Post # 18 At Sea – Packing Day September 25, 2015

With Eli and Bill

    Today was the last day of the cruise. It was a sea day after the great experience in Halifax yesterday. We are getting very close to New York and the rush to make our plane at noon. Tonight we also get the last of our zone hours back so we get some extra sleep time. It was like any other sea day – zumba at 9 followed by line dancing shortly after 10. We skipped the culinary demo as we had seen that before but we did take in a lecture about the positive benefits of the NASA space program. Then of course the packing. Since we had a 1 pm lunch date we could only get 1 bag done before time for one last pizza.        They had the egg drop competition but we did not enter it this voyage.

Pat and Dennis Table Mates

      After a good time eating and relaxing with our friends Eli and Bill we headed back to our cabin to finish getting ready to put out our luggage. Judy's cold seemed to go back to day one again. After 12 days you would think that she should be over it but it seems to be as bad as ever. Fortunately I am over mine.

     We met Eli and Bill and our table mates from Ontario for one last round in the Elite lounge before dinner, then made the pre dinner show. The juggler was part of it and was by far the best of the 3 acts. We were a bit late for dinner but it was good as usual. The food has been excellent on this cruise. Others have remarked about it. Baked Alaska and sad goodbyes ended the evening.

    I did spend some time today looking at the photos around the ship. They seem to concentrate on Alaska, the Caribbean and Santorini. I don't know if that a conscience effort by Princess or it is just what they got. I found it interesting that everyone seems to take the same photo of the sites. Been there, took the photo was my thought. After having spent some time in a photo club, many of the photos framed were as one person called them “snapshots”. Some great ones, some not so great. I did hear back from the cruise director that the Great Wall photo that is on this ship was the only one selected of the 3 I sent in.

   

Travel Day tomorrow with one post to follow.

Post # 17 A Great Day In Halifax September 24, 2015

    What a great day in Halifax. We were up at 6:30 to see the pilot come aboard. The weather was spectacular. It was warm and sunny all day. We were the first ship in followed quickly by a Holland America (Marsdan?) followed by a smaller ship called The World. We found out later that the world is actually a “condo” ship. Since we had a 9:30 pick up, we ate in the dining room again. Then it was quickly ashore for us.

    We met our very good Halifax friends at the arrange pick up place. Bernie and Loretta have a condo in Highland Lakes. We met them about 5 years ago and have enjoyed many laughs together over the years. They are renovating their recently purchased Halifax condo and took time to provide the best tour possible. Having been to Halifax many times    

Titanic Graves

I wanted to return to the Fairfax cemetery, the sight of the Titanic Graves. I had been there about 20 years ago. Bernie mentioned that there are actually 3 cemeteries with graves from the Titanic. That was something I had never heard of. We headed there right away and managed to get to the grave site before the many buses arrived. It meant that we could get photos without hundreds of people around. The graves look like they have been refurbished. All the markers were quite “bright”.

Now Identified Baby

   

Typical Marker

Next we headed to a Jewish cemetery (right next to the main one) which do have some markers. Unfortunately all the gates were closed and although we could see them, they were too far away to get a photo. It would have been easy to jump the fence but we did not need to do that for obvious reasons. Next we headed to a catholic cemetery with more graves. The Mount Olive site must not be on many tourist maps. It was not as neat and well kept. There were 19 markers of exactly the same shape as the Fairfax cemetery. That is because the White Star Line paid for all the headstones. Of the 19 markers, 14 were identified with 8 being passengers. There is a number on every site but they are not arranged in any order. They seem to be completely random. However the number identified when the body was found i.e. First, second, third, etc. I wondered if this was for Catholics, what about the 5 unknown ones. Also research in recent years have provided more information and some of the original misinformation has been corrected. It was just a wonderful visit to both sites.

 

With Loretta and Bernie

  We then headed out of Halifax towards St. Margaret's

Rope Loft

Bay. We thought of going to Peggy's Cove but by now the tour buses would have arrived and the lighthouse would be obscured by the people. We drove for about an hour with Chester being our destination. It is a beautiful little town with very large houses along the bay. Many admirals retire to this area. We stopped a a very nice place called the Rope Loft where we had lunch. It is the type of restaurant that you would like to eat at all the time. With the warm sunny day we sat outside and enjoyed a leisure lunch. After we wandered down the streets enjoying the flowers, the houses and the boats in the harbour.

   We headed back to Halifax after spending about 2 hours in Chester. We wanted to get

At Chester on St Margaret's Bay

back so that we could enjoy the wonderful boardwalk along the harbour that Halifax has developed in recent years. Shops, bars, sellers populate the area. Besides we had accomplished what we set out to do. Before going back to the ship, Judy did some shopping in the market place and Pier 21. Pier 21 is a large building filled with shops and a museum. We went through it on our last visit here. It is the pier where the immigrant ships from Europe to Canada stopped. My father entered Canada through this building, boarded the train nearby and headed to Windsor.

