Onwards to the Red Sea

Day 28 - at sea
Sometime around 11.00 pm last night we apparently slipped our berth and are heading back past Iran & Oman.  This morning is a bit overcast but hot and humid as we speed along at 20.2kts.  The highlight of the day is the ship's Galley tour, kindly organised for Cruise Critic folk by Joanne.  There were 4 groups organised of roughly 16 each, escorted by the Maitre 'd and it was so much better than the ship organised one for the masses.

"Grouch" of the day.  Yes, got our sector mini-bar set up OK, but when I phoned room service to swap it for the usual 2 coffee cards, I was told that the process had changed and that we would no longer receive coffee cards, but it would be treated like a "drinks package" whatever that is.  So, off to Captain's Circle hostess, she chewing gum, who said that yes, the free coffees would be loaded to our ship card.  Would have been better if we'd been given prior notice!

Of course it is formal night again, for no particular reason although I suspect that the 300 who embarked in Dubai may have had a cocktail party.   When we went past the Vista Lounge at about 5.00 there were a number of passengers in formal attire, but an equal number in shorts, t-shirts & carrying stubbies!   BTW Vivian still has the cough, along with most at our table (2 away last night) & half of the ship.

Day 29 - at sea
Yet another hour back, so woke around 5.00.  The day is overcast and the temperature has dropped to a more bearable 26° with moderate seas - we are back in the Arabian Sea heading towards Yemen (starboard) and Somalia (port) in the next couple of days.  The Commodore "promised" big seas yesterday but we hope that he was wrong.

Now 5.00pm and unfortunately the Commodore *was* right - we are very much back to the rock n roll.  Grouch of the day #2.   Still trying to get hold of room service for our usual afternoon tea.  They simply won't answer, and 15 minutes listening to that jingle is really too much.  Took a written complaint to the front desk & she was dismissive, saying that they were busy with 600 new Elite passengers - so!  Where is the Consummate Host?  To crown matters off, we then went to Crooners for our Green Tea only to be served Mint Tea and told that they don't have GT at Crooners any more!

Day 30 - still at sea
A repeat of yesterday generally.  However when we did our deck walk, the starboard side was soaked with the seaspray, making the walk a bit treacherous.  Another Cruise Critic lunch today.  Pleased to say that we eventually got our mini bar taken away and our coffees credited to our cards.  I see from the Princess website that paper coffee cards are no longer being issued fleetwide and that all will be electronic from now on.  Once again, communication is a great tool - if used.

It is great to see the Commodore mixing with the passengers every morning, he was even doing the Promanade walk (cockwise) with his wife.  She is aboard for this sector (his final voyage) and we were talking with them and their retirement plans when they get home to Miami 😀 

We are now in the Gulf of Aden and as the waters narrow, we are now seeing a greater number of container ships, steaming faster than our 19kts.  Presumably when we pass into the Red Sea tomorrow the number of ships of all shapes and sizes will increase.  Well at least the sea has calmed a little, but the wind is pretty blustery - classified as a "strong gale" according to ship's navigation guide on TV.

Day 31 - 1 July - at sea
Still overcast but the sea has calmed a lot as we head towards the Red Sea.  We actually entered into the Red Sea just after lunch and will be sailing up towards the Suez Canal for the next couple of days. We now have Eritrea on our Port side and Yemen to Starboard.  Warm and muggy outside but at least we should be able to have a drink on the balcony tonight.  Unfortunately it is very hazy, so we are still unable to see land.  The haze contains a lot of dust as our balcony frame was covered with sand particles this morning.  No wonder I have started a bit of a cough again - Oh for the Med. next week.

The coffee card debate continues to rage (thankfully not us) and as previously commented, it is because Princess do not seem to understand that pre-emptive information on the company-wide changes would have avoided this.   Many questions lodged with the Wake Show have forced Corey to promise definitive answers tomorrow - although it really is not his problem.

Day 32 - 2 July - Red Sea
Another wine tasting, another early bridge day.  The Red Sea is more like a lake, so little movement and thankfully the sky is a lot clearer, although there is still a lot of sand on our balcony from overnight. I am sitting on the shady side on the Promenade Deck to update this.  We plan to grab a coffee after bridge before lunch with our former table mates from Circle Pacific 2016.