While visiting New Caledonia, we stopped in a fabulous French patisserie taking photos of their fine offerings.

After many nights of staying up rather late dancing and carrying on, last night we wrapped it up before 9:00 pm and headed to our cabin. By 9:45, I was sound asleep, not awakening until my usual 3:00 pm, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Luckily, I was able to fall back to sleep after reading the news on Tom’s phone, which I keep tucked under the pillow for exactly such circumstances.  “They,” say checking digital equipment during the night impedes the ability to return to sleep, but I, like many others, find it does just the opposite. It lulls us back to sleep.

There was nothing, in this case, I wouldn’t have loved in my old life. But, now, they’re only for viewing and drooling.

I’ve been without my own phone for the past few months when mine died, after which we purchased a new phone yet to arrive in the package of supplies we’d sent from our mailing service in Nevada to Tasmania on February 11th.

Of course, we’re tracking the package, but it sits in limbo, not seeming to move along since it cleared customs a month ago. So today, I contacted our mailing service to see if they could somehow track it further.

The visual is breathtaking.

Once the package arrives in Tasmania, Anne, the owner of the last property in Huon Valley, will ship it to us in Sydney/Manly after we’d left her plenty of cash and the address to forward the package. It’s a shame we had to incur additional costs plus the inconvenience for Anne, but there wasn’t another option.

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, the ship is out to sea on the final leg of the cruise heading back to Sydney. Every venue is hopping with activity with plenty of passengers milling about, ordering coffees, teas, and cocktails, while loud chatter permeates the air. But, as always, we’re firmly implanted in our usual spot in Cafe Al Bacio, as we have every morning over these past many days.

Oh, my!  Check out these caramel pies!

Several passengers we’ve met have referred to our familiar spot at one of three tables and chairs for two along the railing as our “office” as we sit here every morning busily preparing the days’ post.

Often, during this period, people stop by to chat. We never mind being interrupted and welcome passersby to grab a chair and join us. Unfortunately, as a result, on a few occasions, we’ve been late in uploading the post by an hour or two.

By the time we approached these cream puffs, I was drooling.

The atmosphere in the cafe is comparable to that which one may find in any fine coffee establishment with the constant hum of conversation, considerable comings, and goings, along with the luscious smells of coffees and sweets wafting through the air.

The bakery case is filled with delectable sugary confections, none of which either of us partakes, me for obvious reasons, and Tom; well, he’s picky when it comes to his choice of sweet treats. 

Even these less decorative sandwich cookies looked excellent.

Nothing in that bakery case ever appeals to him, and yet, there’s no charge for any of the items, all of which are included in the fare. Good thing I can’t eat them. In my old days, I’d have had a heck of a time resisting a few of those each day.

As for today’s activities, we’ll continue to socialize once we’ve uploaded today’s post. At 4:00 pm, by coincidence, we’re invited to the “other” of the two Penthouse Suites by a charming British couple we met in the Elite Club at happy hour a few evenings ago. 

There were numerous savory items in the case, but I easily walked by these without a notable response.

The lovely British couple is hosting “high tea” in their suite at 4:00 pm today, graciously inviting us to attend. We have no doubt this will prove to be one more delightful experience aboard the Celebrity Solstice with more gracious, lovely people we’ve been fortunate to meet along the way.

Tonight’s dress-up night, and again we’ll do our best to dress as well as we can with the clothing we have on hand. Tom will wear his usual white dress shirt and pants while I’ll wear my fast deteriorating black skirt, now becoming somewhat misshapen after too many washings. 

Oh well, the days of dressing “to the nines” are long past, and we make do with what we have on hand. But, then, isn’t that the same for all of us, “making do with what we have?” That’s life. Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, March 10, 2016:

We often stopped at this favorite spot for photos of Mount Taranaki while living in New Plymouth, New Zealand, one year ago.  For more photos, please click here.

Our cabin is comfortable and roomier than on some ships at 194 square feet (18 square meters). The balcony is 54 square feet (5 square meters). We have plenty of storage space for our clothing and supplies when storing our luggage under the bed, leaving ample walking space.

On day 10 of 14 days on a powerful course of antibiotics for Helicobactor Pylori, I’ve finally turned the corner. I can’t say how excited we are that the symptoms are finally abating a little each day. 

When we reviewed past posts and recalled I’d purchased “digestive enzymes” over a year ago while living in New Zealand, I realized this issue escalated over a period of 15 months shortly after I consumed the squid and octopus in Fiji 2015 with no ill effects at the time. 

Later in Bali, I was sickened by eating squid, after which the symptoms further escalated. It took us time to figure this out. Travelers are highly prone to contracting intestinal bacteria.

Adding my nightly two glasses of wine during the 33-night cruise circumventing Australia in November 2016, the symptoms exacerbated to the point where I became ill shortly after the cruise ended while we were living in Penguin, Tasmania, beginning on December 3, 2016.

