed on.

Diamond Princess, December 22 for example

 

Norris

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

 

No loungers anymore.  There are sections with chairs and side tables.  I will post a pic later.  IIRC there used to be loungers with comfy cushions on other Princess ships we have sailed on.

They probably don't want folks getting so comfortable for free that they would ignore the Sanctuary option.

[Host CJSKIDS]

What a great live from thread, thanks so much for doing it.  Sounds like a great cruise and so looking forward to reading all about the rest of your journey. 

[shamrockace]

21 hours ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

the Promenade Deck, 7.  Due to the “reconstruction” of the Island

We are also on the world cruise. The food in the dining room seems better than our November cruise on Enchanted. But the specialty restaurants have been disappointing. The steak house is part of the Cajun restaurant and the steak was really good but the few sides were all Cajun with no substitutes. The Italian restaurant last night was disappointing too. Service was good, but the food wasn’t. We walked out during the main course. To their credit, the manager tracked us down in the wheelhouse bar and took the specialty charge off our bill. 
 

the Irish couple singing in the wheelhouse bar are awesome. The line dance classes have been awesome and trivia is where Princess excels. Our cabin is great too. All help is friendly and helpful.

 

we love Cole and Angela, the entertainment staff. My recycled watch band / medallion holder broke while we were riding motorcycles in Kauai and the lady replaced it for free. The dealers in the casino are friendly although they take my money. Casino isn’t busy at all. 
 

 

Edited January 27, 2023 by shamrockace

[SargassoPirate]

6 hours ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

 

No loungers anymore.  There are sections with chairs and side tables.  I will post a pic later.  IIRC there used to be loungers with comfy cushions on other Princess ships we have sailed on.

So there are at least some deck chairs to sit on?  I love the promenade as a relatively quiet spot to sit, drink coffee, read, and watch the sea roll by.

 

[BerthaButt]

Thanks everyone who replied  to my laundry  question.  I also use the laundromat  for clothes I don't  want to send out.  We have sent clothes out on six cruises and so far no problems.   I'm  really  enjoying following this land getting good info for our 2024 World cruise.

[We_like_to_cruise]

22 hours ago, btcruz said:

Were is the best place to watch the ocean and read when the weather is not so great? We are thinking of booking Iceland and Norway.

 

We were on IP in the summer and cruised Iceland and Greenland.  There is plenty of inside seating all around the ship including outside the lounges and inside / outside the specialty restaurants.  I don't think you will have any problem if you are flexible.  (Choice seats might be taken early in the day!)

Edited January 28, 2023 by We_like_to_cruise
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[GonzoWCS]

Great Information thanks for taking the time!

 

Cheers

[We_like_to_cruise]

17 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

So there are at least some deck chairs to sit on?  I love the promenade as a relatively quiet spot to sit, drink coffee, read, and watch the sea roll by.

 

 

Yes, here are a few pix.  Personally I prefer a more upright position whilst reading, but they are okay for me for short periods if I would like to sit outside.  These posted pix are the chairs in their full upright position.  Our personal balcony seating is more comfortable and adjustable IMHO.

 

 

 

[We_like_to_cruise]

19 hours ago, shamrockace said:

The Irish couple singing in the wheelhouse bar are awesome. The line dance classes have been awesome and trivia is where Princess excels. Our cabin is great too. All help is friendly and helpful.

 

we love Cole and Angela, the entertainment staff.

 

Totally agree.  The Irish couple are "Aileen and Sticks."  She plays the guitar and he plays percussion.  They both are talented vocalists with very nice harmonies.  

 

We are lucky to have a very engaging entertainment staff.

[chamima]

24 minutes ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

 

Yes, here are a few pix.  Personally I prefer a more upright position whilst reading, but they are okay for me for short periods if I would like to sit outside.  These posted pix are the chairs in their full upright position.  Our personal balcony seating is more comfortable and adjustable IMHO.

 

 

 

 

************

It's too bad they replaced these

 

 

With those uncomfortable looking chairs in your photos! ☺️

[We_like_to_cruise]

Honolulu, Hawaii Part One

 

Disembarkation was held up for about 30 minutes, but once off the ship we grabbed an Uber to the Daniel K. Inouye (Honolulu) Airport.  We picked up an SUV at Alamo and headed out for the day.  First stop – Pearl Harbor. Reservations were made about six weeks ago when they first became available.  We drove around a few of the parking lots searching for parking to no avail.  At 10 am the lots were already filled to capacity.  Finally we used the “follow a leaving couple back to their car” technique and were able to get a spot.  Whew.

 

We spent the next 3-4 hours at the site.  So moving and emotional.  We toured the museums and walked through the large grounds and took many pictures outside while waiting for our reserved time.  We were told that since the pandemic the movie and boat ride were completely separate.  (In the past your group would enter the theater together, watch a movie about Pearl Harbor and then together take the Naval boat to the USS Arizona memorial).  So we queued at the appointed time, waited a few minutes in the theater with our group and then took the short boat ride to the USS Arizona.  Our group spent about 20 minutes there in solemn contemplation. 

 

Upon our return we went to a different theater to watch the aforementioned movie which detailed the events of that “day of infamy” Dec. 7, 1941. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by We_like_to_cruise
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[We_like_to_cruise]

Honolulu, Hawaii Part Two

 

From Pearl Harbor we drove along the coast, stopping when we pleased for as long as we pleased.  Very relaxing.  Some beaches we visited included Kailua Beach Park, Lanikai Beach and Waimanolo Beach.  What a beautiful great day – sunny and warm. 

 

Heading back at the end of the day we stopped at Costco for gas and even dashed into Wal-Mart for some souvenir t-shirts.

 

This is a big city, so of course we got stuck in rush hour traffic on our way home.  Ugh.

 

When we finally reached the Island Princess at the end of this long day we were tired and hungry.  We headed up to the Horizon Court buffet for dinner. This was the first time we had dinner here.  German food theme !  So we filled up on rouladen and spatzle and wurst and pretzel bread and washed it down with some cold beers.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by We_like_to_cruise
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[RNCheryl]

Such a pleasure to have found this post.  I find your optimism delightful!

 

Is there a more beautiful place on earth than the Hawaii?   just a comment; I was never hotter and sweatier and uncomfortable than in Cartagena.

 

 

[LouChamp]

1 minute ago, RNCheryl said:

Such a pleasure to have found this post.  I find your optimism delightful!

 

Is there a more beautiful place on earth than the Hawaii?   just a comment; I was never hotter and sweatier and uncomfortable than in Cartagena.

 

 

Aloha. Glad you agree lol!

[RNCheryl]

1 minute ago, LouChamp said:

Aloha. Glad you agree lol!

My happy place is Hanalei, but that one special night at the Royal Hawaiian was never to be forgotten.,  Next up:  Maui

[We_like_to_cruise]

Just now, RNCheryl said:

Such a pleasure to have found this post.  I find your optimism delightful!

 

Is there a more beautiful place on earth than the Hawaii?   just a comment; I was never hotter and sweatier and uncomfortable than in Cartagena.

 

 

 

Thanks for your comments!  Perhaps we are traveling at a different time of year (?) but our weather in Cartagena was not too bad.  Kind of like early summer in Florida.  🙂

[c-boy]

this is amazing. Are you out in the middle of the Pacific . 

Edited January 28, 2023 by c-boy