New Year’s Eve

This is our First World Cruise, so right now trepidation is setting in,,, have I done everything,,,, will I get back in one pice,,,, do I really want to be gone for 4 months???  We have grand kids, we will miss, very much,,, what were we thinking when we booked this cruise?

We have been on long cruises, 59 days going around South America, and we just did the Fire & Ice Cruise this summer, that was 36 days and then a week in UK, and 7 days on the Queen Mary,, but now 113 days,,,,, oh my. 

We will celebrate the new year with our neighbors, but will probably not make midnight as we have a five AM get up in the morning. 

(Backup) (Backup) We are almost ready,,,,Not

This is the begging of our longest travel yet, except for the year I spent in Southeast Asia.  

I had intended to take a photo of the bags we shipped, all six of them, but failed in all the excitement of yesterday. They said Fedx would pick up the bags between 12 and 4, and they we’re here at 12:30!  And were they nice, didn’t complain at all about the number of bags or the weight. LOL 

So now we can get on with the celebration of Christmas. 

Well,,,,,, Christmas is over, it’s now the day befor New Year’s Eve, and we are getting last minute things put together.  Our oldest son and daughter in law, will be here later today to take away food stuff that won’t keep well over the next four months.  They will be watching the house, and taking care of the mail, sending us notifications if we need to deal with any of it. Our next door neighbors will take it in every day, God bless them. 

So now we have to go pick up the car tomorrow afternoon, and we will drive out on New Year’s Day for FLL, hopefully catching the 7am ferry.  

We will drive to GA the first day and FLL the second. Then, rest up and chill out for a day, and go buy anything we forgot, can’t imagine that we have forgotten a thing, if any thing we have WAY too much!

July 22, 2017 first sea day

Well we made it, we are on the Queen, I am not sure when we will ge internet, we haven't figured tha out yet but as soon as we do I'll send this out. So on to our saga. 

The taxi came on time, or I should say two taxis came, the first to arrive was way too small, and I think he was trying to steal the other guys ride. Of corse our trusty inn keeper was on his side,,,, oh well the other guy with the big cab had our name, so we went with him. We got to the ship early, but no problem. The bags were off loaded by a nice young man,  the handle baggage here very proficiently. They had three slots the bags went in one slot was for three floors, our bags, all six beat us to the room! We walked inside, they gave us the usual health form and a big plastic letter, we were I, so we sat down to sit to be called to Q up, when they did, we waited in line for a bit, and checked in. This was our first time on Cunard, so no special treatment. We then went through a very throe bag check, and walking around the waiting area, were two guys, BIG guys, with more armor on then I have ever seen, wish I could have taken a picture, but I was afraid too. Any on the bag check, the people had questions for us. In the computer bag there were wires that caused alarm,,,,, etc the lady was so apolitic, but when we reasured her it was fine and we sure didn't mind, she was so appreciative that we understood. Seems they had an alert of some sort. 

Then it was on to board, this big ship, we had heard so much about. 

Ok I'm back, and we now have internet so I will try to get this out today. It is July 24, it's our third sea day. We have had two formal nights one was the black and white ball and last night was the Captins party, we met the Captin, he is young and good looking, and would you be leave he is British? LOL

Any way he through a good party, the drinks, good champagne, wine, flowed like water. It wasn't long, but fun. The black and white ball was amazing, it was in a big ballroom that reminded me of the old supper clubs, back in the day, except no food. But everyone was dressed for the occasion, properly. We watched loads of people ballroom danceing. It was really fun. The drinks on this ship are a lot more expensive. It is more like staying in a Weston with food.

We are sitting in the Goldon Lion Pub, they serve a pub lunch everyday, it is very popular, and getting more so everyday, tomorrow we'll have to come after breakfast to get a seat by the window!  Yesterday we watched a good part of the Open Fineal here, cool seeing Jorden  Spieth do so well. Ed watched the end while I got my nails done, and he almost forgot to get ready, as we are in early seating, so, we have to dress early. Not my favorite, but it is what it is. 

Fish and Chips. 

July 21, 2017 Southampton

I am going to skip to today, I will try to catch up with the past days, today later. Right now I am sitting in the B&B we have been at for the last three days, it has been a real lit down from the last one, in Dover. Dover we had such a marvelous time at the Stratmore house....... But I will try to catch up on that later. 

Our taxi will be here about 12 pm to take us to the turminal we are not suppose to be there before 1:30, so it will be interesting what happens. The stay here has been a chalange, as there was no safe in the place, and I didn't want to walk around with my jewelry, and cash money so we pretty much stayed in the room. We did quickly walk a couple blocks to the Pig and Whistle Pub for dinner, it was cute. I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate that description. LOL. The food was pretty good and they were nice, even the locals. The first night we got take-in as they call it here, Chinese as it was really raining hard. 

The reason we're sittin in the lounge waiting for the taxi, is they wouldn't let us stay in the room. It is one of many things that was misrepresented here. We told them months ago we would need, a late chick out, but the chose to ignore our emails, and also asked if they had rooms down on the ground floor, as we would be traveling heavy, but no one responded, and they only had one on ground, and they gave it to someone else!  And not a person that needed it more then us, but a workman, that does landscaping, and needed to be able to go out and smoke a lot, I guess. That is all I could observe. 

Hopefully we will have a good experance on the Queen Mary. 

Lofoten part 3

Now Ellen drove us to her home, and it was also very beautiful, and she had a big beautiful dog named Sissy, 

Reindeer stew, sweet potato and mushroom, yummy

Yummy cake and what a wonderful day we had. 

