Thursday, December 21st
Sunset at sea
I’m starting to question if there is a black cloud hovering over us on this trip…
First our visa problem, although I must admit that was self induced due to my poor planning. Next our flight was delayed out of Los Angeles which resulted in us spending the night in the Lima Airport. The stress resulted in a nasty cold sore popping out on my lip which always makes for charming pictures.
Ok, Ok, enough, right??? From here on, everything should be smooth sailing.
Not so fast Bucko.
The trip fairies are messing with me. After unpacking Wednesday, we made a quick jaunt to the dining room for our VERY early dinner and were seated at a table for six, and no one else showed up. Ah well, perhaps they were just tired, or boarded late.
This morning, we realized that none of our pre-booked tour tickets had been delivered to our cabin. Upon questioning our cabin steward, Rodrigo, he informed us that he had already delivered everything he had been given.
This was strange, as normally on previous cruises on the first day all tour vouchers were already waiting for us when we arrived.
So, off we went to the tour department, only to be met with a long, slow moving line. Eventually we made it to the counter, only to be informed by the staff member that they showed no bookings for us. Nor did they show what we had originally selected.
The tour desk agent promised to investigate and give us a call in our cabin.
By now, I’m having a hard time not just breaking down in tears. I had spent HOURS reading about the different tours, selecting and booking what I thought would be a good fit for us and our interests. Having been accustomed to Princess and their normally very efficient system, I had not even bothered to print a copy of our itinerary that showed each booked tour.
I returned to our cabin, shot an email off to a lady with Princess Corporate Headquarters who had booked the cruise for us, and asked for her assistance. She quickly responded and at least was able to identify which tours I had booked, which saved me some time of once again trying to figure them all out. She informed us that it showed that all our our tours had been cancelled, but no explanation as to why.
Some of our selections were still available, and some were by now sold out. We were waitlisted on two options for the next day.
I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to rebook excursions as best we could.
The sea is rough and the captain forecast that it was about to get rougher.
At dinner, we had two ladies join our table. They are very sweet, but both speak in very soft voices and with all the noise in the dining room I can not hear a word they are saying. Two seats still remain empty. Our head waiter informed us that 40 people missed the cruise altogether due to delayed flights and would be joining us at the next port.
We are wondering if we will eventually have a full table and be able to hear them to have a normal conversation, if our waitlisted tours will come through, and what other surprises are in store for us.
By the way, we never did get a call from the tour desk agent. We eventually went online and booked one of the few remaining tours for the next afternoon, just so that we would have something.
GRATITUDE MOMENT: Today I am grateful that we have not hit an iceberg, that both Tim and I are good sailors and that the rough seas have not caused any seasick episodes.
A Note From Abroad 
Hope the rest of your trip is wonderful
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Have a Merry Christmas. Things have a way of working out. Hopefully soon.
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Its Christmas Day as I read this. All I can say is WOW! Hope things improve as sounds like your planning was outstanding but to no available so far. Here comes change.
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OH MY, it will get better have faith. Praying for a wonderful trip and a Merry Christmas.
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As is said, “First world problems.” Merry! Merry!
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Oh dear! I’m reading this on Christmas Day in between bouts of cooking. I hope things have picked up and you are having a happy time.
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On our last cruise, a long one, because we changed from late to early sitting, were put on a table for 10, with only a couple with an 18ths old toddler who didn’t want to eat and a very young couple who said they would be eating most nights in the Speciality Restaurants. There was no My Time Available so we were changed to another table. A very happy ending, hope yours will be as well.
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Sounds like a frustrating start! I’m sure things will improve. You have a positive attitude! All the best!
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Some days, having got to the end of them and having not hit an iceberg can only be a good sign … hopefully it’s all cleared up by today, 25th … Merry Christmas to you both. 🙂
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Thank you so much – and yes, it did get much better 😃
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Oh dear – the tour gremlins were busy! How disappointing and annoying when you planned everything so well! That bad luck can’t continue, so full steam ahead. Trust the 25th was a success? .
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The 25th was lovely, thanks. Hope yours was as well.
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Hoping you end up having the best cruise of your lives to make up for the rough start.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! Things definitely improved!
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Oooh you poor thing.! I break out in cold sores too when I get unusually stressed. I hope you hadn’t paid for those tours in advance? I pray the rest of your trip levels off and worthy.
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Things ended up resolving themselves, even if not perfectly. We were able to get some items rebooked, as well as finding some alternatives if our original choice was sold out.
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Do those gratitude moments sometimes seem to save the day? A sense of getting grounded and regrouping?
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Great question… Absolutely! I close my days with happy recollections and give thanks for the many, many ways our lives are blessed. Not only does it help me stay focused on what is right in our lives, but it also helps keep thinks in perspective so we can focus on what really matters.
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Gosh, I hope things take a turn for the better, and soon! Best of luck!
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Robin, thank goodness things got much better!
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