Rare nunuc2000 Posted June 22, 2016 #176 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Welcome back, Victoria!! Glad to hear you're doing so well and busy - we forgive you. :D Congrats on the scholarship too!!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenie082756 Posted June 22, 2016 #177 Share Posted June 22, 2016 I am so glad that everything is going your way! Scholarship!! Yeeeeehaa! :D I was worried something might of happened (mother instinct) as it wasn't like you to stop in mid stream. I am so thrilled that it was just life getting busy for you!! I am an avid fan of your reports of the cruises your on. Thanks again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirenne Posted June 22, 2016 #178 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Wow! Fantastic review thus far! I will be honest - as I was flipping through brochure material after picking it up from the Future Cruise Consultant area on the Star last week, I turned to my boyfriend and said, "Mental note; never book on the Pacific Princess," simply because of all the amenities it doesn't have compared to other ships. However, seeing these photos has made me think I was a little too hasty. Can't wait to read more as you post! I have a Nikon D3200 myself, and seeing your photos is really making me itch to get an upgrade soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spingal Posted June 22, 2016 #179 Share Posted June 22, 2016 (edited) Welcome back victoria!! Edited June 22, 2016 by spingal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fabnfortysomething Posted June 24, 2016 #180 Share Posted June 24, 2016 love the review Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andynalex66 Posted June 30, 2016 #181 Share Posted June 30, 2016 Congrats on the scholarship and job for the summer. Glad you back and we can keep adventuring along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jigger Posted July 7, 2016 #182 Share Posted July 7, 2016 Nice !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted July 9, 2016 Author #183 Share Posted July 9, 2016 (edited) For dinner, I had the steamed asparagus. I start to feel disgusting after eating cruise food for so long, so it's always good to find my favorite veggies on the menu! Steamed Green Asparagus with Jerez Vinaigrette by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Medley of Tender Greens with Trio of Cheeses and Pecans - Medley of Tender Greens with Trio of Cheeses and Pecans by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Austrian Speciality - Wiener Zwiebel Rostbraten by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Rachel is very particular about Creme Brulee (I'm really not a fan), and complained about the temperature and consistency. Creme Brulee by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Edited July 9, 2016 by LittleMissMagic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted July 9, 2016 Author #184 Share Posted July 9, 2016 (edited) After dinner, we watched the singers and dancers in Motor City. We were really hoping to get front row seats again, but people were less shy or faster to the show today, so we ended up on the second row. It was really enjoyable to watch the singers and dancers because we saw them regularly around the ship and had conversations with them. It felt like we were watching our friends. Also, the Pacific Princess might have a small cast, but they are definitely talented - more talented than I've seen of the casts on the larger ships. It also might have helped that the dancers were at the end of their contracts, so they had been working together for months, now. Here's singers Craig (who we enjoyed many games of water volleyball with) and Rayna - Motor City by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Edited July 9, 2016 by LittleMissMagic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IECalCruiser Posted July 9, 2016 #185 Share Posted July 9, 2016 (edited) Welcome back! We enjoyed the front seats on the Pacific. We were on before you in December and being so close to the performers was nice. I agree that Craig and Rayna did a good job as well as the rest of the cast. Edited July 9, 2016 by IECalCruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCheryl Posted July 9, 2016 #186 Share Posted July 9, 2016 Miss Magic: We are a retirement age , but still working, couple with children older than you. We would LOVE to cruise with you. Your attitude is infectious and you would be great dinner companions. Love your photos. Sharp and on point. We did a Princess canal cruise last year on the Coral out of Ft. Lauderdale (our favorite ship, by the way) It was 11 or 12 days and too long for me. Happy cruising! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riclop Posted July 10, 2016 #187 Share Posted July 10, 2016 Thanks for the report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted August 16, 2016 Author #188 Share Posted August 16, 2016 [Day 07] At Sea You might've noticed that I mislabeled Day 6 as Day 4... oops! December 23 - Christmas Eve Eve! A day earlier, Rachel and I barely missed the signups for the the Great Gingerbread House Competition. Really, it was bogus. They said that sign-ups were until 12, so we went to the customer service desk at 11:45 to sign up, and they said, "Oh, we already sent the list away." "But it said in the guide that sign-ups were until 12." "Well the list is gone, so it's too late." Hmph. Anyway, everyone onboard the Pacific Princess is incredible lucky that we didn't make the sign-up list because we would have kicked some major butt. I mean, I spend the majority of my life right now making architectural models and am fiercely competitive, so it's probably a