Spellbound on Sun Princess

Another day at sea that begins with room service and then a day spent mostly at the pool. The pool deck has been busy, but we’ve found loungers each time we needed them. The ones that are easily available are the ones one-deck up from the pool. The ones we have today are near the big TV and near a hot tub and stairs. Unfortunately, the crew closes the stairs for the majority of the day so we have to go to the other side to get down to the pool. Another less-than ideal design choice. The stairs are closed for the band who will perform at some point today. 

There is a photography workshop at noon so I go back to the cabin to change. I arrive to the location at 11:45am and wait. I overhear someone ask about the class and join to say that is why I’m here too. The lady looks confused and says to wait a moment while she checks. I sit down. She never mentions anything to me in the fifteen minutes that I sit there, but at noon I ask again. She tells me like I should have already known that it was cancelled. It was a disappointing experience. 

The photography place is next to Alfredo’s so I pivot to try a new restaurant. This is a casual eatery and not included in the standard fare. I wait in line, but the line doesn’t move. I look at the restaurant and all the tables are full and no one looks ready to leave. I decide I don’t want to wait 30 minutes in this line and go to a free option. 

The pool deck has several food stands with options such as pizza, tacos, gyros, hamburgers, hot dogs, and salad. I’ve tried the salad and pizza options before so today I go for the burger. The grill is well run. You order from a server out front and then she hands over a pager. 

I found myself near the bar and want to see what is offered. I don’t see a menu so I wait in line to ask the bartender for the menu. He tells me someone stole it and they are printing more. I say okay, I’ll come back later. Another passenger stops me and tells me the menu has been gone since day 2 so it probably won’t be back later. That’s okay because there are lots of bars. I begin to move upstairs, but my pager goes off so I go to collect my food and return to my lounger. 

After eating, I’m ready for a drink and walk to the bar nearby. They have a menu! There are several options. I order Frose which is Grey Goose Vodka, Whispering Angel Rose Wine, Strawberry, Pear, and Grenadine. I order a mudslide for Brian which is not on the menu and a virgin mango drink for my son which is also not on the menu. My drink was very light and refreshing. It had some sweetness but wasn’t overly sweet. It was a really nice poolside drink. 

Poolside Drinks

I am embarrassed to tell you what we did next. It wasn’t something planned, but something that took place when we happen to be at the pool. The Belly Flop Contest. The crowd thickened around the pool as mostly overweight men lined up to give their bellyflop show. There were three judges who were all women who would give a score. The crowd roared with each flop and after a couple flops I left with my son who couldn’t handle the noise. We rushed away and he complained about the noise level of midship and said he’s done forever with midship noisiness. 

We decompress in the room. My son grabs his iPad and disappears under the bed and I start a movie. Superman! 

I was invited to the Princess Captain’s Circle cocktail party. It is a fancy dress situation so I re-wear my fancy dress. I had debated on wearing a less fancy dress that hadn’t been worn, but I’m glad I went with the fancy dress. Everyone was dressed up. The captain and a few officers each talk and drinks are handed out. The servers walked around with a tray full of random drinks. I eye the glass of Chardonnay, but the lady right before me takes it. So I take the Mai Tai instead. The event takes place in the Dome which is a beautiful space with lots of natural light. The captain jokes about who is still getting lost on the ship. He points out that he and no one on the ship had control over the layout of the ship. One year of sailing and the guests have made it clear that the layout is not working. At least they can joke about it! There are signs by each elevator and a map on the app so we can always find our way, but the navigation is not intuitive. 

Princess Captain's Circle

We’re eating at the buffet tonight because Brian and I have a special evening planned. The buffet is much less crowded for dinner than it is for breakfast. The whole process takes us 30 minutes which is refreshing after 90-minute dinners in the dining room. My son and I have pesto pasta, and my husband has a poke bowl. 

Buffet Dinner

We drop off my son at the kid’s club, and he knows it will be 2-3 hours until we come back. We told the staff upon registering about his special needs. For that reason, we are given a phone where the staff can reach us should a situation arise. My son does great and we don’t get a call. 

We are experiencing Spellbound tonight. It’s a bar experience with a magic show. I want to tell you all the details, but part of the magic is the unexpected. The cover charge is $45 per person plus 18% gratuity on that amount. It includes two drinks which range in price from $13-$15 and the magic show. The experience starts in a small room that gives Haunted Mansion vibes. Here we are given a little introduction and we are told we can’t take photos or videos of the magic show. We’re then walked into the library and drink orders are taken. There are a few “theatrical drinks” which are not included as one of our included drinks. I order one of these. The server delivers a small chest and tells a story about my drink. He had a strong accent and I feel like the story was lost in translation. It takes me awhile to realize he is saying “Houdini” but his pronunciation of the word isn’t what I’d expect. I open my chest and inside are handcuffs and a drink. The drink is really good! The drink was called “Escape from Houdini’s Chest” and consists of Cinnamon and strawberry-infused Eylx, St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur, and Lime. Brian has the 1963 drink which is Bacardi Spiced Rum, Campari, Kahlua, Lime, Pineapple, Almond, and Ginger. We wander around the library looking for magical things. There are 15 magical objects around the area. The group spreads out as we look at all the cool things. I find Brian in this back room with four other ladies. They’re trying to read this poster where the print is reversed. The font is kind of weird and they’re having a hard time. I walk in and look at them and then say, “can’t you read it normally in the mirror?” There is a mirror on the other side of the poster. They all stop, swivel around and break out in laughter. Yes, we can read it in the mirror. It was a funny moment. 

Spellbound

The bell chimes and its magic show time. Our group of maybe 15 people move to the small theater. There are two chairs available in the front and I point to them. Brian says no because he doesn’t want to be called on so we move further back. The opening act and Brian is called on from the back. So much for only being observers! It’s about 25 minutes of illusions and comedy. This show was as much a comedy act as a magic show. I don’t know how he does what he does and it was interesting to watch. Brian really loved it and said it was totally worth the cover charge. 

After the show, we’re back in the bar area. We find different seats and order another round. I try The Artemis in the Moonlight which is a mocktail. It is a true mocktail with non-alcoholic tequila and was very good. It comes in an owl-shaped statue which is by far the best drinkware I’ve ever been served a drink in. It’s brass and heavy and they could easily turn this space into a game of Clue. It was Mrs. White with the Owl Statue. 

Spellbound

A magician is walking around doing magic and he hands out casino vouchers. Mine is for 5 cents. He has handed about 7 of them out and then collects them back. With a twist of his hand, the casino vouchers turn into $100 bills. He hands the money out so we can see they are real. He then re-collects him. I tell him that I can do magic too and start to twist my hand. I must have been convincing because the look of panic on his face was quite real. I stop and hand back the money. I was actually into magic as a kid and had my little act I’d bore my parents with. 

We move to the bar because there is a magician at the bar. I order my last drink which is the Isabella. This drink was Absolut Vodka, Kahlua, Baileys, Butterscotch, and Cream. It was really good and almost a magic act with how quickly I drank it. Brian is surprised when I say. “Ready to go?” The bartender looks up with a face of shock that I finished it so quickly. I shrugged and replied. It was really good. 

We pick up our son from the kid’s camp. He’s been there for 2.5 hours and said it was good. He’s tired and ready to sleep. We are too. I wanted to go back to the Good Spirits bar, but it was time to sleep.