(Backup) Lofoten continued

So as we were going around the beautiful island, Ellen asked if we remembered Liv, she was also an exchanged student, but while Ellen was with us she was in virgina beach, well we did, and she said Liv said we had to come to her house too, or she would be soooooo disappointed, well we didn't want to diapoint, and it would be fun to see how she grew up. She was a very happy and vivacious young woman. 

So off we went seeing a bit more of the island, and then on to Liv's house. A beautiful house, and a beautiful woman, she had not changed, she was still that happy, vivacious girl we knew from the past. And now she had a husband, who was the builder of there home. We did not get to meet him but did meet one of there three boys. Liv made Norwegian pancakes, for us, with cheese and cream, and jam, and tea. And what a view, from her home you could see our ship. 

Liv, Ed, Ellen and me

Liv and her son. 

July 9 and 10, 2017 at sea and Gravadl/Lofoten

Today was a VERY special day for us, we were going to see our Norwegian daughter Ellen. We were so excited, I had a hard time sleeping. 

We had a sea day before, so we could be sure not to forget anything, we were ready to get off the ship right at 8:45 so we were off and waiting for Ellen. 

She came right at nine. The port is very small, and manageable, but you can't walk to town and there was no shuttle that we saw. So it was great we had Ellen, in so many ways. 

Ellen picked us up at nine, and drove us first to her favorite beach, where she walks her dog, it was beautiful. 

Ellen

The beach at I think, Leknes

We then had a bit of a picnic, she brought cookies and hot water for tea, it was so nice to have time to just relax, and catch up about the last 18 years. 

After this time it was time to go and do a wee bit of sightseeing. 

The island is very beautiful and I wish we had more time to see more of it. To be continued.....

(Backup) July 8, 2017 Honningsvag, Norway

Today we went to the North Cape, Gjesvaer, which is a small fishing village, we boarded a boat to visit the Stappen Islands, for bird watching. It was a beautiful day, and we were all grateful for that. The trip was amazing. There were so many Puffins in the water, and many other sea birds we have not seen before. One was a huge brown eagle, I didn't get a picture, but I will once again try to post a foto I took in the museum of one. 

It was a great day. 

Now I am trying to catch up this blog, so bare with me.  No eagel it was on Ed's phone. So I'll try something else. 

There are two, but well hidden

Not good foto, but maybe you can tell something he is huge. 

July 7, 2017 our 55 Wedding Anniversary, Murmansk, Russia

Murmansk , Russia's located on Kola Bay, Murmansk is Russia's only ice-free port and also the only Russian city found north of the Arctic Circle. We really enjoyed this port, more then we thought we would. First it isn't really pretty at  the port, lots of coal and trains. And in the town a lot is leftover from the communist, so gray and not structures, that were very attractive.  

The guide was Tatyana and she was really good.  Not politically correct, told it like it was, and is. So first stop was a huge monument to all the fallen soldiers, it was up on a very high hill, the tallest in the town. It was very moving, very well done, but I have to admit, not the style I prefer, very much in the Art Deco style. 

Then they took us to a Greek Orthodox Church, only one of three left in Murmansk, the communist destroyed the rest of them. And the people of Murmansk are very religious and almost every one is Christian. So on holidays the three churches are overflowing. 

Then we went for pancakes, with cream and jam, in a Radisson hotel, would you believe?  It was wonderful, and two of the servers were wearing traditional costumes, they were so pretty.  We were able to do a wee bit of shopping and then back to the ship. 

When we got back to the ship we didn't realize that the ship parked next to us was the nuclear ice breaker we could have toured, wops! 

It was our 55th  anniversary so it wasn't too early to start getting ready fo a very special evening. 

The dinning room staff and our friends Karen and Pat had planed out something very special and it was, at the end of dinner, one of the waters from another part of the DR, with a wonderful voice sang "Through the years" to us, which made us both tear up, and then they gave us a bottle of champaign!  

From there we went to the casino bar and listen to Austin Ray sing "Moon River" to us as hat was our song 55 years ago, and they played it at our wedding. 

We got back to the room, and Dominic had mad us two swans one with a red beak, they were in the middle of the bed and he put chocolate harts all around them! All and  all it was a wonderful day

  

July 6, 2017 at sea

Well we woke up late, with the light on in the sky 24 hours a day it makes it hard to judge the day, so 9,9:30 seems to be what we do. It is rainy, and gray, which also seems to be the rhythm of the cruse. It is easy to get very lazy. Talk about being relaxed, some one brings you coffee, some one makes your bed, someone cleaners your bathroom, some one, fixes lunch, dinner, and snacks and tea, someone takes care of your laundry,  etc, etc.  This small ship feels like home with no worries, it will be hard to get back in the swing of things, even being in England will be more work then this. 

So we had lunch with Karen and Pat, our new friends from New Orleans, they are a lot of fun, we usually have lunch and dinner together, so the conversation was mostly about our tour to Murmansk, we really don't know what to expect. We have been told there will be little if any, Internet.  The whole set up on this ship of the Internet has been less then optimum. I don't like "Princess @ Sea" even when we have had T-Mobile availability it overrides it!   

So I will send this when I can. 

(Backup) July 5, 2017 - Tromso

Lying north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø has been a departure point for Arctic explorers and hunters since the 18th century. Today, this town of some 50,000 individuals is home to the northernmost university in the world, which gives Tromsø a lively cultural and street scene, highlighted by the annual Midnight Sun Marathon. 

