Boarding and First Day

So boarding at pier 30 goes like this. You can make your way to the port:

- taxi

- uber or left

- princess transfers

- head to pier 22 and there will be shuttles that will take your bag and you and go to the pier.  They run continually.

- or you could walk, which would take at least a half hour but it is level ground but in areas there are cobblestone and not always a sidewalk to walk on.

Check itn was quick and staff were super friendly.  All spoke English and French.  I will add that this is the first time Princess has stopped here and the staff were not up to date on things like people in transfer (those on from last cruise). 

The terminal is new and flows great.  Also free wifi!

Note we had to pick up our medallions here and it was very quick.

Once on board I unpacked and started making my rounds.  So many people to check in with.  Get my schedule, chat with staff re lecture times, meeting cruise staff, shorex etc etc.  Figure out desk hours, where my desk is.

And I help the guests.  Although no guests know who I am, although I had a few who ran into me and were on some of my previous voyages and it was lovely to reconnect.

The ship I believe is close to full.  I don't know the numbers.  There are quite a few families.  It is so lovely to see these groups.  Young and all enjoying Princess and Canada New England.

The staff are amazing!  So patient and helpful.   The first few days are always crazy but they make it work.  

We overnighted in Québec and many got off on the 2nd day.   You could walk to town, again about a half hour.  There was a shuttle again but it drops you off at the end of the swing bridge then you have to walk about a mile to old town.  Of course you can still take a taxi or uber/left.  I do wish the shuttle ran to pier 22 all the time as it was much better for access to the city.  Note if you are not able to walk much you should take a taxi.

Of course ship's tours come right to the pier for pick up.

The pic below is for after you have checked in and there are just shuttles for those wanting to explore Quebec not for check in. 

If you want to walk 

I didn't get off the 2nd day here.  I just had too much to do. I am back a few times this season.

I don't know how often I can put up a blog, but when I know something can be helpful for others I will try and report.

I am on this cruise with my sister.  We celebrate our birthdays me August 4 and Lynette August 8.  She lives in British Columbia and I hadn't seen her since 2018!  

Booking EZ Air for Mediterranean Cruise

After booking the Enchanted Mediterranean cruise we now had to look at one way flights to Barcelona.

We did are usual search engines (all incognito) and was shocked at the prices.  

Now everything has gone up.  Anyone visiting a grocery store lately will agree.  But flights!

In 2018 we flew one way to Barcelona (actually one flight to London for a few days then quick jump to Barcelona) and we paid $350 Canadian TOTAL for the flights.

Now we are looking at $900 to $1100 Canadian, and even higher!  And these are just economy seats.

We then thought, why not check EZ Air.

I have used EZ Air on numerous occasions with good results.  Sometimes it is a great deal, sometimes it isn't.  When it isn't I book my own flight.

Biggest downside with booking EZ Air is Princess is booking your flight.  So if there is an issue, you have to go thru Princess.  And everyone knows how many flight changes there have been since the restart with flights.  If a flight gets altered I have to let Princess know and they have to contact the airlines.  

But this time it was worth it.  We got a 3 leg flight (all were pretty much 3 legs) Halifax, Toronto, London and then Barcelona for $800 Canadian each.

Now there are lots of good things about EZ Air too.  Princess will get you to ship if a situation arises with flights.  

Also I don't have to pay for these flights until final payment is due.  This gives me the opportunity to keep watching flights and if something better (routing, time or price) comes up I can change or even cancel EZ Air and book myself.

In the end, I am so glad I have something locked in and booked at a decent price.

Now time to book a hotel.  

Destination Expert - What Is My Next Step

I get the question all the time.  "What about your destination expert lecturing on cruise ship?'

I usually answer the same way "I don't know".

After a great year last year on Princess in South America.  I was really excited to have four contracts to present my port lectures.  Three with Celebrity and one with Princess.

Of course all of these have been cancelled due to Covid.  

For now I am waiting - along with all of you.

For those of you who know me, you know I am an emotional person.  I take things to heart.  You can usually read me just by looking at my face.  At first when all this Covid went down I was like.  Forget it!  I am not lecturing anymore!  I was hurt, angry, sad, frustrated.  But now I have settled down and realize those emotion are okay.  I miss cruising, I miss people, I miss sharing my information, I miss helping others.  

So I am anxious to get back into lecturing when cruising starts back up.  Heck I am anxious just to get back on a ship!

I am a firm believer in going after what you want in life and also let destiny have it's path too.

So I am enjoying life.  I am enjoying the moment.  But I do have to say that in the past few weeks I have been wanting to start writing some lectures.   I am going to expand my lecture series to include more than just ports.

Since I really love Canadian history and I live in the Maritimes I am going to focus on that.  I am going to write some lectures about life in the Maritimes, the history, the people.

These lectures are meant for Canada/New England Cruises, especially those that leave from Quebec City.

How many of you know about the Halifax Explosion?  Pier 21 the gateway to Canadian Immigration?  Coal Mining a Hard Life?  Expulsion of the Acadians?  Africaville?  Port Royal the first British Settlement in Canada?  

These are just some of the titles I am working on with rough outlines.  I don't really plan on doing too much until the Fall when the weather starts to turn, but I thought you might be interested.

Wake Show Appearance

As many of you know I am currently in the role as the Destination Expert on board the Royal Princess currently.

Loving It!!

This morning I was on the Wake Show! 

Here is the video.  Sorry sound is low.  I recorded it right from my tv in my cabin.