Oct 30 - At sea

 Oct 30 - At sea

Not so sunny and warm today!  There is a bit of movement out there as we begin crossing the Mediterranean from Sicily to Spain.

Another day to relax!  

We had breakfast in the dining room a little later than usual!   We all seem to be dragging a bit and appreciate a slow start in the morning.

From there, Barb went back to nap and Mary and I went to a meeting for all the passengers remaining on the ship until Ft Lauderdale - all 1042 of us!  There was not very much that was new from other In Transit meetings we have attended, but we did ask to confirm our same table with Jaydeep and David for the second leg.  Jaydeep is a bit hard for me to understand - he has a fairly strong accent and soft voice, and combine that with the noise in the room, I often have to ask him to repeat (or ask Mary for help!). David always has a big smile and knows our preferences without having to ask so we wanted to stay with them.

In the afternoon Mary and I went to the port talk on Palma de Mallorca. Kez was, once again, an interesting, knowledgeable and lively speaker.  It looks like a really nice port.

Nap time for Dorothy in the afternoon!  Mary and Barb went to see the Magician in the Arena

Now for today’s story….

Just for some excitement we decided to each throw in $20 and have our own ‘slot pull’ in the casino!  We didn’t want to be there too long because it is the only indoor venue on the ship that allows smoking! UGH!

Well, our investment kept us there longer than we had anticipated; we’d be up a bit, then down a bit, and finally we were getting down to our last few credits and decided to leave.  Just one more spin!

Suddenly bells started ringing!  The screen started flashing!  People were staring at us!  What was happening?  Oh my God!  Can it be?

                                             $1584 !!!!  

If I could have jumped up and down I would have!!!  We were all so excited!  Should we leave now?  We agreed to give it one more spin on another machine….

Lo and behold -

Another $577 making a total of over $2000 USD!!

Now that was a great story to tell!  LOL

Dinner was good as usual!  This time I remembered to take the photos!

Starters were Cocoanut Crusted Pork Meatballs and Carrot Ginger Soup.

The main course was Weiner Schnitzel for Barb and Dorothy and Roast Pork for Mary!  Servings were huge!

And then Dessert!!  A repeat performance of Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake for Mary, Princess Loveboat Dream for Barb and Blackberry Sorbet for Dorothy!

We waddled off to a performance in the Piazza, Raphael Loopro, and then off to bed.

Oct 29 - Messina

 Oct 29 - Messina

Today we are in Messina, Sicily.

Another sunny day with temps around 21°

We have a bus tour described here…

Step through the "door of Sicily" and explore Messina's magnificent historic highlights. This bustling town has a complex history with roots in Greek mythology. You'll begin your four-hour narrated tour city orientation drive passing major sights & venues of city. You'll motor along northern coast to reach Cape Peloro. Continue through villages of Ganzirri & Faro & small salt water lakes used for growing mussels. After a short stop for photos return to Messina, stopping at Cristo Re to take in the breath-taking city views before heading to the Piazza del Duomo. Once at the Piazza, be sure to see Montorsoli's 16th century and stroll over to the Fontana di Orione in the, toss in a coin and make a wish. Then there's the Cathedral itself. It's façade features three 16th-century entry doors and a 180-foot high bell tower that holds the world's largest astronomical clock. Inside, you can see the spectacular church treasury filled with the centuries worth of the gifts donated as tokens of faith by kings and peasants alike. Among the many spectacular art pieces is a superb golden mantle in honor of the Madonna.

The astronomical clock is an amazing mechanism!  Be sure and click this link to find out more!

A collection of photos from around the city…  

The Mussel Farm

After the tour we were all pretty tired so had a quick bit of lunch before a nap!

French Onion Soup was the popular choice of appetizer!  Barb and Mary had Roast Chicken and I had Salmon.  they had a chocolate extravaganza for dessert and I passed!  ( unbelievable that I would pass up a dessert, but true!)

The show in the Arena was cancelled due to technical problems, so we went back to our cabins for another early night.  I slept from just after 9:00 PM until 3:30 AM when nature called!  After checking the score on the Jays game, and seeing they were ahead 5-1 at the end of the 7th, I was able to go back to sleep feeling hopeful!

Oct 28 - At sea

 Oct 28 - At sea

Rolling along!  A welcome day to catch our breath on this busy itinerary!

70° and mostly sunny!  We’ve been so lucky with the weather.

Unfortunately Barb wasn’t 100% today so she decided to take the day off!  in her cabin!  with movies and Room Service!

