This might be a slower day than originally anticipated. First of all, finding breakfast was more of a challenge than we thought it would be. The restaurant in the hotel that we’re at, surprisingly, has breakfast but only on weekends. Not during the weekday! And we’re looking down what appears to be restaurant row, given all the restaurants that are on this street, but none of them are open for breakfast either. So ultimately, we went back to the Hotel le Concorde and had breakfast in the smaller restaurant on the main floor. This actually turned into a very good choice as breakfast was delicious. Ok…it looks messy, but that’s cuz I broke the perfectly poached egg Before taking the pic. Oooopppsss…. Avocado toast with tomato, bacon and pan-fried potatoes (which were, yes, a little more Pan-Fried than necessary but still good).
Back to the room, and we go to check out. The lady behind the desk graciously calls a taxi for us and our trek to the ship begins. Getting to the port proper, was easy enough. Getting into the port and to the area where we could drop off our bags took almost as long. Which was kind of surprising. However, bags dropped off and we have comfortably boarded the ship. Up to our room on Riviera deck, (which is deck 14).
Did the appropriate muster orientation. It is vastly streamlined from the days of grabbing your life jacket then all gathering at your muster station patiently listening to the assigned crew member give you the how-to-do-stuff in case of an emergency. Now you watch a video on TV, which is tied to your medallion so they know you have watched it. Then you go to your muster station, and scan your medallion which confirms that you have actually been there. All done. As long as you get those two things done on your first day on the ship, you’re good to go.
Then we started to wander around the ship a little bit. All the sudden Bellini’s bar came into view. As we have been avoiding drinks other than the occasional wine, it seemed appropriate that we should stop, which we did. We tested both the passion fruit and blackberry versions. As good as they were, it seems appropriate that we order something else, just to ensure consistency and as a measure of quality control. I’m sure you understand. In addition to that, apparently, we are supposed to consume 15 drinks a day, regardless of whether it’s a sea day or it’s a port day when we are likely off the ship. I don’t know if I can do this, but I might give it at least a half-hearted try.
This (second) one is Rob Floyd’s Bellini Classico – Absolut Citron vodka, Prosecco, Peach Puree. Okay, they passed the test. At least for today. However, in the interest of accurate research, there will be periodic tests throughout the next 10 days.
Traipsing through the ship taking pictures of different venues. Catch by Rudi which we have reservations for.
Ocean terrace, which is a sushi bar. Oh Gee!!. Might be forced to spend more than one dinner here. It is a casual dining venue, and we have two casual dinings available to us. Casual dining is one of the (now more frequent) additional cost options for culinary experiences.
None of the shops are allowed to be open while they are in Port. However, I do want to go into the Tag Heuer and Breitling watch shop, flashing my Rolex. Just to see if they can impress me. But, as it turns out, there will be an actual pre-owned “Rolex Unveiling” where I can meet their experts to find the perfect watch for my cruise. Hmmmmm…..More to follow on this one.
Sitting at the International Cafe right now, has given me some time to pause and reflect. It would seem prudent, after a couple of bellinis, that I should at least have a small bite to eat. So a prosciutto croissant with tomato slice seemed appropriate. Somehow it came paired with a glass of Pinot Grigio. I’m not sure how that happened. 😉.
I am part of a forum on Facebook regarding the Majestic Princess and this cruise in particular. I have seen a number of posts in that particular forum, other Princess Cruise forums and other Cruise forums in general, that are somewhat negative. I don’t have a problem with negativity. Anybody is free to express whatever opinion they may have. I have no objection to any of it. But when I am on a cruise, and most of the time it has been with Princess, I look at it from a perspective that I don’t have to do anything that I don’t want to do. I don’t have to make my own meals. I don’t have to clean up my room. I wake up in the morning, and chances are I am in a different city, more often than not a different country. I didn’t have to do anything to get here other than wake up. Everything that I need (maybe not all my Wants but…) is provided for me.
I could be at home, looking forward to potential snowfall in the not-too-distant future. Plus, all the shoveling etc. that goes with it. I could be at home looking at fall cleanup. I could be at home deciding what I should make and/or have for breakfast/ lunch/dinner. I could be at home looking at the same Skyline every morning when I wake up and every evening when I go to bed.
The reality is no matter what vacation you take, no matter your mode of transportation to and/or from and/or during, there will always be pluses and minuses. What you really need to look at, are the experiences that you have getting there, and have while you are there. You are not at home. You are someplace else that you have wanted to visit. You are enjoying things that you have longed to do.
You have limited heartbeats while on this Earth. Is it really worth complaining about things that really don’t matter, when you could be enjoying all the things that you look forward to? I have been cruising for 20 years. There are some things that have been less than perfect. I defy anyone to tell me that every one of their vacations, regardless of what they were or what they included, were perfect. In the grand scheme of things, those imperfections really don’t matter. The fact that you’ve gone away at all, the things that you were able to do and see, those are the things that matter the most. Time spent complaining, really is just a waste of that precious little time that you have. But that is just my opinion. You are certainly entitled to your own.
Ok…enough of my rant for this trip. 😊
This journey will only afford us two sea days. Those are, at times, a wonderful respite from busy port days where activities may be many and sometimes arduous. When those come around, I love to go to my ‘office’ on Princess ships. It is the bar/lounge located right outside the Crown Grill (which specializes in steak. Given where we’re going to be, steak will Not be on our planned menu. 😉 ) This location affords me comfortable seating, a nice little table for my laptop complete with a power outlet right on the wall beside me, the bar (DUH!), and a nearby washroom. Here I can sit and type away, providing insights—relevant or not, depending on your lens. Most of the time it is a relatively quiet area although sometimes, like today, there is some live music (of a more subdued nature). Kinda like having my own semi-private You-Tube music channel.
We have our steward (Ronaldo) changing out our free mini bar from assorted mini liquors to sparkling water. Having mini liquors in our room seems a little redundant, given the fact that we have, for all intents and purposes, unlimited drinking while on the ship.
It might be a tad early, but I think we’re going to go to the buffet for supper tonight rather than the main dining room. Walked through the buffet earlier, and they certainly had no shortage of wonderful selections. Not the least of which was a whole whack of mussels in a wonderful looking wine sauce.
One thing we have learned is that if you’re going to eat at the buffet, one of your party should grab an empty window seat. These are definitely preferred seating. They are snapped up quickly. So, accept the fact that the person grabbing the seat will be going to get their food after everybody else, but you will have a much nicer view of the world. Especially if you happen to actually be sailing at the time. If you are just sitting looking at the dock/port view, it may be great…or it may be less than stellar. Regardless it will NOT be the street outside the front of your house or your backyard.
Ok peoples…that’s it for today. Tomorrow for sure we’re back in Quebec City to visit some locales I spoke of earlier and likely a few others as well. Til then… 😊