My Very First Cruise

LIVING LIKE ROYALTY

 ON A CROWN JEWEL

Cocooned due to Covid-19 pandemic Patrick Keenan looks back on recent travel, 

this, from THE HERALD in October 2019

The Crown Princess in Cobh, Co.Cork, Ireland seen from Spike Island

     I have never been on a cruise before, and my only sea travel experience extends to ferry crossings. Seared to my memory is a dreadful childhood trip to Liverpool - I was not a happy sailor. Exposing my age here, I'm going back to a time when passengers and cattle shared the same ship.
     Now this is many many years later, a different time and a hugely different ship and I’m hopefully older, wiser and a reasonably seasoned traveller. I can deal with almost anything, but just in case, I’ve packed a white shirt and a choice of dicky bows as I'm cruising.
     Boarding the Crown Princess at Southampton in England went smoothly, I already knew some of my fellow passenger, so what could go wrong and would cruising work for me?
     But I’m also joining a new cruising revolution with Princess Cruises introducing Ocean Medallion technology billed as ‘a new wave of vacation travel.’ This ship and three others are fully ‘Medallion Class’ and, in time, it will extend to the entire Princess fleet.The Medallion is a tiny bit wider than a 2 Euro coin. It is a ‘wearable’ device, with a lanyard round your neck, or for a small cost, you can wear it like a wrist watch ($12) or as a clip-on device ($8). You can opt all posh too with silver or gold neck laces and watches, $44/$54. By the way, everything onboard is priced in US$.

“Best Cruise Ship Specialty Restaurant”
     The ship is remarkably quite, I only realised we had slipped anchor and were on our way when I glanced out the windows of Sabatini’s Italian restaurant, where we were enjoying the first of many onboard restaurant experiences. This one was voted “Best Cruise Ship Specialty Restaurants” by USA TODAY.

The Formal Evening: Patrick Keenan
and fellow cruiser Rachel Vane.

     With day two came my first of my anxiety tests, the formal evening, when passengers dress up. The beard could do with a trim.
     Relex, yes, I’ll pamper myself, revitalise, that’s the word. The Lotus Spa on this ship was named ‘Best Spa by Spa’. I can choose a variety of treatments, aroma stone therapies, massages and detoxifying wraps, manicures, pedicures, on and on. Also there is a state of the art fitness centre, Zumba, yoga and tai chi, but to be honest, I didn’t fancy any of that.

‘The Royal Shave’
     I booked into the Lotus Spa and lay back in the barbers chair opting for ‘The Royal Shave’ - almost an hour involving hot towel wraps, a shave and beard trim, Pro-Collagen mini facial, and a luxurious, absolutely invigorating face, scalp, hand and arm massage. I could have done another hour. My barber was the long-named Andrianjakamaherimandresy from Madagascar, who said I could call him Anjaka for short.
     I arrived for our pre dinner drinks at Crooners Bar in my black funeral/formal suit, white shirt and dicky bowed.
     An elegant stroll to The Crown Grill and the formal evening began. It was all more relaxed than I ever imagined, a more intimate than formal dining experience in a rich elegant wood panelled setting. The Crown Grill in best steakhouse traditions serves premium-aged beef and fresh seafood.

With fellow formal diners in the Crooners Bar before taking our elegant stroll to The Crown Grill.

So many bars and restaurants
     I had my annual medical check-up the week before the cruise and the doctor suggested that I might keep an eye on my weight. I couldn’t have picked a better place.
     Even though it has so many bars and restaurants, with the International Café in the Piazza open 24-hours a day, as is room service, the good thing is that it's all healthy.
     I talked to the food and beverage director, Frederico Femiano. He has been with this ship for 16 years, in charge charge of nine kitchens, a bakery, a staff of 226 that includes 180 chefs, all making half of all crew on board.

Food and Beverage Director, Frederico Femiano

14,000 meals every day
     They work round the clock, preparing and serve 14,000 meals every day. No ready-made food are allowed on board, all meals are freshly made from the baked croissant in the morning to the pies, quiches, salads and sandwiches at lunchtime, and decadent desserts in the evening. My doctor will be so delighted.
     I loved the Salty Dog Gastropub, developed by the renowned gastropub chef Ernesto Uchimura, born in Buenos Aires, but grew up in LA. He launched two craft burgers - yes, craft burgers.  Both carry his name, the Umami Burger and the one I ordered, the "Ernesto”, a savory rib eye burger named “Best Burger at Sea.”
     What I really enjoyed about the cruising experience is the change of scenery each day, and the excursions ashore. Although on one, we anchored just off St.Peter Port, Guernsey and  crammed aboard one of the small tender boats taking us ashore. Now one concern about cruising re-emerged, that of being trapped in the company of strangers adrift on the high seas.

Not under arrest - just checking if they needed any help firing the noonday gun in Guernsey

Preoccupied to a troubling extent with penguins
     Admittedly, she was a very nice outgoing lady who told me of her most favourite cruise ever - Antartica, and she is going back. Her husband remained silent, I guess she was speaking for both of them.  It soon became apparent that she was preoccupied to a troubling extent with penguins, which is fine enough, but it went on a bit.
     I tried to change the subject once or twice, even talked about seasickness - it was a tad choppy as our small tender bounced up, down and sideway toward the shore.
     Only halfway across and we were on to how they waddled and why they waddled (something about not having knees)...my mind was already ashore, I reckon her husband was there too.
     Hours later, walking on the narrow cobbled streets of St.Peter Port where once the occupying Nazi soldiers marched, a lady was talking about penguins. I didn’t look around, I quickened my pace. In case you think otherwise, I loved Guernsey.
     Let’s face it, on board cruise liners there are hundreds of events and things to do every day - some you will love, some you’ll hate. That’s life, but these ships are so large you can avoid some and not even realise they are happening - karaoke fun, bean bag-tossing or a lecture on Vikings - the choice is all yours.
     And my verdict? Yes, I’m now a confirmed cruiser.

The Cruise:
     Unfortunately at present cruising is at a standstill because of the Coronaviris Convid-19 pandemic. For updates and eventually to book again   www.princess.com, contact your local travel agent or call 0344 338 8663.
     At the time of my trip there were three daily flights direct from Dublin to Southampton with Flybe.  - and again. alas Flybe went into liquidation.
     Princess Cruise will in time recomence and perhaps do a cruise similar to the one above and offer a trip around Britain, Ireland and France. A simular cruise might  be 12-nights-  sailing from Southampton, calling at Guernsey (St.Peter Port), Cork (Cobh), Dublin, Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Invergordon, Edinburgh (South Queensferry) and Paris/Normandy (Le Havre). At the time prices were from €1,539 per person (based on two guests sharing an inside cabin) included accommodation, all main meals and entertainment.

The ‘Ocean Medallion’ 
• Together with The Medallion Class app on your smartphone, this wearable technology faster embarkation and you can order food or drinks on the app. The kitchens have a direct Medallion connection.
• It automatically open your cabin door as you approach and will lock it when you leave -  no frustrating swipe card that regularly refuses to work.
• It's handy OceanCompass lets you locate your travel companions anywhere on the ship and be guided to them with precise directions. You can even create an Ocean Tagalong, your personal digital companion who comes to life and interacts with you around the ship'
• OceanCasino lets you play real money games on your phone from anywhere on the ship - but only while the shipboard casino is open
• MedallionNet delivers good WiFi connectivity at sea, so you can stream shows, music and sports. At the time it cost $9.99 per day if you buy online before you sail.