Dec 9 & 10, 2011 - At Sea

I wake up around 7:30 and as we relax for a bit Bernie heads out for the latte and tea.  There is zumba class today at 9:15 but it is back up at the Calypso pool, not my favorite place and since the weather is overcast and it had rained very early this morning it is very windy and doing the class up there in the sun and with the wind interfering with the sound is something I don’t enjoy so I think I am going to pass today.
 

For those interested events today are:  ping pong challenge, service club get together, scholarship@sea bridge lecture, morning trivia, bingo, pub lunch, movie Secretariat, paddle tennis, shopping show, slot tournament, free digital photography seminar, book club (book is One Day), wet, wild and wacky pool games, dance class, bar wars, art auction, water volleyball, line dance class, matinee movie: Bridesmaids, golf chipping, movie:  Arthur, afternoon trivia.

 

Tonight is a formal night and the show tonight is “What a Swell Party, Justin Flom (again the Patter is showing his name spelled wrong) and Jocelyn – comedy and magician perform two shows in the Explorer’s Lounge.  The casino is no smoking tonight, MUTS is showing X-Men, Jeopardized Trivia, Ballroom dancing and so much more.

 

For the first two days of the cruise there are some great specials in the stores, % off lots of items if you spend a certain $ amount so make sure you check it out.  The stores are all very busy right now, the open decks are very very windy so it is bringing a lot of people indoors.

 

The strangest occurrence today is seeing people slather on the sunscreen with Dean Martin singing in the background “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow”.

 

We hang out in the coffee bar and a few coffee drinks and reading and chatting with passengers and crew passes the time until lunch where we opt for the Pub Lunch (our first time on this voyage) both of us get the fish and chips,  very good and not greasy.  There are lots of different beers to get to accompany the pub lunch so make sure you try it out, and the meal is complimentary.

 

The options for the afternoon abound but I am so tired from getting little sleep again last night and the cold is slowing me down, just a bit though.  We head back to the cabin where we nap, well Bernie naps, I am sleeping off and on, sneezing in between and coughing.  So glad we did stock up on some cold medicine in Fort Lauderdale.

 

The cruise critic meet and greet is scheduled for 3:30 today and even though the bed is more inviting right now I feel the need to head up to say hi.  It is a much smaller group than last voyage but it is easier to get to mix and mingle with everyone and nice to put names to faces.  We hang out for about an hour before heading to our balcony to read.  It is still windy but warm.  The seas have been a little rougher, with water at moderate levels.  This is quite normal for the first and last days to and from Florida, doesn’t bother me but I could see some people being concerned about it if they are not use to being on the water. 

 

our cabin is the third forward cabin on the deck just above the open area at the bow

Although we don’t normally get a forward cabin (I think this is our third time up front) it really isn’t any different – motion wise – than the ones we have had aft or even mid ship.  The one nice thing I like about the location is we don’t get the smells from the galley aft – and room service galley.  However being all the way forward we are a long ways from the Horizon Court and Skywalkers, Bernie jokes we are sobered up after coming back from Skywalkers.  Our cabin is the third one from the front on Dolphin deck and even though it has been windy on days that it is windy, and it is windy everywhere, when the seas are calm and there is less windy we get the same on our balcony.  Another thing about cabin location is we know we wouldn’t like a cabin on Lido Deck aft as so many people have to pass by your room to get to the pool deck and the wind is always howling.

 

We have reservations tonight at Sabatinis, this is our second time there this voyage, we are going with Al Katz tonight and have a reservation at 6:30.  We are sat at a lovely table with a view and Gustavo was our waiter, he was very good and attentive, but we did notice the service slowed when he got busier and improved when he got assistance from junior waiter.  Tonight I had the calamari (very good, served with a garlic lemon dip), then the arthichoke dip again, I opted out of the pasta so I could have a second appetizer, then tonight I had the chicken which I have to say I wouldn’t order again, it was very salty, and didn’t finish.  I should have had the lobster trio again, which Al had and loved.  I had a drink there after dinner called the Sicilian Kiss, oh my it was good!

