We had moved clocks back an hour last night and are now on Sydney time. This is 8 hours behind and a day ahead of EST, which will be very important tomorrow, which is, of course, Super Bowl MONDAY. Sunday, February 2 here is just a (as the boys used to call them) “plain day”. Three years old and they were filling me in on plain days. I’d never heard that term before. Birthdays were much the same. There were “plain birthdays” and “half birthdays”, and apparently both birthdays warranted gifts.
The things they’ve taught me. But what a fun education! ;-)
Anyway, we were up early on this plain day, no doubt because of that extra hour of sleep. Our first stop was, natch, the Open Deck Behind the World Fresh Marketplace. It was a bit overcast today (in fact, it lightly showered while we were sitting there), but I still took a couple of photos. Maybe you can understand the attraction when you see the view.
Morning coffee on the Open Deck Behind the World Fresh Marketplace
Our favorite place on the ship
We stayed there until it was time for the Sunday morning worship service being held in Princess Live. Cruise Director Andrew Kadillac did a nice job leading that. The room felt positively sacred with the addition of stained glass window pics on all the TV screens in there.
Stained glass on the TV screens in Princess Live turned it into a church for the Sunday morning worship service.
We ended up skipping lunch altogether and instead spent some time on administrative things: Filling out the Australian Incoming Passenger Cards (for the last time! 👍🏼👎🏼), preparing tip envelopes (by the way, we’ve had it confirmed from three sources now, including the Crew Manager, Monika, that the crew can easily and without a fee exchange any currency they receive into another one, so that’s a great way to use foreign currency you don’t want to take home), sent all the tropical shirts to the cleaners and actually packed a few things into suitcases. This cabin is already looking less like we’ve moved in and more like that of other cruisers.
Day 13 lunch menu, page 1
Day 13 lunch menu, page 2
However, skipping lunch left G quite hungry by 3pm, so he dressed nicely, but not in his tuxedo, for formal night #996 of the season. (is it possible he’s burning out on them too?) and went down to Alfredo’s for pizza. I dressed in my least formal formal outfit (also my least warm...parts of this ship are still pretty warm) and met him just before 5pm. Acoustic duo Acoustic Rush from Ukraine, Demetri and Sergei, were playing in the Piazza and, somehow, we’ve been missing out on them and they are fantastic. We will go out of our way to hear them tomorrow... as long as they don’t interfere with the Super Bowl, of course.
We went to dinner where Francesco again spoiled me with special items. He said I am so agreeable to whatever he makes for me, and I told him I loved having someone looking out for me and planning my meals, because you know who does that at home (and, no, it’s not generally G, although he did do an incredible job of it last summer). G had just the cold soup and an ice cream sundae. Pizzas and sundaes; I think he’s well over fancy cruise food.
Day 13 dinner menu, page 1
Day 13 dinner menu, page 2
Day 13 dessert menu
And then we were in the Princess Theater an hour early for seats for production show Encore. There were, shockingly, still plenty of seats available 30 minutes before the show (I think tonight’s Captains Circle parties might be part of the reason), but the theater filled completely over the next few minutes and was full 20 minutes before showtime. Encore is worth it. The Majestic Princess orchestra plus Demitri and Sergei from Acoustic Rush PLUS violinist Chris Watkins...this is as good as it gets for musical accompaniment on a cruise ship. There is a matinee performance of Encore tomorrow afternoon at 1pm, but, with any luck, the Super Bowl will be well into the third quarter by then with the Chiefs at least two scores ahead.
Fingers crossed. 🤞🏼
The costumes in Encore are exquisite
All this voluminous fabric is attached to the dancer’s dress, and later detaches
Check out those ball gowns, and violinist Chris Watkins playing the André Rieu role
Day 13 Princess Patter, page 1
Day 13 Princess Patter, page 2
Day 13 Princess Patter, page 3
Day 13 Princess Patter, page 4
