Sunday April 26, 2015 Catalina

We sure didn’t have far to travel last night.  We wake around 8 am and look outside and there is Avalon.  This is a tender port but we are not in any real rush.  We shower and head to the Da Vinci dining room for breakfast where we are sat with two couples from Southern California.  

I had the fruit plate with ricotta cheese with a bowl of cereal.  Just right!

It seems that the tender queue is a long one, and even though we don’t have to wait in it with our elite status we know the lines back to the ship will be long too.  We are not here long, last tender is at one pm.  Also apparently the port is busy and the ride is slower than normal so we decided to just stay on board. 

I am currently relaxing in the International Café having my coffee watching the people.  There are a lot of newer cruisers and it is so nice to see everyone enjoying the experience.  

Bernie has gone to the trivia and I am thinking of watching a movie later.  The Theory of Everything is showing in the Princess Theater and also in the cabin they are showing Big Hero 6.

This afternoon there is a lot going on.  Indoor goofy golf, GoPro seminar, the movie, the egg drop sign up, cruise long scavenger hunt, veterans get together, 60 second frenzy, book club which is Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, art auction, line dancing class, golf chipping challenge, origami class.  Princess Grapevine wine tasting, champagne hoopla, bingo, afternoon tea, Discovery at sea is a trivia about Velocity, singles and solos martini meet and a Friends of Bill W Meeting.

Beatrice and I

Buy one get one free is happening at 3 pm for one hour in the Wheelhouse bar as well as in the evening in skywalkers at 11 pm.

It takes a while for everyone to come back from the tenders.  Someone told me it was a very long line to get back to the ship and took a few hours, but I can’t confirm that.

I tried to have a nap cause I was so tired.  But the thrusters are right below us and while they were bringing up the tenders the thrusters kicked in and it was noisy in the cabin.  Although this is a downside for me cause I like to nap during the day it really would be a problem while docking or leaving (famous last words).

One thing I like about the cabin is that is low on the ship (deck 5) and I can sit and watch the seas go by and the spray comes up and it even at some times covers the entire window.  Fun.

Bernie is up and dressed early tonight and leaves the cabin for me to get ready.  Tonight is formal night and I meet up with Bernie in Skywalkers for a drink.  

Rock presenting me with my Mojito

Rock the bartender entertains us along with David as they banter back and forth.  In fact it is hard to leave cause they are fun to be around, but Skywalkers closes down at 7 pm and they are have to pack up all the liquor.  Gee you would think they would just install locked gates for the bar to make it easier.  

We head down to deck 7 to walk towards the Atrium and we see the Captain.  What was funny is we hear a couple ask him (don’t think they realized they were asking the Captain)  where the Atrium was.  Captain Lawes responded “just walk all the way down till you see the champagne then stop”.  

The Atrium is busy but not CRAZY like we have seen it.  I think this may be because of so many new cruisers that just are not aware of it.  

Rick, Monika, Me and Bernie

Claudio, Bernie and Antonio

We finally run into Rick and Monika!  So nice to see them again, it has been a year since we sailed with them and they are so sweet and Monika is so helpful with my facebook fan page.  She has so much knowledge of Princess and is able to answer a lot of questions.  

Rick and Monika are the Most Travelled this voyage and they have been nice enough to ask us to join their table at the Captain Circle Party.  We are more than happy to join them.  

We did qualify for the Most Travelled Party – which is the top 40 passengers.  On this trip it is a cocktail party (which we prefer) which is taking place the night we are in Astoria.

We finally get to meet Stephano the Customer Services Director.  What a lovely man and I can see why Ali loves him so much.  He misses you Ali.

Dinner again is the Botticelli Dining room where we are sat at our table for two in Mark’s section.  It is very busy in this area.  It is full and very very noisy.  Large tables surround us and it is hard to talk, but everyone is having a very good time and I am glad.  

There is a table for 8 beside us but only five are at it and they are so sweet that they even ask if we would like to join them.  But we are happy to have our table.  Plus because two nights on this 7 day voyage are in port, and we are dining in the specialty restaurants twice, we only have three dinners with Mark.  So we thank them and decline.

Marianne a Head Waiter here comes over to say hi.  He ran into Bernie earlier in the day and promised to come over and say hi to me tonight.  We haven’t seen him in a while and we chat and catch up. 

I really enjoy this menu.  I start with the Rissoto Rice Cakes.  Then a lovely salad and my entrée is the Turbot fish entrée.  Bernie had the vegetable curry dish.  Then of course it is the Norman Love dessert.

we played a little joke on Gio

Dinner is very long tonight, over two hours and it is too late to attend the show.  The Production show was Destination Anywhere and we could of pushed it and made it to the show but we choose to not to.  

We wander around a bit and walk to try and digest a bit.  

We stop in at Crown Grill to make a reservation for the next formal night.  We want to see Beatrice and this is why we booked the Crown Grill.

Back in the cabin we watch the morning show and do some reading.  Both of us are asleep by midnight. 

