Seattle - Disembarkation

Another cruise is done.  We wake and know it is time to get back to reality.

We shower and pack up the last of the items.  

We have chosen to do the earliest walk off and were assigned the first group at 7:30.  

I shower while Bernie heads upstairs to get a small bite to eat and bring back some fruit for me to have in the cabin.

We leave the cabin at 7:30 and thank Enrique for all his hard work this week.  We always leave the auto tips in place and we have tipped him extra three times this week.

The Platinum/Elite Lounge is Da Vinci Dining room.  We figure it will be rather quiet since there are not many that fall into that category.  In fact we are first to arrive.  But a couple who walk in behind us grab a paper and head to a table.  Only to come back a minute later and wonder about breakfast. Seems they think they are serving breakfast here this morning.  Riz (Captain Circle Host) directs them to the Botticelli Dining room, which can be confusing for some.

We chat with Riz for a minute when she asks us which group we are and we say Walkoff 1 and she says "oh you are clear to go, we are already on Walkoff 3".

Bernie heads up one floor with the suitcases in the elevator and I take the stairs up to the Promenade where we are binged out and off the ship.

We already have our customs form filled out and our passports in hand.  It is about a minute to see a customs agent and we are out the door.  In all it took maybe 5 minutes to get off the ship and get out of the port building - a record for us I think.

Prior to today we sent an email to Jan and Michael who we stayed with the night before the cruise that we would be off around 8. Well it is about 7:40 and we make our way to the end of the island where pick ups are.

Jan and Michael show up right at 8 and a quick drive to their place and we are in our car and heading North at 8;15.  We are home at 10:40 and the bags are emptied and the wash is in.

On reflection this was a great trip.  I loved being able to spend my birthday at sea.  I was spoiled and very moved by how many people helped me celebrate.

The weather was the best too.

The ship is looking great, the crew are still amazing, the passenger I really enjoyed.  I did have reservations at first about all the kids and families but in the end they were very polite and excited to just be on a cruise.

Overall this cruise was smoother than the one we did in May that was a reposistioning from LA to Vancouver.  Maybe because we are mid season in Alaska with repeated itinerary.  The crew know how it flows and many of the passengers are new it made us remember why we love to cruise.

Thank you Crown Princess for another wonderful trip.  Till we meet again.  Stay tuned, we have seven booked.

Saturday Evening - Crown Grill

Dressed and ready for the evening we walk down and chat with Riz Sirilan the Captain Circle Host.  This our first time sailing with Riz and by the end of the cruise I am sure she will be part of our Princess Family.  

There are not many Elite Passengers (later I find out there are only 49 Elites) this sailing and we are told we are part of the top 40 passengers and just missed being in the top three by a few days.  But we are happy just to be including in the top 40.  I don’t usually ask what the cut off is for the party but I know it must be low as we are in the mid 400s.

Bernie and Ashwin

Walking down the Promenade we run into Ashwin Koli who is the Assistant Shop Manager and who we met on the Grand and travelled to Puerto Vallarta (you can read it here) with some of the other shoppies last November.

Elite Lounge is up in Skywalkers and it is very quiet up there at 6:30, but we are told that it was a bit busier earlier.  The drink is the Margarita but they allow us to order any of the drinks for the Elite Lounge for the $5.  The view is stunning with Mount Rainier in the background.

Tonight’s dinner is at the Crown Grill with Mark.  We are sat at a lovely booth and we order a bottle of Ancient Peaks Merlot.

The menu is the standard Crown Grill Menu, (here is a link to the Crown Grill Menu) but they have some added features for Alaska. 

I start with the lamb carpaccio with gooseberry chutney and then the spinach and goat cheese with heirloom tomatoes.  I love that salad.  

The lamb appetizer is so good especially a sweet gooseberry chutney that is served with it. 

Bernie had the prawn appetizer and the salad too.  For my entrée I had the fillet mignon and Bernie had the rack of lamb.  

My steak was cooked perfectly but seemed to have been sitting for awhile as a lot of the juice from was gone. 

I especially love the assorted cheese plate that Mark brought us which along with those amazing rolls and the wine tickled our pallet.

