changes already!

AH THE EXCITEMENT BEGINS

We both got a notice from Princess that there have been a few major changes beginning Friday. Because of the two severe weather fronts coming into LA, we will have the following changes:

We will still board the ship as planned. However, since the first big storm is scheduled to begin on Friday, we will not sail right away. In fact, the ship will wait for the break between the two fronts. So they predict that we will not sail until 4 am on Sunday morning.

Additionally, we will not go to Honolulu as planned (no Walmart for last minute forgotten items). Instead they have adjusted other ports of call adding Papeete Tahiti (we’ve been there before) and Bora Bora (don’t think we’ve been there before and the order may differ in terms of which one to see first.

This is because the Pacific between here and Honolulu is sometimes rough even if weather is ideal, but with these storms they want to get south of them.

Will keep you posted. We continue to hope we don’t forget something crucial.

HOW DO YOU PACK FOR SUCH A LONG TRIP?

This is one of the most common questions we get. The consumables: tissues, make up, medications, etc. etc. you purchase enough for the total time. Since we have a stop in Ft. Lauderdale a few weeks before the end, we can pick up necessities there if not before in some previous port.

In terms of clothing: the secret is to mix and match. So I have a few standard colors in pants and I rotate tops and jackets to (hopefully) make a different look. The “smart casual” requirement for clothing at dinner becomes a little more challenging but I work on it. The formal wear for men is easy: Ed has a tux from long ago that fits nicely and over time he has accrued 3 cummerbunds with bow ties. I’ve gone to basic black palazzos pants with colorful different tops for the most part. I am taking more shoes this time than I usually do: good walking shoes and a few all-purpose dress sandals.

But having free laundry is the best of all the perks we now have. It is a saving grace. Ed packs underwear for two weeks. I don’t do more than 10 days usually. I carry Dreft detergent as I must wash my medical devices in it so I can do some handwashing if I need to. A portable clothesline and some clothes clips are also very handy for many uses.

We look like we’re setting up a computer lab when we first arrive and laptop, iPhones and iPads require regular charging. I’ll write more later about how we have connectivity on the ship and on shore as that is a full course in itself.

Will keep you posted.