Live from Crown: Carolyn’s Crown Princess Blog

[jaw72670]

Carolyn,

 

Is there Splenda available on the Crown or should we pack our own?

 

What balcony deck is better?

 

Thanks for your great reviews and tips. Taking notes..... :)

 

Thanks again.

 

Jen

[jaw72670]

Carolyn,

 

Is there Splenda available on the Crown or should we pack our own?

 

What balcony deck is better?

 

Thanks for your great reviews and tips. Taking notes..... :)

 

Thanks again.

 

Jen

[tbenson81]

How is the Casino?

[Travel Magic]

Hi Carolyn,

 

I booked a cruise on the Crown back in February for a September sailing. At the time that I booked, I was told by Princess that all of my balcony cabin choices were already taken. They placed me in R250. I have been told by Princess that this is a well located cabin in a quiet area. I am traveling as a single with a group of friends who are on Dolphin deck and am concerned that because I am traveling alone that the line may have placed me in a smaller balcony cabin with a smaller balcony. I have sailed with Princess several times, but never stayed on Riviera deck.

 

Any information would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks:)

[marlinmike]

And I don't know if this is yet the regular eastern Carib itinerary (will check).

 

Please do and let us know what you find out, if anything. This seems so unlike San Juan as I've never heard anyone complain about customs/immigration/inspections or anything of the like in Puerto Rico, nor did the Princess head office, nor did the pier authorities in San Juan yesterday. My guess is they were looking for something or someone they got a tip on because other than the usual card swiping, this is abnormal.

 

Also, was there tendering in St. Thomas today? The webcam on the ship and the webcam of the harbor looks like they might be. How many ships can dock at a time in St. Thomas?

 

Marlin

[TheCruisingSisters]

Carolyn,

 

I have a question about the ports, do we need to go through customs more then when we return to New York, we are on the 7/2 cruise, which stops in Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and Bermuda. It seems as if you had to go through customs more than once. Thank you.

 

Nancy and Linda

[alcuemar]

Carolyn,

 

Thank you so much for your posts, your are doing a nice job for all of us, unbelive it!!!

 

Well, I would like to know is the weather during the cruise?

 

Congratulations again for the Thread!!!

 

 

Alcuemar

Crown Princess 27 July

[HMSDingy]

For the great blog. Its about time I read some positive things about the Crown. In another thread, people are bad-mouthing the Crown without so much as having sailed her. Your blog is but a breath of fresh air.:D

[twinky53]

HI Carolyn,

 

I am a first-time poster considering the Crown for a cruise in late September. I noticed you mentioned the balcony being completely open, then I saw in a picture that there appeared to be no roofs. I have sailed on the Dawn twice and I definitely liked having a roof on my balcony. We were about to book the Norwegian Spirit, but curiosity brought me here and your wonderful reviews and tips on the ship have me rethinking our trip, and the fact that Princess offers non-traditional dining options, one BIG reason we went for NCL's freestyle. Our honeymoon cruise in 1979 was on HAL's Volendam, and we did not like the assigned seating aspect. We lucked out and had a really nice couple at our table, but I know others on the ship were not too happy with their tablemates.

 

So - I am very curious about the privacy aspect of the balcony and if there are any with roofs. Thank you so much for your wonderful blog, and everyone else, too, for your great tips!!

 

 

Elaine

[Justplayhockey61]

No tendering for the Crown in St. Thomas today. Shes turned around and pointed out toward sea and not toward the island as most ships usually are. If you look at the webcam it will let you know what their situation is. If it says "Alongside - - -" then they are docked. If it says "Anchored off - - -" then they are tendering. Hope this helps.

[ozland]

Carolyn,

 

I had asked this question yesterday, but I believe you must have missed it among all the others! I was wondering about the Coffee Card you mentioned. How much is it? What does it cover? Any special drinks, like mochas? Thanks!!!

 

Dear Jamie:

 

I'll buy you all the speciality coffee drinks you want! ;)

 

Love, Mom

[allyfl]

Since Carolyn is swamped, I'll take the easy ones since we were on the 6/14 sailing:

Don't use sweetner, but recall Sweet N Low, Equal and a yellow packet at the table (Splenda?)

Have heard from the hubby that the casino was good, had a Texas Hold Em table, but not very kind...

We were kind of bummed that our mini-suite did not have a balcony (Irish skin...). As far as I could tell, none of the rooms on D Deck have them, but the regular balcony rooms are covered.

One other tip - go to Sabatini's! What a great meal and experience!

[ozland]

Thanks allyfl for the additional information. I did think of a question that I don't think has been asked as yet -- The spa pool: Is it always set on "swim against the current" mode? Am just thinking this through as I type but it seems that if one was relaxing at the sancturary, and wanted to take a relaxing dip, the spa pool would not be the one to pick. (?)

[caviargal]

We were kind of bummed that our mini-suite did not have a balcony (Irish skin...). As far as I could tell, none of the rooms on D Deck have them, but the regular balcony rooms are covered.

One other tip - go to Sabatini's! What a great meal and experience!

 

I was not aware that there a mini suite without a balcony:confused:. Very odd indeed and in direct conflict with the info on the Princess website.

