Victoria - Last Day - AKA Sad Day

After the Most Travelled Luncheon we return to the cabin to change.  It is around 2 pm and we are full and all I want to do is just crawl into bed and have a nap.  But I won't, it is the last day and I want to enjoy it to the fullest.

The Cabin Steward - Enrique - has put the bed protector on the bed so we can start packing.  But we are doing early walk off so we will just pack late today or early tomorrow.  One nice thing about not having to fly home is that we can just throw the things in the bag and close it and go.

I head up to the top deck to catch a bit of the Deadliest Catch - Crab Sort Gameshow. It was quite fun to watch.

Oh did I tell you what a squirrely day it has been weather wise.  We keep entering these fog banks and the fog horn sounds periodically.   Then we come into beautiful sunshine.   It is warm enough that people are out on the pool decks and in the pool.  It is amazing how cool it can be when you are out in open waters.  There was also more movement last night as we are now sailing in the Pacific and we are not shielded by land on both sides anymore.

Events happening this afternoon:

• Navigational Chart Auction - Art Auction
• Line Dancing
• Veterans Get Together
• Golf Putting
• Ballroom Blitz Dance Class - Salsa
• Ice Carving Demo
• Naturalist Presentation:  Native People of the North West Coast
• The Great Egg Drop Challenge
• Arts and Crafts: Box Making
• Princess Cruises 50th Anniversary Trivia
• MUTS Iron Man
• Carpet Bowls Challenge
• Penny Whistle Class
• Deadliest Catch Gameshow 
• Great Alaskan Trivia
• Production Show Motor City (remember the days of the production show are different this voyage due to the new singers/dancers just coming on).

We sort of do our own thing this afternoon.  I head to the Princess Cruises 50th Anniversary Trivia but got there late so just watched from the back.  

Watched the egg drop contest and loved how many families worked together with their kids to come up with something.

I sit in Crooners and chat with Red for awhile.  We stop into the stores to say goodbye to a few friends.  The stores will close when we get into Victoria and will not reopen so this is our last chance to see some of the crew there.

We are coming into Victoria.  It is sure nice to be back in Canada (even if it is for a few hours). We head up to Skywalkers for our last night in the Elite Lounge with Rock and the allstars yeah that is a great name for them.  It is quiet up here and with so many people itching to get off as soon as possible that they are all hanging out in the Atrium and the hallways/stairways near the gangways.  A few times we hear Nelson the Customers Services Director come on the intercom to announce that it is important for guest to clear the aisles/stairs and to head to a public area to wait till we tie up and clear the ship.  

We are good though, hardly no one is in Skywalkers.  We enjoy a few drinks up here and say a fond farewell to Rock.

After the drinks we head out to the open decks to walk around and take some pictures and enjoy the fresh air.  We run into a couple - the husband is NOT happy and he sure lets his wife know how he feels.  I felt bad for her, but hey she married him.  But in the end I am not sure how you can't be happy.  And if you are not happy, don't take it out on your loved one, head back to the cabin and chill.

We decide not to go ashore today again.  I know I know but hey we live an hour and a half ferry ride from Victoria.  We were just here in May and we will be back here in September (more on that in a later blog).

You can read more about visiting Victoria here on a previous stop here.  

It is lovely tonight, the sun is starting to set, you can see the Legislature in the distance all lit up.  The sea air and the birds are tickling our senses.  

The Holland America ship is right next to us again.  Also a Norwegian Ship too. 

We head to the buffet for a light dinner tonight.  We get ice cream for dessert.  

Tonight we partake in the Multimedia Trivia where a we join up with a fellow passenger.  We do okay but not close enough.

And finally we are back at Crooners for a last goodbye to Red.  

Back in the cabin we pack up most of the bag and get things settled.  

Tomorrow it is back to normal.  Sad face.

Other things happening tonight:  

• Rolla Bolla Balancing of Krill
• Jewish Sabbath Service
• MUTS Stevie Wonder 
• LGBT Get Together
• Karaoke Power Hour
• 60 Second Frenzy 
• Farewell Multimedia Trivia
• Stateroom Movie:  The Longest Ride
• Indoor Goofy Golf

Birthday Dinner in the Crown Grill

What a treat.  I have never sailed during my birthday. We often are at sea for Bernie's birthday but never for mine. So to get to have a meal in the Crown Grill, served by Mark, our favorite waiter on board and with friends, and with my amazing husband. I just can't ask for anything more.  I feel blessed.


