Live from Crown: Carolyn’s Crown Princess Blog

[mrjcharles]

I will be on the Crown on 7/29. Everything I have heard about James Lay has been good. He is very entertaining all over the ship and very warm and friendly. I look forward to having him as a CD.

[Whiskey Tango Foxtrot]

YYYYYUUUUUKKKKK!!!!! :eek:

 

That is one of the most ignorant things a person can do... go into a pool full of suntan lotion/oil. At the very least, use the showers outside the pools for a rinse off. I am a swimmer and that is what you are supposed to do before you swim. Respect for everyone using the pool. Kind of dressing up for formal night; having respect for yourself and others.

[Colo Cruiser]

That is one of the most ignorant things a person can do... go into a pool full of suntan lotion/oil. At the very least, use the showers outside the pools for a rinse off. I am a swimmer and that is what you are supposed to do before you swim. Respect for everyone using the pool. Kind of dressing up for formal night; having respect for yourself and others.

 

Hey I didn't do it I promise!!! Was not even on the ship yet. please don't kill the messenger. :D

[Whiskey Tango Foxtrot]

:D I was not trying to kill you and realize you are the messenger... just thought that Carolyn can post some pool etiquette rules... as to why there are showers outside the pools... Speaking of Carolyn... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for running this blog. It has been MOST IMFORMATIVE! I cruise on the Princess on 9/30 and am booked in a stern cabin with a beam (B751). Hope that is all I am in for (the beam that is). Thanks again Carolyn and I hope your house and pets are okay from the storms.

 

Tim:D

[Anemix]

There is tons of very helpful info on this blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you Carolyn and other contributors! I can't wait for my 9/12/06 Crown sailing.... Carolyn, you gave us some info on the cost of wi-fi... do you know if this cost also applies to Platinum and Elite Captain Circle members? Platinum and Elite members are supposed to get free internet service. Do you know if this is limited to the internet cafe or it also applies to wi-fi? I do not like to travel with my PC, but remembering how slow the internet connection was in my last cruise (Grand 4/15/06) may entice me to take my own laptop and try wi-fi, specially if it's free!

Thank you again for all your generosity!

Ximena

[High C's]

Just dropped my mom and aunt off at their home after picking them up at the airport, feeding them dinner, and hearing all about their WONDERFUL trip. Anyone who was on board - you may have noticed two little (under five feet) white haired Scottish ladies - for as small as they are, they're hard to miss!

 

Anyway, their only complaint of the entire vacation was that they had to get off the ship! They did a pre-cruise stay through Princess in NYC, and have fallen in love with that city. They have never met such a nice bunch of people and cannot wait to go back there. Kuddos to New Yorkers!

 

And although they cruise often, this is their first Princess experience. They cannot wait to go back. Loved every minute of it.

 

Thanks to Carolyn, as I was able through your posts, to follow along with my mother's cruise, and just knew she would be enjoying herself!

[Quenby]

Thanks, Carolyn, for all your information.

 

And thanks too, mrjcharles, for your comments on James Lay. Some of us may prefer a quieter, less-hyper CD. I was really sorry to see a poster trash him. (And then we wonder why the CD staff don't jump at the opportunity to set up a meet & greet for us????? :eek: )

[SI Cruiser]

I thought James looked familiar. I went back to my video tape of my June 2002 trip on the Grand. Sure enough James Lay was the Asst CD then and he had a number of his current staff working with him back then. The pool side olympics from '02 is exactly the same as the one on this cruise Same team names, same events and the same anecdotal comments. I don't recall the name of the CD back then but he was much better. He was always in the public eye, had an incredible sense of humor and knew how to entertain people. That is where James falls short.

[sultan_sfo]

James was Asst. CD on our full-transit Island Panama Canal cruise in 2003. We thought he was terrific. In fact, we wrote a comment card ("You made a difference") suggesting that he should be promoted. /Sultan

 

I will be on the Crown on 7/29. Everything I have heard about James Lay has been good. He is very entertaining all over the ship and very warm and friendly. I look forward to having him as a CD.

[Host Anne]

Carolyn and all the other Crown posters ~ thanks so much for this fun and informative thread. Can't wait to try the Crown myself. One of our all-time favorite cruises was on the previous Crown Princess. It appears that the new Crown will do the name proud! :)

[loving2cruise]

Check out the this photo of where the window of those cabins looks out to. This is the reason why they are listed as obstructed. I think. :rolleyes:

 

There is thread a little further down the list on the Lido deck cabin.

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...26399388mThQfC

 

Thanks so..much for the info.....In viewing the picture of the front of the "Crown Princess" the rooms almost looked like they were facing out the front of the boat towards the ocean. Did you take the pic from our actual room Lido deck (L102?) Thanks again!!!!!

