Live from Crown: Carolyn’s Crown Princess Blog

[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....

Thanks to Carolyn & everyone for questions, help & suggestions. This is what I have learned:

Internet- buy several cards @ the same time.

Sanctuary- It costs, its crowded but everyone want to try it ( after 5:30 when its"free"

Spa- Everyone's cruise personalizer states 15% tip added for services but this may not be true- so be ready to tip.

Label your luggage -inside & out

Wine- You can bring it aboard just don't go crazy- same true for H2O & soda

Coffee- if you are need this before you are considered human (like me) buy the coffee card- I'm still not sure where- pursers desk, dining room ebay- where to buy it.

Credit Cards- CALL your CC companies tell them you will be traveling -where & when so Fraud Alert doesn't put you on hold. Also make copies of both sides & leave with Itinerary-see below.

Documents- Being the world traveler that I am- Pack Cruise Tkts, Passports etc with your make-up. Place make -up in tote bag/carryon- NO WOMAN in the World would leave home sans make-up This system has worked for 35+ yrs.

Itinerary- 1. Can change @ whim of Cruise line(see State of NJ vs RCL)2. Leave copies with family/friends.

People-1. Traveling with-a close personal friend always makes a trip more fun -if none available bring DH :) 2. You will meet some interesting ones and some who should be shot- enjoy both- they make for great stories.

Comunication: DH bringing Walkie- Talkies as are the other 1500+ people eventually this will lead to loss of/jamming of bandwidth-or we will be meeting the wrong "Honey" @ the Lido. Smile & start a conversation DH will turn up @ dinner time.

Cell Phones- Don't work @ sea-no cell sites. So the bright side is no one is asking"Can you hear me now." The down side is we will all be @ the internet cafe- at the same time.

Roll Calls- Join them, participate and say thanks to the organizer.

Dining- Anytime- You may have to wait but you can reserve your waiter if you go @ the same time everyday- its a tradition :).

Bars- There are many bars on the ship. As the godmother said "Its a good thing" I will be enjoying MHFB- multi-hued frozen beverages. If there are any psychiatrists out there why do I only order these on cruise ships?

Finally its a VACATION- so enjoy & yes it will cost you extra but isn't this why we have all saved for the year?

See everyone on 7-11

Carole - DH= Alan

[Bassethound]

You can bring your own wine on board and to the dining rooms, but there is a corkage fee ($6???)

 

One of the dining rooms was open from noon - 2 pm on embarkation day.

 

Christian at the bar on top of the Nepture pool during the days is one of the best. Tell him so!!:) And tell him Mike L243 from the inaugural says Hi!!!

 

Smoking:

 

in more than half of Skywalkers.

 

Small section in Wheelhouse, and not at teh bar

 

cigar section with HDTV and table service off the casino. VERY relaxing and quiet, but you'll never be alone when you can buy your Cubans ashore

 

smoking in Sanctuary is frowned upon (it is a spa:rolleyes: ) but the sundeck just outside on the same deck is allowed.

 

on port side of the deck overlooking Neptune pool.

 

almost entire stern open area is smoking (and adults only).

 

Best coffee: at Int'l Cafe!! But, all over was much imporved over prior Princess cuises.

 

Anything else??

 

Also, anyone with any hints on what is changing for the Emerald?????:confused:

[editor@cruisecritic]

Pink Panther, your posts made me smile....

There's no drink of the day -- though the Patters will list specialty drinks that are available at certain bars. For instance, in our Welcome to Grand Turk missive, "Bar News & Information" reveals that you can "cool down your senses with the 'ultimate cooler' " -- don't have any idea what's in the thing. Crooner's promotes a lemon tini -- but you can get that anytime. Often prices aren't listed.

Interestingly, when we boarded the first day they were aggressive about selling soda cards but nowhere did I see a drink 'o the day.

There were buckets of beer, saw them at the pools, not sure of the cost.

Otherwise, I thought the drinks were priced at street value (I remember when cruise ship cocktails were actually less than street price), so-so wine is about $6 - 7 a glass, a nicer brand is $9. We did bring a bottle of wine onboard (got it in St. Thomas) to drink on our balcony. Ironically we never had time to drink it and hauled it home. But the security folks didn't confiscate it, either.

LOL at your comment about my packing. My mom is a veteran cruiser and she'll start the suitcase a month out...of course by the time she gets onboard she can't remember half of what she packed.

