Saturday-Day 14: @Sea and Galley Tour

Very early in the morning or maybe it started last night and I had not noticed, but the hangers in our closet have been clanging a melody.  Our stateroom walls had been creaking.  Every now and then, the ship would shudder a bit and then the rocking and rolling would continue.  Sometimes it felt more like we were gliding along, then roll a bit, and then rock a bit.  I was lying in bed taking this all in.  Then sleep took over.  Wake up again and hear the hanger melody and then drifted back to sleep.

I can't recall what time I woke up, but it was late.  I've noticed on non-port days, we ate breakfast after 9:30am.  It was more noticeable when we ran into Marvin who arrived for the start of his daily shift at 10am prompt.  Yes, Marvin...we just got up, late again.

I checked my iPhone and noticed I was late to an event.  No worries, I can arrive towards the end of the cooking show and still be early for next event, the tour of the galley.  After breakfast (deck 16), Hubby and I worked our way down to the International Cafe on deck 5 for some "skinny double mocha madness" to go.  Yummy!  I had two coffee cards in my pocket.  The current one had one remaining non-punched area left.  Hubby found an old one from the Crown Princess (years ago) that still had a few non-punched areas on the card.   I handed both cards to the barista.  Then I received none back.  Looked like the barista needed to have his first cup of coffee.  Ummm...I think I need my coffee card back...the old worn out card from the Crown.  You can keep the other one.

We walked around the atrium which was in full swing with people milling around and enjoying their coffees, some folk reading from real books and many from their Kindles.  I spied a handful of passengers with their laptops...hopefully blogging and not doing real work.

I walked Hubby back up to our stateroom on deck 15.  Hubby wanted to do some balcony time.  I grabbed my camera bag (which I should keep with me at all times) and headed back down to deck 7.  I walked into the Princess Theater in time to see the last five minutes of the cooking demo/show:

I see a black forest cake ready to eat:

Introducing the newly promoted dining team:

After the show, we were led out of the Princess Theater (see why I came late and stood in the back on deck 7) and I followed one of the dining hostess.  We walked from the front of the ship, across the atrium, to the back of the ship and then down a set of stairs.  We were in the traditional dining room.  We continued to a set of metal double doors into the galley where the tasty meals and desserts are created.

The crew that supervises, maintains, and watches over the high standards in the galley:

Do you see the huge mixer?

Early in the cruise, I mentioned to Hubby I had noticed especially in the buffet area that there were a lot of potato dishes offered.  Now, I know why.  Here's some samples of how to use, cut, cook potatoes.  I understand they had 50 of them!  Who knew?

Prepping sandwiches (where's Hubby?) and other meals:

This galley went on and on:  

What's for lunch?

More potatoes:

OMG, more?

(I have to pause here.  Will be back with more pictures)

Tuesday-Day 10: Lazy Sea Day & Norman Love

I had the best intentions of going to the morning Zumba class.  That was until I walked down to deck 6 instead of going up to deck 18.  I did manage to get a front row seat to the Norman Love Chocolate Journey demo in the Princess Live! Theater.

And because I'm respectful to copyrights and model release stuff, I always ask if pictures are allowed in the venues.  I happened to chat with the audio/video staff and they told me to have fun.  Yes...that is one of my mottoes.  

With camera ready...here we go!  

Can you see the chocolate morsels?

Deputy Cruise Director Simone demonstrating that larger chocolate desserts are better:

Decorating the chocolate mousse:

I kept my eye on this chef as he was working the dark chocolate: 

Chocolate molded pieces ready to serve:

Yes, each of us in the audience was able to sample Norman Love's chocolate.  It was devine!

Saturday-Day 7: Random Cruise Pictures

I had to break up my blog post into several posts especially when I have included several pictures.  I noticed the Internet started to bog down a bit as departing passengers were checking in for their flights and printing their boarding passes, Skyping, blogging (like me), FB, etc.  Yes, all 3,600 passengers share the same satellite pipe.  Yes, we occasionally lose connection.

Shiv, our cabin steward, had been watching us go back and forth for the last 1-1/2 hours (laundry).  Remember I mentioned how attentive he was?  He kept asking if we were going to dinner.  No, I'm not hungry.  No, I'm going to take pictures (of the laundry room).  No, not yet (I have to get the clothes out of the dryer).  After we put our clothes away, we are finally ready to leave.  Yes, we're heading out for the evening.   Shiv is very happy that he can finally work his magic in our cabin.  

Hubby has no idea what I've planned for this evening.  What?  I'm finally on a schedule?