Founded: Tromsø received its official city charter in 1794.

Region: Tromsø is located on the island
of Tromsøya, along the northwestern coast of Norway.

Population: 68,000 (est. 2010)

Climate: The tepid waters of the Gulf Stream ensure the mildest climate in the world at
this high latitude, so Tromsø, while technically a sub-arctic zone, actually enjoys a fairly moderate oceanic climate. Summer temperatures generally average between

50° F and 60° F; in winter they range between 20° F and 30° F. Tromsø is known for getting a lot of snow in the winter.  

We enjoyed our day here very much. We got up late, but then that seems to be the order of the day, unless we have a tour, and we didn't have a tour here. We just planed to walk around, and that's what we did. The ship parked right in town so it was a short walk to this side of the river. And we had not planed to go to the other side. The bridge is two miles long, and the only thing to see over there is the Arctic Ccathedral, and that was not worth making the trip for to us. We took pictures from the ship, they won't let you photograph the inside any way.  We will shear them when we get home, having a good time. 

(Backup) July 4 2017 Independence Day

Happy Independence Day, 

They have decorated the dinning room with lots of red white and blue, and had a big cake  all decorated too. and Ed and I wore our July 4th attire to lunch, we skipped breakfast again. Jochco, the head water/chef planed and fixed us a traditoanal Fourth of July lunch, for our friends Karen and Pat, but Pat has come down with something, and they didn't come. We are worried about him. We had fried chicken, BBQ ribs, potato salad, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream, now you can't ask for much more can you. A real 4th of July picnic lunch, and on a cruise ship, sailing above the Artic Circle. 

Today has been a sea day and we have a formal night, and the Captins party. Tomorrow we are in Tromso, and it's suppose to rain all day, we don't have a tour, so not sure what we will do. 

The seas are already starting to get rough, seems like every formal night, it gets rough, go figure, if you have been looking at the ship's web cam you'll see what it is like. 

More later. 

We we came to bed early, the dinner was very good, but we just weren't in the mood to watch a show, or party, so after dinner, we turned in, we missed Karen and Pat, so we called and he is better, we are so glad. 

July 3, 2017 Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen)

Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago - and home to one of the most exotic landscapes on earth. These islands are polar deserts - windswept, treeless, mountainous. Spitsbergen is generally ice free during the long polar winter, but icebergs and pack ice lurk offshore. Other than man, the only mammals inhabiting the island year-round are Arctic fox, reindeer and polar bear. During summer months, migratory birds flock to the island, and Spitsbergen is covered in a lush carpet of wildflowers.

The largest settlement on Spitsbergen is Longyearbyen. Named after an American mining engineer, this town of 2,100 people is the administrative capital of the islands.

We are doing a tour and this is what they wrote about it; 

Thrill to a speedy catamaran cruise traveling 20 knots per hour across frigid waters to the Russian side of Svalbard, where you'll visit the Russian mining town of Barentsburg. Please dress warmly for this excursion, then walk to the dock area to meet the friendly crew and board the catamaran. The vessel allows for observation on the outer deck as well as from inside surrounded by panoramic windows. Your narrated scenic sail travels past incredible landscapes and stunning wildlife. Arrive in Barentsburg, the Russian capital of Svalbard, and walk up a set of stairs from the dock to the settlement. Meet your local guide and embark on a pedestrian sightseeing tour to view the lovely Soviet chapel and see the beautifully painted local buildings, the Lenin statue and the hotel. Enjoy some free time to shop for souvenirs, take photos, and send a special postcard home to loved ones from the post office. After 1.5 hours in Barentsburg, return by catamaran to Longyearbyen

Well I'm here to tell you that this tour lived up to everything they said about it and more. We got up early, which is getting more and more difficult, sleeping in tell nine seems like normal these days! We went down to breakfast in the dinning room and almost no one was there, weird. I guess they were all in the panorama Buffett, we have a tendency to over eat there, so we go to the dinning room. 

After we went to meet the tour in the Cabaret lounge, it is so nice in there, verses the big theaters. Back to the tour, we walked from the ship, to the catamaran, it was more like the hydrofoil ferris of Europe tan a catamaran in the carriban, all inside with nice seats, like on an airplane. 

We left the dock and it took about an hour and a half, to get to Pyramiden that had a mountin that looked like a pyramid. And a boast town that was once a thriving coal mining operation, once owned by the Russains, they left it all, and walked away, not pretty, but interesting. 

When we arrived it was REALLY COLD, as the wind was really blowing, we were now N 78 40' the most northern inhabdent place and we were dressed for the occasion, just like Antartica, in many was this area, reminded us of the artic. There are 9 full time residents.  

They had one 45 passenger bus, and there were probably 100 of us, so in order to get us all to the center, they had to make three trips, Ed was paying close attention to the guides, when they said if you were fast on your feet get in the first bus, we got in the third buss. LOL it turned out that was a great choice,  as we were taken to a man-made lake, that you would not see any other way, as they don't normally take visitors there, but there were people on our bus, that were having a very hard time walking, so we just road. I wish I could show you what some of the road and makeshift bridges looked like, but we couldn't get off the bus to take pictures. 

