We spent some time in the public rooms on Deck 8 which we hadn't really frequented- the library and the Internet cafe- and I checked cruise pricing for our winter cruises on Princess.com...looks like prices have dropped a smidge, and so I'll have to take care of that when we get home.
At 11:30, G went, once again, to the Behind the Scenes tour for the production shows in the Princess Theater. We met up again in the dining room for a quick lunch before I met with Naturalist Jules to talk photo websites and blogging. We managed to pitter away the time until the wine tasting at 3pm, and then spent a very pleasant hour there with a couple from California.
There was just enough time before dinner for some packing (me) and hot tubbing (G), and I was thrilled to see (finally!) land on our starboard side as we passed into Queen Charlotte Sound. Cruising in a balcony cabin is infinitely more exciting when there is something to look at, and underscores my new belief that while a balcony cabin is pretty much a must on an Alaska cruise, it doesn't do much for us in the Caribbean, where there is simply open ocean between islands.
At 5:30pm, naturalist Jules came over the PA system with an announcement that we were entering whale territory and he was on the bridge watching for them. We delayed our dinner plans a bit; we didn't want to miss our final viewing opportunity of the cruise. And we were not disappointed. Not only did the scenery get increasingly more beautiful, we saw a whale both breach and spout, and three dolphins, all from our balcony.
We on the starboard side of the ship have been SO lucky this cruise with animal sightings!!
Finally, we left to go to dinner, and sat next to a couple from Virginia celebrating their 50th anniversary on the cruise. How funny: on the first night of our cruise we sat at the same table served by the same waiter with a different couple celebrating their 50th anniversary. This time we brought along a bottle of champagne we had been gifted by cruise director Rich. We shared it with this couple, and both received an anniversary cake and a serenade by several of the dining room service crew. Fun!
Afterwards we sat through a comedian who shall remain nameless. I found his show almost painful; G gleaned some humor from it. Which just goes to show that, even for a couple who agree on most things, humor is a very personal thing.
We're in our cabin packing. This cruise is nearly over. It seemed so short, which, relatively speaking, it was. But we have more to look forward to this winter. Leaving a ship is infinitely easier when there is another cruise on the horizon.
Photo 1: the first sign of land
Photo 2: the scenery improved with each mile
Photo 3: WHALE!!
Photo 4: winding our way between islands
Photo 5: celebration!