Toulon, France

After a late night of dancing I wish we could of slept in more but sadly we are awake at 7 am.  We both comment that that overhead flashing light is still not fixed!  With all the lights off it is annoying. Everyone keeps telling us it is fixed but it is still happening. We need to address this problem today.

I should add that yesterday someone came by (I am assuming he was an electrician) and looked at the problem and said oh that is suppose to be like that.  I don't think so I replied - unless a light show in the middle of the night is normal. He then says it is a router.  Again I respond I don't think so as I doubt they would have routers in the cabin and even one in the washroom.  (I know Princess is trying to improve wifi but really the washroom.)  

Obviously this man is not aware of even what this is let alone what is wrong. Plus with the lights on in the cabin it is difficult to really see the blue light being emitted. But when it is all dark it is like - pitch black - then FLASH FLASH FLASH. It is like being at sea and staring at a lighthouse.  

Bernie commented to me he is waiting for the dance to start when the light flashes. We will have to discuss the problem with the Front Desk again.

The Horizon Court is again our spot for breakfast. 

We are heading ashore today but we are keeping it light. 

Remember we don't actually dock in Toulon.  We dock in another town called La Seyne-Sur-Mer. I have heard great things about this town so today we are going to explore it more. 

The ship is offering water shuttles right at the pier to downtown Toulon.  The cost is $20 US per person, note last year on the Island it was only $10 US per person - it has doubled!  But you can easily take the local water bus for 2E each. If you want to read more about heading into Toulon by local water bus click here. There is a local bus too.

We walk to the downtown of Seyne Sur Mer which in itself is lovely. The walk takes about 15 minutes and all you have to do is exit the port and turn right and walk along the water. 

this is the path

Today is Monday and many of the shops closed. Here the shops are closed Sunday and Monday. Very civilized if you ask me. But many restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops are open.

We stop at a small restaurant that many of the local school kids are at and get a cappuchino and I a croissants (of course we are in France). 

We walk all over the place, and after about three hours we make our way back.  Bernie comments he is sad cause he didn't get a pastry from France. I say if we pass a place on the way back that is a sign that we are meant to eat one. Well guess what!

I really like this town and I am sure if the shops were open there would be a lot to see and do. 

There is a casino here too that is not far from the port.

The town also has a Fort called Fort Balaguier that was built in 1634 that you can visit for 3E but it is closed today. They also have lovely beaches (Sablettes village) with some lovely shops. 

In town there a few things to see - Shipyard Gate and bridge, Church of Notre Dame du Bon Voyage, a Lovely market that is run everyday (except Mondays), Bourradet historical houses. 

There is a very good tourist information booth right at the pier with maps and details on what to see.

this is the little train

There are other options for getting around too. There is a train (5E) that takes you to Toulon. You can rent bikes. There are taxis too.

Back on board we head to the Enclave (cost is $245 for one person, $399 for a couple for the 14 days). Yes we have the Enclave package. This is so good for my shoulders. So relaxed that when I get back to the cabin we crashed for two hours, but I think we needed it. 

Dinner tonight is with our friends Michael, Leanne, Craig, Ron, Kelly, Dylan and Ben. Where we celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. Many of us wear our Canadian items in honour of the day. It was a great time.

We head to the Vista Lounge afterwards to see Kory Simons' show which we have seen many times but love it like it is the first time we have seen it. 

Also happening are:  Production Show Spectacular at 8:15 and 10:15; Muts is showing Star Wars; Who's the Cuckoo Game Show; Passenger Feud and Karaoke 

Princess Cays – Sort Of

We were warned that the potential of high winds could prevent us from tendering for Princess Cays and when we awake to the sound of bing bing bing, and we know that our stop has probably been cancelled.

We can see the beach in the distance and it is very windy and we know that Princess takes safety very seriously so for everyone’s safety the port stop has been cancelled.

 

Of course we hear many people state their disappointment and it is a great stop but a day on this ship, I think is even better. 

