February 8, 2016 - Disembarkation

Bernie enjoying the little treat Vicky (Purser's Staff) gave us

We are up rather late today - 7 ish.  We quickly shower and pack up the last items and we are heading to the gangway at 8:15 (our coloured luggage tags were for 7:45) only because we weren’t ready at 7:45 we got off a half hour later.

We were off the ship, picked up our bags and thru customs within 15 minutes!  It doesn’t hurt that there is only one other ship in port.  We are in the taxi and off to the airport (short ride and cheap too $15 including tip) and rental car agency.

We pick up our car and head North to Orlando where we spent a few days with our friends Amy and Larry.

The next day we visit Disney Springs and then for dinner we meet up with Al Katz and Colleen Katz for a lovely dinner.

Me, Bernie, Amy and Larry, then Al and Colleen

Touring Our City with the Crown Princess

Yesterday the Crown Princess was in and I was finally off so we coordinated with some crew on board to show them around.

We arrived at the pier early (around 8) as we were not sure what time they would be able to get off. While standing on the overhead walkway we saw Al Katz the guest entertainer we became friends with many years ago. We knew he was coming in and had hoped we could see him before he flew up to Juneau to meet the Golden.

He had some time before he had to catch his bus to the airport so we hung out at Starbucks and enjoyed catching up with each other.

After we said goodbye to Al we walked around and then went and waited just outside security for Thais and Beatrice.  

But after spending 49 days on this ship this year we recognized quite a few faces.  

We saw our cabin steward coming out with all his bags and I smiled not sure where or what department he was from. Then he smiled back and said hi and it came right back. Yup our Cabin Steward who said "I won't forget your name as it is the same as my wife's name". He is heading home back to the Philippines, safe journey I say as he rolls his bags to the bus.

Beatrice comes out after doing an early shift at the International Cafe dressed to the nines and the shoes! Thankfully we won't be walking too too much. I walk with her to Starbucks and we sit and catch up while Bernie waits for Thais.

Thais also works in the International Cafe but today is the day she is going home. We had offered to transport her to the airport and show her around Vancouver for a bit before her late night flight home to Brazil.

While sitting at Starbucks we ran into a few other friends... Mark our waiter from the dining room and James from the photo department. Bernie also got to see Francesco while waiting for Thais.

We quickly got in the car and heading out as Beatrice only had another hour and a half before she has to get back on board for her next shift.

Out to Stanley Park for a quick drive around and a few photo stops. Then down to English Bay and then along Davie and over to Yaletown, Chinatown, Downtown Eastside and then Gastown before dropping her off at the pier.  

We hug goodbye and we will be seeing her again this season for sure.

Now we have more time so we are back in the car with Thais and we drive to Spanish Banks beach and the University of British Columbia grounds.  

We head down to Granville Island (boy was it busy here) and we walk around and end up having a lovely lunch on the patio at Bridges restaurant.  

A drive thru Shaughnessy and then up to Queen Elizabeth Park (which was busy with a grad class taking pictures for their prom).  

We still have more time so we head South to Steveston and grab some ice cream and walk the pier and check out the daily catch and the sights.

Off to the airport and big hugs and wishing her all the best.

We don't know when we will see Thais again but we were so honoured to have met her and been able to show our city to her.  

Saturday St. Thomas

Oh no – it is only 4:15 and I am awake!  This happens usually at least once a cruise and I can’t get back to sleep so I very quietly try and get dressed and take my Kindle and head out to the International Café.  Yup I am sitting in the International Café on deck five by myself, thank God it is open and I grab my latte and chat with Ron the coffee bar attendant.  I then sit and read and read until about an hour late Richard our friend for many years joins me and we widdle away a few hours until I get Bernie his tea and head back to the cabin around 7:30.

Oh I almost forgot… since the issue of our cabin steward is ongoing I thought I should do something but wasn’t sure what or how to go about it.  I don’t really want to complain but I know that this service is not normal and I really don’t think I can handle this for the rest of the trip considering how long we are on for.  I visit the Purser’s desk and deal with Paul, who takes down my information and with the issues we are facing and says he will direct them to his immediate surpervisor.  I decided to go this way cause I believe Chris may be new in his position and may just need more training or assistance.  I am now happy to report that after coming back from a day out all the issues we had have been resolved, I will keep you informed.  Just remember that there will always be issues on every trip, some smaller than others but it is key that Princess knows about them because this gives them a chance to resolve them.  Tonight I did go back to see Paul at the Purser’s desk to thank him and to let him know things are better.