Thanks for your patience....

Carolyn

 

Thanks for answering my question. :( Sucks that there won't be a discounted drink of the day - I was planning on drinking only those drinks to keep my tab low (or lower-ish). I guess I'll just get the bloody maries before noon :D.

 

At the risk of sounding like a lush, can someone give me a little more insight as to the price range of drinks on board? I've heard that they can be expensive (and carry an automatic 15% gratuity), but from what I've read in other threads regarding beer, the notion of expensive varies from person to person, region to region. We live right outside of New York City, so the idea of spending $5 or $6 for a mixed drink (Tom Collins, please) isn't that scary to me. :cool:

 

 

Love Boat - My bf finds it hilarious that I'm checking this board multiple times a day, but the excitement bug has bitten him, too. 49 days and a wake up.. I've pulled out the suitcase and started to throw things that I've bought in it! Leave it to a first time cruiser!

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, Tom, yes, they sell soda cards (it's answered in an earlier post); cost is about $3.95 per day and you have to buy nine days worth.

I'd love to hear what requests people challenge the maitre 'ds with -- I never can think of anything! The only time a maitre 'd ever made an impression on me was on Holland America's Westerdam. I'd gotten such horrific service (well, let's put it this way: I was ignored for 30 minutes) in the main dining room on the first night that I left, almost in tears of frustration, and headed over to The Pinnacle Grill. There the maitre 'd found me a table, called the dining room's maitre 'd to give him the what for (on my behalf), waived the service fee and bought me a glass of wine. And orchestrated a lovely meal :) .

Carolyn

 

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)

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi, Jake, thanks for providing some answers to sbcs5390. I think you've pretty much covered them but will chime in to say, re Grand Turk excursions, that if all you want to do is hang around a pool, don't bother with an excursion. But I found the port terminal area pretty souless and the most fun was getting into the island, slowing way down (or trying), finding a shack on the beach that served conch, and chatting with locals.

But to each your own, of course (and if enough of y'all hang out by the pool and sip Jimmy Buffett margaritas, well, then, I'll have the little water shack all to myself, LOL!

Carolyn

 

sbcs5390

To answer a couple of your questions:

3) What is the real boarding time? We're driving from New Jersey and want to have plenty of time to park, unload, and be first on the ship. :D - We arrived 9am and it was way too early, wanted to make sure we got a parking spot was we drove from Canada. They let us check in at 11am and board the ship at noon.

 

4) How are the Aloha deck balconies? We're in A518, specifically. We were in A337 and my parents in A433. Both great rooms and fully covered decks. The ones below us were only partly covered not giving you as much privacy

5) Do you have to do an excursion in Grand Turk? From what I see the cruise terminal put up by Carnival has a nice beach and pool of its own.

Didn't book an excursion, fbeach with free chairs and sunshades. The pool was free too and we loved this port. We brought our own snorkle eqpt and saw lots of fish and coral reefs.:)

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi. I think what's happening is that they're trying to promote more extravagant in-cabin dinners via the Balcony Dinner and Brunch (more on those in the review)....

Carolyn

 

Princess seems to have discontinued the option of ordering off the dinner menu via room service --- we tried it on the Golden last year and were told that only standard room service items are available. I also would love to hear that it's now possible, but I don't think any of us should count on it....

[editor@cruisecritic]

Howdy Mr. Veendam. Yes indeed there were plenty of offers and incentives (I was sorely tempted) -- like if you book a 10 night cruise in a balcony cabin you pay $100 per person deposit, can get it back, no questions asked, and get a $100 per person credit if you go through with it.

Carolyn

 

 

Hi thanks for posting from the Crown . We'll be on her on august 25th . And very much looking forward to it . One thing can you book another cruise for next year on the Crown like we did on the Grand .Looking at doing the Caribbean Priness easter week and Dawn to Alasks in august .On the Grand we only had to put down a small deposit . Do they offer this on the Crown ?

Mr Veendam 61 cruises and counting !!

[editor@cruisecritic]

A lot of people have asked about this (the rest, Kathy, I think I've covered though it's been so long now correct me if I haven't, LOL). You have to go through it. I've posted on various strategies of avoiding waiting in line but for those folks who need to get off, well, you just have to bite the bullet. It may improve but the simple fact is it takes more time to move 3,100 folks through the system. The actual time spent being "customed" was like 3 seconds.