But first here is a run down of what is happening on board:

• North to Alaska Folkloric Show with Steve Hites 8:15
• Evening Game Show - Jeopardize Trivia
• Comedian Rich Shydner 7:00 and 8:15
• Ballroom Blitz - Jive Class
• Stateroom movie is Focus
• 60s Music Trivia 9:15
• Alaskan Midnight Sun Sailaway with Live Music from Will Dickerson - Come and enjoy beautiful Alaskan scenery (blankets provided) Outriggers Bar Deck 15 Aft 9:15 
• Evening Game Show: Fish Stories - about Sharks 9:15
• Cruise Cult Classic Rock n' Roll Night
• Movies Under the Stars - The Longest Ride 10;00 pm 
• The Yes/No Gameshow 10:45

We arrive and are sat at a both that we really like (also called the fishbowl by the staff).  

Earlier Bernie had dropped off the bottle of champagne that I had asked for for my birthday -- Perrier-Jouet, Blason Rose from France.   It was sitting in the bucket beside our table when we arrived. Also a bottle of wine from Stefano and Nelson was a surprise and appreciated.  Oh forgot to say that earlier they called the cabin and on speaker phone sang Happy Birthday to me.  Lovely

Ashwin is joining us for dinner and Tammi too.  We just met Tammi this voyage, she is from Halifax and so it is nice to connect with someone from home and Bernie originally is from Nova Scotia.  And of course we know Ashwin for quite a while now.

I start with the Pan Seared Pacific Scallops

Then I had that amazing Heirloom Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese and Beets - sorry forgot to take a picture.

For my entree I really wanted to try one of the new Alaskan Special Menu items and I chose the Halibut.  It was like butter!

You can see the lovely cheese plate that Mark prepared for us too.  Lovely to munch on in between courses and along with the wine.

Of course the waiters came out and sing Happy Birthday. They even had balloons for me.  

Was so touched too that Riza came down from Sabatinis where she is a waiter to wish me a Happy Birthday.  Here is a picture of Mark and Riza sandwich of all love and kindness. 

After dinner Bernie insists that we head to Crooners to say hi to Red - he hasn't seen us yet today and he wants to see me.  When we arrive he too gives me a gift!  

It is amazing how the world brings such great people into our lives.  I want them to know that they mean the world to us.  They brighten our day when we see them.  We love hearing from them when we are home, and we really love seeing them outside of their work environment whether it is in Vancouver or they home city.  

They are our Princess Family!

Sunday – At Sea - North To Alaska

Oh what a nice sleep.  Our cabin steward Enrique took care of our request of a top sheet for the bed and the extra towels.  The shower curtain is moldy and smelly and we have asked that he replace it with a clean one and he takes care of that too.  Don’t know why they don’t change those out more often.  It is very obvious when you enter the bathroom when they are in need of cleaning cause the smell hits you.

Other than that, the cabin looks great. The ship looks amazing, very refreshed.  The ship just went thru a drydock in May.  Nothing major happened in the public areas but a lot of carpet was replaced, most of the chairs were reupholstered, tile work done.  

I have noticed many of the public washrooms look freshened up too.  The new MUTS screen has the most advanced technology at sea now, even better than the Regal. 

New To Go Cups - lid has flap to prevent spills and cup is insulated

Bernie heads down to get the coffees and we relax and enjoy them in bed while watching the wake show.  Kelvin Joy hosts the Wake show and he is quite funny.

We have noticed a lot of activities geared towards Alaska, which is great.  Lots of lectures, films, even the movie up on MUTS (The Proposal) was filmed in Sitka Alaska.  There is a Discovery at Sea – Guess the Number of Shark’s Teeth.  There is a Bigfoot Scavenger Hunt.  The Naturalist Michael Modzelewski has a presentation called the Last Frontier today.  Later today is a Swim with the Sharks Gameshow, Penny Whistle Class where you can learn to play the Penny Whistle and tonight there is Songs of Alaska with Will Dickerson.

Bernie went up to the Horizon Court around 9:30 but it was CRAZY.  Da Vinci has breakfast until 9 am but it is just past that so this is the only place for most to go and get breakfast.

There is a lot happening today, but we are enjoying just watching others and doing a few things.  We sit down in Crooners and chat with Red who is still working here. 

