Valparaiso to Buenos Aires - semi live 1/17-31

[satxdiver]

Day 13 - Thursday At Sea Formal Night

High 70 Low 66 Sunrise 7:09 AM Sunset 8:30 PM

 

Seas have been

 

After the usual breakfast in the stateroom, we attended the culinary demonstration. The chef did a great presentation and was quite funny as well. The customary galley tour was offered. The port talk followed immediately after the demonstration. Julio was funny as usual. He always starts with a personal story about his activities since the last talk and today was no exception. His talk was as good as usual and funny. My partner attended the last espanol class. We had a delicious lunch in the MDR followed by relaxing around the ship.

 

The lido deck loungers and pools were in full use today with the sun being out and no clouds. The loungers on the deck above were busy as well. The wind was minimal so staying warm despite the cooler temperatures, high 60’s, was very easy. Once the sun came to our side of the ship (port), it was enjoyable sitting outside. We had our usual late afternoon wine on the balcony for a change.

 

Tonight the ventriloquist had his show in the Vista Lounge and was fairly good. He had three dummies in his act: an old lady, an even older man and a young puppy. The old lady sang a song and then left a part for Dan who make a clicking sound while the old lady hummed – a very good trick. The marriage show was fairly interesting but picked up when we found out during the questioning of the women that the older woman was the mother-in-law of the younger woman contestant! Tonight was the 50th Anniversary of Princess party in the piazza, the Rio Carnival Celebration.

 

Schedule:

Morning MUTS: Frozen Sing-A-Long

Evening MUTS: Guardians of the Galaxy

Culinary Demonstration and kitchen tour - 10:15 AM

Port Talk: Montevideo (English and later Spanish) 11:15 AM

Final Spanish class

Poolside Melodies with Leal – noon

Poolside Melodies with DJ Pedro – 1:00 PM

Ice Carving demonstration 1:30 PM

Vista Lounge: Dan Horn, Stand Up Ventriloquist at 8:00 and 10:00 PM

Theater: Production Show Stardust at 8:15 and 10:15

Marriage Match Game Show, 9:15 PM in Explorer’s Lounge

Skywalkers: Salsa and Merengue with DJ Pedro

 

Our passports and documents were returned this morning by the stateroom attendant a little after 9 AM. We had to exchange our receipts given to us on the first day in exchange for the passport. Those who were not present had to pick up their passport/documents at guest relations. There was a big line most of the day. Luckily we had not left the stateroom yet and were saved from standing in line. Disembarkation instructions were delivered to the staterooms tonight.

[caribill]

"Tonight was the 50th Anniversary of Princess party in the piazza"

 

What in the party made it seem as if it was a true celebration of the 50th Anniversary?

 

Or was it just a past type party under a new name? (New Year's Eve party, Captain's farewell party, etc.)

[satxdiver]

Day 14 – Friday Montevideo Casual dress Last day onboard

High 75 Low 64 Sunrise 7:02 AM Sunset 8:53 PM

 

The seas were very calm today as we approached Montevideo and calm as we went up the river to BA. The sky was clear blue and the temps in the high 70’s or better. Wind was minimal so a beautiful day We had a lot of pax in shorts today.

 

After our customary breakfast in our stateroom, we joined our private tour mates in the IC waiting for the signal to leave the ship. We were off the ship by 8:40. The ship had been scheduled to arrive in port at 9:00 AM so we arrived early. Once on the pier we walked out past the ship tour busses and met our guide. He was easy to find among the forest of private tour operators looking for their pax. The Costa was in port with us and had already started disembarking their pax so it was something of pandemonium. Our guide had a small bus that held 16 so there was ample room for the 10 of us. Herbert was a very good guide, easy to understand his English and very knowledgeable of his city. We did a city tour only which lasted 4 hours. Herbert dropped us off at the market across the street from the port. There were many restaurants in the market with most offering what they called BBQ and I would call steak restaurants of different types.

 

We decided to have lunch in one of the small restaurants in the market which was very busy. We both ordered a BBQ plate with French fries. The staff did not speak very good English so when we asked him about the size, it was not communicated well. Our plates came with a 1 pound steak on each! It was a lot of meat so if you decide to go to the market, be very careful what you order. The fellow pax at the next table had ordered a beer only to be served a liter bottle of beer so we were able to miss that one by asking for a small bottle.

 

We returned to the ship and started the disembarkation shuffle by starting to pack our suitcases for the early morning. Since we are staying in BA for a several days, we asked for a late time and was given 10 AM. In BA pax are not allowed to remove their luggage except for carryon so no early walk off with your luggage! All luggage had to be checked the night before. We usually do the self-assisted walk off.

 

Tonight at dinner in the MDR they served baked Alaskan and had the traditional parade of staff. They had my favorite black mussels so I was happy. There was not a lot going on around the ship tonight but it finally was warm enough to sit on the lido deck and watch MUTS. Unfortunately there were few taking advantage of the evening.

 

Schedule:

Evening MUTS: The Giver

Theater: Greg Scott, English Recording Artist - 8:15 and 10:15 PM

 

Time change tonight at 2:00 AM – ship clocks were turned back one hour. Montevideo is one hour in front of Argentina and Chile. The ship has changed ship time to match port time this cruise.

[satxdiver]

"Tonight was the 50th Anniversary of Princess party in the piazza"

 

What in the party made it seem as if it was a true celebration of the 50th Anniversary?

 

Or was it just a past type party under a new name? (New Year's Eve party, Captain's farewell party, etc.)

 

LOL you have it right. They had hung "special" large banners up in the piazza that had the 50th anniversary logo on them. Other than that it was not much different than the parties of the past. However it did not entail balloons dropping or streamers so it was much more subdued. It mostly was some music and a lot of rah rah rah!