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My Review Sun Princess 1/10/10

tompaddyelle

By tompaddyelle,
in P&O Cruises ( Australia )

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tompaddyelle

tompaddyelle

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Firstly I better introduce myself. I am 43 and my DH is 42. It was just the two of us on this cruise as we left the four kids at home (yep we weren't very popular).

This was my first so cruise so to say i was excited was a bit of an understatement.

 

Dh and I decided to take a train to Sydney to save the fuss and cost of car parking. We left on the 10.11am train with copious amounts of luggage (most of it DH's!). We had 2 big suitcases, a suit bag, two shopping bags full of drinks (stupid won't do that again) and my big handbag!

 

we got off at Central changed trains (read lugged suitcases to another platform) and got off at Wynyard.

 

It was then that I discovered that I hadn't packed any joggers (I have no idea how I remembered this) so we dragged are luggage to a shoe shop bought 2 pairs of shoes (well I like shoes) struggled to stuff them in the bag and finally set off for the ship. At the bottom of the hill I saw this

 

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Well I started jumping up and down like a mad woman. DH just rolled his eyes at me (after 20 years of marriage he is used to me.)

 

We lined up and dropped off our luggage (took about 5 minutes as the line was very fast.) Then we were given a boarding number #12 and told to go and check in.

Well DH discovered he hadn't got any money out of the ATM yet so he left me waiting as he ran back to Wynyard (gee we sound like a forgetful pair). So I did one of my favourite things while I was waiting: people watching.

It was about 1pm by then and the crowd for luggage drop off had increased. It was quite a mix of ages but seemed to be lacking in the 20's age group. Lots of kids and teenagers though and plenty of over 60s.

 

Finally Dh came back so we checked in and boarded the ship about 15 minutes later. No one even checked my 2 bottles of champagne so I could have brought a whole lot more on.

Up the ramp I danced and then "ding" we were on board.

The crew directed us to the lifts and then we were in our cabin. We were in R331 which was an inside cabin on the Riviera deck. The cabin was small but adequate for us and the location was superb! Just a short walk to the pools and bar and no noise what so ever.

We kept our beds as twins so we had more room. The cabin looked like this:

 

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Lol excuse my Dh in that photo doing up his pants! He will kill me if he sees that!!!!

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tompaddyelle

tompaddyelle

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So we unpacked straight away and had heaps of storage and plenty of coat hangers too. The announcement was made at 3.15 for muster drill so we grabbed our life jackets and headed for the Princess Theatre.

All very orderly and quick though I could imagine in an emergency the "plodders" would be walking a lot more swiftly!

Anyway here is me in my life jacket (whoa they really squish your boobs!)

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After returning the life jacket to our cabin we headed for the Horizon Court for some lunch. Can't remember what i ate because I'm not a big food fan and really don't like buffets at all. But I did have the cocktail of the day:Mucho Mango

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We also bought the soft drink package and the coffee card whilst sitting at the table (the people come around and sell them to you.) Oh and we booked in for the wine tasting too for later in the cruise.

 

After lunch we headed for the Riviera deck for the Sailaway party. I had a ball doing all the line dances (put music on and I am always boogeying).

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The sail away was delayed for some reason (I am sure someone else on the cruise can fill you all in) but I didn't care because I was in party mode!

 

DH and I went out on the forward deck on deck 11 for sailaway so it was so peaceful with only about 5 other people (felt like our own private ship).

 

Because sail away was late we missed our early sitting at the dining room so went to Verdi's for pizza.

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After dinner we went to the Welcome Aboard Show at the Princess theatre which left me a little queasy ......... no not the show but the ship was starting to rock and roll by then.

It was really windy out on deck but DH wanted to bubble in the spa, the return journey to our cabin in the wind whilst wet was freezing! Don't think I have moved that fast before.

Anyway we went to bed after that because I was exhausted.

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tompaddyelle

tompaddyelle

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We woke up at 6.30 am (we were still in work mode). So DH headed for the gym

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I'm not a gym fan so I headed for the promenade deck. It was soooooooooo windy so I stood there for a while then decided to join the other walkers. Met a lovely man whilst on my walk and agreed to meet up with him again for a daily walk. Hmmmm this didn't happen! I am useless at exercise.

Headed back to the room and got ready for breakfast. We went to the dining room for this. We were seated at a table for 10 which I thought was great because I love meeting people and talking (so does DH).

The food was lovely though DH was still hungry (Hollow legs!)

 

At 10.30 am I went to line dancing class in the Vista Lounge. So much fun and the host Romeo was a hoot! Must say it was very hard to line dance when the ship was rolling so much (5 metre seas that day) 2steps to the right and ten running steps back to the left!

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This is me waiting in the Vista Lounge for line dancing to start.

 

We had lunch in the Horizon Court (pretty average) then went to the casino. I swear I never win!

Left Shannon up on the Riviera deck watching the AFL grand final on Muts. Football puts me into a coma so I headed to the Vista lounge for Famous faces trivia. I soon discovered that I don't know many famous faces!

The people who's team I joined had been very sea sick. I was glad I had been taking my tablets since the night before the cruise!!

We had our first dinner in the dining room and found we were on a table for 10. We were soon chatting away happily.

Our waiter was Conrad and the junior waiter was John, they were superb! tried to talk them into coming home with me but they refused.

