We've never played bingo on a cruise nor set foot near an art auction. Not to look at art, not to look at people looking at art, not even to buy a drink for a guy named Art. They usually have two on a week long cruise. If you are reading this and you happen to buy art (and I use the term loosely) at sea, I'll apologize for offending you now.
As Wanda would say about 99% of the wall hangings; "U..G..L..Y, you ain't got no alibi"....it's a cheer. I agree with her.
Grand Princess has three sets of lifts or for those in the U.S., elevators. Our cabin was near the forward set. We were on deck 10. Some things were up and some were down. But with one exception, the large theater, we walked back (aft) to everything.
On the last full day of the cruise we saw two ladies wandering around. "We're lost again," said one of them. I couldn't resist. "Well, tomorrow is the end of the cruise; maybe you'll have it by then." I said it in a nice way. "We always go the wrong way when looking for our cabin." So I told the ladies how to navigate the passageways.
"Look at the cabin numbers. The low numbers start at the front of the ship and go up toward the back. Like on our deck, C-100 is the front and C-700 the back. Odd cabin numbers are on the right (starboard) even on the left (port) side."
Some ships have different color runners bordering the passageway carpets, one side red the other blue. Some have the deck numbers embossed in the carpets just outside the lifts. All ships have pocket maps for directions. All ships have clearly marked signs, both written and drawn outside the lifts. There are "You Are Here" schematics all over the ship. The lifts TELL you deck numbers and names, "Deck 14....Lido" and still, people get lost.
Want to know what's fun? Remember yesterday I said a cruise is a perfect thing to do with someone you love but not someone that's just OK? What's fun is watching a couple who have spent four or five days in a 168 square foot cabin argue about which way to go.
"I TOLD YOU IT WAS ON THE NEXT DECK."....idiot.
"YA, YA, YA...AND YOU'RE ALWAYS RIGHT...bitch.
Now the International Cafe' was on Plaza Deck 5. This was a daily (several times daily) stop. Lattes, croissants, salads, cupcakes, cookies and many other goodies were available 24 hours a day. To get there we had to walk through the "ART FOR SALE GALLERY."
I saw this beautiful original art for sale more times than I want to count. Every morning on my way to get a latte I asked myself if people actually buy these.
Wanda and I were both up and dressed at 6. It was Sunday and a full sea day. One of the most difficult things is organizing stuff. At home almost everything has a place. Chargers go in a drawer in the living room, phones and keys in a basket in the family room. My underpants are on the second shelf on the left of the walk-in-closet, my socks on the right. On a cruise ship space is at a premium so inevitably things go everywhere.
Several years ago we stopped taking formal wear and we still over pack. Princess had laundry and dry cleaning service. It also has self service laundromats on each deck. While some people think doing laundry is ridiculous we do a few loads half way through the cruise. OK, Wanda does the laundry.
We are determined; one suitcase, a backpack and a tote on the next cruise.
Early Sunday morning I want some coffee and Wanda wants to walk the ship. Wanda walks at home. She gets her I-pod and starts to head out. "I'll meet you down on Plaza Deck." I say. "Give me your cell phone in case I need to text you." Think about that for just a minute.
Our first Princess cruise was in 2003. Our first Celebrity cruise was in 2004. Many of the old-timers thought cruising etiquette was going to the dogs. Changes were met with some resistance. Formal dining was giving way to a more casual approach. Princess was going to add large outdoor pool area movie screens, "Movies Under The Stars" now affectionately known at MUTS. Cruising was changing and I think, for the better. However, there were problems on the horizon.
People were bringing, and using walky-talkies. Bought at places like Radio Shack it was not unusual to have your serenity broken by shouts of "Hey, where you at?" Now ten years later, all the ships we sail have Wi-Fi throughout and people send texts to one another.
It took me awhile but I finally realized if I had her phone I couldn't send her a text.
This will give you an idea of our cabin. I was standing inside the door near the closet and bathroom. The total size is 274 including the 81 sq. ft. balcony.
They're in the process of updating the balcony's so right now the deck is bare and the furniture slightly paint splattered.
I am so impressed with this ship. Grand Princess was launched May 20, 1998. This ship has been operating damn near every day for over fifteen years. She had a major refurbishment in spring 2011. While on our cruise, among other work, we saw new carpet delivered and going down. Sure, if you look you can spot a little rust here or there but for the most part she looks new.
As I said, we no longer do formal nights. The first couple of years I wouldn't do much, sticking to my cabin and the Lido (pool, buffet) deck. I didn't want to spoil other passengers' ambiance with my Dockers or jeans. But times change. Now it's OK to enjoy other venues. Maybe it always was? Whatever the case, now I'm comfortable doing it.
The Princess Patter (daily bulletin) says "please observe the dress code in the Traditional Dining and Anytime Dining venues for the enjoyment of all our passengers." We dress casually and stay away for the hub-bub of the dining rooms. With about a dozen other places to eat we have lots of choices. This evening we had delicious pizza at Alfredo's. We split a 9" pie.
Every cruise line is a little different. I'm only describing Princess; it has Formal and Smart Casual nights in its dining rooms. There are always questions about dress. Formal wear is evening gown, cocktail dress or nice pants suit for women. Dark suit, tux or dinner jacket slacks and tie for men. Casual is what you would wear to a nice restaurant at home, it says.
I see what passes for nice restaurant wear around here and help is needed.
Inappropriate dinner wear such as pool or beach attire, shorts, ball caps and casual jeans with fraying (and/or holes) are not permitted in the dining rooms. Shoes must be worn. Kind of sad people need a reminder on the shoes.
"Hell, I was fixin' to cut my toe nails...and I gotta wear shoes?"
I'm old school. I think hats and ball caps have no place anywhere in a dining room. Short, short shorts and mini skirts.....I'm thinking about.
Old Jack Benny joke: Guy approaches him on a dark street pulls a gun and says, "Your money or your life." Several minutes pass and guy repeats his threat. "Your money or your life...come-on, come on." And Jack says, "Hold on, I'm thinking."
If you're the kind of person that wants a more casual vacation cruise then Norwegian "Freestyle" may be the line for you. If you want something a little less casual try Holland America or Celebrity. I've heard Cunard can be very formal. Maybe a Viking European or American River Cruise would interest you? Small sailing ships like Windstar and Windjammers offer elegance and barefoot (you can cut your toenails in peace) vacations on the water. So you see there is something for everyone. Except those of you who get sea sick in the bath tub.
I figure for around $6 an hour I can enjoy everything a cruise has to offer. That's a heck of a lot less than Cirque du Soliel.
I got a little too wordy.
Tomorrow will be about our interesting day in Santa Barbara.
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