We had been discussing this press trip for well over a year, deep into the peak of the pandemic where cruise ships were still requiring masks and proof of vaccine before boarding. I am unvaxxed (and DGAF if you are or not, your body your choice) and thought it odd to not just test everyone before boarding as well as the staff on board at each port. To me that seemed like the best way to screen folks – and still does to be honest. So when they lifted all the restrictions, I was ready and raring to go – especially with this very oddly cold Arizona winter!
Before this trip, it had been since 2017 since I was last on a cruise ship where we cruised to Bermuda with Celebrity Cruises. My first ever cruise was with Carnival Cruises to Jamaica, which ironically is part of the Princess Cruises empire but known as the party ship (and true to rumor, that is what I remember about it most)! But after the pandemic hit the party was over and cruise ships really took a beating with multiple Covid breakouts, one hitting very close to home as I know someone locked quarantined in a room for 6 weeks (!!!) when an outbreak happened on board.
First let’s go over the basics: packing and pre-planning for a new era of cruising. If you are leaving from a port far from home, fly in the day before and stay over at a hotel that hopefully has a shuttle to get you to the ship. Wear a mask on the plane so you don’t pick up anybody’s head cold… you don’t want to ruin your vacation before it even starts. And bring hand sanitizer, the 2 ounce size for all those people who never wash their hands after the bathroom. Make sure you pack at least one cold weather outfit for when it gets windy and pack an emergency kit including activated charcoal, motion sickness drugs and/or patches worn behind the ear and one rule I have that I didn’t follow myself, eat a chewable Rolaid each morning to coat your stomach when traveling internationally. I will now be adding Pepto Bismol to the list as well. One thing I did not bring on purpose was allergy pills for once with all that fresh ocean air!
It was hard to fall asleep the night before the flight as usual but I was up and at ’em at the crack of dawn, taking my Lyft to the airport and a pretty smooth flight with my chosen American Airlines. They are usually reliable as is United that my guest chose. Don’t skimp here, especially if you’re trying to fly in the day of… that’s a bad gamble because the ship is setting sail with or without you. But soon I was arriving in Houston, Texas and found my friend fast as we were trying to beat rush hour traffic to Galveston, Texas.
Welcome to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.I must have met like 5 puppies that day all being delivered to their new owners in Houston, Texas.Our Lyft arrived just in time for me to teach an elderly lady in a wheelchair how to order her ride in Houston, Texas.Houston, Texas with a drive by photo out the window.We arrived to our host hotel Harbor House Hotel & Marina in Galveston, Texas.Our room at Harbor House Hotel & Marina in Galveston, Texas. Good thing my friend is 5 feet tall as we had a King sized bed somehow but after all the confusion with checkin, we didn’t care.And the bathroom at Harbor House Hotel & Marina in Galveston, Texas.We didn’t have much time to play after the hotel checkin fiasco but did make sure we stopped at this gem, La King’s Confectionery in Galveston, Texas. I was so tired I don’t even remember where we ate for dinner!The morning views were immaculate in Galveston, Texas.A view to the left from our window in Galveston, Texas.We hightailed it after continental breakfast into town on foot to grab some last minute goodies in Galveston, Texas.Architectural gems abound and this adorable coffee shop in Galveston, Texas.Murals everywhere in Galveston, Texas.It was nice to see some grand churches in Galveston, Texas.I would live here in Galveston, Texas.Just amazing gothic style in Galveston, Texas.Gotta love the Coca Cola building in Galveston, Texas. After we secured the goods (I forgot my selfie light, good for food shots but the one I bought there was like a disco light colors so now I have a weird souvenir), we checked out and walked over at 11 a.m. sharp to secure our place in line. We could have taken the hotel shuttle but wanted the early checkin for maximum fun time. We were some of the first to arrive and it was a super speedy check in process. Soon we were on the boat! And for me, I had a lot of things to get squared away with guest services and reservations as well as having the ship pros connect our wifi through the app to our phones. There’s a lot of settings to manipulate in this process! But soon we were running around the ship exploring like kids in a candy store.One of the first things we saw on Princess Cruises, a pool!It was nice to see this pool looking so pristine with Princess Cruises.We had our room number and went straight away after double checking with the spa and excursions, we were good to go with Princess Cruises.The smart technology is pretty amazing, they know exactly where you are at all times because of the medallion around your neck – or upgrade for a fee to a bracelet.Our beds which can combine into one bed with Princess Cruises were very comfortable however if you’re over 6 foot tall, a bit small.A warm welcome with one of my favorite champagnes from Princess Cruises!The closet right outside the bathroom with Princess Cruises had a safe, shelves, hangers and robes with lots of room to hang things.Our sweet steward Victor who got the best tip at the end of the cruise, about 6 bottles of wine and some cash with Princess Cruises.Cassie Hepler toasts to a smooth sailing with Princess Cruises with her favorite champagne, Veuve Clicquot.And after our luggage arrived, we got unpacked and organized and soon set sail with Princess Cruises. You can see our hotel here!Goodbye Galveston, Texas with Princess Cruises and one of my best friends.Our ship was yelling to the other ship as we all set sail! People were hype.Soon we were adrift in the ocean and this little guy was by our side with Princess Cruises.Nothing better than seeing ocean views for days with Princess Cruises.Princess Cruises upgraded us to club class dining which was private and more fancy for all of our meals if we wanted.
