62 Days And Counting

(PACIFIC PRINCESS CREST)

We are counting the days down until embarkation.  Just 62 days remaining.  Sent off our request for a 1 year, multiple-entry VISA to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco through a visa service yesterday.  It's our plan to use this visa for both the World Cruise and a return visit to China later next year when we will spend 3 weeks on a land excursion.

Princess has not yet assigned us a stateroom number for the cruise.  We are still in a Guarantee Balcony status.  But we will be happy with any stateroom in any location, since the price for a guarantee was outstanding.  Probably won't know anything more until we get to Fort Lauderdale and embark the ship.

Our friends Leslie and John have graciouly volunteered to pick us up at the airport when we fly down to Florida.  Also, we will be shipping a box to them loaded with all the heavy items for the cruise.  This will really help with the airline luggage weight restrictions!  Thanks Leslie and John!!!!  They will be joining us for a week in Fort Lauderdale just prior to the cruise. 

Princess finally added several overland excursions for the world cruise.  We selected a 4-day through Egypt that visits Safaga, Temple of Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Sound & Light Show at the Karnak Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Queen Hatshepsut's Temple, Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple, Unfinished Obelisk, Felucca Ride on the Nile, Abu Simbel, Cairo, Dinner Cruise on the Nile River,  Egyptian Museum Of Antiquities, The Great Pyramids, and The Sphinx.  This trip will mean that we will travel the full length of Egypt, traveling by motorcoach, airplane, and river boat and will rejoin the Pacific Princess at Port Said.

Captain Announced

Captain John Foster was born in the maritime city of Liverpool, on the banks of the river Mersey, North West coast of England.

He started his seagoing career as an Officer Cadet with Esso Tankers at the age of 16. After completing his cadetship, he joined his first Princess ship - the Royal Princess. He was also assigned to the new build projects of the Dawn Princess, Grand Princess and Island Princess. He gained is Master Mariners certificate in 1996 and has most recently served onboard Sea Princess and Grand Princess.

He still lives in Liverpool and when not at sea, his hobbies include golf and fishing.

Email from Captain Foster:

Holy Land Extension

We have decided to add a Holy Land cruise on the end of the world cruise.  Since we will already be in the area and to keep from having to fly back to Europe, this addition to our itinerary made sense.  Have added tabs at the top of the page that show the itinerary and map.  The cruise is April 30 to May 12, 2011.

Our Cartouches

Been working on our cartouches so we will have some reference/guide when we arrive in Egypt.  We would both like to get one made during our visit.

Cindy's Cartouche

Curt's Cartouche

Final Payment

We just got off the telephone with our travel agent.  Final Payment has been made, so it's now official--we are going on the 2012 World Cruise.  So, we really have to get serious about preparation for this upcoming global adventure.

Previously mentioned getting our visa for China.  We held off on doing this but will submit for the visa after we return from our cruise on the Sapphire Princess in late October.   Should only take about 10 days for the visa to be processed.

Itinerary Change

Princess announced a change to our departure from Fort Lauderdale.  Here is the change.

Please be advised that due to operational considerations, your ship will now
now depart Ft. Lauderdale at 4:00 pm and not 5:00 pm as originally scheduled.
As a result of this change, our flight guidelines have been amended. Passengers
with Princess eZAir will be rescheduled on earlier flights as needed and a new
confirmation will be sent. Passengers with independent air arrangements will
need to reschedule their flights to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale at or prior to
2:30 pm (domestic) and 1:45 pm (international). If you are flying into Miami,
you will need to reschedule your flights to arrive at or prior to 1:30 pm
(domestic) and 12:30 pm (international). Please contact Customer Relations at
1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) if you have any questions regarding air change
fees. The revised itinerary displays in full at the end of this notification
.

Chinese VISA

We will be sending off for our Chinese Visa next week.  Looks like Princess Cruises will be handling all the other visa requirements; however we did get a 10-year visa for India last world cruise.  With just 139 days left prior to boarding the Pacific Princess in Fort Lauderdale, it's time to begin getting serious about pulling everything together for this grand adventure.  From all that we have seen on the Cruise Critic Roll Call thread and the Princess Facebook thread http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=222439144461608 , many friends from last year's world cruise will be returning for another voyage.  Can't say anything yet, but several members of the previous crew are also joining us for the 2012 World Cruise.  So, now it's time to figure out how to keep from over packing!