I took off for a weekend last month just to try and recall the whole year
All of the faces and all of the places wonderin' where they all disappeared
I didn't ponder the question too long, I was hungry and went out for a bite
Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum and we wound up drinkin' all night
It's those changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
With all of our running and all of our cunning
If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane
From "Changes in Latitudes" by Jimmy Buffett
I didn't think I would blog about our return to the Mexican Riviera aboard Royal Princess. "Been there, done that," came to mind. We've been on Royal Class ships previously, and for some reason Julie and I thought that included Royal Princess.
It was actually Majestic Princess on which we had sailed in our first return to cruising post-Covid-19 pandemic.
In any case, we felt right at home, as we do on every Princess ship. The fleet's ships vary in size and design, but they always feel comfortable to us.
This cruise had not been selected to explore new ports or report on a never-before tried class of ship. It was to get a respite from winter weather in the northeast and enjoy the simple pleasures of cruising.
Missions accomplished! What a wonderful cruise we enjoyed. The crew was terrific. Being unconcerned about blogging was a treat in its own way.
We opted out of Princess Plus for this 7-night voyage. Bringing one bottle of wine per adult as permitted put a big dent in optional beverage purchases for us. Elite Wine Tasting and the Captain-hosted party for past-guests were much appreciated.
Throughout the voyage, we enjoyed delicious dining, accommodating service and great entertainment.
Of those, entertainment is most noteworthy for me, unless something turns out notably bad...which it did not. I like to highlight a few favorite performers on every cruise, because they help make each cruise unique. There will never be that exact combination of talent together again.
Jumari, a skilled guitarist and singer, exuded an enthusiasm for music of a younger man. He played all kinds of songs, including '60s surf guitar that is rather unique for someone on an acoustic guitar. Our Redondo Beach buddy Randy, a big fan of the Ventures, would have loved that.
One night, Jumari did an impressive "Tribute to Neil Diamond" as a featured show in a packed Vista Lounge.
We also regularly enjoyed a string duo of Simon and Olga. Interestingly, Simon is from Russia and Olga from Ukraine.
Among our favorite lounge venues is the beautiful Piazza, which on this cruise never felt crowded.
When either of those acts, or any other lounge acts performed --- including the Diamond Trio Mariachi Band --- ballroom dancers were gliding around the dance floor. We particularly enjoyed watching one elderly couple, who always danced with panache that belied any physical limitations of age.
The best of the featured guest performers in the Princess Theater were the Latin Divos, who proved to be funny as well as talented singers. They sang unique sets of songs on two different nights, and both shows were crowd-pleasers.
The cruise director Jodi assembled wonderful talent for the cruise. Foremost among that talent was the Princess Orchestra, which backed several performers including the Neil Diamond Tribute, Latin Divos and terrific production shows. They also played in various combos around the ship.
As to whether it was because of Jodi's direction or something more self-directed, the horn section was particularly animated, often adding choreography to their playing.
The trombonist --- who also played the piano, slide trumpet and other instruments at some gigs --- was an outstanding musician who brought an extra punch of pizzazz to every performance, much like our son Jay when he played and danced on stage in his ska band.
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