Travel day
We flew to Montreal, then rushed to catch our connection to our flight headed for Florida. Aboard the plane I watched a Ryan Reynolds action comedy ... "R I P D".
After landing in Fort Lauderdale, we boarded a taxi to our hotel - The Bahia Mar ... close to beach. It was nice to escape Cold Canada and be in a warmer part of the world. We arrived one day ahead of any cruise ... this gives us a 24 hr buffer in case of travel delays en-route.
Despite being located outside of the Tropics, Fort Lauderdale features a tropical rainforest climate, with little seasonal variation in temperature. Average monthly temperatures are always above 66 °F (18.9 °C). This qualifies the city's climate as a tropical climate. ~Wikipedia
Friday, December 20th
A day in Fort Lauderdale
Right across from our hotel is a restaurant called "All About Food" - They have a decent selection of healthy food options to choose from, so for breakfast today, I had an omelet and some fruit. Back in Canada, ice and snow storms are making the news ... we are glad that we came came down before the bad weather arrived!
We went for a walk down Seabreeze Boulevard and bought some sunglasses ... the warm Florida sunshine is nice, but we need to be careful about too much sun - nothing like a bad sunburn to ruin a vacation ...
The carousel on the Boardwalk (the first Carousel at sea) is handmade. It took 6 weeks to carve the 18 wooden animals on the Carousel, including lions, zebras and giraffes.
Above us on The Boardwalk, we could see people Zip-lining on the ship. On a few of the ships I've been on previously, I've seen a rock climbing wall available for passengers ... this ship has two.
Later that day, we went to The Opus dining room for dinner. We were seated with some lovely folks - Denise and Jeff, and Reno and Sandy who we would get to know over the next week. Our waiter Kevin was helpful with his suggestions concerning appetizers, main courses and desserts. It can be hit and miss with who we might be seated with for cruise dinners ... this time we were fortunate to dine with friendly, intelligent, fun people. The Opus Dining Room has a capacity of 3,056.
Saturday, December 21st
Embarkation aboard the world's largest cruise ship
Today was the day we would make our way to the dock at Port Everglades.
After getting our SeaPass cards, we boarded our ship - The Oasis of The Seas. This Royal Caribbean behemoth holds over 6000 passengers and over 2000 crew members. It is 5 times larger than the Titanic ... 208 feet wide - wider than the wingspan of a Boeing 747.
Once aboard, we explored some of the neighborhoods on board ... including The Royal Promenade, Central Park and The Boardwalk.
Above us on The Boardwalk, we could see people Zip-lining on the ship. On a few of the ships I've been on previously, I've seen a rock climbing wall available for passengers ... this ship has two.
After dinner, we went to the Opal Theatre to see "Hairspray". This huge state of the art theatre has a capacity of 1,380.
Keeping in shape on a cruise like this is no problem ... time for a walk through The Promenade and Central Park. There is an entire deck devoted to sports ... with a court, mini-golf, surfing (FlowRider), rock climbing walls, zip-lining ... not to mention the running track, the gym, the spa and the ice skating rink. I check out the volleyball at the sports court ... not only did I have fun and get some exercise, our team also won medals!
Sunday, December 22nd
At sea
At sea
This morning we headed for breakfast to the Windjammer - one of more than twenty places to eat aboard The Oasis. I enjoy some coffee, fruit and gluten free toast before heading down for some free mimosas at the ship's Aqua Theatre ... a huge, unique diving, swimming, acrobatic theatre where Previous Royal Caribbean passengers have been invited for a little "welcome back" party.
The next things on my to do list include a whirlpool, some music and sunshine on one of the upper decks, where the temperature is in the upper 70's.
For lunch today, I decided to try The Solarium. Veggies, fruit and crepes make a good mid day meal ... I think I may have found the healthiest place to eat on the ship.
On this cruise we only have three ports of call on the itinerary, and that's ok. There's lots to explore aboard the ship on sea days ... much to see and do.
Using the stairs can be a great way to work off some of the wonderful dessert from the night before ...but if you don't have the energy - the Oasis has 24 passenger elevators.
