Monday, September 30, 2013

Sea and Sky

Even though Ron and I have been on a lot of cruises, there’s still something special about being at sea - the ship’s wake disappearing into the horizon, waves crashing against the hull, flying fish skipping over the water, the endless expanse of sky. Even waking up too early on vacation has its advantages because we’ve seen some beautiful sunrises. Last weekend we spent a lot of time on the walking deck, just looking out at the ocean. It never gets old.


Friday, September 27, 2013

Enchantment Day 3 - Coco Cay

The forecast for Sunday had been calling for heavy tropical rains, so I wasn’t sure we would get to Coco Cay. But Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny with light seas. Yay, we were going to make it! We had a quick breakfast (at the Park CafĂ© this time) and got on a tender around 9 o’clock. Not many people were on the island yet so there were plenty of open lounge chairs. We settled in under a shady pine tree near the water sports area, where we sat last time. It was a great location – away from the crowded spots but not too far from the lunch tables and snorkeling area.

observation tower

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Enchantment Day 2 - Nassau

We went to the Windjammer for breakfast at 7, hoping to beat the crazy crowds. We found a couple of “bar seats” by the windows, and I filled my plate with my favorite cranberry bread, grits and scrambled eggs. As we ate, we watched the Majesty of the Seas and Norwegian Sky heading towards their respective private islands. I love breakfast with a view!

breakfast
 
The ship didn’t arrive in Nassau until noon so I thought it would be fun to spend the morning trying out the bungee trampoline. Surprisingly, there wasn’t any line. All the kids seemed to be playing in the Splash Zone. That was good – I wouldn’t have an audience. :-)  I signed the waiver and the attendant got me strapped into the bungee harness. Then I started bouncing and the attendant adjusted the bungee cords so I would go really high up. I was hollering “Not so high!!!” The attendant was laughing at me, but Ron got some good pictures. In my defense, the bungee trampoline is on a raised platform on the top deck. So when you’re jumping, you really are waaaay up there. Awesome view though! I could see the ocean for miles.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Enchantment of the Seas

After a miserable August, I don’t think we’ve ever been more ready to get out of town for a few days. No, it wasn’t the Maine lighthouse and lobster trip we had planned, but it was just what we needed. Three days of sun, fun and relaxation.

We got to Port Canaveral at 10:30 and were in the very first group on the ship. Time to explore! After three cruises on Monarch of the Seas, I was excited to see her replacement. I wasn’t disappointed. Built in 1997, Enchantment of the Seas was “stretched” in 2005. They literally cut the ship in half and added another section in the middle. As a result, the pool deck on Enchantment was huge. There were two outdoor pools and a kids’ Splash Zone, as well as the glass-enclosed Solarium pool. My favorite parts of the ship were the arching suspension bridges on either side of the pool deck. Also added in 2005 were the bungee trampolines on Deck 10. I definitely wanted to try those!

Enchantment of the Seas arches