November 8, 2015 – Dubrovnik, Croatia

Arrival is not until 12 noon so we get to sleep in – NOPE – for the past few hours all I have heard is bang bang bang.  Our neighbours balcony divider door has opened and is banging closed, open, close, bang, open, close, bang.  What the heck!  Even with earplugs it is all I hear.  Around 8 I give up and tell Dendi our Stewart about it.  But the two cabins have do not disturb so he can’t do anything.  What how can they be sleeping thru this noise.

Finally he gets in and locks it in place.  Oddly the dividers on the Island don’t appear to have a way to lock them in place when they are open. 

Bernie and I head up for breakfast in the Horizon court around 9 am.  The dining room closes at 9 am otherwise we probably would of gone there.

We discuss our dining issue.  The table we were assigned last sailing that we really only dined at twice is great but it has now been given to another couple.  Not sure what happened to our reservation but I am learning to just go with the flow.  Last night we were assigned a new table close by with a great waiter Allan and they have promised us we can have it all cruise at 8 pm if we wish.  So this morning we discuss what we want.  Neither of us wants a set reservation cause it is just too busy with all the ports and we want to have a more relaxing holiday.  So we will be dining in the Horizon Court more often.  I am okay with this – and on the nights we want to dine in the dining room we will just head down and request a table.

Back to today.  After breakfast we wander by the shops, many tables are set up around the atrium with sales.  Bernie checks to see if they have more t-shirts he liked in his size – sadly no.

Bernie decides to try his hand at the trivia and I am back in the cabin sitting on the balcony reading.  It is very hot, in fact it is too hot to sit out there for very long.  After about a half hour I have to come back in.

I decide to head in and relax on the bed and read, with intermediate reading in between closing my eyes.

buses line up on a large port

We are pulling in around 11:30 and I am impressed as they have roped off an area for people to line up to get off the ship.  Makes it easier for those that want to line up but I am the opposite.  

I head up to the top deck to take some pictures of the area for my blog.  People are rushing to get off. 

this sign is visible from the ship, facing the ship

this sign is just outside the port gate

We head ashore around 1 pm and we have decided to not take the Princess Shuttle which was $15 US each from ship to the old town.  There are many options here including a taxi for $13E if you pick it up within the port, or $10E if you pick it up right outside the port gate.  This is the total cost for the taxi from port to walled town.

we wait for the bus

For us we are taking the local bus and it is very economical and fast.  We buy our tickets first at the small kiosk right by the bus stop (which is about 20 ft from the exit of the port on the right).  The cost of the bus for adults was 20 Kuna (while we are here it is $1.25 US for 10 Kuna) so the bus ticket was about $2.50 each (cheaper for seniors but can’t comment).  We buy four tickets, two return tickets each from the kiosk.  So our total cost for transport today was $10 US.

We wait a few minutes for the bus – take 1, 1a, 1b, or 1c – they all go to the wall of the old town. 

You can also walk but it is a distance – I am guessing about a half hour walk, maybe a 45 minutes.  But remember once you arrive in the walled city you have a lot more walking especially if you climb the wall.

ship's bus just arrived

We arrive and right across from where the bus drops you off is a small grocery store. There is a washroom right nearby too that can be used for free.  We buy some water there and then head towards the wall and the first gate (Pile Gate) is very busy and there is a long line. 

Rick Steve’s recommends walking down the main street of the old town (Placa) to the Placa Gate.  We buy our tickets to the wall (which were 100kn each – around $12 US each) note they only take Kuna, debit or credit card.  Starting at this point is a great option because you are already higher and you do your climbing right off the bat and the views are amazing. 

Once you have gone halfway and you are at the Pile Gate (which is closest to the buses etc) most of the tour groups start here and it is crazy busy.  We continue on weaving thru the tours.

this the gate that is right near where we entered the walled city.
Of course organized tours start here too and
there is quite a bottleneck

We are very glad we did the wall.  Cost was quite reasonable and you really get some great views, history and pictures.

I will add that if you have any issues climbing stairs, or walking long distance, or walking in heat – don’t do this tour!  So many people were winded, exhausted, and certainly were not physically able to do. There are only three exits and it goes counter clockwise so you have to be prepared. 

We go all the way around and descend where we started right near the old harbour.  We meander around many of the side streets.  More steps, but so pretty.

We haven’t eaten since breakfast at 9 and it is now 2:30 pm and we are both in need of some food.  We head to a restaurant that Rick Steve’s recommended called Dalmatino.  The inside is full but there is a lovely table just outside among these amazing buildings. 

A bottle of wine is enjoyed as we watch the people strolling by. 

Cheese plate, Mediterranean salad, and a veal skewer with risotto – we share each item. Total cost was just under $40 US, we pay with the credit card and let the bank do the conversion.

More strolling, most of the crowds have dispersed and headed back to the ships (there are two ships in port, us and a RCL ship).  We have just over 10 Kuna’s left, just enough for a single scoop of ice cream.  It was meant to be. 

Walking along Placa a group of Korean Tourists is posing for pics and Bernie jumps into the shot and says “a Canadian welcomes you”.  The ladies are laughing and insist I pose with them too.  They love the Canadian Flag and want it in the picture too.  How fun!

Around 4:30 we exit the wall and head to the bus stop (exact same one that they dropped us off at) and catch it going back.  They once again drop us off right outside the gate, and note the bus depot is right there too.

There are a few vendors set up right at the ship for those last minute souvenirs.  But we pass and return to the ship.

Back in the cabin we are relaxing and trying to decide what we are going to do tonight.  Of course we are not hungry but we might head out to enjoy some evening events.  Also want to stop by Crooners to see Mable.

I should add that Dan Appleby is still Cruise Director.  Odd because Ryan was suppose to move into the Cruise Director Position and Chris into Deputy Cruise Director position.  But the Patter shows Dan today and the wake show is featuring Dan too.  Something must of happened to Ryan.  Stay tuned.

Since we had a late lunch we decide to head out for a drink around 6 pm in the Elite Lounge.  I really enjoy the Elite Lounge in Explorers it is really well done.  We catch up with Gina and enjoy a drink.

For dinner we head up to the Horizon Court for a small bite to eat around 7:30 and then down to the Explorer’s Lounge for the Love Boat Trivia.  We did respectfully we got 19 out of 30.  What was really sad was a couple was cheating by bringing their Princess Thru the Decades Brochure with them and referring to it.  They didn’t win anyways but really it is just a bottle of champagne.

We stick around to see the Yes No Game Show and this time Sharon, Bernie and myself got called up.  We all sucked, but I am proud to say our friends Barbara and her friends (who we sailed to South America the first time with) did very well and actually beat Dan!  Way to go.

Entertainment today:  Zumba, Knitters and Natters get together, Line Dance Class, Ping Pong tournament, Accordion Class, Destination Expert talk by Lyndon Jolley (who I swear puts us to sleep every time we hear him), Move in cabin Far From the Maddening Crowd, Book Club, Singles and Solos Get Together, Afternoon Tea, Trivia, Ballroom Dance Class – pre recorded, Luca Cervo is playing in Bayou Café Bar, Movie at Muts is Terminator Genisys, 50^th Anniversary Love Boat Trivia, Disco Fever with Cosmic Band, Comedian Doug Funk, Big Band Ballroom Dancing with the Island Princess Orchestra in Wheelhouse, Evening in cabin movie is The Kingsman:  Secret Service, Yes/No Game Show, Who Sang What Series – Classic Rock Edition and so much more.