Dessert was the Norman Love feature the Peanut Butter Bar and Bernie had the Lemon Meringue Pudding Tart. Oh what a great meal, great service and wonderful company.  As we raise our glasses to another great adventure.

On the way out we run into the Maitre D’ Federico Milano and he is surprised to see us on board again.  We ask about his wife Monica but sadly she has just gone home.

There is a lot going on tonight but we are beat and return to the cabin around 11 pm and crash knowing we will be rocked to sleep.

The officers who are on board are the following:  Captain Heikki Laakkonen, Staff Captain Marcello Mancini, Chief Engineer Tomislav Jukic, Hotel General Manager Claudio Mazzoni, Cruise Director Kelvin Joy, Senior Doctor Mark Mason, Food and Beverage Director Michael Glass, Customer Services Director Nelson Neiva Da Silva, Human Resources Manager Susan Watson, Executive Housekeeper Michael Collins, Corporate Executive Chef Jean Peter Seidel, Maitre d'Hotel Federico Arcos Cantos, Environmental Officer Georgi Takov.

Lots going on tonight though:

• Cabin Movie - Juno, MUTS Billy Joel Concert, and The Rewrite
• Dining Room Inquiries from 1 to 3 pm in Michelangelo Dining Room
• Muster Drill was at 3:30
• North To Alaska with Guitar Vocalist Will Dickerson
• LGBT Gathering
• Welcome Aboard Trivia at 7
• Music and Dancing with the Tritone Duo in Wheelhouse
• Shopping Party at Sea with the Jewelry Team in Facets
• Party Band Icon in Explorers
• Welcome Aboard Show with Comedian Ritch Shydner at 7:45 and 9:30
• Karaoke
• Evening Music Trivia: Hits of Yesterday
• Music in Adagio - The Elegy Duo
• Texas Holdem School 
• David Moore Piano Entertainer in Crooners
• Singles and Solos Meet and Greet
• Stateroom Movie: Say Anything
• 18-20s get together in Club Fusion
• Happy Hour Buy One Get one for $1 at Skywalkers 11-midnight

Specials today:

• All Inclusive Beverages of up to $10 per drink for $49 a day plus 15% gratuity
• Boutiques Onboard 2 days Only save an extra 10% off your tax and duty free purchase of $10 or more.
• Lotus Spa Embarkation Day Upgrade - today only receive complimentary upgrade on select signature spa services
• Photo Dept. purchase your embarkation photo set and receive a free USB thumb drive, digital file and VIP membership with your passport to value coupon
• Internet Cafe embarkation special - purchase an internet time plan today and receive up to 40 additional minutes free
• 
  

All Aboard The Crown Princess to Alaska

Jan and Michael live very close to Pier 91, in fact you can see the ships in port and today there is a Holland America ship beside the Crown. In fact we will be with this ship all week as we have the exact same itinerary.

We head to the pier around 11:30 and we drop the bags off. 

We enter the port building where agents are numerous and very helpful.  There appears to be a lot of new cruisers and therefore a lot of questions.  The staff at the pier are busy and so patient and friendly, and what I really love is they are excited for all the passengers as they head out on their cruise. 

While filling out the health form we heard a man who was trying to figure out what he could do with his pocket knife.  Security won’t let him board with it (note no knives, guns, or any possible weapon are allowed on). 

Up the escalator to a large area for check in.  I remember when this port was first opened.  I think we were like the third cruise to leave from it and it was all new.  Well all these years later it still looks great and it flows very well.  I wish Fort Lauderdale’s piers were like this. 

We head thru the security and because we are bringing on a bottle of champagne we go to the table located just past security where two crew members are and they make note of the one bottle and we continue on.

Because of our elite status we can go in the Preferred line, and today this does help.  We later find out there are around 2000 first time cruisers on board!  With cruise cards in hand we head to board the ship.  

We take note that they are handing out cards with boarding groups and at 11:30 they had group 10, but we are directed to go right on.  What I really like is we are directed to a different door to head to the gangway and therefore no line at all for security pictures.  

However note the line for non preferred was long it was still quite reasonable.

Once on board it is that immediate “ahhhh we are home” and yes getting on board Princess feels like coming home.

