Live from Crown: Carolyn’s Crown Princess Blog

[JanMD]

Simple question re: Bathroom shower heads in mini suites

 

In the mini suite that you had- could you take the shower head off and did it have different speeds. Need it for medical reasons.

thanks,

Jan

[SI Cruiser]

Carolyn,

The Aug. 7th sailing CC group is trying to arrange out meet and greet. I can't remember the timing of the muster drill and sailaway. Do we have time to meet up for a bit at the Wheelhouse without missing the sailaway? Any other suggestions? We are planning to contact James to arrange an organized meeting in addition to this first encounter. Thanks for all your helpful hints and to everyone elses insights!

 

So far we only have 28 people on our roll call for 8/7. Please sign on if you haven't already!

Sari

 

I don't recall if the Wheelhouse was open prior to sailing. Many people gathered at the numerous bars up on decks 15 and 16 between 1:00 and 3:45. You may want to try Tradewinds. The muster is at 4:00 and sailaway party starts right after that probably about 4:30.

 

p.s. James Lay and Lisa Ball will not help you put together a M&G.

[SI Cruiser]

Thank you so much for all this marvelous information! I am going out on 7/29--Eastern run. Without missing any formal nights or theme nights, do you have any advise as to which night would be best to make a Sabitini's reservation? :)

 

I would book Sabatini's the last night of the cruise. The food that night in the dining rooms was horrible. The Tom Turkey was dried out and the prime rib was fatty. The pasta with little neck clams consisted of a few ounces of pasta and maybe one chopped up little neck clam while the pan fish dish was much too salty. Everyone at my table found the food on that Saturday night to be the worst of the trip.

 

As for theme nights, the food may have a theme i.e. Italian, American,etc. but don't expect singing and dancing waiters.

[Love Boat Dream]

I'm in Bellmore. Feel free to drop me an e-mail with any questions you may have either pre or post sailing.

 

Hi Rich

 

I grew up in Bellmore!

[gkny]

Carolyn,

Could you please comment on whether tours are offered on disembarkation day - we have a late flight out and are wondering if Princess is offering some sort of NYC tour and then an airport drop off. We're thinking this may be an option considering the disembarkation problems with the maiden cruise. Thanks!

Hi Jules, When is your disembarkation date from the Crown. Mine is July 29th. My travel agency gives tours of NYC. If I could be of any help just let me know or if you have any questions on what sites to see, feel free to ask. Don't get me wrong in asking for your buisness. I'm not, I'm just being a friendly New Yorker. My e-mail adress is gkny@aol.com and my name is George

[STEVEPCPA]

We sailed on 6/23 on the Crown and want to tell all that it was the best cruise we ever had. The ship is magnificent. Despite others comments about the food, we had the best we have ever had onboard, and are very picky being Manhattanites who dine out often at "quality" restaurants. The food was made even more special by the special treats compliments of the Maitre D' who I suppose can't have something special made for everyone, but certainly surprised us some extra apps. Anyways, the spa pool was never very crowed until towards the end. The large pools are not our thing anyways. We loved the Cruise Port at Grand Turk. Thought the beach and water were very clean. Don't go to Margarittaville, if you don't find that sort of thing entertaining. Bermuda - spectacular. Will go back for a land vacation. Back to onboard - Adagio - a must for anyone who enjoys cabaret, and award winning artist - Sammy - plays nightly - and I mean awards for Cabaret in NYC the best of them all for that sort. Catalin and Christian at Tradewinds (I think that was the one, the bar upstairs at the pool without MUTS) come in for special praise for their poise and conversation. All around, found the CD staff to be less than welcoming, but they never have much to do with our vacation anyways...last but not least, they need to have a pre-planned FOD meeting and not wait for people to beg. Hope Mr. James Lay, CD, takes note of that. Truly the best time we have had on a cruise. Now just two months til Greece - can't wait!

Cheers and happy sailing!

 

 

Did you have an FOD meeting on your cruise? Did you ask for one? We'll be sailing on July 29th and were hopeful one would just be included. Glad to hear you had a great time on the cruise. Will definitely check out Sammy. I'm a former New Yorker who used to enjoy Don't Tell Mama, so it sounds right up my alley. Hope you've adjusted to being back to the real world!

[editor@cruisecritic]

So I'm already in work preparation mode, LOL (would you believe I left my laptop at work so I would relax and chill out today -- and I've been playing around on my husband's Mac all throughout the day). It's because it was an awesome cruise and also because you were an awesome audience.

 

I still have a handful of questions to answer (some going back to the early posts) and this is my question to y'all: is it worth it to continue? Are folks who don't have answers yet discouraged and not coming back to this thread? Or are they still hopeful?

 

I will write a full review and there I will deal in more depth about various things, particularly about dining, which seems to be a hot button.

 

But if enough of you still feel like it's worthwhile to come back I'll extend through Friday. If not, just tell me (I won't be hurt :)) ) and I'll start to focus on the review.

