Spring 2023 – Day 1

The night before we left we were concerned about all of the flight cancellations because of the weather.  Then that night our plane came in from Atlanta so we were hopeful that the flight would go.

When we arrived at the airport, everything was on schedule.

The only problem was when we got to the gate, 5 minutes before boarding, the gate agent informed that there was going to be a delay as much as ½ hour because the plane refueler had overslept and was on his way from his home to fill the plane up!!  They rebooked us on a later flight in case we didn’t make our scheduled flight.

They decided to board the plane while waiting for him and the good news was that we took off right on time and arrived in Atlanta even a few minutes early.

We had time to go to the Delta Sky Lounge for a quick breakfast and then boarded the plane to Los Angeles, a 5 hour flight.

In Los Angeles, we took an Uber to Long Beach, about a 45-minute drive.

We are staying at the Marriott Residence Inn and they upgraded us to a very nice 1 bedroom suite on the 8^th floor overlooking the marina.  Two nice big rooms with a great view.

We unpacked and Ed did some work and finally we went to dinner early.

Dinner was at a nice seafood restaurant, a 5 minute walk and it was very good.  Sorry, we forgot to take any pictures.

Then we went back to the hotel as it was cold and windy out and we watched the University of Illinois defeat 20the ranked Northwestern by only a couple of points after being down by as many as 18 points.

Almost everyone who is reading this has some kind of extreme weather and Long Beach is no exception. 

We were hoping for great weather and instead it is 45 – 50, cold, windy and a chance of rain for the next couple of day.

This nice thing is that we are on a vacation and going on a cruise.

We are posting bigger pictures - hope you like them

Night for now.

                                                        Becker would like to go also!

                                                        In the Atlanta Delta Sky Lounge

                                                    The view from our toom

                                                            Going out for dinner

                          The Queen Mary just down from the hotel.  It is closed for renovations

                                      Our room at the Residence Inn, Long Beach Downtown

  

New Years 2023 Videos - Celebrity Apex

 

                                                A quick shower and a beautiful rainbow

                                                    The rock show on the main stage

                                                            Breakfast on the Apex

                                                    Jessie Hamilton Jr in the showroom

New Year’s 2023 – Day 10

This is our last day of the cruise and the morning was spent at sea.

At noon we landed in Nassau and 90% of the people got off the ship.

Since we have been here so many times and have seen everything, we decided to stay on the ship and simply relax and sit in the sun.

Of course, at 1:30pm, went to the Oceanview Café as it our custom and had lunch with our friends and sat around and talked for a bit.

Then it was back to the room to pack – ugh!!

After packing we cleaned up and went out on the ship to people watch and listen to music.

The show tonight was a cast production number called Rockumentary which was a fast-paced concert reliving decade after decade of rock music and it was very good. We have seen it before and it was certainly worth seeing again.

As usual, after the show was dinner at 8:30pm and we all had fun talking about the cruise and our future cruises together.

Then finally we went to the casino where Ed won and Barb lost a little.

As we were saying our goodbyes to the casino management staff, a person from Mexico who we had played with on an entire cruise pre-covid came over to say hi. He had seen us from across the tables and recognized us. What fun.

This is our list night on the ship and we will be home.

Currently we are leaving the ship at 7:30am, the flight to Atlanta is at 9:30am. Then we fly home leaving Atlanta at 2:02pm and arriving at the airport at 2:50pm

Everyone is well and it has been a fun cruise but now we are ready to come home.

Thanks for following along with our journey.

Nite




 

                                                                  Pool side on the top deck





                                 

                                                   We did get a tan!!
        

                      
 

                                          Craig the Casino Manager - our third trip with him.

 

                                                            Our friend from Mexico

 

                       Galvin the Assistant Casino Manager - our third trip with him also.

                                                                  Going out for the last evening

 

                                 Irinqnka - we last cruised with her in 2018 and she is a Casino Supervisor

                            

New Year’s 2023 – Day 9

New Year’s 2023 – Day 9

It was our second to last day of the cruise and today we are at sea all day.

We reserved deck chairs for us and Jeff and Vera early and it was a good thing because the decks were very busy.

It sprinkled on us for just a minute and for the most part it was a beautiful sunny day with a few clouds. It was also raining in the distance and we saw a wonderful rainbow that lasted for a long time. We could see the rainbow looking like it was over the ship from the sea on each side.

Of course, at 1:30pm, we to the Oceanview Café as it our custom and had lunch with our friends and sat around and talked for a bit.

