JamieLogical's Live from the Enchanted Princess 8/10

[JamieLogical]

8 minutes ago, beshears said:

I am reading/seeing some more of your report. You mentioned of receiving a dozen YELLOW roses, how wonderful! The reason I say this (I'm 81), YELLOW, not gold but YELLOW is my favorite color! 🙂  You mentioned the onion tower that I believe ??? was at O'malley's? Is this onion rings, onion strings, or onion blossom, or what?

 

The onion tower is a stack of onion rings at O'Malley's. Will try to take a photo of the next one we get.

[canadarocks]

9 minutes ago, beshears said:

You mentioned the onion tower that I believe ??? was at O'malley's? Is this onion rings, onion strings, or onion blossom, or what?

 

[JamieLogical]

9 minutes ago, beshears said:

I failed to mention that you showed/mentioned that you took "1" pair of shoes. As someone else said, that would NEVER work for me. I guess that is why my luggage is heavy, as I take at least 6 - 8 pairs of shoes to "match" what I am wearing. 🙂 

 

I brought three pairs of shoes. The boat shoes in my photos went into my bundle in my carry-on sized bag. My Merrells were on my feet as I traveled. Those are the hiking/walking shoes I wear in port and on excursions. Then I had a pair of sandals packed in my backpack. Those do double-duty as my swim/deck shoes and my "formal" shoes.

 

Here are my sandals:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074JKNYDD?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

Edited August 13 by JamieLogical

[Teechur]

4 minutes ago, beshears said:

I failed to mention that you showed/mentioned that you took "1" pair of shoes. As someone else said, that would NEVER work for me. I guess that is why my luggage is heavy, as I take at least 6 - 8 pairs of shoes to "match" what I am wearing. 🙂 

Wow! I take one pair of flip flops and 2 pairs of Nike Pegasus running shoes. One pair is solid black which I try to save for the dining room. I only carry two pairs in case one gets wet on excursions.

[beshears]

I was thinking the Enchanted had the champagne tower, liked the Regal. Am I correct on this or not?

[Lady Arwen]

18 minutes ago, Teechur said:

Wow! I take one pair of flip flops and 2 pairs of Nike Pegasus running shoes. One pair is solid black which I try to save for the dining room. I only carry two pairs in case one gets wet on excursions.

Just started packing for our Enchanted sailing next Saturday.  I will be wearing a pair of runners to the airport.  I’ve packed 4 more pairs of various styles and that’s a personal best.   My suitcase weighs 46 lbs and my carryon weighs 18 lbs.  Could someone please tell me how you pack everything for 7 days in a carryon?  Apparently, I’m in the minority and have absolutely no clue.

[LACruiser88]

9 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Could someone please tell me how you pack everything for 7 days in a carryon?  Apparently, I’m in the minority and have absolutely no clue.

You are not alone!  For a 7-day cruise (which we have not done in many years) Debbie would still check two large bags with plenty of choices of shoes and outfits!  For our upcoming 32-day cruise on the Coral, we'll be checking 4 large bags.  And, we will carry a bag and backpack on the plane.

 

Rafael

[Lady Arwen]

49 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

You are not alone!  For a 7-day cruise (which we have not done in many years) Debbie would still check two large bags with plenty of choices of shoes and outfits!  For our upcoming 32-day cruise on the Coral, we'll be checking 4 large bags.  And, we will carry a bag and backpack on the plane.

 

Rafael

Yes!  We don’t normally do one week cruises and most often we sail Europeans/Med.  This was just a fill in cruise to use up FCC by December 31st.  So happy to hear Debbie thinks as I do.  I’m trying to cut back, but it’s very challenging!  Have a wonderful time on your 32 day sailing….I’m jealous lol!

 

Ingrid

[kluv2cruz]

2 hours ago, Scottdalfonso said:

Ok..so it IS the same Game as we did on the radio show! 

Hi there, welcome, is this your first cruise? Are you travelling with anyone? Do you have any pets? Did you do an excursion yesterday in port? All questions that are SUPER hard not to nod your head or say yes or no to! Super fun to watch.

[kluv2cruz]

1 hour ago, Lady Arwen said:

My suitcase weighs 46 lbs and my carryon weighs 18 lbs.  Could someone please tell me how you pack everything for 7 days in a carryon?  Apparently, I’m in the minority and have absolutely no clue.

It’s pretty impossible. Especially since travelling since COVID I bring more just in case medicine. That’s very heavy. 

[kad56]

@JamieLogical How is working from the ship working out? I've never worked on ships, because I worry about the connection (I need to zoom), but it would be such a great way to stretch my PTO.

[JamieLogical]

1 hour ago, beshears said:

I was thinking the Enchanted had the champagne tower, liked the Regal. Am I correct on this or not?

