What an actioned packed few weeks until my cruise. I retire from work on the 22nd, I made that decision a week ago. Well more signed on the dotted line last week. I had been contemplating it anyway as I turn 55 next Feb anyway.
So while I finish up things at work I also have to concentrate on making sure I have everything under control for this cruise......
Two days after I finish work its off to Sydney to fly to Singapore for 2 nights before cruise.
So am getting excited and can't wait to explore and compare the Diamond to the 3 girls.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Booked another two
Still not final payment time for my Singapore trip, that's in about 6 weeks....but in the meantime I have booked another 2 cruises!
They are actually back-to-back (B2B). When I heard that Princess was bringing another ship to Australia next year and one I've never been on The Golden , I thought here is my chance to bring the new ship home to Oz for her season here.
So I booked the cruise before she sails here which is a 10 night round trip to Alaska from San Francisco. Followed by 28 nights across the Pacific via Hawaii and New Zealand (and others) to Sydney. Golden Gate to Harbour Bridge. With Alaska being a long time dream of mine.
All up it is 38 nights on board, I'll see how I go with my 19 nights alone from Singapore :) If I hate it I can cancel.........
On the Alaska leg I have booked a Window Suite.......which means for the first time I won't have a balcony but I will have the suite perks. I'll see how that goes. And for the trip across the Pacific I have another Emerald deck mini suite (like Singapore) but this time its the farthest aft with an extended balcony.........
Hope I don't get too addicted to these mini suites and window suites! But I'm sure I'll be happy going back to a balcony, and pretty sure I could never do an inside, even if it meant more cruising .
They are actually back-to-back (B2B). When I heard that Princess was bringing another ship to Australia next year and one I've never been on The Golden , I thought here is my chance to bring the new ship home to Oz for her season here.
So I booked the cruise before she sails here which is a 10 night round trip to Alaska from San Francisco. Followed by 28 nights across the Pacific via Hawaii and New Zealand (and others) to Sydney. Golden Gate to Harbour Bridge. With Alaska being a long time dream of mine.
All up it is 38 nights on board, I'll see how I go with my 19 nights alone from Singapore :) If I hate it I can cancel.........
On the Alaska leg I have booked a Window Suite.......which means for the first time I won't have a balcony but I will have the suite perks. I'll see how that goes. And for the trip across the Pacific I have another Emerald deck mini suite (like Singapore) but this time its the farthest aft with an extended balcony.........
Hope I don't get too addicted to these mini suites and window suites! But I'm sure I'll be happy going back to a balcony, and pretty sure I could never do an inside, even if it meant more cruising .
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Home and booked another
I managed 10 days solo, and towards the last days thought yep....don't want to get off! The Sun was beautiful after her refit, and the addition of the International Cafe is a big plus. I didn't get lonely and ate dinner nearly every night in MDR and shared the table with another solo girl from New York. There was originally 4 of us but 2 gave up after 2 nights , no big loss. It was nice to chat to Renate and hear how her day went and her views of her excursions and life in general. We still are keeping in contact via email every week or so.
The same as all previous cruises there was plenty to do or not do if that is what I felt like at the time. I could read/sit on my balcony and watch the world float by, actually saw some dolphins. I was on deck 10 port side forward, a nice spot to be. But then all spots are nice!
I shopped a bit (lot), watched some shows, walked the promenade, didn't take the lift. Actually I have only done that once on Princess in 78 days, pretty good. Not sure how that will be in 5 or 10 years time though!
I also checked out the spa a couple of times, I needed to see how it was in comparison to my other cruises......and the answer is as relaxing as ever.
I had a swim or two in the pools, sat in the hot tubs, in Port Douglas I had the aft pool all to myself :)
Decided to buy 2 future cruise credits whilst in board just in case......and sure enough after a week back I was checking out other cruises.
Booked the brand new Regal maiden trans Atlantic from Venice to Fort Lauderdale, but after a week or so or looking at 4 flights and 2 lots of hotels and combinations in between, I decided to cancel that and book The Diamond from Singapore to Sydney.