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The other 2 couples weren't in this photo because they only came one night and never returned. Guess I was too loud :o

 

We went to the show in the Princess lounge after dinner which was better than I anticipated, had a drink in Crooners listening to the piano player and then headed to Shooting Stars for music trivia. I was 60s so I knew nothing about it!!

Then off to bed at 10.30. Night owls we ain't! Lol

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tompaddyelle

tompaddyelle

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Another sea day.

We woke at 8am which seemed like a sleep in til I realised that daylight savings had started and it was really 7am.

Dh headed for the gym and I think I lazed around in bed. My excuse being that the Promenade deck was closed because of the high seas. (best excuse ever not to exercise).

We had breakfast in the dining room then I headed to line dancing classes (that was my exercise!)

After that there was a future cruise presentation (worked well because DH already has a future cruise planned yayyyyy) then lunch in the dining room.

 

At 3pm we had our wine tasting. we tasted 4 wines and received a souvenir glass.

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The wines were a bit too young for me but the cheese and grapes were yummy. It was fun though.

 

it was then time for the Rugby League grand final on MUTS (can I never escape?)

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and I sat at the bar

 

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it was formal night that night so I left DH watching footy, got dressed up and went to dinner! Had a lovely meal as per usual.

After dinner I met back up with DH and went to see Shimmy in the Princess Theatre. I started to feel really queasy during the show so when it was over I went to bed.

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tompaddyelle

tompaddyelle

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Happy Birthday to me!!!!!!!!

 

It was my birthday and I woke up feeling icky (ripped off I know).

 

So I dragged myself out of bed at 7.30 to watch our approach to the Isle Of Pines. The landscape was so unusual and I started to feel a bit peppier!

 

Had Breakfast in the Horizon Court then went back to bed to try and shake of the "ickiness"

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sad photo hey! Lol

 

Anyway DH went and got our tender tickets and I stopped being a sook.

Oh and I forgot I had balloons all around my door for my birthday!! Gotta love that!

 

The tender operation worked smoothly but it was so stuffy in those boats.

We made it safely to land and spent a while on the beach. Here are some views:

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Poor man I made him pose so much.

 

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lots of people snorkled here but I wasn't too keen on seeing the creatures lurking in the deep lol!

 

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We came back to the ship at around 12.15 then went to the dining room for lunch. I was starting to feel heaps better by this time.

After lunch we sat in the sun and read. I noticed that DH was still on the same page after two hours! He was so absorbed watching people!

 

Around this time I opened a bottle Of Bollinger to celebrate my birthday. Nothing better than Bolly on a ship! What a way to have a birthday!

 

Well it was dinner time by then so off we trotted to the dining room (actually I probably jigged after a few glasses of Bollinger!)

 

At dinner the waiters sang Happy Birthday to me in various accents and gave me a cake and card.

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We headed to the casino after dinner to try our luck but once again I was useless at it.

 

We didn't see any shows this night as I wasn't interested in seeing comedians (they always seem to tell the same old jokes) so we were in bed by 9.15!!! Geeze I must be old now!

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Busy Mum

Busy Mum

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Hi Kate,

 

Absolutely loving your review, with photos and all....please keep it coming....as everyone else has said "forget the housework"......

 

DH and I have been on the Sun Princess, we loved our cruise and it certainly sounds like you had a ball also.

 

Awesome review, thanks!!

 

Vicki.

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bongaree

bongaree

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Hi Kate - Love your review. You know, even after lots of cruises I still get goose bumps just thinking of going on a cruise and pulling up at the port and seeing the ship. Your review is one of the best I have ever seen and if you live near me I will come and do your house work for you so you can finish your review - but I am in Qld and I think you must be in NSW from your description of your train ride. Looking forward to more.

 

Janet:)

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wildweston

wildweston

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Hi Kate - enjoying your review and photos. Shame we didn't meet on board - there were a few at the M&G. Looking forward to your photos of Champagne Bay it really was a great day there.

 

Vera

 

p.s. belated 'happy birthday'

 

Hi Vera, how are you ?, have been looking out for you guys in the photos :)

 

Great review Kate, glad you had a great cruise

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tompaddyelle

tompaddyelle

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Hi Kate - Love your review. You know, even after lots of cruises I still get goose bumps just thinking of going on a cruise and pulling up at the port and seeing the ship. Your review is one of the best I have ever seen and if you live near me I will come and do your house work for you so you can finish your review - but I am in Qld and I think you must be in NSW from your description of your train ride. Looking forward to more.

 

Janet:)

 

Arrrrrrrrggggghhhhh wrong state!!! But thanks for the offer Janet. :)

 

Actually it's the best offer I have ever had ;)

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tompaddyelle

tompaddyelle

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Well I slept until 8.30am ....... 11 hours!!

 

Sheeesh I was really in holiday mode by now!

 

DH came back from the gym and managed to get me moving so we could have breakfast.

 

We were at Lifou today which I noticed when I looked out the window in the Horizon Court.

 

So we got on a tender and arrived on the island at 10am.

 

This was another "wow" place.

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We decided to hike up to the church on the hill. It was very hot and humid and we were very happy when it started sprinkling on us.

It was a tough ol' climb with the steps being very uneven and the ground very rocky but it was worth it!

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i think you must get extra blessings if you take on that climb to go to church on Sundays

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We hiked back down and headed for the beach. Time to relax.

It was very "corally" there so we needed our reef shoes.

Dh frolicked in the sea whilst I lay back and enjoyed the scenery!

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we stayed at the beach until 12.15 then got back on a tender for our return trip.

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