New Years 2012 – Day 10

Ready for our last evening

We awoke to a beautiful day, the sun was out, hardly any clouds and there was only a slight breeze.

So there was no choice but to get two deck chairs and stay in the sun which we did until lunch and then more sun until 2pm when our deck chairs were finally in the shade.

We went down to our cabin to clean up and realized that our balcony was directly in the sun – so out on the balcony to catch some very private sun time.

Finally we came in at 3:30pm – hopefully not too much sun and it was wonderful.

As today is our last day, we cleaned up and started to pack as we like to finish packing early so we have the evening free.

Shrimp coctail for dinner

The show in the main showroom was fun because it was parts of several of the shows that we missed.

Dinner was wonderful as usual but sad it would be our last evening meal on this ship – dining has been a fun experience on this ship. There is no question that this has been the best dining experience we have ever had on any ship.

Then it was on to the casino for our final session and we both lost but at least we are both up for the trip.

It is now 1:30am and we are going to get off the ship in only a few hours.


Duck

So, thanks for enjoying our trip with us and thanks for everyone back home who allow us the privilege to travel. We are truly blessed.

LOL from the sea – next stop Miami, AirTran and we should be home Saturday evening.

 

 

 





Steak

New Years 2012 – Day 9

This was to be a relaxing day at sea, sitting in the sun and eating on the deck; however, the weather didn’t corporate as it rained starting at 8:30am and then was cloudy all day.

Lobster Tail for dinner

So our day was planned around activities that were inside.

At noon we had an interesting tour of the showroom and backstage. It is amazing how much goes on behind the scenes and how small a back stage they have. One of the things that we learned is that a lot of the clothes can not be washed and dry cleaning them after every show would mean that these very elaborate costumes would not last very long. What they use is a solution of 1 part cheap vodka and 2 parts water that they spray on the clothes. They said that the alcohol removes the odor better than any product on the market!!

We had lunch again in the Aqua and had a nice lunch sitting with a lady from Canada.

Our table mates, Vera and Jeff from Long Island, New York

Then it was on to the blackjack tournament were Ed did not qualify which was too bad because it was one of the largest payouts of any blackjack tournament that we have ever entered.

We picked up our pictures from yesterday and then met our Casino Host in the Bistro on Five where they have wonderful crêpes. Her name is Kremi and she is from Bulgaria and we had fun talking to her. This is the second cruise we have been on with her.

Then it was time to dress for our second formal night and see the musical production number in the show room. Even though we had seen this production on our last cruise, it was still fun as the music and dancing was from Broadway plays.

Dinner was again a wonderful experience and then it was on to the casino where Barb broke even and Ed did very well.

Ready for the evening

We set the clock back an hour tonight so the extra time will help our sleep.

Tomorrow is our last day and it has been a great cruise.

Night from somewhere on the sea!!

New Years 2012 – Day 8



A clock and water spigot in the main square



We awoke at 10:00am – I think that we needed the sleep. We were at the island of St. Kitts, a very little, but beautiful island.

Today we wanted to do some shopping and then work on our tan.

So, first we were off the ship into the shops that were built right along side the port. After that we went into the original town to go to a shop that we have found some great bargains before. Unfortunately, the shop didn’t yield any bargains for us this time.

We walked back to the ship and were eating lunch in Aqua Spa at 1:00pm.



A local fruit and vegetable market

Then it was time for a couple of hours of sun on the ship’s deck. We have been to the beaches here before and while they are beautiful, there was no sense in spending the money to take a cab when the ship would do just fine today.

Again, the tempteture was in the lower 80’s and simply gorgeous and those are the best words that we can describe the weather and the countries we have been to.

After resting, we watched the ship sail and then walked around. As we left port with another ship in front of us, we passed by the island of Montserrat which has an active volcano!

A cold wash cloth always there when we board

The show was before dinner tonight and was a very entertaining singing impressionist named Karen Grainger and she was quite good.

Dinner was again excellent. This restaurants food and service is the very best we have ever had on any cruise. The problem is that we enjoy eating in the main dining room and meeting a lot of people. But, all in all it is a great experience and we are eating and gambling with a fun couple.

After dinner, of course we all went to the casino and thankfully again we both did well.

A Princess ship with the volcano on Montserrat

Tomorrow is the first of our last two days at sea and then we will be home.