Mary and I had a nice leisurely start to the day with breakfast at The Eatery.  It wasn’t really busy at 8:30 AM so it was easy to find a table.  After breakfast we went to the Arena for the port talk on Messina.  Kez James is our Destination Expert and she was excellent.  On her resumé it showed she was once a teacher - and that was obvious.  She was organized in her presentation, had great ‘visual aids’, and had an engaging style.  She might be one of the best Destination Experts I have seen!

We were about to leave when she finished, but noticed Cole, the Cruise Director, had just come into the theatre so we decided to stay for his talk on Life at Sea…. And we are so glad we did!  It was hilarious! Cole is a New Zealander who started out his career as a dancer.   He is a high energy guy with a great sense of humour and his timing of one liners in his presentation was so entertaining. 

Off to lunch and then my nap!  💤  while Mary went back to the Arena for a couple of presentations.

It’s dress up night tonight!  So I had my shower this afternoon to try and look ‘appropriate’!  

It was just a table for two tonight!  Hopefully Barb will be feeling better by tomorrow.  Dinner was good - Mary had Quinoa and Pomegranate salad and I had Cream of Tomato Soup to start.  The main course was steak for Mary and I had Truffle Infused Risotto with Prawns and Vegetables.  I found 5 green peas, four tiny slices of celery and one miniscule cube of carrot in the risotto!!!

Desserts were nice - Lemon Meringue Cheesecake for Mary and Chocolate Mint Cake for me!

We then made our way to the Piazza to wait for the Silken Skies Aerial performance. Tonight is White Night, so many people are dressed in white!  Most of the evening activities don't appeal that much - the magician from last night, a lot of dancing in the Piazza etc  

I wanted to see Silken Skies Aerial performance but just realized it’s a 10 min performance!!!  So do we wait for 2 hrs of pounding music to see a 10 min show? 😵‍💫.  I think not!

We’re going to head back to the peace and quiet of our cabin!  Am I sounding like an old fuddy duddy?  

⚾️ Time to dream about a win for the Jays!! They are going to show the game starting about 1:00 AM, but that’s way past my bedtime!!! 

⚾️Hopefully I'll wake up to a positive outcome!

Until tomorrow…..

Oct 27 - Chania

 Oct 27 - Chania 

Sunny and hot!  28°  Make that 35°+!

Chania is a city on the northwest coast of Crete.

The two tourists went out on an excursion…

Journey to a treasured landmark and explore an aristocratic old town on a fascinating 5.5-hour adventure. An approximately one-hour drive takes you up a steep and windy road to the edge of the Psilorítis Mountain, where the Monastery of Arkadi dominates the landscape, one of the most exceptional churches on Crete. Its magnificent golden facade with the intricate details that you see today was built in 1587, although its origins date to the 5th century. The monastery played a significant role in the Cretan resistance to Ottoman rule, and your guide will provide details of its history and the functions of this multipurpose monastery with extensive grounds. Next, enjoy free time to explore romantic Rethymnon, which delights with preserved medieval architecture and a lovely harbor area presided over by an impressive fortress. Wander its maze of alleyways, peer into artisan shops and refresh in one of the tiny cafes. Relax on your return to port.

For Dorothy, another day to relax onboard. This morning I moved from comfy chair to comfy chair, ending up in the Lido for a burger for lunch!  Yum.  I have an ebook that I can keep for 7 days, so thought I should get busy with that.  It was lovely sitting outdoors in the shade taking advantage of the fresh air.  

At 2 PM I went down to Princess Live for a Trivia game and to wait for the others to return.  We had arranged to meet at the Gelato shop!  Sadly, it doesn’t open until 4!   So when the girls returned we headed up to the Lido where they make those gigantic ice cream extravaganzas!  Barb had one of those, and Mary and I settled for a soft serve ice cream ( not real ice cream!!)

My dinner was disappointing!  Coq au Vin.  The chicken was overcooked, not like on our last cruise where it was yummy! Mary and Barb had Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding; I wish I had done that.   

Barb and Mary continue to outdo me in the drink department!  (Note the empty wine glasses in the background!)

After dinner we went to the Dome for a short acrobatic performance and a Magician.  It was ok.  

Then we headed to the Piazza for Ron Alton, a  54 yr old BMX acrobat!  

We turn the clocks back tonight so an extra hour of sleep!  Yay!

Oct 26 - Athens

Oct 26 - Athens

Greece’s capital city is our port for today! And it promises to be another perfect day - sunny and 23°!  How lucky are we?

