A Diamond in the rough.

[Pushka]

Ok. Half an hour to muster and finally my luggage shows up. Almost too awful to think what I had packed could get lost. 10 minutes to Muster. Grumpy cat along for the ride.

Best thing ever to charge everything:

 

[Pushka]

Pardon my ignorance, I've never been on a cruise. What is a "punch for a lanyard"?

btw, loving the TR. Might have to look in to a cruise for my big five-0 next year.

This guv!
I've already demagnetized one card and only been onboard 4 hours. Magnetic personality and all that. This goes around your neck.

 

[love_the_life]

Guv, it's as Pushka's photo shows, a hole punched in the cruise card to allow it to be hung on a lanyard around the neck. Interestingly on Golden Princess earlier this month all cruise card were pre-punched and in spite of my inherent dislike of them I did purchase a lanyard on board.

 

[OzEire]

Loving this TR, re-living my recent Singapore trip and I've never been on a cruise ship (as a passenger, but that is another story).

 

[Pushka]

Naughty cat




Ooh.


Rest.

 

[Pushka]

Departure.

 

[I love to travel]

Sitting in the Conrad Singapore executive lounge now looking out to sea. Glad the rain has stopped so you get a better view cruising out of the harbour.

 

[love_the_life]

Departure.
View attachment 86844

Is that a cosmo I see before me?

 

[Pushka]

We chose anytime dining as eating at 5.30pm at first sitting was something I stopped once the kids passed kindy and eating at 8.30 is a tad late unless it's the QM2.
We decided to mix it up and join another group at a larger table although we were the first to be seated. Finally a delightful chap from Britain joined us. Turned out he was also a guest speaker and in later conversations one of the founders of the Lonsdale clothing group! Crickeys. Royalty! Then another couple from Australia joined us. The menu was interesting.
(Pics). Our British Royalty had been on the cruise before so knew the dishes. He had a lot of stories to tell and was sharp as a tack which would come in handy later.
Orders are not taken until everyone is seated so it was a while before the couple joined us. Thankfully they ordered almost straight away.
Menus.


Spring rolls were excellent.

And fortified chicken broth - broth with green floaty bits and very tasty.

Main for me was pork. All cruise ships seem to do meat slabs. Given the sheer numbers it's understandable I guess it the largeness is a little disconcerting. Nevertheless it was very nice.

 

[Pushka]

Continuing on with dinner.
Now the other couple ordered the Curtis Stone special. Seafood stew with black mussels, sea bass and clams with toasted baguette. As did the Brit. He loved the dish. Unfortunately just by looking at it the other couple said they didn't like it - because - there were mussels. Yowsers. Our Brit continued slurping it up delightedly and dare I say with even more gusto. There wasn't a lot of convo between him and the other guy
So his plate sat untouched while we finished off. The attendants saw this and offered another meal. He agreed to that and after we had finished ours that arrived. Instead of starting on his meal he continued talking. And talking. Our empty plates sat there. We sat there. Our Brit took control and with a very subtle gesture got the crew to remove our plates and get dessert happening.

Princess cruises does desserts well.




They taste as good as they look so no disappointment.

 

[Pushka]

Departure pics. Dame, the terminal is in front of MBS.


Fabulous Christmas decorations.

 

[Pushka]

We are currently in The Sanctuary - a paid for lounge. Great to be able to leave stuff on lovely lounges and go away for a couple of hours then return. Adult pool downstairs.






And as far fwd as you can go.

 

[love_the_life]

I left and arrived back on Mariner from the same terminal earlier this year. It was quite efficient though I think it helped that I had preferred check in and boarding given it was Chinese New Year.
The Sanctuary looks the same as the one on Golden Princess though it was freezing when I was there in early December; the wind was whistling round the ankles and we had extra towels to use as blankets.
The decorations look great. It was a real disappointment that they did not put them up until the day we left the ship on 8 December in Auckland. I was on a RCI ship in late November and one night we went to bed and we we got up, lo and behold the ship was transformed. It looked great. I thought Princess was very slack in leaving them so late.

 

[Pushka]

Broken?
Try again.

 

[love_the_life]

The photos were fine for me

 

[Pushka]

Where was I? Oh yes. So far behind. Announcement. It is about to rain. And bucket down it does. For over 20 hours. Just now fining up and is very hot.

So, a mad dash for cover to keep dry for those of us who are wet from swimming. Go figure. No lunch as yet although I did order this ahem, health inspired vegetable wrap from Sanctuary that took an hour to arrive because wrapping a lettuce leaf around some sticks of carrots takes a long time

By now a little peckish so pizza in order. Thankfully the Americans have not infiltrated with their awful pan style and its very good. If a tad large.
Pizza.

Its late by now so time for a pre dinner drink and Hendricks gin coughtail seems to hit the mark. A couple times in fact.
Then off to dinner.
Nice menu. I think Princess food might be better than Celebrity.
Menus

 

[Pushka]

I ordered the pâté which was a little peculiar in color but nice anyway.


Then the soup which replaced the green floaty bits of yesterday with white ones. Very delish.

MrP quite liked his prawns.


For mains, the pork belly dish was excellent.

A Curtis Stone winner. I wonder if our tosser from yesterday selected Curtis Stone again tonight then disliked it as it contained pork.
Then creme brûlée. And yes, it cracked.

 

[Pushka]

Shopping. Dame, the mother of all Tatt sales today. Just for you. The squeals of women I found quite distressing. It was junk ladies.


And then we have the Art auctions. Yes. Every single cruise. And people actually buy. Its like watching a train wreck. I was transfixed. I have a YouTube of one. Will post it later when on wifi. But as a teaser.

 

[Pushka]

Breakfasts. We found the buffet a little confusing at first but getting it sorted now. Usually just fruit, yoghurt and an egg and bacon. The bacon. English and American. Compared together here:

Needless to say English is a winner. I found out today they hide the English and only bring it out if people ask for it.
Last nights dinner wasn't inspiring. Just ok.


Pot pie

Soufflé Dame. He just punched a hole - boom

 

[Pushka]

In Bali now. Very hot and sunny. A ridiculously long tender ride.
Dawn