Arrival in San Diego

May 10th

We arrived in San Diego early this morning.  We had to stand in line to go thru customs.  At least that was done this morning so it should make getting off the ship in the morning easier.  We have had a good time but right now..I would like it to be tomorrow night at about midnight and we are home..asleep in our own bed.

The last few days have been fun.  I played Mah Jongg each day and maybe won a couple of dollars.  My team did not win the Trivia marathon but it was a lot of fun.  I did get my hair cut…it is almost as short as Charlie's!!!!!!!!  I might have got a little carried away but I think I like it.

We planned to get off today and go to the zoo but the day is overcast and chilly.  There is supposed to be a Red Bull Air Race in the Bay today.  I think we may be able to see it from the ship.  Later today, I think we will get off and go in to Old Town and get some good Mexican food.

I’m sorry to see this cruise come to an end.  We had a really good time made especially good by sharing it with our friends.  It makes me sad in a way that we don’t have any future cruises scheduled with most of them.  I’m sure we will meet new friends on Princess but there really is something special about this group and I’m sure we will see them again…either on land or on the seas.

Sea Day

May 6th

Had my first Mah Jongg game today.  Did OK.  We didn’t play for money but will pay for $$$ starting tomorrow.  Plan is to play every morning for the next 3 sea days.  It is fun to play with other people and pick up some pointers as to other ways to play.  My team won afternoon Trivia.

We had a party this afternoon in Steven’s new suite.  The people in the Owner’s Suite got off in Costa Rica so Stephen got upgraded mid-cruise.  He sure is lucky and must have a lot of pull…….compare the cabins….

 

Which cabin would you prefer ?????

 

 

Now compare the showers……….

Again…which one would you prefer?????  Stephen promised me I could use his shower …maybe I will take him up on it…I’m really tired of the shower curtain sticking to me….                                        

May 7th

Played Mah Jongg for money this AM…won 55 cents!!!!  It is really interesting playing with other people.  Have found a few things to suggest when I get home.  Got a little sun today sitting on the balcony between Mah Jongg and Trivia.  This has really been a busy cruise.  Not much time to sit and relax.  I have really had a wonderful time.  It has been so much fun traveling with this great group of people.  Unfortunately, these are all very loyal Royal Caribbean sailors so I won’t be seeing them on our next 3 cruises.  I sincerely hope we will all sail together again.

Our group meeting for drinks in the Concierge  Lounge before dinner.  Tonight we are eating dinner at the Windjammer because the dinner menu in no good. That is probably the one complaint I have…The food in the dining room is not very good(but I’ve stilled gained weight)

Found a hair style I really like on Sue(SuzyLovesToCruise on Cruise Critic).  I’m going to have my hair cut in the next few days and Sue has offered to come to the salon to show them the style I want.

Sea Days

May 5th

 

 

Beautiful sunrise as viewed from our balcony.

 

 

Sort of an interesting picture of Charlie and the sun rise.  The lens of the camera fogged up because the camera was brought from a cool room to a hot, humid balcony.

 

Delia offered to make my necklace…how could I say no!!!!  Seriously, I really appreciate  her help.  Who else can shoot a gun and do crafts with so much expertise!!!!  Delia also made me a beautiful shawl for formal nights.  guess I will have to make a very special DVD of the cruise for her but that is really not anything to equal what she has done for me.

Didn’t play Mah Jongg today.  It conflicted with the mini golf tournament (we didn’t play) so I have a game tomorrow.  Tonite is the last formal night…THANK GOD….I really don’t like the formal nights.  Want to try Azamara Cruises…no formal nights. 

Puntarenas Costa Rica

May 4th

Today is our last port.  We went on the FREE shore excursion offered by Royal Caribbean for the Diamond Plus/Diamond members.  This is a rescheduled tour as the original one was to be in Puerto Vallarta.  This one was a tour to the Cafe Britt  coffee fields.  Their facilities are close to San Jose so we had about a 2 1/2 Hour bus ride each way. 

 

Even though it was a long ride, the scenery was beautiful. 

 

Our first stop was at a coffee farm to learn about growing and harvesting the coffee beans.  This was fun and really very informative.

Next we stopped at the main Cafe Britt facility were we learned about the roasting and processing the beans.  There was then a comedy enactment of the history of coffee.  This was cute and fun.  Then we had a lunch and was a welcome change from cruise food.  Of course, there was a chance to buy coffee, etc!!!!  Bought a French Press and a few bags of espresso beans and, of course, some chocolate covered espresso beans.  Now, I just have to figure out how to pack all this stuff.

