Sometime this morning we spotted an island off on our starboard (right) side, which sent us to the navigational chart on Deck 9 to see what it might be. Once again, it was Makatea, the same island we'd passed on the way to Rangiroa. Thank you to blog reader Nan, who kindly sent me an email with the following information:
This is from Wikipedia:
"Also, the island of Makatea was featured in the 1998 movie Six Days Seven Nights starring Harrison Ford, Anne Heche, and David Schwimmer. To quote Quinn Harris (Harrison Ford): "It's an island, babe. If you didn't bring it here, you won't find it here." Although the name Makatea was used in the film, the movie was not filmed in Makatea and nothing about the film depicted the rugged landscape and real dangers of the island."
I thought that name sounded familiar!
It was 11:30am by the time we returned to the cabin for that 9am pill taking activity, particularly important for a few more days while I finish the prescription meds I received from the medical center. I then took a few minutes to have a general pill counting exercise. Our change in travel plans has affected so many things, among them stretching our usual meds to last 96 days instead of 60 days. Most of what we take is vitamin and supplement-related, so that's not a huge deal. But for my asthma meds, I really do have to be systematic in my approach. If I stay well, that shouldn't be an issue. And I can get something from the medical center on board if I feel I need to.
Cabin steward Bianca asked us this morning to unearth our small coffee table from the closet where it's been stored since our second day on board. Apparently, there is a routine schedule for replacing them with newly refinished pieces, and today was our turn. Now we're undecided about what to do with the beautiful "new" table. It's really too nice to relegate to holding stuff in the closet, but it is certainly in the way in front of the love seat. We also have a sagging spot in the floor which troubled G when we first got on board. He was afraid I'd trip on it during the night, so he placed a carry on suitcase over it, which I, of course, promptly tripped over. Ever since, we've learned to deal with the sag, but it seems to be getting worse. Bianca has also reported it, but we're waiting on either supplies or someone from land to make the repair. Will we eventually fall through up to our knees? Well, there are at least two more decks below us, so we won't get our feet wet if we do.
We enjoyed lunch in the Club Restaurant (spaghetti putanesca and key lime frozen yogurt for dessert) then decamped, G to a hot tub and me to a Promenade Deck lounger to read, then regrouped in time for this cruise's wine tasting. We collected two "new" souvenir shot glasses (the bow of the Princess ship) to pass on to someone on the islands, which is a record, I think. Three wine tastings so far; three different designs. Someone on the islands will enjoy them.
We had time for a brief lie down before we needed to get cleaned up for the evening. We were fortunate to be in our cabin when Captains Circle host/ Future Cruise Consultant Catherine Fullarton phoned to tell me she had completed all the items on the "to-do" list I gave her. Catherine is a gem, one of our favorites. As I told her, G and I have a habit of taxing the Future Cruise Consultants on the ships we cruise on. Nikki Beare still talks about the time we each ordered 19 Future Cruise Credits during her first month on the job. She sent our request around to her counterparts telling them that THIS is the way the job should be done. Bam!! But Catherine was up for the challenge of cleaning up after our most recent change in travel plans, and, tonight, they are all in place from a Princess perspective. We will take advantage of Internet (not Undernet) tomorrow in Raiatea to wrap up a few loose ends. As for not being home for Christmas...well, let's just not talk about that yet. That is the downside of our extended stay on the Pacific Princess, but the dancers, some of whom are going to be away from home for the first time, seem happy we're sticking around. Mostly it's just that they're incredibly nice people; but I think any familiar face is a welcome sight at the holidays. We will spend Christmas Day in Bora Bora, which will certainly make it a memorable one, but I will sorely miss being home.
And, an update on the December 28th cruise: still waitlisted. We're totally fine with a move to Le Tiare Tahiti hotel in Papeete...or with getting a cabin on the cruise. Either way works for us.
Tonight's Elite Lounge featured drink was the Cosmopolitan, not my favorite, but we are able to get any of the featured drinks any night of the cruise for $5 each, which is very nice for this Breeza Marina fan. Still, I did enjoy the primary hors doerve of shrimp cocktail, which goes nicely with almost any drink. Even more, we enjoy the views we get from the lounge's location on the Pacific Princess. I think that will be the hardest part about going to the Royal/ Regal Princess...losing the views from the Elite Lounge at sailaway. It's a simple thing, but a special one, too.
Tonight's production show, called Stardust, featured music from the 50s and very early 60s. It wasn't exactly my taste; but, as always, I'm so impressed that the dancers, who we see everyday as cruise staffers get out there on a stage a few feet away from us and demonstrate such talent. They are really fun to watch.
We're developing a bit of a habit when the late dining show in the Cabaret Lounge is held early, at 7pm, instead of its usual time of 10:15pm...we get to the Club Restaurant exactly at 6pm, have just two courses and go to the 7pm show, then go up to the Panorama Buffet for coffee and dessert on the back terrace. I don't know where everyone is on this ship, but, more often than not, we have the terrace to ourselves. Coffee and dessert under the South Pacific stars...life is good. :-)