We then went to the center, which consisted of a building, that had 5 of the full time residents that served food to hikers, they take out, and on young woman  that was a guide and the post mistress.  And a clean WC, that was good! We didn't bring enough Kr and they didn't have capability to take CC, as there was no satalite, but we managed to get cards and 2pasties and 2 small shots of Russian Vodca, they called wine. LOL 

So now it was back to the cat and the sale back to the ship, and we met a delightful couple, and before we knew it we were almos back, when the skipper, came on the PA, and said someone thought there was a whale, so he slowed down, and started looking, next thing you know I saw a blow, right off my window, and then after a couple minutes I saw another big blow and a fin. Well the skipper kept looking, it was at least another 15 minutes, and then a bigger blow, and he emerged a very large whale, known as a Fin Whale. He is a baleen whale, measuring in at 90 feet long, they are second, only to the blue whale, in size. Fin whales are solitary mammals that prefer tralving alone.  Wow what a tour! 

July 1/2 2017 Sea Days

We have had two lazy sea days, but very rough seas again. It is now 11:30 pm and the sun is shining like it was noon. The seas have calmed, it looks like we will have a nice day tomorrow, 32f and wind about 5 miles and hour. So our clothes are laid out for our 6:30 am get up. 

We had a wine tasting today, interesting, but we were not really impressed with any of the wines, we have better ones in VA. We had a nice dinner tonight, and then went to see the production show, it is really fun, as the dancers and the band are so close, in the cabaret lounge, and we see them all around the ship. 

So good night  

June 30, 2017 Trondheim Norway

Trondheim is the third largest - and second oldest - city in Norway. The town was originally called Kaupangen upon its founding in 997 A.D. by Viking king Olav Tryggvason. The city commands the trade routes linking Southern Norway with the fjord lands to the north. Trondheim quickly became a major commercial and cultural center - the city served as Norway's royal capital.
Trondheim's old city features broad avenues and attractive 17th-century wood buildings - a legacy of the rebuilding that followed a disastrous fire that leveled the city in 1681.

We awoke to a beautiful morning, going through a beautiful fjord, not real tall but beautiful, and I understand now why they say that these northern islands are the most beautiful in Norway. We had decided again to do a walk-about, but this time taking the shuttle. So it was off to breakfast in the dinning room, and Frances was serprised to see us,, we have eaither been on a tour, or sleeping in so we miss breakfast. It's good to skip a meal, now and then.  So after breakfast we caught the first shuttle to town. We had a late arrival, docked just after noon, and had to be back by 8:30 pm. We were dropped of right by the Nidaros Cathedral, so that was good. 

We decided to go and shop for some Compeed for my foot, they really help save me, I need to see if I can get them on Amazon. I also needed a small brush fo my purse, so off to the shopping center. It was right there around the corner. It is a big mall, but as luck would have it the pharmice was right past H&M and they had them,, I don't want to think of what they coast,,,, ugh every thing is so expensive, but I got them and it will really help, this foot in boots. The it was on to H&M to get a brush, yippee found that too, and it took all of 30 minutes to do both. 

So now on to postcards and would you believe that the post cards were sold in Starbucks?  So another home run, Ed paid for the cards and I bought two coffees. We found seats and I got on the wifi while he addressed the cards, and I downloaded emails. The day was so beautiful we didn't want stay inside. 

So now it was off to the cathedral, bought tickets and went inside it is very impressive, no pictures, bummer, you pay $18. and you don't even get a broucher in English any wear. Oh well, it was impressive, but it is hard to remberer   

Unfortunately we didn't figure out where the old town was until we got back to the ship, and we were so close to it where we were walking,,, oh well next time. 

June 29, 2017 Bergen Norway

Today we knew that we were going to walk about, and catch the hop on hop off bus. And as luck would have it, where we parked it was at stop number on. Norway takes CC everywhere including the HOPO bus, but boy howdy it isn't cheep. 250 KORNOR for the two of us comes up to $65!  But it took us to the fish market, and Starbucks where we could try to get internet, that we did and didn't.  So off we went, noticing, on the way, that there were postcards right by the ship gangway, well that was good, wouldn't have to look for those. 

The bus is nice, and they give you earphone, so you can listen to the travel info along the way, in what ever language you need, worked well. We arrived at the fish market in about 20 minutes, stop #11 the big deal here is wale sausage!  I'm not sure how I feel about that one, but I tasted it and it was tasty, and I think the wale they use is what we know as killer wale. We looked at beautiful berries, strawberry, cherrys, blackberries, and a greenish cherry that the Germans called Mearabellem.  We took pictures, but I will have to post them when we have fast wifi. 

So we left the fish market and Ed noticed a Starbucks accross the street, so we went over there, climbed two flights of stairs, walked in to a looooooong line. So Ed got a table, and I waited in line. It was worth the wait, there mocha coffee, was really good. I thought Ed would have been on line by now, but no. He wasn't able to. I managed to get right on, but of coarse, he was now ready to go, because he had nothing to do! 

So, we left, and I thought we would go and find a pharmacy so I could get some patches for my foot, but no, Ed wanted to go back to the ship! It was all of 11:30! So back to the ship we went, and Ed got the post cards and stamps, now he was happy, but he was finished, no more looking around for us, all aboard was 3:30, and don't you know, we might miss it! So that was all we saw in Bergen,  and I wasn't happy. 

We had a great dinner, with Karen and Pat O'bryan the people we met at the begging of the cruise, and saw the comedian who was somewhat funny, but his jokes, we're not very well planed for the audience he was playing to. So off to bed, with nice weather expected tommrow. 

