Sea Day #7

Hello from sea day number seven on the Ruby Princess as we head back from Hawaii to our next port, Ensenada, Mexico. Today, yet again, was another text and phone call day about the recovering-from-surgery doggy. Timestamp on the first one? 3:31 AM. I would not be exaggerating to say there were at least 100+ more messages incoming during the day. Despite that I still got myself out of the cabin and to breakfast for another omelette.

I got myself settled in to my little spot out of the wind to be ready for the morning Movies Under the Stars showing. The first place I ever watched Mamma Mia was on a Princess cruise ship. The second place? A Princess ship. The 3rd through 15th time? A Princess ship. Only place I ever watched the live musical of Mamma Mia? On a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. For me, Mamma Mia is reserved for ship time.

Ready to go!

Unfortunately, not but about five minutes after this picture was taken clouds quickly moved in and the rain started. As I scootered myself across the deck to get to the cabin, I got the full brunt force of the winds and the rain at the same time. I came back to the cabin wet and cold, with my glasses covered with so much rain I almost couldn’t see. I kicked off my shoes, put my sweatshirt hood up, and covered up to try and get warm. And fell asleep for two hours.

I then skipped lunch, had more phone calls from home, stayed tucked under the blanket, and watched a movie in the cabin.

Once I headed back out I came across a spot on Deck 16 where the wind was blowing so hard the surface was pulling up. 

Found a little book-reading duck.

Made it to pre-dinner drinks with a view like this.

Took just the shrimp part of the pasta dish and the rice from the chicken dish and added the spring roll from the appetizer list for my dinner. 

Yummy yummy for my tummy 

And stopped by the casino on the way back to the cabin. Then this happened again. 

Boy, I’m dreading the taxes on all these.

I’ll see you tomorrow for another sea day.

Sea Day #6

Hello from the second most boring sea day. Again, not because of the lack of activities or because I personally was bored

You can see the day’s activities
on the app, too. 

but because of hospital patient Baloo the dog. The first text to me from back home arrived at a very early 3:46AM letting me know the hospital still couldn’t get him to eat. There were 25 more incoming messages and 4 phone calls made to me in the next five hours. With all my attention being focused on conversations from home - which should be done in private, not public - I again pushed the privacy button on the door panel, stayed in the cabin, and skipped breakfast. It was only when Baloo arrived home and got settled in did I feel comfortable leaving the cabin.

It was about 11:00 when I headed straight outside to a lounge chair on Deck 16. The weather was still on the warm side so I was surprised the pool deck wasn’t packed.

Loungers empty on a sea day at 11? Shocking. 

I eventually made my way to the dining room for lunch. Unfortunately it was Pub Lunch day. I used to love pub lunch (I wrote about how much I loved it on a cruise in 2017) but nowadays, they’re turning the fish out so fast it’s always just mediocre.

Based on the size of the fish pieces
it should be called chips and fish instead

Having to get the taste of greasy fish out of my mouth, I of course had to opt for half a piece of chocolate cake with just a tad bit of ice cream.

From there, a stop at the casino, and another hand pay.

Love winning. Hate the implications at tax time.

Back to the cabin because of more incoming texts and phone calls. And photos. Poor Baloo.

I think he’s saying, “Rescue me Grandma.”

Pre-dinner drinks of…

Lemon Drop Martini

White rum, spiced rum, and Diet Coke

Yummy, yummy samosas from the Elite Lounge

Dinner was Italian night, not my favorite. But I had a bit of that spicy pasta I had the other night and a dish called Mama’s Lasagna. 

Topped off with lemon meringue cheesecake. 

We move clocks ahead again tonight so I’m creeping closer to home time zone. Hope that means receiving 3:46 AM texts won’t feel like 3:46 AM anymore. 

Up tomorrow, another sea day.

Sea Day #5

Hello from the most boring sea day ever. It wasn’t because of the lack of activities on the ship because there were plenty. 

It was because of a dog. Baloo, my daughter’s dog who I babysat when he was a puppy, had a life threatening medical emergency last night. He was rushed to the all-night veterinarian office, transferred to another, and had emergency surgery in the wee hours of the morning. As things progressed, texts and calls between my daughter and I were numerous throughout the night and early morning hours. It was 3:45 AM Hawaii time when Baloo was out of surgery and I felt comfortable getting in some sleep. And 6 something when I got the next update. At that point I decided to turn off the alarm, push the privacy sign on the door panel, and dig out a protein bar for when I woke up. 

