2015 - March 4th-19th - Grand Princess 15 Day Cruise

In October, Mary Anne's sister's husband Fred called to invite us to join them on a 15 day Hawaiian cruise in March. It would be a great opportunity for the two sisters to get together  (California and Florida) and the four of us to have lots of fun and celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary and us, our 41st wedding anniversary. We jumped at the chance. Fred was surprising Pam for her Christmas present with the cruise. So the next couple of months were difficult to keep the secret!

We debarked on March 4th and returned on the 19th. The ship affords so many activities and fun things to see and do that the time really flies by. There are way too many things that we did to list them all from bingo, casino gaming, swimming, hot-tubbing, movies, playing cards (Euchre for the Ohio and Michigan folks!), seminars, live stage show, contests, the Lotus Spa (which both Mary Anne and Pam LOVED) and the never ending assortment of food just to name a few. We each booked a balcony stateroom that afforded a really large and comfortable room. Whether it was doing something or just enjoying the ocean breeze and smell on our balcony, the cruise could not have been better. Here are a few of the pictures we took that are all available to see and many more at this album link.

The Grand Princess is a stunning ship.
One of the pools at our leisure.

The Vista Lounge where we saw many shows and Bingo was played by Fred, Pam & Mary Anne.

Another large pool with hot tubs and lounging for day-time movies or movies under the stars.

The Princess Theater showed recent academy award winning and nominated films daily and presented live floor shows in the evening.
Debarking ..

We loved having a balcony and enjoying the ocean ...


Whoo-Hoo ... we're sailing to Hawaii!!!
We had three formal night dinners. The food was exquisite in all of the restaurants. Our Open Dining let us choose from De Vinci or Michelangelo Restaurants for sit down service or the Horizon Court for buffet style choosing.
               
              
There were fruit and vegetable carving demonstrations as well as ice carving demonstrations.
             
              
             
              
The lunches and dinners were always past expectations. The desserts beautiful and the entries, appetizers, and other courses beyond high presentation levels. Never a meal that wasn't excellent.
         
              
                                 
                  
                  
On our anniversary, March 16th, we had a Happy Anniversary sign posted to our door and an Anniversary Card from the Captain delivered to our stateroom. That evening we enjoyed our 41st and Fred & Pam's 37th anniversary dinners at the Crown Grill Steak House specialty restaurant. We toasted with champagne, ate Filet Mignon with all of the trimmings and Fred had a Porterhouse that covered the entire plate. My Filet was surf and turf adding that beloved Lobster Tail! The desserts were out of this world and each couple also received an anniversary chocolate cake. We each took that anniversary cake back to our rooms to consume the next day!
              
              
              
               
               
               
The Horizon Court always decorated for the theme of the day meals that were in their buffets.
              
We celebrated St. Patrick's Day aboard ship too.
               
                      
Just one more fantastic dessert to show-off!
              
The Galley tour was fantastic with the sparking clean kitchen and all of the prep that goes into preparing for all of the ship's guests.
              
                 
               
             
                                 
              
              
Pam and Fred were treated to a Champagne breakfast in their stateroom by very special friends from North Carolina as an Anniversary and Friendship gift. Pam made Mimosas with the Champagne and Orange Juice. What a fabulous way to start out their day! What great friends to arrange this gift delivered aboard the Grand Princess!

The Captain announced that he spotted this unusual object on our Starboard side (off of our stateroom balcony) which turned out to be a US High Security floating laser station. It was somewhere between Hawaii & Mexico (I have n idea where we were at that moment except in the middle of the ocean!) and when contacted, the Government said not to get any closer than 3 miles!

              
My camera took a vacation too for most of the time at sea allowing the freedom to just enjoy the trip. There was much more, but these give a sample of what we did. For the complete photo album with all of the at-sea pictures, click on this link and enjoy. The next section I will be working on to publish will be the four Hawaiian Islands we visited. I will let everyone know when they are ready to view!