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Tom and Mary Milano
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
Age: 74
Occupation: Restauranteur
Cruise Line: Princess
Ship: Ocean Princess
Sailing Date: October 11th, 2001
Itinerary: 10-Day Eastern Caribbean Islander
(It’s a long review...it’s
much easier and more enjoyable to read if you print it.)
THIS CRUISE...REAFFIRMED WHY WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CRUISING:
For
Mary & I, there is nothing quite like being on a beautiful cruise ship, being
pampered and catered too. Our 24th cruise on the Ocean Princess encompassed all
the reasons we love to cruise.
The period of time between our
Voyager cruise this past May and our Ocean Princess cruise October 11th, is the
longest we have gone without cruising in the last three years.
I make this point because this was our 24th cruise in 5-1/2 years and as
our departure date approached we were just as excited as if it was our first.
We were fortunate to be able to
retire in 1973 and during the ensuing years we took land vacations all over the
world. Although we enjoyed our
vacations, we never had an overwhelming desire to do any one of them again, no
less to do it 23 more times. As we
have said in many reviews, Mary & I refer to our cruises as ‘Honeymoons’
because we can’t think of a more
romantic, intimate way of spending quality time with the one you love, then when
cruising. The atmosphere created by
these magnificent floating resorts, affords couples the opportunity to relive
that very special moment of their life, but with a more mature, reasoned
approach. It isn’t often in life
that couples have a chance to recapture such a special moment, a chance to do it
over again. As older married
couples know, love grows even sweeter and more satisfying as one’s friendship
in marriage deepens and expands. Cruising
is a wonderful way to give expression to those feelings. When Princess coined
the expression the ‘Love Boat,’ I don’t think they realized they were
speaking for the entire industry.
WHY WE WRITE REVIEWS:
Our main purpose for writing a
review is to help you decide if this is the ship you would like to book for your
HOW TO EXPEDITE THE READING OF
THIS REVIEW:
In order to expedite the
reading of this review for our regular readers, we have decided to combine our
past suggestions, ones that you might find repetitive, in a paragraph at the end
of our review. First time readers
and those of you who would like to read our suggestions again, can find them in
a paragraph entitled ‘SUGGESTIONS THAT COULD ENHANCE YOUR CRUISE, just before
our ‘LOOSE ENDS & RANDOM THOUGHTS SECTION.
NEW SUGGESTIONS IN BOLD
LETTERS:
If we think there is something
of importance for you to remember, we will print it in CAPITAL LETTERS at the
end of the paragraph and if there is an [S] after a comment, you can read more
about it in our Suggestion paragraph.
PRE CRUISE THINGS TO DO:
You will also find a complete
list of the things we suggest you do, “Before...During...and After” your
cruise, at the end of this review. We
think you will find it helpful.
EMBARKATION:
Tightened Security Made Us Feel
Secure.
There is much stricter control
of access to the port. We had to
show our ticket as we entered the port area
When we checked
in, we first had to go through a metal detector and than our carry-on
luggage was screened. As we left
the screening area another security agent checked us with a hand wand.
When we arrived at the counter, the attendant checked our photo ID’s
once more. Just before we boarded
we had
Police Boats keep pleasure
craft and jet skiers three hundred yards from all cruise ships. Coast Guard
cutters now escort all cruise ships in and out of port.
All commercial vessels are required to give 96 hours notice, ( previously
24 hrs) before entering a U.S. port.
At the port of St. Thomas,
before anyone was allowed to go ashore, we received a notice to muster at the
entrance to the show lounge. We had to hold our notice in our hand, with our
passport or photo ID opened and ready to be viewed.
Agents from three different Government agencies conducted the procedure.
This type muster was also conducted the morning of debarkation.
We were surprised how smoothly it went.
When leaving the ship in port,
you had to insert the key pass in a machine and then again upon returning.
These automated systems enable security personnel to know who is on the ship at
any given time. All packages coming
aboard, both passengers and crew, are hand searched.
Most cruise lines have on board
security personnel, who are indistinguishable from the passengers.
In fact, the Princess line has the famed Nepalese fighters of the British Army, the Gurkahs, for
their fleet security force.
The Bottom Line: Cruising is
probably the safest choice of any vacation plans you can make. If you book a
cruise, when you arrive at the terminal, be patient.
You may encounter some lines and it may take a little longer to board,
but remember, all the additional security measures are being done
for your safety!
EMBARKATION DAY:
Join us as we drive to Ft.
Lauderdale to board the Ocean Princess for our 10-Day Eastern Caribbean
cruise to the islands of Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, St Maarten, St.
Thomas and Princess Cays. After
arranging
It never fails to amaze us that after cruising as often as we do we still get excited when we know we will be boarding our ship within a few hours. We started our journey in great spirits as we anticipated the many special moments we would share. When we drive, Mary is in charge of the CD player. The first CD she selected was my favorite. It was Pedro Vargas singing a medley of his favorite romantic ballads and like magic we began to feel the tranquil mood of the Caribbean slowly fall upon us. Mary continued playing all our favorites and the time passed quickly. It wasn’t long before we are passing the Ft. Lauderdale airport on the way to the terminal. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Mary looking at me in a strange way. I asked her why she was staring at me. She said, “Your eyes have that glazed look and I was wondering if you’re tired from the drive or if that Wimpy thing is happening.” I reacted very slowly...I took her hand and smiled...and I said to her in a very soft, sultry voice... “My lady Mary...I want you to know...you now have Wimpy at your complete disposal...for the next ten days.” Mary bust out laughing and said, “Macho Man, you had better mean that.” I know your looking at us from the back seat wondering what the heck are they talking about? The explanation is rather simple as our regular readers know. A number of cruises ago, I found that when I took on my Wimpy persona, doing all the little things I know Mary loves, she gave me a lot more reason to smile than when I was Macho man. My mother didn’t raise no dum...dum! It didn’t take me long to get the message...I said good-bye to Macho Man...and I’m happy to tell you, I’ve been smiling ever since.
As you can see, we have
finally arrived at the terminal
and we have the porters take our luggage. I
parked our car in the nearby garage and walked back to terminal.
We arrived inside the terminal at 12:15 and we boarded at 1:30.
This was an hour longer than it usually takes but the extra time is was a
small price to pay to feel safe and secure. We entered the ship in the Atrium
area on the 5th deck. As we entered
and looked across the expanse of the deck and the floating stairways spiraling
upward, the view was absolutely breathe taking. Everywhere
CABIN B-217
Before we tell you about our
cabin appointments, we have to do a few things that will help create the proper
atmosphere for our ‘Honeymoon.’ I looked around for the wall outlets and
sure enough there was only one by
the desk. We had two Wizard
Plug-Ins and a night light and only one outlet...we experienced the same dilemma
on our last cruise but this time I was prepared.
We brought with us one short extension cord with three outlets and a
plug-in unit consisting of three outlets. I plugged in the three outlet unit by
the desk and plugged in two of the Gardenia Wizards.
Then I unplugged the television and plugged in the extension cord, night
light and the TV. Within minutes the fragrance of Gardenias, Mary’s favorite
flower, began to fill the room. It
was time for lunch but I had trouble making up my mind, if I wanted to go to
lunch or take a nap...but my better judgement prevailed and we decided on lunch.
But before we go, let me describe our accommodations.
The cabin was done in warm
earth tones with splashes of blue and there was a large window on the far end.
It had a king size bed covered with a beautifully designed spread. There was a large wall mirror behind it and next to it was a
desk with another large mirror, which gave the room a very expansive feeling.
The desk had three large drawers on each side.
Across from the desk is a wall table that held the TV with shelf room on
the side. Under it was a true refrigerator. I give Princess high marks for this, they weren’t trying to
sell anything. The entire area was available for anything you wanted
refrigerate. I had been in the
habit of ordering bottle water on past cruises until I realized the ships water
tasted as good as anything I was buying. On
the Princess we drank the bottle of water that you normally find on the desk and
then I kept refilling it with ship’s water,
and kept it in the refrigerator. We
always had cold water without having to use ice. Next to the bed was a night
table with two drawers...which Mary allowed me to use.
The closet was a work of art. It
wasn’t overly large but the size of the compartments was perfect for our
extensive wardrobe. Just the right amount of room for long gowns and dresses,
two compartments with just
THE HORIZON COURT:
This lunch area is one of the
finest at sea. We found it much
improved over similar areas on former Princess cruises. Everything is laid out
in a concentric circle. On the
outer edge of the circle are tables and chairs, with a back drop of floor to
ceiling glass walls, which provide a spectacular view of the ocean.
The inner circles are composed of settees and tables. The appointments of
the room are very striking and very beautiful.
The tables, chairs, counters, ceilings and rugs all spell quality in
capital letters.
Instead of having one long line
for the buffet items, they have several separate stations featuring various
luncheon items displayed in a very attractive way.
One station had nothing but Vegatarian items.
They also featured a Sushi & Fruit Buffet.
The Sushi buffet had every imaginable item and the Fruit buffet was
something to behold. Having
made the number of cruises we have, we have seen just about every conceivable
carving of fruit and vegetables but we have never seen anything the likes of
what we saw aboard the Ocean Princess. The
carvings were the most imaginative, creative works we have ever viewed.
They were worthy of being called works of art.
Make sure you take your camera. To
add to your enjoyment, from 12:00 to 1:00, Neil Parkinson sits at the white baby
grand in the center of the Horizon playing your favorite melodies. In the evening, part of the Horizon becomes the Sterling
Steak House. We didn’t have an
opportunity to dine there but we heard the steaks were outstanding.
We had a delightful lunch.
Our main course was Pasta with Marinara sauce and I ordered a nice
Cabernet Sauvignon for Mary. When
the wine was served, with the strains of ‘Unforgettable’ playing in the back
ground, Wimpy squeezed Mary’s hand and told her she reminded him of a fine
Bordeaux wine...because a fine Bordeaux gets
smoother and more velvety with age...just like her. Mary squeezed my hand
and gave me one of those...how sweet that was looks...and then she leaned over
and whispered in my ear...“??...??...??.”...I won’t reveal what Mary said
to me but I can tell you, my pulse rate increased and my heart skipped a
beat...another nice tender moment to add to our shipboard memories and we
haven’t even left the pier...While we’re on the 14th deck, let’s check out
the pool area and the spa.
Pool Area & Spa:
The pool area consists of two
pools and four Jacuzzis. One pool
has a constant depth of four feet, just
right
The Spa offers all kinds of
body treatments to make our ladies feel even more beautiful and the exercise
room has all the modern equipment to help us develop our bodies so we can be on
the cover of Muscle Man magazine. All
we need is the motivation. I
normally workout 45 minutes, three times a week and walk one or two miles a day.
When we cruise, my only motivation is to take my lady Mary to breakfast
in the main dining room.
In this area, you will find a
small circular pool that is heated to a very comfortable temperature.
There is a Jacuzzi on both sides. The pool has a see through dome protecting you fron the
weather. Sometime during mid-morning we would come here, soak in a Jacuzzi for
awhile and then languish in the tepid water of the pool.
It was a delightful way to start the day. Also in this area was the children’s area, ‘The Fun
Factory.’ now we’re going to have you come with us as we check our seating
arrangements and then we will make a quick tour of the ship.
CHECKING TABLE ASSIGNMENT &
A QUICK TOUR OF SHIP:
We encountered a long line
waiting to see the Maitre`de. [S] When
it came our turn, even though our agent faxed the dining room coordinator and I
had a copy of the fax in my hand, our seating arrangements were all messed up.
When I found out that it was just the opposite of what we wanted, I got
real irritated and let him know I was mad.
In fact, I was so mad that I didn’t realize he was resolving my problem
as I was speaking to him. The Maitre`des’ name was Genorosa Mazzone.
He not only resolved our problem but
he and his head waiter, Giuseppe Franchina, helped make our cruise very
special. Generosa is the epitome of
what a Maitre`de should be and Giuseppe is following in his footsteps.
(BTW...Generosa’s picture appears in the Princess brochure Caribbean
2001–2002, on page 17.) We will
be telling you about our very enjoyable dining room experience a little later in
our review.
TOUR OF THE OCEAN PRINCESS:
We think the best way to
describe the ship to you and relate our cruise experience,
is to take you to each of the venues,
describe them to you and tell you about some of our special moments.
At the close of our review will give you our over-all opinion of the
ship, it’s restaurants, the crew and the entertainment....come along with us
as we start at the lower deck of the Atrium.
The heart of the ship is the
forward Atrium, which encompasses the 5th, 6th and 7th decks.
It is a beautiful display of what creative designers can do when given
the green light. Enclosed is a
picture of a part of this area. Notice
the magnificent floating stairways, the stained glass ceiling, and the gorgeous
carpeting. This picture doesn’t give you a minuscule idea of the beauty of
this ship. The Ocean Princess is
one of the most beautiful ships of all the ships we have cruised on.
On one side of the Atrium on
the deck #5 is the Pursers area, the Excursion Desk and the Captains Circle
Hospitality Desk. On the other side
of this large circular Atrium is the Patisserie Bar, where you can order,
Cappuccino, Espresso, Coffee Lotte, or your favorite cocktail or drink while
your enjoying an assortment of pastries that are free.
It enjoins an open lounge with settees and cocktail tables.
At various times during the day we would saunter down to the pursers
desk, pick up two copies of the ships edition of the New York Times, find a
settee with an ocean view, order two Cappuccinos and catch up on the happenings
in the world.
Between these two areas you
will find the Tuscan dining room which is used for personal choice dining.
This is the dining room where
we had a table reserved for us with the same team of servers for the entire
cruise. While we are here, we are going to tell you about our very special
dining room experience. Our
servers, who I fondly called the Romanian connection, were outstanding.
The waiter was Ruda and his assistant was Yanciou.
The could have changed positions without losing a beat.
I ordered a bottle of wine for Mary and when it was served I did our
pre-tipping thing. [S] They were
very pleased. I explained to Ruda,
what we expected of him when we ordered, [S] and he was pleased that we
respected his opinion.
Maitre`de Generosa was always
at the entrance of the Tuscan, ready
to greet his guests with a big
smile and a cheery hello. He was
very busy but he made it a point to stop by the table each evening to see if
there was anything he could do. His assistant, head waiter Guiseppi Franchina, had a winning
personality and was a true working head waiter; he was everywhere, making sure
his waiters were taking care of their guests.
The food was the best we have
ever had on Princess. We had a
number of memorable dishes, one was our favorite, Rack of Lamb.
Mary likes hers with no pink, I like mine with a pink center, medium.
Both servings were just what we ordered.
Ruda was always standing by, waiting for any sign of dissatisfaction,
ready to bring us whatever we wanted. The
Shrimp and the Lobster Tails were exceptional.
The best part of any meal for Mary is the dessert and her favorite
dessert of all time is a Souffle. Very
few restaurants make them because it takes a skilled Pastry chef to make the
batter so it doesn’t collapse when serving. She was in her glory on this
cruise. Six different nights
Souffles were on the menu and we both ordered them every time.
We had a different flavor each time, always with Zabaglione sauce.
We added our own twist. We
had Ruda bring us two servings of Hagen Daz vanilla ice cream ( that is all
Princess serves) and
I diet between cruises
otherwise I would look like the Goodyear Blimp.
I lost 18 lbs since our last cruise and I gained five back on this one.
Now I have to hurry up and lose 5 lbs before our November 23rd cruise.
Mary is lucky, her weight doesn’t change that much.
Her dress size varies between a 4 and a 6, the same as when we were
married. I have told you what her secret is and why it’s my
downfall. She always leaves something on her plate and I always manage to finish
it.
The 6th deck is comprised of
the shopping area, that has the usual array of stores you find on most ships.
This is also the location of the Sardinian dining room which has the same
arrangement as the Tuscan. Afternoon tea was served in the Sardinian every
afternoon from 3:30 to 4:30. Neil
Parkinson provided piano music as we enjoyed our Scones, served with Strawberry
jelly and sweet cream. They were
delicious. A nice thing to do after watching a movie. We rarely missed it.
We also had
lunch in this dining room.
We had the same servers each day and as coincidence would have it, they
were also from Romania, Eion and Jon. We
not only had great service but we became very friendly and we learned a lot
about their families and their country. We
looked forward to seeing them each
The 7th deck was the main
thoroughfare. It was always
bustling with activity. On the
starboard side, (that’s nautical for right...I finally remembered that after
our 20th cruise) is the Atrium Bar, a broad area with comfortable lounges and
settees. On the port side ( you guessed it...that’s the left) along
the entire length of the wall are comfortable seating arrangements with cocktail
tables. In the very center of the
Atrium is the domain of “The Great Brit,” Barrington ‘Barty’ Brown.
He is an absolutely delightful gentleman who has been with Princess for
many few years. He’s not Irish
but we’re sure he’s a leprechaun. He
has a glorious head of snow white hair, with bushy white eye brows to match. He
reigns at his white baby grand piano from 9:00 to 12:00 every evening. He plays and sings requests for his always large audience,
usually a
Also on the 7th deck, is The
Wheelhouse Lounge, our favorite lounge at sea, or for that matter also on land
It’s a beautiful room done in dark wood paneling with ships models and
memorabilia in various parts of the room. The
seating arrangements included areas with groupings of high backed arm chairs, comfortable period settees, end
tables with lamps, what you might see if you if you entered the sitting room in
an English manor. On one side of
the room is a small intimate bar. Two different combos were featured every
evening, The Ray Perry Trio and The Stowaways.
It was a very popular place to go before and after the shows.
We stopped by most evenings before and after dinner. What could be better than to have your loved one in your arms
as you listen to the beautiful romantic ballads of the past. We did a lot of
that...hold me tight dancing...the kind of dancing that doesn’t require much
of a dance floor...the kind of dancing that
allows us to communicate our feelings...without saying a word....before we walk
forward to the Showroom, lets sit and have a drink and I’ll tell you a
very heart warming story how those glorious old ballads have an
The cruise ship was crowded with people off for a week of pleasure.
Ahead of me in the
Younger people often think
folks our age are beyond romance, dancing or dreams. They don't see the people
who live inside....we are the wise old codgers, the dignified matrons. No one
would ever know that I am still the skinny girl who grew up in a leafy suburb of
Boston. Inside, I still think of myself as the youngest child in a
vicarious family headed by a mother of great beauty and a father of unfailing
good
And I am still the romantic
teenager who longed for love, the young adult who aspired to social
respectability but whom should I tell. We are like the women in the ship's
passageway, in whom the music still echoes. We are the sum of all the lives once
lived. We show the grown-up part, but inside we are still laughing children, the
shy teens, the dreamed filled youths. There still exists, most real, the matrix
of all we were or ever yearn to be. In our hearts we still hear, "Begin the
Beguine," and when we are alone, we dance.>>
The beautiful story I have just
related to you is a fairly apt description of the way Mary & I feel.
We may be in our twilight years but we still have those wonderful
romantic ballads playing in our hearts, just as they did many years ago....it
reminds me of a saying on the front of a Valentine card Mary gave me last
year...it said... “The Music of Life is Love...Each Couple Makes it’s Own
Beautiful Music.” Leave it to my
Mary...she always finds the right thought for the occasion...I think you’ve
heard enough of our sentimentality.... lets finish
our drinks and we’ll walk with you to Showroom theater.
Just forward of the Wheelhouse
lounge is the Princess Theater. The
showroom has what is called theater seating, because as the term implies, the
seating is the same as you would find in a theater.
There was only two isles, none on the outer walls.
Unless you were seated dead center in the row, you had to stand every
time anyone was seated past you.
I normally like to order Mary an after dinner drink while we’re waiting
for the show to start but I couldn’t do that because there wasn’t any drink
service. Not a very good idea.
First run movies are shown in
the showroom every afternoon, followed by afternoon tea in the Sardinian dining
room. We are not movie buffs, but
we did see two very good movies...What a Women Wants and Return to Love.
Both had good story lines and good acting....We are now going to walk you
to the far end of the ship (aft) to the Vista Lounge.
Along the way we will tell you about some of the venues we will be
passing. We will tell you about the entertainment after we visit the Vista
Lounge....
As we leave the showroom
walking toward the Atrium, we can hear Barty Brown singing.
As we pass by where he’s playing, a large group of us join him in
singing, that old timer, “Ain’t she sweet...see her coming down the street,
now I ask you very confidentially...Ain’t she sweet.”...by the time we
finished that line, we were leaving the larger Atrium and we entered a smaller
Atrium.
It was two decks high, with a domed ceiling off stained glass made in the
form of a roulette wheel. On the left was the Apres-Vous Lounge, an intimate
cocktail bar featuring the melodies of guitarist Don Scott.
On the opposite side of the circle wall, was a spiral stairway leading to
the Casino. Princess did something
that isn’t usually done on cruise ships.
The Casino was an entity by itself.
You didn’t have to walk through it to go forward or aft.
The Casino wasn’t as gaudy and loud as they usually are but in all
other respects, it was just another Casino.
You can tell Casinos are not our cup of tea.
The only other venue on deck #8
is Fabio’s Pizzeria, which is just forward of the Casino.
We have a fun story to tell you. A
few days into our cruise we decided to have pizza for lunch.
As you can see by the picture, the Pizzeria is beautifully appointed.
We sat at a table with side by side seating.
I ordered Mary a glass of
Burgundy and then we looked at the menu. All
the Pizzas are made to order and it takes about fifteen minutes.
When we got our Pizzas we were surprised how good they were but there was
something missing. The silence was
deafening. What was missing was music and specifically, Italian music, you know
the kind with the mandolins in the background.
I asked to speak to the manger. I
did the $2 thing [S], and in a fun way, I told him what a beautiful room it was
and the food was great but it would even be better if there was Italian
background music. He very
enthusiastically agreed with me and with a big smile on his face, he said he
would see would he could do about it.
Later during the cruise we
again went to Fabio’s and this time we sat close to the area where they make
the Pizza. The kitchen is open to
viewing. From your table you can
watch them make the Pizzas. Half way through our lunch I thought I heard someone
singing. At first I thought they
acted on my suggestion and were playing background music but when I listened
more intently, I thought I heard our name mentioned
...Sure enough
I turned around and there in
the kitchen, the Manager and the kitchen crew were all singing to us.
’$Ole Solo Mia...da Milanos
are here...Ole Solo Mia...shesa sucha dear.$’
We and the entire room had a good laugh. I went into the kitchen, shook
their hands and thanked them and did the $2 thing with all of them. We are still
laughing about that one.
A little further along the 7th
deck on the left, is the intimate
cocktail lounge, Apres-Vous. The
decor is done tastefully and a guitarist, Don Scott plays they nightly.
To the right is a disco, the
Spinners Nightclub. The entire room
done in a black and silver motif. It
wouldn’t surprise me if the designer was a Oakland Raider fan. This room never
had much action. I think the over
all age of the passengers (60+) had something to do with that.
Next we pass through the
expansive area of the photo shop. This
is where they display the pictures that are taken during the cruise and the
ports of call. The people who
worked here were a very congenial group and did a very good job....we walk a
short distance and we now approach the entrance to the Vista Lounge.
I want you to look around and you tell me if you’ve seen a more
beautiful lounge?
The Vista Lounge Showroom:
Princess presents their
entertainment in a different fashion than other lines.
They have a featured act performing in the Vista lounge and at the same
time have another show in the Princess Theater.
Show time for both shows are approximately 8:30 and 10:45, usually for
two consecutive nights. If you
wish, you can watch two shows in the same evening.
As you can see by the photo,
the room has a very comfortable seating arrangement and has complete drink
service. This is also where the
Captains Circle Club party was held.
Mary loves comedians and we
were fortunate to see two very good ones. Early
in the cruise we watched
Entertainment:
The over all entertainment was
very good. We particularly liked
having a choice as to what show we
would see. We saw three very good production shows.
Surprisingly, the last production show...’The Century Sings,’ the
last night of the cruise, was the best. It
was held in the Vista lounge and a very talented group of singers did a great
job singing the hit songs of the
20's through the 70's & 80's. Mary
marveled at the fact that the girls had matching shoes for the many costume
changes. The production and the
singing was first class and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Greg Bonham:
We have seen Greg Bonham twice
before and he was better than ever. He
has a great voice and a great delivery. He
also is an exceptional trumpet player, reminiscent of Doc Severson. His isn’t
on the stage very long before he has the audience in the palm of his hand.
He keeps the audience spell bound throughout his performance.
He is one of the better single acts performing today..
We like the Wheelhouse lounge
of Princess and the Rendezvous lounge on the Celebrity ships.
They play
THOSE CRUISE LINE QUESTIONNAIRES:
What You Write on a Cruise Line
Questionnaire Can Seriously Affect a Servers Pay!
A waiter/waitress is assigned a
certain number of covers for the cruise. [Understand that the amount of money
the server earns is governed by the amount of covers he/she is given.] Let’s
assume the number is sixteen for the sake of this explanation.
If the waiter was to receive the suggested tip for the early and
late seating, he would earn approximately $50 a cover for a seven-day
cruise. When the dining room remarks
What we have said applies to
the line we were cruising with but I’m sure
most cruise lines use the same or
Our closing remarks:
I don’t think we need to tell
you...we love to cruise. The very
professional service we receive in the dining room of a cruise ship reminds us
of what is missing in most of the restaurants of today,
quality, professional waiters and waitress’s. Part of this is due to
the fact that our restaurants do not have the European help to draw on as they
did in bygone days. The European
waiter was proud of his vocation to serve. Our American boys and girls were not
brought up to believe that being a waiter was an honorable position.
That’s why you don’t see American waiters and waitress’s on cruise
ships. They don’t have the proper
attitude or temperament. Can you think of an American boy or girl waking up one
morning and telling father at the breakfast table, “Dad, I decided I want to
be a waiter. It doesn’t happen. We
admire the servers, who while being away from their families for six month
periods, go out of there way to make our dining experience so pleasurable. They are the main reason we have become so passionate about
cruising.
Mary and I had such a heart
warming and memorable cruise, that we decided to book the Ocean Princess for our
Valentines cruise. We are thinking
of alternating our bookings between Celebrity and Princess. They both seem to
fulfill our expectations more than the other lines.
We are sailing on the new Celebrity
As we have said before, the
beauty of the ship and the professional and friendly service of the crew account
for 75% of our enjoyment of our cruise. I’m not usually at a loss of words,
but I find it difficult to fully express our feelings about this cruise.
We have always had good relationships with all the personal aboard the
ships we have sailed on, but on this cruise we bonded with the crew in a special
way. When we see them in the spring
it will feel like we’re visiting old friends.
Tom Ogg, once again Mary &
I want to thank you for having us as part of your team.
The calm, measured way you and your wife Joanie have reacted to a very
difficult time in the travel industry is an inspiration to
In closing, we want to leave
you with something that is worthwhile
to think about. It is something Leo
Buscaglia wrote, something that a lovely 81 year old women shared at a seminar.
She said in answering a
I recently told Mary, we were
very fortunate to have been blessed with such a wonderful marriage for our 33
years, especially since we were both married over 20 years in previous
marriages. But then I surprised her
by saying, “Just think, in only another 17 years we will celebrate our 50th
wedding anniversary.” She
laughed...she thought I was kidding...but I wasn’t.
Leo Buscaglia also wrote, Love...is... the fountain of youth, and I agree
with him.
May your next cruise be your
best,
Our warmest regards,
Tom & Mary
TomandMaryMilano@Yahoo.com
SUGGESTIONS THAT COULD ENHANCE YOUR CRUISE
PRE CRUISE THINGS TO DO:
For those of you who are
reading our reviews for the first time, we suggest some pre cruise things to do,
that have greatly enhanced our cruise experience. READ: “Before, During and
After Your Cruise.http://www.cruisereviews.com/Things2Do.htm READ: “How to
Heighten Your Cruise Experience”
Prepare Envelopes for Tipping
Before you Leave for Your Cruise: Many of our readers have tried our suggestion
on tipping with great results. Following are some examples of the many
e-mails we received.
<<The tipping went very
well. I would recommend it for everyone. All in all we had a delightful
experience made even more so by the tipping method. >> Mike & Pat Ball
<< I followed your tip
suggestion on our last cruise and had the best service of any cruise thus far.
Jay Krueger
<<I’ve been on 18
previous cruises and I never had the service or got the attention like I did
after pre tipping the crew on our last cruise. Your suggestion worked like magic
and it didn’t cost any more than I normally tip. Thanks for a great
suggestion. Mike Sullivan>>
We like to give the suggested
tip for the week, to our cabin attendant, waiter and assistant waiter and
Maitre`de, the first evening of our cruise. Tipping at the end of the week is
like locking the barn door after the horse has run away. We make out [3x5]
envelopes with a note that reads...This is a down payment on your services,
Thank you, Tom & Mary Milano. On our [24] cruises we have never had service
that was poor enough to warrant us tipping less than the suggested amount. By
tipping the suggested amount on the first night, you let your servers know that
you are appreciative of good service and they can expect an additional stipend
at the end of the cruise. [At the end of the cruise we usually give an
additional $20 to the waiter, $10 to the assistant and $10 or $20 to the cabin
attendant]. Giving an extra forty dollars for the week, is
a small price to pay to ensure the very best from your servers. Take our
word for it. It does make a difference. MAKE OUT ENVELOPES FOR PRE TIPPING.
Magic of the $2 Bill: If what
we hear from our readers is true, banks should start running out of $2 in the
new future. This again is another low-cost way of getting a high return. We
start collecting $2 bills weeks before the cruise. We take with us $20--$30 in
$2 bills. I call these our magic potion. I take a $2 bill and keep folding it
until I have a small square, with the large imprint of the $2 covering the
surface. I use the $2 a lot in the beginning of the cruise. It's important what
you say when you give it, otherwise it doesn't have much significance. When I
give it to a server, I say to them, give me your hand. When they give me their
hand, I take it and with my other hand I show them the folded $2 bill; then I
say to them, I want you to know this is a magic $2 bill and I can promise you
that during this coming week something special is going to happen to you,
something that will make you very happy. Very few servers have ever seen a $2
bill and that alone gets their rapt attention. Then you can see in their
quizzical expression that their thinking; it's crazy but who knows. It might
work. Who among us doesn't have some form of a lucky piece. A lucky coin, a
rabbits foot, a religious medal. All we can tell you is, we have had the most
amazing, wonderful things
Make Your Luggage Easy to Spot:
85% of all luggage is black. It will save you a lot of time and aggravation if
you put a colorful bow or luggage strap on your belongings. It is much easier to
identify them among thousands of pieces of luggage on the terminal floor. TIE
SOMETHING COLORFUL ON YOUR LUGGAGE.
The First Hours Aboard Ship Are
Important:
Mary and I have found that
there are certain things that we can do the first day that will set the tone or
our entire cruise. The first thing we do is check our table assignment. We
can’t stress enough the importance of doing this. It’s important to see if
the table assigned you is what you requested.
If it isn’t, the Maitre`de has a chance to make the necessary changes.
If after the first evening, you are not happy with whom you’re seated,
speak to the Maitre`de and ask to have your table changed. If he can possibly
change it he will, he wants to make you happy. This is also the time to make
your reservation for the ‘Alternative Restaurant’ if the ship has one.
They have very limited seating, so time is of the essence. CHECK YOUR
TABLE ASSIGNMENT AND THEN MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR THE ALTERNATIVE RESTAURANT.
Our final suggestion is to
‘Write a Review:’
After you adjust to being back
home and you slowly recover from after cruise depression,
sit down and write about all the wonderful things you experienced. You
don't have to be a polished writer to write a review.
All you have to do is write as if you were having a conversation with
your best friend. The important thing is to be honest and forthright. Writing a
review is a wonderful way to relive your cruise, and at the same time help
fellow cruisers by sharing your thoughts. Tell them your opinion of the ship,
the food, the crew, the entertainment, the ports of call and any special moments
you experienced. Also write about
the things that weren't so wonderful so your fellow cruisers can be forewarned.
Include your spouse and ask her/him for suggestions on what you should
include. And remember, don't be afraid of writing too much, longer is better
than shorter. People are reading your review to determine if the ship your
writing about is the one they should book.
Put yourself in their place and tell them all the things you would like
to know. But whatever you do, the most important thing is for you to have fun
and enjoy what your doing. When your review is finished, Tom Ogg would be happy
to post it on his web site, CruiscReviews.com. If you need help, Mary and I
would be glad to assist you.
LOOSE ENDS & RANDOM THOUGHTS
We Are Made For Love, not only
to love, but to be loved. All hearts hunger for tenderness. Harshness pains us. Ungentleness touches our sensitive spirits as frost touches the flowers. It
stunts the growth of all lovely things. Gentleness is like a genial summer of
our life. Beneath its warm, nourishing influence beautiful things in us grow.
Louise Holley, a Beverage
Server in the Wheelhouse Lounge: Louise is a sweet young English girl. She
served us every time we went to the Wheelhouse,,,which was often.
It was a delight to see her. After
we got to know her, Mary asked her about her living conditions and she said she
shared a room with a room mate and they had there own shower.
She also said the crew had there own dining rooms, bar and entertainment
center. She and her room mate were
organizing, what she called a Black& White Ball.
She said crew always sees everyone all dressed up and they thought it
would be nice to have a formal for the crew.
Mary & I thought that was a neat idea.
We look forward to seeing Louise in the Spring.
BTW, she is also receiving the ’Teaspoon’ along with crew on three
other ships.
Ports of Call: We forgot to mention the Ports of Call in our review. We didn't mention them for two reasons. We have seen these ports many times before and we didn't think it advisable to go ashore at this time.
Our Favorite Inspirational Thought: Having communed with our heavenly Father, at sunrise, in the garden of prayer, reminds me of a certain valley in Romania where they grow nothing but roses for the Vienna market. The perfume of the valley, in the time of the rose crop, is such that if you go into it for a few minutes, whereever you go the rest of the day, people know where you have been. The fragrance goes with you. Meeting Him in the morning causes the fragrance of His presence to go with you throughout the entire day.
We would like to hear any comments you might have on our "Suggestions" and our Loose Ends and Random Thoughts" section.
A Teaspoon of
Spiritual Nourishment
Compiled by Tom & Mary Milano
Don’t Save Anything!
I'm reading more and dusting
less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing
about the weeds in the garden. I'm
spending more time with my family and friends and less time at work. Whenever
I’m not "saving"
anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a
"Someday" and
"one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary.
If it's worth seeing or
hearing or
I'm not sure what my cousins
would've done had they known that they wouldn't be here for the tomorrow that we
all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close
friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend
fences for past squabbles. I like
to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, or for whatever their
favorite food was. I'm guessing;
I'll never know.
It's those little things left
undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited.
Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write
one of these days. Angry and sorry
that I didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love
them. I'm trying very hard not to
put off, hold back, or save anything that would
add laughter and luster to our lives. And
every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.
Most important of all is the
commitment to God you made a long time ago.
Be thankful every day for the countless blessings you take for granted. Live
each day as if it were your last and not only will your life be richer and
fuller but you may lead others to Him. After
all, isn't that the real reason God gave you life.
Author Unknown
Be thankful every day for the countless blessings you take
for granted
Some Favorite Thoughts on
Love:*Love is the fountain of youth *Good listeners make good lovers.*Best
friends make the best spouses.*Love is giving more and never keeping score. *Marriage is like operating a
farm. You have to start all over again each morning.*Those who love deeply never
grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.*The secret of a happy
marriage lies in finding out what pleases the other person, then doing the
things that please them. *Success in marriage is more
than finding the right person, it’s also a matter of being the right person
Friendship: Let it never be overlooked that we as friends must stand and be ready to do all that we expect our friends to be and to do. If we set a high standard for them, that standard must be ours also. It will not do to give pebbles and ask for diamonds in return.
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