Today was the day that we decided we will not be doing the December transatlantic on the Pacific Princess next year. That's not to say we will not spend time in Europe on the Pacific Princess, just that a December North Atlantic crossing on this small ship will not likely be in our plans. As much as we dislike the long hours in an Economy seat on a transatlantic flight, we had enough practice with them in October to realize that they are the better option for us.
And now we know.
I was awake at 3:45am this morning. This must end. I lay in bed for two hours, reading today's Patter by the light of my iPhone screen, trying to make out the time of today's sunrise (6:54am) and the weather forecast (sunny and high 60s). It sounded very promising. At 6am I was in the Panorama Buffet getting a decaf Americano and joining the other (mostly male) passengers up there doing the same. It was still dark but the first stirrings of sunrise began shortly. However, a series of thick clouds at the horizon obscured the sun for about 30 minutes after it rose. It was obvious from the ship's increasing pitching (forward and aft movement) that today was not going to be the stellar day at sea that we had enjoyed yesterday.
Until after 9am we sat there- Marlene and Paul and Patty and Ray and the Captain stopped by with good news about Bermuda, Patty and Ray left, freeing up seats for Jere and Johnny- and had the chairs not started taking a toll on our fannies, and Marlene not played bridge, we might still be there. That part of sea days is fun. The pitching that continued to intensify...not so much.
I've made no secret of the fact that it is the Pacific Princess pitching that bothers me the most, and makes the Pacific Lounge on Deck 10 forward and the Cabaret Lounge on Deck 5 forward off limits to me on days like today (and I would include the Deck 9 forward gym with those and not just as an excuse). Interestingly, G is unfazed by pitching but is more severely impacted by rolling (port to starboard movement). Some passengers are unaffected by either until they combine, some are affected by either one and a few lucky ones have no issue with any of it. (It's hard to like them on days like today.)
Still, it was sunny and mild, despite the high winds that covered everything, even in the upper decks, in sticky salt spray. G and I moved to pool loungers on Deck 9 and chatted with passers by for another 30 minutes or so. The pool water depth had been mostly lowered and it was netted over, which was no surprise given that everything up there would have been soaked by the water splashing out, but it may also have been due to some maintenance work that is underway. At least one person from Princess' corporate office has come onboard to help the ship prepare for the Coast Guard and CDC inspections that will take place in Fort Lauderdale, the ship's first time back in the US since May.
Finally, I stood up from the lounger intending to return to the cabin for the morning pill taking activity and that's when I realized that the pitching had continued to increase. Walking to an elevator was a challenge, as was getting from the elevator to our midship cabin. G looked at me and said, "This is only the morning of the second day, and I'm already over these sea days!" At that point, I had to agree. I've always said that I'd like sea days a lot more if the ship was docked and stable for them. In reality, sea days often bring, if not exactly this type of weather, then something approaching it. We finally have the time to do some fun and relaxing things on board but it's hard to even get to them. It would be the perfect opportunity to attend line dancing or work out in the gym, if they both weren't located on top decks forward.
At least we have Bermuda to look forward to (Captain D said this morning that he is encouraged about the weather allowing us to stop there); next year on this same transatlantic cruise, there are seven or eight sea days in a row between the Canaries and Fort Lauderdale with nothing in between. Sadly, I think we'll have to pass. Beyond the obvious motion issues, G simply can't spend that many idle days in a row. He is going to go nuts and I will have to go along to keep an eye on him. ;-)
Captain D also said we are cruising about 70 miles south of a direct line between Funchal and Bermuda, which is almost 400 miles south of our original navigational plan between Ponta Delgada and Bermuda. He cited exact figures, which I don't clearly recall but, roughly speaking, our swells are one meter lower by the 70 miles more southerly route and several meters compared to the original Delgada to Bermuda route. Have I mentioned that I really enjoy sailing with Captain D? I know I have, but have I mentioned it lately?
G still made it to a hot tub before lunch (again, he was unaffected by this morning's movement) but I wanted some time alone in the cabin to be miserable. He returned and we went to lunch about 1pm. I took one look out the windows along the back of the Club Restaurant, seeing first all sky then all water as the ship pitched to and fro and opted to sit with my back to them. Instead of my usual big salad, I had a roll and plain pasta and bread pudding for dessert (after first picking out the raisins, of course). G stayed on to attend the Grapevine Wine Tasting but I beat a hasty retreat to the relative comfort of our low and midship cabin.
And that's where I spent the entire afternoon, alternately trying to nap (no luck) and perusing pamphlets on next winter's cruise itineraries. I kind of feel like we're back to square one again, with all options being worth consideration. For a hundred reasons, extended Caribbean cruising is the easiest thing we can do, but we truly love the intimate atmosphere and attentive service on the Pacific Princess. What to do, what to do?
Captain D had said that the wind would start to shift a bit and we'd get some rolling along with the pitching (oh boy!) and by mid-afternoon we started to feel like a cork being tossed about on the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean. We had lost all satellite news coverage and internet periodically throughout the morning but by afternoon the news channels on TV simply displayed the Princess logo. I'm not certain I'll have Internet to get this published tonight, but I'll try.
We received a phone call to advise us that tomorrow's MTP luncheon, held in Sabatini's on Deck 10 aft is being rescheduled until the day after Bermuda when things should be calmer. That's a wise decision. Some of us able-bodied passengers can barely walk; anyone using a cane or walker would have a most difficult time.
We have just decided to skip dinner altogether tonight. We are not hungry, and tonight's entertainment is a ventriloquist that G already saw this season. I wouldn't brave the Cabaret Lounge for a production show tonight, let alone a ventriloquist. If things calm down a bit, we may go back out later to listen to Jere Ring. The Casino Lounge where he plays is low and midship and usually pretty comfortable. Or we may just watch downloaded iTunes videos and wait for tomorrow. Hopefully, it will be a calmer day.