Crown Princess Cruise 1/14-1/21 1st Sea Day and My Birthday

**Whimsy** · 01-27-2012, 12:17 PM

1^st Sea Day
Today was my 50^th birthday. My friends joked how I managed to arrange the ship to have a formal night on my birthday. LOL! I decided a few years before I turned 50 I was not going to do it back home, in the cold with a black party I didn’t want. I decided to make turning 50 something to look forward to so I planned a cruise and invited friends and family. It is a lot to ask someone to spend a week of their vacation time plus a lot of money but I have a good bunch of friends and many joined the journey. I understand why many could not but I know they were with us in spirit. I cannot tell you how wonderful it feels to have so many good people in your life. I highly recommend anyone dreading something to turn those lemons into lemonade and plan something such as I did.
I ordered coffee, juice and pastries then after getting ready DH and I headed up to the buffet where we ran into one of our group and we had breakfast together. DD joined us and the plan was to lie around MUTTS pool and just relax. My first smile of the day was when DD told me our assistant waitress Carolina seen her and asked her about her sister (me!). Who wouldn’t love that on a day when you turn 50! We ended up having a long conversation, telling DD about some old history in the town we all came from. Now she can be the keeper of those secrets and stories. Soon we were joined by another friend and I realized it was time for a gathering with members of another board. I told DD to get us some loungers and I would find her a bit later.
I went up to Skywalkers and there was a nice gathering of members but it sure was a quiet group compared to other meetings I have attended. The first person I talked to was Kicker and he sure is charming, telling me I must be lying about my 50^th birthday. He also gave me a book he wrote called Ship Happens, Limericks and Jokes. I started reading the book and I’ll put a plug here for him, what I read so far was very amusing. Sadly though I cannot find the book he gave me and have turned in a lost and found request to Princess. I hope somehow it comes back to me as it meant a lot to me that he thought enough of me to give the book and I do want to read the whole thing. If I don’t get it back I will be buying another copy. I met Paul and thanked him for keeping the roll call. I have done this on past roll calls and it can be time consuming. I tried to get a drink at the bar but the bartender said the bar was closed. Huh? You’re a bartender, there are bottles here and I have a cruise card…. Can we have a meeting of the minds? Sadly I couldn’t get a drink. For future roll call planners might I suggest having your meet and greets at Adagio’s. This is the second time I have attended a meet and greet in Skywalkers and there was no bar service. I have attended a few in Adagio’s and there has always been bar service. Maybe the smaller venue has people up and mingling a bit more as well.

Captain Nash
Captain Nash spoke and was asked about the Costa accident. His answers were as best he could give, considering he was seeing as much as anyone else from the news. The hotel manager attended as well and I had a nice little chat with him off to the side. The cruise director stopped by as well. Soon DD came to tell me I had missed a few nice loungers so she dragged me away. I know she was not feeling well and was hoping I could magically make her feel better.

DD and Cruise Director Lisa Ball

DD and I found a few loungers up high and tried to watch a movie but the glass rail glare made it impossible for me. I was content to start reading the book Kicker gave to me and settled in with a drink and my book. Pretty soon friends found us and crowned me as well as giving me a lovely champagne glass for my special day. Since I was afraid of breaking the glass on the deck I put it away for later that day. I did however wear my crown. I made up my mind a long time back that whatever fun my friends drummed up for my birthday I would go along. That afternoon at bingo another one pinned me with a birthday girl ribbon and I transferred it to my purse for formal night.

First formal night looked and the ship was really rocking. Some of our group was not feeling well despite the seasick meds. DD was downing green apples as instructed but was stilling looking a bit green. I dressed, put on my crown and staggered down the hall to meet up with some at Crooners for a pre dinner drink.
We enjoyed a bit of people watching and birthday fun. Soon it was time for dinner and I staggered back to the room to get a bottle of champagne to take to the dining room as well as my special flute. Sure looks back when you see an old broad wearing a crown, bouncing off the hall walls with a huge bottle of champagne with a fancy glass.
It was wonderful to be treated like a queen on my birthday by my family and friends. Sadly many of them were feeling the effects of the sea and a few had to bow out and return to their rooms as dinner progressed. While I felt bad for them it did bring laughter because we could see who was not feeling well and would watch how long they were trying to stick it out. When another would leave we would sing Another One Bites The Dust. We are not mean to each other, we just love teasing each other and no one took offense. DD enjoyed another dinner of green apples and other suggestions. The head waiter suggested smelling lemons but that caused her to have to leave the table for a while. Stick with the green apples babe.

Formal night apples.

My travel agent outdid herself when they brought my birthday cake out. I have never had a more beautiful birthday cake in my life. It was 4 layers, filled with strawberries and cream and light as air. The cake was huge, the photos do not do it justice.

Everyone gathered and sang to me and after the song suddenly everyone had noise makers and started blowing! LOL! We all had some cake and there was so much cake several took pieces to their rooms and I shared with our wait team. DD decided she had enough fun and went back to the room, taking our to go cake with her and those of us that were seaworthy headed to the show. I noticed we lost a few more between the dining room and the show though. The show was good and I give a thumbs up to those performers who could dance on those seas. After the show we lost a few more and those left headed to the casino for a bit of gambling. I hit for $100 and turned in for the night.

It was a wonderful birthday and I am so glad I came up with this plan a few years ago. My family, friends and travel agent did a wonderful job of making me feel special.
Next up…..balcony breakfast for 9 and land ahoy!