Sea day into night

On a sea day it is all about relaxing, napping and waking up in time to eat. Three hours had passed since our Pub Lunch and at 4.30 the Afternoon Tea (a great British Tradition) we had ordered was delivered. It is served in one of the dining rooms and also at the Sanctuary but Suite Passengers can get it delivered to their cabin. This way we can enjoy the delicious sandwiches, scones and cookies washed down by strong hot cups of tea while enjoying the sound and the view of the wake as the ship races through the blue ocean. Later, before dinner, we can attend the evening snacks for Elite (15 or more cruises with Princess), Suites and Platinum members (6 or more cruises) nightly event, which is held in Skywalkers from 5 to 7 p.m.

At sunset the ship's lights get turned on and all the sunbathers leave to get ready for dinner. Tonight is a Formal Night (2 of those on this cruise) which means that people dress for dinner in the main dining rooms (MDRs)

No shortage of sun loungers when the sun goes down for the day

We go to Skywalker's even though we are not hungry but because it is a nice place to have a drink and look down at the ship and the sea. A cocktail costs about $8. Beer $6. Snacks are free for Elites, Suites and Platinum. You may have to show your room key and if you are not one of the those you are likely to be turned away.

There is a long ramp up to the bar, which makes it easier for people in wheelchairs

And custom carpeting

From the aft pool deck (5 pools on this ship) you can see the underside of that long walkway

With an adults-only pool, a bar called the Outrigger and the Horizon Court Buffet  above the bar level many people can spend their entire day here, enjoying the wake view. No bands play back here so it tends to be quiet. There is no need to dress up to eat in the buffet on Formal Nights so the buffet is usually busier on those evenings. It serves good food, kept warm in steam trays. Help yourself. Waiters will bring you drinks and remove the used plates. We like the MDR where you order from a menu and have the food delivered hot, course by course so we never eat at the buffet for dinner.

On our way to dinner with Cindy Alice and Daniel we pass through the Piazza where people are gathered to witness the "Champagne Waterfall"  another Princess Tradition where champagne is poured into a pyramid of  glasses already mostly  filled with colored water. People line up to have their photos taken holding the bottle in tandem with the Maitre 'd Hotel. Not something I would line up for personally but as long as others are enjoying it then I'm happy! Cruises are for having fun.

That event is always followed by the Cruise Director (CD) introducing the Ship's Officers to a crowded Piazza. Then the Captain makes his "Welcome Aboard" speech. Then we eat!

After dinner we all move to find a table in Club Fusion, a nightclub at the stern where karaoke singing takes place and there are always some good singers among those brave enough to get up and entertain their fellow passengers. I am not one of them.

 Club Fusion

Each ship that has a Club Fusion on deck 7 aft has different artwork around the walls. On the Caribbean Princess the theme is the Wild West.

The lounge holds about 280 people and the Karaoke evenings draw a crowd. Waiters roam the room to get you drinks. Drinks are not included in your fare. You use your room key (like a credit card) to charge them to your account and your own credit card gets billed at the end of your last night on board.

At the end of an enjoyable evening with our cruising friends it was time to sleep and get up our strength for another day of doing nothing. Tomorrow would be our second sea day as we were going to our furthest port first.