Our cabin is A710 a balcony cabin near the aft on the port side, and we drop off our bags.  The rooms are not completely ready so dropping off the bags to give the room attendant the space to do his job.  We head out to explore and grab a coffee/tea. 

Right away we run into crew we have sailed with.  It is so nice to see so many familiar faces.  The last time we were on this ship was at the end of April and many are still on board, but there are a few crew that we have met on other ships that are on this ship now.  Including Nelson Da Silva the Customer Services Director and Michael Glass the Food and Beverage Director. 

We see Alexandra and Michael Smith who work in the shops, and who just got married!  We sailed with them many years ago and then were with them again when they got engaged two years ago and now they are married.  

We see Claudio Mazzoni the Hotel General Manager who is a dear friend and he is so busy, but is on with his family for a few more weeks. 

Mark our favorite waiter is now serving in the Crown Grill at night so that means we need to make some reservations for there to see him.  He is up in Sabatinis right now taking care of the reservation line and he looks great.  We make reservations for tonight, Skagway night and the last night in Crown Grill.  So here is a tip, if you want a reservation for a specialty restaurant just head up to Sabatinis that first day while exploring and make a reservation for either restaurant.

Wandering around some more and the make of passengers is probably the most different we have ever seen.  Lots of families, many kids, grandparents, and parents.  It is lovely to see so many people being introduced to cruising. 

The All Inclusive Drink Package is very popular and they are selling a lot of them.  And it seems every kid has the soda sticker on their card. 

Bernie gets his suitcase right away so he unpacks but mine takes over five hours to arrive.  Weird since they were put on the same cart.  Unfortunately when mine arrives it has obviously been in the sun for a long time and many of the chocolate bar treats we have brought for the crew have melted and lost their shape – but still taste great. 

We head down for Muster Drill and once that is over we head up on deck for sailaway.  It is so hot out, I would say it is around 27 and thankfully being on the water there is a nice breeze.

In Seattle they are not allowed to have the band/music play until we clear the point because of noise bylaws.  But as soon as we do clear the point the band starts up and many people are up dancing and having a great time.  The pool is packed with kids enjoying the great weather. Sadly I saw a parent with a child in a diaper in the pool, which is not allowed. 

Back to the cabin to unpack and get settle before the evening festivities.

South To Seattle Then North To Alaska

We left home on Friday (the day before the cruise) and got to the border to see long lines.  Even though we have Nexus cards, which help with a designated line, we still had about a fifteen minute wait.  But that is much better than the estimated 40 minutes other people had to wait.

Once across the border we made a few stops along the way.  One was to stop at TotalWine to pick up a bottle of champagne to enjoy on board.  I love this store, and if you get a chance to visit one you will not be disappointed. 

Our next stop was at Rick Steve’s store in Edmonds to buy a few items for our Mediterranean trip coming up in October.  

We wandered around the shop, checking out the carry on bags, knapsacks, maps, books and travel essentials.  We got a hidden travel wallet, two toiletries bags (Bernie LOVES his) and a map.  The staff in the store were so helpful with us and I overheard them helping a lady who is planning her first trip to England.  There are movies you can watch here, books you can go thru, classes you can sign up for, tons of information.  Oh and make sure you check out his website for even more.  I've already downloaded his App and many podcasts for tours to the places we will visit this fall.  But stay tuned for that trip for more details starting the end of October. 

I have never been to Edmonds.  It is lovely, real character, lovely shops, restaurants and the fact it is right on the water makes it even better.  I would love to come down here for a mini vacation some time.  

We then drove down to Seattle to stay the night at our friends Jan and Michael.  We have not seen them for a bit so it was lovely to sit on their deck enjoying some wine and great conversation.  Oh and the view of downtown Seattle does not hurt either.  They have a beautiful old home with front and back decks and amazing views.  

Dinner was at Chinook's at Salmon Bay which is known for their seafood.  Located right at the harbor with sweeping views of the marina and the sunset.  Their menu is quite extensive with tons of seafood that are in season.  Prices are reasonable and the food was delicious.  Make sure to save room for dessert, tonight we shared the peach cobbler.