 

crab dish that Al ordered

chicken dish that I had, not so good

Justin Flom is performing tonight, two shows with a repeat tomorrow night.  We head over to Explorer’s lounge to see him and Jocelyn and take in their show.  The place is packed but we sit/stand to the side.  The show is great again and he gets lots of laughs and applauses.  Jasper is with us and insists on getting his picture with the two of them. 

 

It is early 10 pm but I am so tired, we head back to the cabin and watch a movie before crashing.

 

At Sea again.

 

The seas are once again moderate but the sun is shining and the wind is howling.  Now these weather conditions are what we have experience at other times of the year too.  Normally we sail the Caribbean in Jan/Feb and it is common to get very windy days at sea then too.  But you still need sun screen as that sun is strong.

 

Bernie delivers me my latte (I am lucky) I am lounging in bed, looking forward to a movie (The Accidental Husband) that is suppose to start at 8:15 am on one of the Princess  Romance Channel but it never materializes.  This is a common occurrence, many of the shows don’t start at the time they are suppose to, but we just go with the flow.  One thing I wish they would do is state in the Patter what the movie is that is going to be playing on channel 21 every night as it is usually a more current movie, I know other ships have done this.

 

Activities today are endless.  Zumba (again up at Calypso so with the wind and sun I am opting out), trivia, bingo, pub lunch again, ballroom dance classes, sexy legs contest, martini demonstration, advanced digital photography class, holiday snow and music in the atrium, rum tasting, Sommelier’s Wine Club, afternoon tea, red hat society get together.   Movies playing today are Green Latern, Just Go With It, Thor, and The Debt.  Tonight in the Princess Theater is Al Katz with two shows, and Justin Flom (again Patter has his name spelled wrong) for two shows.  It is also 50’s night in Club Fusion.

 

Dec. 8, 2011 - Fort Lauderdale and Turn Around Day

Last night was fun, around 2 am we feel the ship listing to one side, well we didn’t so much feel it as we heard it.  The perfume and lotion bottle on the shelf slide to one side, and the vase full of flowers slid across the table and dropped to the floor spilling the entire contents of water across the carpet.  Okay we are up, refill the water and place it in a corner with something to prevent it from sliding.

the brown building in the background is where you would have to walk if you wanted to walk to the Publix

We fall back asleep but since we dock so early in Fort Lauderdale we are up at 6 am as we pull into the pier.  Last night we were given a room service card for breakfast, which is the first time that has ever happened because usually on turn around day there is no room service, but since he left it we put it out thinking great we don’t have to fight the crowds in Horizon Court. Early in the morning Bernie heads out to get a tea and my latte and runs into Fernando and he says oh they didn’t pick up your room service card so I delivered it to them saying “hey they are in transit and should get room service”.  And it is delivered to our cabin at the scheduled time.  We love Fernando and he has out done himself again and we appreciate it.  We have been tipping him an extra $10 every other day because of his outstanding service.
 

Our notice says to meet up at 10 am in the Explorer’s lounge but since there are so many we decide to head off the ship earlier and get off around 9 am.  We make a visit to Starbucks where we see Al, Justin and Jocelyn and chat with them before heading next door for a pedicure.  I even talked Bernie into getting a pedicure and he loved it. 

We head to the Ross store where Bernie and I get a few things then off to Total Wine and Publix and we are back on board the ship at 1pm.  This crowd seems a lot older, lots more scooters, walkers and wheelchairs.  But also a few more kids too. 

 

Since we are on a back to back we don’t have to attend the muster drill again, we invite some neighbours over for drinks and also Al and Justin and Jocelyn, after a bottle of champagne, a bottle of white and a bottle of red wine we are all having a good time and getting to know each other.  9 people in total and we still had space!  I could get use to this large room, just can’t afford it.

 

Al is performing tonight in the main show and we told him we would attend so we are going to dress for dinner and then watch his show.

