Just before noon Captain D made what he said would be a very important announcement. As we suspected based on his announcement last night, we will not be stopping in Khios, Greece the day after Rhodes tomorrow. There is a huge weather system that basically guarantees that we will be unable to tender into the port. Also, the time required to get to the port following that, Catania, Greece would force the Pacific Princess to sail at a speed that would be uncomfortable in the storm. Instead, we will have a day at sea following Rhodes and then call at Katakalon, Greece the following day.
G and I were thrilled at this news. We've already visited Khios once this season but have never been to Katakalon. We missed it on a Mediterranean cruise in 1999 or 2000 (I forget which) when the war in Kosovo broke out and all of our Adriatic and Greek ports were cancelled as a result. This is our opportunity to finally get there.
We were seated with Captain D at the MTP luncheon and he filled us in on all that happened behind the scenes overnight to make these changes (which were finalized around 1am). It was complicated by the fact that we are currently 10 hours ahead of Princess headquarters right now and this is still the holiday weekend. They had wanted to substitute another port but all the eastern Greek ports will be affected by the same storm. This is a great solution.
The luncheon was wonderful, as usual, with some familiar favorites and other items that were new to us.
Starter
Potpourri of shellfish Neptune, with crab meat salad, lobster tail and sea scallops
Intermezzo
Sorbetto ai limoni is sorrento
Entrees
Baked, herbed crusted Norwegian salmon
OR
Wisconsin milk fed veal medallion Oscar
OR
Vegetarian Crespelle valdostana
I chose the salmon and G the veal and they were simply the best!
Dessert
White chocolate log
I've never met white chocolate anything I didn't love!
MTP luncheon wait staff- our waiter for dinner was Magnificent Marco, fifth from the left
MTP luncheon galley team
Cutoff for this luncheon jumped quite a bit to the nearly 400 days as the longer term cruisers came on board for the last Mediterranean cruise of the season and the transatlantic cruise coming up next.
I am usually ruined for the rest of the afternoon after all the wine and food, and today actually managed to nap, which is precisely what I needed to do. We are definitely wearing down a bit.
Dinner was light, just gazpacho and a salad and a starter (and no wine!). Our entertainment tonight was vocalist Philip Browne, a Brit with a wonderful baritone voice who has starred in several West End shows. His first was The Lion King and he performed one of my favorite songs, Circle of Life so beautifully that I got chills. He was definitely one of the best guest entertainers that we've seen.
And that was our day: sleep, read, eat, drink, sleep some more, eat some more and be entertained. This is cruising at its best and a welcome change from our port, port, port, port, port, port, port, port routine.
And, finally, I must give a shout out to dear friends Suzan and Greg, leaving tomorrow for Fort Lauderdale and 20 nights on the Royal Princess. Our plan is to meet up in Fort Lauderdale on December 20, the end of their cruises and a Pacific Princess turnaround day. Suzan has been staying in touch with my mom by phone and relaying information to me via email while Mom's email is not functioning. That's a true friend, and I am so thankful for her. Safe travels, and see you in just three weeks!!