Let the vacation begin.

Night in Seattle

Heading out to Seattle today after my shift.  Yeah I had to work today.  Early early early... 4:30 am start but I am done at 12:18 pm and once I get home and change and pack the last minute items we will make our way South to Seattle.

It is a nice drive and the weather should be good.  It will take about 2.5 hours and we are spending the night.

When we booked the flights we were able to find a great deal with Jet Blue to Long Beach but it is out of Seattle. 

Even with the nights' accommodation, which includes parking for the week, it still works out cheaper than flying out of Vancouver.

We are staying once again at the Marriott TownePlace Suites which is a great place and there is a Starbucks right beside the hotel and includes breakfast.

Flight is early Saturday - 7 am - but we get into Long Beach early too.  This will allow us to grab a cab to the pier, drop off the bags and then maybe go for a walk.  

Stay tuned.

Just About to Head Out

Tomorrow is the big day.  We officially start our vacation tomorrow.  When we were looking at airfare for this trip we researched our options.  Fly out of Vancouver (way too expensive for an international flight) or fly out of Seattle (much cheaper).  Bellingham is an option too but the price was very similar to Seattle and would of entailed an extra flight and a lot longer travel time.

First we booked this trip with Best Price Cruises www.bestpricecruises.com/ quite a while ago at got if for $800 for an inside cabin (later upgraded to a Central Park balcony for $20 more each).  Now this price is a lot higher than any price we have ever paid for a Caribbean Cruise per diem.  But it is Oasis and it does seem to warrant a higher price, and they are filling the ship.  I will also note that this was one of the cheapest prices we had seen for any sailing on this ship all year.  Best Price also gave us a $60 on board credit, something that if we booked directly with RCI we would not of gotten.

Back to the airfare.  We always use Kayak.com to search for flights.  And the best price came thru flying Frontier Airlines (have never flown them) going thru Denver, and returning with United via Houston.  Total cost for two was $618, not a bad price considering we return just when the holiday travel gets going.  Downside was we had to fly a later flight that doesn't get into Fort Lauderdale till just before midnight (time change doesn't help - 3 hours forward).

We looked for a deal to park our car in Seattle.  Normally the place we always book it was our first option.  They have a great monthly rate that we always take advantage of but this trip was only going to need 11 days parking at the rate to park at this place was $118!  Wow only $40 more for the monthly rate.  We started brainstorming ideas and options. 

We started looking at hotels that packaged parking.  I booked the Marriott Towne Place Suites.  They had a deal of a nights accommodation and 14 nights parking for a price $149.  So for $31 more we get parking and a nights accommodation.  Easy decision we went with this option.  We will have a nice evening, wake up and enjoy their complimentary breakfast and then catch the complimentary shuttle to the airport.

After we land in Fort Lauderdale we will head to one of our favorite hotels.  The Renaissance Fort Lauderdale on 17th Street right across from the entrance to Port Everglades.  www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/fllbr-renaissance-fort-lauderdale-hotel/

We booked this hotel thru Hotwire.com   It was the first time I had used Hotwire, normally we use Priceline and we really tried to secure a room with Priceline, bidding 4 Star in this downtown area (knowing that the Renaissance was the only hotel in that category).  We bid and bid and went up as high as $130 and the bid was never accepted.  Finally I did some research on Hotwire and saw that I could get a four star in downtown Fort Lauderdale (all my reserach showed they were describing the Renaissance) for $99.   So I booked it for two nights for $99 each night.  Heck if they would of accepted my Priceline offer they would of got more money out of me.  Oh well their loss.  We also booked same hotel for one night post cruise too for the same price.

We will be taking a taxi to the hotel from the airport... price will be about $17 plus tip so for around $20 total, beats taking cruiseline shuttles, or booking cruiseline hotel pacakges that charge per person what I paid.

We love this location for a hotel.  Starbucks is close by, we can also walk to the Publix, Wallgreens, Total Wine, our favorite Dinner for breakfast, and our favorite Mexican Carlos and Peppes. 