We then went to the casino to play in the slot tournament. Barb didn’t quality and Ed was in it until the last round when he was bumped out; however, our friend John did make it to the finals and he came in third. That was no good as they only paid 2 places!! But it was fun yelling and cheering on each other.

We went down early and played a session with our friends and Ed won and Barb lost a little.

Tonight, is the second evening chic night and we sat in the atrium watching all the people until it was time to go to dinner. We did not first go to the show as we had seen the pianist/singer before.

The dinner was very good and Barb was surprised with a birthday cake from the ship and of course the waiters singing happy birthday. She was surprised.

Then we went to the theater to see the late-night comedy show of the female comedian that we heard on the first night of the cruise. She was really very funny,

Then finally at 11:30am we went to the casino where Ed won and Barb did not play.

We set the clocks back one hour tonight so that will help with the sleep.

After tonight, one more night and we will be home.

Miss everyone – Nite.




The rainbow which was a total one





Vera giving Barb her present





Out for the afternoon





Waiting for the slot tournament to begin





Going out for the evening





One great hand





The staff celebratng Barbs birthday





and of course the birthday cake

New Year’s 2023 – Day 8

We had docked at the island of Tortola when we woke up. Once again it is forecast to be clear and in the 80’s.

This is a beautiful island very popular with sailboats and yachts and a great island to snorkel which we have done before.

Today, we just walked into town to look around and not really finding anywhere or anyghing of interest, we walked down to the waterfront in town.

Lots and lots of sailboats were tied up on the many piers in the harbor.

After walking around for a couple of hours, we went back to the ship and up on the deck to be in the sun.

We met everyone at 1:45pm on the back of the ship and spend a couple hours with them just relaxing.

The entertainment tonight a production show that we had seen before called The Tree of Life and since we had seen it several times and didn’t really like it so we skipped it and instead went the casino early where Ed broke even and Barb lost a little.

Then it was time to eat and we had an enjoyable dinner with our friends before going to a show in the entertainment venue called The Club which was smaller and more intimate. The show there tonight was the singer from a few nights ago, Jessie Hamilton Jr who was very, very good.

Then it was back to the casino, Ed won and Barb lost a little

Tomorrow is our last day at sea and it promises to be a very relaxing day.

It is also Barb’s birthday.

Nite and we will be home soon.


Going walking in Tortola





Dozens and dozens of yachts like this and bigger





The inside swimming pool








Time for an evening of music, eating and gambling - life is good!!

New Year’s 2023 – Day 7

Today is the island of St. Martin, which actually has two sides, the Dutch side and the French side.

The port is on the Dutch side and after we got off the ship we walked through the shops at the port and boarded a shuttle for the short 15-minute ride to the French side.

On the French side is one of our favorite beaches, Orient Beach and we stayed there until a little past Noon and that was all the sun we could take – it was very hot and about 82 degrees.

We met Jeff and Vera at 1:45pm on the back of the ship and spend a couple hours with them just relaxing.

The entertainment tonight were three singers and they were very good.

Then it was time to eat and we had an enjoyable dinner with our friends before going to the casino.

At the casino, Ed had another great win and Barb lost a little.

Tomorrow is the island of Tortola.

Night from somewhere on the ocean.





Ready to go to the Beach




Looking at the back of the ship




Two mega yachts parked next to our ship - both 100 Million ships




A windjammer type cruise ship parked close by




Going out for the evening.




A very nice win at blackjack tonight

 

New Year’s 2023 – Day 6

We awoke to another beautiful day and in the port of St. Thomas.

The dock for Celebrity cruises is a short ride from the main part of the city and all of the dozens and dozens of shops.

In addition, at the port has a shopping area that was made for the cruise industry.

After browsing through the shopping area next to the ship we took the shuttle to the main part and walked around.

Barb had broken two chains and so we were able to find nice replacements. The gold chain that was found was cheaper than having the broken chain repaired in Bloomington!

After shopping we took a shuttle back to the ship where we laid our in the sun until it was time for lunch at 1:30pm. All of our friends were back on the ship and we sat just talking until 4:00pm – what fun reliving past cruises and memories we each had.

The entertainment tonight was a singer and he was amazing and had the crowd on their feet several times.

Then it was time to eat and we had an enjoyable dinner before going to the casino.

At the casino, Ed won nicely and Barb lost a little.

That’s it for our day/night in St. Thomas and tomorrow we dock at St. Martins and go to the beach.


Leaving for the day





A still walker as part of the entertainers at the port





Just sunning its self by the port





More Iguanas





Barb eating Oxtail for lunch





Time to enjoy the evening