What a fun time for sure! Everyone arrived promptly at Capital Seafood at Irvine Spectrum. The restaurant had set up a beautiful private room for our group which was absolutely perfect. There were two family style dining tables which seated: Alex Kuncio, Ted Rodriguez, Angie & Lien Burgh, Michele Lovenduski, Bob DiNunzio, JoMary & Michael Murphy, Scott & Liddy Paulsen, Wendy Brown, Kelly Feldman, Stella Hacker and of course Roger Davis and me, Diana!. In addition, our friend Russell Cobb was in town and joined us as a guest.
Roger opened the Luncheon by doing a quick welcome, introduction and spoke about how the orientation luncheon will proceed. Our thanks to Allan and Charles from Capital Seafood who assisted with this luncheon and set-up our menu with a focus of our visiting ports of call countries which included: Assorted Variety of Dim Sum (Hong Kong), Filet Mignon Skewers and Pickled Vegetable (Thailand), Honey Walnut Prawns (Hong Kong), Capital Filet Mignon Cubes (Vietnam) Singapore Shrimp Vermicelli (Singapore), Pea Leaves with Roasted Garlic Sauce (Hong Kong), Sesame Fire Shrimp (Hong Kong), Chef’s Special Fried Rice (China) and Roasted Peking Duck (Beijing) and Mango Pudding was provided complimentary of Roger and Diana. Also, to satisfy the sweet tooth, Stella brought a huge platter of homemade cookies to share with everyone, including the restaurant staff. Thanks Stella!
After we all pigged out on a delicious lunch. Roger once again opened up the orientation and introduced Diana and Alex to facilitate the cruise orientation. Diana highlighted that the group started out with 50 deposited guests and now have 25
as it’s current list. 24 are confirmed to be going and Stella is currently on a wait list in hopes to get on the 16 day cruise. The 32 Day Cruisers are: Roger & Diana, Rocky & Peggy, John & Lucy, Cristin & Mike. The 16 Day Cruisers are: Alex & Ted, Scott & Liddy, Jo Mary & Michael, Michele & Bob, Linda & Bill, Angie, Lien, Wendy, Kelly, Marsha, Patty & Stella.
Diana continued by extending her appreciation for all the guest writers in supporting the Cruise Connection articles in the blog. She also stated that currently the blog has 72 published posting articles and that her last article will be posted on Sunday, April 7th.
Additional topics Diana presented were on distances of Port of Call & Destination City on this cruise, Embarkation Day and to allow plenty of time, Inquiry as to who plan to celebrate their birthday, anniversary on this cruise & to be sure to note this on your on-line My Princess/Cruise Personalizer, as Princess is very good about acknowledging their guests. In closing her presentation, Diana and Roger distributed their “Thank You Gifts” to each cruiser and Diana then did a show and tell of each item in the packet.
The “Thank You Gift” included: an embroidered group Polo Shirt that needs to be brought on the cruise as we will be coordinating a group photo on the ship, a portfolio that Diana recommends you use to compile all your cruise documents and information, a group removable personalized door label you can decorate, then stick and add a pen & post it notes for others to leave a message on your cabin door, a Rummy Card Game Set with instructions & Score Sheets for playing on the ship with others in the group, Name Tag Holder & Leash which can also be used on the ship to hold your ship card while on board, a Starbuck’s Living Earth App card which can be loaded with your port of call destinations (She also showed how the app actually worked on her iPhone , iPad & Roger’s mini iPad) and finally your own personal chopstick to practice using before the trip. Other handy ideas and tips were shared and discussed among the group during lunch and the presentation.
Alex was next. She handed out everyone in attendance their passport which had their
approved China Visa. Also Alex distributed and discussed the Pre-Post Cruise Tour Package and as well as the shuttle arrangements between the airport & hotel as well as discussion on embarkation/debarkation transfers between the hotel & ship for 16 Day Cruisers.
It was brought up by Alex the importance that each cruisers complete the on-line My Princess/Cruise Personalizer information. Alex has offered to print and compile the cruise documentation and luggage tags for everyone as long as they have completed My Princess/Cruise Personalizer.
Alex stated that the majority has been assigned to 2nd seating dining option. She also requested if anyone had a special cruiser that they wanted to sit by for dinner to be sure and notify her as she will be setting this up with the cruise line. Also if you had special dietary needs to also contact her directly so she can assist with this as well.
On the 16 day cruise there will be 3 formal nights which means for 32 day cruise there will be 6 formal nights. Roger shared that Men can go on line and rent tuxedos which is his favorite cruise service. Diana will research this and plan to post a blog article shortly. The group discussed ideas for formalwear as well as appropriate day cruise wear in visiting temples and other sites in port. Alex, stated you can go on line at Princess.com and download a copy of the Cruise Answer Book which was packed with information. Diana also shared that there was already a blog articles posted about My Princess and Cruise Personalizer as well as a great PDF icon under each Ports of Call which was a pamphlet highlighting information about each visiting port. Well worth the time & effort to
print-up for your reference.
The Cruise Orientation went over about 30 minutes from the scheduled time however the event closed with the door prize raffle opportunity. The winners of Roger and Diana’s raffle prizes were: KELLY who won a $30 Amazon Gift Card for usage on RFID security travel essentials or other related items, LIEN also won a $25 Amazon Gift Card, SCOTT who won a $15 iTunes APP Gift Card and MICHAEL won the Door Label Assorted Decoration Kit. Alex’s Innovative Travel Raffle Items were won by: ANGIE, Deluxe Chopstick Set/ Pre-Cruise Packet Holder/Calendar & Tote Bag, JOMARY won the Deluxe Chopstick Set, Postcard Set & Tote Bag and finally STELLA won the Chopstick & Postcard Set.
Everyone left with a full belly, gifts galore, cruise information, acquaintance of fellow cruisers and an enthusiastic spirt of excitement as we all realized how soon our embarkation date was approaching. Thanks to one and all for joining us at this kick-off event and yes we look forward to seeing you on deck!
