- Capacity: 4,370 passengers
- Length: 1,111.9 ft (338.91 m)
- Decks: 18 total decks
- Crew: 1,360
... the world's second largest passenger ship ...
Janice and I spent a week aboard this grand vessel and enjoyed a Christmas Caribbean cruise.
This is the story of our Christmas vacation.
Are We Having Fun Yet?
Originally we had planned to fly down to Miami a day ahead of departure. We had tickets for a flight that had a stop over in Newark, then we'd fly on to Miami on Saturday, December 19th.
The ship was departing Sunday, the 20th, and passenger boarding was between 2pm and 4pm. Arriving a day early would give us a little wiggle room, in case there were travel complications along the way. When you have to make it to a cruise ship, you'd better get there before it leaves ... they don't hold it if you're late.
Mother nature decided to liven things up for us ... a winter snow storm shut down Newark, and our flight was cancelled. Thank goodness Janice, being the experienced traveller she was, had built in that wiggle room. Her resourceful nature would also help us get to where we needed to go ...
Janice arranged for us to take an alternate flight from Montreal, with a stop over in Orlando. The flight was to leave early the NEXT day, and if there were no more wrinkles, we'd make it to the ship before it was to depart.
So... plan B. We hopped a Via train to Montreal on Saturday at lunch time ... we'd enjoy a few hours in Montreal, and make it an early night to catch the flight leaving 8am Sunday morning.
The alarm went off at 5am Sunday morning. We were scheduled to arrive in Miami at 3:24pm ... giving us half an hour to get our luggage and hop a cab to the port before 4pm ... it would be close ...
The winter storm had thrown us a curve ball, but we were going to keep our eyes on the prize and do everything we could to make it to the port of Miami by 4pm ... we were going to be on that cruise and have a wonderful Christmas in the Caribbean. Little did we know that challenges in Orlando would cause us a few headaches.
When travelling, each stop over increases the opportunity for problems. Flights with stop overs are cheaper, but the possibility of your luggage getting misplaced or the flight being over - sold or some other event impeding your progress increase.
As we sat in the terminal in Orlando, looking at the time, seeing that we were so close to our destination we came across another snag. First, too much luggage for the small plane they had for us ... then there were two planes on the tarmac ... then they asked if a couple of passengers would volunteer to travel on a later flight ... then the plane was over - fuelled ... so we were delayed.
We finally were in the air and our our way to Miami. Janice and I were not giving up yet ... we were going to do everything possible to be on that ship.
We landed in Miami and knew there was a Royal Caribbean kiosk at the airport, so we figured we'd try and find them ASAP, and see if we still had a shot to board the ship. Picture Janice and I running through the airport ... hoping to somehow, by some miracle, still make it to the ship before it was to sail. After running for what seemed like ten or fifteen minutes in search of assistance, we came across some Royal Caribbean staff and explained our plight. The young girl contacted a supervisor, who then told us we had 6 minutes to get our luggage ... if we hopped a cab and zipped to the port before 5:20, when the port would close, we'd be be allowed to board.
I ran to the carousel and saw that one of my two bags, and one of Janice's two bags were there. I snatched the bags and rejoined Janice ... but what of our two other bags? Where was half of our luggage? We saw that there was an office near the carousel that had an area roped off with a number of bags near it. Janice took the initiate, disregarded the rope, and started looking for our two missing bags. In the office, the clerk who had been attending to 3 or 4 other disgruntle passengers dropped what she was doing and came out to assist Janice.
We needed to get to the port ASAP, and Janice told the clerk of our problem. The clerk took down basic tracking information about our two pieces of lost luggage, told us to open a claim from the ship, and we took off to find a cab.
We were lucky enough to snag a cab and blast to the port. The nice thing was that there were no lines we had to contend with ... the Royal Caribbean staff here had been contacted by the staff at the airport, and were expecting us. They took our two bags, and we proceeded to register with the departure staff. Upon being issued our sea passes (I D cards that let you on and off the ship and pay for everything on board), we rushed to the gangway to board.
The boarding staff were unplugging their equipment as we approached ... we were directed to the alternate side to board. After they registered our sea passes and we walked on to the ship, a wave of relief blanketed us as we realized that we'd made it. The time was 5:15pm ... we had made it aboard 5 minutes before the port was to close ... JUST MADE IT.
On Our Way
We started the day with Lattes from the promenade and a lovely breakfast at The Windjammer Cafe (one of about a dozen places to eat on board). I enjoyed a big plate of fresh fruit.
We learned a valuable lesson this trip - split up items in your luggage. Put some of your undergarments in each bag, some of your footwear in each bag, etc.
When we arrived yesterday aboard the ship, we stopped by the Guest Services desk, where we met Kevin. He was the officer that took care of passengers who had lost luggage. He was extremely helpful, and took on the responsibility of finding our lost bags, so that we might enjoy our voyage. He gave us some basic missing items and assisted us in replacing other much needed items. He was very helpful, and this was definitely an asset in allowing us to enjoy the cruise.
Since one of the missing items for me included my suit, I had a tuxedo fitting scheduled. Kevin had arrange a complimentary tux rental ... there were two formal nights on the cruise, and I was going to be dressed properly for them. Janice was also given a choice of dresses available.
There was lost luggage meeting, where a room full of people who were in the same boat as us (ha ha), were meeting with Kevin for assistance, reassurance and information.
This first full day on board was a day at sea, as the ship travelled from Miami toward our first port of call - Haiti. We decided to ease into the cruise at an easy pace today, getting our sea legs, and taking a deep breath after the events of yesterday.
