Haven't posted here until now because it takes about 15 minutes just to get to your e-mail. Tonight is the first time with decent service.
Yes, first night was very rough with 20 foot plus waves and gale force 70mph plus winds. Things calmed down after that but not until today, one day out from Kona, has the weather warmed into the mid 70s. Wind continues with only an occasional break in the clouds.
Great cruise as those that have preceeded me have posted. Food and service have been excellant.
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Future cruises:
Star Princess - Dec. 2007-Rome- TA
Crown Princess- May 2008 TA & Baltics
Pacific Princess-Nov. 2008-Holy Land & Egypt
Diamond Princess- Apr. 2009 Asia- Bangkok to Whittier
Past cruises:
Golden Princess-2007-Alaska
Sea Princess-2005 Canada/New England
Diamond Princess- 2005 Mexican Riviera
Star Princess- 2004 x2 Med. Venice to Barcelona/ Barcelona to Rome
Dawn Princess - 2004 x3- Southern Caribbean
Grand Princess- 2003 x2 W.Caribbean/ 2004 Panama
Sun Princess- 2003 Mexico
Tahitian Princess- 2003 Tahiti & Cook Islands
Royal Princess- 2003 x2- British Isles / Norwegian Fjords & Iceland
Island Princess- 2003 Panama Canal / 2007 Hawaii
Sky Princess- 2000 China & Orient
Sitmar's Fairwind - 1979 x2- Caribbean/Panama Canal
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HAL-Amsterdam- 2004 Alaska
HAL Ryndam - 2001 x 2- S. America
------------------------------------------
Viking Spirit/Pride -2006 Budapest to Amsterdam
I know the frustration of trying to get you e mail aboard the ship but at least your still getting free service. It seems as though the weather is worse now than in December ! The forecast for the islands looks OK - in the low 80's. Good luck.
Please let us know how your cruise went. I know you had a tough start, but how was the remainder of your cruise? I see from the webcam the Island is safely docked in San Pedro this morning.
It's too bad we don't have someone onboard the Island Princess on her way to Hawaii. Sailwx.info shows her bucking 55 knott winds, 8' swells and 12C temps.
Got back and really had a wonderful cruise. The weather was abnormally cool in the Islands only reaching the 80s on Oahu and Maui. Like the preceeding cruises it was around 60 the first and last few days.
Winds were gale force for several days. Night before arriving in San Pedro was a little bumpy at times but the first night with 70+ mph winds and 20foot swells was definitely the worst. Most of the days saw slight swells and even a few that were smooth.
The Island Princess took the seas very well except for a loud banging, not sure if it was flexing or not, the first night which kept most of the ship awake. The banging was entirely different from the sound you hear when the ship hits the waves. That was the only night that they canceled the singers and dancers because of danger of injury.
I was surprised at the number of people who did not even consider that there are 10 sea days on this cruise and only 5 port days. The only negative comments I heard were about too many sea days and these were mainly from first time cruisers.
We found the servie and food to be some of the best we have experienced on any cruise.
Elite comments: We had our priority tender tickets honored both times we used them. We did not have to wait for the shore excursion groups to get on the tenders and never had a wait. Somthing new? We received a phone call asking us what time we would like to disembark in San Pedro. We were told this was an Elite perk.
Internet- we confirmed the the $100 for an 8-20 day cruise that started for all cruises embarking after 4/1/07 is per person and not per cabin. Since our last cruise they are now giving you one minute before the clock starts counting your time. This minute is supposed to allow you to see if the internet is running slow before it eats up all of your time. I don't know if it was because the internet was so slow and down for part of the cruise but we have never seen so few using it.
Future cruises:
Star Princess - Dec. 2007-Rome- TA
Crown Princess- May 2008 TA & Baltics
Pacific Princess-Nov. 2008-Holy Land & Egypt
Diamond Princess- Apr. 2009 Asia- Bangkok to Whittier
Past cruises:
Golden Princess-2007-Alaska
Sea Princess-2005 Canada/New England
Diamond Princess- 2005 Mexican Riviera
Star Princess- 2004 x2 Med. Venice to Barcelona/ Barcelona to Rome
Dawn Princess - 2004 x3- Southern Caribbean
Grand Princess- 2003 x2 W.Caribbean/ 2004 Panama
Sun Princess- 2003 Mexico
Tahitian Princess- 2003 Tahiti & Cook Islands
Royal Princess- 2003 x2- British Isles / Norwegian Fjords & Iceland
Island Princess- 2003 Panama Canal / 2007 Hawaii
Sky Princess- 2000 China & Orient
Sitmar's Fairwind - 1979 x2- Caribbean/Panama Canal
-------------------------------------------------
HAL-Amsterdam- 2004 Alaska
HAL Ryndam - 2001 x 2- S. America
------------------------------------------
Viking Spirit/Pride -2006 Budapest to Amsterdam
Since this thread relates to the Island Princess, I will take a chance and post my question here...
I've read and heard that some ships have "theme" dinners occasionally during the cruises. Is this something that is done on the Island Princess? If so, are passengers notified prior to departure concerning the planned theme for their scheduled cruise?
I would like to pack appropriate clothing for those special nights.
Can anyone provide info about this?
Thank you BJS, and thank you for all the good information. Who goes on a 15 day cruise with 5 ports and complains about too many sea days? What were they thinking? Well, I guess I know the answer to that.
Glad you had a good cruise and thank you again for the posts.
Bob & Bev, yes, I'm on the next sailing--April 26; and I'm beginning to think it's a good thing I don't have a problem with rough water!
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