Wednesday Evening on the Island Princess

After a much needed nap we decide we will head to the dining room for dinner.  We meet up with friends in Crooners for drinks and then around 7:30 we go to the Anytime Dining Room – Bordeaux and request a table and are willing to join others but not at a table any bigger than six.  We are given a pager and we sit in the bar and wait for about twenty minutes when the pager goes off.  When we arrive at the Head Waiter’s desk we are escorted to a large table of eight.  We tell them no this will not do (we just can’t hear anything when we are at a big table).  The head waiter apologizes and says for us to wait and he will get us a different table.  But we just say we are going to go to the Horizon Court.  We should of done this in the first place. 

Friends who had been on this ship a month ago warned us that Anytime just doesn’t work well on this ship, especially on port intensive Med itinerary where everyone doesn’t come back to the ship till later and then wants to eat late. 

We do head up to the Horizon Court via the elevator and we run into two officers we sailed with on the Royal in January and who dined with us when Dylan invited us to his table. 

The buffet theme is Mediterranean buffet and it is very good.  We get a bottle of wine and we take our time and enjoy the meal.  They are also doing Crab Shack on board. 

After dinner we head down to Explorer’s Lounge for British Night and we enjoy the Old Ye Pub Night – Dan the Cruise Director was hilarious.  We then stay for the British Invasion trivia, we sucked at it but it was fun.  And we were there for Happy Hour too, buy one get one for $1.  Needless to say we were feeling rather light on our feet when we left to head back to our cabin at 11 pm.  The ship is quiet, I think these long days are getting to people.

Tuesday Afternoon and Evening

Once back on board we get a drink in the coffee bar on deck five.  We give the girls their macaroon and we head upstairs to give Mabel her macaroon up in Crooners.  We hope they enjoy their little taste of France.

Later on we are in the cabin and we decide to just order room service for a late lunch.  We get two clubhouse sandwiches with fries and they hit the spot perfectly.  We enjoy some nice white wine – we picked up a bottle from our wine package and just took it back to our cabin.  Trust me if you are a wine drinker and on a voyage of 10 days or longer try the wine package it is worth it.  I got the 12 bottles of the silver package for $240.  To learn more about the wine package check out the blog I wrote all about it.

I type up the blog and Bernie is napping and boy that does seem like a good option.  This trip is tiring and we need to squeeze in some rest when we can.  But I don’t, I head out to do some reading and leave the cabin so he can rest peacefully.  

One thing I really love about this ship is there are a lot of place to go and find a quiet area.  I especially love the quiet areas on deck 6 midship outside Sabatinis and Bayou where there are couches and tables and chairs where there is very little foot traffic and you can sit and watch the water.

Tonight we are not sure what is planned.  

We load up our last tenders and we are ready to go.  Sail away is pretty much non-existent cause it is dark out.  
We decide to have a drink in Crooners and we head there and we run into friends and have a drink with them.  Mabel and all the crew at Crooners take care of us.  I actually brought a glass of wine from my bottle I just bought. 

Bernie enjoys his vodka and soda and we sit there for what I think is an hour and a half.

It is just after 8 and we are heading back up to the Horizon Court for Dinner.  This trip we are just wanting it more casual and dinner is not an event like it normally is.  We are just wanting to eat and head out to do something else or relax, or even go to bed so we can rest up for the next day.

On our way up to the Horizon Court we run into Sheldon and Trevor again and we join them for dinner and well chatting, and getting to know each other ends up being a long dinner after all.  But I am not complaining the best thing about travel is the people and experiences you have.  We always say – what is meant to happen happens.  Our dinner experience is lovely and we had some great laughs with them.  They are a lovely couple.

Dan Appleby and his wife Rachel are up here for dinner and finally get to meet her.  She is lovely and we congratulate them on their marriage. 

After dinner as much as I would love to do something there isn’t a whole lot happening that we are up for.

Lots of music happening around the ship Pastime Duo is playing in the bar area at the Bayou.  X-Trio is playing in the Atrium.  They have ballroom dancing in the Wheelhouse with prerecorded music.

But for us we are off to bed, we watch the wake show and soon after we crash.