Day 14: When Michigan won The Game

This day started in a highly predictable manner, at least until lunch. We spent the morning in the Sanctuary but it wasn’t a great day up there. It was extremely windy and mostly cloudy with sporadic light showers. Still, we soldiered on until it was time for lunch. I knew that our food would blow off our utensils if we tried to eat up there, so we called it a day and went to the Allegro Dining Room for my first time since Embarkation Day this cruise. 

Fish taco

A waiter was seating a couple at the next table and he and I looked at each other and said, “I know you!” simultaneously. It was Francis, who, on my birthday on the Emerald Princess (January 8, 2012 blog entry), put a candle in a muffin and sang me happy birthday at breakfast. We last saw him on the Majestic Princess in Australia in early 2020. 

I started watching The Game, the Michigan v. Ohio State game on my phone at lunch, but we decided to watch most of it on our cabin TV. It was also shown in Club 6 but I get embarrassingly excited watching any football game, but this one even more so. Plus I was getting texts from friends and we were all pretty amazed by what we were seeing. I couldn’t believe it, I just couldn’t believe it, but I was very happy at the outcome. In fact, it was a smidge cooler on the ship today and I went to Good Spirits for a pre-dinner drink and to dinner wearing my national championship sweatshirt. Several people commented on the fact that I must be happy today. Yes, I sure am. 

It’s great to be a Michigan Wolverine!!!

Today I had the Grappa Peach. 

Most of the ship was much more excited about the Texas v. Texas A and M game being shown tonight on MUTS. We started watching it out there but moved into our cabin. We are very happy that we are getting so many football games on our cabin TV. I don’t recall that ever happening before. 

We have an early morning tomorrow, with laundry and another move to a new cabin. For the first time this season, we did not receive an upgrade and will be in an inside cabin, but in our favorite cabin location. Unfortunately, it’s on another deck at the very back of the ship, and we have a counter-full of alcohol to move, too.  It’s going to be a rough morning, but this is probably my last move before I return home. 

Day 13: Cozumel

Oh, who am I trying to fool here?  Nothing that happened yesterday (Cozumel) matters one bit because of what happened today. But, in the interest of filling in all the blanks, I will briefly discuss our day yesterday while the ship was in Cozumel. 

G and I weren’t in/on Cozumel, of course. For us it was just another beautiful morning in the Sanctuary, followed by lunch in Alfredo’s, followed by more Sanctuary time, a Captains Circle cocktail party, dinner and then the new cast performance of Bravo. 

The MTG cocktail party was held in Club 6, and, with only 120 or so Elite cruisers, the cut off was in the low 200s, which I love to see, because our fellow guests are so excited about getting what is for many their first invite. Too bad it’s not the luncheon, but, on these short cruises, a luncheon would be nearly impossible to fit in. 

Delicious food offerings at MTG

It was fun to watch the “old” cast, which has been performing on the ship since last winter, file into the Princess Theater to watch last night’s performance, and no one clapped and cheered louder than they collectively did. The new cast did a beautiful job, and I look forward to seeing them perform the other production shows next cruise.  

Duck finding, in the Piazza while we were listening to party band Asian Soul and G was eating ice cream. He dropped it on the table of some kids who were entertaining us all on the dance floor. They have been so fun to watch. 

Tomorrow:  The Game, but Michigan is such an underdog that I haven’t even had a sick tummy thinking about it this week. It’s a rebuilding year. It’s a rebuilding year. That’s my new mantra. 

Days 11 and 12: Roatan and Belize

I have gotten lazy about blogging at the same time I have little to report. This cruise is proceeding just as we had expected it to:  lots of kids, lots of people, everything is busy and crowded… and we are vegging in the Sanctuary all day, every day. 

That’s not quite right. G did get off the ship in Belize today. He was on the first water shuttle at 7:30am (because he’s crazy that way), while I tend to sleep in and get to the Sanctuary no later than 10am. I walk in, have a brief word with Yudi, and within minutes my decaf cappuccino with soy milk, mimosa, yogurt parfait and banana oat muffin appear at my side. 

Life in the Sanctuary is very, very good. 

Both yesterday and today we were chased under a gazebo by intermittent rain showers, but the Sanctuary staff is quick to squeegee and replace wet towels for dry ones as soon as the rain stops. 

We were berthed right behind the Carnival Jubilee today. 

