Temperature: 79 degrees
Princess Patter-Today's Activities: Bible Study/Card & board games/Mahjong Players/Zumba Fitness Dance Class/Knitters & Natters get-together/Onboard Outlet Sale/Golf Putting/Book Review club/Culinary Demonstration/Morning Trivia/Seawaves Radio/Estee Lauder event/Basketball Shoot-out/Susan G Koman - On Deck for the Cure (5k walk)/Sophia Fiori Diamonds seminar/Morning Melodies/Jackpot Bingo/Ping pong challenge/British-style pub lunch/Ice carving demonstration/Line Dancing @Sea/Quiet Room (Skywalker's)/Mini Makeover/Bar Wars/Ballroom Blitz: Tango/Grand Finale Art Auction/Slot Tournament/Famous Faces Trivia/BOGO Happy Hour/Princess Grapevine Wine Tasting/Mr Sexy Legs competition/Singles & Solos get-together/Jackpot Bingo/Afternoon Tea/Pop Choir rehearsals/Water Volleyball/Paddle Tennis/Brainbuster trivia/Steel Drums rehearsal/Elevator Roulette/Jewish Sabbath service/Steel Drums Performance/Dixieland Concert/Princess Pop Choir Concert/Dance til Dawn/ Princess Pop Star Grande Finale
Note: I was able to post a few pictures of Grand Turk snorkeling. Please look at Grand Turk post. Okay, back to our adventures....
Cruise Life: Finally. A day at sea. After three port intensive days I am looking forward to a day of rest and relaxation. Also a day without staying in the sun for several hours. My skin was looking forward to some much needed rest.
We are up early in the morning, but then fell back asleep. We end up having breakfast around 7am. We took to the stairs and went up five decks to deck #15 (Lido) where the food venues are located. We walked towards the back (aft) of the ship passing two pools along the way. Wow! The chair hogs were no where to be found. It was quiet and peaceful in the pool areas. The only sound I could hear was the gentle swishing of the pool water hitting the sides of the pool.
We made our way to the Horizon Court buffet for breakfast. We found it's easier to quickly pick out our favorite breakfast items and pick out our own table to dine at. Eating breakfast in the dining room takes too long and you end up sitting with other folks at a huge table and sometimes wait for them to order their meals. Sometimes the waiters are very efficient and can take multiple orders at different times. Some waiters wait until the table is full before taking everyone's orders. That's not for me.
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| A small cup of oatmeal, smoked salmon and capers, round hash potato, strawberries (!), and chocolate danish...yum! |
After a quick breakfast, I check the Princess Patter (daily guide to life at sea) to see what's on today's agenda. We need to be at a few venues for various raffles and drawings. I can tell we are in for a lazy day.
Hubby decides he wants to attend the Culinary Demonstration at 10:15am.
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| Maitre d'Hotel Nicola and CD JJ and Executive Chef Paolo |
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| Cooking spaghetti |
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| Executive Chef Paolo and Maitre d'Hotel Nicola sharing a funny moment together |
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| Crew members representing different services |
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| Head Waiter Francesco from Italy leading the tour. Wash area for the crew |
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| Francesco sparring with the display...too funny |
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| Refrigeration and prep area |
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| Something's cooking.... |
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| Soda/Drink fountains for the dining room service |
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| Beautiful carvings on display |
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| I spied desserts being created |
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| Princess Cook Book available to purchase |
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| Liquor stored and locked until the dining rooms are opened |
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| Hubby purchased two bottles of Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil after the Galley Tour |
We make a decision to go up to Skywalker's Lounge on deck #18 to do catch up on some reading for Hubby and for me take care of some Internet activities. Before heading up the stairs we make a side trip down to deck #7 where the Library is located and pick up the daily sheet of Sudoku puzzles.
Back up the stairs we go to deck #15 (Lido), pass the pools with a few chair hogs in process, take the aft stairs up to deck #18. We have no problems finding a cozy spot in Skywalker's. I immediately pull out my laptop and start a few blog posts.
