We did much better on the trivia game then the TV tunes one – we actually knew some of the questions. One thing that happened during the trivia game was that Zoe, the crew member who was running the game all of a sudden looked really ill and quickly walked out of the room – Meg another crew member in the room picked up where Zoe left off and finished the game.
There are also the big Princess product sale that they do everyone week. Normally these sales have a few good deals and then the rest is just them trying to push products. Well since this was the last Alaskan cruise of the season, and the last one before dry dock, they were really trying to get rid of everything. I got the cutest black polo shirt for $5 – which I totally love! I also got a cute blue purse. It was lots of fun.
After shopping, Shan and I went to get lunch and then back to the room for a nap. I was so tired by this point, it had been a long week and I had not gotten much sleep the night before. I felt much better after a rest and then it was time to start packing – it was so sad, I could not believe our week was almost over and that we soon had to go home. As we were packing we took some pictures of the room.
Here is the number of our room and our names
Here is the closet and shelves, Shannon is already packed at this point and I am working on it. 
This is the power cord – there is only one plug in the whole cabin so we were advised to bring a power cord – as you can see, it got a lot of use! 
This is the bathroom – it was pretty small – the shower was really small – I flooded the floor almost every time I shaved my legs. 
This is the desk/vanity/tv area. 
And here are the beds – the room is small, but it was fine for the small amount of time we spent in there. 
Over the course of the week Shannon and I had gotten our pictures taken a ton by the ships photographers. In fact, one of the times I pretty much, in avertedly flashed the whole atrium when the photographer had me lay on the floor in my blue dress. You could see right down my dress. While it was pretty funny at the time, I did not find it very funny that every time I walked by the walls where the pictures were displayed that picture was out front –it was so embarrassing. I would put it in the back or middle of the pile of pictures, but someone would always put it back on top…. Anyway, Shannon and I had a stack, a really big stack of pictures that we had taken over the week and we needed to decide which one or ones we were going to buy. We decided to take the whole stack of pictures into the wheelhouse bar and to start eliminating which one we did not want to buy. Not long after we sat down, this cute old couple sat down with us, one on each side of us to help us with the process. They were not at interfering or overbearing, but would make sweet little comments like, that is not your best picture, or we agree with this one. In the end they were really helpful in our decision on what pictures to buy and it ended up being one of the most endearing moments of the cruise.Shannon and I each purchased two pictures, one the same and one different, this is the one just I bought – this was taken on Tuesday night –
And this is the one we both bought – from the second formal night. 
Around 6 pm the ship docked in Victoria, CA and Shannon and I went up on deck to watch.Here is the welcome building.
There were all these people there to welcome us, dressed up in Victorian clothes – ringing a bell – it was kind of strange. Too bad we did not get any pictures of them. Victoria was the one port we did not plan an excursion for; we just planned on wondering around the city.We got off the ship and had to take our pictures in front of the welcome to Canada sign.
Here is Shannon
And me. 
I have to admit I was a bit nervous about going through Canadian customs, the last time I had entered Canada was in August with one of the cyclists who had some issues at the boarder, while I did not have any issues, I was with this cyclist and flagged while we dealt with the issue. Not knowing if they had put anything in my record, I was slightly apprehensive about crossing for the first time. Thankfully they just waved us through and there were no issues.We then jumped on a bus to take us downtown. After about 10 minutes the bus dropped us off downtown by the Empress Hotel. The Empress Hotel is a famous hotel in Vancouver – we could have had Tea or taken a tour of it, but decided not to, we just took some pictures.
This is the legislator building – very pretty. 
I found this sculpture in town. 
I have to admit I was not overly impressed with Victoria, I know we were there on a Saturday evening, from 6:00 – 11:00 but there was really not much open. A few souvenir ships and some restaurants, but that was it. I wanted to find a Tim Horton’s and take a picture in honor of all the bike tour folks from Canada, since I was only in CA with them for a short time, but I could not find one. I saw several Starbucks, which makes sense since they started on the west coast and Tim Horton’s on the east, but at the time I was surprised and disappointed.There were some funny things that happened in Victoria.
Most notably - there were many pedicabs around trying to solicit everyone’s business. Shan and I were not interested in taking a ride and passed up the many offers. At one point Shannon really had to go to the bathroom. We were standing out on the sidewalk trying to figure out where the closest bathroom was located, since so many of the stores were closed. There was a visitor’s center a couple blocks away, and we thought that might be the closest one. Well, while we were talking a pedicab driver saw us looking around and asked us what we were looking for – we said we were looking for a bathroom and he was like I know where one is, let me take you there. We declined and said we would just head over to the visitor center. The driver was very insistent and told us he knew of a place much closer and to jump in. We reluctantly got in, but since Shannon really had to go, we thought if it was quicker we would do it. So the driver starts going down the main street, then turns down this side street and keeps going and going. Shan and I keep looking at each other, like where are going? We could have been to the visitor’s center by now. The driver finally pulls up in front of a restaurant and says, my friend works here I will clear it so you can use the bathroom. So Shannon and I nervously went in and used the bathroom. We were a little concerned the pedicab driver was going to be waiting for us outside, so we hung around in the restaurant for a while before going back out, thankfully he was gone and we walked back to the main street.
We did find this map painted on a wall.
And then there was this street performer – Darth Vader playing the violin – hmm…. not sure about that, but thought my nephew would like it. 
After wondering around for a bit we were ready to go back to the ship. We took the shuttle bus back and when we got back on the ship it was like we walked into a totally different place. Evidently the workers started getting the ship ready for dry dock a day early. We kind of felt like we were walking into a construction zone – the railings were all covered in paper, the floors covered in plastic, all the boutiques were completely empty or in the process of being emptied, even the cousins of the lounge chairs were being thrown away over the side of the ship (into a dumpster). Excuse us for wanting to finish our cruise. We did not talk any pictures of it, but we should have since I do not think it is something I will see again.Shan and I went up to the food court and grabbed some dinner and then decided to go watch the finals of the Princess Pop Star. It was okay, I think at this point we were both just so tired and sad, our absolutely amazing week was coming to an end and there was nothing we could do about it. The ship was very quiet that night, so we went to bed at a decent time.
For those of you who have never been on a cruise before, you have to put your luggage out the night before so that it can be taken off the ship for you, so there is always some creative packing that last night and planning ahead. So the when we got up the next morning, we had our limited supplies and got ready. Because my flight was at 11:20 am we had a pretty early disembarkation. We were to go to the wheelhouse bar and wait until we were told to go. When we got there, all the furniture had been push into a corner and all piled up, again getting ready for dry dock. We did not have to wait too long and then we got off the ship for the last time. It was so sad walking off the Star Princess- this ship that had been our home for a week, but felt like a life time, this place that had been this oasis and fairy tail and fantasy for our time on it. I still cannot verbalize how at home, at peace, how I was completely me on that ship. I just loved it.
From the ship we had to go through customs and then get our luggage. I had to do some quick rearranging of some of my luggage so I could fly, and then we got on the shuttle bus. As we drove to the airport the women sitting behind us was reading Harry Potter to her kids. Shannon and I talked about the week and about her plans for the day. Due the hurricane her plans had to be all changed and she had an extra day in Seattle. Her plan was to go to Mt. St. Helen. I wanted to stay with her and be there for another day, but I knew it was not feasible.
Shannon came into the airport with me, she had to go get her rental car, and we both weighed our luggage. As we were standing there I started to cry. I did not want to go home. I wanted to stay, even though I knew the ship was being torn apart and would not sail for another 3 weeks, that the crew we got to know were leaving, that all the friends we made over the week were going home, I did not care, I wanted to go back to the Star and continue the dream of the week I had just had. I did not want to return to reality. But I had to. With a big hug and many tears Shannon and I said goodbye and I went to check in for my flight.
My trip home was not ideal, but since I was using frequent flyer miles I could not be too picky. I flew from Seattle to Portland, Portland to Chicago and then Chicago to Grand Rapids. It was going to be a long day of traveling. My flight to Portland was on this little puddle jumper – here are some pictures of it.
The quick flight to Portland was fine, but the airport was really busy. I was hungry, and went to this little sports bar in the airport to eat. It was packed, there were no tables open and a line of people. I ended up sitting with some random guy who was next in line so that I would not take up a whole table by myself. I tried to be friendly, but he just went on and on about how crappy his day was going with how busy the airport was. It ended up being fine since I was too sad to be too friendly. I then got on the plane to Chicago and spent that leg sleeping, reading and crying. Then we landed at O’hare – I am one of these people who actually likes the O’hare airport, in fact it is one of my favorite airports. Yes it is big, but so are many other airports. I know my way around it, have had very few problems with it and it is clean and things are open. At O’hare I made some phone calls, talk to Shannon about her day and then hopped on the quick flight home. My Mom was recovering from surgery and could not drive so Jessica my intern came and picked me up. Poor Jess, she got a non-stop earful the whole way home. I went on and on and on about what an amazing week I had. Next stop was my mom’s which is where my car was and I again I told my Mom about the amazing trip. By this point it was after midnight and I needed to be at work in the morning. So I finished my journey with the drive home and walked into my house. I was home.
Leaving for this trip I had no expectations, I was warn out, tired and ready to be done with the bike tour that had occupied the previous 18 months of my life. Physically, mentally and emotionally I was just done. The only thing I had cared about when leaving for the trip was that I could go some place where no one could find me. This trip ended up being a once in a life time journey that has changed my life forever.
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