Life on Board

At long last, while sipping our first on board cocktail and relaxing in the Skywalker's Lounge we are finally on our way.  This lovely lounge is on the topmost deck and is open to all Elite and Platinum guests at every sail-away, offering a different signature cocktail at each port along with a nice selection of hors d'oeuvres and crudite.  We found this to be a lovely way to say farewell to the many different ports after a long, fun-filled day.

Now it's time to explore.  One could get lost on this ship!  With 19 decks and accommodations for 3080 passengers she truly is quite grand.  From her nearly 900 balconies, you can enjoy sweeping views of romantic landscapes across the world.  Our cabin is located on Deck 14 FORWARD (the front of the ship).  At the far opposite end of our deck there is a lovely, quiet pool for those who prefer a bit of solitude over the masses at the main pools.  One deck above us is one of the busiest spots on board ~ the Lido Deck.   Deck 15 is home to two large pools, both with twin jacuzzi's along either side.  There is every sort of entertainment one could imagine here throughout the day ~ everything from bellyflop contests, martini making lessons, concerts, dance lessons...and the list goes on and on.  The Pizza and Ice cream bar is situated conveniently between both of these pool areas.   This is also where one can enjoy the ever popular "Movies under the Stars".  Such a great idea!   You can cuddle up on the chaise lounges in the evening (which have been decked out with extra comfie cushions and blankets and pillows) and take in one of many blockbuster movies.  Drinks and complimentary popcorn are served throughout the show ~ delivered directly to your chaise.  I could fall asleep here!   Closer to the AFT of this deck you can find the always buzzing Horizon Court ~ the main buffet area of the ship which is always serving up scrumptious food to the masses.  Connected to this you will find the Cafe Caribe, serving up light fare and finally the Outrigger Bar and Lounge.  On the opposite end the second pool is flanked by the Mermaid's Tail bar and the Trident Grill, serving up great hotdogs, hamburgers and fries endlessly.

Move up one deck to Deck 17 and you'll discover the Tradewinds Bar, the Wedding Chapel (yes, they have a wedding chapel and actually had a wedding while were onboard!), Conference Room facilities, the fabulous "Sabatini's" (a reservations only fine Italian dining establishment for which there is a small charge), Adagio bar and of course the Lotus Spa & Fitness Center.  I must say the spa and fitness centre is certainly top-notch.  The gym is large, bright and very well equipped, hosting various classes and information sessions on a daily basis.  There is a jogging track, a basketball court as well as table tennis.  The spa offers anything from thermal massage to botox and everything in between.  Their staff is qualified, knowledgeable and friendly.  Tip: The very best time to visit the spa (and the least expensive) is on a shore day when the vessel is in port.  

Each evening you will receive the Princess Patter delivered to your stateroom.  This helpful brochure tells you what is going on throughout the vessel for the following day.  It will also include an insert relevant to the port you may be visiting ~ with lots of helpful information enclosed to make the most of your port day.  We looked forward to relaxing each evening and discovering what the next day had to offer while browsing through the Patter.  

The true Heart of the vessel can be found on Decks 5-7, the Atrium.  This is a stunning Piazza complete with twin spiral staircases and glorious stained glass lighting. On our first day there was an absolutely incredible male Opera singer performing here ~ his voice actually made the hair stand up on my arms!  From here one can access Passenger Services, the Shore Excursions Desk, the Internet Cafe, Future Cruise Sales, the Library, the shops ~ Essence, Facets, Calypso Cove & Meridian Bay, Crooners and Vines Bar (where they serve lovely wines with complimentary sushi) and of course the always busy International Cafe.  This would be an upscale version of Tim Horton's...quite upscale.  In the mornings you can wonder down here and enjoy a breakfast egg mcmuffin, glorious pastries of every size and sort, tasty muffins and biscuits.  Later in the day the offerings will change to scrumptious sandwiches and desserts including gelato!  Here is a big tip:  You can purchase a coffee card here for $29.00 and it will give you about 24 specialty coffees throughout your cruise.  A great value.  Regular coffee is free of charge at any of the restaurants, but they will charge you for it at the International cafe.  We really enjoyed the espressos and cappucinos here.  This main Atrium area is where people tend to congregate in the evenings and go over their days.

Just outside the Atrium you can find various bars ~ Wheelhouse Bar, Speakeasy Cigar Lounge, Explorers Lounge and of course Gatsby's Casino ~ where you have to try your hand at least once.  We took in some craps lessons, but I still don't quite have it down pat.    Just behind the glass elevators you can find the Art Gallery ~ several winding hallways displaying lovely works of art by various featured artists.  You can actually purchase these works either directly from the gallery or at one of the several auctions that they host on board.  The artwork will be framed/packaged and delivered directly to your home.  Proceed a bit further along on the Forward side and you will find the stunning Princess Lounge ~ as beautiful as any theatre I have ever attended.  We were lucky enough to take in one of the shows and I have to say we were absolutely impressed.  The show itself was amazing ~ from the sets to the lighting to the fabulous costumes ~ you felt like you were taking in a show in Vegas.   At one point the stage opened up and the main singer dropped down below the stage.  The singing and dancing was absolutely top notch ~ do yourself a favor and be sure to take in at least one of these fabulous presentations.    Towards the AFT end of the ship you will discover the Photo Gallery, where you can see your pics displayed each day from the day before, the formal dining rooms ~ Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Da Vinci ~ as well as the Crown Grill ~ a steak and seafood restaurant for which you need reservations and there is a nominal fee. 

Now if this seems overwhelming, relax.... We seemed to discover something new on a daily basis!  No matter how many times we went to one of the pools, it would take us three tries to find it again!  This really is part of the fun ~ getting lost and discovering something unexpected.  

As you can see there is definitely something for everyone on board.  There are children's clubs for kids from babies to teens ~ there is even a disco exclusively for the teens!  You can take a class ~ whether it be a pilates class or a class on the history of Rome, it is offered on the Crown.  You can relax and do absolutely nothing ~ or make it your mission to experience as much as possible ~ the choice is yours and the only thing you will be up against is time.  There just never seems to be enough time to do everything you would like ~ so we have put a deposit down on a future cruise because that bucket list just seems to keep on growing!

Next stop:  Florence and Pisa ~ Join us as we explore these glorious towns!