Okay back to our day, and it was a great one.  We docked early in St. Thomas just before 8 am and we are not in any real rush as we are heading to Water Island and the ferry we want isn’t until 10:30.  It is a little cloudy but this is quite normal and we hope that as the day progresses it will get hot and sunny.

We have a light breakfast in the cabin and head down to meet up with Alice and walk over to the ferry dock.  There are a few people there, including Jeannie and Greg and Anita and Richard.  After a short ferry ride we walk up the hill and down the hill and ahhh at the views from here.  Then we arrive at Honeymoon Bay.  The first thing we notice is that Heidi’s canteen is now set up at the one end of the beach instead of in the middle.  We lay out our stuff and we all head into the water.  It is still a little cloudy but when the sun breaks thru the clouds it is nice.  We all float around in the water and chat for what seems like at least an hour.  Bernie heads out to snorkel and I head out later and I am very impressed by all I see.  I was especially excited to see the flounder trying to camouflage himself with the rocks.  Wish I would have had my camera to take a shot of him, so cool. 

We do get a few sprinkles but nothing serious and since I am already in the water, no big issue.  We grab a bite to eat at Heidi’s.  She makes great burgers served with salad or beans and she even serves beer!

We catch the 3:30 ferry back and while waiting for it we all play with the rocks creating all kinds of rock formations…. Heck who needs toys!

We are back on board just before 4 and I drop our stuff off in the cabin, I rinse out our snorkel and mask and wash out our bathing suits – I will say I really miss a balcony now to dry stuff and then to watch sail away.  But instead I change, I pour a glass of wine and head out to the horizon court and get some cheese and fruit and a scone and grab a seat near the main pool (Neptune’s Reef) up on the sun deck and enjoy the music of Tyrone Babb while looking at the beautiful islands.  Bernie joins me and we watch sailaway from here, an easy alternative to the balcony.  One thing is for sure without a balcony we are out in the public areas a lot more.

While getting ready for dinner I notice I got a fair bit of sun today, even with layering 30 SPF on twice I guess all that laying around in that float and even with the cloud cover it really can burn.  Thankfully I am not burned badly and it doesn’t hurt but I do put a layer of aloe after sun on it (bought it in Aruba last year).

Dinner tonight is back in Michalangelo Dining room, but tonight Al Katz is joining us along with Richard and Anita.  Rui takes care of us by setting up a larger table for us.  I am excited that the deep fried sushi appetizer is on the menu, I loved this last fall when I had it and my meal decision is made.  I start with the garlic cream soup, a Caesar Salad, then a double serving of the sushi  appetizer.  I then finish my meal with a cheese plate with some dried fruit.

When we all walk out of the dining room Richard decides to head up to MUTS as it is showing the movie Dark Knight Rises, so Anita stays with us and we do some dancing in the Atrium as the band Accent is playing.    Now they really get people up and moving!  Definitely like them.

But we promised Joey Van, the Vocal Impressionist we met the first day and a friend of Al’s that we would see his show.  We sit close up so he knows we are there to encourage him and we really enjoy his show.  He is very funny and quite good as a singer and impressionist.  Even though we have seen his show not that long ago we laugh our heads off throughout it.

We are tired now, it is just after 11 when we make it back to the cabin and we crawl into bed and Bernie is already snoring while I type this.  A full day at the beach will do that to a person.

A few comments from today:

-          Really getting to know many of the crew throughout the ship.  As we walk past we get big waves and “how was your day” and I already know we will be making lasting friendships this voyage
-          Liked that the Patter on the back page shows the dining options, but one thing they have added that they never did before, but we often commented they should do, is they now add what the Horizon court or Café Caribe dinner theme is, tonight it is Indian – if we wouldn’t of already made plans with Al for dinner I would of insisted we got there, but we can go another time, we can’t always see Al.
-          Definitely wear sun screen!  There are a lot of red lobsters walking around the ship.
-          Between 4 and 7 am there are a lot of behind the scenes cleaning that gets done and boy do they clean, they seem to get into every nook and cranny – very impressed
-          The wake show is on every night starting at 10:30 onwards until the next morning.  A little odd as it is the wake show so not sure why they show it that evening prior, plus I miss the movies that are usually shown in the cabin in the evenings.

Events happening around the ship today and evening:  Movie People Like Us; Casablanca; Back To The Future, The Dark Knight Rises. Win, Loose or Draw; Sudoku (still no prizes); Taboo game play; Dr. Bob and Bill W Meeting; Trivia; Karaoke; Vocal Impressionist Joey Van; All About History Trivia; Blackjack Tournament; 50s and 60s Speed Trivia; Rock and Roll night.

