Royal Princess Sea Day

Today was a beautiful sea day. I could tell it was going to be nice when I woke up and saw this view out the door. I was way too tired to get up for the picture so this one was taken from the bed.

It stayed nice all day.

It feels so good to be back on a ship with on-demand TV and an absolutely amazing buffet. Yesterday at lunch we were like kids in a candy store when it came to the selections. There was oh-so-much to choose from. We went with healthy options and oh my gosh, there were tons. We knew we were missing the selections in the buffets these last few cruises but we really had forgotten how amazing it is here! For people who are buffet people we are in food heaven. Even at breakfast this morning the choices were plentiful and varied. Steak on the breakfast buffet? Oh, yeah. We also really like that the desserts have their own section away from the main line. It's going to make it much easier to stay away from all that sugar we don't need.

Knowing we were going to be coming off the two week transatlantic in an interior cabin and then had another week on land where we were with each other 24/7, we decided to book a balcony for this voyage. (If you've been married as long as we have you know your travel patterns and know when extra space is worth any extra dollars spent.) We had booked the cheapest guarantee obstructed balcony cabin they had on the ship. Lucky us, we were upgraded for free to a deluxe balcony with a sofa.

Our cabin is at the back of the ship, with the only cabins farther down being the aft-facing cabins. So far it's quiet down here. 

We love the on-demand system. Like I've mentioned before I don't watch TV or go to the movies at home so I'll get to catch up here. I got through a lot of them on our August-September month on the Caribbean Princess but there are new ones on the system now. Yay for that! Although you kind of have to tilt your head to the side just a little. I think someone needed a level when it was attached to the wall.

Movies Under the Stars has the same showings we saw on the Crown a couple weeks ago so we'll probably skip them. Here is the list of the rest of the entertainment for the week.

A note on the mini bar - we had the usual set up when we arrived at the cabin with one exception. Instead of tonic water (which we always return anyway) we had two diet Cokes in their place. Awesome. I always wondered why they added two Cokes but never two diet Cokes.

Tomorrow we're off to Grand Cayman. We usually walk down the road a bit for me to go snorkeling, but hubby has all of a sudden decided he wants his out of control goatee shaved off. So we'll be looking for a barber first  and then will base the rest of our day around how much time that takes.

Royal Princess Western Caribbean Cruise

Hello from the Royal Princess! Yep, we're headed out again.

We left the hotel at 10 am and were sitting in the embarkation lounge by 10:30. While we typically don't arrive at port that early, we were looking to have a leisurely, stress-free, line-free day. And  it worked! It took us all of 30 minutes to walk from our hotel to the pier, drop off our luggage, have someone glance at our passports and boarding passes, go through security, check in and get our cabin key and boarding card, grab some water in the elite/platinum embarkation lounge, and have a seat. Not a line to be found anywhere in that .85 miles from point to point. And bonus - our walk to the port took us over the exact pavement hubby fell on in September and this time there was no fall. Woo hoo!

Elites were called to board at 11:15 and now we are sitting watching boats come and go from the outside seating area behind the buffet. Can't get a better day than that.

Although life on a yacht might be pretty good, too.

I won't be posting the Princess Patters this time around as we still have a limited number of Internet minutes. Can't wait for the Royal to get the unlimited super-speedy MedallionNet! Until then, I'll need to conserve minutes. If you do have questions about something in the Patter, just email me. I won't throw them away until the end of the cruise.

But if you are looking for the officer's, this may help:

So where are we headed this time?

Off to a sea day tomorrow.

Princess Cruises Seawalk

It's Wanderlust Wednesday! Today we're talking about the Seawalk on Princess Cruises.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights,” she said, shimmying along the edge.
“Not heights,” he murmured. “Just falling.” 
― Victoria Schwab, This Savage Song

Just a few years back I used to be afraid of heights. I was even too afraid to step onto a hotel balcony in 2012. But now I'm good. I've been on balconies and suspension bridges and platforms hanging over canyons.

It's difficult to conquer a fear of heights. Some people I know are afraid to get near cruise ship railings for fear of falling. The railings are 48" so unless you really try you won't be falling over the ship. Unfortunately the news makes it sound like falling overboard is easy. Don't worry, it's not.

For everyone who is not fearful of heights, take a look up at this part of the ship hanging over the water.

Now let's walk on that walkway and look down.  It's called a Seawalk on the Royal, Regal, and Majestic Princess. Yep, the ship is at sea and that is the ocean down below.