Right away Lisa Ball the cruise director comes over the loud speaker to announce a new Patter will be delivered to your cabins as soon as the printer gets it done up.  The schedule on line will be updated quicker and we run into both Simone and Lisa on the Promenade deck and the Atrium handing out paper copies of the new Patter too. 

I am very impressed at how quickly the teams come together to deal with a missed stop.  Events are added throughout the day.  Dining room hours for lunch have been added.  Menus for both the dining room and Horizon Court have been created and right away the food starts to get prepped. 

Now you might think that the menus for both dining areas would just duplicate what was going to be served ashore at the barbecue.  NO…. I am thoroughly wowed when I see the food in the Horizon Court.  The variety and quality is astounding and I know they have worked very hard to make this happen.

Okay back to our morning.  We were okay with staying on (as if we had a choice) but we were not sure if we would of gone ashore anyways.  But this is the first time we feel the crowds on board.  Up in the Horizon Court for breakfast.  It is crazy, but not so much getting the food but finding a seat.  I will say that this ship handles it better than other ships we have been on though.

Lisa is holding her Life At Sea Lecture as an added feature and the place is packed.  People are really interested in ship life and the break down of who reports to who.  I saw this lecture last year and really enjoyed it. 

We head to Princess Live to try out a new activity called Digital Scavenger Hunt.  Geoff and Daniel hand out a paper with a list of places each team has to go to take picture with a team member doing something in each location. 

Some of the places include; chapel, skywalk, duplicating the Titanic scene, on a bike in the gym, shuffle board game, picture with a crew member from Europe, etc etc. 

It was a lot of fun running around the ship getting these pictures and we tied with another team and got water bottles.

Oh this reminds me.  This morning I made a point of carrying out my stainless steel Canadian water bottle to encourage myself to drink more water.  I must of put it down somewhere and totally forgot it.  The next day I went to the Purser’s Desk and it had been turned in (don’t think anyone would want a used water bottle).

Bernie is eager to watch the end a movie he started the other day and I head out and read and then get a late lunch. 

Our last steel pan class with Trevor Cole is today.  We are all doing much better but I am a little nervous about what is going to happen tonight for the grand finale.  We are not totally sure when we play but we are told to be in the Atrium for 8:45 and we should find out then.

We are meeting up with friends tonight for dinner (Todd and Pam, and another couple that I sadly have forgotten their names).  Our hope was to meet up at 6:30 and head in for dinner but the big downside about Anytime is it really is not Anytime.  If you want to eat at 5 to 6 you are good, but anytime between 6 and 7:30 forget it.  Even when we were contacted the first day to see if we wanted a reservation for anytime we are told 5 or after 7:45 (gee that is almost a three hour difference).  So when we are on board we try to go with the flow and just accept 7:45 – 8 pm for a table or else we eat elsewhere.

So when we meet up both dining rooms have said 7:15 – 7:30 for a table.  We are sat at a table in Symphony for six.  The dining room is full with most people just finishing up.

They come out and do the Baked Alaska parade.  So our waiter is busy with the other tables and the parade.  We sit for about 20 minutes before we even get an order and even to order wine. 

It appears to us that he didn’t have an assistant or if he did they were busy elsewhere.  (maybe they were busy singing around the dining room). 

The food was good though I had the watermelon salad and then the Tom Turkey entrée.  Bernie had the mussels and the fries which were cold so the waiter got him some hot ones. 

Sadly I had to leave dinner cause I had to meet the group for the Mardi Gras festivities at 8:45 so I skipped dessert and Bernie found a spot to record the event.

We gathered just beside Vines.  There are decorations around the Atrium.  It feels like a real festive mood.  We are told how the evening will progress and we cross our fingers it will work out. 

The Royal Princess band plays a song to get the party started, then we are lead to the tables with our pans.  The music starts and the flash mob comes out to perform lead by Simone who is really getting into the spirit.  We all tap our sticks to the beat.

Trevor leads us in playing and gee if we don’t actually sound good.  Sure there were a few mistakes but nobody listening can tell we messed up.  After we play the drumming group play and then we came back in.  Bernie got the entire thing recorded and it is just below.