That way I can fly there and shop all the way home without worrying about luggage weights!!
I have booked a mini suite on Emerald deck as I discovered they are fully covered just like I am used to. And also am much closer to the water than I am used to.....so excited to be on a different ship to explore. But am thinking it will feel like home again when I set foot on her......now just have to wait 10 months!
The same as all previous cruises there was plenty to do or not do if that is what I felt like at the time. I could read/sit on my balcony and watch the world float by, actually saw some dolphins. I was on deck 10 port side forward, a nice spot to be. But then all spots are nice!
I shopped a bit (lot), watched some shows, walked the promenade, didn't take the lift. Actually I have only done that once on Princess in 78 days, pretty good. Not sure how that will be in 5 or 10 years time though!
I also checked out the spa a couple of times, I needed to see how it was in comparison to my other cruises......and the answer is as relaxing as ever.
I had a swim or two in the pools, sat in the hot tubs, in Port Douglas I had the aft pool all to myself :)
Decided to buy 2 future cruise credits whilst in board just in case......and sure enough after a week back I was checking out other cruises.
Booked the brand new Regal maiden trans Atlantic from Venice to Fort Lauderdale, but after a week or so or looking at 4 flights and 2 lots of hotels and combinations in between, I decided to cancel that and book The Diamond from Singapore to Sydney.
That way I can fly there and shop all the way home without worrying about luggage weights!!
I have booked a mini suite on Emerald deck as I discovered they are fully covered just like I am used to. And also am much closer to the water than I am used to.....so excited to be on a different ship to explore. But am thinking it will feel like home again when I set foot on her......now just have to wait 10 months!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Final Payment
Well I have now paid for the cruise, taken out insurance and checked on the progress on the $30m upgrade to the ship happening now in Singapore. She will no longer be basically the same as her sisters Dawn and Sea which I have been on, part of the refurbishment includes an International Cafe, Sushi Bar, Barbeque and update of Horizon Court. (and other stuff!) . So am looking forward to seeing it and noting the differences, might have to do the Ultimate Ship's tour like I have on the Dawn and Oosterdam.
New countdown clock says 85 days, so am pretty happy with that!
New countdown clock says 85 days, so am pretty happy with that!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
QLD Coastal
Well I didn't get to do the other half. New grandson and other things got in my way, so after having no cruise booked for a few months I got withdrawals so booked this little 10 day cruise. That way I have something to look forward to each day at work :)
I will get to do the Panama canal one day when I retire....and Alaska and and and
I will get to do the Panama canal one day when I retire....and Alaska and and and
Sunday, July 1, 2012
The Other Half
Been a while between posts.........again. I never did get back to post on each New Zealand port, never mind they were all good. But I have just paid a deposit for half next year's World Cruise,yay! Well nearly half, last time I went to Dover and this time I leave from New York and sail to Sydney. I could have started this time on Dover but decided with the money "saved" on starting in NY I can have a few days pre sailing there to look around. While I would be more than happy to visit London/England again, best to keep trying new places first.
Though if you ever did read my last blog I never thought I'd get to travel again and since then have cruised to NZ and have a Solar Eclipse cruise up the QLD coast and over to New Caledonia in November, this time with Holland America (all the others are Princess). And then my new "Half the World" in July 2013 for 38 days. Solar Eclipse is with Di and Louise same as NZ and Half World is by myself (first time solo)
Did think about starting a whole new blog but the title of this one fits nicely. I am very happy to be doing the Panama Canal as it completes my 2 canals :)
Shall list the ports another time and also will give my view on HAL cruise on the Oosterdam in November, I have an aft cabin with a balcony which is pretty exciting as when doing laps of the Promenade on Princess we would always stop at the back and watch the wake or walk to the back on deck 11 and do the same......
Nice to remember those things on such a wet cold wintery day here at home.