  

Bergen Norway

(Backup) June 27, 2017 Dover GB

We had an early morning get up to make our tour at 8:30 am. As it happened we both did not wake until the alarm went off, at 6 am when we opened the drapes we were already docked!  We that shows you that when you party harty, the night before, at our age, your dragging, the next day.  But we made breakfast, and that was fin to see, they were changing out the chairs in the dinning room. These were the new chairs, that they were suppose to get while the ship was in dry dock, but because of the storms that hit there, they had them sent to Dover. The poor dinning crew had to remove all the chairs, before they could bring even one in!  They latterly were taking chairs out as people vacated them!!  We and the staff were laughing, you didn't dare get up to use the bathroom 😄

So we were called for our tour, and had to walk a gauntlet to get off the ship, the gangway was a killer, of up and down switch backs, made sence to go down BUT NOT UP!  Any way then a long walk to the buss. Can you tell I was tired allready, it didn't get better. I should have gone to sleep on the bus, like one of the dancers that accompanied us on this tour, but I was afraid I'd miss something. So first stop, after an hours drive was Leeds Castle, wow what a place, you could easily spend the day here, we didn't have a day, and the guid thought we were all teens, she failed to tell us until later, that we could have taken a little train up to the castle, so we walked at least a mile, up!  And when a Brit, says it's a 10 or 15 minute walk, Don't believe them, we struggled for 30, some minutes, and there were still stairs!  Luck would have it the lady at the gate, said sence we were soooooo exhausted, we could avoid the stairs, and go through the front door. I could have kissed her, but I know that she would probably not take to that. We would still have to climb stairs later, but by then we could do it. 

Now Leeds castle, it was built on a lake, some 600 years ago, there is not much left of the oraginal castle left, as has been repaired over the years. It has a story some what like the Taj Mahal, in the sence the king was very much in love with his wife, he gave it to her. It was then passed from husband to wife many times, it was quite beautiful, and I once again can see how you could get lost in a castle, even one that isn't considered large. 

From there we drove about 45 minutes to Canterbury, which was advertised to be a long afternoon, of shopping and time for lunch, and maybe see the cathedral, well how do you do all that in an hour and a half, which was all we had left!  It seems we are always running from one point to another. 

So we went to the cathedral and it is huge, we could have spent hours in there. Becket was supposedly barrier there, but they know he wasn't, or if he ever was they stole his remains, but they have a nice memorial to him any way. 

One highlight of the day was going, finding, the Weaver Pub, wow never knew beer could tast so good, the meat pie wasn't bad eaither. 

Then it was back on the bus, and back to the ship, by four a'clock as scheduled. A good shower was in order, and ready for dinner, and see all the new furniture in the dinning room. It is beautiful, white leather, like, chairs, very pretty, and comfortable. 

  

(Backup) June 27, 2017 Sea Day

We awoke to a lake outside, what a change, and it's about 15c/59f degrees, and the sea is warmer at 16/61 and we have traveled 5119.3 and this is the last sea day of this segment, so a lot of people are saying there good-by's.  I think about 400 people are leaving, only 160 staying on, and over 400 will be joining us tomorrow. 

We had a leisure morning, Ed slept later then me, again, 😜 we skipped breakfast, decided to have coffee in the room. Ed went up and got a capachino  for me, and big coffee, for him, and we ate a couple of the wee cookies, from last nights dinner, and that was plenty. 

Today Ed went to see what the chart of this segment would go for and maybe bid on it, but he was diapointed as it didn't reflect, our deviation, it was just a large pretty collector map. And it was auctioned at $200.

It is now 3:43 pm and the sea is still flat, wow nice.  The best way to see our sea condition, is the link I posted at the begging of this cruise, sorry we can't seem to post pictures from this connection. 

We are suppose to eat with 6 other people, we have met and enjoyed, I'll let you know how that works out, so now it's nap time. More later.

June 26, 2017 Dundee Scotland

We had a tour this morning, to see Glamis Castle, so the alarm set for 6:00 and boy was that hard, I didn't sleep well at all, up every two hours all night. I guess because  the ship wasn't rocking, I was constantly thinking I had set the alarm wrong, and we overslept. Any way when it was time to get up I was so tired, I almost went to sleep on the bus, any enough of that. 

We went to the dinning room fo breakfast, and that was not good. They had Spanish omelette on the minue so we tried it, not good, I think they use egg beaters, not fresh eggs, but it was some food. We forget, that on this small ship, we don't have to build in as much time to get from one place to another. So once again we were way too early for our tour. We could have slept another hour! 

Glamis Castle, what a beautiful place. It was about a 45 minute drive from the port, through green pastures and rolling hills. Looked a lot like Virginia, in the hills. The castle itself sets on a huge estate. This is the castle harkens back to 1372 when Robert the Bruce awarded the land to the Bowes-Lyons ancestors of Bitain's Queen Mother. And, other residents, included Mary Queen of Scots, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret. They said we might see a ghost, seems there have been many sightings, but alas we did not. It was a really nice tour, and we had plenty of time to walk around outside, and see the small museum that held the coronation robes of Queen Elisabeth. And of coarse visit the gift shop. 

On the way back to Dundee, we went accross the Tay, to tack a picture back of our ship in the harbor, then they drove to the city center, and let those who wanted to get out and shop, we thought about it, but decided not to, as it looked like the rain that had stayed away was coming. And sure enough as we boarded the ship, it came with a vengeance. 

The port here, is not a cruise port, so the gangway, was VERY steep, and in the rain was a chalange, for us and later to get a wheelchair up, not fun. 

