Aaahhh, a sea day. I, or at least my foot, needed this. As well as I’m doing (and I am doing well), discomfort is still a constant and port days are made more tolerable by ardent RICE-ing on sea days. I slept through G leaving the cabin to meet up with the Liars Club and then have breakfast in the DaVinci Dining Room. Instead, sometime around 8am, I went to the Horizon Court Buffet for fruit and smoked salmon. While I was eating, Captain Lawes made an announcement that the Ruby Princess would be near Willis Island just after 9am.
We (and many others) had quite a chuckle at the headline on page one of today's Princess Patter: An exciting day in (sic) Willis Island. Today’s “visit” to Willis Island, an external territory of Australia, had only one purpose: to drop the ship’s anchor, officially placing the Ruby Princess outside of Australian waters, which allows the casino and duty-free shops on board to be open during this cruise. Princess spins it differently, of course, by calling it scenic cruising, and livens it up a bit by contacting the meteorologists working at the weather station on the island and broadcasting the call over the ship’s PA. An added bonus is observing as a weather balloon is launched from the island. Honestly, I stared at the weather station the entire time we were cruising past it and still missed the balloon going up.
Willis Island weather station
With the day’s excitement behind us by 10am, I returned to the cabin to wash out my sleep sack and hang it up to dry. I washed a couple of other items and then separated our pile of Australian money from our New Zealand money. I was examining a handful of coins while on the tender to Port Douglas yesterday when an older Australian man sitting near me said. “Confusing, aren’t they?” Frankly, yes. One would expect the larger coins to have more value than the smaller ones, but they don’t. The $2 coin is about the size of our dime. No matter; I find myself this year again holding out a palm-full of coins and asking a cashier to take the correct amount. Only in Australia (and New Zealand) can one do that and not be robbed blind.
Australia coinage, from left to right:
20 cents, 50 cents, $1, $2
We went to lunch in the DaVinci Dining Room simply for the desserts. I had a bite of key lime pie and G had the bread and butter pudding and we called that lunch. We are being very spoiled at breakfast and lunch by being seated at the same table we have for dinner. Our waitstaff knows us as well as our dinner waiters do. We love it.
Day 7 lunch menu, page 1
Day 7 lunch menu, page 2
We spent the afternoon in the cabin, paying bills and taking care of other housekeeping duties...and RICE-ing that foot. I did my nails, ironed my sleep sack, cut G’s hair and bumped up the thermostat at home using the Nest app. With the cold and snow making its way across the central US, we can finally say that our weather here is better than that at home. It was a bit tough during those cold, rainy days in New Zealand, to know that it was nicer back home. Now I feel like we’re getting our money’s worth. ;-)
There was no Elite Lounge tonight; the Captains Circle parties for this cruise were held this evening. It was the eleventy-seventh formal night of the season, and we started getting ready mid-afternoon and went to dinner at exactly 5pm. I finally had something I didn’t care for, the red snapper, which must be a very fishy fish. However, the caponata served with it was so good that I asked for another serving of that as my entree.
Day 7 dinner menu, page 1
Day 7 dinner menu, page 2
Day 7 dessert menu
Ponzu marinated tofu
Eggplant caponata
We are the fourth most traveled guests on this cruise, but were pleased to have been invited to join the second most traveled guests Ron and Vicky at the Captains Circle party. If being second most traveled is like being maid of honor, and third most traveled is the bridesmaid position, fourth most traveled is akin to being the cousin who hands out the wedding programs at the back of the church. It’s a no-stress, no-responsibility position to be in. Paul and Marlene also joined us, and we had a great time.
With 2nd Most Traveled Ron
Vicky and Ron
Marlene and Paul
We weren’t in the mood to stay dressed formally long enough to see the 9:30pm Princess Theater performance by Diane Cousins. Instead we went to the Horizon Court Buffet for coffee and dessert, and then retired to the cabin. It’s a bit bouncy tonight, and sleep is almost certain to be affected. No matter...another sea day awaits tomorrow.
Day 7 Princess Patter, page 1
Day 7 Princess Patter, page 2
Day 7 Princess Patter, page 3
Day 7 Princess Patter, page 4