Though if you ever did read my last blog I never thought I'd get to travel again and since then have cruised to NZ and have a Solar Eclipse cruise up the QLD coast and over to New Caledonia in November, this time with Holland America (all the others are Princess). And then my new "Half the World" in July 2013 for 38 days. Solar Eclipse is with Di and Louise same as NZ and Half World is by myself (first time solo)
Did think about starting a whole new blog but the title of this one fits nicely. I am very happy to be doing the Panama Canal as it completes my 2 canals :)
Shall list the ports another time and also will give my view on HAL cruise on the Oosterdam in November, I have an aft cabin with a balcony which is pretty exciting as when doing laps of the Promenade on Princess we would always stop at the back and watch the wake or walk to the back on deck 11 and do the same......
Nice to remember those things on such a wet cold wintery day here at home.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
January 2012
Well there you go, I haven't looked at this blog in quite a while and I see that last time I was here I was counting down my New Zealand cruise. And wasn't it a wonderful cruise. The Sea Princess is just about identical to the Dawn so I felt very comfortable as soon as i boarded. In fact when I caught up to my sister and Louise in the Horizon Court for lunch after boarding I sat there, looked around and said "Yep I feel like I'm home!"
I had decided for the NZ cruise I wouldn't blog, I just wanted to get on and enjoy the ship and ports and not plan anything. Although I did plan a trip to the Thermal things in Rotorua, otherwise we just got off and went with the flow. I'll do the ports and pics in the next week or three..................
I must be used to missing ports because we missed Napier due to bad weather and all I could think was, gee another excuse to return to NZ on a cruise!
After getting home I thought that would be cruising for me as I didn't know anyone who would be cruising again, and I'm still not sure I'd do it alone, but never say never. When lo and behold my sister sends me a text asking what I think of a cruise to see the Solar Eclipse next November and before you know it, we have booked that cruise for Nov this year. Back on the Dawn and looking forward to another 11 days of bliss.
I'm still checking on the Princess website for what the have coming up......there is a 90 day Med cruise from Sydney to Sydney in 2013, but unless I win the lottery or save until 2020 or so, that will be a dream :)
I had decided for the NZ cruise I wouldn't blog, I just wanted to get on and enjoy the ship and ports and not plan anything. Although I did plan a trip to the Thermal things in Rotorua, otherwise we just got off and went with the flow. I'll do the ports and pics in the next week or three..................
I must be used to missing ports because we missed Napier due to bad weather and all I could think was, gee another excuse to return to NZ on a cruise!
After getting home I thought that would be cruising for me as I didn't know anyone who would be cruising again, and I'm still not sure I'd do it alone, but never say never. When lo and behold my sister sends me a text asking what I think of a cruise to see the Solar Eclipse next November and before you know it, we have booked that cruise for Nov this year. Back on the Dawn and looking forward to another 11 days of bliss.
I'm still checking on the Princess website for what the have coming up......there is a 90 day Med cruise from Sydney to Sydney in 2013, but unless I win the lottery or save until 2020 or so, that will be a dream :)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
One month and 3 days til next cruise
Just looked at the Princess app on my phone and it tells me that just over a month til the New Zealand cruise. I am now starting to get excited again :) Was visiting the beautiful Scarlett and Meg the other day and mentioned that I wouldn't be able to visit babysit ( the dogs actually) for those 2 weeks and was reminded that this is the 3rd cruise I will have been on this year! Now that sounds very self indulgent but we had to do the Melbourne to Sydney one before the world one just in case we hated cruising, and then we had the half world one and now I need to help my sister on her practise cruise......what sort of sister would I be if I let her and her partner try to find their way around a ship all by themselves. So really I am going on this cruise as a favour to her. There, all makes perfect sense.
Thinking about the NZ cruise has had me reflecting on the world one and what a wonderful trip it was and how amazing the staff on the Dawn Princess were. So patient with the minority of rather rude folks who seemed to think that anyone under 40 on the ship didn't deserve to be there.........or hadn't paid to be there! Also realised that I never did get past the last port on this blog or do a wrap up, and now I see the lucky folks who did the whole trip are adding the last entries to their blogs and summing up. Well my excuse is.......I am basically lazy, which was the whole reason for this blog in the first place.
