Bimmer09

We had to take the water shuttle. formerly known as tender. It was loading on deck 4 forward, having been loading from deck 4 midships also, earlier in the day. We were going ashore at noon to have lunch as we've been here before and petted the stingrays and visited Hell. I had also been here 44 times in the 1980s to enjoy 7 Mile Beach. The sign tells is we have to be back onboard by 4 p.m. down we go

December 28th is George Town, Grand Cayman day I'm up early hoping for a sunrise Norwegian Epic is the only other ship joining us today

After the show we moved to Explorer's Lounge which was packed for a very funny comedy magician Don't miss this guy!

Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partiro) Oh Canada!

There's No Business like Show Business Another song and dance show. High Energy. No live band as the music calls for so many different instruments and genres. Fast paced. Visually vibrant and colorful. Colors of the World All the shows we went to except the Legends of Rock were SRO if you din't get there say 15 minutes before show time. That was with 3200 passengers.

Sunset this evening on our way to George Town was lame and only worthy of an iPhone snap. We did see more stars later as there was so little cloud. It was Italian Night in Da Vinci but there was no dressing up in red and white hooped tee shirts for the waiters as in days of old. I don't think I heard Italian Music either. Carol might correct me or you might. I like all the little touches that made cruising stand out upon a time. Some have gone. Even baked Alaska parades and rows of cooks walking the MDR to well-deserved applause. It's all beyond our daily norm. I ham it up with Kevin our waiter, speaking in Italian with an over the top rolling the Rs accent. I didn't realize that the man sitting a few feet to my left on the banquette was the Italian captain. He and his wife and daughter were hosting the two Ferrari men. Carol was facing him so identified him to me during the meal. The vino and Prosecco came quickly allowing us to hit the bread and butter which we have to pay for when in Italy. I know that once upon a time butter was being rationed. Not so now. We both had the Prosciutto and melon. Perfect starter! We both ordered the veal scallopini. Carol's notes remind me that the veal hadn't been beaten thin enough but that the Marsala sauce was perfection. Good dish considering. Kevin also brought a small portion of lasagne for her to try and it was worthy and enjoyed. It's always hard to pass on Tiramisu so I didn't. I also had a Sambuca and espresso. Carol enjoyed an ice cream sundae Captain nearby

This was once the smokers room in the casino The comfy chairs, wood paneling and humidors are gone as are the air cleaners Instead... They could make the casino non smoking if this had been left as it was. A player could pop in for 5 minutes for a cigarette, longer to savor a cigar. They could order a drink from a waiter assigned and no one would have to avoid the casino because of the smoke. I hear Churchills (not on Ruby but on several Grand Class ships, with it's leather sofas and bartenders) will go away. A favorite of mine when I smoked and the ship's officers who like to smoke while they drink.

One side of the casino allows smoking (cigarettes). The room you see to the left of Gatsby's used to be a cigar smoking room with a humidor and cigar sales via a waiter. Civilized. The casino looks good for another ten years by which time the Ruby will be 25, the same age as the still-working Grand is now.

new carpet vast acreage! more

Carol went to see the fruit and vegetable carving exhibition this morning. Maybe she'll show some pics. She watched from Crooners which is now her new favorite bird's eye viewpoint after she tried it during Santa's visit. She was in one of my pics. Today she has a lecture on George Town and a nap planned. I will roam with the camera. This was obviously an early morning shot... Horizon Court buffet Deck 15 aft Some decent coffee has been introduced. Lavazza. Adagio is aft Deck 16 right beside Sabatini's and is a quiet bar where I would take my computer to work on my photos. Adagio at left, Sabatini's at right Adagio As with all the Princess Rooms it looks inviting and a cosy place to sit with a drink There's a small stage with a piano and drums at this end of the room and a door out onto the deck outside Sabatini's

Hence my declining another helping of the lobster thermidor. I can't get too excited when the lobster is "cruiseship lobster". They have to have a "lobster" offering as every line has one. Bottom line kills the quality. Luckily we have a Joe's Seafood (of Miami) in Chicago. Thanks for the offer! Norris

PUB LUNCH The Hostess with the Mostest, Madhu from India. The British Flags aren't enough to turn Da Vinci into a Pub,alas. The Wheelhouse Bar was the ideal facsimile. All change is for the worst. Her middle name is salad I already knew I was going to order the Steak and Ale pie, although it's a pale shadow of the Steak and Kidney pie that has gone before. The pastry is now wafer thin as is the gravy. Kevin had given us a head's up that PL would be served today. Carol's "Ploughman's Lunch" The dark patch is thankfully Branston Pickle which accompanies many salads in the best households including ours in Chicago. Stingy on the cheese, although British ploughmen have become very body-conscious and are dieting, particularly Keto. They are also spending more on grooming-the Harry Stiles hair style is sweeping across the furrows of rich soil that grace our sceptered isle. I ordered a make-up entree to console myself over the pie. Bangers and mash. God Save the King! This turned out to be the most memorable MDR dish of the week. Herbed sausages-Cumberland sausages perhaps? A rich oniony gravy and some mash to mop it up. Served hot as was the pie. Knocked it for six! (UK equivalent of Home Run- a cricket phrase) The bread and butter pudding has the consistency of a soft sponge cake-not chunky bread bits

Barrier protecting kids play area The Sea Witch Tiered movie seating Promenade deck aft walkway-see and hear the wake! Promenade deck narrow walkway starboard aft

December 27 sea day I'm up early which means I can take some photos before the ship wakes up. Good Spirits bar/International Cafe The decks look in tip-top condition

Another sea day which means Sabatini's serves breakfast until 10.30 a.m. Our clocks are now set to the same time as Chicago. We check the PetCube cam each morning to see how our 2 cats are getting along. Our cat sitter sends us an email each day and includes photos of them being petted or playing. All is well. My French toast with cinnamon apples has arrived Followed by my forgotten bacon Carol's Lox and (Almost) Toasted Bagel. This was prepared in what we call a "Canadian" toaster. When in Ontario many times we've noticed the toasters have no heating elements and the bread is whiter when "done" .Possibly a safety concern.

