8 Sailing Away from San Juan

As we returned to the ship for our sailaway, we realized that the Holland America ship Westerdam had arrived after we had gone ashore. As we sailed away from the pier, we had a great view of their ship as well as the tall ship HMS Bounty. Our early departure allowed time for some relaxation by the pool as we also enjoyed the scenery of the Puerto Rico coastline as it faded away. Later that evening, after dinner, we enjoyed the NCL signature event, the "Chocoholic Extravaganza." More chocolate is displayed than any one person can sample, but the view of the buffet is worth the time just to look. And this year, we saw an area for the first time that was designated "No Sugar Added." They might have called the event "Chocolate Decadence." It was awesome, and it was also very good! The food and the service are some of the most memorable aspects of the cruise experience, and this year was no exception. Lobster tails on the first night at sea gave a hint that we were in for a wonderful week of dining. Several restaurants are available to select from throughout the ship, but we loved the panarama views of the ocean in the Seven Seas Dining room, located at the very back of the ship with windows on three sides. It seems we almost always had a "table with a view." It became our favorite, as we ate all of the evening meals in this grand dining room.