 

Not all the balconies are covered as the photos clearly show.

 

I understand that Caribe deck balconies are half covered and half exposed and the largest of the standard balcony cabins.

[LDTC]

you are on my sailing...saw you on our roll call....guess you decided to come! It is my first cruise and I haven't a clue what to expect. I do well on small boats, but have never been that far out. Am not anticipating any problems, but coming well supplied with the wrist bands and dramine.

 

Hi Kathy,

Yes, I decided to be daring and come. We were on the Caribbean Princess twice and I never actually became ill but felt semi "off balance" at times. Definitely not something that would keep me from cruising. However, the ship left from florida and not new york. I had heard the waters going down from ny were rougher. I usually use the patch, but think I will try bonine this time as so many people on here say it does the trick. If the Crown is anything like the Caribbean Princess, I am sure you will love it. Personally, I enjoyed the level of luxury on our first cruise on the Grand Princess. It seemed to me that since the merger of Princess with P & O (Carnival operators) the level of luxury was lower. BUT, it still is a wonderful cruiseline.

 

My husband and I are traveling alone this time so looking forward to meeting new people. We moved to an aft cabin on the Caribe deck that became available. I love the larger balconies on that deck, but the others are very nice also. Nothing nicer that having my morning coffee delivered to my door (room service is free!) and sipping coffee on the balcony! That is my idea of a vacation!

Will look for you on the roll call:)

[twinky53]

Thanks allyfl for the information on balcony roofs. I would have thought the minisuites would have roofs! :( They look so yummy, though. Maybe I should just expose my own Irish skin, lol, to a little risk now and then. I guess you have to balance one thing against the other - from what I have seen, the minisuites on the Crown are much lovelier that the one we stayed in the Norwegian Dawn for our 25th - took us 25 years to get back on a cruise, but now we are hooked. Elaine :)

 

 

Thanks, caviargal, too. I am just getting the hang of posting here, so please forgive any mistakes. I have been trying to edit this to include your comments. I guess it is all about what deck you are on as to whether you get a roof or not. It looks like the higher decks get roofs, from what I can determine in the picture I saw -

[Justplayhockey61]

YES, the waters from NY going down to the Caribbean tend to be a bit rougher than the waters you sail when leaving from FL. In some of my recent memories coming back from the Bahamas on Voyager of the Seas (138,000 grt) we only had seas that I would estimate being around 12-18 ft. and the ship was MOVING. Not that im prone to seasickness but theres only so much you can take when you're sitting down inside a room and you can hear the hangers clanking back and forth in the closet as the boat rolls back and forth. If im out on deck watching the boat go up and down im fine. The size of the ship of course does help out the movement factor but when you really think about it the boat you are on is nothing more than a speck out in that ocean.

[spingal]

Dear Jamie:

 

I'll buy you all the speciality coffee drinks you want! ;)

 

Love, Mom

I read your post and wondered how my Mom got on the Internet and posted on this thread!! My name is Jamie too! :D

[TinaLee]

Thanks allyfl for the additional information. I did think of a question that I don't think has been asked as yet -- The spa pool: Is it always set on "swim against the current" mode? Am just thinking this through as I type but it seems that if one was relaxing at the sancturary, and wanted to take a relaxing dip, the spa pool would not be the one to pick. (?)

 

You can turn the swim against the current feature on and off in the spa pool. :)

[editor@cruisecritic]

I too am surprised to hear someone has a mini without a balcony. New one on me! Twinky 53, you (kind of) get used to it:o -- the nice thing is that at night you have a roof of stars....

We just ignore the folks above though except for sailaways and such there usually aren't that many people out there anyway!

Carolyn

[editor@cruisecritic]

Hi. Re rough weather -- we didn't feel a thing (and trust me if we could I would, LOL) -- coming down. The waters and weather couldn't be more cooperative.

However -- I hear that we might run into some rough stuff coming home. There's some low pressure movement (heard this from one of the officers on the bridge no less) which is what presumably is flooding our home town (not pretty) and might come east to meet us.

So we'll see. I wouldn't worry about it overmuch -- unless the weather is stormy which of course it can be.

Carolyn

[Jules1]

The category AD minisuites (Emerald Deck) are covered.

[Jules1]

Oooppsss, should have been more specific - the balconies on the category AD mini-suites are covered. So, if you want a mini-suite and a "roof" those are the ones to book.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Just want to give y'all a heads up that I will get to all the questions, promise, but the process of getting online and actually sending messages is, as I title this above, excruiciating. It's one thing I guess if all you need to do is check in with home or office here and there but for those of us onboard who are WORKING it's just ridiculous.

I have never had such trouble on any ship (in fact, just finished a long post about the spa that got "lost" so I'll have to repeat...later).

Something to do with Princess' system but this is not brain surgery. Other lines manage to offer reasonable service....

So just wanted to say, please hang in there with me. I appreciate the great feedback, happy to keep answering questions as long as they're coming.

Carolyn

[Jules1]

Have you thought about typing your responses in Word and then copying and pasting onto the thread? All would not be lost then when you have internet problems.