Sweet dreams!  When traveling, a comfortable bed is at the top of the list.

No lumps, please! Plenty of room to sprawl. Two large, billowy pillows that one is free to mangle. Smooth sheets on which to glide (especially vital if nekkid is one’s preference) and a toasty comforter to warm the tootsies. Oh, and a glistening white facade in order to create the necessary allure.

Currently, aboard the Royal Princess, our stateroom sends the appropriate invitation for a heavy dose of R & R. The steward embellishes the voluptuous folds with a couple of chocolates to massage the palate before diving into the bliss.

Now it’s off to slumber land. Embrace the dreamboat! Make sure the sliding door is open to the sounds of the ocean lapping at the vessel’s hull. Let the rhythms of the waves caress as they are wont to do. And zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Vacays…Port by Starboard (Oceans of Pleasure on the High Seas)

Mish & Mash…A Reflective, “Yours Truly” MUSINGS about Life’s Travails, Juicy Tidbits and Crass Behaviors, Too!

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Before the crowning euphoria that’s in store for any ship traveler, there looms the money decision affecting the booking in a guest’s future.  Does the soon-to-be adventurer desire an interior cabin, a balcony cabin, a mini-suite, a mini-suite with “Club Class” amenities, full suite or full suite with “Club Class” amenities?

Warning: cruises can be addicting. As I write this explanatory piece about selecting the right cruise option for the voyager, I am being prodded with an instigation about another potential cruise for us from my partner Susie. Oh, the life of an inveterate cruiser!

In my own case, previous excursions aboard cruise ships have featured – first – the Carnival Cruise line, followed by an exclusive reliance on Princess Cruises. How many in toto? Ten (10)… I’d say that about covers it!

Where have we stayed on board?  Well, a couple of bookings with interior cabins (couldn’t resist the great deals that were offered) and plenty of staterooms with balconies as well. The Reeses have also dabbled in the mini-suite arena and lately have chosen “Club Class” for an added layer of pampering.

It is this latter category that I choose to detail going forward. In short, from our perspective, what are the advantages of signing up for “Club Class” designation which is likely to set the traveler back an additional several hundred dollars?

Comfort matters, of course. In addition to the deluxe bed as well as distinctive touches of special robes, expedited boarding availability, and plenty of attention from the cabin steward, there are other notable plusses. How about a fruit bowl, nightly canapes delivered to the room, as desired, a couple of bottles of wine waiting for the eligible and even a welcoming glass of quality champagne in the stateroom on arrival.

The real, enticing allure of “Club Class” status, though, is the upgrade in food service. It is anytime dining with no wait “anytime”. Guests arrive in a designated area delineated from the regular passengers. A separate entrance presents with a bushel of amiability, featuring greeters who attempt to remember one’s name from the outset of the trip. The dining  table may even offer ready views of the ocean directly, especially if a 2-person party. A waiter, ably abetted by an assistant, services just 2 or 3 tables as the guest is escorted through the dining experience. The passenger feels like a royal personage as these professional “eager beavers” serve one’s every need, at the same time displaying a cheerfulness accompanied by smiles a-plenty. These waiters may hail from the Philippines, Mexico, Croatia, the Netherlands or other places around the globe. Their use of the English language, nevertheless,  proves to be commendable without uncomfortable challenges for the guest.

The menu is likely to be slightly expanded beyond the majority of the passengers, too. Special pastas, “Cherries Jubilee” or “Bananas Foster”, for example, may tickle your palate during a typical week navigating the ocean. Vegetarian and vegan travelers also receive the full attention of the staff to their expected, specific needs. Prompt service always remains the asterisk on each dining experience.

Plan on some discounted cocktails plus bar snacks and a Captain’s Circle party as other embellishments to your itinerary while on board.

In the final analysis, the potential passenger may wish to consider the upgrade to “Club Class” according to one’s own preferences and financial limitations. In any case, though, the Princess cruise adventure promises exceptional service even if a traveler does not choose the above option. Happy cruising! Caribbean? North Atlantic? Alaska? Hmmm.