In the end I am glad I did it, it was something different for me to experience.  I got to meet a bunch of new people and I had fun.  Trevor did an amazing job, so patient, so laid back, he made it fun.  There of course is some areas they could of improved on.  Often equipment was not set up when we arrived.  And every time Trevor had to set things up (sometime with help sometimes not) and this took away from him teaching us.  So normally the first ten minutes was busy getting the pans set up when I think talking to the group about the event and going over things would have been more beneficial. 

We take a seat at Vines for some wine.  Ryan welcomes us and right away our wine is brought over and while we are drinking a glass of water is put in front of us without asking.  He is so good, he is kind and very helpful and the fact he knows what we like and recommends wines we may be interested in if we ask. 

Trevor and I

Simone and Bernie

Simone Smith the Deputy Cruise Director comes by and she is dancing and everyone around her is enjoying her antics.  That woman is always smiling and so happy.  She is a joy to be around and lifts everyone’s spirits.  I know I would seek out a cruise just because she is going to be on it.  She heads home tomorrow, but she is so dedicated that she has agreed to take some training in Fort Lauderdale before her flight.  

Apparently she is heading to the Crown and we are happy cause we are hoping to board the Crown in the Summer.  And since the Crown will be in dry dock in Victoria we are hoping to head over to Victoria for a few days to see some of our friends who will be on board too.  Yes Johannes and Claudio we are talking about you.

We finish our wine while chatting with Trevor and Lisa and Simone.  Our aim was to head back to the cabin but we only go up two decks and Kory Simon is playing so we find a seat near Dave and his wife and we each order a martini.  I had this great grapefruit martini… oh I think I found my new drink.

Josy knows how to shake it up

Back in the cabin we see that Jenny our steward has put out the breakfast room service card.  This is nice, cause sometimes when we have done a turn around this is not offered but think this is a good option for tomorrow and fill it out.

January 25, 2015 – St. Thomas

We wake up to the thrusters pushing us into port.  We are here early (7 am) and we are docked at Crown Bay.  Now I know many say they don’t like this pier but like I always say look at the positives.  

This is our favorite pier over Havensight, it is quieter, and it is so much closer to the Marina that you can go to and take the Water Taxi over to Water Island.  Which we have done many many times (click on the label on the right for St. Thomas to find those blog posts) and I can highly recommend for a quieter relaxing experience. 

But today we are doing something different.  We love to travel and it is exciting for us to be back in the Caribbean, and we have been to St. Thomas around 20 times but there are times that we need to try something new.  Many of our friends often go to Emerald Beach Club at Lindenberg Beach so Paul and Yvonne meet up with us at Horizon Court this morning and we enjoy a nice meal and I am able to finally get my blog posts up very easily.

This is the first time I have had breakfast up here and again I really LOVE this Horizon Court.  So much better laid out and easy to access and quite easy to find a seat too.  The staff are so attentive and my latte is deliver so fast too cause this ship has an espresso machine right where the pastry shop is – so everyone is safe I have had my caffeine fix.  

We gather up all our beach items, lather on the sunscreen and today I am bringing a t shirt too to keep on to keep my back and chest out of the sun.  We are off the ship really early and we make our way thru the shops to the taxi stand where we quickly get a taxi to Emerald Beach for $4 per person.  The ride is maybe five minutes ( I know some walk it and it could be done but take note there are no sidewalks and there is a good hill to climb too ).

There is a hotel here and they rent out chairs and palapas – we take two lounge chairs under a tree for $7 each chair.  I believe I overhead the guy say that the two chairs under the palapa is $20 total.  The hotel has a nice restaurant and offers free wifi too.  The washrooms are close by and are clean and there are some showers too so you can rinse off.
We spend the next few hours relaxing, swimming, floating in my float in the water meeting new people, walking the entire beach and have a great time.  

my underwater selfie

Bernie went snorkeling and when he comes back he is raving about what he has seen (he even saw an octopus).  So Yvonne and I agree to go with him to check it out.  What is nice is the snorkel experience here is much easier than yesterday’s.  The rocks on the left are a great habitat for many species of fish.  We see a lot and I can’t wait to post the pictures when I get home.  Check out the video of the cuttle fish below.