 

We head down for dinner and run into Justin and Jocelyn in the atrium.  They invite us to join them for dinner in the dining room as they don’t have a show tonight.  We gladly accept and get sat at a table for four and have a wonderful dinner.  What I found so amazing is we talked about last night’s show and that he had chosen me from the audience to be part of his show.  I originally thought he chose me because of Al telling him to choose me but no he chose me because I was sitting in the middle near the front and he needed someone close by his wife, Jocelyn, to make the trick work.  I had no idea and laugh to say “hey it was fate” that we met.  We now consider them friends.

                                
For dinner I had the spring roll, the mushroom soup, and the pork, all very good. 
               
Bernie has given me something again, his cold from last sailing.  I am managing it isn’t slowing me down too much but I am stuffed up and have a sore throat and all I want now is to head to bed.  We are sorry Al but we missed the opening show.

Some new things that are on board this sailing are:  a lot of new crew, still no English Breakfast in the coffee bar, Deirdre Doyle the Customer Services Manager is off to the Star and has been replaced by Graham Kelly who we have sailed with before.  Assistant Cruise Director is now Bex.  And most importantly our Captain is now Nicolo Binetti.

Dec. 6 at Sea then Princess Cays Dec. 7

Aren’t sea days just the best.  I know lots of people don’t like them, they say they get bored but I don’t ever recall getting bored on a sea day.  The key to them is relaxation, no rushing, the time is all yours.  Do what you want.

 

I head out to get a latte and a tea for Bernie and we enjoy them on the balcony.  Later Bernie heads up to the horizon court for breakfast (he loves his oatmeal) and brings me back lots of fruit and cottage cheese.  Ahhh nothing better, breakfast, latte and reading a good book.  In fact I am almost finished my second book.

 

There is another Zumba class today with Mark and thankfully it is scheduled for the Club Fusion and it went so much better, lots of room, and it was air conditioned.  Lets hope this is a regular thing.  After Zumba I head up to the gym for a further workout and meet up with Bernie who is there doing his physio and then cardio.

 

After showering we head up on deck to enjoy the sunshine.  The weather is perfect, not too hot, a nice breeze and a few clouds to keep us cool.  But don’t be fooled that sun is strong and we both have at least 30 spf on to be safe, but we both have good color already.  Lunch is burger/fries for me and Bernie opts for the hot dog and fries (regrets it later and advises me to keep him away from hot dogs from now). 

 

The crew host pool games and volleyball, and there is an ice carving demonstration too.  The band Fusion plays and life is great.  After three hours we know we have to get out of the sun, especially since tomorrow is Princess Cays and another sun day.

 

Every day I pick up the Sudoku puzzle in the library and I have a stack of them so I am doing a few of them this afternoon, a little harder to do now that I am enjoying a vodka and 7. 

 

Tonight is the second formal night and we are participating, a rare thing for us.  We are dressed to the nines.  We stop for a drink in the Atrium bar, I can say the Captain’s Bounty is a great drink, four different rums!

 

We meet up with our friend Al for dinner, we are sat at Ciska’s section again with Terasita.  It has been a long time since we have had this menu.  I start with the shrimp, scallops, crab appetizer which was okay, a little too salty and didn’t finish it.  I had the endive salad and Bernie had the roasted tomato soup, which he raved about.  For my entrée I had the lobster and shrimp and it was just right, cooked to perfection, again a little too salty for me but that seems to be the norm on board.  I will say I have had a lot of seafood this voyage and every single item has been cooked to perfection.

 

me and Ciska

Al, myself, and Bernie

After dinner we head to the Explorer’s lounge to catch Justin Flom’s act.  http://justinflom.com/ He is a magician/comedian, very young guy who has his lovely wife in his act.  It is sad that the ship keeps spelling his name wrong.  Loved his opening video, his ring trick, and then his final trick with music and turning cards over (have to see it to see what we are talking about, check out his website and he has youtube videos too. 