 

I think they have those on every Princess cruise. The on eon our cruise was last night and we completely ignored it.

[JamieLogical]

1 hour ago, Lady Arwen said:

Just started packing for our Enchanted sailing next Saturday.  I will be wearing a pair of runners to the airport.  I’ve packed 4 more pairs of various styles and that’s a personal best.   My suitcase weighs 46 lbs and my carryon weighs 18 lbs.  Could someone please tell me how you pack everything for 7 days in a carryon?  Apparently, I’m in the minority and have absolutely no clue.

 

See my bundle packing method mentioned above. I can easily pack for a 12-day with just a carry-on and a backpack.

[JamieLogical]

1 minute ago, kad56 said:

@JamieLogical How is working from the ship working out? I've never worked on ships, because I worry about the connection (I need to zoom), but it would be such a great way to stretch my PTO.

 

I haven't had to zoom yet. Remote Desktop can be intermittently laggy, but so far I have been able to do everything I need to.

[WisCruiser2]

@Scottdalfonso, @JGmf, @JamieLogical - my bad, I did get the games mixed up, sorry! Is the one I was thinking of a true/false one? Obviously, I can't remember what it's called...🥴

[Thrak]

7 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

The main reason we had decided on the MDR for lunch was for science! I had the world’s saddest Monte Cristo sandwich on the Emerald Princess back on our Panama Canal cruise and it was one of the major contributors to what made that our worst cruise ever (along with 100 other things)

 

I tried the "Princess version" of the Monte Cristo sandwich on one of our last cruises. What a joke. I knew what I was ordering but that wasn't what I got. It was pathetic and a major disappointment. It was almost as disappointing as when I ordered "Chilies Relleno" in MDR and was served a bell pepper stuffed with rice. Princess should provide their "chefs" with access to Google so they can see what their items are supposed to look like and how they are supposed to be made.

[Lady Arwen]

42 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

See my bundle packing method mentioned above. I can easily pack for a 12-day with just a carry-on and a backpack.

You are simply the best!  I could never come close to your packing expertise.  I’m so worried about not having something I left behind.  I’m doing better, as usually I’m overweight and have to pay an exorbitant fee.  Baby steps.

[MsTabbyKats]

3 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

Just started packing for our Enchanted sailing next Saturday.  I will be wearing a pair of runners to the airport.  I’ve packed 4 more pairs of various styles and that’s a personal best.   My suitcase weighs 46 lbs and my carryon weighs 18 lbs.  Could someone please tell me how you pack everything for 7 days in a carryon?  Apparently, I’m in the minority and have absolutely no clue.

Very easy....my main color is black.  Everything goes with black.  And I bring jewelry...lots of jewelry, from the very cheap to the very expensive, I change the jewelry for the occasion...not the clothing.  I can go from gym to elegant in the same outfit....just by changing a pendant!

[Thrak]

3 hours ago, kluv2cruz said:

It’s pretty impossible. Especially since travelling since COVID I bring more just in case medicine. That’s very heavy. 

 

I take my "regular" just-in-case medicines plus Paxlovid. My doctor had no problem prescribing it for our last cruise. I didn't need it but was happy to have it with me. (My wife can't take it because she is permanently on Eliquis.)

[Thrak]

3 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

You are simply the best!  I could never come close to your packing expertise.  I’m so worried about not having something I left behind.  I’m doing better, as usually I’m overweight and have to pay an exorbitant fee.  Baby steps.

 

I watched the bundling video and, while I'm sure it's a great way to pack a lot of stuff in a small container, I have a much easier and more efficient method. I use the "Yes, Dear" method. My wife tells me to get my stuff together and then she packs it. This is how she wants it done and it works quite well for me. 😊

[Torfamm]

5 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

Just started packing for our Enchanted sailing next Saturday.  I will be wearing a pair of runners to the airport.  I’ve packed 4 more pairs of various styles and that’s a personal best.   My suitcase weighs 46 lbs and my carryon weighs 18 lbs.  Could someone please tell me how you pack everything for 7 days in a carryon?  Apparently, I’m in the minority and have absolutely no clue.

You could probably make it for a week with 2 evening outfits, 2 day outfits, a bathing suit and one pair of shoes. Most could if necessary. I personally prefer more options.

 

Activities also make a difference for me. Scuba gear or cold weather clothing and hiking boots take up a lot of space. We also enjoy dressing up for formal nights sometimes and have even brought our golf clubs on cruises. To each his own!

