Sunday, November 19, 2006
Day 1: Cruise Virgins and Skywalkers Episode I
Day 1:
Princess has a pretty clean boarding process, although we're herded through like cattle. We all gathered into one line that eventually broke out into a separate set of lines for each deck. I don't think there was any real distinction between the type of service the Aloha people got versus the Plaza. It was all pretty much the same. Once we were checked in, it was an unceremonious trek up the gang plank to the ship and to our cabin. Sure, there was someone there to take my picture, but I miss the experience I got on Celebrity where they greeted me with a glass of champagne and someone personally lead me down to my cabin. Now, that was service. But I promise to keep my comparisons to a minimum on these trip reports. I had a very nice time.
JP and I got to our cabin and took a look off the balcony. At once I noticed the additional fire sprinklers and smoke detectors on each balcony. This side of the ship caught fire from a stray cigarette/cigar back in March of '06. I also noticed that the deck chairs on the balcony were alumininum instead of the resin ones that I'd seen in pictures. Smart move, Princess.
In short order, JP and I were meeting people at the upper pool bar - a pretty typical scene for the rest of the week. I didn't know how my cruise-virgin friends were going to like cruising, but I was curious to find out. After a while, we decided to check on the gals, who were on Emerald (8). I think we called down to their cabin or they called us - can't recall. But they came over, and we took a few quick sailaway shots on our balcony. I'm really going to miss that on the next cruise on this ship, but the price point is just too much for a balcony through Europe.
After a few minutes though ME and I were at the sail away party on the pool deck (14) all doing the electric slide. They had ice breaker games and assorted prizes. Then, the call went out for the first person to jump into the pool with all their clothes on would win a bottle of champagne. Before I could react, my brainstem was throwing its body into the pool. It's champagne after all, and I'm a sucker for it and a good time :-)
Electric Slide at the pool sail away party. Linked, since I still don't know how to embed movies into HTML. Doi.
Hey, What has two thumbs and knows how to have a good time?
Soaking wet, I went with ME to my cabin where JP and Ro were drawing house plans on a notepad - they'd missed the first party, and my fear was that they were going to spend the trip in their cabins reading or something. My fears were misplaced though. :-) Happily.
At the end of it all, I only had time to take a couple of snaps of the Skywalker nightclub, which was really great except Tuesday night when the whole boat was rocking - and I don't mean rockin'. I had to retreat to my cabin for some much needed Dramamine.
Princess has a pretty clean boarding process, although we're herded through like cattle. We all gathered into one line that eventually broke out into a separate set of lines for each deck. I don't think there was any real distinction between the type of service the Aloha people got versus the Plaza. It was all pretty much the same. Once we were checked in, it was an unceremonious trek up the gang plank to the ship and to our cabin. Sure, there was someone there to take my picture, but I miss the experience I got on Celebrity where they greeted me with a glass of champagne and someone personally lead me down to my cabin. Now, that was service. But I promise to keep my comparisons to a minimum on these trip reports. I had a very nice time.
JP and I got to our cabin and took a look off the balcony. At once I noticed the additional fire sprinklers and smoke detectors on each balcony. This side of the ship caught fire from a stray cigarette/cigar back in March of '06. I also noticed that the deck chairs on the balcony were alumininum instead of the resin ones that I'd seen in pictures. Smart move, Princess.
In short order, JP and I were meeting people at the upper pool bar - a pretty typical scene for the rest of the week. I didn't know how my cruise-virgin friends were going to like cruising, but I was curious to find out. After a while, we decided to check on the gals, who were on Emerald (8). I think we called down to their cabin or they called us - can't recall. But they came over, and we took a few quick sailaway shots on our balcony. I'm really going to miss that on the next cruise on this ship, but the price point is just too much for a balcony through Europe.
The cabin Aloha 334 (deck 12)  | The culprit/blackmail target (JPM)  | Incriminating photo #1  |
After a few minutes though ME and I were at the sail away party on the pool deck (14) all doing the electric slide. They had ice breaker games and assorted prizes. Then, the call went out for the first person to jump into the pool with all their clothes on would win a bottle of champagne. Before I could react, my brainstem was throwing its body into the pool. It's champagne after all, and I'm a sucker for it and a good time :-)
Electric Slide at the pool sail away party. Linked, since I still don't know how to embed movies into HTML. Doi.
Hey, What has two thumbs and knows how to have a good time?
Soaking wet, I went with ME to my cabin where JP and Ro were drawing house plans on a notepad - they'd missed the first party, and my fear was that they were going to spend the trip in their cabins reading or something. My fears were misplaced though. :-) Happily.
At the end of it all, I only had time to take a couple of snaps of the Skywalker nightclub, which was really great except Tuesday night when the whole boat was rocking - and I don't mean rockin'. I had to retreat to my cabin for some much needed Dramamine.