On the cruise we did a mix of Princess tours, private tours and just walk off the ship and look around ourselves. I must admit overall we were happy with what we did. Our Princess tours were chosen for either too far from the port and didn't want to be late back and we would be seeing icons (Pyramids, Petra ) or else they were the smaller connoisseur tour groups ( Naples, Athens, Masada/Dead Sea ) and having the peace of mind that we didn't have to worry about anything again for those ports once we had booked. Our private tours were also wonderful, ended up one we arranged ourselves for just the 2 of us (Mumbai) and 2 others with Joanne (Istanbul and Rome)
At the start of the blog I made a list of what tours we were going to do and was going to compare it with what we really did, so for my sake if no-one elses.......
Darwin - Princess Jumping Crocs - stayed with that and very happy also got free time in Darwin to shop, easy walk back to ship.
Singapore - ourselves with Katie's Uni friend (shopping!) - stuck to plan and were whisked around by Shu-Ling so no need to worry about anything.
Kuala Lumpur - Princess shuttle then on our own - good choice as Katie had been before.
Langkawi - Princess kayaking - great choice as time in port was cut short,so the ship would wait for us if we were late .....and we were!
Cochin - Princess - didn't feel crowded nice tour
Mumbai - Own tour with Mumbai magic - brilliant
Abu Dhabi - Princess - port cancelled so refunded
Dubai - Princess - 2 tours -City highlights and up to the Top of The Burj in the morning and then brilliant 4wd desert safari in the evening. Next time (in my dreams!) would do city on own but definitely another safari :)
Muscat - Princess but port cancelled and replaced with Salalah
Salalah - got off with group of Katie's friends and we hired a mini-bus for the 7 of us and had a great day
Aqaba - Princess - Petra, stayed with guide until we got inside then wandered on our own til time to get bus back
Port Said - Princess - as with Petra a long way from the port and peace of mind being with Princess and both places would be full of tourists and hawkers anyway :)
Israel - Princess - Masada and Dead Sea , just loved it even though was ill.
Mykonos - On our own, beautiful just to wander about and eat !
Istanbul - Private tour arranged by Joanne with 6 of us. Brilliant city and brilliant tour.
Athens - Princess - small group tour, no complaints .
Naples - Princess - small group to Positano ( a favorite), Sorrento and Pompeii, wonderful guide and day
Rome - Private tour again Joanne arranged :) Wonderful day.
Florence - Princess - Back on a big bus, first since Pyramids, so we felt a little like sheep and rushed, but we did get to see statue of David, Leaning Tower etc. But after this tour we cancelled the last 2 Princess tours, which was only Barcelona and Paris anyway.
Monte Carlo - on our own, had a lovely time.
Barcelona - cancelled Princess and walked into the city and did the hop on hop off and had a ball.
Casablanca - Princess - port cancelled, replaced with Gibraltar
Gibraltar - On our own but while waiting in line for Gondola joined a mini bus tour with 4 others (non cruisers) to the top of the rock that included caves and a guide. Dropped back in town and shopped and wandered.
Lisbon - Private - Go Cars driving with 2 other couples, had the best time!! Then lunch and wandered about.
Le Havre - Was with Princess to Paris - but with Dover and getting off the next day I just couldn't face a long bus trip, so we happily discovered the delights of the port city itself!
So on reflection we basically stuck to the original plan, having never travelled before the peace of mind of Princess was wonderful and I have no complaints with how they manage to move the thousands of passengers off the ship into their tour groups. Folks need to remember they are on a ship with nearly 2000 others all wanting to get off and basically see the same things...........
Will do part two of summing up very soon ( but keep breathing in the mean time) . But actually not sure anyone checks on here anymore anyway, so all just for my amusement!
Thinking about the NZ cruise has had me reflecting on the world one and what a wonderful trip it was and how amazing the staff on the Dawn Princess were. So patient with the minority of rather rude folks who seemed to think that anyone under 40 on the ship didn't deserve to be there.........or hadn't paid to be there! Also realised that I never did get past the last port on this blog or do a wrap up, and now I see the lucky folks who did the whole trip are adding the last entries to their blogs and summing up. Well my excuse is.......I am basically lazy, which was the whole reason for this blog in the first place.