The port of Piraeus is a huge port south of Athens.  It is a major hub for cruise ships, ferries to the Greek islands, and shipping.  Mary and Barb went out on the Hop On Hop Off bus to see the main attractions in Athens.  I was content to stay onboard - this city does not hold fond memories for me, 😢

 My breakfast arrived early today and I had a nice easy start to the day. After checking the score from last night’s game, I went down to Deck 9 and found a comfy chair to sit and people watch, play my brain games, and catch up on the blog and some emails!

Time to go exploring!  I decided to go up to Deck 17 and scout out The Dome!  It is an incredible space up top with two pools, hot tubs, and lots of lounger seating overlooking the Saronic Gulf! Part of it is in the open air, and part of it is covered by a glass dome.  Towards midship are the Lido pools with more loungers .  The Sea View Bar ensures that no one is thirsty!

I was sitting minding my own business and someone spoke to me, calling me by name!  It was the Room Service Manager who came to apologize for the problem with the breakfast yesterday!  I guess this ‘locator’ feature won’t let people hide anywhere!!! lol. He was very apologetic and assured me if I had any other problems or needed anything to just let him know!!

Mary and Barb got back from their tour and we met up in The Eatery for lunch!  Then it was nap time!  Guess what was in our cabin when we returned?  

Classy, eh?  😊

Dinner again with Jaydeep and David looking after us.  Main course was Haddock for Mary and Roast Turkey for Barb and Dorothy. The Lemon Meringue Cheesecake was the dessert for all of us!

After dinner Barb headed for Movies Under the Stars where The Penguin Lessons was showing ( a 2024 release) while Mary and Dorothy went to the Arena to hear Kyle Esplin - a Jerry Lee Lewis type musician!!

And another good day comes to an end!

Oct 25 - Kusadasi

Oct 25 - Kusadasi 

We have reached Turkey, and the port of Kusadasi.  The city was famous in its day for the nearby Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC), which has been designated one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its many monumental buildings included the Library of Celsus and a theatre capable of holding 24,000 spectators.

Once again, the weather is glorious!  Sunny and 24°!  

We were all ‘dragging’ a bit after yesterday’s fiasco in Santorini.  But that didn’t  stop the two intrepid travellers from venturing out on another tour.  I had intended to go too, but a glitch with my breakfast delivery and needing to take meds with food meant that I had to take a pass!  Later in the day Princess resolved it all and refunded my tour ticket!

Here is the tour description…

A  motorcoach tour from the port of Kusadasi travels through the picturesque countryside, dotted with vineyards and peach orchards. You will view Ephesus from the upper gate, Selcuk Castle, Temple of Artemis, Isa Bey mosque and the walls of St. John's Basilica. You will visit the Ephesus Museum, home to some of the most extraordinary antiquities in the world. There is much variation in the collection and the famous statue of Artemis, Goddess of Fertility, is housed within its walls. Your next stop is a traditional weaving village, where local artisans demonstrate the process of dying, spinning and weaving splendid Turkish carpets. Returning to Kusadasi, you have the option of browsing the bazaars and walking back to the ship at your leisure, or taking the motorcoach directly to port. 

I had spend a good part of the day on the promenade in a comfy chair outside overlooking the harbour. It was very picturesque and relaxing.  With the ship’s locator system for shipmates, when Barb and Mary returned they came right to where I was sitting!  Neither of them had purchased a Turkish Carpet!!!  

We had a light lunch and then headed back to our rooms.

We all loved our dinners!!  To start, Mary and I had Crispy Spring Rolls and Barb had Feta and Beet Salad ( but hold the feta!!).  And for the mains  Barb had a half serving of spaghetti and meatballs with Caesar salad, Mary had a pork chop, and Dorothy had Chicken Kiev. It was just the perfect amount of food and everything was very tasty.  I keep forgetting to take photos for all you foodies!!  I’ll try and do better!!

No show or entertainment tonight!  We all went back to our rooms early and flopped into bed!  Hopefully we’ll be recharged for tomorrow!

Oct 24 - Santorini

 Oct 24 - Santorini

Our first Greek port, Santorini! This is the island that is featured in all the marketing for Greece - blue sky and seas, whitewashed buildings with blue roofs!  

Temperature 23° and sunny!  Windy!

Our bus tour didn’t leave until the afternoon so we had a leisurely morning on the ship.  Santorini provides large water shuttles to get us ashore.  It was pretty rocky getting on, but a smooth ride once we got going for the short ride to the other side of the island.  All the villages are perched on top of the cliffs!

