The day begins in typical fashion. I am awake at 5am and heading down to International Cafe for coffee and seek out a good place where I can work on my photos, videos and daily cruise blog. I find the perfect table for working at Salty Dog Gastropub across from International Cafe on Deck 5.

I get the drip coffee at International Cafe and am pleased to find that it is fresh and very good. There are a lot of breakfast offerings here for those in a hurry or wanting something beside a full meal.

After my blogging duties I need to get ready for my 8am spa appointment at Lotus Spa (Deck 5 fwd).

Originally, I had booked a 50 minute Swedish Massage but upon embarkation, I decided to change things up a bit and do something I have never done before on a cruise ship; get a manicure and pedicure. Perhaps not the most manly choice, but why not give it a try? After checking in at the spa and completing the paperwork, Althea greeted me and showed me the way to a very comfortable chair with built-in massage.

After soaking my feet in the warm water for a few minutes, Althea began working her magic which included trimming the nails, but also some massaging of my lower legs. It felt really good and relaxing.

After my feet were done, Althea led to a chair where she began working on my fingernails. She did ask me if I wanted a color, and at first I had no idea to what she was referring. Then I realized she was asking if I wanted nail polish! I told her no thank you and that I was not quite that advanced yet. The entire treatment took about an hour and it was a very nice experience. Of course, Lotus Spa has full hair, nails and massage treatments available.

After my treatment, Rickee and I decided to try out the Sabatini’s Suite Breakfast. Even though we are not in a suite, Princess has invited us to enjoy this special perk so we can cover it in our blog and videos. Thank you Princess. We arrived at about 9am and there were only 4 or 5 tables occupied. We were seated at a table for 2 and brought menus. We were each brought complimentary Mimosas to enjoy. We both ordered the traditional Eggs Benedict which were cooked perfectly and excellent. Rickee said the orange juice tasted fresh squeezed.

I think on our next visit we need to try the Belgian Waffle. This is a very nice perk for suite guests as you do not have to deal with the crowded buffet line. Sabatini’s is a nice, peaceful place to enjoy a relaxing breakfast.

After having a late breakfast, we opted out of having lunch and instead decided to have a late lunch at The Sanctuary, which is where we planned to spend the afternoon. We arrived at The Sanctuary (Deck 18 fwd) at 1pm. The Sanctuary is an adult-only relaxing outdoor space with very comfortable sun loungers which are spaced very far apart from each other. There are also semi-private cabanas available for rent by the day. The sun loungers are $20 per person for half a day, or $40 for a full day. Cabanas are $140 for a full day (they no longer offer half-day pricing on cabanas).

We selected two loungers facing forward with perfect views of the ocean ahead as we sail to Alaska.

It is a very nice day today, about 60 degrees and sunny. Wait staff are always on hand to bring you your favorite drink. Make sure to try the cucumber water. I ordered a cheeseburger and fries for a late lunch and Rickee ordered a couple of pizza slices and within 15 minutes, they were delivered to us.

The Sanctuary is one our favorite spots on Princess ships because it is a quiet getaway from the crowds. There is no swimming pool at the Sanctuary, but there is a hot tub and the Retreat Pool is close by which is an adult-only pool accessible at no extra cost.

Our late lunch at The Sanctuary left us with little appetite for an evening meal, so we decided to skip tonight and instead give the gelato a try at Gelato on Deck 5 midship. There are 10 varieties of fresh made gelatos and sorbets offered here and you can choose between a waffle cone or a bowl. There is an additional charge of $1.25 per scoop, but it is probably the best gelato I have had on a cruise ship, so far as I can remember. I had a scoop of Salted Caramel and a scoop of Nutella. Both were delicious.

Excellent gelato served at Gelato on Deck 5

There are only two production shows on this sailing and one of them, Spotlight Bar, is tonight. I arrived at the Princess Theater at 7:00pm in time to get a good seat on the front row. Due to copyright restrictions, I was unable to get any video, but I was able to get some great photos of the lively dance routines.

I think we counted at least 10 dancers in the cast and four vocalists. The show has a lot of great vocals and dance numbers and the music is backed up by a live band.

After the show, the Cruise Director came out to tell everyone about the late evening entertainment options and what we can expect in Ketchikan tomorrow. You may notice I did not put the Cruise Director’s name in the blog, and there is a reason for that. I cannot find his name anywhere. I am sure it has been broadcast on the PA system, but usually I will research things like that in the daily Princess Patter, but the Patter is now nothing more than a single page listing all of the daily activities. Previously, The Patter would be a multi-page newsletter and the first day’s print would show things like the names of the senior officers, the cruise staff, cast members, etc. So, I will continue to research and will report back with his name once I can locate it.

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