Night for now.

New Years 2012 – Day 7

St. Martens – one of our favorite islands.  It is ½ Dutch and ½ French. 

Heading out to the beach

We woke up to a hard rain storm, but by the time the ship was cleared for arrival, the rain had stopped.

We arrived on the Dutch side where most of the shopping is and spent a little time walking the streets and just looking.

Then we took a taxi to the French side for our favorite beach, Orient Beach.  We stayed there until 2:30pm and then took a taxi back to the ship.  We also talked to a couple from Pontiac, IL who we had met at the beach last year – what a small world.  The nice thing about this beach is that the sand is wonderful, the water is warm and also everyone on the beach is a couple staying there so it is a very adult beach.

We may have gotten a little too much sun – we will see how we are tomorrow.

We showered and rested (beaches are hard work!) and then went to dinner which once again was excellent.

Downtown

Then it was on to the casino where we did really well and called it a night at midnight.

We didn’t do a lot today, but it was a fun day, very relaxing.

Tomorrow is our last island, St. Kitts and we will do some shopping.

The start of Orient Beach - no camers allowed

Leaving Port with two other ships docked

    

New Years 2012 – Day 6

Barb and her scrafs!

Again we slept late after a late night in the casino. 

We worked on our tan from 10:00am until 12:30 when, while the sun was absolutely perfect, a big rain storm off to the side decided to dump on us.  We were close to the elevator so we didn’t get as soaked as the rest of the people and wow did people ever run for cover.

It was time anyway to get cleaned up and have lunch before arriving in San Juan. 



Ed's lunch in the Aqua Spa



We ate lunch this time in the Aqua Spa where the food is healthier.  It was nice for a change but probable not what we would eat every day.

We are on the side that passes by the famous El Moro fort so we sat on our deck watching the arrival at 2:30pm.

We didn’t have anything planned except to walk around, go into some shops of course and eat.

We ate at two different restaurants that are owned by the same family.  Our plan was to order a Mallorca sandwich which consist of Cuban bread, ham and cheese which is then toasted on a flat grill.  When the sandwich is ready, they take it off the grill and pour powered sugar all over it. 



El Moro Fort guarding the harbor

We must have mispronounced the name in the first restaurant because they brought us a flakey warm roll with powered sugar on it.  So we had desert first and we then left and when a block away to the other restaurant and made sure they understood what we wanted.  So, the pictures shows dessert first and then the real Mallorca sandwich next.

Then we bought a couple of purses for Barb, which she said she really, really needed, bought a Christmas ornament and then bought some Kahula to take on board.

Dinner tonight was at our usual time 8:30pm and it was again wonderful.  The quality of food, presentation and service is many times better than the main dinning room.

Then we headed for the casino as it opened just after we sailed from San Juan.  Both of us did just fine so it was another good night in the casino.

The Mallorca sandwich

Tomorrow St. Martens and the beach.

New Years 2012 – Day 5

Well after a really late night last night, we almost missed the morning. But, we were able to make it out on the deck by 11:00am. What a great way to start the New Year!!

Barb collecting her winnings from our Host

It is amazing how easy it is to sleep on a ship. The drapes keep out 99% of the light and you don’t hear anything where are cabin is located. We missed a big rain storm that we passed through about 9am.

We stayed on the deck in absolute perfect 78 degree weather until 1:00pm, ate lunch from the grill on the deck and then came back to the cabin to change.

2:00pm was the slot tournament and we didn’t want to miss it and it was a good thing because both of us qualified for the finals and Barb won it. Cash, a first-place trophy and a shirt were her winnings

One of the pools

Then we walked around and shopped at the gift shop for our usual souvenirs and took some pictures of the ship.

Tonight is our first formal night so we sat downstairs and watched people as they went to the first shift for dinner. Then it was time for us to get ready and meet Jeff and Vera for dinner in the Blu restaurant.

After a great dinner, we all went directly to the casino because we were talking so long at dinner we missed the show in the lounge!

Then it was to the casino where all four of us did really well. Barb played slots and is now ahead for the trip, yes it is only the second day, but we are both ahead.

Our first formal night

Ed, Jeff and Vera played together at a table for two hours and all came out well ahead for the night and the cruise.

It is 1:30am and time for bed. Tomorrow in the afternoon we arrive in San Juan for our first island stop.

Night from the sea.