Alaska Cruise Part 10.....

The end.....or the beginning?

Today is our last full day aboard Golden Princess. Tonight we dock in Victoria, B.C. . Tomorrow we end this cruise, back where were started a week ago, in Seattle. Our adventure doesn't end there. We are booked on this ship for an overnight cruise from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. We will leave Golden Princess to visit Vancouver all day Sunday. Monday morning we'll board a new ship, Star Princess, for a two day cruise to our home port, San Francisco.

There are some complex 'rules' when it comes to passengers and cruise ships. In 1886 the Passenger Vessel Service act was passed and no one seems to want it changed. If a cruise ship sails round trip from one American city, like we just did in Seattle, it must dock, even for a few minutes, in a foreign port, hence Victoria. Mexico is also a foreign port. If a cruise ship begins in one American city and ends in a different American city it must call on a 'distant' foreign port outside North America. Canada and Mexico are not distant foreign ports. There are also some restrictions and allowances in the Caribbean but hey, this is confusing enough. This 'law' is why we are getting off Golden, spending the night in Vancouver and boarding a second ship Monday morning.

But, it's OK.....Debbie and Jeff and Ben and Lisa will be leaving us. Andi, Wil, Ted, and Catherine are joining us for the overnight and Star cruise.

Getting back to the cruise.....night before last, Glacier Bay evening we all went to the dining room for dinner. Princess finally is getting it right. The selections seem simpler and the portions are smaller. A glass half empty person might say, it's the cruise lines cutting back, but not me. Sure, it's a business and they are trying to save however they can, but, you can still order two entrees or desserts etc. And I like burgers and fries and fried chicken and turkey with all the trimmings. Every so often I do order something I can't pronounce but the salmon on this ship is the best I've ever eaten. I had a few meals I didn't care for but over all, the selections and quality was just fine.

After dinner a group of us decided to bundle up and watch "The Hunger Games" on the big screen. We both read the three books in the series saw the film at it's release. Although chilly, we had a lot of fun sitting outside, eating popcorn and watching the flick. Like the 'voice' sort of said in "Field Of Dreams" Show it and they will come, (it really said, build it and they will come). The MUTS area was full and I didn't see anyone leave the almost two and a half hours the film ran. No, that's not entirely true, I did see several people go into the buffet and come back with goodies. The movie was over around 10:15 and we both thought the in room Jacuzzi was calling us.

I am faster than Wanda and the shove out of the way I gave her helped. I made it to the cabin first, the tub was mine. And, I don't mind telling you I used the bath salts too. Now I am wondering if they were Kosher?

Speaking of Kosher.....the first cruise we went on in 2003, the first night at dinner we were seated at a table for eight. It was "Anytime" dining and we were OK with the group. So, we're sitting with six strangers and we all order. I wasn't paying attention to what the other folks asked for, like I said, they were strangers. The waiter brings dinner and sets a plastic tray, like a TV Dinner tray, in front of the woman across from me. I ask her why the plastic tray and she says, "It's a Kosher meal." to which I reply (The good Jewish person that I am) "Well, at least they could have put it on a plate for you."

Two hours later I was still trying to extricate my foot from my big stupid mouth. Keeping Kosher has many rules and not mixing meat with dairy, even the plates and cutlery, is one of them. I doubt Princess has two sets of everything in their galley. I've heard that strict Kosher kitchens have two ovens.

By the way, the one person in my family who I remember as "Kosher Krazy" was the second wife of my mother's brother and she was Catholic. Actually, she was a born Catholic but converted to Judaism when she married him.

Those converts are the worst, aren't they? Just ask an ex smoker his opinion on cruse ships smoking policy.

And since I mentioned it. There are designated smoking area's on the ship. There is one pipe and cigar bar. Smoking is prohibited in the cabin and out on the balcony. Over the last few years cruise lines have tightened up their smoking policy. Since they seem to go together, it's still OK to smoke in the Casino, except the one 'smokless' evening.

For people who can actually function after 10 PM,  some of the ship activities were, a comedian in the Princess Theater, "Men In Black 3," A $500 black jack tourney in the Casino. Ballroom dance lessons and several music venues. There was also a movie and music trivia challenge. Like I said before, there is always something to do.

