Getting back in the saddle, of our bikes, Chris and I took a ride through a local state park and out into Port Salerno yesterday. It was a short ride, only 12 miles, but we had a good time and saw numerous, as in more than five, gopher tortoises along the way. We are careful to not double count the tortoises we see as we pass by them in both directions.
We enjoyed the ride and continued on from the end of our usual stopping point into Port Salerno and along the streets. We had fun and saw shops to which we may soon return for further inspection. It was, as the image suggests, a beautiful day and there were more than a few other bikers out enjoying the weather.
Sunset over the Jupiter Lighthouse Square Grouper, Jupiter, FL January 18, 2023
After the ride we did some projects around the house, but decided to join a friend and head off to the Square Grouper for Happy Hour. It was another delightful afternoon along the banks of the Loxahatchee River and we were able to enjoy sunset as it enveloped the Jupiter Lighthouse.
It was the perfect ending to another enjoyable South Florida January Day.
Well, it happened yesterday. Chris and I returned to our day-to-day routine. Not that the routine is bad, but it is a routine. There was the obligatory morning dog walk followed by a 15+ mile bike ride. Then shopping in the afternoon and later we met friends in Jensen Beach for happy hour and dinner.
Lightning in the Storm Wonder of the Seas, North Atlantic January 9, 2023
It is a good routine, don't get me wrong.
Especially the part about meeting friends in Jensen Beach. That was actually somewhat outside of routine.
But, as Chris pointed out on a couple of occasions during the day, it is not the exciting life we lived on the cruise ship.
At least we did not have to return to work after the cruise. I remember that returning to work after a week of cruise ship life was a lot harder than being able to relax and enjoy the memories while sipping my coffee in the morning while writing my blog.
It is hard to let them go even after they have been completed. The memories, the activity, the entertainment, and the fun linger.
I am going to highlight some of the images and a video that I took during the cruise.
Me in the Flamingos on the Ship Wonder of the Seas January 7, 2023
One of the themes on the ship was flamingos. Flamingos were featured in sculpture, like this, and in many paintings and images. I enjoyed finding them in various places around the ship.
Our Traveling Group in the Pub on the Ship Wonder of the Seas January 7, 2023
A British-style pub became one of the group's hang-outs. We sent time enjoying each other's company and adult beverages while also playing games and relaxing. This image was taken just after the announcement of the impending nuptials. That Patrick and Jen were to be married on Coco Cay, day 3 of the cruise, was a total surprise! It made the cruise all that much more exciting and meaningful.
Chris and I next to the Mustang Wonder of the Seas January 9, 2023
One of the features of the ship was this classic Mustang right on the Promenade Deck. It was fun to look at the vehicle and imagine how it came to be on the ship. I believe it to be a 1966 Mustang Convertible, but I am no expert.
Moon over the North Atlantic Wonder of the Seas January 10, 2023
Sunsets, sunrises, and moon over the ocean. I love those subjects for images and cannot get enough of them. This moonrise was particularly interesting with the clouds. I took it from our balcony, or is it a verandah?
My Favorite Towel Animal Wonder of the Seas January 14, 2023
Who does not love the towel animals that the room stewards provide. I especially like it when they use items from the room to make them even more personal. This was the final towel animal of the trip. I saved this one for the last day and set it on the dresser in the room holding the tip envelope.
And finally, the video I took from the midnight party held on the very first night of the trip. The music was great and the party was fun.
The sad story of this party is that Chris and I did not attend together. I dozed off in the room about 9:30 PM and she went to the party with the rest of our group leaving me to sleep. That was a nice thought, but when I awoke about 11:15 PM, I went to the Promenade Deck in search of her, but did not find her. So I was alone for the opening big celebration of the cruise. In fact it turns out she was less than about 100 feet from me at a table in the pub. I had walked through the pub but did not see them.
1. It is the third of five Mondays in January. And it is a holiday weekend.
2. It is Martin Luther King's birthday holiday today.
Brown Booby Wonder of the Seas, North Atlantic January 10, 2023
3. I enjoyed my cruise. One of the things I like to do is image birds. On this cruise we were blessed with Brown Boobys which flew along the ship and gave me ample opportunities to try and get a good image. I also like images of sunsets and sunrises. I got this unique shot of the sun behind a cloud as the ship was departing Haiti.