We dry off and then decide to head back to the ship.  There are numerous taxis waiting at the hotel and we head back to the ship around 3 pm.  

We decide to head to Alfredos for pizza and Bernie gets his Blue Moon beer and I order the white Sangria to share with Yvonne but who am I kidding I drink most of it.  I order the Vegetarian and gee I am going to have trouble cause this is my third pizza I have tried and I like, sorry no I love  all of them.  If you haven’t tried Alfredos make sure you try it out the next time you are on board.  Not all the ships have it, and I know the Grand that has it has a slightly smaller menu but it is still very good.  The staff are very good too.

Back to the cabin to shower and rinse everything off and we watch a bit of tv but we are both having a hard time staying awake.  We crawl under the covers and a combination of such a comfy bed and a full day in the sun we fall asleep.  I do wake to hear the Captain announce our departure.  

I have to add that the medical staff on board any Princess ship are well trained and professional.  They can handle almost any emergency and really you will get faster medical attention on board than you would on land.  So way to go Medical Staff!

I wake up and I am confused, what day is it?  What time is it?  Oh my we have slept for two hours!  We feel bad cause it is 6:45 and we had told Paul and Yvonne that we would try and make it to the Elite Lounge tonight and it closes soon so doubt it.  

We dress and we wander around a bit and this long nap has thrown us, we certainly are not hungry and we forgot the Patter in the cabin so we are trying to figure out where to go.

Geoff of the Cruise Staff is hosting a Flags and Geography Trivia.  We join another couple – who happen to be from the Lower Mainland of Vancouver and we actually do quite respectfully but don’t win but I can say I learned something.

We wander out to the Atrium and Crooners and chat with a lovely couple Bob and Chris from Kitchener Ontario, again small world that is where I was born.  They tell us about their lives, kids, grandkids and their winters in Florida. 

Such a sweet couple, in fact we ended up talking with them for 45 minutes and when you think we only asked to see their Patter.  See it really is the journey not the destination and the people  you meet along that journey.

We had every intention of heading to the comedian Steve Caouette in the Princess Theater but we are late for his show now.  Everyone is raving about him and then when people tell us about his show we realize we just saw him on the Grand in November and yes he is very very funny and worth seeing.  

As we walk past the seafood bar we see Tim and Rebecca and again we stop and chat for awhile…. Hmm this is beginning to be a trend and of course when you have already been on board for a week you can’t walk to far before running into someone.  

So now we have really missed the comedian, and the Atrium is starting to get busy for the second show of the Royal Princess International Music Event and I really want to see it so we find a spot along the railing on deck 7 (trust me you don’t want to be sitting way back in Crooners or Vines you need to see it).  It is a musical extravaganza featuring all the vocalist, musicians and the singers and dancers as they took us around the world with music and dance.  We see Lynne on her own and call her over to the railing and well none of us can stop ourselves from tapping our feet, swaying those hips and singing along.  A total WOW performance and one I need to catch on the next sailing too.

Okay it is now 10 pm and we are starting to get a little hungry so we head up to the Horizon Court for a few items and everything we had was good, everything was hot!  Now I know people call this a buffet but it is not like a cafeteria it is like a very nice buffet you would get at a very nice hotel.  On other ships we have come across items that were so so, or didn’t like at all or were not cooked right or cold but so far we have not encountered this at all.  I swear I can not tell a lie this is true and I would tell you.  But if you do find something on board in the dining room, Alfredos, Room Service, the buffet and it isn’t right just ask for something different and they will try and accommodate you.  One night Bernie’s steak was not cooked the way he liked it and our waiter whisked it away and he was brought a new one very quickly and done right.

As we wander along the Promenade we see Trevor is playing the steel pan in the Wheelhouse and Tim and Rebecca ask us to join them for a drink so we catch up with them.  

Rebecca lived in Vancouver and she shares her stories of growing up there, and how they met.  Such a lovely couple.  
Trevor joins us as his set and I promise him I will be at the next steel pan class tomorrow.