good thing because I would've turned this friendly "hmm can we assemble a pre-made gingerbread house?" competition into a battle til death! Instead, I unleashed my competitiveness in this afternoon's game of water volleyball. Water volleyball actually wasn't on the schedule today. Rachel and I were just minding our own business in the pool when the water volleyball pool recruited us. They needed us to be down for a game so that they could convince the activities director that they should shut down the pool for an unscheduled game. These guys literally chased down the dancers, begging for volleyball. Finally, they found Jen and were able to persuade her that we should play. These are the perks of being on a small ship. I am no good at water volleyball because I am not tall enough to stand in the pool (really, I couldn't stand anywhere in the pool), so I had to tread water the entire time which was exhausting. But I've got heart and had nothing better to do, so I joined the crew of afternoon water volleyball players. After the net was taken away from us a few hours later, the guys continued wrestlemania, which I was down to watch (they kept trying to recruit Rachel and I for a sister-v-sister match, but I'm pretty sure they were just hoping for a wardrobe malfunction). There were two minority groups on this cruise - children and young adults. And both were in the pool right now - kids splashing on one side, and the WWE bros on the other. But the kids got greedy and wanted both sides of the pool, so they kept swimming over to where the guys were rough-housing, and eventually a dad intervened and asked the guys if they could leave the pool. So we moved to the hot tub. I might have mentioned this already but the hot tubs were always scorching hot! Like maybe you can dip your toes in hot. Not just annoying, but dangerous, especially with what I'm assuming was a record number of children onboard. Went back to the room to clean up for dinner and noticed that we had a few stowaways outside - Stowaway by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Birds by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This gingerbread village was created by the wonderful dessert and pastry chefs aboard Pacific Princess. Not the results of the passenger gingerbread competition earlier that day! Gingerbread Village by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Gingerbread Village by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted August 16, 2016 #189 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Hi Victoria! Hope all is well with you. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted August 16, 2016 Author #190 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) Our head waiter, Nelson, had to wear that silly hat until Christmas, but was kind enough to share it with Dad. Like I said before, Nelson was an incredible head waiter, and spoke to us every night. He was much better than our waiter and assistant waiter who didn't even bother to learn our names. Appetizer that night was the crab and artichoke dip, yum! Warm Crab and Artichoke Dip by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr I piggy-backed off of Rachel's creativity and ordered the Pad Thai (main course) as a smaller portion in place of a salad. Pad Thai by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Because we couldn't miss out on the main entree, Surf & Turf - Surf and Turf by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Surf and Turf by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr And for dessert, Love Boat Dream. I'm actually not a fan at all. It's a texture thing. But it makes a pretty photo, for sure. Love Boat Dream by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Tonight, we celebrated by the pool at the Love Boat Deck Party. It was really cute, and they dressed all of the dancers up like Isaac in his bartending outfit with mustaches. I didn't bring my camera because it's heavy, and every once in a while, I just want to enjoy the evening and not photograph it. And here's something Princess doesn't skimp on - nightly turn-down service with chocolates! Chocolate Turn-Down by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Edited August 16, 2016 by LittleMissMagic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dforeigner Posted August 16, 2016 #191 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I always enjoy reading your reviews along with the pictures you post. This must be the slowest review in CC (if we get technical, the pace seems like it is one day per month). The suspense is killing me but do appreciate the fact that you come back and continue posting about the trip. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted August 16, 2016 #192 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Nice review. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friend of Eeyore Posted August 16, 2016 #193 Share Posted August 16, 2016 This is the first time I've read one of your reviews, but I'm enjoying reading it and seeing your pictures. I love small ship cruising and hope tof be back on the Pacific before too long... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted August 16, 2016 Author #194 Share Posted August 16, 2016 [Day 08] San Juan Del Sur This morning, we woke up in Nicaragua - another unique port that we'd yet to visit! Since it was our first time, we opted for one of Princess's cruise excursions - "Masaya and Mombacho Volcanoes, Vistas & Lunch" (SJ1-340), "a rigorous full-day guided photo experience via air-conditioned transportation". The activity level was rated "strenuous". San Juan Del Sur is a tender port, which lets guests off at a very narrow floating pontoon with steep steps. The message in the Patter was very specific - Due to the size of the pontoon, no assistance is available to our passengers and therefore all passengers going ashore today need to be able to walk unaided (there is no room for wheelchairs and not wide enough for walking frames) along a narrow, moving pontoon and negotiate approximately 8 very steep steps. They really packed us onto the tender boat tightly. I was in a very uncomfortable position near a window leak, and it kept dripping repeatedly on my shoulder, water torture all the way to the dock. Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr The pontoon, like they said, was tight. And despite the very realistic warning of the amount of physical fitness it would take to get off the pontoon, there were a lot of passengers struggling. I think that maybe they thought that while they couldn't have the assistance of crew members, their family members could assist them... but it was just too narrow to be able to walk up side-by-side. Needless to say, it took a long time to get off of that crowded, steamy tender boat. Since we were so patient in getting off of the tender boat, we were the last on and seated in the back of the bus. :cool: I was cool with it because it was elevated, so we got a great view. Also, all four of us could sit in the row, so it was a pretty good deal. It just became annoying because it took so long for everyone else to get on and off the bus, so we were always waiting forever. Now, remember how I said that this tour was rated strenuous? Maybe people looked over that little detail, didn't take it too seriously, or don't have an accurate current assessment of their physical capabilities. Because there were a lot of people on the tour who were definitely not fit for (my definition of) the "strenuous" activity level. Back of the Bus by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted August 16, 2016 Author #195 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Our first stop was Lake Nicaragua, one of the world's largest lakes. It's home to the only freshwater shark on the planet. Here's a freshwater shark out of water, coming to eat me. Fins to the left... Lake Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Fins to the right... Lake Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr And I'm the only bait in town!!! Lake Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Oh wait, there's some more bait... Lake Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr And now that I've been eaten by a shark, my parents only have one child, their favorite child. Lake Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Just kidding, I'm still alive. Lake Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Had you fooled, didn't I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted August 16, 2016 Author #196 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Horses out and about, minding their own business. Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Back on the bus!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted August 16, 2016 Author #197 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr My beer appears to be the local favorite. Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Our guide purchased some fruit and had us pass it around on the bus. Rachel will probably be angry at me for posting these photos, but I need her for a scale figure. Believe it or not, Rachel actually reads what I write. But the only feedback I receive from her is, "OMG YOU POSTED THAT PHOTO OF ME???" Sorry, Rach. (To be fair, I always think Rachel looks beautiful which is why I don't understand why she doesn't like all of my photos. ;)) Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted August 16, 2016 Author #198 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Our guide was pretty great. I liked him a lot. I don't remember his name. You know, since I only post once a month. Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr We stopped at Catarina Overlook next, which had a restroom. $10 just to pee! Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Just kidding, that's 10 Cordobas which is a little more than a quarter. And it got all four of us in the restroom. Also, I had to pay for it because I was the only one with small bills, so I made some ridiculous deal in which I would trade my $5 for a $20. Dad told me that was absurd, but my mom was desperate, so sold!! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted August 16, 2016 Author #199 Share Posted August 16, 2016 (edited) The view from Catarina Overlook of Apoyo Lagoon, formed when hot springs filled the crater of a dormant volcano - Catarina Overlook by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr It was so windy! Catarina Overlook by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Catarina Overlook by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr I think this is what the cool kids do these days... Catarina Overlook by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Nicaragua by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Edited August 16, 2016 by LittleMissMagic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LittleMissMagic Posted August 16, 2016 Author #200 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Next stop - Masaya Volcano! Masaya Volcano by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Masaya Volcano by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Masaya Volcano by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Masaya Volcano by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Masaya Volcano by Victoria Shingleton, on Flickr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now