Friday, February 19, 2010
Today has been another lazy day, although we did get up earlier. As we approach Fort Lauderdale, the air is a little cooler. It amazes me whenver we pass Cuba--it is the biggest island! We still have temps in the mid 70s, though. I am trying to soak in all the sun and heat that I can so that it will last until July in Erie, so we headed to the Lido Deck pool for the day yet again. It was a little cool now that we are used to the tropics, but we prevailed! I started reading See Jane Die by Erica Sandler. All of these suspense /thriller books have given me nightmares and this one will sure add some color!
The most excitement we have seen on the pool deck happened today when the Princess staff hosted the “Scrapheap Challenge Final.” Five or six teams created little boats of any materials they could scavenge over the last week and a half. One boat was made with an umbrella, another Styrofoam, others used empty coke bottles. The challenge was that the vessel had to be able to hold the cargo (six full cans of beer) and be pulled all the way around the pool from the side. The fastest time won. The decks were filled with people cheering the little boats on. This would be a wonderful challenge at B & D’s pool!
The last day of a cruise is spent lamenting the end of a great time, packing, and preparing extra tips for the staff that truly deserves them. The worst thing is packing---this is when we get to face ALL of our suitcases again (they have been safely tucked under our bed). By this time we have 7 large bags of souvenirs and one large bag of laundry, plus our 5 suitcases, 2 carry-ons, my purse and computer case, and TK’s backpack. I just felt like repeating all that to remind me of the work ahead tonight. I think I could write a song with this litany, like the 12 days of Christmas. I am so glad we can repeat this whole scenario with another cruise. We cannot possibly buy another thing, or we will need another suitcase for certain and maybe even a trailer for the TK’s truck.
After dinner: We packed before and after dinner-it is an awful scene. I think we thought since we had another large suitcase we could just keep on buying things, heavy things like coffee and hand lotion. And I forgot that we had bought another carry-on, add that to the mix! The bags are now in the hall, ready to be carried out by the porters. On this ship suitcases were supposed to be placed outside the door before dinner. That did not happen. The miracle so far is that TK and I have not had a big fight over all this. He is actually taking things quite well.
Anyway, this cruise has been great—such a wonderful itinerary. The crew has been very attentive and we too, really liked the ship. We liked the Carnival Spirit, too. TK wished for more island music by the pool, but I am satisfied with the live music. Today the afternoon “movie” by the pool was a Pavarotti concert. That is quite an extreme from island music!!
TK’s Takes: At the pool today he showed me a rainbow within the clouds, like a rainbow layer over a cloud. I had never seen such a sight---he called the phenomenon a “sun dog,” but was not sure if that was correct or why it happens. There was no rain, just sun and clouds. Pecan bars were available at lunch, but they weren’t even close to Marge’s pecan pie!!! He is very happy because he just found out that Coral Princess will shuttle us and all our bags to the Crown Princess tomorrow!!
If I am not able to access the Internet on the Crown Princess, I want to write our itinerary for the next week and a half:
Saturday, February 20: Disembark from the Coral Princess/Fort Lauderdale
Saturday, February 20: Embark the Crown Princess
Sunday, February 21: At Sea
Monday, February 22: Grand Cayman
Tuesday, February 23: Roatan, Honduras
Wednesday, February 24: Cozumel, Mexico
Thursday, February 25: At Sea
Friday, February 26: Princess Cays—Princess’ private island
Saturday, February 27: Disembark Crown Princess—we will head to Dade City, Florida and stay
one night with TK’s sister, Mary Lou and Scorchy
Sunday, February 28: We will drive to Black Shear, Georgia and stay with my cousins from Toledo, Ohio
Monday, March 1: We intend to begin driving back to Erie and arrive by March 3.
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I am laughing out loud- really!!! I can just imagine your cabin with all of the suitcases in their various states of packing. I will never again feel guilty for overpacking.
ReplyDeleteReally wish we were joining you on the Crown. As for us, our daughter, Jennifer is due in a littleover one month now. Planning her baby shower for March 6th.