As I said we get in very late Thursday so I called the hotel to inform them of late arrival (although room is confirmed and allready paid for so they can't give it away) I just wanted to confirm with them and also to request a quiet room that does not have a connecting door to another room.  One of my pet peeves listening to neighbours as if I am sitting right on the bed beside them, and them of course hearing us too.

Friends will be flying in on Friday to also sail (but different ship) and we have arranged to meet up with them and go for dinner that night.  We will be going to Carlos & Pepe's for Mexican www.carlosandpepesfl.com

Now for the cruise, as you know allready we are sailing on Royal Caribbean for the first time.  We have been informed that even though we can board around noon we can not access our cabins until 1 pm.  So we are not in any rush to get on board and will wait until around 1 pm to arrive at the pier.

Yesterday I did something I haven't done in years.  I pre ordered something as a gift for Bernie.  I love the idea of doing this, but since Princess' onboard gifts are so limited and they don't make it easy to order as you still have to print out form and fax it or call the 1-800 number I have never done it in the 33 cruises with Princess.  But with RCI you can surf their page for an abundance of gifts including flowers, clothes, beverages, food, decorations, you name it.  I especially liked all the romance items and at reasonable prices too.

So I ended up getting the Romance Package that is $100 -  this is what it entails

Classic Romance Package                                             $100.00 CAD Item 1061 This package includes a bottle of chilled Domaine Chandon Champagne and Royal Caribbean delicious vanilla cupcakes upon arrival; a tray of elegant canapés before dinner, and delicious petit fours after dinner on the first formal evening; breakfast in bed one morning during the cruise; and a silver-framed, 8" x 10" keepsake portrait.

I hope he likes it, he really is doing this trip because I wanted to do it.  He really is not one to go outside the box when he is comfortable in the box.  He also hated the idea of flying so far for a short week's vacation.  When it takes a whole day to go and come back it does eat up a lot of vacation time.  So I wanted to thank him for agreeing and that I appreciate him.

Tonight we are gathering last minute items, really trying to scale back cause it is a shorter vacation and I have to keep reminding myself -- really Vickie you are not going to wear, use, or want this -- we are forcing ourselves to only bring a smaller suitcase each. 

Tomorrow we will head out to drive down to Seattle stopping at some of the shops looking for some deals.  With hopes of getting to the hotel around 4ish.

As I mentioned on my facebook fan page "Cruising Princess Cruiseline with Vickie"  I won't have the free internet package that I normally get with Princess so I won't be doing a live thread but will be taking notes and when I return home I will post a day by day account of our trip and what we did and where we went and what we thought.

But right now I am excited to try something different, feels odd to be going on a ship I have no experience with or the line.  But I have a very open mind and make lemonade out of the most bitter lemons if that is what I am given, but I am sure this lemonade will be sweet.

November 24, 2011 - heading out

Well couldn't sleep too much last night, woke up at 4 am today and my mind wouldn't stop.  Did I pack the Kindle charger, did I pack the travel alarm clock, did I pack my good watch.  Of course I had packed all the above.  It is rare we forget something and even if we do oh well we can do without or we can buy down there.  As Bernie always reminds me "no worries Vickie I hear they have stores in Fort Lauderdale". 

House is all set up with a friend staying there for the next few weeks. 

We will be driving down to Seattle in a few hours.  Not sure what the border will be like with it being the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend.  But since stores are closed today I am hoping not too many Canadians are heading down today, plus we all have to work.  We do have our recently acquired Nexus card so if the line is busy we can go thru the Nexus line.
Booked Radisson Hotel Gateway Seattle-Tacoma Airport thru Priceline.com and we won the bid for $65 for the one night.    We will head out and park our car at SeaTac Park, we have parked our car here numerous times, and is very economical for a long term parking. http://www.seatacpark.com/.  Their monthly rates can not be beat anywhere, plus we love that we park our car and take our keys. 

I am hoping that the hotel will have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner as when we celebrated the Canadian Thanksgiving last month I had to work so missed out and I am craving a turkey dinner.

We have printed out our boarding passes.  We are flying with Continental via Houston and should get into Fort Lauderdale around 5:30 pm Friday.
Our hotel in Fort Lauderdale we also booked thru Priceline and got the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort for $85 a night for three nights. The hotel's web site is http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=664

Seattle - 2nd Day - Part 1

Wake up to realize -- It is my birthday -- now I am one who likes birthdays, heck I am alive another year!  Bernie is always the first to wish me a happy birthday and there is no one else I would rather spend the day with.