On The Boardwalk

   After a cup of tea, we watched the bagpipe and drum band of the RCMP perform in the Princess theatre. I did get a call from the Cruise Director. I had sent him a note asking if he could help. I am still trying to find out if my other pictures that I submitted years ago are framed anywhere. He contacted someone he knows in the public relations department back in California. You never know. After a short rest it was time to start the night time activities.

   We had a drink with our friends in their suite and wandered a bit before dinner. After dinner we went to the late show. It was a juggler with a very funny comedy act. His jokes were really off the wall stuff. It was a really good act. He must have been having a great time because he did about 55 minutes. That was way longer than any other act we have seen. Tomorrow is our last full day. They call it packing day - and for good reason. We land in New York on Saturday.

Post # 16 St. John's To Halifax September 23, 2015

    What a great day for sailing. The good weather from yesterday continued all day. It

Calm Seas, sunny skies

wasn't that warm but sunny. The sea was as calm as we have seen all trip. We were up early enough to have breakfast in the dining room but the service was so slow, we almost missed the zumba class. Even after the walking yesterday, it was good to do some exercise. That was quickly followed by line dance class. We met a very nice woman from Australia. She was a good dancer and we learned that she teaches a basic class in her retirement community on the Gold coast.

   There was a back stage tour of the Princess theatre. It was very interesting to see the props

At the pub lunch

and how they are stored. The cost of the lights used were over 1 million dollars; the pyro used in any production is $300 a show, etc. After a brief talk we toured the dressing rooms and talked to some of the dancers. I had been before years ago and this ship has all the bells and whistles. After the tour we headed up to the upper deck and did some laps. It is too bad that this nice weather has arrived so late in the cruise.

    It was pub lunch day so we did a quick change. Then we tried the rumba dance lesson. It was not the Little

Table Mates

Rumba of line dancing. However we struggled through it. In fact by the end I think that I finally figured out the count of the dance. Tonight was the last formal night but we did not try the rumba in the Atrium. Stood around for awhile before the Captain said a few words. We did manage a few drinks from the poor waitress who was mobbed every time she came out with her tray. Dinner

Chocolate Dessert

was lobster followed by another special chocolate dessert. The show was an impersonator. I think we both fell asleep. It was not our kind of entertainment. Halifax tomorrow.

Post # 15 St John's Newfoundland September 22, 2015

   What a great day in |Newfoundland. The day was absolutely perfect. After 4 days of overcast, rainy skies and a whole day of fog, we entered the harbour with clear blue skies. It remained that way all day. We were up and ready as we entered through the very narrow opening of the harbour around 7 am. This was the largest passenger ship to ever call here and the last of the season. The captain did a perfect 180 in the harbor and backed into the wharf right in the centre of the city. We were ready to go ashore by about 8:30.

     One of the things that Princess has done this cruise is have the tourist people set up

Along Duckworth Street

right on ship so that you can get all the info needed before going ashore. It has saved a lineup and time. The one thing that we absolutely wanted to do was to visit the National Historic Park at Signal Hill where Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic radio signal. The tower itself is at about 800 feet so it was an uphill climb all the way. Situated on the outskirts of town it afford wonderful views of the city, the harbour as well as the ocean. As we walked along admiring the very colourful building, we encountered a Tim |Horton's and had to stop for a double double!

On Signal Hill

Walking Back To Town

   After reaching the Marconi Tower and exploring the high point, we decided to take a trail back into the city. It was only a little over a mile to the park boundary but we did have many steps to go go up and down. Again some spectacular views of the entrance and the city. The trail came out on a narrow street filled with houses that must have been there for many years.

The Trail

We were constantly snapping pictures and we went. We ended up in a nice harbour park where they had 2 statues of 2 dogs – The Newfoundlander and Labrador Retriever – giving the history of both breeds.

    Walking along Waters street we found Hollis Street. There is an alley off this street. The Crowsnest Pub is located in this alley. It is where the people from the warships came after coming from convoy duty in the north Atlantic during World War II. No sign of the pub but we did learn later that it opens infrequently and only for members. I have heard about it many times in my old navy days and wanted to catch a glimpse of the inside. No such luck this time.  

    With a ship this size Waters street was packed with people. We wandered along and met our friends. Off we went to find an outdoor patio to share 

At The Pub

a beer. It took some doing as all the pubs along the main street were jammed but a few blocks up, we turned into the Three Cheers Pub where we had a drink and sat enjoying the sunshine for a bit of time. Heading back to the ship we again wandered along.