Carolyn

 

 

 

 

Carolyn,

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer questions and provide a daily report. Have a few quick questions.

 

1. we have the early traditional dinner...at 6. On the first night, the ship is supposed to leave at 5pm...will be be out to sea by 6? I'd hate to miss Lady Liberty cause we needed to be at dinner! Read somewhere if you are 15 mins late they can give your table away:)

 

2. Mentioned to my travel agent about the customs check in San Juan and she looked at me like I was nuts...did everyone have to go through customs there, even if they weren't getting off the ship? Our trip is reverse...Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, Bermuda....will we have to go through customs in SJ and also in NYC? Seems like it may be hard to plan shore trips if you can't figure out how fast the custom thing goes.

 

3. Do they sell a water card? Wouldn't drink enough coke to justify...but sure do go through the water.

 

4. You talked about elevator problems...I am traveling with 82 yr mom with mobility issues, so stairs are not an option. How long would it take to get from BAJA level to main dining room...is it like the Marriott Marquis where you leave an hr early because of the 45 min wait for the elevators?

(I know this doesnt' happen all the time...but we go there for huge business meetings where lots of folks are trying to go the same place at the same time....much like a ship of 3000+ folks:)

 

5. Did you talk with anyone who did the hop on hop off bus in Grand Turk. Did it work smoothly? I understand that it was taking a lot more than 20 mins between busses. How were the mosquitos?

 

Thanks again for all of your posts. 39 days and counting!

[LunaMoon]

A lot of people have asked about this ....You have to go through it. I've posted on various strategies of avoiding waiting in line but for those folks who need to get off, well, you just have to bite the bullet. It may improve but the simple fact is it takes more time to move 3,100 folks through the system. The actual time spent being "customed" was like 3 seconds (Carolyn)

I called Princess directly, and I also spoke dirctly with the Pier Authority in San Juan the very day that the 6/23 Crown Cruise passengers were made to wait for hours to pass through security in San Juan.

From all the information I gathered that day, it is simply not the case that "you have to go through it" as a routine.

I was told very clearly by Princess that it was a very unusual situation that all of the passengers on the Crown were made to go through security that day.

The Princess representative said that "the normal routine for disembarking in San Juan is to swipe your card getting off and back on the ship;" that is all. They also said that if the Federal Government had changed the policy then Princess, as well as all other cruise lines would have been informed prior to the change. Princess believed that it was a random security check, maybe prompted by the fact that it was the Crown's first visit to the port.

The Pier Authority in San Juan said that it has never been necessary for any ship to go through routine regular customs procedures when their passengers disembark for the day, even if the ship is coming from an intervening foreign port.

This person was also very surprised by the day's events, and also said that it was "one of those unexpected security checks, which you can never predict...but that if the US Federal Government had indeed changed the overall disembarkation and immingration policy in San Juan, the Pier Authority and all cruise lines would have been the first to know," and they knew nothing about any customs procedure change.

Carolyn, since we have planned many special events for our upcoming trip to San Juan, I would really appreciate you're letting us know how you know that all ships' passengers have to go through full immigration/customs procedures when disembarking in San Juan.

I am not trying to be disagreeable. I genuinely and sincerely would like to clear this up simply because if you are correct, and not Princess or the SJ Pier Authority, we will have to scramble to change many of our long-standing plans for our day there soon.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to read and answer.

[LunaMoon]

I forgot to add, to my above post, the telephone number for the San Jan Pier Authority, if anyone would like to find out what's going on with disembarkation in San Juan: 787-729-8804

 

And, I guess everyone here has the phone number to Princess, if they would like to follow up on this immigration/customs question in San Juan.

[thepinkpanther]

Pink Panther, your posts made me smile....

LOL at your comment about my packing. My mom is a veteran cruiser and she'll start the suitcase a month out...of course by the time she gets onboard she can't remember half of what she packed.

 

Thanks for your patience....

 

Carolyn

 

Carolyn,

 

Thanks for this information and for all the help and assistance you've provided myself and everyone else on this board. I'm really looking forward to being on board and unwinding for 9 days, I'm secretly hoping that July goes by really fast! :p

 

My small suitcase has been filled and now things are being piled on top. Soon we'll pull out the bigger suitcase!