We saw a wonderful show after dinner called Moto City, the 5 dancers on this ship are incredabul, there energy and ability is every bit as good as anything we have ever seen, and the fact they are so close, you really see it all. Sea day tomorrow so we could have a late night. 

June 24, 2017 Sea Day off the coast of Scotland

We awoke late again, slept like babies. We had just enough rocking to keep us asleep. So up at 9:30, darn, missed breakfast again. No worry, I know we'll make up for it in the day ahead. So now we ordered coffee, which brings to mind, I haven't said a lot about the ship. 

Thr crew on this ship, has been over the top. They go out of there way to assist in any way they can. And the ship is lovely, all around, in decor and size. It is really nice to not to have to walk a country mile, to go from one end to the other. Of coarse that means we aren't getting the exercise, we normally get on a cruise. I have a feeling we will make up for that in the next segment. Our room is plenty big, and it lives big, plenty of room for all our stuff, and pretty too. We have a big bathtub, much bigger then most mini suites. 

Ed went to get the haircut, this afternoon, we had to cancel yesterday, because of the seas we were going through, heck you couldn't walk! Well he got a great one, the hair dresser was from Namibia 🇳🇦 and there was no sales preasur. And the people in the spa are just as nice as the people in the rest of the ship. I am going to get my nails done, later this afternoon, so I will report on that, later. 

We have a tour in Dundee tomorrow so we got our back pack all ready with umbrellas, and rain ponchos, hopping to chase off the rain, that is predicted. Filled our wallets with some £ notes. 

We had a great dinner with John and Carol, from California and then we saw a wonderful piano entertainer, wow could he tickle those ivories his name was John Bressler. He was wonderful. 

And now would you believe, it doesn't even feel like we are on the seas, no movement what so ever. 

Good night, tomorrow it's Dundee. 

June 23, 2017- Rough sea day

Here we go again, we woke not pleasantly by big bangs and a haunting noise, the ship was making. There seems to be some wind that is traveling through, or around the windows, than is an odd, almost moaning sound, eerie to say the least. 

It got worse, befor it got better, and mid morning the Capt came on over the full ship PA and said he and the crew had made a decision to skip Scrabster, so they could ovoid the worst of the storm, and we could all have a more enjoyable ride and a nicer formal night. We sure agreed with that decision and it was better. 

We had a nice lobster dinner, and a great time in the bar after dinner, listing to a good piano music and singer. He plays a long list of songs, and people can request, from his list. He looks a bit like Barry Manalow, but sounds more like Elton John. We had a great time and again went to bed late. By midnight, when we went back to our room, the rocking and rolling, had calmed down, and it just rocked us to sleep. 

June 22 ,2017 Akuryri, Iceland

Good afternoon, 

Well I tried, to post a picture all day, with no luck, not sure what is going on. So I will try again later, maybe in Scotland.  We are now leaving Akuryri, and of coarse the sun is out, it is out every day, when we are about to leave!!!  And now our new Captin, just announced we would have rough seas again tonight, and tomorrow's sea day, joy!  So we will do the best we can, sure hope we get some better weather soon. 

Ed and I spent the day on the ship, as we didn't have a tour here, and they had free wifi, so we thought we would use it, but it didn't do much except cause frustration. So we had a good view from the window, and we ordered in a lunch of burger and bratwurst. And a good day for planing. 

We'll see if dinner is going to be feasible or too rough, later. 

Dinner was not rough, nor was the show, which wasn't very good or not to my liking, but it is starting to get a little bouncy now. 

We have a new Captin, he is from GB his name is Paul Slight. He has captained the Pacific Princess on the world cruise, so I guess he'll do LOL. 

Good night all

June 20, 2017

Today it was the Blue Lagoon, quit an experience, not sure what was more fun, being in the Lagoon, or being pelted with hail while in the water, and on the walk to get in the warm water.  IT WAS A COLD WALK! 

In the Lagoon itself, was really nice, but the day weather wise, left a lot to be desired.  We couldn't even take pictures, as it was so foggy, and rainy, that you couldn't tell the water was blue, until we were leaving, then it cleared a bit, oh well such is life 

The ship hit some of the roughest seas to date, and they billed the wave size as "Wavelets" we haven't seen that description before, but I will be forewarned next time I see it. We could hardly stand up, so we went to bed, slept well. LOL

(Backup) June 19, 2017

Good afternoon, 

We are now in the cabaret lounge, waiting to see what are the top ten bucket list, cruises are. So I will tell you as we go what they are so you will know too, and I will remember too.

 10-French Polnesia, we did this trip,  9-Panama Canal- we did this too, but it was only half transit, we will go full transit, on the world cruise.   8-Australia/New Zealand, we will do this on the world cruise. 7- South America, we have done this. 6- Southeast Asia, have not done this, but will do some of it on thr WC. 5- Canada & NewbEngland, we want to do this one. 4- Norwegian Fjords, this is what we are doing next. 3-Baltic, we did this, it was GREAT. 2- Mediterranean and Greek Isles, we have done this, it is a great cruise. 1- Alaska, we did this , so I would say we have been very lucky to have had the chance to do so much. 

So now,I'm at the Runway At Sea, a fashion show of cruise cloths. Normally I don't learn much, but it is something to do while Ed watches the news, and takes a nap. I will try to take a picture.  Well, I didn't take any pictures, but enjoyed the show. The people that modeled were all good sports, and had a good time. So it made it fun to watch. 