Bernie reads as I type up this blog post.  At 10:45 Bernie heads to trivia and I head up to Adagio to do the Sudoku challenge.  I have never seen so many people do the Sudoku, there must have been around 25-30.  I came in third and was given a prize but I don’t really need the prize so I hand it to the young girl who came in fourth right after me and is on her first cruise with her family.

We take a seat in Vines by the window and watch the people.  It is so nice to see the first time cruisers learning about cruising.  Their excitement is contagious.  So many families on board, doing things together like the Scavenger Hunt, playing board games, getting things for the egg drop contest.  And as I sit here in Vines a couple with their older teenage sons sit at the sushi bar and as the parents sip some wine they get some sushi and the boys get some too.  The boys have never had sushi but they are trying it out and they really enjoy it.   I giggled when the one boy says to the waiter "I have never had sushi before, what is each item, how do I eat it".  

That is what is so great about travelling, trying new things.  With cruising you get the chance to try new things.

Oh can't remember if I mentioned it or not but if you haven't purchase the Alaskan Cruise Companion Book with Map order it ahead of time on line or head straight to the Calypso Cove shop and buy a copy.  On the front of the Princess Patter each day you an look under the Navigator section and it states where we are in relation to the book and what Waypoint we are at.  So you can go to the book/map and cross reference it.  It also identifies what kind of animals you can see and where.

Other things that are happening on board are:  

• Church service, 
• Zumba, 
• ping pong tournament, 
• Holiday at Sea sale, 
• fruit and vegetable carving demo, 
• book club sign up (book is The Paying Guest), 
• Pub Lunch in Wheelhouse, 
• bingo, 
• Charades, 
• Heart of Alaska Video Screening, 
• Line Dancing, 
• Art Auction, 
• Cha Cha lessons, 
• Swim with the Sharks Gameshow, 
• Origami, 
• Golf Chipping, 
• Afternoon Tea, 
• Trivia 
• and so much more.

Tonight is a Formal Night with the Champagne Waterfall at 7:00 pm.

Just back from muster drill.  Our meeting spot was the Casino and it did not take very long but is very important to attend.  There were a few who did not attend and they will be meeting later for a “special” muster drill.  

We stop in to see our friend Claudio the Hotel General Manager.  So nice to see him again.  We haven’t seen him since last September and he is just back from his vacation too.  

We visit with him for a half hour or so catching up with him.   
Francesco the Food and Beverage Director pops in too and we get to see him too.  Oh what a great day.

Since it is raining and it is very windy the sail away party is being moved to the Atrium.  We take a seat in Vines and order a bottle of wine.  Allan is behind the bar and he looks at us and says you look familiar, yes he does and we realize he was on the Caribbean with us when we did a b2b to Canada New England.  

We get some sushi to go with our wine and listen to the band The Emperor Penguins Party Band.  They are really good.  They play a lot of current tunes and it is hard to stay still in our seat.

The ship is really moving, in fact they have closed access to the Promenade deck for safety reasons.  

Tonight we got the brochure Princess thru the years to celebrate their 50 years.  And the Princess bag with the 50 years logo too.  

We change for dinner and head back out.  Up to Skywalkers for a drink.  The Platinum/Elite lounge is up there starting at 5 pm and it is BUSY.  We take a seat at the bar and the drink of the day is the Breeza Marina but the waiters say we can have any of the drinks that they feature.  That is great cause that was not the case on the Royal this past January.  
We decide to get Cosmos then.  

We notice the Bartender David from England and I say “hey weren’t you on the Diamond about two years ago” yup that is the same David.  

Bernie grabs some finger food and there was a lovely flatbread that the goat cheese was served on.  Yummy. 

Time to head to Crooners to say hi to Red.  Red is a bartender (oh this is beginning to be a trend where we recognize a lot of bartenders).  Red was on board for the South America and then we really got to know him last Sept.  We sneak up and see him and he is shocked we are on board.  Big hugs!

We have a table reserved for us in Botticelli at second seating with Mark.  We arrive and we are led to his station.  
Oh my it is so nice to see him again, big big hugs and kisses.  
We meet his assistant Gio also from the Phillipines.  

Federico Cantos is the Maitre d’hotel and we get to see him again and we certainly recognize quite a few head waiters too.