The Victoria stop is very short, only four and a half hours. It's a lovely city and deserves more time but all these Seattle round trips cut it short here. This port is the 'required' foreign stop. Wanda and I have been here several times so we didn't go into town. There are several ships sponsored tours, which are advisable due to the short stay. 

On other trips we have been to Butchart  and the Butterfly Gardens . As well as The Empress Hotel for tea. We have toured Craigdarroch Castle and just walked around town. I recommend any of the aforementioned attractions and your time in port will determine what you may want to do. One evening we did a city tour through the cruise line and that was a great way to see the highlights of Victoria. 

Since four of our group would soon be leaving we planned an 'in suite tea party.' One of the many suite perks. Debbie and Andi set it up. This is part of our tea for eight. There's nothing like a fresh baked scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam, except maybe two of them.

Wanda, Andi, Wil.

A few hours after the tea we started thinking about dinner, or I should say, our version of dinner. It was the second formal night. Neither of us were terribly hungry so room service seemed like a good idea. We went down to the main restaurant to look at the evening menu and made our choices. Shrimp cocktails, Cesar salads and a fruit and cheese plate. It was very nice sitting in our sweats, watching a movie and eating dinner. 

I know I'm jumping around some here. Friday afternoon we had a British Style Pub Lunch in the Crown Grill. This is something Princess started offering a few years ago. We wanted to try this before but never made it so this was our first time. I don't usually drink beer but I had a small amount of something Wil ordered that was very good. Fresh fish and chips with vinegar and mushy peas. My lunch was very British and very good.

I seem to be writing an awful lot about food don't you think?

How about a movie or a football game? Yesterday (Thursday) the NY Giants-Carolina Panthers game was on the MUTS screen and I watched a little of that. This morning at ten, "Brave" a Pixar animated movie was showing. Even though slightly misting, I found a good spot and watched the film. Wanda and I had seen it when first released so she decided to do Zumba.

Zumba.....it's too much like hard work for me.

The last full cruise day is different. Approximately 2,500 people would be disembarking the ship in the morning. There is a feeling of urgency to the crowd. I always notice a hum or buzzing like sound that's absent the other six days. 

Wanda and I always pack the night before rather than the last night of the cruise. In this case we were staying on Golden for that overnight but we still followed our usual routine. It's sad, leaving. And packing is so final. It's one thing we don't need to think about when it's already done.

So, the ship is buzzing. Lots of people are looking at the pictures out on display trying to decide if they want to purchase what they see. I wish Princess had a digital set up rather than the actually prints, it seems like such a waste this way. Like at Disneyland, if they take a professional shot, you can view the picture on a monitor (like at home on the computer). If you want it, then it's printed. I'm sure Princess could do this but understand why they do not. Tactile presentation is going to sell better. You see it, you touch it, you want it. The photo area is always very crowded.

And there is always the idiot who thinks he should take a picture of his picture so he doesn't have to buy his picture. This is probably the same guy who rinses out his paper towels for use again. PLEASE, never do this.

The last day purchases of tax and duty free booze and smokes, or the sweatshirt, magnet, or other souvenir keeps the stores hopping. 

Tonight everyone leaving will have packed their bags and set them outside the cabin door before mid-night. Passengers are told not to pack valuables, medications and passports. And, no matter how many times they are reminded to keep a morning change of clothes out, disembarkation morning, someone, somewhere on the ship, will be walking around in their pj's.

The movie the last night is "The Artist." It's the French film that won the last Academy Award for Best Picture of the year. I guess I should have gone up to watch it. It's silent so my lack of hearing would not be an issue. It was showing at 7 and 9 PM. 

I didn't watch the movie. After dinner Wanda and I walked the ship for awhile. We were both pretty quiet, walking and thinking about this cruise. We still had lots to see and do. We were looking forward to our overnight, to Vancouver, and the cruise home. But, right now we were with each other, thankful of what we have, and what we can do. It's been a terrific week.

Tomorrow: the day we ended one cruise and started another. Or, what's it is like to be one of the oldest on a cruise with 2500 people.

PS: I just noticed on my Princess Patter, the most traveled people on our cruise are from South Carolina. They have sailed 1,071 days with Princess. That's almost 3 years. 

There is no significance to this. I just liked the shot.