Do Cruise, You'll Love It

After posting about my great experiences in cruising, I was asked to share some my thoughts and cruise experiences.  I have answered those blog friends but I thought I would share a few photos that show why a picture is worth a thousand words.  I just can't do justice to some things with mere descriptions.  These are a few pictures from various cruises we've taken, over the years.

The first is that water.  That header photo was taken from our balcony out in the Caribbean Ocean, not close to land.  Can you believe how blue that is?

My favorite color though is this Caribbean blue.  The color of the water around the islands.  That water speaks to me.

On a 7 day cruise, in the dining room, the waiters will perform twice.  They usually have choreographed dances.  It is a joy to see 50 or so waiters singing and dancing. I realize, to them, it is part of the job, but to us, it is great fun.

Here's Terry out on our balcony reading.  I really don't go out there much.  It is fun to get up in the morning and walk out to get a look at where you are, but, it is hot and humid in the Caribbean and whimp that I am, I don't want to sit out there. 

Notice that balcony railing.   There is no way a person and just "fall overboard".   So, if a person goes over, there is either foul play or stupidity involved. 

Every night after dinner, when you go back to your cabin, you will find your bed turned down and one of these cute little towel critters on your bed.  I believe it is a cruise requirement to take pictures of them.

This was an Inside cabin.  No window.  We have our towel critter and the programs laid out telling us the itinerary for the next day.  Information about the port and about the events on board the ship.  The bed is not turned down so this must have been when we entered the first day.

This was a church group that were all traveling together.  This was taken on Royal Caribbean's  private Island in the Bahamas, Coco Cay.   They were renewing their wedding vows.  Terry and I gabbed a lounge early so we could watch.  I thought they looked marvelous and what a great idea.

I couldn't post all these photos without sharing this one from our stop in Key West, Florida. 

You don't see a sight like this everyday.

All I Want For Christmas.....

I have to say, before I moved south, this was one of my favorite "new" Christmas songs.  When I was looking at freezing rain, sleet and snow, this sounded very good indeed.

I haven't been to the Caribbean Islands in two years and I am missing the pretty turquoise water. Living on the coast here, is not the same.   I would love to, one day, meet my daughter's and families for a Caribbean Christmas. 

So sit back and enjoy this Christmas song that shows a different view of how to celebrate.

A Mini Vacation in my Mind

I've talked about how much I love the pretty turquoise water of the Caribbean and how we are/were big fans of cruises.  I'm about cruised out, to tell ya the truth.  You've done about 10 or so cruises and I am tired of coming into port to enjoy an island with 3000 plus voyagers  streaming off that ship. 

Cruises are an extremely cheap way to get to see places you may not have been able to fly to separately.  Your transportation, meals and lodging are all there for you.  I'm not saying I wouldn't do it again, because I have been looking at Europe and the Greek Islands.  Like I said, it is a pretty cheap way to see the world. So I thought I would share some of that pretty water with you.

Our last cruise was to the Southern Caribbean and our middle daughter was able yo meet us and share our cabin.  Also, one of my best friend's daughters with her best friend had a cabin near us as well.  I loved sharing the islands with my girls.  The pictures are from that cruise, as well as others.

                                         
                                                              Grand Turk

 This guy came to the beach in a ratty little boat full of papaya and mangoes to sell.

                                                             
                                                                St. Kitts

                                                
                                                                      Barbados

                                                      
                                                       St. Thomas, my favorite Island since our first cruise, until we took the ferry over to St. John, where the cruise ships don't have a port.....It is serene and quiet.  I fell in love with St. John.  ( And it doesn't hurt that it's the island where Kenny Chesney has a home.  Me and and my newly adopted son, Kenny.   So we had to hit one of the bars we've read he frequented.  I don't know if it's true, but we had fun, so he should too.)

                                                                     The Painkiller
                                                          
                                                          

The official cocktail of the British Virgin Islands and one of the most popular mixed drinks in the Caribbean, the painkiller drink recipe is traditionally made with Pusser's Rum.

SERVES 1-2
2-4 oz. of Pusser's Rum
4 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. cream of coconut
1 oz. orange juice
Grated fresh nutmeg
      
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add first four ingredients and stir. Pour into cocktail glasses and top with grated nutmeg.

This is luscious.  I have found any Rum will do.  It's a taste of the Islands.  Join me on a little trip, if only in our minds.