Tonight we have to go see Kory Simon perform in Crooners so we head there at around 11:40 for the last few songs of his set.  After his show we chat a bit and find out he is getting off February 7th to head on vacation.  Not sure who will be replacing him but they will have big shoes to fill.

Back in the cabin at just before 1 am, we better set the clock Bernie says.  WHAT!  But he is right we have to be somewhere at 10 am tomorrow and at the rate we are going we are bound to sleep thru it if we don’t.  Boy in the week we have been on vacation we have certainly gotten use to the not getting up at 3 am for work.

Tonight’s Entertainment other than what I mentioned above is:  MUTS Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, NHL All Star Game on the TV (wow hockey), Pianist Nadia in Wheelhouse, LGBT get together, Poker night in the casino, NFL 2015 Probowl on MUTS and in the Vista Lounge, Motown Music Hour with DJ Shea in Club 6.
Oh and they have apparently fixed the door on deck 7 aft to the open deck.  I didn’t say anything to anyone other than in my blog, but I truly appreciate it.

Also I am excited to see that I have had over 10,000 hits on my blog since we left on this trip.  Thank you everyone for the lovely comments and posts on the Facebook Fan Page I am glad you are enjoying it.  If you have any comments or questions feel free to post them on either site.

St. Kitts January 24, 2015

We wake slowly and so glad we don’t dock until 10 am.  We take time getting ready and I meet up with friends in Vines to go off as a group.  Note that because we dock at 10 am it is a mad rush to get off the ship, so if you don’t have to get off right away, take your time, even fifteen minutes after we dock will enable you to not have to queue up to get off.  

But today we are off to CarambolaBeach Club.  We made reservations with them prior to coming and we head off together (six of us) and we take a taxi there.  Cost is $4 per person in a taxi van.  The Club is located on South Friars Beach and takes about 15 minutes to get there.  But you can see the ship slightly from the beach.

There are a few beach clubs/bars there but this one is very nice and they have a very nice restaurant and bar there, and free wifi.

When we arrive they have our name down on a list and we pay the woman at the cashier.  Lounge chairs and umbrellas are $10 each but they are very comfortable.  We get some nice chairs facing the water and off we go to plunge in. 

We spend the next few hours in the water, sunning, laughing, walking, snorkeling and chatting with others.  

Yvonne and I go for a walk and we find a big group of monkeys down by Shipwreck Beach. 

other places you can head to - note the black sand beach from the volcanos

Ship Wreck Bar - although they don't have much of a beach

the monkeys run wild here 

the beach at Ship Wreck Bar

Bernie went in snorkeling and he even saw a turtle.  Later when we went out we saw stingrays and trumpet fist, parrot fish, and so much more. 

We did have lunch there and it was quite good, rather pricy but we found it easy to share an entrée and we were full.  Definitely try the Pumpkin soup.

It is a busy area, seems everyone now knows about it. Tons of passengers, tourists staying on the island and many of the crew are here too.  But we are coming back here the next time too.

Around 4 pm we caught a taxi back (for the same price) and we were back on board around 4:30 pm.

Back in the cabin I so need a long hot shower but darn I have burned my skin on the right shoulder, gee three applications of 30SPF and I miss an area!  Bernie’s lower back is red, I guess the waistband of his trunks have rubbed off the sunscreen.  ARGH so be careful the sun here is strong.

We are just about to sail away and the Captain comes on announcing that we are in need of blood donors.  A medical emergency is happening and they are in need of blood but I don’t match the blood type but Bernie does so he heads down and fills out a form and there are quite a few others are also lining up.  (Posted later:  50 donors came forward and they took blood from 10 of them.)  Tomorrow in St. Thomas the patient will be put off to seek medical treatment. 

Tonight’s drink in the Elite lounge is Cosmopolitans which is something we both like so we meet up with friends there just after 6 pm.  The place is busy and we order our drinks and enjoy some shrimp too.  