All in all, a long day but fun.  No one felt like going to the dining room tonight so we all ate up in the Windjammer.  Sandy and I found the “make your own pizza” area and made a delicious pizza with anchovies.  Finally, made it to the show tonight.  It highlighted one of the production show singers.  He really was very good and should go far.

Sea Day

May 3rd

Today was a sea day.  Again, very busy!!  Started with morning Trivia and then on to Arts & Crafts to make luggage tags.  Really not very exciting…

  Then it was on to Beading class where I made this spiral bracelet (with Delia’s help).  I bought 2 additional kits to make a necklace and earrings.  Guess I will be in Vicki’s jewelry class when I get home.

Since I was busy with beading class, Charlie attended the crossing of the Equator ceremony.  We official crossed the Equator last night at 9:45 PM but the ceremony with “King Neptune” was today.

 

We are enjoying the sea days.  Charlie gets to watch a Fox News marathon and I sure have been busy!!  I haven’t got to spend much time on the balcony.  On the first cruise, it was really not warm enough and now it is VERY hot and VERY humid.

Tomorrow will be our last port before 5 sea days and then an over night in San Diego.  I finally have a Mah Jongg game scheduled.  Hopefully I will get to play a lot on all the sea days.

Manta, Ecuador

May 2nd

Today was another overcast, hot and humid day.  Manta really doesn’t have much to offer.  It is known for tuna fishing and the Panama Hats produced in the small town of Monte Christi.  Right next to where the ship docked was a tuna fishing boat unloading .

We took the shuttle in to town and shopped at the craft market. 

 

Bought one of the CHEAP Panama Hats.  Delia approved of the purchase.

 

It was fun to just walk around but there really wasn’t much else to see or do.  By noon time, we were ready to return to the ship.  Fran, Sandy and I went out after lunch and found a “Supermarcado” and bought soda and water.

Tomorrow will be another sea day and then what will be our last port, PuntaArenas Costa Rica  on Monday.  Royal Caribbean has rescheduled the free Diamond shore excursion for PuntaArenas so we will be off early for a full day.

Lima Peru

April 30th

This morning was a mess!!!!!!  Peruvian health officials boarding the ship in masks, gowns, gloves etc…..it really was an eerie feeling.  It took them over an hour to clear the ship and then when we finally got off, many people where standing around with masks on and TV crews where there wanting to interview people.  There was confusion in trying to find our tour bus…….finally we found it and we were on our way with a “stowaway” that hadn’t paid for the tour but just got on the bus!!!  The tour guide made her provide a credit card and ran it thru so she didn’t get a free tour.

We drove out of town Not really impressed with Lima.  The traffic is horrendous.  It is so crowded and appears to be a very poor but clean city.  It really makes me grateful for what I have.

Our first stop was at the Pachacamac Ruins in the valley of Lurin.  Here the archeologists are still working to unearth Pre-Inca and Inca archaeological construction.

 

 

 

The group coming down from the Sun Temple…..note our crazy friend…..Stephen with the mask!!!

 

We then returned to the city where we had lunch consisting of typical Peruvian foods.  Charlie really enjoyed this..it was OK!! 

  Our first stop was at the Monastery of San Francisco, famous for beautiful tile work and paneled ceilings. We also visited the catacombs under the monastery.  I really could have done without that!!!!!!!!!

 

Our last stop was at the Lima Cathedral…it was beautiful but I really have seen enough churches……

 

Returned to the ship hot and tired.  Glad we visited but not in a hurry to return to Peru.  Tonight we are going to dinner in the Windjammer.  Getting tired of the long dinners in the dining room and eating way too much food.  Will have to do some serious dieting when we return home.

Update on Swine Flu/Sea Day

April 29th

Today we learned that the 3 stops planned for Mexico have been cancelled.  After our stop in Costa Rica, we will have 5 sea days and arrive in San Diego a day early and overnight on the ship.  No one is really surprised.  It was a no win situation for the cruise line.  There is nothing between Costa Rica and the US except Mexico so there was nowhere else to stop.  The extra day in San Diego will be nice and we will get a refund for Mexican port charges.

Today was day 2 of the Trivia Marathon.  My team is in 2nd place!!!!  Also, today, was the Cabin Crawl and Poker Run.

 

Since the cabin crawl conflicted with the trivia, Delia Kane stood in for me as hostess to assist Charlie.  Check out Charlie pouring the box wine!!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Sandy Hopkins stopped by to check out the cabin and to pick a card for the poker hand.