Thursday Evening

Catalina Island

We are relaxing in the cabin, enjoying a glass of Norton Reserva from Chile.  But we know we have to get dressed and head out.  Our evening starts with heading down to Explorer’s Lounge to participate in the TV Theme Trivia, we join a lovely couple from the San Francisco area and we don’t do too bad but we did have fun.  Zara hosted and we love Zara.

Douw, Jasper and Bernie

We decide to get some dinner now and head to Portifinos for a meal, this sailing Portifinos is being used for early traditional dining at 5:30 but opens for anytime at 7:45.  We have no problem getting a table at 8:15 and Douw takes very good care of us as usual.  Our assistant waiter is on his first cruise on his first contract and you can see he is nervous but does a great job.  I skipped the appetizer and salad and went straight for a lovely chicken dish that was served with carrots, asparagus and zucchini.  Then of course dessert of cream Brule! We also enjoyed a bottle of Wolfe Blass, and corked the remaining wine for another time.  Princess now gives you a little ticket that states the wine and your cabin number and where you dined.  They have done this for awhile now but we always seem to loose the little ticket, but they still are able to locate the wine.

We discuss options for dinner tomorrow and decide since tomorrow is formal night we would try and get a reservation for Sabatinis – Douw runs off and comes back with a confirmed reservation for Friday at 7:30.  Wow thanks for the personalized service Douw!  But all the head waiters are amazing and bend over backwards for all passengers.

 

We decide after dinner to check out the comedian Jim MacDonald in the Princess theater.  We join Murray and his friends (cruise critic friends).  Jim MacDonald we have sailed with before in fact we have probably seen his shows about 5 times but we love his video montage he does at the end.  My favorite line was “all the teens sailing, trying to be cool, yeah dude it is spring break and I am on a cruise”  yeah but not so cool that you have to share a cabin with your grandmother.  Laughing!!!  So if you are on a ship with Jim make sure you check out his show. 

 

It is now 11 pm and it is rather quiet around the ship except for the jazz band in the atrium and lots of people listening, they are very good.  We wander around the outside Promenade and then head back to the room.  Clocks go forward tonight and I swear as soon as our heads hit the pillow we are out!

Wednesday Evening to Thursday Catalina

Jasper checks out some souvenirs

After a quick dinner in the Horizon Court we checked out the Beattles’ trivia in Explorer with Matias – we sucked at that.  Then came back for the Princess Pyramid Game, we joined a couple Rudy and Mabel from San Francisco area and we had a good time, both Bernie and I attempted to guess the answers, but once again we sucked.

Matais - Deputy Cruise Director

There is a Welcome Aboard Show, one time only 9:45 and I say we never go to the Welcome Aboard Show so lets go, we arrive right at 9:45 and it is quite full but still able to find a few seats.  Martyn Moss is our Cruise Director and I really enjoyed the show.  I loved how they showed a video of the amenities on board and Martyn described what the passengers could expect.  Love it!

We are in bed early and we need it! 

We awake and feel refreshed and ready to enjoy the day.  We head to Amafi dining room for breakfast and have a lovely meal with a lady - Audrey.  We get to meet Rui the new Maitre d’Hotel and of course Douw is there. 

Rui - Maitre d'hotel

The sad news is that they don’t have the wine card on board this voyage.  Apprently it is because there is no sommelier on board.  Really I think, now all the times we have ever sailed we have never purchased wine from the sommelier, we have always purchased our wine directly from the very knowledgeable bar staff, waiters and head waiters.  Oh well we were going to get it but we will pick up some wine in Catalina instead, Princess you are loosing sales here.

Our meet and greet is today and we are about 30 people it is nice to put names to a face.  We have a bit of time to kill before arriving in Catalina at 1 pm so we wander around the stores (even buy a lovely Fossil watch) grab a latte and read a bit and chat up with a few passengers.

We choose not to get lunch before getting off because we really want to grab a meal ashore. 

Catalina is a tender port and we head to the tender around 1:30 (one of the perks of elite is you get priority tendering).  A short trip to shore and we are off like bandits.  We stop at the information booth and find out where we can get information for a hike, they direct us to the Catalina Conservatory where we find out better info on where to go. 

We walk past the golf course up the hill side thru the campground (follow signs to the botanical garden).  At the end of the campground is a sign directing us to the trail with a warning of rattle snakes!

What I say!  And I make Bernie lead the way.  The hike took about 45 minutes to the lookout and what a view! 

We feel great and so glad we decided to head out on this hike.  We hike back down and stop for a meal at a great Mexican restaurant.

love this -- a golf cart tow truck

After the meal we wander down the street to find a grocery store to get some wine.  We get six bottles (they even offer a 10% discount when you buy six). 

Not sure what we are up to this evening, we aren’t hungry but do want to do the trivia at 7 which is the tv theme song trivia, then we would like to see the comedian Jim MacDonald.  We have seen him before and really enjoy his show.