    There was to be a special dockside ceremony but it was quite far from where the ship was. By the time we found it, they had finished playing. Later in the afternoon we were invited to our friends suite at the back of the ship to watch the sail away. It is a very nice location for a suite.

Leaving St John's

The balcony runs along the back of the ship and then along the port side. It afforded wonderful views of the harbour as we left. The city also fired a cannon (?) as we left. Our friends always book a suite in that location. We sat for a long time enjoying a glass of wine.

    We went to the early production show and although a bit weird, at least the music was updated in comparison to some of the things we have seen. A nice long relaxing dinner follow. In fact our table was the last to leave the dining room tonight.

   Tomorrow is a sea day as we make our way to Halifax. St John's was a great port where we had a sense that they appreciated the ship in town. And they had a Tim Horton's.

Post # 14 Day 4 At Sea September 21, 2015

    The Captain made an announcement today that he had made up at the time lost because we had turned back and he is expecting an 0800 docking in St. John's, Newfoundland. Of course if the fog that we have been traveling through all day does not lift, we still may miss the port. With another time change last night we had another better sleeping night although after spending yesterday afternoon asleep, I was awake very early this morning. We were up in time to make it to the dining room for breakfast and still make the 9am zumba class. It is one of the most consistent things about this whole cruise. Easier class today. After a short break was line dancing class. Much better today because of the teacher. We did the “wobble” and a few others that we knew. At least the class moved along.

    There was a special shopping day at sea today in one of the dining rooms. It is the same stuff that they have in the boutiques but people were lined up waiting for it to open. The tees were the same price as they were the other day. We went to the art auction but they are so changed from the past that it was no fun at all. However some big buyers ere there with pieces going for $30,000 or do. I sat in on the port lecture for St John's but there was not much in the talk that was new.

50th Anniversary Dessert

   Lunch was in the pizza restaurant. Always a waiting list even though it was well past 1 when we went. It is just a nice place to eat. Better than the buffet with a very limited menu, but faster than the dining room.

   We tried to get to the big production show tonight; apparently the best that they have but they closed the theatre 15 minutes before the start as it was full. We did see a violinist in the Vista Lounge. He is very good. Dinner tonight had a special 50^th Anniversary dessert. Ashore in St. |John's tomorrow.

Post # 13 Day 2&3 At Sea September 19-20, 2015

   We have fallen into the sea routine where it is about the same every day. Both of us now have the cold that is going around the ship. It makes it hard to do things. The few meds we have keep the sore throats at bay but we are dozy all day. We have turned back the clock the last 2 night but the extra sleep doesn't seem to help.

    Yesterday we had the hard zumba session followed shortly thereafter with line dancing. We started with Move Like Jagger and did about 4 others. Easy but at least different. We did go to cute lecture on dogs and cats as part of the enrichment series. It was cute. Then in the afternoon we sat in on a talk with some singers and dancers . They talked about how they started and what it is like to do those big production shows. We have heard most of it before. An afternoon in cabin movie was a time to rest. This ship has a interactive TV system when you can watch things when you want rather than when they are aired. We also had the Elite Captain 's Circle party. There are about 500 elite members out of 3500 on this cruise.

     At dinner the Maitre-D' Restaurant had some shrimp, calamare, scallops and fish sent over. We had a problem with a charge for wine on our account and I simply mentioned it to our waiter a few night ago. He passed the info on and that is how the Maitre D' became involved. There was so much that we did not need to order dinner. Finally we heard a singer in the theatre. However, I slept through most of it.

Today we started with Steph and zumba. She had some good tunes to go with the routines. Proud Mary, Blurred Line, Shake it and Fireball. Good line dance stuff. It was a good session. Line dance was a total waste of time. The person who did it repeated most of what we had done the last few days. In addition he played 3 “Latin” songs, but did not bother to teach them. He called the last tone a challenged dance which apparently means figure it out. It was a very fast song. Everyone was lost except him. Judy called him out about it after the session and he said it was a challenge dance for those who could pick it up. This guy was totally useless.

     We lunched in the dinning room and then rested until evening. They do not seem to have many activities if you do not want to go to bingo or do some Lotus Spa thing. We chose to rest some more as we try to get over our colds.

     I am still trying to find if my 2 other photos are on this ship. We found the Great Wall of

Great Wall P|hoto Deck 8

China easily because we knew where to work but there are photos on every deck in a lot of different places. Captain Circle host could not help – said nobody knew what photos were framed even at the main office. However he did say he had a list on the Royal. If there here, I am determined to find them.

  The canceled their biggest production show tonight because the ship is rocking. People are complaining about the crashing of waves causing noise but we are in the forward part of the ship and did not hear it. This is a large ship and other than a bit of a roll, it is fairly calm. Dinner was good again and there was a show but we decided to skip it. Seems the more we sleep, the tireder we get.