Back to reality

The day had finally come, it was time to disembark the boat. We were sad to leave. We had an amazing trip. As we said our goodbyes to the boat, we headed to our next adventure. The rain forest (El Yunque) in Puerto Rico. It was breath-taking. And, much to our surprise, it didn't rain while we were there. The national park was filled with tall palm trees and bamboo, luscious leaves and vibrant flowers. The scenery from the lookout tower was amazing. Check out the photos in the blog. We saw some life in the rain forest - a snail. Unfortunately, no parrots or exotic birds.




It was time now to head to the airport, pick up our luggage and head home to the cold weather. We spent the afternoon in the president's lounge relaxing before our flight home. As we sat there and reminisced about our week long adventure, we couldn't help but start planning for our next vacation.





Hope everyone enjoyed reading our blog! Adios!!

Last stop: St. Thomas

Today, as we arrived back into American territory, we had to go through immigration on the boat. It was rather painless and quick, much to our surprise. We decided to go to Magen’s Bay beach as it is rated as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Much to our disappointment, it wasn’t all that special. It was beautiful and the sand was soft, but the water was quite murky and there were some small waves. We later found out that we were not the only ones to have the same beach experience in St. Thomas. The water was rough and murky throughout the island.

We cut our beach stay short and headed into town for some duty free shopping. My favorite activity J We shopped, had lunch at Cuzzin’s and then headed back to the boat to drop off our duty free treasures. We proceeded to the our cable car sky ride to paradise point. After the scary ride (for me) to the top, the view of the island was majestic. It was truly spectacular and awe inspiring. We didn’t want to leave. It “topped off” our entire vacation. The ride down the mountain and back to reality was bitter sweet.

We wish we had more time to spend on each island. They were all so beautiful that we would have loved to explore their many wonders. As the boat sailed off into the sunset, we dined on our last formal dinner, said goodbye to our dinner mates and packed our bags for NJ. Time now to get some sleep before our trip home tomorrow. Even though our cruise may be ending in the morning, our adventure continues as we head to El Yunque (the rain forest in Puerto Rico).

Orient Beach

We learned the secret to getting out early – room service at 8am. This forces us to get up and not sleep in. We were ready and off the boat by 10am. That was a record for us. After a leisurely ride through the Dutch and French side of the island of St. Maarten, we arrived at Orient Beach. Although, the weather was a little cloudy and the water a little rough, we decided to stick it out. The sun eventually came out for a while and we soaked up every minute of it. Kakao Beach (the section of Orient Beach where we were) proved to be an eye full. Adjacent to our beach, there is a nudist beach where clothing is optional. WOW! What a sight!! After a beautiful lunch at the beach club, it was time to go shopping. The prices were definitely less expensive than the other islands. Since we didn’t have much time on the island, we quickly ran through town as we had to be back on the boat by 5pm. We wish we had more time there. We really liked the downtown area of Phillipsburg, St. Maarten. Now as we prepare for our last stop, we are saddened that the cruise is coming to an end. It has been a fabulous vacation!

Ayo

Ayo to A & C (goodbye to Aruba & Curacao), hello open sea. Day 5 was spent sailing across the open sea towards our next stop, St. Maarten. It was a very relaxing day. Mike started the say with a little 3 on 3 pick up game of basketball. I, on the other hand, spent the day going from pool, to hot tub, to my chair. The sun was out all day. Absolutely perfect sea day.

Tonight’s evening attire was formal. But prior to dinner, we went to see the ice skating show; Cool Art, Hot Ice. We sat there in amazement that there was actually an ice skating rink on the boat. If it wasn’t for the rocking of the boat, you’d truly forget. So, after dinner, what’s there to do…..but gamble! Thursday proved to be my lucky day!! I won $170 on the nickel machine. How exciting!!! I quickly cashed my winnings and left the casino.

But that wasn’t the end of the grand evening. The evening was topped off with the GRAND Gala Buffet. Beautiful platters and carvings of fruit, extraordinary desserts, trays of arranged meats and cheeses. The first hour of the buffet if for photo ops, after that at midnight, the doors swing open for another! Now that our bellies are full (again), it’s time for some rest in anticipation of St. Maarten. feeding frenzy

Another day at sea

Today we had a day at sea. It started off with me playing basketball during the 3-on-3 pickup time, and Aggie sunning by the pool. She used sunscreen and I didn’t. Let’s just say that one of us looks like tomorrow night’s lobster dinner. It was our last formal night at dinner, and we needed to be dressed early. Before we ate we had tickets to the ice skating show. It was a great night that will soon feature the midnight buffet with ice and food sculptures.

Colorful Curacao

So we’ve seen the A and C of the ABC islands. All that’s left is Bonaire, but we’re saving that piece of paradise for a later date.

Curacao was a beautiful island full of color. The big bridge and the colorful waterfront were gorgeous sights to see when we exited the ship, albeit a little late. After all of the exploring we did in Aruba, we were a little too tired to get a jump on Curacao. So we used the day to shop and pick up some rum.