Baloo will be in the hospital for at least another day but should make a full recovery. They had to make a late afternoon trip back to see him because the boy wouldn’t eat but his mom and dad (my daughter and son-in-law) were able to get some baby food in him.

With me sleeping in my day started late. I skipped going to breakfast, I skipped the treadmill, and I barely made my way to the dining room for lunch. I made my own lunch combo of a Thai spring roll and grilled shrimp pasta - minus the pasta.

I had to cut through the casino to get to and from my cabin and the dining room, and since it wasn’t very crowded today I stopped and played a little while. My winnings will help contribute to the Baloo recovery fund.

Put in a $100 bill, lose $30 of it, and win $1547.20. 
Yeah, I’ll take it. 

After lunch were more phone calls and texts and updates which then rolled into predinner drinks. Someone may or may not have had multiple lemon drop martinis.

Dinner was another mix and match meal with this time being beef and a little baby lobster tail. The lobster looked so much more impressive when it was in the shell.

Can you find the lobster?
I think my shrimp at lunch were bigger.

I turned in early tonight, hoping to get some better sleep. What’s up tomorrow? Another sea day, but hopefully a more productive one. See you then!

Nawiliwili, Hawaii

Hello from Kauai!

After a crappy breakfast of scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, and cheese

Gross

And a 20 minute session on the treadmill 

Morning treadmill view

I went back to the cabin, changed shoes, and got packed for my day. Today’s plan was going to happen, rain or no rain, so the waterproof jacket and hat got tucked into my bag.

There was only one place (technically two?) I wanted to go today, the nearby Kalapaki beach and Duke’s. When Ed and I have been here before we’ve contemplated Duke’s, but there’s always been a long line. It’s also so expensive it’s been hard for us to justify eating or drinking there. But on this visit it’s just me, the sun is shining, and it’s my last Hawaiian port. So today I first perused the grounds of what used to be the Marriott but is now the Royal Sonesta. Beautiful flowers and foliage and a koi pond, complete with food so you could feed them. The koi were huge.

There was a bathroom nearby, too

Then a little stroll down the beach and a little bit of people watching had me ready for the 10:45 AM opening of Duke’s.

Once seated somebody may or may not have had more than one Mai Tai.

Mai Tai #1

#2

#3

And a guava daiquiri/martini kind of drink.

Before my cheeseburger I contemplated having a piece of hula pie but when the server told me there is a pint of ice cream in one slice, I passed.

I could only eat half. But so good. 

Instead, on my way back to the ship I stopped off for one last shave ice. 

What would you choose?

I chose the small Alive made from strawberry, banana, and vanilla. I guess the vanilla was the blue? Oh so tasty. 

It was definitely a magnificent day and a great way to end my time on the islands. We now have five long sea days until we arrive in Ensenada, Mexico.

Bye, Nawiliwili. Hope to see you again!

Honolulu, Hawaii

Hello from the island of Oahu! It’s a rainy day here in Honolulu.

Diamond Head is out there

After my omelet breakfast I walked the treadmill while hoping the skies would clear. 

18 minute treadmill view today

I also watched the weather from up in Skywalkers and even made my way across the wet deck to double check the abilities of the scooter to navigate slick surfaces. I knew the answer already, but how could I come all this way and miss going out in Honolulu? By early afternoon my decision was made. With weather on the bridge cam looking like this I would have to stay put on the ship. 

Looks like today’s a wash

Things lightened a little bit later in the afternoon and I probably could have chanced it, but by that point I had lost my motivation. I’ve been here many times before so it’s not like I haven’t experienced everything Honolulu and Oahu have to offer. Plus I’m certain I’ll be back again another day. 

The rain stopped tonight so it’s easier to see Diamond Head.
Too late for me to go anywhere now.

Pre dinner drinks included a new one, some kind of vodka, blue curaçao, and pineapple juice mixture.

And some delicious dumplings from the Elite Lounge

A shrimp dish for dinner with a sugar free coconut cake and orange sorbet for dessert rounded out the evening.  

A little too spicy for me

A great combo

A nice little swan towel animal greeted me upon my arrival back at the cabin. 

Look at the “feathers”

Tomorrow we’re in Kauai. I’m hoping for some good weather there. So you then!