It was a little surreal to look at the ship and think ,”We lounged there, and there, and swam there “. 

This means there were about 10500 passengers in Mahogany Bay today. No surprise we didn’t get off the ship at all. 

Gazpacho and smoked salmon and avocado salad.

My standard Sanctuary fare. 

And alcohol. Too much alcohol. 

We have skipped afternoon tea in the Sanctuary for two days now. I absolutely love it, love the whole idea of it, but we just can’t eat at 3:15pm when dinner is at 5pm.  It’s just way too much. 

Grilled vegetable salad

We skipped the production show Fiera last night. It was the last time that cast was performing together, so I was sad to miss it, but we opted for another comedy show instead. G is in search of comedian he saw last year who did iPhone humor, to no avail (so far). I really want to see this guy (I’ve heard about him for a year now) but I think it will be a shocker if he actually appears on the ship again. Meanwhile, we’ve heard two marginal at best comedians while we are engaged in the hunt. 

We managed to stay awake for the Disco dance party in the at Piazza at 10:15pm…barely. The little kids showed us how to party, and they were ruling the dance floor. 

Today, as I mentioned , G was out and about early. I sleep wearing that MusicCozy sleep mask, and it leaves me dead to the world. He can get up, turn on lights, make noise, whatever, and I don’t stir at all. Eventually he starts sending me texts with photos, and after receiving enough notification sounds, I finally start to stir. 

This morning I was dressed just in time to welcome a crew member in to fix our balcony door. We can’t open it, simply can’t budge it, and someone with a disability might have a real fight on their hands trying to get on the balcony. I left to go to the Sanctuary while he was still working on it, with everything torn apart and the wheelchair ramp dismantled. “It will be all fixed when you return” he told me with a big smile. I had no doubt about that (and it was). 

Thanksgiving dinner tonight was one of the best we’ve had on cruises. Nothing will ever beat our Thanksgiving fare in the Sapphire transpacific in 2004, but what we enjoyed tonight was a respectable second place. 

Tastiest turkey ever on a cruise!

Magician David Gatti was performing tonight, and in a fit of madness we went to his 7:30pm show, and then we went directly to the Piazza to hear all the musicians on the ship play together. And that was as late as we lasted. Doing nothing all day is exhausting, and we need our sleep. 

Day 10: At Sea

Every time we change cabins, I have to worry about my new mattress. Too soft mattresses are my kryptonite, but I’ve gotten lucky. Both last cruise and this one I have a perfect mattress. We have the heavy comforter removed and opt instead for a sheet and blanket and we have slept so well. Yes, I suppose the alcohol doesn’t hurt either. 

Our day was much the same as yesterday. G is going to breakfast in the Allegro Dining Room, but I don’t get moving early enough and the dining room fills up fast on this cruise, so I’ve been having coffee and a light breakfast in the Sanctuary, and then my lunches there are quite healthy, too. Today I skipped afternoon tea, because I really like to go to dinner at least a little hungry, especially when it’s Italian night. 

Penne arrabbiata with shrimp

This cruise’s Captains Circle party was held at 6:30pm tonight. These come up fast and furiously on these short cruises. We were third most traveled by just two days (1634 v. 1636 days); Mrs. Middleton is living on board for these cruises out of Galveston and will reach 2000 days this winter. That should be a celebration!

Piano entertainer Nany who drew me in the first day I embarked the Regal in Southampton with her soulful playing is leaving us tomorrow due to an emergency, and, honestly, I miss her already. She celebrated her 25th birthday last cruise and her fan club made sure to make her feel loved. We listened to both her sets in the Wheelhouse tonight and were left with the sadz. 

Tonight’s Princess Theater shows were at 7 and 9pm to accommodate the Back to the 80s deck party. The Company Men were three vocalists singing songs from Motown to boy bands, mostly mash ups, and their were incredible. Huge vocal ranges, boy band dance moves (which excited the young girls in the audience in a big way), eight decades of music. I loved them, and kinda wished we had been able to see the early show because I would definitely have gone again to the late show. 

We then headed up to the deck party, more to observe than to partake. We love seeing people of all ages on the ship enjoying themselves and dancing to the same songs. The energy this cruise is off the charts. 

I am determined to make it to breakfast in the dining room tomorrow. I miss the Sona and Gift team, and also miss eating the really healthy breakfast I can get there.