 

All best,

 

Carolyn

 

P.S. re Friends of Dorothy, yes, I do believe there was a meeting. I have the Patters here...we're going to upload them, along with menus, but we have to design the page first so just hang in there...lots going on at Cruise Critic and all my whims, LOL, not necessarily on the "very next day priority list." But I think it's a super ship for gay and lesbian travelers -- big enough for a varied crowd, based in NY so the potential for a more, er, sophisticated group is higher, and I can't say enough about Princess' various dining options....

[TexasMom2]

Please do keep answering questions if you have the time. You're the only one not getting dinged for posting honestly. Pretty soon no one will post their experiences because they will get beat up on the boards for doing so. Looking forward to your review, especially anything you can share about the piazza.

[Quenby]

Thanks so much, Carolyn, for all your information. I appreciate that you provide honest opinions but are NOT mean-spirited about it. :D

[Nliedel]

POST IT ALL!!! I leave a week from today. Actually I leave home a week from yesterday. The suitcases are on the bed, zippers are being placed in my new clothes (I sew a lot of my cruisewear) and the cats are giving me dirty looks. No diapers for nine days! YEHAW!

 

If you missed any little anything about shipboard internet access I would be grateful. That's how I'm going to keep in touch with the Goat Rodeo (family).

 

Also I'm a coffee junkie, but I think it's all been answered. Oh yeah, the gym. Did you get there? I have to put the training into high gear that week.

[weatherguy]

Yes, Carolyn, I think they should continue answering questions. While we're at it, I've got a couple easy short questions for you.

Can a guest make reservations in Sabatini before boarding the ship? (Just like making tour excursion reservations.)

Next, can the same be done in making reservations at the Sanctuary before boarding the ship?

[Colo Cruiser]

Sorry no specialty restaurant reservations can be made before embarkation day onboard. :)

[Sandytoes]

Carolyn,

Are you going to upload a wine list as well?

I have a favorite wine & champagne and I am not to sure if Princess offers it.

If not, I would like to bring along a few bottles for the cruise.

Is it considered rude to bring a bottle into the Dining Room to give to the waiter or should we ask our cabin steward to deliver it to where we are going to dine?

 

~ ~ Chris ~ ~

 

Originally Posted by

Carolyn

Wine Lists / Thermal Suite

*We are going to upload Patters and menus.

By the glass options in most of the lounges are pretty mass market (Mondavi, Beringer and the like). You have to go to Vines or the specialty restaurants for the good stuff by the glass (and yes, the wine lists are excellent there too for full bottles).

One tip – and thanks to Dargus at Vines for the suggestion – if you know you’ll be visiting Vines regularly and have a favorite wine-by-the-glass you can buy a bottle and keep it there (like in restaurants). That way you get five glasses for the price of four. Also it’s nice to have “a bottle” waiting at your favorite joint,

[tetons]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all of our questions. You must be a very patient and kind person.

I haven't seen a question asked about the ventilation system and smoking on the ship. Is the ventilation system great in the lounge areas and public areas where smoking is allowed? Were the smokers considerate and are there lots of places for them to smoke?

I know on previous Princess cruises I have been on, the ventilation system was not great and you could not really tell that much difference in the non-smoking side from the smoking side in many of the great music venue areas such as bars/dance areas.

I don't want this to start the huge debate on smoking again, just wondering about ventilation as will be travelling with people with asthma.

[ginny0034]

Non-smokers will be happy for the most part on the Crown. As a smoker I found very limited places to smoke on this ship. Not a big deal for me except after a meal. I purchased a mini suite with balcony so I can smoke in comfort. In open lounges there were actually only a couple you could smoke in. I know in Club Fusion they had a very small corner of the room, you could smoke in. The neptune Deck by the back of the pool only a few rows of seats and a couple of tables that end of the deck were smoking. The only area I think would bother you would be the casino lots of smoking going on there. I know on one side of the ship on the open decks people were smoking didn't see much of that going on and really didn't hear anyone complaining. I did smell smoke coming from the persons cabin next to mine when I passed there door but couldn't smell it in my cabin. I do enjoy a cigerette but hate the smell especially in closed areas!

[ginny0034]

Maybe someone can step in and add there information on Skywalkers and the wheelhouse bar didn't really go there so I don't have any info. on them. I know in the explorers lounge there was no smoking

[katisdale]

Please do keep the blog going. I have read every post. My question is can you see any of the US coast in either direction? I think it would be interesting to see the coastline from the sea. Thanks for all of the good information. We are going on the September 3 voyage and you have given us so much good data.

[figmentdj]

Thanks Caroline for the great blog. At the risk of being too nosey, how was the couples rasul on your husbands birthday? I'm interested but may need some good reviews to convince my wife.

 

Anyone else, what cabins are obstructed on Lido? I wasn't aware of any.

 

Club Fusion, are there still slot machines in there like on the Diamond?

 

Thanks again.

[kingtns]

For anyone who wants to eat at the specialty rest. make your reservations right away, we were put on a waitlist for both of them & couldn't get in:( Too bad as this was our 1st Princess cruise & although I'm a vegetarian, my DH & boys REALLY wanted to eat there!!!!

