Normally I do not update our travel blog when we cruise, mainly because I don’t have much ability to get to the internet for extended periods of time but Craig helped me figure a way around that. I can write my entry ahead of time and then only use the internet time to post it – brilliant!
So here I am, sitting in the piazza/centrum area at 7:30 a.m. on the first full day of our cruise ready to recount our adventures thus far. Not many are up yet so I have this area to myself. There are windows all around me and various lounging areas; a wine bar (empty of course at this time of day!), a café area where they serve coffee and pastries, and an internet and library. And lovely music is playing over the speakers; sounds very Spanish and lively. They must want everyone to wake up and get going!
Our drive up from Maryland to NYC/Brooklyn was quick and uneventful, just the way we like it. We can make the trip and be parked at the port in less than 4 hours and the only traffic congestion we encounter is the last few miles in Brooklyn itself; gotta love New York! Embarkation was also quick and easy and so we were settled in our cabin right away. And the cabin, well that was our one glitch of the day. We are down here on the plaza deck which means we are as low as you can go. This room was assigned to us, we did not choose it. It is oceanview which is a nice perk; just to be able to see your surroundings and see the light of day each morning. But it also means we are very close to the waves so let’s hope the seas stay nice and calm. And our cabin was about 8” narrower than normal which means the only way (they thought) to make a queen bed (two twins pushed together) was to put the bed against a wall, which makes it nearly impossible for one of the parties to get in and out of bed. In addition, the one large nightstand and lamp are not accessible to that person either. So after several conversations with the purser’s desk, housekeeping and maybe even an engineering person, we suggested a way to turn the bed a different direction and find two smaller nightstands, locate an extension cord for the lamp and viola, problem solved. Now you can’t see the tv from bed, but it’s a small inconvenience. Just another example that if you cruise and something is not to your liking, be persistent and they will do their best to make it right!
There is a family we know, the Kerr’s from Toronto, Canada on this cruise so we have enjoyed running into to them several times so far. Our first day on board the ship was spent with many of the normal activities; life boat muster drill (think we know how to put on a life jacket after 33 practices), checking out the dinner menu (nothing too spectacular), walking around the ship (our 3rd time on this one), etc. Now don’t get me wrong; we are far from bored or taking this wonderful opportunity for granted. But when you have done this as much as we have, you kind of get into a routine!
We enjoyed our sail-away from the back of the ship sipping on a strawberry daiquiri taking in all the views of the New York harbor; Manhattan skyline, Statue of liberty and Ellis Island and then going under the Verrazano Bridge. For dinner, we just went to different venues and sampled the hors d’oeurves. Shrimp in one place; olives, cheese and crackers in another, greek salad at another. Kind of like a progressive appetizer party! We attended the opening night show in the theatre and find the cruise director very witty and energetic. Afterwards we found the final piece to our dining puzzle; pizza and not just any pizza in my book. Only my mom will truly appreciate this – anchovy pizza. Yummo! Now I know 99.9% of this reading this think I am crazy (including Craig), but it was a perfect end to a very full day.
We both slept well and are ready to begin our first of four sea days on the Caribbean Princess.
I am now writing this 15 hours later as our first full day of sailing is coming to an end; we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves today, setting our own pace and just planning our next activity moment by moment. We’ve spend much of the day relaxing by the nearest pool, each immersed in a book and even though most of the day was overcast, the sun did come out in the afternoon and we hear tomorrow should be a blue sky, sun shiny kind of day. We took in a movie, a nap or two and just have a snack whenever we are hungry rather than taking time out for an actual meal. We continue to love our piazza area and find that it has all that we need in both light food and drinks and ambiance. And we found our best deal there. The coffee there is fresh brewed (unlike the rest of the ship where it is free but watery – or so Craig tells me; I’m not the coffee connoisseur of the family) and you pay a nominal fee for. However, if you buy a $24 card you get 15 specialty drinks (lattes, espresso – you get the idea – the really good stuff) and then you get your regular coffee for free. We have already enjoyed the first of our fifteen drinks – a white chocolate frozen latte which was sooooo delicious! Being on our own schedule means we were still enjoying the pool and sunset while the rest of the ship was primping for formal night in their gowns and tuxedos. We went to the dance production show in casual clothes and then, at 9:15 at night had our first full meal of the cruise in the dining room. We did what we call “speed eating” where we order, eat and finish 5 courses in 45 minutes – quite a feat when you are cruising and dining is more of an event.
Back in the cabin now, unwinding and ready to call it a day.