[Merion_Mom]

Thanks, Colo Cruiser, for reminding me. Yes, the Lotus pool is free to all. It's usually a really serene place -- but yesterday got a bit rambunctious. But we swam at about 5:30 p.m., when folks were either packing or getting ready for dinner. Alas, the pool by then had ring-around-the-collar, I guess from passengers' sun tan oil? it was gross....

 

Carolyn

And that is why Royal Caribbean uses seawater in its pools!!! ;)

 

So many Princess cruisers talk about the freshwater in P's pools and why they prefer it, but this can be the result. RC changes out the water completely and regularly, and doesn't get Gunk Build-Up.

 

:D :D ;) ;)

[editor@cruisecritic]

We're checking in to making the posts a FAQ. Stay tuned. Plus I still have lots of questions to answer, will tackle those tomorrow.

In the meantime, some key links if you want info on Crown Princess and/or destinations along the itinerary we traveled:

*San Juan's new port profile: http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=8

*Grand Turk's new port profile: http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=155

*Red Hook, Brooklyn -- and New York:

New York (section): http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/homeport.cfm?ID=6 (for mini-break info, and getting to the port advice -- and p.s. don't do what I did, print it out before you go, LOL!)

New York, Red Hook specifically: http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=152

For you NY veterans, a fab look at the fab borough (hey I lived there...I think it's more interesting, ethnic and characterful than Manhattan :o): Editor's Picks: Don't Fughedabout Brooklyn!!! http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/article.cfm?ID=122

*St. Thomas: http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=17

*I include St. John under duress...we have notes for updating it (it's badly outdated...stay tuned). http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=46

*Bermuda's King's Wharf (and if you are there any day but Sunday, check out the other two major port areas in this British "series of islands": http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=130.

*Crown Princess Sneak Preview (real review to come -- but frankly you've learned more on this thread than a review could possibly cover): http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=347

What else should we be including?

Carolyn

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks, Carolyn, for all your information.

 

And thanks too, mrjcharles, for your comments on James Lay. Some of us may prefer a quieter, less-hyper CD. I was really sorry to see a poster trash him. (And then we wonder why the CD staff don't jump at the opportunity to set up a meet & greet for us????? :eek: )

 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Who said that the CD staff don't jump at the chance to set up a meet and greet. We had the best meet and greet on the Island Princess in May with Richard Joseph. He and his cruise staff personaly served about 80 of us with champagne and hot/cold snacks in the Explorer Lounge. I have heard people also say that Richard Joseph is not a good CD, but I don't hold that against them. It is after all their opinion and they are entitled to say whatever they wish. :eek:

[sealegs9]

Hi Carolyn-

Thanks again for the additional info. I know I asked too many questions on post 334 -but you answered at least half. I can wait for the rest- still have 7 weeks to go. Glad you got some rest. I was surprised to see you posting tonight!

A bunch of our group from NY/NJ are trying the Brooklyn Nosh- so any feedback is appreciated.

 

To the posters regarding James Lay- he was low key, but that wasn't a negative. He was on CB April 2005. He really excelled in the ballroom dancing arena and was really fun. Yes- we've had some outrageous CD's (Richard Spacey on RCCL Voyager), but with so much to do on this ship (or not do- relax in Sanctuary), I wouldn't worry about this. He isn't into the cruise critic thing. Not that he's against it, but the meeting I planned for our group on the CB was not listed in the Patter. I requested it beforehand from the Princess contact and she informed me it could not be done. I think RCCL is the only cruiseline dedicated to the "Meet N Mingles". On Princess, I guess it's up to the specific CD. I would not hold that against a CD and am looking forward to having James as the CD on our voyage.

[blondee_yvr]

Blondee -

We found net service SO slow, or non operational at some points, so I wouldn't rely on getting through on a phone.

Drink cards are available for $30-ish and are enforced pretty strictly.

No free wine. At all!

The fifth night (Ocho Rios) was surf & turf and the last night was lobster tails.

 

Thanks allyfl.

[caviargal]

And that is why Royal Caribbean uses seawater in its pools!!! ;)

 

So many Princess cruisers talk about the freshwater in P's pools and why they prefer it, but this can be the result. RC changes out the water completely and regularly, and doesn't get Gunk Build-Up.

 

I am another who prefers sea water that is regularly changed.

[Mr Veendam]

Thanks for posting all cruise long .

Mr Veendam

[cynbar]

There is tons of very helpful info on this blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you Carolyn and other contributors! I can't wait for my 9/12/06 Crown sailing.... Carolyn, you gave us some info on the cost of wi-fi... do you know if this cost also applies to Platinum and Elite Captain Circle members? Platinum and Elite members are supposed to get free internet service. Do you know if this is limited to the internet cafe or it also applies to wi-fi? I do not like to travel with my PC, but remembering how slow the internet connection was in my last cruise (Grand 4/15/06) may entice me to take my own laptop and try wi-fi, specially if it's free!

