I started this post early, just after 9am, as I sat in the Princess Arena awaiting the 10am Meet the Captain session. CD Dan Looney interviewed Captain Arma about his career, and about the Diamond COVID experience, and, as I expected, that was very interesting. Captain Arma mentioned that there are two guests on the current cruise who were on that fateful trip in 2020. We know Jeff and Desiree and their experience on the Diamond was also fascinating and challenging. I renderer being on the Majestic in Australia at the time and cancelling a final cruise that was to end in Singapore and going home early. That cruise was cancelled just a few days into it in Fremantle.
The day was largely gloomy, at times rainy and quite chilly, and I expected the ship to feel more people-y, with everyone forced inside, but it wasn’t bad. After the Meet the Captain session, I headed to the Piazza for the Teammate Farewell Parade, and after that met up with G in the Sanctuary Restaurant for lunch. I hadn’t eaten yet and it was good to actually feel hungry. I need to get used to that feeling!
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| One final soup pour of the cruise |
I ran to the cabin to pack my suitcase while G held a seat for me in Princess Arena for Voice of the Ocean. Today was the first time it’s been held on the Star Princess and someone from the company that owns the brand in Holland was on board to help roll it out. Of course CD Dan hit it out of the park but all the contestants were fantastic. Bill from Liverpool had the audience in the palm of his hand from the opening notes of Mustang Sally, and won with 80% of the vote.
We were in The Dome to watch the Kentucky Derby, and that was huge fun. We finally broke open the bottle of Britto Prosecco that was in our cabin on embarkation day and shared it with those fellow guests sitting around us for the race. It was hugely exciting to watch Golden Tempo come from behind to win.
And then it was time for our final dinner, and it was the exclamation point on a cruise of stellar dinners. What an experience this has been! We will miss these people so much.
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| Restaurant manager Ray arranged for special Filipino sweet rolls called ensaymadas to be prepared and they were the yummiest thing ever. Kind of a cross between a cheese danish and a brioche |
We didn’t rush through our dinner. There was a variety show at 7pm, but we were more interested in watching sunset and the Silent Disco taking place in The Dome at 8pm.
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| The inevitable result of silent disco! |
We danced until about 9pm and called it a night. The alarm is set for 6am tomorrow. It’s going to be a long day. For the first tune in years I will be sorry to be leaving a cruise, and I have the beautiful Star Princess and its wonderful crew to thank for that.
I must have forgotten to scan the Patter this morning and don’t want to turn on lights in the cabin to do it now. I’ll add it tomorrow morning.