Behind us I hear bits and pieces of conversations that include "knit stitch" and "yarn". I turn around to find a group of knitters. Oh my! This was the "Knitters and Natters" group that was advertised in the Princess Patters. I would have joined the group, but I didn't have my knitting project with me.
I finished one blog post and was starting another when Hubby mentioned it was time for lunch.
Really? We just had breakfast. This was definitely a sea day. The meals start blurring from one meal to the next. So, I pack up my bag (laptop and handwritten notes about the cruise) and we head down for another meal. Sigh!
After lunch with bags in tow, we head over to the Art Auction at the Explorers Lounge. This is our first time that we attend this event on a cruise ship. Hubby told me to register. I receive a number 295 that's typed on the first half of a thick piece of paper. There are three skinny post-its with the number 295 written on it. I was told I had 30 minutes to review all the paintings and place the three post-its on my favorite pictures and paintings that could potentially be used during the art auction. It didn't take me long to find and pick my favorite three. Hubby was in agreement.
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| Waiting for the Art Auction to start.... |
During the auction, the Princess rep puts up several pieces of artwork that we, passengers, can bid on. They also have something called "mystery auction" where the pieces of artwork are turned around on the easel so we only see the backing of the framed art. We are all allowed to wave our numbered cards to enter the first of three bid processes. During the first bid, I am one of those who freely waved my 295 card. For the second bid, the framed artwork are turned around so we all have a chance to see what we are bidding on. A low price is on the block for each of the pieces. A few numbered cards are waved. If no one places a bid during the second round, a third round is introduced with all framed pieces given a set low price. If no one bids, the framed artwork goes back into the Princess gallery. At this point, I enjoyed waving my numbered card. Every now and then the Princess rep would say wave your numbers and our number would be entered into several drawings. We did not win the $500 credit towards an artwork, nor the three paintings given away, nor the free bottle of champagne, nor the guess the weight of the brass statue (which was 55.3 lbs). Hubby entered the guess the weight drawing for the next cruise. lol!!!! I have no idea what we'd do with a heavy brass statue....
Hubby did put in a bid for a lithograph signed by Spahn. We had a choice from eight different lithographs by the artist Spahn which we get to pick out at our assigned appointment later that evening. Just to give you a clue, Spahn has a few pieces that include sail boats. I personally liked his "ballerina" in a long red dress.
The whole auction took three hours. It was fun and action packed (waving my 295 card). We may or may not do that again on the next cruise. Let's face it. Some of the artwork that was being auctioned were in the thousands of dollars. I kept thinking...that money could pay for the next cruise or two or three. I think you get the point.
In the late afternoon, Hubby and I notice the crowds have thinned out. They are back in their cabins packing to get off the ship tomorrow. We are enjoying the quiet ship and wandering around saying "Hi" to the crew members. We head back to our cabin to sit on our balcony with a glass of chardonnay. We enjoy the view of the small waves and cruising around 20 knots. It was a beautiful week for cruising. Sunny skies and warm weather and a slight breeze.
We're getting hungry and we're not in the mood for buffet. We decide to pay a visit to Vines and have a light meal of sushi. Now this does not compare to Tokyo Sushi in Ft Lauderdale, but it will have to do on this ship.
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| Sushi from Vines |
Later in the evening we head down to deck #5 to the Art Gallery. We have an appointment to choose our print from the Spahn art collection. Hubby decides on two pieces which will be mailed to our home. As hubby signs for the pieces, I hear music coming from the Piazza. I wander over to find the Princess Pop Choir giving their performance. I have seen their daily rehearsal schedule on the Princess Patter and tonight was their final performance.
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| Princess Pop Choir |
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| Listening to the Princess Pop Choir in the Piazza |
We drop our paperwork off in our room and head up to deck #15 (Lido) to see what movie is playing and grab a few bags of popcorn.
Tonight's movie at MUTS: Edge of Tomorrow
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