Making healthy food choices during the day can be relatively easy. The Windjammer Buffet, The Opus Dining Room, The Park Cafe, The Solarium Bistro Restaurant all have many healthy options to choose from ... but tonight I find myself sleepless and hungry ... it's later in the evening and those restaurants are closed. My options seem to be limited to pizza, burgers and a few other less healthy choices. I could order room service, but Janice is sleeping and I'd like to let her sleep ... so - I will allow myself to sample a slice of pizza from Sorrento's on The Promenade. They had 4 or 5 different kinds to choose from ... I ask for a slice of a combination. The server behind the counter gives me two slices. I remind him that I only wanted one slice (they are huge slices). He takes one
back.
It can be easy to overeat on the ship ... free - all you can eat pizza (or pretty much anything else). Do you like cupcakes? There's a shop for that ...you can create your own if you like. Shrimp cocktail? Order two or three as appetizers before dinner if you want.
I choose to have some self control ... I will enjoy many things on this voyage, but hope to stay true to myself and the person I want to be.
Dinner in The Opus Dining room is formal this evening ... one of two formal nights on this cruise. Most everyone tonight looks extra spiffy!
Monday, December 23rd
Labadee Haiti
Labadee Haiti
This morning we decided to order room service for our breakfast (mainly fruit, toast and coffee). We are docked at Royal Caribbean's own little private resort at Haiti ... they have developed this area to be a well groomed, safe and a clean Caribbean paradise.
Most of the day wasspent on the beach ... enjoying some of the North Atlantic Ocean, the tropical breeze and the Caribbean sunshine.
They set up a BBQ lunch for us ... I had some Greek salad, rice, a turkey burger and some fruit.
At the center of the ship, the innovative design of
Central Park opens to the sky and features lush tropical grounds
spanning more than the length of a football field. Just off Central Park is The Park Cafe ... salads, sandwiches, soups, pastries and desserts.
This Park is the first ever living park at sea, with 12,175 plants, 62 vine plants, 56 trees and bamboo, some over 24 feet (7.3 meters) in length.
back.
It can be easy to overeat on the ship ... free - all you can eat pizza (or pretty much anything else). Do you like cupcakes? There's a shop for that ...you can create your own if you like. Shrimp cocktail? Order two or three as appetizers before dinner if you want.
I choose to have some self control ... I will enjoy many things on this voyage, but hope to stay true to myself and the person I want to be.
Tuesday, December 24th
Falmouth Jamaica
My morning choices at the dinning room breakfast buffet included figs, melons, peaches, pears, grapes, walnuts, pecans, gluten free toast, gluten free pancakes and coffee.Falmouth Jamaica
After meeting our excursion group at the end of the pier, we boarded a bus for a tour of the Jamaican area. Along the way, we stopped for some free coffee and banana bread at Montego Bay. Our group then could went shopping in the downtown area or visited the beach ... we elected to enjoy some beach time at Montego Bay.
Wednesday, December 25th
Christmas day at sea
Another beautiful sunny warm day in the Caribbean ... So I thought I'd enjoy it on deck 15. The sunshine and whirlpool were enhanced by summery party music playing in the background.
Thursday, December 26th
Tonight in the dining room was our second formal night ... I chose Lobster for my main course.
After dinner we enjoyed some free Champagne on the Grand Promenade, then made our way to The Opal Theater for "Beetle Mania".
Wednesday, December 25th
Christmas day at sea
After breakfast we saw Santa zip line above the Boardwalk ... then it was off to the Opal Theatre to watch him giving gifts to kids aboard the ship.
Another beautiful sunny warm day in the Caribbean ... So I thought I'd enjoy it on deck 15. The sunshine and whirlpool were enhanced by summery party music playing in the background.
At the solarium; Cous cous, beets, shrimp, chick peas, lentils, fruit, nuts, and seeds made a good lunch.
Aboard most large popular cruise ships, there is often a charity walk to raise money for a worthy cause. This cruise it was The Make A Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. I joined today's Walk for Wishes and did a few laps around the jogging track on deck 5. To walk once around the outside of the ship took about 8 minutes ... It takes about two and a half times around to equal a mile (One and a half laps equals one kilometer).
After the walk we went to see "Oasis of Dreams" ... a Cirque-esqe performance by world class athletes in the Aqua theater. Just before the show, they displayed the biographies of the performers on the two big screens - these performers were accomplished, experienced divers, gymnasts and acrobats with amazing talents.