 

Speaking of suitcases, do you or anyone else know about weight/size limits for luggage on board? Is there a limit to the amount of luggage you can bring (I'm thinking of bringing a big suitcase and a medium/smaller size one for the two of us combined)? Also, what does Princess consider a carryon to be? I know airlines have a limit, but we wont be flying. Would a small suitcase be allowed as a carry on?

 

Thanks again!

Zia

[SI Cruiser]

The way it was explained to me is as follows:

On Friday we left the United States and we arrived in Bermuda on Monday which is a foreign country. Being that we left the U.S., stopped in a foreign country and then returned to the U.S.(Puerto Rico), immigration laws stipulate that you now must go through U.S. immigration.

 

A few year ago I sailed on Carnival Destiny and when we sailed from Aruba to P.R. we needed to go through immigration also on board and it took a few hours back then.

[LunaMoon]

The Pier Authority, which oversees the docks in San Juan, said that "intervening foreign ports have never resulted in routine full customs checks or immigration procedures in San Juan." Security checks happen, they said, but full immigration processing is not a Federal Government immigration policy currently in San Juan (with regard to ships docking for the day). It is random and not routine.

 

This is exactly why we would very much appreciate knowing Carolyn's source for stating that everyone has to go through it.

It is important to us not to have anecdotal or hearsay information, but the ability to go to an official source that we have not already contacted to clear this up.

My husband was born in San Juan, and the events we have planned are carefully timed, day-long surprises and activities.

[BILLP1]

Every cruise that we have been on since 2001 that stopped in a non US Port before San Juan required that we get in line and show our passport or photo ID to a US Customs Officer before leaving the ship. Even if you were not planning to get off the ship , you were required to report.

 

NO one was permitted to leave the ship until everyone was checked off.

[LunaMoon]

This is exactly why we would appreciate knowing from Carolyn what her source is for the information she gave.

 

It is very important to us to be able to confirm her information from some authoritative source (other than the San Juan Pier Authority and Princess, which have both confirmed what I have already posted), and not have anecdotal or hearsay information.

 

The Pier Authority, which oversees the docks in San Juan, and Princess both said that "intervening foreign ports have never resulted in routine full customs checks or immigration procedures in San Juan." Security checks happen unexpectedly from time to time, they both said, but routine full immigration processing is not a Federal Government immigration policy currently in San Juan (with regard to ships docking for the day). It is random and not routine.

 

My husband was born in San Juan many years ago, and the events we have planned are carefully timed, day-long surprises and activities.

 

And maybe the only answer, without additional clarification by the source Carolyn is referencing, is to get up early on our San Juan port day, and start the disembarkation line very very early (something we'd like to avoid, if possible, by knowing the facts beforehand).

 

Once again, thank you for helping to clear this up.

[SI Cruiser]

I quote:

 

"U.S. Immigration Inspection -

On arrival in San Juan, a mandatory United States Immigration Inspection will be taking place and Federal Law requires that all passengers must attend. Please familiarize yourself with the letter you will have already received in your stateroom, meeting at the time and place indicated in your letter. These times are an indication only, so please feel free to go through inspection earlier, if you so desire. Please ensure that you have the correct documentation in hand, ready to be presented when you meet the Immigration Officials. Once through Immigration, you will be issued a Landing Card which will allow you to go ashore when presented at the gangway."

 

My comments:

FYI, even if you are the first person on line at 11:00 the immigration people don't get on board until docking is complete. That is around 12. Even if you are the first person to go through immigration you still need to wait for everyone on the ship to clear immigration before anyone leaves the ship. I am sure this is not what you want to hear but that is how it worked in San Juan.

 

I hope your experience in San Juan is better than ours.

[Larry502]

Can someone confirm that the Horizon court closes at 6:30 and the Caribe is open Until 11:00. After this time there is no food buffet open on the lideo deck. I was up in the horizon court almost every nite at 10:30 and it was not open. My friend called princess and they said one side is open 24 hours. This was on the 6/23 cruise.

[LunaMoon]

Immigration Info from Princess Patter (SI Cruiser)

----------------------------------------------------------------

 

I just got off the phone with Princess headquarters, and read her the info you posted from your Patter.

 

Although your Patter does state procedures that would be happening for your cruise that day, Princess tonight has once again said that it is NOT U.S. Immigration policy.

 

The Princess representative even contacted "Shore Authority" in San Juan, and they told her that what you experienced is not standard operating procedures, but it is something that sometimes happens.