Another sea day I am often very glad that I like getting up early in the morning. I see this.... another beautiful day dawns

After the Crown Grill we went to the Princess Theater to hear Nathan James in a show called Rock Legends. A good rock singer but we didn't stay long. The theater was half full and the Princess Orchestra isn't a convincing Rock Band. Plus we were tired and so you shouldn't be surprised when I tell you we hit the hay (we'd bought a bale in Limon) at 10.30. Tomorrow is another sea day as we sail towards Grand Cayman. (photo from late in the day)

Wine for Monsieur, I think a Cabernet Sauvignon. For Madame a Prosecco. Some cheesy bread gets me chewing. I already know what I want. Carol passes on the bread. Before the 15 walk-ins group My Black Tiger prawn with Papaya Salpicon and mustard seed aioli Carol's beet salad My Filet Mignon (medium) with lobster for an extra $10 Mushrooms, asparagus and herbed French Fries (yum). Carol had a 7 oz. Filet, no lobster and a side of creamed spinach and asparagus. Mushrooms would have been less greasy if whole button mushrooms used-these were sliced "wild" mushrooms but I wasn't wild about them. Carol's dessert was Vanilla gelato which wasn't on menu. Me? Sambuca and Espresso. During the early part of our meal Ivan had a group of 15 "walk in" without a reservation. Within 5 minutes he had arranged two new tables and seated them. The noise level increased greatly as there were a number of loud talkers. A table of 8 and a table of 7 which was mostly kids. Ivan offered a couple of times to move us to a quieter table. He's a good manager. The cost is now $40 a head with a surcharge for lobster. It was well worth the spend!

Always- with the exception of the mini suite on the Diamond last year (free upgrade) we have sailed aft since cruise #2 (aft suite, Crown 2012) We have 3 cruises booked currently-2 HAL, 1 Celebrity, all aft. The cruise really starts when the lines get wet! Norris

CROWN GRILL Always a treat to eat here. Who doesn't like a nice juicy steak or some surf 'n turf? The young man I made the reservation with mano a mano a few hours ago, just soon after he had stepped in some bright blue paint in a crew area was on the front desk. Two people ahead of us. He went over to a table, removed the tablecloth and walked away. Odd. 3 people got in line behind us. The young man came back into the room, realized he had forgotten something and left. He was walking willy nilly when the huge CG Manager came walking in, saw the line forming and took action. "Where are the reservations?" he asked the young man. No answer as the young man walked away into the shadows. The huge Manager, went looking and soon came back with the reservations clipboard. The young man had disappeared. Odd. The manager saw our "names" (always the room number) and briskly led us back to a two top in the second half of the restaurant. A waiter appeared with the speed of a seagull on a dropped French fry. His name was Jade from the Philippines. Ivan was the Manager-Russian I think and he called himself Ivan the Terrible. He ran the room with gusto to make up for the lost blue-shoed assistant. Classy! It's a beautiful room, featuring artwork showing London , England. Anyone who thinks wood, brass and leather is "dated" won't like it. I love it. It speaks of comfort which will never go out of style. My mouth is watering just looking at this menu.... I like all the bits shown above

I'm not onboard a ship. I left the Ruby on December 30. Norris

We're going to say "adios!" One last look at the crane parts strewn on the dock. Hopefully one day the team that can build it will come. Anyone know how long these have lain here? tonight's wannabe sunset Good band-Pinnacle Tradewinds bar

Aida Luna will leave just before us today I have to swing by the Crown Grill later and book a table for tonight. During my many corridor walks I have often been stopped in my tracks by some of the colorful door displays ... is yours one of these?

That story isn't over yet... I spent 40 minutes doing the Princess survey when we got home and although I didn't detail the Sloth guide I complained about the practice of allowing guides to hijack a bus load of people who already have all the cameos, tanzanite, diamonds, Turkish rugs, Mexican pottery, 4 foot diameter sombreros etc in their homes. I slammed the DJ and the practice of using 1 musician and a backing computer file vs a band of 4 reggae musicians from Barbados with personalities. I slammed the decline in MDR food- our last cruise was Celebrity Apex where crap flavorless dishes were few and far between and the buffet had amazing variety of hot foods and warm plates to eat off. I seldom had a memorable dish in the MDR although the service was first class. Carol reminded me that the forced shopping took the place of a Banana Plantation Tour. That will play a part in my 2nd visit to the Excursion Desk when a determined British lady unloads her complaints with both barrels while I stand in line listening. I saw Princess service in a dim light then. All coming up in a future action packed tale on the High Seas! Don't touch that dial! Norris, LOL

cemetery ruined warehouse on the dock approach Aida Luna and Ruby