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MAY 17 (Thursday)

0021   Wake up suddenly in the middle of a downpour. Proceeding to the balcony, I am amazed to see our huge vessel sailing underneath a series of power lines with the evergreened shoreline just a stone’s throw away. Bizarre…truly! Spend some time luxuriating in the unusual conditions, allowing the ship’s embrace to cradle me through another step in my sleep renewal. Woozy. Ultimately  a return to the sheets for another stint of slumber.

0600   Get thy rear end out of bed, guy! This ship identifies as – in the company’s lingo – “Medallion Class”. One of the features of this designation happens to be an incredibly comfortable mattress. Yesiree. Mission accomplished. Deliciously soft. Visions of yours truly melting into oblivion. Yes, that describes the all-encompassing feeling. Wow!

0655   Head to the Bordeaux Dining Room for our first breakfast of the trip. All the accoutrements are available to accompany our entree – a scramble of Eggs & Swiss Cheese. Both of us happily indulge.

0820   Lazy ass morning and afternoon. Delighted to skip lunch. Kneading the palate or needing more sleep? Recuperation from sleep deprivation wins out.

1715   Onboard directions navigation prove challenging. Which elevator to use? Which hallway leads to our stateroom? On which deck is located the gift shops, La Patisserie, the Promenade, the Bordeaux Dining Room or the Provence Dining Room? Midships? Foreward? Aft? Yikes! Finally, we arrive at the Provence with altered dining arrangements already in place.

1720   We are seated at our table for two under the guidance of our assigned Head Waiter “Jako”, hailing from South Africa. His assistant, “Kervan” from the Philippines, introduces himself as well. Susie’s dinner selection is a Steak Medallions Entree and a Norman Love chocolate dessert. Bill chooses a pecan encrusted salmon fillet and a dish of homemade butter almond ice cream for the sweet asterisk. Couldn’t  be finer!

1915   Susie and I choose our aisle seat in the Princess Theatre for our first production show of the cruise: ON THE BAYOU.  No program here, folks, so a lot of estimating and approximating. Singers and dancers look to number about 14. Musicians add up to 7.

1945   Here’s the scoop.Technical accomplishments are certainly solid. Attractive scenic components (lots of hanging moss), the lighting plot is up to snuff, costumes are inventive and allow for quick changes and the sound design is lively, yet not overbearing. Pyrotechnics,  also!

If an audience member wishes to hear any pop song having anything to do with New Orleans, the Mississippi region, etc., this is the place to be. Of course, there is a street funeral celebration, whorehouses in the Old Quarter,  the shanty environment in the lowlands and Mardi Gras. Plus an assortment of city denizens appear and disappear: the society elite, the down-on-their-luck contingent, the gangsters, the shady ladies, and so on. Story fragments here and there, but there’s no cigar. The book of this musical entertainment is MIA. Only a lazy framework shows up.

Direction is competent as is the choreography. Talent is top notch as expected. Here’s wishing there exists a way for me to credit these performers, but no program credits or headshots are available. Love the musicians as well. The behind the scenes crew deliver a smart, professional production to a packed house of an estimated 750 passengers. (Just guessin’ on the number.)

2030   Mardi Gras retires for another day. Audience members appear to have been entertained. As we slough back to our stateroom, I ponder the creators’ decision to include “Love Potion #9” in the evening’s musical line-up. Bayou connection seems awful tenuous in this instance.

2052   Arrival at our pleasant stateroom “lounge” for reading and writing and the inevitable droopy eyes that accompany same. Quiet time on the balcony, too.

2200  Oh, sweet slumber!

Vacays…Port by Starboard (Oceans of Pleasure on the High Seas)

The post ISLAND PRINCESS ALASKA (GLACIER ROUTE) CRUISE ONBOARD ON THE BAYOU REVIEW appeared first on Table To Stage.

Nautical Time (We are going on a ship, after all.)

MAY 16 (Wednesday)

0200   Waking up is hard to do (especially when one doesn’t “hit the sack” early enough) whether or not one is Neil Sedaka.

Packing went reasonably well the night before, but there is always a last minute “to do” list. Toiletries. Check. Moolah. Check. Medications. Check. Paperwork. Check. Inevitably there will be items forgotten. Now luggage winds its way to the car trunk.