Thank you again for all your generosity!

Ximena

The policy has always been that internet in free for PLatinum and Elite cruisers, but only in the internet cafe. If you bring your laptop, you have to buy time at the purser's desk, and everyone pays for that. We brought our laptop on the Golden last year -- since we are Platinum, we discussed this at length with the staff but got nowhere, so we just put the laptop away and went into the cafe.

[hill6]

What nights are the formal nights on the Eastern Route of the Crown?

[2 sea bees]

Hello all

My hubby and I and our friends were on the Caribbean Princess twice...September '04, and September '05. Both times we had James Lay as Cruise Director, and both times we thought he was great. The fact is, the ship was fabulous, and we found ALL KINDS of things to do, and James and the lovely and vibrant Lisa, just added to our cruise experience! We still mention them when we remember our cruises. We were hoping he would be on our Crown cruise in October, but heard he'll be off (maybe vacation) during that time. I'm SURE whoever we have will be great too, but James would have been a bonus. Either way, we'll be aboard a beautiful ship, with our friends, having a WONDERFUL time!!!

[ginnynj]

The policy has always been that internet in free for PLatinum and Elite cruisers, but only in the internet cafe. If you bring your laptop, you have to buy time at the purser's desk, and everyone pays for that. We brought our laptop on the Golden last year -- since we are Platinum, we discussed this at length with the staff but got nowhere, so we just put the laptop away and went into the cafe.

 

I am Elite and use the IC most of the time but just off the Carib Princ and had to take a laptop for work purposes that necessitated downloading word documents to review. A tip from the on board computer gurus...for the Carib Princ the BEST signal for wireless is Deck Five around or in the library. For the two days I had to go wireless, and I only purchased 30 min for the $10.50, the timing for the wireless interface was super quick and efficient. Every other day I did emails and general tasks in the IC which the cost is removed from the bill on the last night so it is a huge savings if you have to combine work and cruising. I generally work early while everyone's still asleep and then the rest of the day is mine to play, a system that's worked well for many many years.

[Nliedel]

I am Elite and use the IC most of the time but just off the Carib Princ and had to take a laptop for work purposes that necessitated downloading word documents to review. A tip from the on board computer gurus...for the Carib Princ the BEST signal for wireless is Deck Five around or in the library. For the two days I had to go wireless, and I only purchased 30 min for the $10.50, the timing for the wireless interface was super quick and efficient. Every other day I did emails and general tasks in the IC which the cost is removed from the bill on the last night so it is a huge savings if you have to combine work and cruising. I generally work early while everyone's still asleep and then the rest of the day is mine to play, a system that's worked well for many many years.

 

This information is INVALUABLE to me. I have to bring my laptop and do some work next week. I don't want to, but there's no choice in the matter. I figure I will do two up/downloads of e-mail a day. I've closed all my groups, am blocking anyone I can wait to hear from and will haul the thing along. Readinfg that the wireless is quick and efficiant makes me a very happy camper.

[CaroleLee]

We're checking in to making the posts a FAQ. Stay tuned. Plus I still have lots of questions to answer, will tackle those tomorrow.

In the meantime, some key links if you want info on Crown Princess and/or destinations along the itinerary we traveled:

*San Juan's new port profile: http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=8

*Grand Turk's new port profile: http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=155

*Red Hook, Brooklyn -- and New York:

New York (section): http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/homeport.cfm?ID=6 (for mini-break info, and getting to the port advice -- and p.s. don't do what I did, print it out before you go, LOL!)

New York, Red Hook specifically: http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=152

For you NY veterans, a fab look at the fab borough (hey I lived there...I think it's more interesting, ethnic and characterful than Manhattan :o): Editor's Picks: Don't Fughedabout Brooklyn!!! http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/article.cfm?ID=122

*St. Thomas: http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=17

*I include St. John under duress...we have notes for updating it (it's badly outdated...stay tuned). http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=46

*Bermuda's King's Wharf (and if you are there any day but Sunday, check out the other two major port areas in this British "series of islands": http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=130.

*Crown Princess Sneak Preview (real review to come -- but frankly you've learned more on this thread than a review could possibly cover): http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=347

What else should we be including?

Carolyn

Wow!! + Thanks so much forall of the info. One question more- the launderette- price of wash. dry soap. Does sit take dollar bils or are quarters needed- ?

Carole

8 days and counting

[editor@cruisecritic]

Ack! That's one place I forgot to check out (knew it was there, but never got there). Sorry, CaroleLee; perhaps someone onboard this week can give us the info....

Carolyn

 

 

Wow!! + Thanks so much forall of the info. One question more- the launderette- price of wash. dry soap. Does sit take dollar bils or are quarters needed- ?

Carole

8 days and counting