Best friends ready for lattes of fun on the Emerald! 9/23/18

If I could cruise every month, I would, but that pesky little issue of needing to work to fund the cruises gets in the way. As a teacher, my schedule is pretty free in the summer but very regimented in the school year. My ideal summer is a Europe cruise. Christmas Caribbean cruises became my favorite winter break fun, but then last year’s was canceled due to emergency surgery, and it looks like we may be having a snowy Christmas this year, too. *sigh* [emoji849]

Sooooooo, what’s a girl to do?? Book a 1 day cruise that only requires 1 day off work! My best friend didn’t think this year would work for us to do the 1 night cruise because they already have a lot of vaca plans, but then I started crunching numbers, and said...”Would you want this cruise as your birthday and Christmas present??” To which, she replied “YEAH!!” We booked, and the countdown began!

We did this same cruise last year and had a blast! It’s not about becoming Elite; I already was long before I started doing these short cruises. For me, it’s the full cruise experience wrapped into less than 24 hours and the chance to have a bonus cruise each year! The only thing I miss is Bingo. I’m hoping the casino will be open; it was last year but wasn’t when I did this cruise with my hubby the year before. I am disappointed to not be able to trade in the mini-bar for 2 coffee cards this time.

My friend had surgery last summer, so for her recovery gift, I upgraded us to a balcony. We love sipping lattes, chatting away out there, watching the sea.

We have 1/2 a sleep left until we fly south! I am a huge proponent of flying in the day before. I have NEVER flown in the day of the cruise, BUT with this being her present, I deferred to my friend who wanted to eek out a few hours of sleep at home rather than stay in a hotel. We will be arriving into Seattle bright and early, with several backup flights available if something goes awry. Still, I don’t wanna chance this again; my heart just can’t take this risky business!

One last detail...The Emerald holds a special place in both of our hearts because of memorable cruises we each had with our hubbies on her. ❤️

Time to paint my nails and finish packing!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Have a wonderful time!!

Bon Voyage!!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Have tons of fun!

Sounds like a "latte" of fun. Looking forward to hearing all about it ! :p- EBC

See you onboard!

Sounds like a lot of fun!

Have a great time! We will be on the Emerald in 4 weeks... getting so excited!

Would love to hear anything and all about your experience!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Have fun and enjoy whatever happens on this cruise!

It sounds great have a wonderful time.

Tony

you gurls are gonna do great make some memories

Have a blast.

Thank you everyone! [emoji3]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

How wonderful to have a good friend to share this mini-vacation with! Have a wonderful time. I will be passing by you as we board in Vancouver on Monday!

Never been the only people in the whole ticketing and security areas! It’s 3:40 AM; we are all checked in, breakfasted at the gate, and ready to begin the day with the first of our lattes!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Chatted our way through the record breaking (for us Alaskans, anything under 3 hours to Seattle is [emoji119]) 2 hour 40 minute flight and now ready to get our luggage and transport to the cruise terminal!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Away you go for 24 fun filled hours. Cheers

Bon Voyage! Have a blast!

Uber was easy at Sea-Tac and only $36 to Pier 91. Just follow the signs. Security did have us get dropped off at the tent about .25 miles from the cruise terminal. For us with minimal luggage, but for others it may be an issue. There is a shuttle, too. We flew through check-in. Though we had Priority, the regular line was short, too. Boarded at 11:06 AM, and staterooms were ready. I was able to make my mini-bar requests before it even came to save them an extra trip. We don’t have our free drink coupons yet, but my loyalty credit has posted. [emoji106] Now I wanna make sure my UKP (ok, I know it’s now the USM, but that’s not half as fun to say) is loaded because you really have no way of knowing now that they don’t put stickers on. Off to verify that and to have my embarkation tradition of a Virgin strawberry daiquiri, burger, fries, and salad! Cheers from sunny and warm Seattle!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

My UKP is smooth sailing! For those wondering, you can’t buy it onboard the 1 day cruise, but you can buy it online in advance! The crew is super warm and helpful. The food is scrumptious. Only bad thing is the casino’s staying closed for this cruise. [emoji30] It was closed 2 years ago but open last year. Oh well, guess my slots fund will be saved for the next cruise! Balcony time...

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks for taking the time to share your adventure...

I have a question, wanting to make sure I’m understanding correctly, they no longer put stickers on your cruise card for the soda beverage package? Do they now scan your card each time you order a drink? I had read that they were doing this with the new coffee package but I did not realize this was applying to the USM.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks for taking the time to share your adventure...

I have a question, wanting to make sure I’m understanding correctly, they no longer put stickers on your cruise card for the soda beverage package? Do they now scan your card each time you order a drink? I had read that they were doing this with the new coffee package but I did not realize this was applying to the USM.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Correct. I have now experienced this on the Royal and Emerald and believe it’s officially fleetwide.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks for taking the time to share your adventure...

I have a question, wanting to make sure I’m understanding correctly, they no longer put stickers on your cruise card for the soda beverage package? Do they now scan your card each time you order a drink? I had read that they were doing this with the new coffee package but I did not realize this was applying to the USM.

If I ordered a soda at a bar and the person recognized me, they didn't swipe. Everytime I ordered a mocktail at a bar or dining room, they swiped.

I’m very devoted to Princess, but I have to say she’s let me down a few times tonight.

1) The casino is closed as I mentioned earlier, and they had to have made a fortune last year because the casino was more packed than I’ve ever seen it on a longer cruise.

2) Though the Patter showed the shops as opening at Sailing, and that is what’s happened on the last few years’ 1 day cruises, tonight we went ready to spend spend spend only to find a sign saying “Due to Customs, shops will open at 10:00 PM”.

3)You no longer receive a free drink coupon as a Captain’s Circle member.

Thankfully she still gave me the tried and true Fettuccini Alfredo and a slice of Grandma’s Chocolate Cake.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We had a blast losing at the Majority Rules game show (aside from starting 15 min late due to the late arrival of the cruise director 🤨). Then we squeezed our way through the crowd to find 2 deserted seats in Club Fusion and enjoyed a hilarious comedy show. The shops finally opened; we tried realllllly hard to spend money (aka stock up on our fav Princess merch), but there wasn’t much to our liking.[emoji22] I miss the days of more logo clothes and ship photo mugs. Lastly, I dragged my friend to Skywalkers, so I could hopefully hear at least one good song. Alas that was not going to happen with this DJ, who I think was playing more for his own enjoyment than for the passengers, so it’s time for bed. I peeled back the comforter to find...the comforter...bare...no duvet the entire side that would cover me. I’ve slept in the new beds before with the new bedding and never had this happen. It’s concerning me that there’s no duvet fully encapsulating it! Anyway, I’m gonna try to shut down my germaphobia and eek out 5 hours of sleep. Sea dreams as we sail peacefully along to Vancouver!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums