Aruba

We are docked bright and early, but then again we are no far from Curacao so a 7 am arrival is no issue at all.  I faintly here the announcement in the hall that we can head ashore.  One thing I prefer on this ship is that no announcements in our cabin.  If I want to hear I just open our cabin door.

We are rather slow to get moving.  We see it is quite windy!  One thing here is the sand is so fine that it blows and it is like stinging your skin.  Also we are being rather lazy.  I guess we earned that, and we decidevto just walk around and do some shopping.

Remember how I said it is so very windy.  Well when Bernie walks on the gangway a huge gust of wind is blowing along the side of the ship and blows Bernie's baseball cap off and it lands in the water between the pier and the ship.  It is his Vancouver Canuck cap!  Security quickly comes and grabs a long pole with a hook and retrieves it.  Now that is impressive and we note their names so we can commend them later.

Even though we were here twice last fall we were not able to get off.  Today I want to see how things have changed since before the pandemic.

One thing I immediately see that is different is the pier exit.  Last fall we had to walk straight out, now we go yo the left and there are lots of stalls/shops set up selling items.

We are also right where the free trolly stops.  However I did not see a single trolly while we were walking so not sure if it running.

We notice a few differences.  Some new bulidings!  Where the bus station is they have built a building on their left.  So you now have to access the terminal from main access the has the pathway thru the building.

Also a lot if shops have closed.  A lot!  A woman was complaining later on board saying she was annoyed that many shops were not open!  She sadly is not in touch with the effects the pandemic has had on the islands.

We do a bit of shopping and after 2 hours we are back on board.

Oh the Aloe store is closed right in town but the terminal has a large stroe where you can pick up their amazing products.  We live their after sun and lotion.

We change into swimsuits and grab a seat up above the retreat pool.  It is super hot out, still crazy windy though.

I had some pizza and it was so yummy.  Princess still has the best pizza on the high seas.

 

It was a great day.

For dinner we decide to try the dining room again.  We take Marc's advice and go to the Santorini dining room.   We are sat right away and our server is attentive and even has an assistant waiter too.  

Service was quite good.  Although when she gets a large table of 8 she is now swamped.   We opt out of getting dessert tonight.  But the food was very good.

I have had some time to think about service issues on board.  The biggest issue is there just are not enough staff for service.

Dining room staff now have to serve everything.  Bread, butter, condiments.  Remember when they would just put a dish of ketchup down, or the bread rolls.  Now they have to serve each.

Drink package, a high percent have the package and they are drinking.  Either the waiter or assistant, if they have one is busy just filling drink orders.  Sadly we rarely see a supervisor coming around to any tables anymore to see how things are.  But these poor crew are way overworked and need smaller sections or dedicated staff for just drink orders.

Bar servers are so busy filling drink orders in bars that often they are not walking around taking orders.  Although if they are full/busy they have the time to walk around and engage.

Numerous times I have ordered something only to have the drink sit on the bar for a long time before it can get delivered.  

Perhaps a dedicated bar staff at each bar for just medallion orders would be good. 

Ship has only 2623 guests, it can hold a lot more, so I am concerned if it gets very busy what they will do, are more staff coming?  

Although these 2 issues affected my trip they certainly didn't ruin my holiday.  Just observations, and hoping princess improves, but it has been an issue before the pandemic so I don't think it will.

We head to Crown Grill Bar to listen to Trevor Cole play.  We met up with him in Curacao and he promised to play our wedding song.  And tonight he does!  We dance and we are both so very happy, and in love.

Man life is good.