This lounge is nice but it isn’t special like Skywalkers is.  Plus everyone keeps walking thru it on the way to the Princess Theater so it really isn’t private or special.  The crew here are amazing though, Caesar keeps making us laugh.  Tonight he is taking orders from a couple, the gentleman is in a scooter.  Caesar says I will be able to quickly get your drinks with this scooter and scoots along in it to the bar and brings the drink right back in the scooter too.  Too funny.  He thens says “imagine all the plates and glasses I could pick up with this”.

We head to the 7 pm show of DavidCats who is a Magician and Illusionist.  The place is packed, full, hard to find a seat.  There are only two shows tonight 7 and 9 pm and everyone says we can’t miss him and boy are we glad we didn’t miss this show.  He is like WOW, don’t miss him.  

Trust me you won’t be disappointed.  I can’t wait till next sailing to see him again.  It is not like the “usual” magical show it is a real presentation.  It combines video, music, audience participation and lots of “omg how did he do that”.

We stroll out of the show and make our way to the dining room.  Tonight we are dining with Paul/Yvonne and we normally have a table for two but Victor the Head Waiter takes care of us at a nice window table for four.  Tonight is Italian night and I order the peach soup then a lovely salad and then the pasta penne as my main entrée. 

After dinner there is the Hot Latin Nights up on the pool deck but both of us are so tired (no nap) but we do watch a bit of Kory Simon tonight at Crooners.  We saw Kory at the beach today and it was nice to catch up with him again. 

Back in the cabin at 10 pm but sadly that is also the time that the band Inner Mood Quartet starts in the Wheelhouse and that is all we can hear in the cabin, but we decide to watch a bit of a movie which helps, but there is no way we are going to be able to sleep until the band stops. 

Tip never book a room above a public venue.  So far this is the only downfall on this ship – soundproofing.

Antigua – In the Evening

I came back to the cabin from a relaxing time in the Thermal Suite.  Bernie has just informed me that Alice and Norma are both going to the Most Traveled Passenger Party so it may just be the two of us for dinner instead.  Then Tracey the Captain Circle Host called to say because of some cancellations we now qualify for the Most Traveled Party.  Which makes sense because we know a few that can’t make it because of the Chef’s Dinner tonight.  But both of us don’t really feel like going tonight and would rather have a nice meal with Elda tonight and not rush to get ready and head to the party.  Plus just doesn’t feel the same getting an invite because others cancelled and now we qualify.  There will be others I am sure.

We watch the sail away from Antigua and even spot some sting rays in the water. 

We head down to the Piazza and get a bottle of the Ferrari Carraro and then head into dinner and Elda and Nathan are surprised to see us, and Jasper is excited too and he gets into a bit of mischief in their station.

I start with the crusted sushi that I normally love but when I get it is cold and the crust is  cost and soft and well not that appetizing.  We let Elda know and she checks with the Head Waiter and he has let the head chef know as it should not be like that and we move on to our second course.  We are fine with it though and just glad that they are going to correct the issue as it is one of my favorites.  My second course is the roasted garlic soup.  Boy is this good and since the garlic is roasted it is not strong but sweet.  For my entrée, in fact we both ordered it we get the Tandoori Shrimp and it is very good, I am running out of adjectives to describe the great food on board.  But trust me very yummy.

Alice comes and joins us at dessert time and we catch up with her and how things are going.  She had a good time at the party and we invite her to come see Kory in Explorer’s Lounge but she says she is going to head elsewhere.

Kory’s 9:15 show is just letting out so we grab some seats up front.  We chat with a lovely couple from New Brunswick we met the first night and Jeannie and Greg come in too.  They had the Chef’s Table tonight and they really liked it they said. 

Kory tonight is being accompanied by the Emerald Princess Orchestra and it is a nice treat.  We can tell Kory has a bit of a cold tonight, his voice is a little raspy but the performance is still amazing.  But we sure hope he takes care of himself as there is nothing worse than having to sing when your voice says something else. 

Frenchie comes up at the end and she is so cute in the Elton John glasses Kory was wearing.  We love Frenchie she sure is funny and is a comedian in her own right. 

We are back in the cabin at around midnight and we are tired but rested, now does that make sense?