CROWN PRINCESS AWAITS US!

Saturday, February 20, 2010 sunny and warm----70s

We disembarked with 7 other people who were boarding the Crown Princess at 9:30 a.m. Princess provided a shuttle and a porter helped us with our luggage. We almost had more luggage than the rest of the people combined. We had to wait until 11:45 to board the Crown, but all went smoothly and we stepped into another wonderful cruise ship.

The Crown is much bigger than the Coral Princess, about 3000 passengers. There are 18 decks (there is never a 13th deck), 13 bars and lounges, three dining rooms, the Horizon Court (buffet), two grills, two specialty restaurants (steak house and Italian), a pizzeria, an ice cream bar, an international café with offerings of sushi and tapas, deli sandwiches, and quiche, plus afternoon tea, fish and chips, or room service. I think I gained 20 pounds just writing about it.

Some activities and entertainment: casino, golf, library, video arcade, MUTS (movies), clubs, piano bars, and more—including production shows, comedians, and movies indoors. Every cruise ship has most of these things, there are just more on the Crown.

There are four pools, two are adults only. I think there are at least 6 hot tubs.

I like Princess’ idea of having a treasure hunt-everyone is given a card to get stamped at various stations (internet café, photo gallery, etc.) and then a drawing is held at the Sail Away party. This is the way TK and I explored the ship after a nice lunch in the Michelangelo Dining Room.

We were thrilled when we saw our stateroom (Caribe C603—Deck 10) the biggest balcony ever, about 7 ½ by 8 ½ ft. The room itself is about as large as the one on the Coral. Plenty of separate closet space with 6 enclosed shelves, flat screen TV (TK noted), refrigerator, a desk/vanity, sizable mirrors, 2 night stands, a coffee table, two padded chairs, a queen bed, and ample lighting. The bathroom is fine-lots of mirrors and good lighting. Our luggage was in our room and unpacked in record time!

I was happy for a chance to talk to Sons R and B, as well as B2. We are so proud to learn that B1 won first place again this year at her school and district-wide (PTA Reflections Contest—she is in Grade 2) with her beautiful photo of a black swan at the Erie Zoo. That was great news! I also spoke with Friend M. We do miss our family and friends back home.

Captain Andrew Proctor directed the obligatory safety drill and then we sailed away from Fort Lauderdale. We could tell already at the Sail Away party that this group of passengers was far different from the Coral’s. For one thing, TK said more buckets of beer were sold at the sailaway than were probably sold in two weeks on the Coral. There is a range of ages, but most people are probably in their 40s-50s. Some children.

TK wanted to eat at the Horizon Court and he guessed right because it was a bountiful seafood buffet with lobster claws and shrimp. Dessert: flourless chocolate cake

I enjoyed the “Welcome Aboard Showtime” at the Princess Theater with the Crown Princess dancers and comedian Troy Thirdgill from Oregon. TK went to MUTS to watch Star Trek XI. Together we looked at photos and wandered around the ship some more.

Sailing from Fort Lauderdale was quite smooth and restful tonight— We set sail on a southeasterly course for Grand Cayman.



AT SEA sunny and warm---75 F
Sunday, February 21, 2010

The first thing we did today was head to the aft pool to read. I finished See Jane Die (this book was actually very good—kept me in suspense with lots of candidates for the villain) and started reading Possession by Peter James (sort of a cross between Stephen King and a suspense writer). Because I don’t know enough about shopping, I attended the Grand Cayman, Roatan, and Cozumel shopping show. I now understand that Princess is making these shows an hour and a half, but they now cover most of the ports, instead of doing one port at a time. I do think this is better. Anyway, I started working out my strategies for the ports. I like the Onboard Shopping Expert, “Freddie,” from Montreal. I also liked Adam and Christine, the port and shopping experts on the Coral.

TK entered the Slot tourney and did not place—he enjoys that though and it cost $20 for two sessions at the slot machine.

After a small lunch at the buffet, TK and I went to the Diamond and Gemstone Seminar. I like the charms they give away—today the charm was a cruise ship. TK left, but I like listening to information about diamonds, ammolite, tanzanite, DiVersa jewelry, green diopside, current designer jewelry, and other gemstones. In the end, at the drawing, I won a sapphire necklace. That means that TK or I have won something on every cruise this past month, a facial, a floral arrangement, and now a sapphire necklace.

Dinner: Friends Vickie and Bernie did a B2B on Princess last year and now I wonder what they did with repeated meals. Tonight we went to the DaVinci dining room (we are doing anytime dining again—this will always be our choice I think) and repeated a meal from last cruise: crab quiche appetizer, wonton soup, beef tenderloin, and caramelized pear in puff pastry (JK) and cheesecake (TK).

We really liked comedian Troy Thirdgill at the Explorer’s Lounge—crowded. He asked, “Why do women lie about their age? They always say they are younger than they are. They should say they are about ten years older than they really are—people would tell them how good they looked.” That means I could tell people that I’m 72. I know I look good for 72!