They held a Chef’s Table event tonight, looked lovely.  Drink of the day is a Raspberry Fizz.

Night everyone

January 18 - Evening

Tonight is formal night and one of the benefits of elite is canapés on formal night, and as mentioned earlier Chris our cabin steward never got us the form until this morning but we did hand it in to him before the deadline.  We scheduled delivery for 5:30 but 5:30 came and went then it was 6 then 6:30 and we call Chris.  I ask did he submit the form, yes he ensures us and he will check into it.  We never heard back.  Now I know it is only canapés and we will get them again next formal night but he is really failing in our books.  I left a note for him this morning again asking for four towels every day and again he left two, and again this evening only two.  I am surprised cause we have never encountered a steward like this on board.  I am going to sleep on it and then talk with him and see how it goes from there, but if it continues I may need to ask to speak to his supervisor, I don’t think my request for towels or even the canapés form be delivered when we need them.  Am I?  I don’t like to complain but we have 27 more days with this guy!

Dinner reservations are for 7 pm in the Crown Grill to celebrate both Bernie’s and Alice’s birthday.  We bring a bottle of champagne and start out with that.  Edgar is our server and you can see he is very professional and he knows his stuff.  It is a real treat and the food is outstanding, service top notch, and well company is even better.  I start out with the scallop appetizer, then the black and blue soup, then the fillet mignon served with scallop potatoes and asparagus.  For dessert it is the molten cake, but my was a little over cooked and was not molten at all but still darn good.  I am too full to say anything cause I know they would make us a new one in a minute but I will wait till our next visit and enjoy it all runny and creamy then.  I finish with a Sicilian Kiss beverage and my night is complete.  Of course they all come and sing Happy Birthday to them both.  We make sure to tip extra cause tonight is well deserved.

Al Katz is performing a new show “stupid people are everywhere” in Explorer’s Lounge.  A much better venue for comedy I feel, especially better than Club Fusion or the Princess Theater, much more intimate.  We get a seat up close and we laugh our heads off.  He is so great with the passengers, he is funny but not crude, and he calls it as he sees it. 

Frenchie the Deputy Cruise Director (who we had on the Star in South America) was the host tonight and boy those shoes Frenchie!  Stunning… just saying, and what a lovely lady.

We are back in the cabin relaxing.  No note from the steward explaining why no canapes  nothing, odd but not surprising really.  I pray we have a new steward for the next leg but I doubt it.  Oh well all the other crew have been amazing, 150% so I guess I can’t have everything.

Arrive in St. Thomas at 8 tomorrow, currently our plan is to go over to Water Island with Alice, can’t wait.

January 18 – Sea Day – and My Honey’s Birthday

First thing, Happy Birthday to my wonderful life mate, it is always a joy celebrating his special day with him especially when he wants to sail during it. 

Chris our steward still is a little overwhelmed it seems, we didn’t get our form for our elite canapes until this morning, we quickly fill it out and hand it back to him before the deadline for delivery tonight.  We have to ask for more towels again.  I not sure if he is new or just really busy with a lot of cabins.  He is very quiet and I haven’t really gotten the chance to chat with him – which is odd because normally by now we are already close buddies with our steward and we have normally tipped them a few times.

We dress and head down to the dining room for breakfast sitting with two lovely couples where of course I announce right away how it is Bernie’s Birthday – heck he hates it but I think it is great.

At 9:30 there is Sudoku and you all know how much I love my Sudoku so I head all the way aft and up to Adagio to try my hand at it.  I end up finishing first and then find out there are no prizes for it, really?  Wow okay no biggie, it isn’t like I need another prize to lug home but it is always fun to get something.  So I guess I won’t be doing the Sudoku anymore on this trip.

At 10 is our Cruise Critic meet and greet in Skywalkers a large crowd gathers and it is so great to put faces to names and catch up with friends we have sailed with in the past and meet lots of new friends.  They did organized a gift exchange but since we are doing three cruises we opted out of the gift exchange to cut down on things we had to bring or take home with us but I am glad they did it and it looked like they all had a good time.  We left and wandered down to the coffee bar for my latte and of course we ran into Andy, Anita, and then Greg.  I chatted with Greg for quite a while he is so very knowledgeable about so much on board and the ports as him and his wife Jeannie travel this itinerary a lot and they do some activities we love to do as well so he is a great resource.  Jeannie also blogs and I love reading her blogs and her positive attitude.

I head up to see Alice in her cabin and we sit out on her balcony and I give myself a pedicure and we sit and chat and enjoy our latte…..   ahhhh love those sea days.