Later that day we went to see the comedian and he was very funny, Doug Funk, is some one you would enjoy seeing. Then we had a great dinner with our new friends Carol and John. 

 

June 18, 2017

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Ed had a nice relaxing morning, we slept right through it!  We dint awaken unti 10:30, to a bit of rocking and rolling, so we waited a bit and it soon smoothed out more or less. Enough to allow us to get showered and dressed for lunch, sence we missed breakfast all together 😱. We had a great lunch, the chef was making a creamery pasta, at table side, with shrimp.  

Last night after dinner, we went to the black & white ball, I wouldn't have called it a ball, but it was fun. People were dressed in black and white, but not formal, causal, tonight is our next formal night. They played some interesting games last night for bottles of champaign, we didn't win,,,, you think it was because we didn't get up and play? 😄 we did have a wee dram, and we enjoyed the music. But we lost another hour, last night and I think that is messing with our sleep patterns. And there will be another before we we get to Reykjavik.  

So now it is just a lazy afternoon 💤

June, 17, 2017

Good morning,

Well thing quieted down some what over night. We still have deep swells and some white caps, but now we are not moving like drunken sailors, just tipsy ones! LOL

Ed went to a meeting this morning with the Captin and found out some interesting information, seems the Pacific Princess, is an "ocean liner" not a "cruise ship" it has to do with the Hull design.  Cruise ships are designed to stay close to the shore, not to be in heavy seas.  So now we know, why this small ship took the heavy seas we've had, so well. 

Last night we had another great meal in the dinning room. We have been very impressed with the food on this ship. Haven't had a bad meal yet,,,,, not good,,,,, eating too much!  

We also went to the show, " An evening with Nat King Cole" sung by Donnie Ray Evens. He was wonderful, and having grown up with Nat's music, I can say from my perspective he sounded and looked very much like him.  So all and all it was a great evening. 

We lost another hour, so as I write this it is 2:09 here, and east coast it is 11:09, so we were late awakining again, oh well, it is " escape completely "  Right!

June 16, 2017 Sea Day

It is cloudy, and gray, 41*f for a high and 38*f low, and the sea's are gray and rough, we are bouncing pretty good.  The ship is handling it well. I have given up on posting photos, unless we are on land and have free wifi. So y'all bear with me and I will try to paint with words. 

If my post from yesterday really got on then you know about the day..... But I do want to give a quick review of the island, we found the people to be very friendly and helpful, they had a band playing when we disinbarked, and handed us little French flags, and maps of the island. To me that was saying we were welcome, and they were happy to see us. And we enjoyed our time there, and as someone said this will not stay this little sleepy island for long.  So yesterday after we took the tender back to the ship we just chilled out and watched the tenders going back and forth, and used some internet  through T-Mobile sitting on the balcony. 

Last night we did dinner, but both of us were too full, to do much else and the ship had started rocking and rolling so we called it a night. 

Today we woke about 7:30, with a Big Bang the ship evidently hit a big wave, so after much debate, we went to the dinning room for breakfast. Having Club Class, is really nice, almost as nice as being in a suite. We don't get to eat in Sabitinies for breakfast, but we do have our special area, and the same waiters we have at night in that area. At night the suite passengers share the same area.  And we can come pretty much when we want, within the parramators of the serving time. So we are liking it. 

Now on the agenda,,,,, not much, not a lot going on, we missed the movie LaLa Land yesterday, hopefully it will be on again. Today's movie, is Wilson, not sure we want to see that, but we'll see.  Tonight there are two thing we want to see, but we will need to skip dinner to see them,,,,, which, wouldn't hurt us a bit. 

Later,,, I'll try to get this out. 

St Pierre & Miquelon

This is a second time to try to post this, so it is still a beautiful day, cool about 50 F. We had a great morning eating French pastries and quiche Lorien I wi try the photos again. 

 

 

New Jersey

From the ferry, this may work yet! 

First and second sea day after NY

Well computer issues have continued to be a problem, not so much each individual component, but the thing as a whole. I won't bore you with all of that, it serficeis to say, I'm not sure this will ever get out eaither. So on to an update.

We had a wonderful time in New York City, the weather could not have been nicer. We went to Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. Not enough time for either, but fun non the less. Even though our tour was only 5 hours, it was strenuous for most of us as it got warmer, and the sun was intens. We had planed on going back out on the streets, but having not had a healthy breakfast, and no lunch we simply ran out of gas, (energy).  We were hot and sweaty, so showers, were inorder and lots of iced tea. 

We met new friends Carol and John for dinner, and saw a great show after. Because we are in club class, we are being treated to special dinners, that aren't on the minue, like an awesome rack of lamb, then oscobosco, and last night it was Chilean sea bass!  The crew on this ship are over the top, from the Captin right down the line. Our cabin attended is one of the best we have had, Menione, and the people all over are the same, high standeard. 

Yesterday we lost an hour, and last night the same, so this morning we both slept until nine!  Last night was formal night, and the Captin hosted cocktail party. Different then other ships, no champaign waterfall, just as much champaign you could drink I'm two hours. 🍾. And then a wonderful dinner and great show, great singers and dancers

Today Ed and I are up on the top deck in the pacific lounge, looking out on an almos placed ocean with clear sky's and 47 degrees, getting colder for sure. I will see if this will publish, if so I will try photos next. 😏

Second Sea Days

Good Morning,

It is our second sea day since we left Ft. Lauderdale, and I am behind already,, so whats new?  So on to catching up.  