I had been here a couple of times before, so stayed on the bus at most of the stops.  Barb and Mary got out for the photo ops!  You can see Mary’s photos on FaceBook!

Here they are in Pyrgos returning to the bus!

The main source of income for Santorini is Tourism, second is wine!  We stopped at Santos Winery for the views and a taste.  

Here is the description of the tour…

A narrated drive around the spectacular island of Santorini offers a wealth of photo opportunities and panoramic views from a wide variety of venues. Thrill to the views from Pyrgos Village. It is built amphitheatrically on a hill that offers magnificent views of Santorini in almost all directions. Continue to another majestic viewpoint, the awesome Santorini caldera, formed 3,500 years ago after a monumental volcanic explosion in the Aegean Sea. The distinct exterior of the Agios Nektarios Church makes for a wonderful photo opportunity and the unique black sand beaches of Kamari are the highlight of this cosmopolitan resort town. Your last stop is the village of Fira where you will have the choice to remain with the tour and return to port in the motorcoach, or spend independent time in Fira and return to the tender via aerial cable car. This latter option involves considerable walking and an aerial cable car ride back to the tender. 

It didn’t quite end the way it is described here!!! This is where the real adventure started!!

Santorini is known for being a windy island.  As the day went on the winds picked up and we could not return to the secondary harbour by bus the way we had come in.  The guide explained that we would have to go to the cable car which is a very long walk uphill over cobblestone streets to take us down the cliff to Old Harbour where the water shuttle was waiting.  Yikes!

But they had made arrangements for anyone who could not walk to be taken by minibus to a location closer to the cable car, but we would have to walk the rest of the way!  Because Mary and I share a cabin she could stay with me, and Barb thought she would be able to walk, and the guide was not helpful in getting her on one of the minibuses!!  This was completely unacceptable.

The walk was about .5 km over very uneven cobblestones and even though it was mainly downhill, the stones were difficult to navigate with a walker!  I had to stop several times to rest.  When we got to the cable car, there was a very long line of people waiting, but the guide had arranged for us to go to the ‘handicapped’ line which was much shorter.  I had to walk down about twenty steps, but they had someone there to carry my walker for me.  

Once we had descended the cliff there was an elevator to get us to the ground level where it was just a short walk to the water shuttle!  All of this took close to an hour and we got back to the ship around 7:45 PM.

But where was Barb?  😱. She had a much longer walk to the cable car, partly because the guide that was supposed to be accompanying them sort of ‘disappeared’ and the small group she was with had to back track  to get on the right street.  Then they got caught up in the huge line waiting to board the cable cars!!  Once again - unacceptable!!

Mary and I waited for her on Deck 7 and finally just after 9:00 PM she appeared - exhausted and hungry!  We ended up going to The Eatery to have something to eat because by this time it was way too late for dinner!!!

Of course Princess cannot control the winds, but having one guide accompany 25 people from the minibuses who walk at very different speeds, and another guide accompanying the rest of the group (about two bus loads!!) was completely inadequate!  This was a very disappointing end to our day in Santorini!

Barb and I are writing letters!!!!

Oct 23 - At sea

 Oct 23 - At sea

Our first sea day! And ‘formal night’!

Not much to report!  A very lazy day for all of us!  

we watched a silly contest in the piazza ( officers vs guests) and then got our exercise by watching Zumba!!  What a work out that was!!  😂

Then to lunch.  One of the challenges of this ship is finding a seat in The Eatery.  I use my ‘handicapped’ card, stand there looking helpless, and either other people get up and give us a table, or the servers find one!!  I’m over feeling guilty about that!!

A funny anecdote….

We get a mini bar setup as Elite members at the beginning of the cruise; we always ask to swap out the contents for bottled water.  The first day we asked Valent to do that, but I guess they were busy and didn’t get it done.  So on the second day I was not feeling well and asked him again, telling him I needed water!  (Especially since I have been told to drink 8 glasses a day with this pill!) Finally he went and got us a case of 24 from somewhere!  

Later in the afternoon Room Service called asking about the water.  I couldn’t really hear well on the phone ( always a problem with my hearing aids!!) but I thought I told her that Valent had got some for us).  A while  later a knock came at the door - a delivery of a case of 24 bottles!!  🤣. We have lots of water now!!

We went to dinner - once again it was delicious!  Formal night menu had us all choose the Beef Tenderloin and Prawns.  Pinot Noir was not that delicious!!!

Afterwards we made the 10 mile walk to the theatre from the very back where our dining room is to the very front to the theatre!  The entertainer was a Welsh vocalist - StellaAnn!

Back to the cabin!