We explored the shopping district of Curacao and I picked up another painting. We visited linen shops and sampled flavored rums made on the island. We even saw two of the most interesting parts of the local culture; the floating market and the new market.

The floating market is a group of sidewalk stands on the waters edge. Vendors pull up with their wares by boat and keep their excess stock floating behind them. The new market’s name is really in comparison to how old the other markets are. It looks like it was built in the 1970s, and it had a strong fish odor. As we approached I realized that there were very few, if any, tourists in the area. It felt like we were on the Amazing Race looking for a clue, as we went there to se a painter who eventually tried to sell us an overpriced litho.

The island was a lot of fun, but we wish we got to see more of it. We never made it to the beach, but we had a fun day nonetheless.

Bon Bini!

Bon Bini! From the moment we arrived in Aruba, the island spirit was alive and well. No matter what street we were on, a post-card picture could be taken. Aruba lived up to and beyond my expectations.

Aggie and I made some great choices yesterday. We met a man at the smoking lounge (Cuban cigars) who floated the idea of renting a car. He brought up the point that Aruba is only 19 by 6 miles. If people get lost, go in the direction they’re traveling for a few minutes and you’ll arrive at one of the few main roads.

When we docked, we weighed our decision between renting a car and taking a $10 tour of the island. All of the rental places wanted to rent us a jeep, but one guy mentioned a car he had available. We made the deal for the car, and that was just the beginning of the adventure. Lindy, the rental agent, told us to hop in to his jeep and go to the rental office to get the car and sign the paperwork. His office was his house, complete with clothes hanging in the backyard, and chickens squawking. The car we rented was a green Suzuki Balero.

Once we left Lindy’s pad, we headed to California Lighthouse. On the way we passed Eagle Beach and Palm Beach, two of Aruba’s more popular beaches. The best place we saw in that are was an abandoned stretch between the two beaches. I snapped the photo at the top of the blog at this secluded wonderland.

The next stop was the lighthouse, all the way at the western tip of the island. As we approached, goats and lizards, the two wild animals we noticed on the island greeted us. It was a beautiful sight with the blue sky and ocean as a backdrop. There was also a restaurant there. We stopped for a drink and snapped a shot of one of the most beautiful panoramas I can remember.

We then went to Baby Beach, a spot that all the locals recommended. It was on the eastern tip of the island, so we had a 19-mile journey. In a little less than an hour, we found our way into what looks like an area that was popular at one time. When we made our way past the brewery and refinery, we arrived at an amazing beach. The water is waist deep at most, and crystal clear. It was warm, and the sun even made some appearances. Our time at Baby Beach was then cut short by rain, so we then headed back to town.

We then did some shopping before returning to the ship for showers and clean clothes. After we washed up, we headed back to the center of Oranjestad for dinner. We ate at Iguana Joe’s, which was a delicious choice. Good drinks, and great island food choices. We continued our evening at Carlos and Charlie’s, a brother bar to the famous Senor Frog’s chain. Then we headed back to the ship for the midnight buffet, and late-night basketball.

We then left Aruba in style, as we took off our party clothes, hopped into bathing suits and headed to the hot tub.

Aruba was a wonderful destination that I fully recommend to everyone. Nice people who are willing to make deals. Delicious food and great service were also staples of everywhere we ventured. It was, to say the least, a romantic location, full of splendor and surprises.

Day at Sea

With it being so dark in our room, we never know what time it is. We woke up at 9:30 am just in time to hear the announcement that we have a muster drill to attend at 10am. With our life jackets in our hands, we headed to Deck 4 to check out the evacuation route. Drill one….time for breakfast now. I LOVE breakfast. It’s my favorite meal of the day J We sat at a little table by a window in the Windjammer Café as we enjoyed our feast of food and watched the ocean waves in the crystal clear blue Caribbean waters. After breakfast, what’s there to do other than nothing. The afternoon was spent going from the pool, to the hot tub, to ours lounge chairs. Luckily, the weather has been cooperating. Only some passing clouds here and there. We made sure to lather on the sunscreen. The sun in the Caribbean is STRONG! Got a little color. Not too much. We are pacing ourselves for the other islands.



Tonight was also formal night for dinner. We got all dressed up for our captain’s dinner. We had pictures taken too. Can’t wait to see how they come out. They posed us in different positions. It was very comical. Stand this way, turn that way, hold your hand here, hour your hand there, etc. Dinner, as usual was delicious. We also got to meet the other guests sitting at our table. Three other couples – one from NJ, one from Manhattan and one from North Carolina? I didn’t remember. Tomorrow night at dinner, Venetian Feast. I think we are skipping. We’re going to spend the day on the island of ARUBA!!


After dinner, we decided to gamble a little. We played some slots. We came out even. As long as we come out even, it’s fun! We waked around the boat some more. I showed Mike the ice skating rink. We also saw the photos they took of us as we arrived on the boat. We’re still trying to decide if we want to buy them. After sitting in the Connoisseur’s Lounge for a while and talking to some other guests, we were off to the midnight adult Comedy show. Time to say goodnight! In the morning when we awake…it’ll be time for fun & sun in Aruba.