We awoke late in the AM on Friday, and that was OK as we didn’t plan to have breakfast anyway, as we had a big dinner with Kieran, our nephew the night before, and it was wonderful.  We eat too much and had too many Margaritas, so needless to say we were not hungry by morning.

So we finished our morning routines and finished stuffing our carryons only to find out later they were too big to carry on,,, so,,, on the pier we took out meds and the computer bag, and carried that on, it all worked out.  There was no rush, as we were the only ship in port.   So everything was easy.  The ship wasn’t ready, even though it was 1PM,  but they gave us a goodie bag, with water and a granola bar incase we were hungry.  We found out later that they had not been able to complete the dress up part of the dry dock, because they had rain almost the entire two weeks they were there, so things like changing out chairs and cushions were not delivered.  But the hull work was completed and all the electrical word was also done..  And we got a brand new bed, it is glorious, new carpet throughout the ship.

We boarded about 30 minutes later and found our cabin and met our room stuert, Menino, he is very good, so good intact he won’t be with us for the whole cruise he is being promoted,,, not sure when, but I’m sure we will miss him.  

We had our bags in our room, when we returned from lunch, and we started unpacking all the stuff we just had to bring, that took us that afternoon and all day yesterday to get it organized, which is why I haven’t posted.  

We have now experienced two dinners and on breakfast in Club Class and I will say it is nice, and the extra things in the room are really nice.  It is almost like being in a suite, and honestly our room is plenty big.  I have pictures, but at the moment I haven’t been able to get them over to the mac, I have an appointment with the internet guy at 7 to see if he can resolve it.  So until then I will just send this post..

Tomorrow NY 

Sunny Florida NOT!

It has rained all night and suppose to rain all day,,,,, oh well it is what it is.  We have a beautiful room here at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort, so we will chill for the day.  Ed is happy he doesn't have to drive again. He turned in the car, a day early, that was a fiasco. They have a kiosk here, but seems it isn't maned all the time, so when we arrived and wanted to turn in the car, well.... We saw no point in keeping it, we weren't planing on shopping, God forbid, not room for one more thing. LOL

So last night we freshened up and went down to Happy Hour, nice, good appetizers. That was dinner, and to bed early. 

Today we plan to relax until we meet our nephew Kieran for dinner, I'll post some pictures of the room later, when it's tiddyied up.  

The first day out.....

It was a beautiful morning, sunny and cool. I woke at 5:45 am, the last time 😜 so get up already so I did. My iPad alarm went off at 6, so that woke the other half. Showered, and dressed, had coffee, and banana bread I made the day before, put in the last few things in the last bag and set the heat pumps, and we were off....... Well not really. 

We made the 8 o'clock ferry, and as we were in line,,,, Ed says "you did pack the notebook that has all the boarding passes, etc". and I say yes, then wondered did I? So I said well check the last bag that went in the car on the ferry.  Now my self doubt is setting in. We're on the ferry, and we check the bag,,, no book!! So get off and turn around, and get back on. Drive home,,,, very quite car,, get home,,, no book any wear!  Now I think, maybe it's in the bag we took out last night,  late. Sure enough, there it is. Back to the ferry, we finely arrive in Surry, two hours late at 10 am!  Long story short, we drive through, some major thunderstorms, starting in SC and about that time, I said to Ed I was going to call the hotel and tell them we would be late. And what did they say,,,, WE DONT HAVE A RESERVATION!  Oh no, and they are booked up! Ed made a ,,,,,, another story. So I called the courtyard by Marriott and we got the last room. We arrived safe and sound at 7:30pm. Dinner in the Beastrow and now it sleep time. 

Good night

Almost ready to leave

It has been a busy day around here, I made two loaves of banana bread and two loaves of sourdough bread. A frittata for brunch in between. And worked on packing jewelry, going over our checklist, and realized we had forgotten to coppy down all the amergenze numbers, in case we lost CC.  Check list are a good thing for me. 

Now to hope we get an oversized car like we did last month to go to Tim's as we have so much luggage. We shall see if we packed too many clothes, only time will tell 

It is almost midnight, and I have an appointment to get my nails done early in the morning so I will say good night, hugs to all our kids, and Gran's and thanks for the calls. 

Goodnight

Cyndi/Mom/Nana 

Wake up Blog

Wake up blog,,,,,, oh my i'm tired.... it might be, because I have been packing for two weeks!  It is done now,,,, so now I will wake up the blog, and start posting.

We are ready to take our only cruise in 2017, but it will be a long one, 36 days on the Pacific Princess. 

The map shows all the places we are scheduled to stop, accross this northern transatlantic   

At the end of this cruise we will spend 3 days in Dover, England, at a B and B that Ed found, but it is really in St Margrets Mead,  and then 3 days in Southampton, at another B and B, that is close to the pier. We will then board the Queen Mary 2, on the 21st of June, and travel back to New York City. We will then board Amtrak, for our journey home, and God willing be home on the 28th of July. 

So now it's the last minute things to make sure is done. We have wonderful neighbors, they will take in the mail and keep an eye on the house. Peggy and Amelia will spend a couple nights here, later this month, as Amelia has a week at CNU, to attend. So the hous won't be empty the whole time. The house is clean and we are almost ready to go.  

We have to pick up the car on Monday afternoon and I have a nail appointment that morning too, then we will drive out Tuesday morning. Then an overnight in Georgia and the next day Ft Lauderdale, for two nights and board the ship on Friday.

Bellow are two links, that you may find interesting:

Princess bridge cam

The Daily position of the Pacific Princess