We were now on the Pacific for our last two days on-board Coral Princess. We sailed from Mexico up the coast until we reached California, South of San Francisco.
Our cruise through the Panama Canal started in Fort Lauderdale and would take us to Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and finally San Francisco and then onto Monterey.
Day 17 Wednesday 25th October, Pacific Ocean
For the first time in a week I had managed to sleep past 5 am. This morning we heard a ping pong and then an announcement of a medical emergency over the ship’s speakers. This announcement was over all the ship and was very loud in our cabin too.
Shortly afterwards there was a practise drill for man overboard. Our balcony neighbours had missed the pre-announcement about the message being a drill and were immediately out on their balcony looking for someone in the sea!
Our breakfast came at precisely 8.30 am. My Princess Cruises’ version of Egg McMuffin was excellent. I followed it up with orange segments, banana and melon and finally a bowl of cornflakes. Eating in the sunshine on our balcony was a joy especially as there wasn’t a hint of humidity.
From the balcony we could see flying fish that we going what seemed such a long distance for such small fish.
From the map on the TV we were passing San Juania on the Baja Peninsular. I stayed out on the balcony from then on looking for dolphins or whales.
On our way to to the tour desk we looked in on the lecture in the theatre.
At the the tour desk and we moved our departure time off the ship to be later in the morning at 11 am. This should delay our arrival at our San Francisco hotel, so hopefully we would be able to get straight into our room. We also picked up some more labels for our suitcases.
We had decided it was time for a walk around the Promenade Deck. After three laps we went back inside to have a look at the final outlet sales in the Provence Restaurant. Despite all the earlier sales this one was also mobbed. The queue for the tills stretching around the doorways and back out into the Atrium!
The International Cafe was empty and we had a coffee and a tea and a short rest before going back out onto the Promenade Deck for more laps.
This time we spotted a small black object that looked like a ball to the naked eye. Then a flipper appeared and the head again – this was our first turtle.
From the Promenade Deck the flights of the flying fish looked even more impressive and as the ship passed large numbers of them would sometimes appear as they were disturbed. We could see the Baja Peninsular away on the horizon.
Afternoon
At noon we were passing Ascension on the Baja Peninsular. I continued my whale watch and enjoyed a Grolsch beer at the same time. I watched small boats going South but saw no whales.
For lunch I had the special of Eggs Benedict in the Bordeaux Restaurant. As we were leaving the much rumoured flash event was starting in the Atrium. The music started and then guests and entertainment team members all began a choreographed dance routine.
Later in the afternoon Happy Hour in the Wheelhouse bar was busy and we could only manage a small table by the door.
Our Belgian friends persuaded us to go and take part in the Octoberfest trivial quiz. We did manage to get 10 out of the 15 questions correct. I was surprised at how many questions there could be about the Octoberfest in Munich.
Formal evening
This was our last formal evening and we were all gathered again in the Atrium listening to the party band and having drinks provided by the Captain.
The balloons were all there ready above us.
Dinner was a special menu. I didn’t have the lobster option and instead chose to have Beef Wellington. I started with tomato soup and as dessert one of the chocolate specials. The Beef Wellington had a strange flavour (to us) but the meat inside was very good.
We watched fascinated as the servers cleaned the lobsters for our fellow dinner guests. It was a little strange (to us) that this was the norm that the passengers sat back and let the servers sort out the lobster meat on their plates.
This evening our table companions were the Canadians who had lived in our village and the Australians who were originally from Scotland. All in all it was a very relaxing and enjoyable meal.
After dinner we went to the Princess Theatre to see the last show of the cruise from the production company. This was called ‘What a swell party’. We thoroughly enjoyed the singing and dancing in this excellent show.
I ventured out onto the promenade deck for some fresh air and the deck had been cleaned which gave some interesting refelctions.
And the balloon drop
This was the evening that the end of the cruise was celebrated in the Atrium. We went to see the Farewell and Ballon Drop Party there. The party band were playing and we all joined in the dancing and then all the balloons were dropped onto us in the Atrium.
Back on our balcony I looked at all the stars above us as the night sky was clear. Looking back the ship was kicking out lots of diesel smoke that obscured all the stars astern.
