Thursday, October 8, 2009

Day 5--Time to Board the Ruby Princess

A fog covered most of Venice this morning and I find myself getting a little congested again. I think is because of the humidity we are having today. I was almost over the upper respiratory crud I had for the last few weeks, but I am now starting back on the drugs to ward over another bout.


Right on time, our porter showed up and carried all our luggage to our awaiting water taxis to the ship. Soon we find ourselves alongside the Ruby Princess cruise ship about noon and find no lines at the check-in counter and the boarding is just starting with long lines but after they get the hand luggage x-ray machines going we are on the ship in no time since most of us are Princess Elite or Platinum members, but Harry & Judi are delayed 2 hours before they can board. We can already tell Ernie, our cabin steward, is one of the best we have ever had.
After we get a bite to eat we decide to go back into Venice and wonder around some more. We are slowly getting through the different neighborhoods of Venice but still have some we have never visited. On the way back to the ship we stop by the CoOp supermarket for some bottled water and a few more bottles of wine to take back to the ship. We have booked the St Marks after hours tour tonight through the cruise line and have a water taxi back into Venice 4 bridges away from St Marks. We enter the Basilica and are allowed to take a few pictures without flash. Regular tours are not allowed to take any photos inside. We enter the main chapel and are seated in low lighting and after both groups are seated, they slowly start turning up the lights and it is amazing. We get a close look at the golden alter with hundreds of precious stones and then go to the basement to see the crypt which is only open to the special night tours through the cruise line. We have a wonderful time on tour. Back to the ship around 10 pm and wore out, we make a quick trip to the buffet for a late dinner and then to bed.

No comments:

Post a Comment