The Aqua Theater diving pool deepest portion is a total of 21 feet in depth(the largest pool at sea), but this theater is much more than a big swimming pool ... the water fountains create amazing dancing water effects and it has sections that transform the pool into a stage ... amazing innovations for cruisers to enjoy some pretty fantastic athletic performances.
The Aqua Theater diving pool deepest portion is a total of 21 feet in depth(the largest pool at sea), but this theater is much more than a big swimming pool ... the water fountains create amazing dancing water effects and it has sections that transform the pool into a stage ... amazing innovations for cruisers to enjoy some pretty fantastic athletic performances.
For dinner in the Opus dining room ... I chose turkey - it was Christmas, after all.
After dinner we played some Mini golf at The Oasis Dunes on Deck 15.
At a height of 18 decks, a weight of 225 gross tons, and a width of 208 feet, the Oasis is longer than 3 football fields end to end. Standing upright at 1,187 feet tall, the ship is 124 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower ... Over 5 times longer than a Boeing 747 Jetliner.Thursday, December 26th
Cozumel, Mexico
The excursion we signed up for today is called "Highlights and Shopping" ... there were several tours to choose from at this Mexican port, but this one sounded like the best fit for us ... not too early in the day, not too high energy and a nice way to sample some local tequila.
We started with a visit to The Discover Mexico Park where, after a video presentation highlighting Mexico's rich cultural heritage, we walked through a garden with many scale reproductions of important Mexican buildings. Then we had an opportunity to sample some Mexican food and we were treated to an amazing performance, the likes of which I have never seen anywhere else.
The Papantla Flyers ... Five men in traditional outfits made their way up a very tall wooden pole that had four long ropes attached at the top of the pole. At the top of the pole was a small wooden square attached by rope where four of the performers sat balanced, as the fifth man made his way to the very top of the pole. The four sitting on the outside began drumming as the fifth man began a dance at the top of the pole.
I could see that four men drumming were each attached by a rope to the pole, but the man at the top of the very tall pole was dancing freely.
After the first song, the fifth performer sang atop the tall pole, while the other men on the square platform began spinning around the pole counter clockwise ... as they did, their ropes began to unwind and they began to drop down to towards the ground. As they all spun around, the ropes unwound and they all kept spinning until they landed on the ground below. It was a pretty amazing performance...
We boarded the bus again and headed through the Mexican countryside. Our tour guide, Barbara, was very knowledgable and told us much about Mexican history, culture, traditions, her Mayan roots and Mexico's political leaders. Our bus driver Tony, then took us a beach, where we could purchase souvenirs and snacks. Janice sampled some coconut water and tested a hammock...
The excursion we signed up for today is called "Highlights and Shopping" ... there were several tours to choose from at this Mexican port, but this one sounded like the best fit for us ... not too early in the day, not too high energy and a nice way to sample some local tequila.
We started with a visit to The Discover Mexico Park where, after a video presentation highlighting Mexico's rich cultural heritage, we walked through a garden with many scale reproductions of important Mexican buildings. Then we had an opportunity to sample some Mexican food and we were treated to an amazing performance, the likes of which I have never seen anywhere else.
The Papantla Flyers ... Five men in traditional outfits made their way up a very tall wooden pole that had four long ropes attached at the top of the pole. At the top of the pole was a small wooden square attached by rope where four of the performers sat balanced, as the fifth man made his way to the very top of the pole. The four sitting on the outside began drumming as the fifth man began a dance at the top of the pole.
I could see that four men drumming were each attached by a rope to the pole, but the man at the top of the very tall pole was dancing freely.
We boarded the bus again and headed through the Mexican countryside. Our tour guide, Barbara, was very knowledgable and told us much about Mexican history, culture, traditions, her Mayan roots and Mexico's political leaders. Our bus driver Tony, then took us a beach, where we could purchase souvenirs and snacks. Janice sampled some coconut water and tested a hammock...