An alternative view of our cabin. The closet has plenty of hangers, an umbrella, safe and additional storage. Twice daily, our cabin steward delivers ice. In the afternoon, canapes are delivered, which Tom enjoys.

Two factors beyond the medication may have contributed to this recent improvement; eating tiny meals with no starter, no salad, and no cheese plate for dessert and; avoiding ice in my water and beverages, which can irritate the intestinal tract. For now, only warm or room temperature beverages for me. I could jump for joy.
 
In the future, when hopefully all the symptoms are gone, I may be able to eat enough to satisfy my appetite and also have a glass of iced tea from time to time. But, if this is the way I have to eat going forward, I can live with it. 

Perhaps my days of one meal a day are over since, at this time, I can’t eat enough for adequate nutrition in only one meal per day, nor can I feel I’ve had enough to eat. 

View from our balcony before leaving Sydney.

As for drinking wine in the future, it’s totally “off the table,” although my mouth watered last night at dinner when one of our table mates took the first sip of a glass of a fine Pinot Noir. So it goes. Feeling well and healthy is always more important to me than food or wine.

Speaking of cocktails, when we booked this cruise, one of the perks was the Premium Drink Package for two, which allows for upper-end beverages, specialty coffees, and bottled water. For Tom, a died-in-the-wool Courvoisier aficionado, having the opportunity to order “VSOP” was high on his radar.

Once we were situated on the cruise and Tom placed his first drink order, he was told the VSOP was not included in our “Classic Beverage Package.” We were both surprised when we recalled the documents specifically stating we were entitled to the Premium Package.

Luna Park in the Sydney Harbour.

Once back in our cabin, we verified on our computers that our drink package was indeed the Premium Package and contacted the customer service department by phone. Their records showed we had the “Classic” (basic) package. 

We had no choice but to contact Vacations To Go to see if they could help. Our rep, Shanon, contacted Celebrity directly to confirm we were correct in assuming we were entitled to the Premium package based on our documents. 

By this morning, it was resolved, and the Premium package would be honored. Thanks to Shanon for quickly resolving this. It was the first time we’d ever contacted VTG to assist us once we boarded a ship. Any other inequities were easily resolved on our own. 

View of Sydney from the ship.

Another issue that may seem petty to some was the fact there was no sugar-free vanilla syrup available in Cafe al Bacio, which I’d been able to order on all past cruises, enabling me to enjoy a coffee beverage. I’d requested a decaf with sugar-free vanilla syrup and heavy cream (instead of milk). We asked several staff members to no avail…it simply wasn’t on board, and there was nothing they could do.

As many of our loyal members recall from past posts, one of the greatest pleasures we’ve enjoyed on a ship has been the availability of these specialty coffees. Feeling better today, I was longing for a cup.

This morning I noticed the beverage manager standing in the coffee service area and decided to see what he could do. After 40 minutes, the chef made a batch of sugar-free vanilla syrup from scratch using high-quality, alcohol-free vanilla, and I was presented with the perfect Vanilla Macchiato.

Alternate view of the ship, Celebrity Solstice, one of our favorite ships.

This is why we love Celebrity. They are exceptional in satisfying every passenger’s desires and continue to provide me with small exceptional meals and, now, my favorite coffee drink. At this time, I’ll have only one cup each day, providing it doesn’t harm my digestive tract. We’ll see how it goes. How I’ve missed coffee over these past many months!

Need I say, I’m floating only inches from the ceiling. On top of it, I just spent US $129, AU 170 on four items of clothing in one of this ship’s clothing stores; two tops and two somewhat dressy zippered sweatshirts. 

They were having a sale with many items marked at 50% off. So now, I’ll have four long sleeve items to keep me warm, which I’ve been longing for the past many months. With our non-refundable cabin credit of US $375, AU 495, and the gratuities, WiFi (for two), and beverages included in our fare, we’ll lose it if we don’t use the credit at the end of the cruise.

Books with many newer titles are available at no cost in the ship’s library.

I need to convince Tom to spend the remaining US $246, AU 325, on himself. Mr. Hate-to-Shop needs to go on a little spending spree before all the good items are gone, gone, gone.

Today at 2:00 pm, we’ll attend Cruise Critic’s arranged “cabin crawl” when the members tour a number of the more upscale cabins oohing and aahing over the luxurious staterooms. Too much fun!

Have a beautiful day!

Photo from one year ago today, March 3, 2017:

Ellouise almost looked as if she was smiling as she watched her cria’s birth, going as nature intended with the front legs first. We were also relieved and excited about the experience while the owners were away on holiday as we agreed to oversee the births. Wonderful opportunity! Trish and Neal named him “Minnesota” for Tom. An earlier born cria whose birth we oversaw was a female named “Miss Jessica” for me. Each season they use the next letter in the alphabet, and that season they were on “M”‘s. For a video and the balance of these photos, please click here.