Sun from Behind a Cloud Wonder of the Seas, Haiti January 13, 2023
4. It was a rough weekend in the NFL with both the Dolphins and Ravens coming close, but losing with back-up quarterbacks at the helm. Tonight, the Cowboys take the field and attempt to win a playoff game and defeat Tom Brady who is 7-0 against them.
5. When it is time to stop just reporting about Russian missile strikes targeting non-military targets in Ukraine and killing civilians and do something meaningful either with sanctions or direct military action?
6. Today in History.The 18th Amendment to the U.S.Constitution, prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes,” is ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919.
The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for total national abstinence. In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, also known as the Prohibition Amendment, was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
Kitchen Nightmares Wonder of the Seas January 14, 2023
And it is over!
I am back home reviewing the trip and the past two days. It was 39 degrees at the port when we disembarked this morning! I thought this was supposed to be Florida!
Yesterday was a sea day as we cruised back to Port Canaveral from Haiti. The Captain warned us ahead of time that the upper deck would be closed due to high winds. And the winds across the deck averaged 50 mph or more for most of the day. I estimated the sea swells to be between 10-15 feet. Fortunately, the Wonder of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship afloat and we hardly noticed the wind and waves until the nighttime when I believe they became worse.
What to do on a ship where the outside activities are not happening? Go to shows and shop. We did both.
We went to a show called Kitchen Nightmares, loosely done like a TV cooking show with a lot of twists. The two teams, selected from the audience, were tasked with cooking a three course meal in 25 minutes with help from two the ship's chefs. The meals were evaluated, but the host of the event kept throwing obstacles into the paths of the cooks, like at one point making them swap cooking tables and at others giving them a one minute time out. It was a lot of fun.
365 Seasons on Ice Wonder of the Seas January 14, 2023
Later in the evening we attended 365 Seasons on Ice--an ice dancing show which was superbly executed. It was very enjoyable and the technology to make the show happen was amazing. It even snowed during the performance!
In between and after the shows there was time for food and enjoying some time with Patrick, Jen, Alex, and Becka.
Snow during the Performance Wonder of the Seas January 14, 2023
This morning's the exit from the ship was smooth. We moved our own luggage and were off the ship by 7:30, at our car by 8 AM and home by 10 AM after a slightly less than 2-hour drive. Wow!
I will do a full review of the cruise and the ship in the future, but all-in-all, it was a great cruise.
We made our return to Labadee yesterday. Chris and I had been on another Royal Caribbean cruise which visited Labadee in the days before Coco Cay was completed. Labadee has a very different vibe from Coco Cay. I find it more relaxed with the primary focus being on the ocean and beach time. The water park portion of the site is not nearly as diverse as is Coco Cay.
That written, we had a very enjoyable day lounging in the shade of a large tree just off the beach. We found a strategically located spot near a drink station and a rest room. The day started with beautiful blue skies and calm water. Idyllic. The Royal Caribbean area seems very separated from the rest of Haiti. The area does sport a Straw Market with locals selling their wares, they are very aggressive, but Royal Caribbean security keeps them in check.
Drones in the Effectors 2 Show Wonder of the Sea January 13, 2023
For the late afternoon and evening we retired to the ship. One of the highlights of the trip was the evening show in the Royal Theater, The Effectors 2: Crash and Burn. Like the aqua show we attended earlier in the trip it was top quality, exciting, and supremely interesting. In this show I was amazed at the use of multiple drones and lasers. I wonder if they have ever had a drone fail during the performance?
I didn't realize that it was Friday the 13th until the day was mostly over.
Angry North Atlantic Wonder of the Seas January 14, 2023
And finally, the trip back to Port Canaveral is a rough and windy one. The ship is very large and we hardly feel the rough North Atlantic.
We expect to have a good day on the ocean, but the Captain advised us yesterday that the open upper deck would be closed or access would be severely restricted due to the high winds. I looked at the weather map and it seems we may be sailing into a 30 mph headwind at about 25 mph. Does that equal 55 mph over the deck? I don't know.
Sailing into Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Wonder of the Seas January 12, 2023
The day began rainy and overcast. It was the first rain we had experienced on the trip. We did not tie-up until 11 AM and could not get off the ship until about 11:30 AM. Chris and I did leave the ship to visit a place we had not before visited.