The hotel offers a buffet breakfast, and for Priority Club Members you get $4 off so for $11.95 it is a no brainer and we are not disappointed.  Then we are off to get our coffees at a local Starbucks, now which one should we choose there are SOOOOO many.  We walk down towards Pike Place Market and take a few pics.

at the original Starbucks! 

this is the place where they toss the fish

love the neon

it is all over the market

lower level of the market

Today we booked an excursion with Immersus Tours which is a walking tour of the neighbourhoods of Seattle. We are meeting Antonio (the guide) at 10:30 at the Hard Rock Cafe right near Pike Place Market. Here is a link to his website http://www.immersustours.com/

Antonio met up with us at the designated time and introduced himself, he is originally from Peru and when he travels he really likes to get to know the locals by visiting the neighbourhoods, so he has created a tour in Seattle that does just that.  We jump on a bus that is heading north towards Green Lake where we get off and walk around part of the lake.

some beautiful gardens we passed on are walk

we stop at a local organic gluten free donut shop, they were very good and the raspberry lemonade was very refreshing

Our tour group consists of us, a couple from Connecticut, another couple from Wisconsin and four women - one local and the other three from Washington DC.  Antonio makes sure we are all taken care of and that we all can hear.  It feels like a nice walk with friends.

After the lake and the donut shop we catch another bus to another neighbourhood (sorry can't remember the name) where we visit an old school building that has been converted into a community centre and shopping area.  We continue and visit a local eccentric bakery with well interesting cakes where we pick up something for our South American cruise.  We are also offered the chance to eat at a local burger joint "Dicks" were burgers are only $1.40 it is an old drive in type spot but now only has window service.  Or we can eat at a local taco van.  We aren't hungry so we pass but the burgers sure looked good.

the school now a mall

interesting cakes, almost life like

check out the old sign for Dicks

We catch another bus that takes us to the Fremont area where we walk to the gas works park and check out the view, beautiful.  We are now walking to a local brewery.  This guy was a lawyer and made his own beer and a few years ago decided to open his own brewery.  We are offered free samples of two of the beers and all I can say very yummy and refreshing during a hot day.  The brewery is called Fremont Brewery http://www.fremontbrewing.com/1/home.html 

our tour group

beautiful view of the city

LOOK at the .....

this is the houseboat that Sleepless in Seattle was filmed at the light blue building on the left

at Fremont Brewery getting samples

Jasper gets in on the action

We head out and start walking towards the bridge and to check out the artsy neighbourhood.  I really like this neighbourhood and could see myself living here.  Check out the giant troll that lives under the Aurora bridge!  A short walk to Theo's Chocolates that makes organic fair trade chocolates, and to die for, we buy some to take home.  Below are some shots around the community.

the giant toll under the Aurora bridge, there is an actual VW bug that the troll has in his hands

actually looks like this junk might be good as it is described as "deluxe"

16ft statue of Lenin

Jasper buys some chocolate

Jasper gets into the action

We catch a bus to head back into town.  Bernie and I want to go to Top Pot Donuts, it was featured in the Food Networks Race when they were in Seattle and had to try their donuts.  Wow two donuts in one day, it is so rare for us to ever eat donuts and two in one day!  Here is a link to Top Pot's website http://www.toppotdoughnuts.com/ 

After the donuts and a cold drink we decide to walk back to the hotel via the waterfront, I know more walking but we are leaving tomorrow and I really want to see the waterfront too.  It is Seafair weekend and there is a navel ship in port.  Here is a shot and a few others:

I hear it is really good here, didn't make it there this time, maybe next

We are back at the hotel and a quick nap is in order.  Bernie has arranged a dinner reservation through the concierge for 6:45 and while we get ready we munch on the fruit delivered to the room for my birthday and some of the chocolate from Theos.  A bottle of wine would be good but we didn't get around to picking one up.

Next blog will be all about our fabulous dinner and trip home.