Today is a day at sea as we continue to our next port of call, St. Thomas. The weather conditions improved dramatically overnight, the seas were quite calm, as well as the wind. The hurricane has moved northward, and we are moving southward, so we are continuously getting farther away by each nautical mile we travel.
Of course, we took the opportunity to sleep in a little, having no real plan for the day other than to sit out by the pool.
When we finally got up and got ready, we headed to get some breakfast at the buffet. Once we completed breakfast, we went to the Club Six Bar to work on some of the blog postings while our room was being cleaned. Unfortunately, after about ten minutes of peaceful quite, some type of presentation started about skin care products, and was being played over all of the speakers in the bar. So much for peaceful quiet. We only lasted another twenty minutes and then had to leave.
Luckily, our room cleaning was complete, so we applied our sunscreens and headed to the pool deck for some sun. It was nice out on deck, there was a good breeze, and a high thin overcast in the sky to help keep it cooler. After a while, the wind picked up some, and almost became too strong to enjoy being out on deck.
The photo staff for the cruise gave a presentation on the giant outdoor TV by the pool on using different modes on digital cameras, and it was actually pretty interesting. Stephanie’s camera has mode settings, but we never have used them much, so the seminar helped us to understand how they functioned. Since I do not have modes on my camera, I have never taken the time to learn how they work.
It was then time for some lunch, Stephanie got some pizza from the pool deck pizzeria and we went into the buffet so I could get some sushi, which was just fair, as usual. There is not much selection, and they never have tuna, which is my favorite. None of the sushi they serve is raw, and the salmon is all heavily smoked.
After lunch, we headed back to the room to make a couple of refreshments, and then headed back up to the Seaview Bar for their “flaring” demonstration, which is the bartender’s juggling act with bottles and shakers. It was really good, and our favorite bartenders ending up giving us a couple of the free drinks they made, it is good to have connections.
We headed back to the room to get showers so we could attend Catholic Mass at 4:15 PM. There had been a listing in the Princess Patter, the on board activities directory, about a Catholic “Service” that was being hosted by a fellow passenger. It was a confusing way to describe what we hoped was a Mass. When we got to the Princess Live Theater, which was the listed location for the event, we found out that there was a priest on board as well as a deacon, both from California, and both retired from the same parish. The deacon was traveling with his wife, but all three were in the same travel group.
During Mass, the priest announced that there would also be a Mass on the last Saturday evening of the cruise, and they would take up a collection for the parish on the island of Dominica, which we visit in the next few days. The money will be sent to the parish to help with recover from the recent tropical storm damage. After Mass, Stephanie and I talked with the deacon about our school supplies we had brought on board to take to Dominica, and he was glad to take them to the local parish on Dominica for the children. It was interesting that we learned they were just two cabins down the hall form us.
After Mass, we headed back to the cabin to get ready for the first of two formal nights on this cruise. Tonight is the Champagne Waterfall and Captain’s Reception in the Atrium. Once we got ready, we headed to the Vines Wine Bar, also in the Atrium, to have some of the wine they are holding for us.
Once the reception begun, the waitstaff were serving free champagne throughout the Atrium, so we had a coupe of glasses of that along with some of the small snacks they were serving. The Captain came by and we took the opportunity for a picture and to thank him for taking us on a safe route by the hurricane.
We had already consulted the dining room menu and decided we would opt for the Alfredo’s Pizzeria, the same dining option we did on the first formal night on the previous cruise. Once again, the service and food was excellent, which is why we like dining here.
After dinner, we headed up to the Seaview Bar to visit with the bartenders there and to have a nightcap.
We headed back to the room to see if the Clemson vs. Notre Dame game was on the TV, and we were surprised to find that it was. It was already in the fourth quarter, so I got to see all of the nerve wracking ending, not having enjoyed the first portion of the game where we had apparently played much better. I was glad to see Clemson win, but it was not that fun to watch, too close for comfort.
After the game, we called it a night. Tomorrow, we visit St. Thomas, USVI.
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