On Cruise Control

20th to 30th March 2018 – The Caribbean 

From Costa Rica we were heading to Cuba to hop on a cruise in the Caribbean on MSC. Things did not begin well when we missed the plane because they moved the gate and we did not hear the call. So we sat there at the wrong gate until it was clear nothing was happening. On inquiry we were told the gate was moved and we were too late to catch the plane. We were put on another flight, losing over 3 hours, our lift to the boat and a leisurely boarding. Luckily on arrival at Cuba we were able to find a coach to take us to the boat cheap, after a 2 hour wait for luggage. Aah traveling, you really need to be ready and flexible for anything to happen. 

Cruising is really the closest I imagine to being royalty. We always go for an internal, no windows cabin because they are cheap, dark and the most stable on the ship. Considering we only use the cabin for sleeping and are running around filling the day with activities, we do not see the point in paying for anything fancy. Every morning is spent going through the day's program and trying to schedule in as many activities that we enjoy as possible in the day ahead. Our favorite activities including dancing, learning a language, quizzes and the like. The day always starts at the gym before breakfast and will finish with a Broadway quality show or 2 in the evening before bed. We really get our money's worth.

Broadway quality shows nightly

Food is generally continuously available during the day with a rotating buffet and morning and afternoon teas. At MSC dinner was always at the same restaurant on a set table with the same set of passengers. You had the option of doing buffet or going to one of the fancier restaurants for a fee, but why bother? Food on MSC was not of the same quality or options for a gluten free traveler as we were used to on our other cruises but we got on very well with the passengers at our table and so dinner was always pleasant and filled with interesting conversations. 

Our dance troupe

We enjoyed the many dancing opportunities with the cruise instructors Katiuska and Ariel. They included specific dance lessons to more line dancing activities. We turned up late to a dance lesson on our second day and were unaware it was practice for a coming show focusing on the talents of passengers and crew, a talent show so to speak. When we realised what was happening we (meaning Michael) were mortified and tried to back out but were convinced to stay. We learnt this dance over the course of the cruise and against Michael's better judgment, became part of the entertainment. It was Michael's first, last and only ever time in a stage show.

 

Dancing for our supper

Besides the many days of cruise only travel we also stopped at many countries around the Caribbean where we had the opportunity of leaving the ship and having day trips at these other locations. I will elaborate on our excursions on the next post but here I would like to focus on one day when we went into port in Mexico and decided NOT to leave the ship. Most people leave so the advantage of staying is that you get the run of the ship and are able to do many activities that are normally too busy. At the nightly dinner we would normally pass around photos and share stories of our day, so we decided to document our day on the ship. Enjoy the movie below of our day.

 

The last full day on the boat was filled with dancing, eating and watching shows. Aaahh, nothing quite like cruising to relax and forget the wider world, where shall we sail to next...does it matter?

The final voyage of the Dawn Princess

Cruising is one of the most relaxing ways to travel. So when we decided to explore South East Asia and found out a ship from Fremantle can get us there, the decision was made. Then came the cat and mouse game of constantly checking prices to find the price sweet spot. When tickets got to nearly half their initial price (coming down to less than $100 each per day) we snapped them up. Never saw them go any lower.

A typical day for us started in the well stocked gym, trying every different machine and making muscles I did not know I had sore. Then a buffet breakfast with lots of gluten free choices, including amazing bread. The day was then filled with trivia games, Spanish lessons, dance lessons, gameshow challenges, amazing shows and solo performances, dancing and lots of food. Those not your cup of tea? Then there were pools, bars, casino, massages, outdoor games, bingo, cinemas or just go to the library and read a book or lie on deck and watch the ocean go by. It's up to you. It's like an alternate reality where the outside world does not exist.

One evening's dessert haul

As gluten free vegetarians we were incredibly well looked after. At dinner each night the waiters were always worried we were not eating enough and kept offering us extra salads and soups and would give us every gluten free dessert from creme brulee and apple crumble to flourless chocolate cake. We put on weight and had to cut back when we started feeling ill. They were killing us with kindness.

The ship stopped in five ports to allow day trip exploration. We left the ship twice, checking out Kuta beach in Bali and doing a tour in Penang. Bali was a pain getting out of the port as we were told to only use the blue bird taxis with meter on. But they are not allowed into the port area by non marked operators trying to push for fixed prices. If they come in they get chased out. This bit was not explained and we worked it out when we saw a taxi and tried to hail it but it drove off when a guy pressuring us for a deal made gestures at him. Eventually we realised we could get one by heading out of the port area and turning right (initially we turned left).

In Penang the highlight was the Entopia Butterfly Farm, where we got to release young butterflies that have never flown free before. One big fella hopped on Elizabeth and wouldn't get off. I used a piece of paper to gently prise him off her but he flew straight back on. I had to prise him off again and then shield Elizabeth so she could get out of the farm.

Batik Factory

During the other port days we stayed on board to enjoy the ship. These days were our best chances of winning at trivia as most of the passengers would go ashore (hopefully all of the smart ones). We also got to play table tennis and enjoy other normally busy activities. We did win once (a bottle of champagne) in a liar liar gameshow as it seems we are very good at picking the one person telling the truth.

There were a few special days. Elizabeth had her birthday on board. I had previously alerted the authorities to this occasion :-) so they were ready. It also happened to be the day of the Captain's address so everyone was treated to the sight of a huge champagne fountain on a tower of individually placed glasses. At dinner four waiters came over and sang happy birthday  and presented her with an individual birthday cake. They had a ceremony when we crossed the Equator; Neptune arrived and set upon some unsuspecting volunteers who've never crossed the Equator before and covered them in all manner of sticky and fluidy substances.

Champagne Fountain

Neptune in action

This was the last voyage of the ship as the Dawn Princess as it has been sold and will be re-named. So there was a special nostalgic feel about the trip and that came through from the crew. The ship had 2000 passengers and 1000 crew so it was like a mini city and chatting to so many new people brought out many stories: Eddie our cruise staffer (dancing and language instructor) from Venezuela who only a short while ago was skipping food queues to avoid starvation; the Philipino singer who put on a benefit concert last year to raise money for her mother's cancer operation; a trivia partner who met her cruise buddy on a Princess cruise one year ago; and a surprising number of staff from Peru who would query me about my Peru Hop T-shirt. How many stories has this ship seen? It was an interesting and very relaxing cruise.


Bon Voyage Dawn Princess