10.24.2016 update from the Star Princess

Friday afternoon we were almost an hour late leaving Seattle.  One of our neighbors told us she was on the late bus.  It was a Princess excursion which went to two wineries in Woodinville.  On the way back to the ship, the bus driver decided it would be nice to offer the passengers a quick trip to Pike Place Market in Seattle.  Apparently one woman who got off at the Market, decided she was going to take her time and tour the Market.  So the bus waited for her.  We are wondering if that driver will work for a Princess tour again.  If you are on a Princess tour, the ship will wait, but if you are touring independently, you are out of luck.  The ship will leave and you will need to make arrangements to get to the next port.

Friday night to Saturday morning was really rocky.  John can sleep through anything and Colleen just likes the rocking of the seas.  We were surprised we arrived in Astoria on time, with the late departure and the high seas, but we did. 

We went in to Astoria late morning on Saturday for a couple of hours, then back to the ship for lunch.  After lunch we decided to take the Astoria trolley for an hour tour of the waterfront.  It was very interesting. 

Then, another late departure.  A tour bus broke down, and the replacement bus didn't have enough seats for all the passengers.  We departed about an hour late.

After dinner we went to a magic show, which we usually like.  I don't know why, but again, we considered him just like the rest.  Not very exciting.  From there we went to a show which was called the Liars Club.  Four Officers of the ship each had to explain an unusual word, only one of them was being honest.  We enjoyed that show. 

John's mask causes different reactions.  On elevators, some passengers visibly move away from him.  Some have asked in various ways.  "Looks like you either have Norovirus or are trying to not get it."  "You must have asthma or hay fever."   At the magician's show, all seats were taken except the one next to John.  Of the dozens of passengers that went by us (we were at the end of a row right next to the entrance) only one asked about the empty seat.  One day three women go off the elevator when John went on.  One retired pastor, once hearing the reason for the mask, told us he would pray for us!

Our Captain, Michele Tuvo , is the most visible Captain we have ever had.  One day we saw him clear a lunch table, look for the wet cloth, and wiped it down.  We saw him go into Bingo one day.  He made several entertainment type announcements, which the Cruise Director usually does.  While we were at lunch one day he walked into the restaurant and greeted people.  He told one family that his six year old son will be joining him in Los Angeles on Wednesday.  Each announcement he makes, he ends it with 'bye, bye.' 

Sunday was our first day at sea. We participated in two trivia games, spent time in the fitness center, went to a talk about the Panama Canal.  We have gone through the Canal twice, but next year Princess will be the first cruise line to go through the new wide Canal.  We have been talking about doing this one when it starts in October 2017.  We'll see.  We went to their British Pub Lunch.  They were able to seat us at the end of a row, which is preferable since John won't have his mask on while eating.  We spent a couple of hours at the Art Auction on the ship.  We bought nothing since we already made our purchases on Friday.  There was one Peter Max piece that went for over $20,000.  I wouldn't be surprised if they sold over $100,000 worth of art at that one auction.  Two more shows ended the evening, which was the second and last formal night.  We dressed for this one.

Monday we were in San Francisco.  We had our second medical malfunction.  We were able to resolve it over the phone with the infusion people.  We wasted a dose of the antiviral, but they will deliver more to our home before we need the Wednesday night infusion. 

Monday morning we walked along the water for a couple of miles, then back to the ship.  We had lunch and then went back out for a tour with a local company.  The tour was out to the redwood trees in John Muir Woods and then an hour in Sausalito.  The woods are completely tamed with wide paths of either wood or blacktop.  Huge trees and very quiet considering how many people were there with us.  There is no cell phone reception.  We were walking the trail and there was a couple with a young girl in a stroller coming toward us.  The stroller got beside a phone booth, one of those that is open on one side.  The girl pointed and squealed "what is that?" and we all cracked up. 

We had a great driver who was also the commentator.  Skilled driver on very narrow, twisty roads.  No shoulder, no guard rail and steep and deep drop offs. He showed us the high school that Joe DiMaggio went to as well as OJ Simpson.  He told us that OJ tried and failed to make the baseball team.  He just couldn't catch the ball.....because the glove didn't fit.  Loved it!

We are tired tonight, with over 20,000 steps, so will probably sleep early.

Colleen and John