Sea Day and Home - Days 9 and 10

 We have arrived safely home. 

The cruise is over, sadly. We had to depart the boat earlier today and drive home. 

Créme Brûlée Night 9
Celebrity Reflection
North Atlantic
September 28, 2025

I am combining the final two days of the cruise because Day 10 - debarkation is only a few hours in length.

Day 9 I set a personal record for all of my cruises: I had Créme Brûlée for dessert on all 9 nights! I may have in addition, snuck a piece of Key Lime Pie on the last night as well. I call this a true culinary achievement. I think I am going to learn how to make Créme Brûlée. 

Dawn on Day 9
 Celebrity Reflection, Off the Coast of Cuba
September 28, 2025

For the Sea Day (Day 9) the captain was skirting the newly developed hurricane. And he did a masterful job. I was looking at the weather app and I almost always saw that our position was in the middle of the only open area surrounded by storm. I know, however, that during the night as we drew closer to Fort Lauderdale, we had to traverse a rough part of the storm--not hurricane force, but strong enough to wake us as the ship was buffeted by wind and waves. Fortunately, our arrival in Fort Lauderdale was under mostly clear skies as we sailed out of the edges of the storm.

Lights of Fort Lauderdale
Celebrity Reflection
September 29, 2025

Confined to the ship for the Sea Day, we found some things to do, such as attend a lecture on the possibility of life in the universe and watch the Ravens lose.

Our last dinner concluded with sad good-byes to the servers who treated us so well during our voyage. They were all great. 

I took a video of the tugboats escorting us into Port Everglades this morning.

And it is over, but the memories remain. 

Maybe another birthday cruise will be planned for next year! 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL