The Polite Traveler

  Choosing a good travel agent for scheduling a cruise can mean the difference between a long airline layover or special treatment.  Fortunately for us, we chose Zoe’s Cruises & Tours .  On their escorted cruises, a client can expect daily goodies, festivities, and special tours—all free.  One of our special tours was “The Galley Tour.”   Now, a tour is offered to all cruise guests.  However, for Zoe’s clients, we have an extended, private tour.  On ours, we not only learned how much of this and that is prepared each day but also how the galley crew keeps all of us safe from cross-contamination and nasty germs.  Very interesting. A Shopping List Unlike Any Other The only similarity to a home shopping list to the ship’s is that it is a list of food and beverages.  The finest foods from all over the world—over 110 tons on a single cruise—makes Princess’s list.   At first glance, that seems extravagant, until considering...

Food on the Coral Princess Panama Canal Cruise Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  When discussing desserts and the various other scrumptious meals we experienced on the Coral Princess Panama Canal cruise, it’s a must.  Words couldn’t possibly come close to doing any of the dishes justice.  Therefore, check out the slideshow of delicious eats.   One note, the absolute “not-to-be-missed” dishes were the Chocolate Journeys desserts.  All were unforgettable.  Note : Follow CDC and Princess guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.      Please Read Cruise Review: Panama Canal; Coral Princess Importance of Being Polite When Cruising Cruise Room Review: Grand Princess L307

Fall in Love with the Quirky but Lovely Coral Princess Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, So, after several cruises on the much larger ship—the Grand Princess—we now are on a smaller ship; our first time on the Coral.  While the Grand is grand in size, it is not as homey...or quirky.  The Coral hosts 1,000 guest cabins compared to the Grand’s 1,301.  The Coral’s cabin sizes are much smaller, as well, with the average balcony cabin at 225 square feet compared to Grand’s 253 square feet which makes taking a shower even more interesting than on the larger ships—not that it is ever easy.   Note : Follow CDC and Princess guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.    Quirky is as Quirky Does Many fellow passengers shared the same first impression of the Coral: it’s quirky.  For my fellow polite cruisers of larger ships, you probably recognize the long, sometimes tight, hallways leading ...

Poor Behavior by Rude Passengers on the Coral Princess Panama Canal Cruise Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Travelers, Surprise!  We’re talking civility here.  Who would have thought?  Sure, most of us consider ourselves polite, civil people who treat others kindly.  Then why do many of us cringe when observing the behavior of fellow cruisers?  Simple answer: many travelers have unrealistic high expectations that are bound to result in poor behavior toward those attempting to please us.  This is especially true with cruisers.  Note : Follow CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.    What?  Rude Passengers? Okay, so here’s a scenario I observed.  My travel partner hubby and I were sitting at the Explorer’s Lounge Bar—tiny and intimate—enjoying a wonderful conversation with the bartender and a couple of servers.  With one of the servers, I became more familiar with and found that ...

Cruising Through the Panama Canal on the Coral Princess Dear Polite Traveler, Revised 4/2021 Today, I’d like to share with you tales of our Princess Cruise through the Panama Canal—some were amazing and some...not so.   The “Not so,” I’ll save for another post.  Prepare to be amazed! “The event to be celebrated tomorrow will probably always be known as the 'Wedding of the Oceans.'” Direct Wire in the Oct. 10, 1913, edition of The Times Mere words cannot describe the wonder and intricacy of the canal dug through the middle of a mountainous country to join two seas.  Just imagine waking up to see beautiful Panama City facing the mild Pacific and toasting the wilder Atlantic in late afternoon.  Granted there is plenty of rising and lowering of the ship squeezing through locks and cruising placid waters in between.  History on the Water Nevertheless, this is more a cruise of traveling through history.  Every inch...

My Five Favorite Activities on the Grand Princess Cruise to Hawaii Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, There are not many phrases a person wants to hear more than “You are a winner!”  Another would be “The painting is yours,” especially when it is a painting dear to one’s heart and at a remarkable price.  Well, I experienced this and many more enjoyable and exciting adventures on our last Princess Cruise.  This time, it was the 15-day cruise to the Hawaiian Islands on the Grand Princess.  Note : Follow CDC and Princess guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.    Princess Fine Arts Program Princess Cruises teamed up with the creditable Park West Galleries to provide educational art seminars, which include art history and art auctions .  I never imagined myself as a serious art collector, as my discretionary funds don’t line up with my taste in art.  Nevertheless, our Art Director, Naomi Bal...

Top Three Things About Princess’ Balcony Staterooms Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, Imagine sitting on the balcony of a cruise ship to watch the warm waters of the Pacific roll by.  Now, imagine those waters closer to the California coast.  Yep.  For most days, there was no sitting or doing anything else on the stateroom balcony of our most recent cruise to the Hawaiian Islands.  This part of the Pacific can be choppy if not downright wild.  Cold too.  Very chilly.   Nevertheless, as we rolled closer to the islands, the waters and the air warmed, allowing us to finally enjoy our upgraded room.  Watching the mountainous, green shore of Kauai grow larger as we neared was priceless.  Note : Follow CDC and Princess guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.    Storage Tips The balcony aside, these rooms are not large— roughly 274 sq. ft. including the balcony—but was ample enou...

Comfy, Rocking Room on the Grand Princess Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, What does a person really want in a cruise ship stateroom?  Well, I suppose the answer would be different with each passenger.  For my hubby and I, we wanted to be able to see the ocean and be comfortable.  Since this was a relatively chilly weather cruise, we skipped a balcony room and chose an outside cabin with a window.  Not many were available when we decided on an Alaskan cruise anyway.  Even so, I think ours was perfect.  Not too small and not too expensive.  After all, this is our second Alaskan cruise, so I did not feel it granted an extravagant suite.  We are not that type anyway. Note : Follow CDC and Princess guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.  Where’s our room? We knew our room was on the Lido deck.  Check.  Nevertheless, we couldn’t find cabin 307.  Ever...