Sea Legs

Day 1 has come & gone andboy was it busy!! We woke up at 3am on Sunday to get ready for the plane. We arrived at the airport at 5:15 am. Everything went rather smoothly. We flew first class....what an experience. See Mike's blog for the entire description. After that flight, we have been spoiled. Coach will never be the same now that we know wht goes on behind that curtain ;)


We arrived at our boat around noon in warm, humid weather. Yup, I was sweating as we waited in line to check in. We spent the entire day on the go. We got onto the boat at around 1pm. we toured the entire vessel even got a chance to play some ping pong and Mike made his first basket on the court. After we got into our room....there was no rest for the weary. We took off for the city of Old San Juan. We walked around town, went to El Morro (the fort), have some Medalla beers and grabbed a quick bite to eat. After a long day out, we After returning to the boat, it was time for dinner. What a magnificent dining room. We are seated in the Strauss dining room. Anything on the menu is available for our dining pleasure. Five different appetizers, 5 different entrees, 4 different types of desserts….we were stuffed. We had a close class with the assistant waitress as she spilled iced tea all over the table but a major disaster was averted. No damage was done. We came out dry. LOL

With dinner done….time to party as we set sail. We ventured out onto the top deck for the bon voyage party. As the boat pulled away from the dock and we watched the island of Puerto Rico getting smaller and smaller, we realized one thing. The water was rough. Mike has officially earned his sea legs. He continues to do so all day and night as the boat rocks back & forth, day & night. It’s usually not that rocky, but the seas are a little rough. The rocky seas did not stop Mike from taking full advantage of the boat. He went out and played basketball at midnight as I passed out in the room. I just couldn’t keep my eyes open any more. Mike finally called it a night when the last clown in the parade passed by as he watched form our Promenade Stateroom window. (we have a window to the mall on the boat). Day one complete, day two (which will be at sea) is on the horizon.

Great first day

The first fun-filled, action packed day is coming to an end. Since we awoke, Aggie and I have been in a whirlwind of new experiences.

The first was our flight. Neither of us had ever flown Elite Class, so it was quite an experience. Legroom to the point that I couldn’t touch the seat in front of me. Open bar. A personal TV with 20 movies to choose from (check out The Departed). Service and comfort like never before. Totally the way flying was meant to be.

San Juan, Puerto Rico is like a slightly dirtier version of Miami – but with European drivers. The scenery is beautiful, and the coastline is prettier than a painting. As we pulled up to the pier, I was able to snap the photo shown with this entry.

We strolled around old San Juan after boarding, and tried some local food (actually it was Mexican food, but they speak Spanish too). I picked up a couple of Cubans (Montecristo) for the smoking lounge, and got my first water color painting of the trip,

Tonight we ate in the main dinner hall, and I had a delicious prime rib. It’s hard to believe that the food is all-inclusive. Johnny Rockets is even available for a $3.95 service charge. I bought the unlimited soda package so we can get one whenever we want, 24 hours a day.

Tonight Aggie is sleeping, and I went to play basketball for an hour and a half. Got back to the room just in time to see the first parade in the promenade (the view from our room is of the promenade).

Time now to choose swimming or sleep. Tough call :-)

Mentally...I'm already on the beach

While Mike has already zipped up his suitcase....I am wrapping things up at work. This is always the case with me, working to the last minute before a vacation. I guess it has become a ritual. Those of you reading this who know me are probably laughing right now ;) Once I know everything is finished at work, I can enjoy my vacation and rest knowing that there won't be any loose ends at work. I have become such a pro packer that it only takes me 15 -20 minutes to get packed. My clothes are all ready to go, just need to zip up MY suitcase now!

We are hoping for good weather on the cruise. We've been checking the 10 day forecast on the islands and it looks cloudy and rainy on most of the islands. I didn't think it rained in the Caribbean?!? We have done our homework and have a general idea of what adventures we will be attempting on each island (we even have back-up plans for rainy day plans).

I am looking forward to flying first class. This will be a first for me. As usual, my 'ritual' is to sleep on the plane....but this time I have to stay up to enjoy every moment of our 'champagne wishes & caviar dreams' flight. Can you imagine....leg room on a plane? Real plates & silverware? Maybe I'm getting my hopes up too high. I'll take the leg room! (and the bag of pretzels) Those have become luxury items now on planes.

Check out our boat on the Royal Caribbean website - Adventurer of the Seas. It's amazing! We'll be sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico (the shining star of the sea) to Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Can't wait to send more updates on our trip!

Welcome to our Holiday

With a zip of the suitcase, I am now done packing for the trip to the Caribbean. Aggie is also close to packed and tomorrow we'll meet up in anticipation of our early Sunday morning flight.

But we'll be traveling first class, so we need to be rested and ready for the champagne. (Boy will I be disappointed with pretzels and soda.) This means very little Eagles game for me. :-(

This is just the first of many entries we hope to make from the stateroom on Royal Caribbean's Adventures of the Sea ship.