 

It is now late and we are beat (yeah really).  Tomorrow is Princess Cays and the final day on board for many people, but from the sounds of it there a lot doing back to backs.

  

Princess Cays

Can’t help but get woken up by the anchor going down and the tenders being put in the water.  But knowing that my day will be spent on the beautiful island makes it worth it.  Bernie delivers a latte and some fruit and we relax.

 

We head to the tender around 10 am, we join a group with tender tickets #3 and a man was a little annoyed at us as he thought we butt in.  He is not aware that as an elite member you get priority tendering and all we have to do is head to the tender station from the ship, note priority tendering doesn’t work from ashore though.

 

We head to our favorite location on the island, way way to the left near the cabanas.  Lots of people don’t head that far out as it is a ways away from a lot of things but it is quiet and we like it.

 

Bernie right away heads into the water to do some snorkeling, he loves it he says and he has noticed the coral has really grown.  We enjoy barbecue lunch of burgers, ribs, salads, chicken etc.  It was the perfect day I didn’t want to head back to the ship but at least I know we will be back here in 10 days.

 

We are torn, dinner tonight is Landfall menu, so so for us and since we promised to go watch the last production show with Al in it which starts at 8:45 we are torn of what to do.  Do we go to the dining room or do we go to the Café Caribe.  I don’t want to eat early so we head up to the Café Carib which is the first time we have dinner up there, again another oddity this voyage, normally we eat about half the time in the dining room, half the time in Café Caribe, but this voyage we have mainly dined in the dining rooms or the specialty restaurants.  Tonight’s theme up there is Creole, the pepper pot soup is very good and I had turkey with a piece of chocolate cheesecake for dessert.  We noticed another familiar face, Roy our head waiter from our first Panama cruise is now a supervisor.  He was an excellent waiter I am sure he is an excellent supervisor too.

 

We quickly head back to the cabin to pick up Jasper and the camera and see we have a message on the phone, we listen and it is Cesar from the boutiques.  When we bought our watches we entered the draw (with the Passport to Savings Booklet) and Bernie’s name was drawn.  He is excited as he has won a watch, then I hear it is a woman’s watch, and now I am excited.  It is a beautiful Citizen’s watch.  Thanks Princess.

 

Bernie being presented his prize, a Citizen watch from Cesar

Jasper relaxing before his big performance with Al

Al is performing tonight and he taking Jasper up on stage with him, of course Jasper needs to clean himself up first for the big performance so we get him and then meet up with Al for him to take charge of the moose.  The show opened with Justin Flom again http://justinflom.com/ , he was very funny tonight and then he picked me to go up on stage to assist with a trick.  Well I could explain the whole event but I’ve been sworn to secrecy!  Truly I was blown away and was very impressed by Justin and his magic.  I like it, it is fun, it is lighthearted, it is young (not the old tricks you have seen forever), he has music, and he adds comedy and it is a breath of fresh magic.

 

yup me on stage with Justin

Al is the next act http://alkatz.net/ and again have to say I liked tonight’s show even better.  The crowd around us was laughing their head off.  I like that he doesn’t particularly make fun of a group of people, just people in general, and no one is safe, not even his friends.  Jasper is sitting on top of his cds on the stool, standing proud and Al even mentions him.  How cool Al for including our travel mascot in your act.

 

check out Jasper up on stage, and oh yeah Al too

The ship is quiet tonight, Princess Pop Star is happening in Club Fusion but we are so tired, with little sleep last night and no nap today my day is off.  Tomorrow is going to be a busy day with arriving in Fort Lauderdale early and the masses getting off.  I have heard there are 170 people doing turn around!  Wow that is the most I have ever seen.  It is making us wonder about when we want to get off.  Normally we go with the turn around group and then leave the ship later and return in the afternoon but something tells me it could be a long turnaround, normally it is a half hour maximum, but could be longer tomorrow.

 

We have invited some neighbours over for drinks for sailaway tomorrow along with Al so we have to stock up for that.