We head down to deck 7 to the Princess Theater.  I give up my cruise card and in return receive a device with buttons on it.  We proceed into the theater for a night of "The Voice of the Ocean"!

  

The Princess Band is playing wonderful music while we wait for the show to start.  Seven contestants (fellow passengers) are competing.  Now, I have to admit that we're not expecting much, but just an enjoyable time.  Wow!  It was way cool!  

Each contestant performed and chairs were really turning:

I used my device to select Derrin.  He could cut a record he was that awesome.  

After the show we head over to Alfredos for an almost late dinner.  We noticed several ship's officers are also dining in this venue.  See, I already knew this was great dining venue.  Go where the officers go.  

After our tasty meal, Hubby didn't want any dessert.  I told him we have to see Marvin and his recommended key lime dessert.  We could share it.  

Guess what?  We were in for a treat!  Marvin was worried that we would be a no show or miss out (by being so late).  His face lit up and instead of giving us one on display he went to his secret fridge and pulled out a nice cold plate with two slices of key lime pie.  Sweet!  

I was able to get a picture of Marvin and Hubby and thanked him profusely for such a wonderful gift.  The gift was from his heart.  Most passengers miss the opportunity to get to know the crew members or even notice the long hours they work.  Wherever we cruise we always make a point to engage in conversations.  I can't imagine being away from my family for 8-10 months.  Marvin is now part of our growing cruise family.  

Technically, we are "sharing" a plate: 

Thank you Marvin!

Back in our cabin, I see another gift that Shiv had left for us from the Lotus Spa.  Ming was watching over it:

  

We had a wonderful evening and looking forward to our next cruise.  

Saturday-Day 7: @Sea and Medevac

I having a hard time keeping track of time.  We had set our clocks forward by one hour before arriving into Princess Cays this past Monday.  Ever since then, I have had no clue to the exact time.  We would have lunch at 2pm when I thought it was 12noon.  Really?  No wonder I haven't attended any morning events or afternoon shows.  I guess that's a good thing and just shows that I've been in cruise/vacation mode.

Around 12noon today we had an announcement in our room.  Normally announcements are made in the public areas of the ship (main hallways, venues, atrium, pool areas, etc).  Today the Captain was talking to us in our cabin.  I knew something was amiss.  We had an emergency situation where a fellow passenger has been in the Medical Center under the care of Dr Ranier for the last several hours.  Apparently, the patient needed hospital care and would evacuated by helicopter to a land hospital in Nassau. 

Around 1pm I left our cabin and went up two levels to deck 17-Sun deck.  There was already people milling around waiting for the helicopter.  I chatted with a few fellow cruisers, one of them had a Nikon camera.  Yay, a fellow Nikon Nerd!  The Captain made an announcement that there were logistic issues with trying to get a helicopter, so one may be coming from Miami(?) and might take another hour or so.  I left my upper deck perch and headed back to the cabin.  Hubby was resting.  A few minutes later the Captain came back online and said a helicopter was approaching our ship and he was calling out for the required personnel to commence evacuation.  I ran out of our cabin just in time to see some of the crew running down our hallway.  I went back up to my perch just in time to see the Coast Guard Medevac arriving in a distance:

There was also a Carnival ship sailing past us.  The helicopter swung sound the aft area of the ship and settled on the port side waiting for the patient and communicating with the ship personnel:

Lots of fellow cruisers gathered midship:

The Captain had said the evac process would take at least 30 minutes.  The evacuation would take place at the Terrace pool (aft).  They had drained the pool as well as cleared out the sun bathers and those using the walking/running track.  

The Coast Guard had made one pass over the aft area and then came back to the port side.  At that time, I went back to our cabin thinking I would have a better view versus trying to take pictures over people's heads.  

Hubby was already on the balcony and we could see the Coast Guard:

They made a second attempt and was able to get the patient onboard the helicopter.  Yes, a basket was more than likely used and yes, one of the ship's nurse or medic would have accompanied the patient to the hospital.  Yes, Princess takes great care. 

Looking forward of our ship we could see a Carnival ship passing us at the front.  Was this the same one that I saw on the Starboard side???

Saying a prayer to our fellow cruiser and their family.  

Fruit & Veggie Carvings on the Emerald Princess

Now that I've gone through my 1200 pictures (and then some) and posted/written most of the important cruising information, I thought I would do a fun post. I came across these pictures and wanted to share them with you.

I attended the fruit and veggie carving onboard. I was just amazed at the creativity and how fast these Princess chefs worked. Enjoy the pictures.


Working hard on their creativity


















Can you tell he's proud of his work?