On the cruise we did a mix of Princess tours, private tours and just walk off the ship and look around ourselves. I must admit overall we were happy with what we did. Our Princess tours were chosen for either too far from the port and didn't want to be late back and we would be seeing icons (Pyramids, Petra ) or else they were the smaller connoisseur tour groups ( Naples, Athens, Masada/Dead Sea ) and having the peace of mind that we didn't have to worry about anything again for those ports once we had booked. Our private tours were also wonderful, ended up one we arranged ourselves for just the 2 of us (Mumbai) and 2 others with Joanne (Istanbul and Rome)
At the start of the blog I made a list of what tours we were going to do and was going to compare it with what we really did, so for my sake if no-one elses.......
Darwin - Princess Jumping Crocs - stayed with that and very happy also got free time in Darwin to shop, easy walk back to ship.
Singapore - ourselves with Katie's Uni friend (shopping!) - stuck to plan and were whisked around by Shu-Ling so no need to worry about anything.
Kuala Lumpur - Princess shuttle then on our own - good choice as Katie had been before.
Langkawi - Princess kayaking - great choice as time in port was cut short,so the ship would wait for us if we were late .....and we were!
Cochin - Princess - didn't feel crowded nice tour
Mumbai - Own tour with Mumbai magic - brilliant
Abu Dhabi - Princess - port cancelled so refunded
Dubai - Princess - 2 tours -City highlights and up to the Top of The Burj in the morning and then brilliant 4wd desert safari in the evening. Next time (in my dreams!) would do city on own but definitely another safari :)
Muscat - Princess but port cancelled and replaced with Salalah
Salalah - got off with group of Katie's friends and we hired a mini-bus for the 7 of us and had a great day
Aqaba - Princess - Petra, stayed with guide until we got inside then wandered on our own til time to get bus back
Port Said - Princess - as with Petra a long way from the port and peace of mind being with Princess and both places would be full of tourists and hawkers anyway :)
Israel - Princess - Masada and Dead Sea , just loved it even though was ill.
Mykonos - On our own, beautiful just to wander about and eat !
Istanbul - Private tour arranged by Joanne with 6 of us. Brilliant city and brilliant tour.
Athens - Princess - small group tour, no complaints .
Naples - Princess - small group to Positano ( a favorite), Sorrento and Pompeii, wonderful guide and day
Rome - Private tour again Joanne arranged :) Wonderful day.
Florence - Princess - Back on a big bus, first since Pyramids, so we felt a little like sheep and rushed, but we did get to see statue of David, Leaning Tower etc. But after this tour we cancelled the last 2 Princess tours, which was only Barcelona and Paris anyway.
Monte Carlo - on our own, had a lovely time.
Barcelona - cancelled Princess and walked into the city and did the hop on hop off and had a ball.
Casablanca - Princess - port cancelled, replaced with Gibraltar
Gibraltar - On our own but while waiting in line for Gondola joined a mini bus tour with 4 others (non cruisers) to the top of the rock that included caves and a guide. Dropped back in town and shopped and wandered.
Lisbon - Private - Go Cars driving with 2 other couples, had the best time!! Then lunch and wandered about.
Le Havre - Was with Princess to Paris - but with Dover and getting off the next day I just couldn't face a long bus trip, so we happily discovered the delights of the port city itself!
So on reflection we basically stuck to the original plan, having never travelled before the peace of mind of Princess was wonderful and I have no complaints with how they manage to move the thousands of passengers off the ship into their tour groups. Folks need to remember they are on a ship with nearly 2000 others all wanting to get off and basically see the same things...........
