Day 3--At Sea

Day 3—At Sea

Well, another day, another sunrise.  Yes, I was up early again to watch the sunrise.  Joseph, another early riser was out there having coffee and we talked for a little bit.  He is travelling with his sister since his partner couldn’t get away from work.  We compared cruises and talked about the different cruise lines.  He apparently has cruised quite a bit and recommended Interline.com as a travel agent since he says they have incredible rates.  When I get home and have more internet time, I’ll check them out (although I’m really happy with American Express as my travel agent).

I had breakfast in the dining room this morning and sat with three other folks.  The dining room was much better than the buffet for breakfast.  After breakfast, I sat around and read on my Kindle (I’ve been doing that quite a bit between activities and talking to people).  I did go to the “Welcome to the Captain’s Circle” event for all the first-time Princess cruisers.  They had refreshments there and told us all the benefits of becoming repeat Princess cruisers.  (Seems crazy to have to tell a “cruise junkie” the benefits of booking another cruise, but I guess not all the people who attended are hooked yet like I am.)

I decided to skip lunch today since I had a full breakfast and since I’m at the early seating for dinner.  It has finally started to get warmer.  Most people already thought it was warm since they have been laying out by the pool and actually swimming, but I didn’t think low 70s was all that warm.  I think today was at least in the mid to high 70s in the sun (still cool in the shade), but not quite warm enough for me to put on a swimsuit yet.  (Of course my brother Jesse and his family--who live in Anchorage--probably think 70s is very warm, but those of us in Las Vegas are used to much higher temps.)  Instead I relaxed near the pool and read on my Kindle—but only for a short while.

Went to Bingo where I shared a table to two young Japanese ladies, and no they didn’t speak English and apparently had never played Bingo.  It was a challenge trying to explain that they didn’t need to look at every number on the card to find the one that was called, but only needed to look in the B row if a B was called, the I row if an I was called, etc.  They finally understood by the third game.  After Bingo, they both bowed and said thank you to me.  On my last cruise, I was practicing my German; on this cruise it seem I’m trying to rack my brain for the little Japanese I know.

Met JJ at the afternoon trivia—we were on the same trivia team the first day.  A friend of JJ’s also joined us along with another couple and her mother.  The questions were not easy, but between the six of us, we were able to answer 17 out of 20 questions correctly.  Unfortunately, we didn’t win, since another table answered 19 correctly.  Oh well, maybe next time.

The four “Walmart” ladies didn’t show up for dinner and I thought I might be the only one at our table for 9, but one of the couples that hadn’t shown up previously did arrive—Polly and Pat.  Pat had a bad back and shoulder and apparently had injured himself carrying luggage.  He had seen the ships doctor who had prescribed a muscle relaxer/pain reliever which had pretty much knocked him out, so they hadn’t made it to the first two dinners.  This was their first cruise, and unfortunately it didn’t get off to a good start.  He had been in the Navy before retiring as a radar operator and had spent a lot of time at sea, but never on a ship where he didn’t have to work, and where he had his own room and room service, so even though he was in pain the first few days, he said it’s been the best cruise he’d ever taken .  Dinner was good and the featured dessert was Cherries Jubilee which was made at the table, so once again we were able to watch and smell it beforehand (so of course, I had to have some).  (I’ve been able to confirm that the sea air does in fact shrink your clothes, since once again, my jeans seem to be getting a little tighter.)

Didn’t go to a show or do anything other than hang out and talk to people out on the Lido deck after dinner.  Tomorrow we arrive in Puerto Vallarta.