Inaugural AFF Cruise 25 - 29 Jan 2018

[Anna]

Thanks Pushka. Shame about the curries. Don't care much about salad either. But if afternoon tea and dessert is good then I will be happy

 

[Pushka]

Thanks Pushka. Shame about the curries. Don't care much about salad either. But if afternoon tea and dessert is good then I will be happy

You can always eat the savoury in the dining room then buffet for multiple sweets.

 

[straitman]

You can always eat the savoury in the dining room then buffet for multiple sweets.

.... or just order (multiple) desserts in the dining room.

 

[Bazzi]

I agree with Pushka about Celebrity - best food we have had on a cruise with exception of the Pan Asian speciality restaurant on Holland America Eurodam.

As for the Golden Princess, a very small area in which to move for the savoury dishes and so you were constantly in a queue. I am a salad person and thought the offerings pretty basic - lettuce, tomato and some canned accompaniments - even the dressings were dull. I am not a dessert person - the taste never lives up to the looks in my book and I'd rather a good cheese - which was also sadly lacking on the Golden Princess.

When we sailed on the Diamond Princess, we had a very ordinary experience in the dining room on the first two nights and vowed not to go back again (more the crew than the food) so ended up in the buffet each night. We sat in the same area each time and subsequently had the same floor staff who looked after us brilliantly. I remember the curries being exceptionally good, and as we sailed from Japan, we were fortunate to have a sushi bar as part of the buffet offering. There were also two choices - fish, meat or poultry - that were cooked to order.

One of the best meals we had on the Golden Princess - we started off in Vines and loved the atmosphere so asked Michelangelo if we could bring some food down and continue on - not a problem - so off we went and got pizza and salad and returned to settle into a very nice Argentinian Merlot.

 

[Glider_]

So sorry, but MrGlider and I won't be able to join in the festivities after all. I hope you all have a wonderful time!

 

[Pushka]

I agree with Pushka about Celebrity - best food we have had on a cruise with exception of the Pan Asian speciality restaurant on Holland America Eurodam.

As for the Golden Princess, a very small area in which to move for the savoury dishes and so you were constantly in a queue. I am a salad person and thought the offerings pretty basic - lettuce, tomato and some canned accompaniments - even the dressings were dull. I am not a dessert person - the taste never lives up to the looks in my book and I'd rather a good cheese - which was also sadly lacking on the Golden Princess.

When we sailed on the Diamond Princess, we had a very ordinary experience in the dining room on the first two nights and vowed not to go back again (more the crew than the food) so ended up in the buffet each night. We sat in the same area each time and subsequently had the same floor staff who looked after us brilliantly. I remember the curries being exceptionally good, and as we sailed from Japan, we were fortunate to have a sushi bar as part of the buffet offering. There were also two choices - fish, meat or poultry - that were cooked to order.

One of the best meals we had on the Golden Princess - we started off in Vines and loved the atmosphere so asked Michelangelo if we could bring some food down and continue on - not a problem - so off we went and got pizza and salad and returned to settle into a very nice Argentinian Merlot.

I know exactly what you mean about desserts failure to deliver. I’ve found that particularly with Asian style dishes. Full of colour but no flavour. But not the case here.

We didn’t have any cook to order. I remember also they hid the English or American? bacon - One of them, under the counter unless you asked for it. No sushi but I don’t like it anyway but MrP would have had it if there.

Sounds like Vines is a must and others have suggested I try the European reds as I’m not a fan of bolshy Shiraz styles.

Oh yeah. Princess Pizzas are excellent.

 

[sinophile888]

So sorry, but MrGlider and I won't be able to join in the festivities after all. I hope you all have a wonderful time!

That is a great pity for you and also for us.

 

[sinophile888]

We are much keener on eating in the Dining Room rather than the buffet. We only use the buffet when there is a timing problem with the MDR. But I do agree that the buffet can be tempting wrt desserts.

I far prefer the Celebrity buffet layout to the Princess layout. I hate lining up with everyone for everything.

 

[love_the_life]

So sorry, but MrGlider and I won't be able to join in the festivities after all. I hope you all have a wonderful time!

Sorry to hear that Glider. Hope all is well.

 

[Glider_]

Sorry to hear that Glider. Hope all is well.