After stopping at the beach for a while, we continued on to a distillery that specialized in producing various kinds of tequila. We were welcomed in, given plastic shot glasses and shown the distilling process. Who knew there were so many different types of tequila? We were given samples, as we learned about how they were made and what properties they each had. After the little tour, they gave us time to browse through the isles of different products ... each shelf had it's own open dispensing bottle that was available for additional taste tests. We ended up bringing home a couple of bottles (purely for medicinal uses).
After returning to the ship, we had a light lunch in Central Park, then it was time for some more volleyball on the sports deck.
After returning to the ship, we had a light lunch in Central Park, then it was time for some more volleyball on the sports deck.
After the volleyball, I wasn't feeling at my best, so I spent the rest of the night taking it easy in bed. One of the great things about cruising on a large ship is that you can be as active or inactive as you choose ... and you will still be pampered. This is like a large floating luxury hotel, where the room service is included for free and if you just want to chill in bed, you can. I watched TV (there are more than a dozen channels to choose from, including 3 or 4 movie channels, news, sports, excursions, daily activities on the ship, various different languages for international travellers).
Friday, December 27th
At sea ... headed back to Port Everglades Florida
We enjoyed another breakfast in the Opus Dining Room ... then Janice went up to the Solarium to find a quiet place to read. I went back to the cabin for more rest ... I was feeling a little weak and had the chills ... since yesterday I have not been myself.
For most of the day, I took it easy in our cabin, but I dragged myself to one thing at noon that I didn't want to miss ... a backstage tour of The Opal Theatre.
This state of the art theatre was incredible, and at this tour we met the lead actors and many of the key people who were responsible for the operation of current production playing - Tony award winning "Hairspray". After a question and answer session, we were brought up on stage, where we could explore the sets, props and backstage of this amazing venue.
This facility was the best of the best according to the actors and technicians ... better than the playhouses on Broadway and after seeing what was involved behind the scenes, I believed it. This state of the art theatre was one of the best in the world, with some of the newest innovative technologies and some of the most talented people producing top notch productions ... here - at sea.
For most of the day, I took it easy in our cabin, but I dragged myself to one thing at noon that I didn't want to miss ... a backstage tour of The Opal Theatre.
This state of the art theatre was incredible, and at this tour we met the lead actors and many of the key people who were responsible for the operation of current production playing - Tony award winning "Hairspray". After a question and answer session, we were brought up on stage, where we could explore the sets, props and backstage of this amazing venue.
This facility was the best of the best according to the actors and technicians ... better than the playhouses on Broadway and after seeing what was involved behind the scenes, I believed it. This state of the art theatre was one of the best in the world, with some of the newest innovative technologies and some of the most talented people producing top notch productions ... here - at sea.
After the tour I went back to the room ... chills, weakness and no appetite -seems like food borne illness has me out of action for a spell. Luckily, it was at the end of our Oasis adventure and with the help of some rest and a little medication, I would be ok.
Early tomorrow morning, we return to Florida and will disembark ... so tonight we packed our suitcases and prepared for a few final hours of warmth before returning to Canada late tomorrow.
The Oasis Of the Seas is so large and carries so many passengers that it required construction of the largest cruise ship terminal in the world, located in Port Everglades / Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The Oasis Of the Seas is so large and carries so many passengers that it required construction of the largest cruise ship terminal in the world, located in Port Everglades / Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Saturday, December 28th
Goodbye Oasis of The Seas ... time to disembark
Goodbye Oasis of The Seas ... time to disembark
We have been very lucky with weather on this trip ... every day has been warm and sunny ... just perfect ... but all good things must come to an end, and today we head back to cold Canada.
By mid morning we had left the ship behind, collected our bags, gone through customs, rented a car and were off ... (our flight was later in the evening, so this was a nice way to enjoy just a few final hours in southern Florida). We drove down and stopped in Coconut Grove to have lunch at a trendy sidewalk cafe - Lulu in the Grove. After lunch, we wandered the neighbourhood, browsing the shops. A little later, we drove over and spent some time at Las Olas Boulevard to do some more window shopping.
On the flight home, I watched "Red 6" ... an adventure comedy with Bruce Willis and John Malkovich. Our plane touched down around midnight ... we collected our bags, went through customs, jumped on a taxi and headed home. Despite the snow and the cold, it would be nice to sleep in my own bed again : )
The world's largest cruise ship was pretty cool.