There is not much in Puerto Plata, yet. We explored the cruise terminal area and there are a number of shops and it is clear that the locals are trying to turn the cruise port into a shopping Mecca. There is a lot of construction in the terminal area and based upon the portion that has been completed, the end result is going to be very nice.
Now for conditions outside the terminal area. We were confronted with a Cozumel-like commotion. Lots of taxis trying to drag Chris and me off to unknown locations. We walked along the street to the edge of the town, there was not much to see and we decided to return to the ship, running the gauntlet in the opposite direction.
Back on the Wonder of the Seas we were treated to a relaxing afternoon in the Solarium hot tubs enjoying multiple conversations with other travelers. The ship provided an afternoon parade which was more of a show. It was one of the finest parades I have experienced and it surpassed Disney in creativity.
Dinner was at a specialty restaurant called the Mason Jar. It is a southern style restaurant and the country band was playing live music to accompany our meal in the adjoining bar. It was a great meal and a fun time.
Exhausted, we collapsed into our bed at the end of another full day.
Today we are in Labadee, Haiti! And the cruise is rapidly coming to a conclusion.
Castillo San Felipe del Morro from Wonder of the Seas Sailing into San Juan Harbor January 11, 2023
Well, we returned to the USA yesterday although not where we began the voyage. We set foot in Puerto Rico and enjoyed a full afternoon in San Juan.
Chris and I headed off on our own and visited the two forts and spent time walking through Old Town San Juan as we returned to our trusty ship. It was another busy port day as well. The Wonder of the Seas was the 4th ship that entered the Port of San Juan as we arrived, but a 5th ship arrived while we were exploring the town. I do not enjoy having so many ship in port simultaneously. The lines represented were Oceania, Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean, and the late arrival was Norwegian.
Exploring the forts was a lot of fun and reminded me of the Spanish history of the region. We had been to San Juan before and enjoyed the forts, but we took our time yesterday and really immersed ourselves in the historical period to better understand the difficulty that faced the Spanish soldiers assigned to San Juan.
Upon returning to the ship we enjoyed some time with Patrick and Jen sharing dinner and evening Adult Comedy entertainment. We closed out the day listening to a country music band. Yes, there was a country music band performing live outside of a southern-style specialty restaurant called the Mason Jar.
Today Chris and I are making our first visit to the Dominican Republic when we land at Puerto Plata. Sadly, I am told it is much like the Mexican port of Costa Maya. Having been to Costa Maya, I understand the possible comparison.
Tomorrow we head to Haiti! Isn't there unrest there?
-- Bob Doan, Wonder of the Seas nearing Dominican Republic
Brown Booby Wonder of the Seas, North Atlantic January 10, 2023
Day 4 was an at sea day.
I enjoy at sea days because there is less stress about what are we going to do or where we are going to go. Such was the truth yesterday.
I spent some time trying to image the brown boobys flying next to the ship. That was fun. They are beautiful seabirds who gracefully navigate the winds and surf. I managed a few good images. They were flying in formation with the ship and they were so close. It's was inspiring to watch them fly, dance, and dive into the ocean to gather breakfast.
Chris and I managed a 2-mile walk around the ship, just for fun. Later I called my Dad and wished him a happy 95th Birthday. Thank goodness for Wifi calling!
Looking Down on a Brown Booby North Atlantic Ocean January 10, 2023
The day was punctuated by spending time in the hot tubs and learning the game Magic - The Gathering. I am truly a novice, but the game is very interesting and as complex as one deems it necessary to be.
We closed out the night at a Karaoke Bar singing. Or attempting to sing. Adult beverages made the event seem even better than it was.
-- Bob Doan, Wonder of the Sea, North Atlantic headed for Puerto Rico
Patrick and Jen told Chris and I, as we were enjoying some adult beverages on the first night of the cruise, that they would be getting married while we were visiting Coco Cay, Day 3.
And it happened!
The assembly, of seven people, gathered around the happy couple at a preselected spot on the Cay and witnessed the joyous union of two of the greatest and most deserving people on the planet.
The Newly Married Couple giving a Shout-out to Jeremy Coco Cay, Bahamas January 9, 2023
Both Chris and I were honored to be among the small number of people present at the ceremony. There were many more people who could not be present physically, but who were there in spirit.
Congratulations to the newly united couple!
-- Bob and Chris Doan, Wonder of the Seas, North Atlantic
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