Today is the day I finally hit a wall. It’s not even like I have been eating too much (I definitely haven’t), or drinking too much (well, not most days). I think it’s all the sea days and regularly scheduled meals (and the MTG luncheon) that had me feeling enough is enough. My first instinct is to say the Princess Plus package is just too much for cruises of more than ten days, but the reality is that I consumed three cappuccinos and five Perriers, so that pays for the package even on a dry day. Had Princess not offered their current double days promotion, we were still planning on buying the package for this cruise. Where it has motivated us to purchase the Plus package when we might not have is on the upcoming 7 night cruises. But at least we’ll be off the ship and skipping some meals on port days. Either way, it’s a done deal. Princess Plus has already been purchased, whether I’ve hit a wall or not. And I’m not even sure how long I’m staying onboard (more on that in a later post).
We didn’t move clocks back an hour overnight, but, with no football to watch in the middle of the night, we were still up early enough to catch sunrise off the Terrace Deck. The day was going to be warm and sticky (and, writing this in our cabin, slide to type works perfectly. It is all a matter of humidity).
We did go to breakfast in Allegro, where I had scrambled egg beaters and a fruit plate (no pics of the menu though…sorry). We followed that up with a return to G’s favorite spot on the Terrace Deck. It’s a popular place.
My Hotmail accounts once again gave me trouble, and I’m not sure why I am having to reauthenticate them every single day, and then the app still doesn’t work for me. G is having no such problems. I’m also having to reauthenticate my Apple account every time I use my iPhone. I suspect iOS 18.1, which I installed on my phone, is the difference, though that still doesn’t explain why mail on my iPad doesn’t work. I’m hoping to get it straightened out in St. Thomas, using Verizon cellular. It’s not a show stopper, though I don’t recall having these sorts of issues since we traveled in French Polynesia a hundred years ago.
While I was in the cabin fussing with that, I turned on the TV for possibly the first time since we boarded, and found the enrichment lectures which have been taking place in the Princess Theater. I watched one (quite interesting), and there are a slew of others to catch up on.
Hot and sour soup
Vegetarian stir fry
After lunch, we listened to the Regal Princess band play in the Piazza (lots of dancers!), and then I made my way from there to the spa to use The Enclave. There was hardly anyone there today, so I used my Air Pods while on a heater lounger and listened to music and actually fell sleep. When I awoke, there was just one other person there and it was after 4pm. I slept for over an hour. It’s a pretty comfy spot, but usually too busy with people coming and going to actually sleep.
I knew G was joining some fellow cruisers from our Facebook roll call for drinks at Crooners, but I got showered and went directly to dinner. Tonight’s Princess Theater performance was production shore Fiera and I knew we had to get there early to get a seat.
Dinner was simple; shrimp cocktail
and scallop cocktail
So there we are, sitting in the Princess Theater for nearly a full hour to get seats we like for the show when a deep cougher moves in behind me and after ten minutes of that, I had to get up and find another seat (in the middle of the Premier seats when they opened up). There has been an increasing amount of deep, rumbly coughs on board, just as there was last cruise (we heard). On any cruise of more than seven days it’s almost a given. A very few people are wearing masks; unfortunately, they’re not the coughers. We’ve seen no tables outside cabin doors indicating quarantines. Do they even do that anymore? I’m not sure. What I’ve read online leads me to believe Princess has reached the “don’t ask, don’t tell” point of viral containment.
We continue to test periodically (like before the MTG luncheon) for COVID but have no symptoms and test negative. Rosanne, you asked in your email if I am worried about getting sick onboard. I’m not worried- I got the flu and COVID vaccines in September- but I am prepared with a drugstore full of OTC meds and course of Paxlovid, though I’d have to be pretty darn sick to take that again. It’s rough stuff. But my doctor insists I have it with me if I cruise, given my asthma and history with viral lung infections. Still, even armed with what I’d need if I got sick, I’m not looking to be around someone spewing germs for a 45-minute show.
So, back to Fiera… I was quite excited for this show because I remembered it as being one of my favorites, but it didn’t hit right with me tonight. It’s certainly ok, and I love the costumes and sets, but it is a little weird. I think we will be seeing Born to Dance yet on this cruise, and that one really is a favorite. Still, there’s been plenty of good entertainment with something for everyone. And most of the live music has been fantastic.
We made a quick stop in the Wheelhouse Bar for some of that live music (with Perrier instead of two elderflower palomas for me), and called it a night. We are moving clocks back another hour overnight which thrills me if for no other reason than it puts us closer to US time zones for college football tomorrow. I have a story to share but I’ll save it for tomorrow when all I’ve done all day is watch football in the cabin.