Later in the day we went to dinner with Bob & Bobbi from Miami; Abagail & Colin from S. Africa. When we ate in the dining room, we had a regular table along with 2 other couples ...
We were lucky to be seated with 2 couples who were fun, nice and great dinner companions.
I had steak.
After dinner we went to the Platinum Theatre - five stories from orchestra pit to domed ceiling - This state of the art facility features contemporary musical stage productions. We enjoyed a show called "Gallery of Dreams"... it was slick and sparkly, tight and shiny.
We sampled a bit of Caribbean Music at one of the several bars before retiring to our stateroom that evening.
Whoa Nelly
It's Tuesday, December 22nd. This morning we are scheduled to enjoy a walking tour of Labadee Haiti, our first port of call.
The rain this morning ended up having our walking tour cancelled ... but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Shortly after finding out we wouldn't be doing the tour, we decided to explore the island a bit. The weather started to clear up, and we found Nellies Beach ... a wonderful little protected cove where Janice enjoyed a bit of frolicking in the water while I snapped a few pictures.
Later that day I enjoyed some volleyball on the beach, as Janice enjoyed the Caribbean sand and sunshine. We were treated to lunch on the beach, where Janice had ribs. When we returned to the ship we found champagne in our stateroom courtesy of Kevin, and a message on our answering machine - our luggage has been found!
I enjoyed another steak dinner, then Janice and I went to the Platinum Theatre for another stellar musical production - "In The Air" ... a Cirque Du Soleil type show with some very good choreography ... several cool costumes and acrobatics. Janice and I enjoyed some 70s Dancing in the Promenade as the day ended ... Dancin' in the Street.
Ya mon.
It's Wednesday, December 23rd ... and our port of call today is Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
After some wonderful fresh fruit for breakfast, we headed for shore, and an excursion called "The Best of Ocho Rios".
We boarded an air conditioned bus and started the tour with a look at FernGully ... a Jamaican rain forest. The tour continued with a stop over at Ruins by the falls ... our tour guide was very entertaining, with songs and dancing, and information about the area and it's people.
The highlight of the tour was Dunns River Falls. We climbed the falls in the Jamaican sun ... it was awesome. I had a wonderful salad for lunch, and the rest of our luggage arrived. A terrific day all in all.
life is a beach
If this is George Town, Grand Cayman, it must be Thursday, December 24th. No excursions planned for this port ... we are just gonna find a stretch of sand and enjoy the water and the sunshine. At this port there is no dock big enough for a ship of this size, so tenders ferried passengers to and from the ship.
We headed in to town, boarded an air conditioned bus to 7 mile beach, and enjoyed awesome sun, sand & 28 degree sunshine. Later that day we returned to the ship and attended a formal Christmas eve dinner in the dining room. In the evening there was carolling on the promenade and Charo entertained at The Platinum Theatre. (We opted to relax in our stateroom watching Christmas Cartoons on TV, as we knew that the next day had a full slate with an early start.)
vamanos vamanos
After stopping by the ice rink to see Santa, passengers with our excursion were first off the ship, then whisked onto a ferry to take us from our port at Cozumel Mexico, then it was on to a bus and off to visit Tulum ruins (AD 564, I believe.) Our tour guide was with us for the whole day ... he was awesome - knowledgeable and fun. Then it was back on the bus and off to the beach - where we had lunch and enjoyed more sun and sand. We returned to the bus, took the ferry back and went back to the ship. It was a long day, but Tulum was great to see.
our last full day on board
It's boxing day, and a sea day, where the ship is headed back to the port of Miami. By morning we will be docked and we will disembark from the cruise ship. Janice wanted to wind down and relax today & read by the pool. I was off to play volleyball at the sports court. Our team came n second ... that's OK, sliver medals are better than no medals ...
Jan Jan & I hooked up for lunch, then I enjoyed a behind the scenes tour of The Platinum Theatre. Afterwards, we stopped by the photo gallery for a portrait we had taken earlier in the week. We rounded off the day with mini - golf, a walk around the ship, shuffleboard and a final dinner in the dining room with our four new friends. After dinner we went up to the Olive or Twist lounge for a drink. This ship was amazing ... truly a floating city. An enormous hotel on the seas, with something for everyone.
South Beach
Sunday, December 27th ... we said good bye to the ship and headed for our hotel at Biscayne bay in Miami. We were scheduled to fly home early tomorrow, and we had one last day to enjoy the warm sunshine, shorts and sandals. After checking in to the hotel and a lovely lunch by the water, we hopped a bus to South Beach.
We got off the bus and took a walk down Lincoln Rd., enjoying the warmth and architecture, and the buzz of all the people here. There were open markets all down the boulevard and many sidewalk cafes. We stopped at one and had pizza for dinner. Afterwards we strolled down to the beach and enjoyed some southern sand one last time before heading home.
four a. m.
The next morning we flew home. It was an early flight ... but the day`s travel went smoothly, and by late afternoon we would find ourselves back home in the great white north. It was snowing in Ottawa ... a winter wonderland. I couldnt help but smile, knowing I soon will be shovelling snow and wearing my winter clothes again.
It had been a wonderful trip - full of pampering ... sun, sand and water ... no traffic jams, no household chores and wonderful memories. I don`t mind living in Canada ... the Canadian winters really help me appreciate trips to warmer climates.
I look forward to the next adventure ... when ever, or where ever it might be.
; )
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