Since it is Bernie’s birthday I am letting him decide what he wants to do today and I will help make anything he wants come to fruition, and he is easy cause what he wants now is to go to pub lunch…. No problem that can be done.  We arrive at the Wheelhouse where we are sat immediately and we both enjoy some fish and chips.  It is yummy but when you live so healthy at home and almost never eat anything deep fried we do notice we have upset tummies later in the afternoon from it.  Not that it is bad just we should know better and try and ease into unhealthy eating…. But trust me when we get off  we will need to detox and get back to healthy eating.

We check out Calypso Cove and we see a staff member there who was on the Star when we were in South America, she is from Brazil and we share stories about how great her country is. 

Bernie wants to go to the “Where in the World Am I” trivia game and I am like okay, I usually like those games too.  We are met up with Jeff and Jane, Anita, and Andy and well I can’t take the credit at all but we did win.  We got water bottles and I promised it to a friend whose husband said she could use one, I have a few still at home and Bernie just won one and really I am pretty sure we may win some other ones this voyage.   

We head back to the cabin and we are both tired, and well since it is a sea day, and we are on vacation we can justify a nap and we do just that!

Tonight we are dining in the Crown Grill for Bernie’s Birthday with our friend Alice at 7.  It is also a formal night and lots of things are going on around the ship. 

Of course the Captain’s Welcome Aboard gathering is in the Piazza but is at 7:15 and we will be in dinner.  The Production show is What a Swell Party (three shows 7:15, 8:30, and 10:15).  And Al Katz is performing again, three shows with a different act but we will have to attend his late show.  Also going on is Jewish Sabbath Service, Sports Trivia, Passenger Feud Game Show, and a Blackjack tournament.

Princess Cays

I had a rough night, my allergies were bothering me and that means sinus pain.  I took some antihistamines and it helped but I was up throughout the night.  I almost got up around 5 am but decided to turn over and force myself back to sleep and I guess it worked cause the next thing I heard was the phone ringing.  It was room service saying that they tried to deliver our order but no one answered.  Oh my it is 8:20 I really slept, and Bernie isn’t here.  But soon the door opens and Bernie comes in with my latte and his tea and the next minute room service is there with our breakfast.

We relax and enjoy our beverages and breakfast and look out at the beautiful view of the water and what looks like could turn into a lovely day.

We aren’t scheduled to arrive until 9 so we head to the International Café and sit and chat with Anita and Richard and decide to head ashore around 10 am.

 We head to our usual spot and take in the view and the warm weather…. Ahhh what a great way to start a trip.  We much prefer this routing where we stop here first instead of at the end of the itinerary.  This gets us in the relaxation mode instead of a busy port day.

I spend my day reading, sunning, swimming, floating in the water on my ring that travels every year with us.  The water is cool but once you are in it is great.  We both do some snorkeling and loved it, it is nice to see how much the coral has grown in the past year and we love exploring around it and catching glimpses of fish that are often hiding. 

For lunch we get a bite to eat at the barbecue buffet, for me another hamburger and salad and fruit, for Bernie some chicken and ribs.  I can definitely report that there are no free soda drinks at the buffet.  They do have dispenser there for water and then there is one also for ice tea but it was out of order.  If you want soda you have to order it from the can.

We decide to head back to the ship around 2:40 and once we are back in the cabin I get to washing out the swimsuits and rinsing the snorkel gear and a quick shower.  I jokingly say time to head out on the balcony, but for us it is the Promenade deck which is one deck below. 

We haven’t seen much of our cabin steward Chris, he is quiet and we have to seek him out to give him our laundry as he didn’t take it this morning when he made up the room.  We still have not gotten the one of the things we requested but will check on it later.  Almost feel like I am bothering him if I ask, he is not that approachable and I am saddened cause we normally have such great stewards that we get really close to.  Chris isn’t bad, he certainly takes care of the room and all in it but he isn’t above average like we are use to, I guess I have gotten spoiled in the past.  One of our friends is also having issues where their steward, in fact they never got their elite toiletries and when she asked the steward said oh we don’t give those out anymore.  I confirmed that oh yes they do to her as we got ours. 

Tonight Al Katz is performing in the Princess Theater so we definitely have to see his show, and we will sit and have dinner with Alice again.

Things going on around the ship tonight include Majority Rules, the Movie Hope Springs (which we watched in Dec on Oasis and had to pay $13 to watch, nice to see Princess shows it for free), Piano Man Kory Simon, Sol Provider is performing in Club Fusion, Jeopardized Trivia.