From the Navigator (this appears on page 1 of today's Princess Patter): After yesterday's departure the Pacific Princess will continue to follow her North-Easterly course through the Pacific Ocean for Los Angeles, with a planned speed of 14.6 knots (16.8 mph). A "knot" is one nautical mile per hour. The name originated in the early days of sailing when a log chip (a triangular piece of wood), was streamed astern from the vessel, thus stationary in the water, whilst an attached line was fed out over the stern as the vessel moved ahead. The line was knotted every seventeen yards and the number of knots which passed over the stern in one half minute interval (measured with a sand glass), determined the speed of the ship. Knots are still used to determine the speed of a ship but thankfully more technical means of measuring our speed are now available!
<<I guess they did change it up a bit today!>>
Sunrise: 7:32am
Sunset: 6:06pm
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We slept until nearly 8am (ship's new time) and by the time we got to the Club Restaurant for breakfast, it was starting to fill up. Fruit plates and cottage cheese later, we were sitting on the Promenade Deck watching the waves sparkle in the bright sunshine. Captain Ciruzzi had made us a deal on Day 1 of this cruise: he was in charge of getting the Pacific Princess into the ports but we were in charge of the weather. At last night's Captains Circle party, he congratulated us on a job well done (and he hasn't done too badly, either). We have had one sunny day after another, but this small ship on this five day eastbound run is definitely bouncy (19 mph winds from the Southeast are to blame). What's most notable is the difference in the ship's comfort on Deck 3 midship vs. in the Cabaret or Pacific Lounges at the very front of the ship. I'm not at all nauseous, but readily admit that these seas completely zap my energy. I'm not alone in that; others on the ship have said the same thing. Pity the poor crew that has to keep going and going and going!
Speaking of time changes (we were, at some point)...I much prefer what some cruise lines do on these long, east bound stretches: they move the ship's clock ahead an hour at noon, instead of overnight. It makes so much sense to me. Waking up at 8am, I feel like I've wasted half the morning, but if noon suddenly became 1pm, it wouldn't make a bit of difference in how I spend my day. Better to go to bed an hour earlier than awake an hour earlier. Just my opinion, of course. ;-)
I had planned to do some Continuing Education classes on these sea days, but Internet is not stable enough to do anything significant online. I even tried using a computer in the Internet Cafe, expecting that it might be better, but it wasn't, and there I had to contend with a bouncier ship. There are two Internet managers on board for this run from Hawaii to California, and I have to say I was very impressed with their patience and willingness to help passengers confused about...well, most things technical. One lady brought her iPhone to them saying it was broken; the time display was wrong. The fix was simple: take the phone off automatic time updates and don't put it back on until back on a cell phone system and Airplane Mode is turned off. I learned yesterday that the Internet managers are going to conduct a free training class in using iDevices on one of these sea days. My guess is it will be standing room only. ;-)
Back in the cabin, I continued my Becky HomeEc-y ways, doing some hand laundry and washing my Tilley hat and Teva sandals. A reality of doing these multiple cruises in a row is that we start to look a little travel-worn by this time. Our fellow passengers come on board each cruise with new pedicures and manicures, fresh haircuts and color, no peeling sunburns and neatly laundered and pressed clothes, many of them specially bought for their vacation. By now, we're looking just a step above through hikers on the Appalachian Trail. My fervent hope is that we don't look too, too shabby going on the Grand Princess (I know GQ G won't, but I might).
Lunch was a feast, with a wonderful tomato-based pasta accompanied by two glasses of merlot. Getting the wine package has definitely made these sea days easier to take. I spent the afternoon lounging on the sunny (starboard) side of the Promenade Deck and listening to an audiobook, a very comfortable way to spend a few hours. With our temperature hovering right around 73F, it's a bit too chilly to sit on the shady side of the ship (and your eye-rolling is lost on me right now!). I still haven't taken out the long pants and fleece pullover, though; I have to acclimate at least a little bit.
There was a wine tasting this afternoon, but we skipped it. With our wine package, we're kind of having our own private wine tasting at every meal. We went to the Elite Lounge at 5pm for the first time since before our arrival in Hawaii (shrimp fountain!), then to Italian night in the Club Restaurant. If I had known I'd be having penne arrabiata for dinner, I might not have had pasta for lunch, but then again, maybe I would have. We (mostly I) finished the bottle of merlot, which was perfect with our dinner.
There was a lot of musical entertainment to choose from tonight, and we chose most of it. First up was Elua- Dave and Leialoha- playing in the Casino Lounge. Leialoha was about four days ahead of me with a cold, and couldn't sing for a few days, but she is vocal again. Then we went to Bobby Brooks Wilson's (Jackie Wilson's son) performance in the Cabaret Lounge. Lots of Soul and Motown...we've heard Bobby several times in past years and always enjoy his energetic performances very much. The singers and dancers preceded Bobby's show with a few songs from the show Stardust, their last performance together as a production team. They are all disembarking in Los Angeles, and have to have their costumes cleaned and packed up to be taken off the ship that morning.
Afterwards, we listened to piano entertainer Jere Ring for awhile in the Casino Lounge. G has a 'guys night out' tonight, smoking cigars and drinking brandy, and I am well medicated and tucked into bed. I'm getting better but, predictably, this cold went into my lungs and I'm still recovering. No doctor visit required; it's viral and fairly common on the ship right now.
At some point today, G announced "Just two more sea days!" Uh, no. This was just our second of five. He's actually enjoying them, which is surprising, because he is not one to sit still. Neither am I, but I'm also coping well, better than on the run between French Polynesia and Hawaii. A little less wind and resultingly bouncy seas would be welcome, but I know how much worse it could be and am not complaining. Every day we ask ourselves if we could do this again, and, so far, the answer is YES.