[Scottdalfonso]

6 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

I watched the bundling video and, while I'm sure it's a great way to pack a lot of stuff in a small container, I have a much easier and more efficient method. I use the "Yes, Dear" method. My wife tells me to get my stuff together and then she packs it. This is how she wants it done and it works quite well for me. 😊

We're the opposite- I pack all my stuff,  then throw all of her stuff on the bed, I hold it up one by one and she says yes- I fold it and stuff it in. She says no, I throw it off to the side. At the end whatever is left gets put back in the closet or drawers and we're ready to go. 

[Crown Cruiser]

Jamie,   How has the weather been?

[JamieLogical]

1 minute ago, Crown Cruiser said:

Jamie,   How has the weather been?

 

Hot and humid!

[JamieLogical]

Yesterday was our port stop in Bonaire. We were pretty non-committal about getting off the ship. I woke up before our room service arrived, so I just put on my robe on and loitered until it was delivered and then hopped in the shower. I had a brief moment where I was going to attempt to drink my coffee and type up my blog on our balcony, but that lasted about 5.2 seconds before I gave up as the sun was shining directly into our balcony and it was already about 87 degrees out there, so I went inside and typed up my blog on the couch in air-conditioned comfort.

 

When 8:00 rolled around, I headed over to the desk and got my laptop and portable monitor set up for working. I logged in to find more work waiting for me than I expected. We are getting down to crunch time for the start of the semester and everyone is putting in their last-minute requests. It’s the whole reason I volunteered to work some while on this trip, but I still don’t have to like it!

 

I did at least get a mimosa delivered via the app at one point, but I ended up working until almost 11:00 instead of my planned 10:00. After that I found my husband down at Good Spirits where he had apparently been overserved Champagne & Chambords, because he was pretty tipsy. We hemmed and hawed about going onshore, but decided not to do so for lunch at least. We played one round of Splendor Duel and then headed to lunch in the buffet. I was not a fan of the lunch buffet back in May, but this one had slightly better options. I was able to wrangle up some fried shrimp, french fries, and some Korean sticky chicken thing? It was in a yummy, sweet BBQ sauce. I also grabbed two slices of cheese, but once again Princess’ cheese selection left a LOT to be decided. I didn’t even try the “cheddar” after my husband told me it tasted like nothing and I only ate a tiny little nibble of the white cheese to try to figure out what it was with no luck. How do you fail at cheese? Cheese is usually the easiest and best food there is!

 

After lunch, we were still not sure about going on shore, so instead we went back to the room and I put on John Wick 4. That movie is shockingly long for having no plot. I dozed a little for part of it, but I am pretty sure I didn’t actually miss much. My husband went walkabout at some point during the movie and came back as it was finishing up. At that point his champagne and chambords caught up with him and he passed out.

 

I went down to the International Cafe to get my afternoon coffee and saw that Cocaine Bear was playing in the Vista Lounge. I was sad to have missed that one, as that was actually a great movie! But I have seen it before, so oh well. I just sat in the Crown Grill bar and poked my phone while I drank my coffee.

 

Once I was done with my coffee, I headed over to Bellini’s for some cocktails. I had a Summerberry Fizz and a French 77 while I chatted with some of the other passengers at the bar. Then I headed over to the little seating area outside the shops, which were closed while we were in port, and I called my parents. I had sent them some photos of us from formal night (we get free unlimited downloads with Premier) and I figured I should give them a call. I had tried to call them before we left for the cruise, but got no answer and their answering machine didn’t pick up. Turns out they have been having trouble with their house phone since switching providers.

 

I chatted with my parents for a while and then my husband eventually showed up. We played another round of Splendor Duel and then we had to decide what to do about dinner. Sticking with the non-committal theme of the day, we couldn’t really land on what to do about that either. Ultimately we decided on O’Malley’s, so we headed down there. I was happy we did, because we ran into @Canuker who joined us, along with his wife, as we ate our dinner.

 

After dinner, we came back up to the room to watch sailaway and the sunset from our balcony. Unfortunately, shortly after that, I started feeling really sick, probably from overeating at dinner after having had so much to drink? Whatever it was, I decided I should stay in the room instead of heading down to the theater for the Billy Joel Tribute we had planned on attending.

 

I ended up just staying in the room for the rest of the night. My husband went to a bit of the Billy Joel show, the Irish singers in O’Malley’s, a bit of some steel drum show, and some DJ thing in the Vista Lounge. He came back complaining that the entertainment really hasn’t been that great. He wishes there was some sort of lounge singer somewhere. I agree with him. You know what would have been the perfect venue for something like that? Take Five before they just turned it into more casino!

 

Day's Drinks:

Mimosa from OceanNow

Champagne & Chambord from Good Spirits 

Coffee w/Bailey's from International Cafe

Summerberry Fizz from Bellini's 

French 77 from Bellini's 

Vodka & Ginger Ale from Bellini's 

Clover Breeze from O’Malley's 

Golden Gorse from O’Malley's