Our final port call was Nassau, located on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. We were in no hurry to go ashore, since we have visited here before, so we stayed onboard for a leisure morning, with a late morning breakfast on deck overlooking the Atlantis Hotel complex and the bright blue ocean in the distance. The water in the Caribbean is a sparkling blue-green that is one of the most beautiful features of the multiple-island nation.
There were five cruise ships all lined up at adjacent piers located in the heart of downtown Nassau. The Norwegian Sky was located next to our Carnival Fantasy again, like yesterday, and the Norwegian Jewel was another NCL ship in the line-up. We sailed on it a few years ago on one of our Holy Week/Easter cruises. It is a striking picture to see all five ships filling the harbor area so close to the town.
The Nassau Christmas decorations were still placed all over the downtown area, reminding us that, even with the warm temperature, we were still in the post-Christmas winter season. What a contrast to the winter-time back home in Virginia!
We paid a visit to the Nassau Straw Market, a tourist feature for many years, although it has been rebuilt and upgraded several times since our first visit in 1979. This most recent structure has been open only since the Christmas holiday season in mid-December. It replaced a temporary tent structure that had been in use for the past ten years, following a huge fire in 2001. Even that temporary structure had been seriously damaged by Hurricane Irene in August, 2011. The vendors seemed to be pleased to be back in business in the new, very stable masonry structure, which is owned by the Government. It is available to several hundred vendors who crowd into the facility to sell many traditional straw items, in addition to all kinds of other touristy stuff, such as shirts, hats, mugs and many handcraft items.
We returned to the ship to enjoy another beautiful sailaway and the kind of sunsets that can only be enjoyed from the deck of a ship.
The final Sea Day was another cool and breezy day as we made our way up the East Coast toward Charleston. We found a secluded area on a lower deck at the very back of the ship, protected from the wind, where we enjoyed the sun for one last day. It is called the Serenity area, and is designated for adults only. It was a perfect ending to a wonderful winter-time getaway.
After an easy debarkation process, Ruth met us at the Charleston Custom House, adjacent to the pier. After another brief lunchtime visit with her, we headed north to begin our re-entry into the world of normal life. Till next time, thanks for reading along with us!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
3 Ports of Call
The ship provided us a shuttle to downtown Key West, using the Conch Tour Trains that are seen all over Key West. We saw Mile Marker "0" which represents the beginning of the South-to-North Mile Marker system stretching all the way up the East Coast to the Canadian border. The walk around Key West was reminiscent of our drive to this Southernmost US location, during the winter after Cynthia's retirement three years ago. We found a Key Lime Pie shop, enjoyed a frozen lime-aid, and browsed through several of the many tourist shops before returning to the ship for an afternoon time by the pool onboard the ship. The sun and the warm temperature are a welcome change from the cool and breezy sea day sailing south from Charleston.
On Tuesday, we awoke to a dockside view of the harbor at Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. We were docked adjacent to the Norwegian Sky, which we remembered from earlier years on the ships of NCL. We visited the vendor Plaza near the ships, and then returned for another afternoon of swimming and enjoying the Water Park on the back deck of the Fantasy. I climbed to the top of the launching area for the twisting and turning water slide called the Twister. It is cantilevered over the side of the ship, so part of the slide is over the ocean water below. What a thrill! Minimum height is required, but I am glad there is no maximum age limit!
Late afternoons include time for a nap before dinner, then dinner in the Celebration Dining Room, and some type of stage show each night after dinner. So far, the trip has been a wonderfully relaxing vacation time.
On Tuesday, we awoke to a dockside view of the harbor at Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. We were docked adjacent to the Norwegian Sky, which we remembered from earlier years on the ships of NCL. We visited the vendor Plaza near the ships, and then returned for another afternoon of swimming and enjoying the Water Park on the back deck of the Fantasy. I climbed to the top of the launching area for the twisting and turning water slide called the Twister. It is cantilevered over the side of the ship, so part of the slide is over the ocean water below. What a thrill! Minimum height is required, but I am glad there is no maximum age limit!
Late afternoons include time for a nap before dinner, then dinner in the Celebration Dining Room, and some type of stage show each night after dinner. So far, the trip has been a wonderfully relaxing vacation time.
Monday, January 16, 2012
2 Ship Ahoy!
We sailed from Charleston on Saturday and had a very chilly sailaway. Jackets and sweaters were needed outside on deck, but there is nothing quite like the thrill of seeing the ship push away from the pier, and glide smoothly out into the open water. This time, in order to get to open water, the ship had to make its way down the ship channel past some beautiful old waterfront homes, so the scenery was spectacular and new for us, since we have never sailed from this port before. Thanks, Ruth for driving us to the ship.