 

Your Patter information is absolutely accurate for your cruise and it is indeed what the passengers on your cruise experienced.

 

The rep at Princess even commented; "why would Princess offer excursions that our passengers could not make in San Juan if we actually knew ahead of time that immigration would routinely take hours?!"

 

We shall see.

 

Thank you for your help, and relaying your experience.

[donna5]

Lunamoon,

Remember Princess customer service doesn't know their right hand from their left. Every cruise that stops in a U.S. port after being at a foreign port requires this. If you dont' want to believe it, fine. When you get back from your cruise, you can let us know what the procedure was.

 

Carolyn has been so great giving out all this info.

[cruzjunkie22]

Speaking of suitcases, do you or anyone else know about weight/size limits for luggage on board? Is there a limit to the amount of luggage you can bring (I'm thinking of bringing a big suitcase and a medium/smaller size one for the two of us combined)? Also, what does Princess consider a carryon to be? I know airlines have a limit, but we wont be flying. Would a small suitcase be allowed as a carry on?

 

Thanks again!

Zia

 

Zia,

Since you are not flying, no limit on how much luggage you bring, just how much you want to carry. Also which type of cabin you have booked to how much storage you will have.

Hope that helps!:o

Mer

[LunaMoon]

Remember Princess customer service doesn't know their right hand from their left. Every cruise that stops in a U.S. port after being at a foreign port requires this. If you dont' want to believe it, fine. When you get back from your cruise, you can let us know what the procedure was.(donna5)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I don't have a need to "believe" anything. I do have a need to know the facts.

 

I guess that since "Princess customer service doesn't know their right hand from their left," I can also assume that the San Juan Pier Authority also doesn't know what's happening on their own docks.

 

It is not about "belief," it is about knowing the facts so that we can appropriately adjust our plans, which we will do if necessary.

 

I always thought that the CruiseCritic boards provided a terrific service of information, and I especially thought that CruiseCritic editorial staff could help with important cruising facts.

 

Carolyn has been great in providing insight into the Crown. However, I do not think that on issues of fact it is unreasonable to ask for source clarification.

 

PS. And, by the way, how do you actually know to be fact what you wrote, particularly the underlined? I am not being sarcastic or rude, I would really like to know.

 

Thank you

 

 

[Larry502]

The immigration officers need something to do. What else would you want them doing. Protecting our bourders in Arizona? That would be real work. The whole process of immigration on board the ship is a joke. They look at your passport like they know what they looking for. They don't even have a computer to check there database to see if the person should not be permitted to enter the country. All they are doing is to see if the picture in your fake passport matches that of person who is standing in front of them. The two reasons they are on board is to get there free lunch that Princess is nice enough to serve them and that the goverment is paying them.

[CarolN]

Larry502

 

Yes, it is correct that the Horizon Court is NOT a 24 hour buffet. Their stated close time was 11 PM but most nights it closed around 10 PM. There was NEVER one side open after the close at 10 PM. We asked about this (sent a note to the Manager of Hotel Operations and he replied that is was a "Corporate" decision and that the International Cafe was the 24 hour dining place. I guess the "Corporate" decision did not reach the people who answer the Princess phone at their corporate headquarters.

 

We were also on the 6/23 cruise.

[dobie]

Carolyn, yes, please keep posting...my questions were very early on and I was wondering about the covered areas by the aft adults only pool and the Lotus Pool....now that I have read that they allow smoking back there, do you know if that is true? We're on the Emerald and really hoping for adults only smoke free covered pool area.....thank you again, so much, for spending so much time on this!

 

As far as the customs issue, any time we have been on a ship that has gone to a foreign port, and then a US port, we have been required to clear customs....we've had to do it in St Thomas, in Key West, in San Juan....I don't know the rules but do know that we have had to do it many times in the past. If, however, we've gone straight from the US to San Juan, or St Thomas...no customs line.

[editor@cruisecritic]

and I'm sure I get no sympathy but... I have to say I almost wish I were you, Nliedel, starting out (relatively) fresh on this lovely, awesome ship.

 

Again, I don't expect sympathy, LOL, but sometimes you can cruise too much and see too much and, in this job become irrationally critical.

 

Not so on Crown Princess. I adored it. And I'll admit that I'm a small ship gal (oddly my husband's a big ship, er, boy).

 

Enjoy, let us know what you think. I'll enjoy reliving it through your experience.

 

 

Carolyn

 

 

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.