Yellow Fish cruises: Day 44: At Sea

We had the best day today. Yes, on a sea day. From the time we woke up to our return to the DaVinci Dining Room for coffee and dessert after we had seen two shows tonight, it was simply a fun and relaxing day. Add to that walking back to our cabin tonight and seeing the corridors lined with suitcases and knowing we don’t have to do that yet...the BEST day.

We started with breakfast in the DaVinci Dining Room, and then went to the Princess Theater for the culinary demonstration by the Maitre d’ and the Executive Chef. I usually attend that just once each season and today was the day. We followed that up with a walk-through of the galley. It is so spotless and organized; it’s hard to imagine it’s like that during the rush of dinner prep, but we’ve done the Chef’s Table and been in the galley at that time and know that it really is.

Detailed plating instructions and a “spiel” for each dish.

More fruit and vegetable carvings were displayed

Loved this one

Leaving the galley after the walk-through deposits passengers right in the midst of the “garage” sale taking place in the Michelangelo Dining Room on Deck 5. Blog reader Dan emailed me that he had not seen any mention of G’s visits to the garage sale, nor the BIG!!!!!! $1000 Treasure Hunt Drawing*!!! (*must be present to win). Well, the latter is not taking place on the Ruby Princess, but, as for the former, G hasn’t missed one yet. At the first cruise’s garage sale, he bought an Alaska Inside Passage T-shirt for US $4.59 after our Elite discount. The next day I saw the same shirt on at least ten other men. ;-) Then last cruise he bought Alaska socks for AU $2. But I had the find of the season when I was forced to walk through the sale after the galley tour today: the one and only T-shirt in G’s size from our transpacific cruise. Price? AU $1.79 after our Elite discount. That’s less than US $1.25! I’ve been high-fiving and fist-bumping myself ever since.

The garage sale

Piles of clothes, souvenirs from Russia and macadamia nut candy from Hawaii.

This is SO not my thing.

Galley tour pamphlet:

A real garage sale find

US $1.25. Seriously.

We had time for just a quick walk on the Promenade Deck before lunch. The weather forecast was quite wrong about today. We had beautifully sunny skies and calm seas, and view of the Australia coast line off our port side the entire day. I wish all sea days were like this one!

Day 6 lunch menu, page 1

Day 6 lunch menu, page 2

Stuffed eggplant Provençal without cheese

Unbelievably tasty

At some point today (I forget when, exactly), I had over a 30-minute WiFi call (using T-mobile’s WiFi calling) with Mom, the first one in quite awhile. When she was in the hospital or rehab, our phone calls seemed plagued by latency, and I had kind of steered clear of them. But when we were in our cabin yesterday, I received a telemarketing call (really) that was clear as a bell, and I decided to try Mom again. It was so great to chat with her. She continues to do well, but needed iPad technical support today. I have to laugh. Our extended travels mean I lend assistance from the most unlikely places. I placed a Zappos order for her from a tour boat in Picton, New Zealand two years ago, ordered her a new iPad cord from Amazon last year while on the island of Capri, and today solved a technical issue from off the coast of Australia. Isn’t technology an amazing thing?

In other huge news from home, I was over the moon when I found out sophomore McGee received his varsity letter for Cross Country at a sports banquet today. I’m also just a little proud, and slightly sentimental. Those first steps happened just yesterday, didn’t they?

We started the evening at the Elite Lounge up in Skywalkers. I miss the convenience of that taking place in Club Fusion, but there is nothing like the view of sunlight sparkling on the ocean from 18 floors up to remind me I’m on a cruise. We went to dinner but skipped coffee and dessert to get seats for the 6:30pm Princess Theater production show Colors of the World. Sure, we’ve seen it at least three times so far this season, but we sit in a different area of the theater each time, and it definitively changes the look and feel of the performance.

Day 6 dinner menu, page 1

Day 6 dinner menu, page 2

Day 6 dessert menu

We raced from the Princess Theater to the Explorers Lounge and snagged the last two seats (not together) for the 8:30pm Pearson and Harvey variety show. We are as entertained by the Australian passengers enjoying these shows as we are by the shows themselves. During this show, the entire audience invariably sings along with “Always look on the bright side of life. Always look in the right side if life”. We have no idea what that’s about, but they seem to enjoy it so we do, too. And Frank Pearson comes out as a Frank Spencer character and everyone just howls. We’re lost...but it’s fun.

Following that show, we returned to the DaVinci Dining Room for coffee and dessert (sorbet). Sitting there at the end of a good day, talking about what we might do in Sydney (Sydney, Australia!!) tomorrow, knowing that we’re just getting started with this season’s cruising...

Life is good. :-)