Sunday was a Sea Day, so there was plenty of time to explore the ship and get acquainted with the location of the variety of restaurants, stores, pools, waterpark, showrooms and lounges that seem to run non-stop all hours of the day and night. Our cabin is located on a lower deck, so we are far away from all the entertainment activity.
The afternoon sun warmed up the outside air enough to relax by the pool. I joined the few hearty souls who braved cool water for a brief swim. Some of them must have been from Canada, since they stayed longer in the water than I did. We were heading south, so most of the day the shoreline of Florida was on the distant horizon, and by late in the day, it had warmed up considerably. The sunset was beautiful, as it almost always is, dropping ever so slowly over the horizon.
The variety show of the evening featured and an energetic troupe of young singers and dancers who walked (and danced) us through several decades of music from the Copacabana, the Cotton Club, the Tropicana, and others we were not as familiar with. The lounge was situated near the front of the ship and stretched the full width of the ship, with huge picture windows on both sides. Of course, at night, there is nothing to see outside anyway.
As we left the dining room, a small group of passengers approached us, and one of the group spoke to me and I recognized her as a person who has been attending our church in Chase City. Carrie Lee Spence and some relatives and friends are traveling together on the cruise, so we had a mini-Chase City Reunion, and, of course, had to capture the moment with some photographs. What a surprise!
We are beginning our Monday with a view of Key West from the upper deck of the ship. We’ll walk ashore and look for the Key Lime Pie Factory, and some of the other local attractions, too. Stay tuned!
Sunday was a Sea Day, so there was plenty of time to explore the ship and get acquainted with the location of the variety of restaurants, stores, pools, waterpark, showrooms and lounges that seem to run non-stop all hours of the day and night. Our cabin is located on a lower deck, so we are far away from all the entertainment activity.
The afternoon sun warmed up the outside air enough to relax by the pool. I joined the few hearty souls who braved cool water for a brief swim. Some of them must have been from Canada, since they stayed longer in the water than I did. We were heading south, so most of the day the shoreline of Florida was on the distant horizon, and by late in the day, it had warmed up considerably. The sunset was beautiful, as it almost always is, dropping ever so slowly over the horizon.
The variety show of the evening featured and an energetic troupe of young singers and dancers who walked (and danced) us through several decades of music from the Copacabana, the Cotton Club, the Tropicana, and others we were not as familiar with. The lounge was situated near the front of the ship and stretched the full width of the ship, with huge picture windows on both sides. Of course, at night, there is nothing to see outside anyway.
As we left the dining room, a small group of passengers approached us, and one of the group spoke to me and I recognized her as a person who has been attending our church in Chase City. Carrie Lee Spence and some relatives and friends are traveling together on the cruise, so we had a mini-Chase City Reunion, and, of course, had to capture the moment with some photographs. What a surprise!
We are beginning our Monday with a view of Key West from the upper deck of the ship. We’ll walk ashore and look for the Key Lime Pie Factory, and some of the other local attractions, too. Stay tuned!
Friday, January 13, 2012
2012 - Off and Running Again
2012 already appears to be another exciting year. We begin our travels with a winter-time cruise from Charleston, SC. As the cold weather finally pays a visit to the East Coast, we will sail away hopefully to a warmer climate for a few days. Port calls will include Key West, Florida and then to Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas.
John's sister Ruth will see us off this year, as we have never sailed from Charleston before. We look forward to a short visit with her prior to our sailaway on Saturday.
Another special treat has been a visit with John's college roommate, Royster Hedgepeth, who recently retired and moved to Wilmington, NC. He and his wife Kathryn provided us with a delightful "coffee break" at their home as we made our way to North Myrtle Beach for a stop-over on our way to Charleston. The years since Wake Forest have been kind to us. I can't believe it has been over 40 years since we have been in contact with each other. Our reunion was occasioned by the fact that our Chase City church is located near Royster's hometown of South Boston, VA, and mutual friends have enabled us to link up again.
John's sister Ruth will see us off this year, as we have never sailed from Charleston before. We look forward to a short visit with her prior to our sailaway on Saturday.
Another special treat has been a visit with John's college roommate, Royster Hedgepeth, who recently retired and moved to Wilmington, NC. He and his wife Kathryn provided us with a delightful "coffee break" at their home as we made our way to North Myrtle Beach for a stop-over on our way to Charleston. The years since Wake Forest have been kind to us. I can't believe it has been over 40 years since we have been in contact with each other. Our reunion was occasioned by the fact that our Chase City church is located near Royster's hometown of South Boston, VA, and mutual friends have enabled us to link up again.
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