Day 2 - At Sea to our next port

Venice, Italy / At Sea * Friday, June 16, 2006

Enjoy Venice

Venice, long revered as one of the most beautiful cities int he world, lies at the head of the Adriatic Sea in the salt-water Laguna Veneta. Resplendent with graceful palaces and churches, the city is built on 118 small islands and laced with a unique network of canals and bridges. In St. Mark's Square bells chime, violins play, shoppers stroll, lovers embrace, and visitors take it all in over cappuccino in a congenial cafe. Just a turn of the head allows you to admire St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bell Tower, and Clock Tower where giant bronze Moors have struck the hours for five centuries, the old law courts and the old library. Described by Napoleon as the finest drawing room in Europe, the Piazza San Marco is just a prelude to a city whose treasures are too numerous to count.

From the Navigator:
This afternoon Golden Princess will depart from her berth and back out in the Giudecca Channel, swinging bow to starboard off the end of the quay. Then we will set a slow speed through the Guidecca Channel passing various sights of interest such as Piazza San Marco with Doge's Palace which will be highlighted by the Port Lecturer. The transit along the canal towards the pilot station is 12 miles and will take about 2 hours to clear the lagoon. Once the pilot disembarks Golden Princess will set various southeasterly courses through the Northern Adriatic Sea. Croatia will be our portside and Italy on our starboard side. In the early hours of the morning we will pass south of Susac Island setting then an easterly course. Tomorrow morning we will embark our local pilot and make our final approaches towards our berth in Dubrovnik.

The Captain's Gala Cocktail Party
This evening in the Grand Plaza Atrium, Decks 5, 6 and 7. Captain David Calabrese and his Officers cordially invite you for cocktails. The Captain will make his speech at approximately 8:15pm. Music by Golden Princess Musicians.

Daytime activities included 9-hole putting green, paddle tennis, shuffleboard tournaments, digital photography seminars, morning trivia games, movies, cards & games get-togethers, an art auction, a golf chipping challenge, painting your own ceramics, "real live wooden horse racing", high numbers bingo, among many other events.

Martini of the Day: Sour Apple Martini (Absolut Vodka and Pucker Apple Schnapps)