Yep, no disaster just disappointing priorities. We just finished building a new home and moving in over Christmas... funny how everything costs more than you expect! The budget just can't stretch to a cheeky cruise as well right now.

Engage pouty face.

 

[love_the_life]

Yep, no disaster just disappointing priorities. We just finished building a new home and moving in over Christmas... funny how everything costs more than you expect! The budget just can't stretch to a cheeky cruise as well right now.

Engage pouty face.

That's a bummer but I am sure the new home more than makes up for missing a 4 day cruise!

 

[straitman]

So sorry, but MrGlider and I won't be able to join in the festivities after all. I hope you all have a wonderful time!

Catch you next time Glider.

 

[straitman]

... and then there were sixteen.

I am trying to work out if there is any way that those with Princess status we can use it to help others get priority boarding and other onboard benefits.
Sue and I can help a couple of people. How many others have Princess Platinum or Elite status? Feel free to answer via PM if you don't want to discuss publicly.

 

[sinophile888]

We are both Platinum but are embarking in Melbourne for the 6 day version of the 4 day extravaganza. So won't be much help to anyone embarking in Adelaide. Of course, we would be happy to help in any way if we can. Any suggestions, straitman? Is there anything we can do for the group on our first two days on board before we get to Adelaide?

 

[JessicaTam]

We are both Platinum but are embarking in Melbourne for the 6 day version of the 4 day extravaganza. So won't be much help to anyone embarking in Adelaide. Of course, we would be happy to help in any way if we can. Any suggestions, straitman? Is there anything we can do for the group on our first two days on board before we get to Adelaide?

Warn the staff!

 

[Anna]

I think that on Princess I am the equivalent of QF PS. Ruby maybe?? Definitely not enough for free wifi onboard yet, which is actually a good thing I think because it liberates me from my devices as I refuse to pay the ransom they charge for wifi.

On the important topic of buffets - I've been on Dawn Princess and also either Sea or Sun Princess (I get them mixed up) but don't recall disliking the buffets. Not as good as Celebrity but still fine. The buffet I really hated was on Jewel of the Seas last January and the main reason I hated it was that it used to CLOSE. Seriously! Between 5pm and 6.30pm every day the buffet was closed. What's the point of a cruise ship buffet if it's not even open? Sheesh

 

[Bazzi]

... and then there were sixteen.

I am trying to work out if there is any way that those with Princess status we can use it to help others get priority boarding and other onboard benefits.
Sue and I can help a couple of people. How many others have Princess Platinum or Elite status? Feel free to answer via PM if you don't want to discuss publicly.

Actually I think there is 14 - I posted a couple of months ago that we had to cancel due to rescheduling of our Japan trip - but I notice we are still on the wiki sheet. Could the Mods please amend.

Instead of cancelling outright, I transferred the booking to the three day SYD MEL trip last November.

 

[straitman]

Actually I think there is 14 - I posted a couple of months ago that we had to cancel due to rescheduling of our Japan trip - but I notice we are still on the wiki sheet. Could the Mods please amend.

Instead of cancelling outright, I transferred the booking to the three day SYD MEL trip last November.

Fixed. Sorry we won't see you but I'm sure that Japan will be suitable compensation for missing the AFF gang.

Just trawling through the thread and I cannot see where NZ_Flyer has confirmed or otherwise.

 

[straitman]

We are both Platinum but are embarking in Melbourne for the 6 day version of the 4 day extravaganza. So won't be much help to anyone embarking in Adelaide. Of course, we would be happy to help in any way if we can. Any suggestions, straitman? Is there anything we can do for the group on our first two days on board before we get to Adelaide?

The sort of thing I was thinking of was to see if there are still happy hours in the Wheelhouse Bar as I heard a rumour they had been discontinued. See if there are still afternoon canapés in Skywalkers for Platinum, Elite and Suite passengers. That can be pretty good as it's a great location and we should be able to guest enough people in. Anything else you can find.

If people don't want to publicly their stateroom numbers could they send them to me via message just so we can roughly herd the cats.
(We are in a Mini-Suite D121.)

Here is a link to the Golden Princess Deck Plans. Deck plan M/S Golden Princess from 02/10/2017

 

[Major]

I hope you don't make too much noise. We are next door in D201