Look Who I Found...
This was my first time checking into a ship by myself. My arrival time was early but I got there before they began the boarding process. The cabin was only $125pp + taxes. Initially, I thought hubby would be able to join me so I bid for an upgrade. Work got in the way so he couldn’t make it. Of course, since I was alone and didn’t really need it, I got the upgrade to a mini-suite ($40 extra). Princess, like most cruise lines required me to pay for double occupancy, but I only paid one set of taxes.
What a whirlwind… as soon as I got off the Panama Canal cruise, I flew to Houston for Thanksgiving. After enjoying a little family time, I jumped on a flight back to Los Angeles to board Discovery Princess. Not quite sure how to cruise alone, I decided to grab a bite in the buffet because somehow, it didn’t feel as awkward sitting alone there. The next day I could be more daring… Much to my excitement, my Aunt was on the same ship to reach her “Elite” status… and went to eat at the same time… no longer alone!!! Fun! Her cabin was a couple of floors away from me but on the same side of the ship.
Bright and early the next morning, we arrive in San Diego. As I like to do at every stop, I got my shot of “first sight”. It’s the first thing I see when I get out of bed. This is a fun port stop because the ship pulls right into the heart of the city. Now that I have company, a plan has been developed. It has been decades since I visited the San Diego Zoo… so, I got online and purchased two tickets. Ubers wait outside, just off the pier.
Thankfully, we were in port until 10pm so I was able to watch Nate and Nicholas play on the big screen by the pool! Nick had a great game… it was surprising (or not) how many Steelers fans there were on a west coast cruise!
After the game, we walked off the ship and into an Uber. It was so simple! Within a few minutes, we were using the digital tickets to enter the San Diego Zoo. A very hilly zoo, we took the tram ride to the top and walked down as much as possible. We saw so many healthy animals with plenty of room to roam.
My favorite! Primates! Seriously, I could sit for hours and watch the interaction between these amazing animals. Their behavior is so entertaining and it seems like their movements are so human-like. There were several areas to watch different species. In the middle photo, it was time for dinner and you can see a flurry of activity!
First stop as we returned to the ship… the upstairs bar/lounge area. With perfect weather, it was nice to sit outside and enjoy the view. It was time for an espresso martini… yummy, yummy! The couches area comfortable and there was really no one around. With a late “all aboard”, many were still off exploring.
So peaceful… sitting in our comfy spot with a spectacular view of the sunset. A single sea gull landed on a post by the aft pool. He also enjoyed the sunset! It was so fun to have company!
As the sun dimmed, the city of San Diego lit up… Seeing the lights reflecting on the water is so beautifu!l It would be easy to sit outside and watch the view. My tummy let me know that the Espresso martini was not nearly enough for dinner. Rather than go to the buffet or main dining room, we went to the Gastropub that is included in the Princess Plus package.
Little did I know when I booked the cruise… Adam Savage from Myth Busters was a special onboard guest. He did a few seminars and was actively involved in the egg drop contest. This was a fun… family activity. Although, sometimes it seems like it’s more parent design, than children design. My favorite was a guest who took his jeans and pendleton shirt, stuffed it full of towels, with the egg safely wrapped and tucked in the middle of the “body”. Some used parachutes, others used straws to create a buffer. There were many original ideas.
Oh boy! Now I have someone to join me at the wine dinner! Caymus was onboard… the dinner was in an awesome location. The food was incredible! The chef’s were careful to adjust their recipes to fit my absurdly restricted diet. Unbelievable taste comblinations, paired with the wine selections made for the perfect evening.
Prior to dessert, the chefs came out to mingle and see how we enjoyed our feast. They had presented every dish, explained how they were made and why they were paired with a specific wine. From beginning to end, the experience was perfect. It was the smallest group I’ve seen on a ship wine dinner but we were seated next to a great couple!
Leroy and Helen were on a “test cruise” because they have plans to marry on the ship in December. After the wine and delcious food… lots of talking a laughter, I invited myself to be the flower girl. Helen graciously accepted… I think I can do a good job. :-)
Here we are! We had such a great time getting to know Leroy and Helen. Their December wedding should be awesome. Apparently, they run things differently than when Barry and I got married. An outside company now handles the weddings so there is a bit of a detachment. Most importantly, the “middle man” increases the price substantially! Hopefully, they get it all worked out because I am ready for my flower girl duties!!!
After our fabulous dinner, we got together in one of the bars to enjoy some music. Such a fun bunch of people… it’s fellow cruisers that make this form of travel so amazing. Each trip it seems we walk away with new life-long friendships. This trip is no exception.
First view in Ensenada. The weather is perfect! No wind, warm (but not hot) temperatures… and not a cloud in the sky. We decided to go to town on the ship provided shuttle. It goes from the port to the center of town for $4 round trip. Can’t beat that!
Getting my selfie with the ship was a bit of a challenge this trip… everything surrounding the ship was fenced off. So, we walked to the outside perimeter of the ship and got as close as we could. Discover Princess has been added to the ship selfie collection :-)
One last day of game playing. Part of my “always packed” items are my games. Five Crowns, Mexican Train and a one pound travel Rumikub with balsa wood racks go with me wherever I travel. Thinking I was traveling alone, I almost didn’t bring them this time but I figured I might get lucky and meet a fellow game player. We had many laughs playing cards! All good things come to an end… time to head home for the work season…
