SantaFe1

I am glad to,hear that is the case! But an hour or so ago, it was so bad we took all the glasses and bottles and water carafe and put them on the floor. I put on my sea bands. This isn’t the worst I’ve ever been in, but it isn’t pleasant. We are right in the path of the next tropical storm that is going to,hit and flood California on Saturday. The funniest thing about all this was that when we went to Explorers for our usual pre-dinner drink, I asked for ginger ale and was told they had run out of it! And same in the WC, maybe 25 % occupied. The captain was walking around last night reassuring people. I saw him in at least three venues. One woman asked him why he wasn’t on the bridge steering the ship— a common misconception. We were back in the room by 8. Almost every door had the do not disturb sign up. And room service plates in the hall. Well, today is another day. Hopefully smoother. Trivia and Chefs Table lotus menu to look forward to. And port talk on Maui, which should be interesting. Not having had much dinner, I think we’ll go to the Restaurant for breakfast. That’s always a treat, and chioppino station for lunch. Although, as a California girl, I’m wary of that. Plus, I make it, a Christmas Eve special tradition.

We had lunch in WC about 1 and it was packed. But we sat next to a woman who said her partner wouldn’t even get out of bed today because she didn’t feel she could walk around. This particular cruise seems to skew older than most cruises I’ve been on. Many, many people with walking devices of all kinds. Crew helping folks walk through the restaurants. Cornelia announcing as much at the lunch time report. We will go down to the Viking bar at 6 and see what we see. But no, this isn’t so bad that glasses are flying around in the restaurants. We just moved the glassware in our room because the shelf with the coffee maker came flying out and sent the coffee cups crashing to the ground.

I am glad to hear that is the case! But an hour or so ago, it was so bad we took all the glasses and bottles and water carafe and put them on the floor. I put on my sea bands. This isn’t the worst I’ve ever been in, but it isn’t pleasant. We are right in the path of the next tropical storm that is going to hit and flood California on Saturday. Captain said it would get worse tonight before it gets better. I took a picture of our position on the weather map, but as usual, it won’t upload.

6. Well, the bridge tour was canceled. A glass door panel in the WC behind the Aquavit bar blew in this morning, letting in streams of frigid air. While sitting in Explorers Lounge, on 7 I noticed that the bottom panel on the glass staircase leaning to deck 8 was shattered. I hope nobody fell. It is rockin’ and rollin’ for sure today!

I tried to post this the first day and just tried again now. But I can’t get pictures uploaded to CC. They post fine on my IG page, just not here. Sorry.

The sea days just sort of glide by. They are doing all the Hawaiian port talks on sea day afternoons, so once we get there , we will be prepared and not have to rush back to attend the next one (of course you can always watch them later in your room). Last night was a “special” dinner in the WC called A taste of the USA. I guess most people thought they had a taste of USA every day, because when we got to the Restaurant about 7 pm it was packed. They could hardly find a place for us. Likewise the Captain’s reception last night. The line to get in was all the way back to Torshavn. So we skipped it. We know this captain and have met most of the senior officers anyway. Then, since HI is two hours behind LA time, we set our clocks back an hour, so had an extra hour to stay up and play. We will do that again, probably Sunday. The captain warned us at the noon report that the seas would be rough overnight, eight foot waves, and they were. But really not that bad, and although our window is covered in water this morning, the sun is coming out. Bridge tour later, then trivia. I hope I can attach pictures later today!

I am having a lot of trouble attaching photos. About one in five works. But I’ll try.

Yes, the Jacquart is available by the glass on the SSBP. we are in PV and it is in the frig. Once that is gone, you can ask to have wine delivered each day. As for the bottled water— I asked this morning at the Viking Bar for Perrier or Pellegrino only to be told they didn’t have it. But I’ve had it on other cruises so it pays to ask.

Yes, I introduced myself to him yesterday. Haven’t met her yet.

We had a nice sunset sail out from the port of LA last night. (I’ve tried to add a picture, but it won’t load. Not much wifi today). Then dinner at Chef’s Table. It was the California cuisine menu, which I don’t like much anyway (being from California, I’ve learned to stay away from anything labeled California.). Suffice it to say, and this is all I am going to say, it was an absolute disaster, both food and wine. The service was excellent, however. But I went to bed hungry. But we are just back from a big breakfast on this grey morning. High today 58, low 55. I really didn’t know what to pack for the days at sea, so if you are heading out soon, pack something other than your “Hawaii clothes”. Lots of lectures today. The usual sealife lecture by Robin Petch, then an interesting one on Hawaiian native art. Taste of USA dinner in WC tonight. I think we’ll pass and go to the restaurant.

Here is what I took in the Explorers Lounge last night. A few by the glass and four by the bottle. The Jacquart is what is in the room mini-frig.

I took this in the explorers lounge last night

Yes, I thought it sounded interesting too. It’s on Feb. 19, so stayed tuned!

Cornelia David. We’ve never had her. Sorry, I cannot get the senior officers board to attach.

Here are our lecturers. We had Robin Petch on our WC too.

We took the 10:30 shuttle this morning from the Crowne Plaza to the cruise terminal, berth 93. We had to wait about 15 minutes in the terminal until they were ready for us. But we, with comfort checkin, got to go first ( so there Is a reason to do this now, I guess) and were finished by 11. Then we had to wait another ten minutes or so, because the ship wasn’t ready for us yet. We boarded about 11:10, went to the star theater with a group of about 15, had a two minute safety presentation, then went to our cabin to drop off our carryon bags. We were having lunch on the Aquavit Terrace, under the Vincent Thomas bridge, by 11:45. So it really was a quick and easy embarkation. After lunch I made reservations for a bridge tour, a French cooking class, an “old world” wine tasting, and a manicure. I also was able to book a night for each of the six (!) Chef’s Table menus, all at 7 pm. So take heart, those with no reservations. It is easy to do once aboard. I have tried to attach two photos, including the officers board, which people always ask for, but they are just coming up blank black, so I’ll try again later. But we have Captain Olav, who was one of our two captains on the 2019 WC. I’ve Already chatted with him, as we are just down the hall from the bridge.

I think I can say without reservation that there is not usually, if ever, a French champagne included at mealtime. There isn’t usually any sparkling wine included at mealtime, just a white an a red. But we always have the SSBP, so I am not an expert, but I will ask. But you never know what you will get. On a Panama cruise over New Years, we had a French champagne in our mini frig.

We board the Star in about three hours. After we get settled, I’ll try to answer your questions. But it might be tomorrow. This IS Valentine’s Day!

It’s “ she,”. But I will still be posting!

At the request of the OP, I am going to start chronicling our Feb. 14 Hawaiian Sojourn, piggy-backing here. Let’s see what a difference a month makes. Looking forward to embarking tomorrow morning for our Valentine cruise!

We had a quick, uneventful flight, hired a car to take us to the Crowne Plaza in San Pedro to avoid the mess at LAX-IT, and have arrived. We are going to grab some Thai food for dinner down the street, and then take the shuttle at 10:30 to the cruise terminal. The hotel is full of red Viking tags! Can’t wait to board. Our roll call has not been active, so I think what I post I will post piggy-backing onto yours on the Hawaiian sojourn from December. More to come…

Oh, thank you. I went back over your posts just today, and now I am really excited! We are so looking forward to getting out of the snow and cold.

I’m still not getting notifications. CC keeps logging me out. It is just sort of a mess right now. We leave for Hawaiian Island Sojourn tomorrow, so will give it a couple of days to reset.

Tried that today. Didn’t work. Yes, having problems for several days.

Yes, this was extremely helpful. Thanks.