You could say I am a bit of a cruise connoisseur. At the rate I’m going, I will be one of those little old ladies that has racked up months or years’ worth of sea days that you meet at the Captain’s cocktail parties… except super tall and in the midst of young adulthood. The true irony is that I am an expert in retirement and I haven’t started my career yet!
This, dear readers, is one of the many gifts of growing up with retired parents. The way I see it, these cruises are a win-win method of travel for us. My parents revisit places that they have already enjoyed properly, that is, in a much deeper way than a few hours walking about, and I explore them for the first time and make note of where I want to go back.
Also, I get to take my dad on daddy-daughter “tea for two” dates, sunbathe with an ocean breeze (unless it’s Alaska or the UK), and enjoy countless slices of Princess pizza (while we always do the fixed seating, gourmet dinners, lunch doesn’t get better than a virgin strawberry daiquiri and two massive slices of pizza). My first task after getting onboard is always introducing myself to the pizza people as a future regular customer. In the evening, I love the shows, going to the nightclubs with the staff, and the rare Latin dance nights. I am happy to be absolutely shameless with trivia, karaoke, or anything else that comes my way.
My first cruise was on an old Norwegian Cruise Line, and I have been a Princess Cruises traveler ever since, starting with the Grand Princess, with the exception of a special holiday cruise on the Radisson, now Regent, Seven Seas Mariner.
Having become a Platinum member at the tender age of 20, I know the Princess culture, experience, and Grand-class ships very well. Add my knowledge of ballroom, basketball, MC-ing, and the YMCA, and I’m pretty much a born and bred cruise director. I’ve even borrowed a cruise staff’s jacket and stood by the Princess Theater saying “Good evening”, “welcome”, “how are you tonight?” and I am pretty sure most passengers were sold on me. Particularly on colder (and older) cruises, being a temporary assistant cruise staff has been a highlight. Anyway, here’s where I have traveled on Princess:
Grand Princess – Caribbean – 2001
Coral Princess – Panama Canal – 2004
Golden Princess – Alaska – 2007
Grand Princess – Western Mediterranean – 2009
Ruby Princess – Eastern Mediterranean – 2011
Caribbean Princess – British Isles – 2012
Ruby Princess – Greek Isles – 2013
The next adventure will be on Royal Princess in the Eastern Caribbean. I fully expect to have taken over the ship’s entertainment staff by the time the cruise ends with my clearly identifiable and definitely Captain-material stature, ballroom moves and habit of teaching social dance moves wherever I go, and general willingness to be exploited for the entertainment of others and ignoring any awkwardness… pool games and diving after ping pong balls, being suggestive with bananas, and dancing Gangnam Style (which is really not my preference or strong suit) while the entire ship looks on, here I come! I guess it is not too much of a sacrifice as it entertains me as well- it’s hilarious! Look for a cruise review after I get back!
anchored & adrift 