Jul-2019

They say that a trip’s excitement consists of the planning, the trip itself and ultimately, the post vacation discussions reminiscing of the past.  This particular vacation had all 3 stages to the fullest.  As we were vacationing with 2 other couples, we kept an active countdown from several months away. 177 days to be precise!

July 2019, we all drove down in one van to Cape Liberty New Jersey to board our Royal Caribbean cruise ship.  The majestic Anthem of the Seas.

The road trip itself was entertaining with a short stop to eat the long anticipated breakfast Frittata, courtesy of Norma’s dad who is known for the special dish.  As quickly we swallow breakfast, we’re back on track with no time wasted.

As we approach along side the ship, we clearly see the true mammoth scale of this floating city.  Incredible on how buoyancy and water volume displacement can keep 170 thousand tons of steel from sinking.

Boarding was extremely smooth and upon a quick recognizance tour we find ourselves eating.  I guess food and cruise ships go hand in hand.  We meet in Norma’s suite for champagne cheers and our 2019 cruise vacation sets sail.

As with many ships today, the grandiose atrium and countless bars smother the promenade deck for all passengers to enjoy.  This particular ship had a lounge located in the rear called Two70.  The multipurpose lounge not only gave the best view of the ocean with it’s wall to wall windows, but was home of 6 robotic arms waving high definition screens to give the audience an incredible experience.  The windows converted into a gigantic screen displaying anything imaginable. With its 7 million dollar price tag, it definitely captured everyone’s attention.  Audio and video technology at its best!

This particular cruise, we were lucky in obtaining a cabin with a balcony.  Albeit obstructed, we still enjoyed it fully.  Just the possibility of opening the door and resting in open air offered such a fresh and liberating experience.

Next morning, as in every other morning, our routine starts with breakfast.  One may think that a typical breakfast can be quite boring, however when having it on a ship’s rear deck facing endless ripples of churning water, it simply becomes hypnotic.  Add great friends to the mix and it becomes nothing short of perfection.

We continue the routine by lounging around on deck for a few hours by reading and conversing, only to find ourselves in the dining hall for lunch.   Did I mention that cruising and gastronomy come hand in hand.  Top off the lunch with a great Oreo ice cream and we find ourselves on deck gazing at the endless body of water our eyes can see.

After  attending a great emotional musical called “The Gift” we embark on a completely different vibe by watching Spectra Cabaret in the most technologically advanced lounge.

Arriving in Bermuda, we taxi over to horseshoe bay and enjoy a sun filled beach day. As the area was getting crowded by the minute, we had no idea of the chaotic mayhem that was in store for our departure.  The calm and melodically sounds of the waves turned into a sea of people trying to leave with absolute disarray.  Lines that started symmetrically in waiting for taxis became a free for all.  At this point, Norma took matters into her own hands and as a taxi approached, she stood eye to eye with the driver and demanded we embark.  We fled the scene, to say the least, and chalked the event as yet another travel experience.

Entertainment on these cruises are nothing short of Las Vegas high end performances.  The magician act left audiences mesmerized while the “Slippery When Wet” rock band let us to believe we were actually at a Bon Jovi concert.  Despite their slow start, they had everyone in the concert hall dancing on their feet.  Even Anna was alive and kicking past her usual 9pm bedtime.

As St.Marten was our next port of call, I was anxious in seeing both how they have recuperated from their massive disaster from hurricane Irma in 2017 and witnessing a Delta Air Lines flight zip above at Maho beach.  Several other planes landed but spotting the Delta flight from the distance and eyes fixated on his approach, caused shivers down my spine.  As it might be a normal plane for all, it has a personal sentimental value for me since 21 years of my life were spent working for them.

Although many signs of rebuilding were in progress, several other local eateries and stores were open for business.  We spent a few extra hours at the local beach before retreating to our ship.

As luck was on our side, and despite several other cruises bypassing this port of call, we docked in San Juan several hours after a massive protest ended .  The people of San Juan clearly wanted Ricardo Rossello to resign after his profane chats with aides that disparaged political opponents and ordinary Puerto Ricans.  Streets were deserted, store windows were broken and graffiti filled boarded facades.  Several reporters were anchoring the situation on live TV and as one approached both myself and Robert for our comments, we opted to remain neutral. He finally did resign from power after weeks of protests.

That evening the headliner show was featuring an A Cappella band called “Revoiced”.  It was incredible on how the musicians vocalized all sorts of sounds from their mouths without any use of musical instruments.  At times it was as if a 10 piece orchestra was performing.  Not only was their repertoire fantastic, but their delivery and annotations kept the audience fully engaged and entertained.

With cruise ships having all sorts of activities imaginable, this particular ship had its own bumper cars.  After a short wait, we fasten our seat belts and bump anything in our paths.

We also get  a bird’s eye view of both the ocean and the ship’s deck from a suspended hydraulic arm 300 feet above sea level.  While some challenged the adrenaline, Norma faced her fear of heights.

The last port of call was the one we were anxious for as we’ve already visited the others in past cruises.  Labadee, Haiti, was Royal Caribbean’s private island and what a great sunny day to spend on the island beach.  As Norma and Gerry met some friends on the ship, they’ve joined us for more laughter and company.

The walk from the pier to the beach revealed a beautiful island of lush green forest and clear turquoise water.  Located in a horseshoe crescent, very little waves made the water look very pristine and reflected the blue skies.  Few scattered clouds were present to occasionally shade us from the sun’s constant rays. The setting couldn’t have been more relaxing.  Both Anna and I could have swung the whole morning on the gigantic swing set.

The Royal Caribbean staff served a complimentary barbecue lunch and besides the time it took to eat, we all stayed in the water the majority of the day.

As we’re heading back, we notice that a lengthy line has formed as no one was allowed to enter the pier.  We’ve come to realize that an emergency helicopter was landing to transport a passenger who suffered a heart attack.  We haven’t heard the faith of the passenger but such cases are always warm felt.

As Norma and Gerry are both Diamond + members on Royal Caribbean, they have special perks in which they were able to bring a quest to the bridge and galley.  It was a great experience for both Anna and I, as Gerry accompanied me to the Bridge while Norma accompanied Anna to the Galley.

It was amazing in seeing how all the “behind the scenes” work in harmony to ensure passenger safety and ultimate experience.

The bridge tour was very informative and was taken by surprise on how immaculate the area was.  All documents and maps cleanly placed on the center table, every electronic device in symmetrical order and most impressive was the fact that you could have heard a pin drop on how quiet the room was.  I thought I accidentally entered the Spa deck.

It was mentioned earlier that the entertainment on cruises have become so elaborate and their feature show “We Will Rock You” stood true to that.  Not only was the story line brilliant, the whole act, performers and displays kept us entertained the full 2 hours.  We are convinced that the value one gets from cruising is second to none.  From the exquisite dishes, to great entertainment and from friendly staff to impeccably clean environment, cruising seems to be the choice of vacationing.

Jul-2019