Caribbean Princess Sea Day, Sept 7

Today's post is a hodgepodge of random thoughts. I hope you don't mind.

Another pretty sunrise

While we've been having some spectacular sunrises and sunsets this entire trip, we've also had spectacular thunderstorms. I think we have sat on the balcony every single night and watched lightning off in the distance. We did have a couple nights where it was right on top of us where we had to watch from inside. Looking at the hurricane forecast for the next couple weeks makes me think we'll be seen plenty more storms. And be either skipping or substituting ports. I know passengers get frustrated at having to cancel pre-booked excursions, but I'd rather be in a safe location that facing high winds and huge waves.

We trust Gru to get us through it. Yes our Captain's name is Marco, but he sounds like Gru from Despicable Me. Seriously, he really does. When the noontime navigational update comes on each day we are just waiting for him to call us minions instead of passengers. Word has it that he actually has stuffed minions up on the Bridge. He's a good guy, though.

Have I mentioned how great a cabin steward we have? Yesterday he let me film him making towels animals and today I shared the video with him. He is so excited to show it to his wife and six year old son back at home. I'll be posting the video on the next Tutorial Tuesday on September 11 so you can see it, too.

Remember how hubby accidentally locked me on the balcony a while back? Well, guess what happened again today? Yup. He (accidentally) did it again. This is our last cruise with the balcony as we go to an inside cabin for next cruise. Probably a good thing. 

Since we're changing cabins this next cruise we just have a little bit of packing to do. We get to leave everything on their hangers and then we just toss the other stuff in the suitcase. Tomorrow morning the cabin steward will arrange for his supervisor to get things moved for us. We'll keep the things from the safe with us but otherwise they take care of us. Never had a problem so far. 

Medallion™ Update:
To make the progression of the roll-out more clear I've grouped the posts by week. Today I'm sharing some of those things I didn't yet write about this week.

You can find the post here on the Sept 1-8 update page.
August 18-25 updates can be found here.
August 25-Sept 1 updates can found here.

Encouraging Word Money Pocket Drop Off:
I haven't decided where I'm going to place it yet. After being locked on the balcony for the second time this trip the message might be for me.

Tomorrow is turnaround day, an early morning Walgreens run, a new cabin change, and another Medallion meeting. Should be a good day.

As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please click on the envelope icon at the top right of this screen.

Caribbean Princess Sea Day, Sept 6

As kids hubby and I both grew up in poverty. Food stamps and all. Life is never easy and you never think there is a way out. But education was our way. College and careers. It still wasn't big money - public school teachers in Idaho didn't make that much but it was better than we'd had before. Growing up poor, cruising is something we never ever considered being a part of our future lives. Then after 20 years of marriage (and saving) we were looking for a way to celebrate our anniversary in a big way. It was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. A cruise. Seven days roundtrip from Seattle to Alaska on the Diamond Princess. Somehow that once in a lifetime trip turned into something we fell in love with. For us, getting to go again and again (and again) is nothing short of miraculous.

And if not for the Love Boat we probably wouldn't have ever started. As a kid, watching Captain Stubing and Julie McCoy and Doc and Gopher and Isaac each week (and let's not forgot all the tv and movie stars showing up each week) made me think there was another life out there. Granted, not one I would ever live, but it was out there.

So it was quite surprising when we booked this cruise last minute and received an email about who would be onboard. We hadn't seen any activities listed in the Patter about him yet. But he showed up today.

We watched his biography in the Princess Theater and then stayed for the Q & A session. He told touching stories of his life. He also had a book signing and photo opp session, but the crowd was from Wheelhouse all the way to Club Fusion so we didn't stand in line.

Listening to him tell stories about Marion Ross and Mary Tyler Moore and the filming of the Love Boat was enough. It definitely was a how did I get this life? kind of moment for me.

Who is that special guest we have joining us? None other than Captain Stubing, Gavin MacLeod.

That was pretty much the highlight of the day.

Coming in second was getting a look at the new accessories for the Medallions. The case in the Ocean Front area off the photo gallery is full of them. Click the link under the Medallion™ Update section below to see the pictures.

Getting the disembarkation paperwork and luggage tags came in a close third. Not because we're excited to put them on our suitcase, but because we were excited to not need them. Yeah, we called yet another audible and decided to stay for one more cruise. (If you're counting, that makes four back-to-back cruises.) By the time we leave this ship we will have had 31 days here. Yay! Or as hubby likes to say, "Booyah!" (Whatever that means.)

The sunrise has to be on the list somewhere. It had to be a good day when the sunrise might be the fourth best thing of the day.

Medallion™ Update:
To make the progression of the roll-out more clear I've grouped the posts by week. Today we're talking about the new Medallion accessories. 

 You can find the post here on the Sept 1-8 update page.
August 18-25 updates can be found here.
August 25-Sept 1 updates can found here.

Encouraging Word Money Pocket Drop Off:
Restroom behind the buffet.

One more sea day tomorrow as we head our way back to Fort Lauderdale.
As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please click on the envelope icon at the top right of this screen.