And guess what… 20 more bottles of water had been delivered!!!!

We’ll be floating!  In more ways than one!!!

🤣😂🤣

Oct 22 - Naples

 Oct 22 - Naples

🎶 When the moon hits your eye, like a big Pizza pie, that’s amore! 🎵. Scuzze me, but you see, back in old Napoli that’s amore!! 🎹

When we woke up we were docked at the cruise terminal in Naples!  There are at least two other big ships docked here as well!

This morning, I was still feeling a bit under the weather and stayed home to try and get whatever this is behind me so I can enjoy the rest of the trip.  I slept away most of the morning and ordered a delicious bowl of chicken soup for lunch from Room Service!  Feeling better already!!

Mary went off for a tour of  Pompeii.  Here is a  description of the tour she took….

Admire the historical and cultural treasures at Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on this exciting half-day adventure that explores the grounds via a paved path, suitable for wheelchairs. Begin with a 30-minute drive along the coast with views of the azure Bay of Naples. Arrive at Pompeii for a guided tour of the excavated city, an opportunity to view a moment in time preserved for more than 2,000 years. Discover the archaeological finds of a lost city buried deep beneath the ash of Mt. Vesuvius and get a glimpse of old-world life at the city's baths, villas, theaters and wrestling grounds. On your return, you'll stop at a local cameo shop where artisans apply skills handed down for generations, intricately carving seashell or coral into beautiful works of art. Your tour concludes with a scenic drive back to port after this fascinating day. 

Mary and Barb went on an afternoon tour - Easy Naples.  I was sorry to miss this as it would have been easy without too much walking!

This tour is designed for passengers who prefer to see some sights from the motorcoach with little or no walking involved. Enjoy the sights of Naples, one of Italy's oldest cities on a 2.5 guided driving tour of its historic city center. See old-world architecture, heritage sites and plenty of Neapolitan culture in this capital city of the Campania region. Naples, is Italy's most densely populated metropolitan areas, with over one million inhabitants. Its historic city center is the largest in Europe and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll stop for a photo opportunity at a panoramic viewpoint on Posillipo Hill, overlooking the Gulf of Naples. Before heading back to the ship, you'll break for refreshments at a scenic chalet for a beverage. As you head along the waterfront, notice the ancient Castel dell' Ovo, the site where Naples was first founded. Return to port.

 While they are gone, I’ll turn on the TV and see what’s on the menu for dinner tonight! Oh - and maybe have a little nap!  LOL

Dinner was good again - Italian Night!  But no Veal scallopine???

I had chicken Parmesan, Mary and Barb both had steak with truffles.  

Another early night!  But we have to put our clocks ahead one hour.

Sea Day tomorrow!

Night, night!

Oct 21 - Embarkation in Civitavecchia

 Oct 21 - Embarkation!

After three days in Tarquinia we were driven to the port to board our ship, the beautiful Sun Princess!

  Oh my!  This ship looks huge!  It is very different from all the other Princess ships we’ve been on.  When we stepped inside it was like walking into a luxury hotel! Very modern, silver and gray decor, and did I mention - huge!!  I will have to start out at noon in order to get to the dining room at the aft by dinner time!

https://www.princess.com/deckPlans.do?shipCode=SU

The cabins are noticeably smaller than on other ships.  It seems they have made them narrower and the closet is built into the wall rather than in a separate part of the room like we’re used to.  We will adjust! We have a sofa and a nice balcony.

We went to The Eatery on Deck 9 for lunch; so many choices!  Then we did our mandatory safety video and checked in at our Muster Station and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.  Our Stateroom attendant came by to introduce himself - his name is Valent and I think he will be great.  Next thing - luggage arrived and we were all unpacked before dinner!

Dinner is set for 5:30 in the Eclipse Dining Room on Deck 7. When we booked I had requested a window table,  never really expecting to get one.  But when they took us to be seated, Lo and behold we are in a small dining room with about 10 other tables - and right by the window!!! Our servers, Jaydeep and David are very pleasant and attentive.

Our first dinner on board did not disappoint!  After the starters came the main course…. Pork Tenderloin for Barb, and Norwegian Salmon for Mary and me.

Oh…. And notice. Mary’s wine compared with Barb’s and mine!!!   Hmmmmm.

After dinner I started to feel a bit queasy!  I think it might be all the heavy food in Tarquinia?  So I went back to the cabin for an early night while the two party girls went to the show in the theatre.  I don’t think I could have walked from the very back of the ship all the way to the front!

We’re happy to be onboard!

Naples tomorrow!