Will do part two of summing up very soon ( but keep breathing in the mean time) . But actually not sure anyone checks on here anymore anyway, so all just for my amusement!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Gibraltar, Lisbon and Le Havre
 |
| In Europe looking at Africa......Half way up Rock of Gibraltar |
 |
| Bit higher up the rock |
 |
| And they weren't in a cage just other side of a fence - |
 |
| He jumped up just to prove it |
 |
| But this little one was so cute |
 |
| This one ran down and stole a sign from the van..... |
 |
| Guides were allowed to feed the apes, the little ones! |
 |
| Anything bigger than this bloke and it would have been interesting |
 |
| It was fun |
 |
| Despite lack of smile on my face |
 |
| Still had sunnies off, didn't want the monkeys to steal them |
 |
| Always got a shot of "home" if we had the chance, she is in front of a much bigger ship..... |
 |
| This looked sillier in person, chihuahua and rotty! |
 |
| Why not use a prop when you can |
 |
| A rather healthy lunch :) mmmmm fats and carbs mmmmm |
 |
| Amazing where we came across canons, but gee we were in ports that needed protecting .... |
 |
| words fail me for this caption.... |
 |
| Katie's turn at a different phone box |
 |
| Now onto Lisbon, the town from where we docked |
 |
| Could explain the 2 lots of drugs dealers we saw offering stuff |
 |
| Ray and Paula in their Go Car |
 |
| Carmen and Neale our brilliant navigators |
 |
| Ray and Paula making sure we don't lag behind and get lost |
 |
| And I thought all the waves we got were because we looked cool :) I forgot about our hair nets! |
 |
| On the road....the right hand side, was a challenge |
 |
| Some building we went past, but I was too busy concentrating to notice |
 |
| We got overtaken at one point ! |
 |
| Back in order, us in the middle |
 |
| Half way time out........ |
 |
| Sangria for lunch ...mmmmm |
 |
| Beautiful streets |
 |
| Yep another port another gelati |
 |
| And this at a petrol pump on side of road........interesting |
 |
| Katie with Vincent and Leo in the background on our last night in the MDR |
 |
| mmmmmm |
 |
| Last port Le Havre, only port with bad weather, but still had a good day |
 |
| Our french breakfast in a cafe |
 |
| French macarons |
 |
| Le Havre in the rain,had pretty parts to it |
 |
| Our menu in French that we figured out, then we got it in English and we were right :) |
 |
| Yep an omelette, they look like this and taste so good |
 |
| The cafe was close to the port |
 |
| Make sure you take big steps on this crossing! |
 |
| Well we had to buy some and bye bye to cruise |
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Barcelona
 |
| Columbus and I pointing to the New World...........well you can't see his head so |
 |
| There it is |
 |
| Katie drinking the very yummy Sangria we ordered at lunch |
 |
| And we were very amused by the glass it came in |
 |
| Dan and Katie enjoying the Sangria |
 |
| Our tapas......all I can say is yay for all the walking we did |
 |
| Onto the Hop on Hop off Bus for our city tour |
 |
| Sunny day, wonderful lunch........oops not walking here |
 |
| Some of Gaudi's work...amazing stuff |
 |
| More |
 |
| So pretty |
 |
| The unfinished church of Gaudi's |
 |
| The 1st of many pics of it.....was too hard to choose just one |
 |
| So used ones we were in ... |
 |
| or not in |
 |
| Dan .... |
 |
| This side was done by Gaudi, other parts that are continuing are what "they" imagine he would do |
 |
| Pic is a bit small to capture the detail.....sorry |
 |
| Fascinating..... |
 |
| Bit of sunburn happening on my arm there.....from a day or so ago |
 |
| If you follow the arrow you run smack bang into a wall |
 |
| Ceiling |
 |
| Now the magnificent park ......again by Gaudi |
 |
| Fabulous |
 |
| Nice shot kids |
 |
| Another mother and daughter moment |
 |
| Intricate tiled work |
 |
| Nice view, our ship is out there some-where |
 |
| An excuse for a sit.......take my photo :) |
 |
| And fancy that running into gelati |
 |
| Smurf flavoured at that |
 |
| With real smurfs |
 |
| mmmmmm |
 |
| 2 heads in the water are Katie and Dan, I tried to keep a eye on them |
 |
| But the beach was a tad crowded |
 |
| It says crazy on the inside of the bottle......tasted a bit the same :) |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)