We have a lovely dinner.  I had the spring rolls and then the artichoke bisque (which is new and very tasty), for my entrée I had the tri tip and Bernie had the ricotta/leek tart.

We had some parmesan cheese to finish off our wine and then some sorbet.  

A few days ago we headed into the city to get some treats for Mark from the Filipino store.  A bag full of snack foods for him to either share or keep to himself.

What a wonderful dinner!   So happy to be back on board.

After dinner we wander around, there is the welcome aboard show but we are not interested.  We wander into the perfume shop where Henishia helps us.  She is so helpful by picking out lotions for me and then complimentary perfumes too.  

I buy some lotions and a perfume and take advantage of their extra 10% off the first two days, plus our elite extra 10% off too.  Henishia even reminds us that if we want to buy more stuff later in the voyage just bring back the receipt and she will make sure we get the discount.  

We also notice some more 50th Anniversary items in the stores.  Here are just some items for sale for the 50th anniversary, check out my Facebook photo album for more.

We decide to head up to do some dancing in Skywalkers after hearing that DJ Alex is here.  He is from Ottawa and he is surprised to see us.  The place has about 75 people and many are dancing and we get a drink (two for one is happening from 11 to midnight) and chat with a group of women who are travelling together celebrating. 

It appears that many on board are celebrating.  There are a few families, but very few kids, or at least what we have seen so far.  Lots of younger people.  I am sure the 7 day itinerary is more conducive to younger people too.  

Here is a list of the officers:  Captain Justin Lawes, Staff Captain Tony Ruggero, Chief Engineer Vincenzo Alfi, Hotel General Manager Claudio Mazzoni, Cruise Director Kelvin Joy, Senior Doctor Mark Mason, Food and Beverage Director Francesco Grasso, Customer Services Director Stefano Ambrosino, Human Resourses Manager Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, Executive Housekeeper Antonio Pimpao, Executive Chef Manilo Cuzzolin, Maitre D’Hotel Federico Arcos Cantos.

Wednesday Evening

Tonight we have the Stammtisch table.  Stammtisch is a German term for regular’s table or communal table and is traditionally the focal point of entertainment, events and creating ambience within the bar environment.  It is held at the big table in Vines and on this cruise they are doing three different ones.  

Monica and Red

Tonight’s theme is New World Red Wines and Tapas.  The cost is $15 per person and well worth it.  

We are joined by another couple and the hosts tonight are Monica and Red (appropriate name). 

Oscar, Anthony and Red Goofing around

Our first wine is a Pinot Noir – Wild Horse from Wild Horse Valley in the US.  Second wine is a Merlot – Ancient Peaks from the Margarita Vineyard in the US.  Our last wine is Cabernet Sauvignon – Simi Landslide from the Alexander Valley also in the US. 

I can't resist - I will say Red made me do it

We all enjoy trying the wine with the different tapas, while Monica and Red explain the wines and how to pair them.  They are great hosts and make the environment relaxing and fun.  

What is great about the Stammtisch table over the normal wine tasting is that is much more casual.

 

Bernie and Red

Even Oscar the Sushi Chef (from Columbia) comes over and chats.  It feels like a gathering at a friend’s house not a wine tasting.  I love these events.  Thank you Monica and Red, Anthony and Oscar for a great night. 

Off to dinner and Mark and Lorelei welcome us again and we so happy to see them.  Tonight is the Chef’s Dinner and we aren’t really hungry after the tapas so I just order the fried chicken, also known as the KFC dinner.  Bernie orders the scallops and when it is brought to us Lorelei has made sure Bernie gets a double order! 

The dining room is quiet (it is 9:30) and Lorelei shows us the beautiful pictures of her boys and we are amazed at how big they are getting.  She only has ten more days till she sees them.

Beatrice (Assistant Waiter) comes up to say hi to us and we jump up to give her a big hug.  Ahhh I have missed her and we hope we can see her off in Ensenada at least.  She is from Huatulco Mexico and we love that area.  She too is going home soon.

So after a great wine tasting, great meal, more wine and great friends we are spent.  We wander around a bit but most things have started so we just stand at the back and watch. 

Tonight’s events:  Comedian Carl Banks, Dixieland Concert in Princess Theater, Country & Western Themed Trivia, Country & Western Night, Majority Rules Game Show and Karaoke and more.

Tomorrow is San Diego.