[CaroleLee]

So I'm already in work preparation mode, LOL (would you believe I left my laptop at work so I would relax and chill out today -- and I've been playing around on my husband's Mac all throughout the day). It's because it was an awesome cruise and also because you were an awesome audience.

 

I still have a handful of questions to answer (some going back to the early posts) and this is my question to y'all: is it worth it to continue? Are folks who don't have answers yet discouraged and not coming back to this thread? Or are they still hopeful?

 

I will write a full review and there I will deal in more depth about various things, particularly about dining, which seems to be a hot button.

 

But if enough of you still feel like it's worthwhile to come back I'll extend through Friday. If not, just tell me (I won't be hurt :)) ) and I'll start to focus on the review.

 

All best,

 

Carolyn

 

P.S. re Friends of Dorothy, yes, I do believe there was a meeting. I have the Patters here...we're going to upload them, along with menus, but we have to design the page first so just hang in there...lots going on at Cruise Critic and all my whims, LOL, not necessarily on the "very next day priority list." But I think it's a super ship for gay and lesbian travelers -- big enough for a varied crowd, based in NY so the potential for a more, er, sophisticated group is higher, and I can't say enough about Princess' various dining options....

Pls keep blogging away Leaving on 7-11. DH is hungry wants to see Menus from Sabatini's etc. Where do you purchase the coffee card?

Thanks for a great job

Carole

[jlbliss2]

I thoroughly agree as to go to a specialty restaurant on the last night. We had the prime rib, steak and chicken and non was up to par with the previous nights' entrees

[jlbliss2]

Hi Carolyn,

 

You will probably put this information in your cruise review, but I was wondering what you thought about the food. I picked up little snippets, here and there, like you enjoyed the Crown restaurant (the new specialty one), Vines, the International Cafe, but perhaps you could comment on the other locations. How about the Caribe, the main dining rooms, room service, Sabatinis, etc. Sorry if you've already mentioned these and I've just missed it.

 

Also, did you have anytime dining or traditional? I'm a little nervous about anytime dining (we're on the waiting list for traditional and not likely to get it). We like to meet new people, but we kind of look forward to getting to know the people at our table over the duration of the cruise. Also, my husband and I love each other, but sometimes it's nice to talk to other people, a whole 10 days alone with each other and we might go a bit crazy! Anyone have any experiences to share re anytime dining?

 

Thank you!

We were waitlisted for traditional and when I went to the Maitre D the first night, I was rejected, but they were able to get us a table the following night. We went and the service was painfully slow, so we went back to anytime and had great service and a great waiter, so we just reserved him for the rest of the trip. It was just like traditional dining.

[tjk221]

Carolyn,

 

Thank you for all of your posting pertaining to the Crown Princess. I myself have booked passage in 12/06. This will be my 8th cruise. I have been trying to read and find all of the information / pictures I can about the ship since its intial voyage only weeks ago. Do you know of any good sites ?

 

My questions is this... is Princess still offering a "soda" or "pop" prepaid option ?

Also... are the Matre D's still as accommodating in the dining rooms? When they come around each night and ask how everything was, they ask if there is anything they can do or make for us.. and we ususally "do" find something for him, lol. Are they still as accommodating?

 

I look forward to your response.

 

tjk221 (Tom)

[Love Boat Dream]

Pls keep blogging away Leaving on 7-11. DH is hungry wants to see Menus from Sabatini's etc. Where do you purchase the coffee card?

Thanks for a great job

Carole

 

 

Hi Carole

I posted a (partial) menu from Sabatini's in another thread.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=369363

[SI Cruiser]

Carolyn,

Are you going to upload a wine list as well?

I have a favorite wine & champagne and I am not to sure if Princess offers it.

If not, I would like to bring along a few bottles for the cruise.

Is it considered rude to bring a bottle into the Dining Room to give to the waiter or should we ask our cabin steward to deliver it to where we are going to dine?

 

~ ~ Chris ~ ~

 

The Champagnes available are:

 

Mumm, Cordon Rouge, Brut $48

Moet & Chandon, Extra Dry $56

Veuve Clicquot, Brut $64

Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon $165

 

There are also 3 California Sparkling Wines:

Korbel Brut $24

Korbel Rose $28

Domaine Chandon Brut Cuvee $34

 

And Asti Spumante Martini & Rossi $26

 

The wine list has a nice selection of American, Italian, French, Chilean, Australian whites and red. Most of them are the more commercial labels such as Woodbridge, Fetzer, Beringer, Wolff Blass, Kendall Jackson, St Margarita, etc with price ranges from $20 up to $138 with most being in the $20 to $40 range. The only negative is the lack of a wine steward or sommelier in the dining room. I found the wait staff to be of little help in choosing a wine.

 

It is not rude to bring your own bottle. I saw a number of people doing so. There is a corkage fee($10 or $15 not sure) if you bring your own bottle and in some cases the head waiter may waive the fee.