The theme for my week with Princess Cruises – bubbles!Shrimp to start with Princess Cruises.My vegetarian friend enjoyed Princess Cruises food as well.Ceviche to start with Princess Cruises.Mahi mahi was flaky and tasty with Princess Cruises.
Since it was Valentine’s Day week, the Princess Love Boat theme was upon us with Princess Cruises.My guest loved the cheesecake at Princess Cruises.We got the most stunning sunset on our balcony with Princess Cruises. I can never cruise again without a balcony!Depending on my Nikon settings, the sky was different shades with Princess Cruises. Counting down the sun beyond the water was fun.Feeling relaxed and cozy on our day at sea with Princess Cruises.We poked around the ship and joined an art auction as my friend was obsessed over the Star Wars paintings with Princess Cruises.Listening to these wonderful violinists never got old with Princess Cruises as we hit up the 24/7 International Cafe frequently.We also really enjoyed comedian Carl Strong, he had the whole place laughing with Princess Cruises. They do offer plenty of fun for those days at sea!The following night we got gussied up for a fancy dinner at Sabantini’s with Princess Cruises.Fine dining at Sabatini’s was an extra fee per reservation with Princess Cruises.The interior design was lovely with Princess Cruises.Fine dining for the whole family with Princess Cruises.My guest was in heaven with unlimited pots of tea with Princess Cruises.Mozzarrella balls with rice to start with Princess Cruises.
Champagne and limoncello, two of my favorite things in life that mixed together is like sweet bubbly lemons with Princess Cruises.The biggest ball of burrata cheese ever was so good with Princess Cruises!A meaty plate for me with Princess Cruises.Lobster ravioli with Princess Cruises was divine.My guest tried this flavorful pasta with Princess Cruises.Filet mignon was so decadent with Princess Cruises and huge, I couldn’t finish it sadly. I certainly tried though!Eggplant parm was the leaning tower of Pizza here with Princess Cruises.
One of our favorite waitresses was more petite than my friend for once with Princess Cruises.For dessert, a chocolate martini and mocktail for my guest with Princess Cruises.Chocolate and more chocolate is heavenly for me with Princess Cruises. My guest had berries but we found her more dessert later.We were able to catch the end of a show on Princess Cruises with a packed crowd!This quartet of men singing really was heartfelt in different languages with Princess Cruises.Then we went to 80s night where things got wild – and fun!This guy was busting moves left and right, we couldn’t keep up with him!The best kind of hangover breakfast is a buffet with unlimited everything with Princess Cruises. Bacon heals everything!Even better when you have a great view!The day before the excursions started, we did a thermal spa day at Lotus Spa with Princess Cruises.But first we learned about how your footprint effects your whole spine with Princess Cruises. I walked pretty well and evenly!The lounge at Lotus Spa with Princess Cruises.There were three steam room options, this was the least intense and my favorite with Princess Cruises.My guest soaking up the heated bed tiles like a cat with Princess Cruises.My masseuse who did a 100 minute massage on me with Princess Cruises had small but strong hands.We then hunkered down around dinner time at the private pool which was included with the Lotus Spa with Princess Cruises.We had plans to visit The Sanctuary, a private club after one of our excursions for a wind down afternoon with Princess Cruises.I also enjoyed the random artwork around the ship from around the world with Princess Cruises.It was an early dinner after the sun was setting for our excursion kick off with Princess Cruises.We headed back to Club Class after a refresh and enjoyed this crab salad with Princess Cruises.My guest loved her veggie quiche with Princess Cruises.And that jerk chicken was amazing with Princess Cruises.For dessert, delicious coconut brulee. I don’t think I can even go back now with Princess Cruises.After our second day excursion, we ended the day relaxing back on the ship inside The Sanctuary where they have tea time, drinks and snacks for a fee with Princess Cruises.We moved our seats out of the direct sun as we were getting burnt with Princess Cruises.The very front of the ship looking back with Princess Cruises.We had an epic sunset that night and turned in early for another adventure the next day with Princess Cruises.Unfortunately for me, I got food poisoning the morning of our port stop in Cozumel, Mexico and was tethered to the toilet right after that so this was my view most of the time on the balcony. Thank goodness I was able to open the door for some fresh air although they will look those doors if the ship is rocking!After a full day of still feeling sick and no drugs available to purchase to help, I went to the nurses station and they quarantined me to the room, tested me for Covid (negative) until we left the ship the next morning. So the last 48 hours was not the best experience for me… they did give me drugs which kicked in around 9 p.m. that night. I urged my guest to go have fun and take pics for me. I was bummed as we had another fancy dinner planned and more dancing but alas, not the ending I wanted but shit happens during travel sometimes. This rainbow gave me hope that I was on the mend soon and we left the next morning after everyone else with others who were sick, it was fast and efficient. The flight home I nodded off the whole time and took some pills on the plane and it took a while to heal. Lesson learned, always have your medical kit on hand with the items I suggested! And apparently I was not the only one who got hit with what I whittled down to be Listeria symptoms for me, it seems we were the early pioneers of norovirus hitting the Ruby Princess. My guest did not get sick however she did test positive for Covid and felt symptoms the morning we left the ship to fly home. I still tested negative but that food poisoning knocked me out for a good week and a half after returning home. So the takeaway is, you always travel at your own risk. It’s best to be prepared and always carry your own hand sanitizer and wipes!
