DAY SEVENTEEN - AT SEA

Today is Thursday November 6th and the third sailing day since leaving Bora Bora on the way to Pago Pago. I received an email last night from a friend wanting some information about the food and the various restaurants on the ship.. Much of the following will, I hope, interest both those that know the Sun Princess and those that have never cruised on this or any other ship.
Mary and I have got into a certain pattern regarding food and I’m pretty sure most of the other passengers have done the same. I say this because despite the fact that there are over 2000 passengers on board we keep bumping into the same ones each time we go to eat. We have been eating our breakfast in the Horizon Court up on Deck 14. Mainly due to the fact that breakfast is available from 6.30 am and even when on holidays we still get up with the sparrows. The food here is just what you’d expect in any 5 star resort. The staff are very accommodating, the huge dining area spotless and the view are outstanding. The Horizon Court is at the pointy end of the ship and has floor to ceiling glass. Before leaving the Horizon Court I should mention it’s hours of operation. They operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Starting at 4am with hot breakfast Pastries until 6.30 when the buffet breakfast starts through until 11.30am. Then the buffet lunch is available and there is a new theme for this each day. This is available ‘til 3.30pm and for the following 2 hours there are sandwiches & light snack buffet. At 5.50 pm the buffet dinner opens up, runs through ‘till midnight and from then through to 4am one can dine Bistro with an a’ la carte menu. And it all starts again.
We often return here for our lunch, available 11.30am ‘till 3.30pm, but on some occasions we visit Verdi’s Pizza on Deck 8. Here we can choose from about 8 different 12 inch Pizzas. I am only one third through the list and haven’t found one I don’t like yet. Or , we might pop into the Terrace Grill on Deck 14 overlooking the pools. The barbecue lunches here are nothing like the burnt offerings you’ll find in my backyard.
Our evening meal is spent with our dinner companions Deb’ and Vern plus Peter and Evon at the early sitting in the Marquis dining room on deck 5. This is a truly splendid dinning room. The staff are attentive to ones every wish. The atmosphere in the room is exactly what you would expect from a 6 star hotel and the food is delicious. The menu changes each night with new entrees, starters, mains and sweets plus there is about a dozen items labeled - Always Available. There does not appear to be anything the waiting staff won’t accommodate here. For instance a double helping of a certain starter and special vegetables with main - “ no problems” And it happens and all with a smile. Many eat here at breakfast, lunch and dinner just to experience the opulence of it all I’m sure.
The other options for the evening meal is the Steakhouse. This is one of those rare things that are not free on the ship. The 3 course meal here, which I’m told is delicious, cost AU$20 per person. There is another formal dinning room , The Regency, on deck six. This is only open for dinner each night and for afternoon tea each afternoon. and from a quick walk through, looks to be much the same as the Marquis one deck below.
There is of course things like hamburgers, hot dogs and ice cream available in various spots around the main pool area on deck 12 but we haven’t tried any of those so I can’t really comment. And if all of that is not enough there is always room service.
I hope that satisfies your curiosity, Jono. You’ll just have to come aboard some day and try it. I know we will be back.