0252   Resolutely set the Navi and we’re out of the driveway on our way to realize our Alaskan Cruise dream. Heading to the Aladdin car storage facility with our prearranged reservation. The ride is smooth and uneventful for these groggy, early morning travelers.

0340   Arrival at Aladdin. Selectively park our car so it will be easily accessible on our return. Proceed to unload our luggage from the trunk and, with help from attendant, load it on the idling minibus.

0401   Leave for the San Diego Airport. Jovial driver deposits us at Terminal 1 where Air Canada is housed. A few notable instructions about procedures for our return in a week (perish the thought!) and we’re off with luggage in tow.

0417   Trudge down the ticketing hallway with 3 suitcases and a backpack burdening our trek before reaching the Air Canada station. Check the two largest pieces and settle the other paperwork issues. Then, a brief wait for Susie’s wheelchair attendant (she is recovering from knee replacement surgery).

0426   Now we proceed to the TSA pre-check line which should lessen the security rigmarole. (Apparently, we don’t appear too shady in the eyes of Homeland Security because both of us have been granted this status.)

0430   TSA opens the gate just for us! (Susie loooves being first in line.)  After declaring her phony knee, both of us finish the screening process. I empty my pockets, sending any paraphernalia through the all-seeing security apparatus. Yippee…everything is going so smoothly.

0445   The attendant leads the way to Gate 34 where we will board the jet for Vancouver, British Columbia. Oh, Canada! He abandons us now and we are faced with the stark reality: this somewhat uncomfortable waiting area will be our home for awhile. Dead tired we are and wondering why it was necessary (as per instructions for an international flight) to arrive at the airport 2.5 hours in advance. Geez.

0500   A few of the eating establishments finally open and yours truly can then secure a couple of bagels as well as a cup of joe brewing just for me. Pannikin’s provides the nourishment. A toasted bagel and cream cheese in the morning is a wonderful thing.

0520   Now we wait…and wait…and wait some more.

0630   We are 2 of 5 passengers allowed to pre-board the Boeing 737 in the Air Canada Express fleet scheduled to fly direct to Vancouver. We settle in for the three hour flight then find ourselves sitting in the wrong seats. Uh-oh. (Bill’s fault…isn’t it always!) A quick adjustment to the other side of the aisle and these bedraggled travelers are ready to go. Of course, we carefully do our own screening of potential terrorists, but our only discovery is a lost soul still in the throes of a post-Coachella daze.

0700   Away from the gate and up, up and away. Keeping our fingers crossed that our checked luggage is making the journey with us. Oh, by the way, we carefully pay attention to the safety demo. Soon we are twiddling our thumbs followed by sleepy time. We recognize that drinks from the flight attendant might be a possibility, but we aim to snooze a bit (this plan is usually a bust, yet still worth a try).

1000   Touchdown at Vancouver Airport before the taxi to the Air Canada gate in the terminal and bingo! Special needs passengers (that’s us) are asked to remain in our seats so that a wheelchair will be available to my wife. Finally, we disembark.

1020   Second time at this airport. Not really that hospitable to a disabled passenger. Lots of waiting around, conflicting instructions, etc. It is a huge terminal so it takes a while to navigate its peculiarities – customs, luggage retrieval and the like. Ultimately, we connect with a Princess Cruises representative who checks in our luggage for delivery to our ship’s stateroom. Incidentally, we elected to allow the cruise line to make our flight arrangements as well as our transportation to the dock at the Port of Vancouver.

1100   Susie and I find ourselves outside of the terminal with our carry-ons, waiting in a massive line for a bus. Grrr!

1125   4 busses later, we finally ascend the stairs of a vehicle and settle in for the next phase of our journey. Meanwhile, our bus driver emerges as a breath of fresh Canadian air. She’s a pleasant young lady who provides color commentary about the city (e.g. tons of  rhododendrons in a variety of hues). This trip takes a bit less than an hour until we reach the cruise terminal beneath the Pan Asia Hotel in downtown Vancouver. This happens to be a snazzy, jazzy area for shopping, dining and bar-hopping, but no time today. Awww.

1220   Security, Part Deux. Princess Cruises needs to guarantee everyone’s safety by screening all passengers thoroughly. An attendant guiding Susie’s wheelchair whisks the both of us through the security operation. We have a few cruises under our belt so our “Ruby” status is acknowledged with our plans for the cruise ahead. The processing ordeal for all at the terminal involves 3 different cruise companies: Holland-America, Regent and Princess.

1237   Finally board our ship, the 2200 passenger ISLAND PRINCESS, bound for Alaska. Our guide leads us through the final steps of security (verified checks, photographs, intense scrutiny) until we are seated in the Bordeaux Dining Room on Deck 5, awaiting the proper time to enter our stateroom mini-suite on Caribe Deck 10.  

1248   Take a breath, Susie & Bill. Attentive waiter relaxes us immediately as we enjoy our lunch. Susie selects Chicken Cacciatore and Flourless Chocolate Cake. Bill savors a broiled salmon entree topped off with an orange souffle dessert. Both of us find the food delectable.

1338   Armed with a small suitcase and a backpack, these weary Californians enter our suite, give it the once-over, slide open the door to the balcony and promptly collapse. Almost 12 hours since we arose from our comfy beds in Escondido, CA leading to this moment. Then, we meet “Rodolpho”, our stateroom steward from the Philippines, who will clean our suite every morning and refresh it in the evening. Cruise veterans that we are (our 7th overall; 2 on Carnival and 5 on Princess), we gift our guy with a bag of candy and a $20 tip upfront. It’s our opinion that this leads to more attentive service. Truly, though, these guys work long, difficult days!

1600   All passengers assigned to Muster Station “A” gather in the Princess Theatre for the obligatory safety demo. After listening to a hokey version of the “Love Boat Theme” with revised lyrics applicable to safety issues, we learn how to fasten lifejacket, engage the light, find the whistle and step into the water in the unlikely circumstance that we would need to abandon ship. Necessary info, of course, but we’re ready for trampolines and way too much food & drink; so, this seems like an annoyance interrupting the good times to follow.  Oh well, let’s get it out of the way!

1633   Brief stop at the Crooners Bar for some libations (everybody seems to have the same idea). Susie sips away at a Knob Creek Bourbon and Ginger Ale. Bill tries to calm the frenzy of the day with a Jameson’s Whisky on the Rocks. Right about now, the mooring lines are recovered and she (the ISLAND PRINCESS) is officially underway. The coast of British Columbia beckons on our way to Alaska. Pause for reflections on the promise of the voyage.

1715   Our first dinner at the Provence Dining Room is somewhat eventful. While there are several options available, we have elected the first seating at a table for two with the same team of waiters for the whole week rather than anytime dining or buffet dining. On arrival we encounter a major snafu: they have assigned us to a table of 10 (not a romantic setting at all and a deep disappointment). Of course, the large table can be a wonderful experience if the goal is to meet a wide variety of guests so that conversation permeates the dining experience. As an example, it can be an exhilarating adventure as it was for us on a previous cruise when we enjoyed the company of an assortment of female boudoir photographers. Total comedic blast! However, conversely, one obnoxious person at a dining table who tends to dominate conversation and the experience can be deadly. A whole week of the latter? No thanks!

Back to the problem at hand. Susie is a “Leo” and the lion is not going to sleep tonight without this screw-up being solved right away. Let’s just say that an intense discussion with the Maitre d’ follows with the promise of a possible solution in place for tomorrow evening’s dinner. Or else the lion may pounce!

Tonight we enjoy our dinner seated at a large table by ourselves. Susie orders a traditional Steak & Potatoes with Corn-on-the-Cob accompanied by Sauvignon Blanc. Bill prefers a Pasta meal with Chicken followed by some Cheesecake with Macerated Strawberries.

1902   Back to Caribe 228 without delay to try to recover from the day’s trials and tribulations. Desperately want to engage in mattresside. Weird for it to be so bright outside this late in the evening (it will stay light outside until 11PM). I discover that I forgot to pack the clever sleep mask with the unprintable inscription. Rats! Head rests on pillow and all goes black anyway as the cold breeze, the patter of occasional rain showers and the soothing rhythms of the ship traversing the ocean all rock me to sleep. Peace.

Vacays…Port by Starboard (Oceans of Pleasure on the High Seas)

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