Tag: travel

Wonder of the Seas 2024 – Day 7

Today we arrived at Coco Cay in the Bahamas after another amazing sunrise.

 

 

On the island, we browsed among the native craft market shops, sipped our favorite drinks (a rum punch for me), and lazed in a lounge chair while admiring the ocean view. This island has lots of attractions but Ann and I had been here before so no need to explore.

    

   

The barbecue lunch is always a treat. Not long after, we headed back to the ship to indulge in the air-conditioning.

 

 

Dinner tonight was in a specialty restaurant at Chops Grille. I had the goat cheese salad, the petite filet, and apple pie a la mode.

 

 

That night, we finally saw The Effectors II Crash ’N Burn Show. It was amazing. What impressed us was that it had an actual story. Four superheroes battled an evil villain who sought to capture them. Lasers and drones upped the intensity and added to the fun along with aerialists and the singers and dancers. This show was a great finale to our cruise.

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed vicariously sharing my adventures. Now it’s time to plan the next voyage!

Wonder of the Seas 2024 – Day 6

Today was a sea day. I had my early morning croissant then watched the sunrise. We had a full breakfast in Johnny Rockets.

   

Then we walked around looking for ducks and exploring the ship. We discovered a card room on one deck and a shuffleboard court along the jogging trail on Deck 5 along with a hidden spot with a great view. My favorite hangout is still the Solarium in a lounge chair facing the ocean.

 

  

Lunch was hot dogs at The Doghouse and dessert in the Windjammer.

 

At 2:30 in the Schooner Lounge, we attended a Taste of the Caribbean Tasting Experience where we learned how to make six different rum cocktails. My favorites were the Goombay Smash and the Rum Punch.

 

We had dinner in the Main Dining Room. My choices included Shrimp Cocktail and Onion Tart for starters, Lobster Tail for the entrée, and Baked Alaska for dessert.

 

 

The Crash ’N Burn production show was postponed due to rocky seas. Instead, the six vocalists performed with a live orchestra in a show that we liked a lot better than “Voices.”

Coming Next: Day 7 on Coco Cay

Wonder of the Seas 2024 – Day 5

Today we visited St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands for our cruise on RCCL’s Wonder of the Seas. First we awoke to another glorious sunrise with the island in sight. I had my early morning coffee with a chocolate croissant in the Promenade Café before a full breakfast in Windjammer.

     

This may have been my umpteenth time visiting this island, but it was the first visit to this particular pier at Crown Bay. Shops waited for us along with a bevy of iguanas on shore.

 

 

Rather than spend our limited time shopping, we opted for a food tour. This was hugely fun and well worth the cost. An open-air vehicle took us to the center of town where our guide began a walking tour. We viewed several historical buildings and entered the post office that had an impressive mural on the wall.

 

 

Our first stop was the Sugarcane Grille in the Bunker Hill Hotel. Up the steps we went with no elevator available. At an inspiring outdoor setting, we had chicken curry, fried plantains & rice and beans. It was delicious.

 

 

We made an impromptu stop downtown by Main Street in a jewelry store. They had a bar where we sampled different rum varieties. The chocolate rum was the best and also had a risqué name that I won’t repeat here.

 

 

Then we went to The Tuck Shop for conch fritters and to learn how to make our own Painkiller rum drink. That was a fun experience.

 

 

In a jolly mood, we headed next to the Banana Split Sweet & Savory place for dessert, which was baklava and a chocolate cupcake. The guide gave us the option of staying in town or getting a ride back to the ship. We opted for the latter since all aboard time wasn’t far off. We did have time to browse in the shops along the pier before heading to our cabin for a rest.

 

Back on board the ship, we did a backstage tour for elite loyalty members before changing for dinner. My menu choices tonight were Caesar salad, shrimp in garlic sauce, and pineapple cake.

 

 

Following, Ann rose the Rising Tide bar that rose from Deck 5 to Deck 8.

We attended the “Intense” Aquashow that had been postponed from Day 1 due to windy weather. This was a glittery, high octane show with high divers, swimmers and dancers performing to loud music. It rained, and everyone fled under cover while stewards handed out towels. Then the skies cleared and a full moon came out for us to admire.

 

Coming Next: Day 6 and a Taste of the Caribbean Mixology Class

Wonder of the Seas 2024 – Day 4

We arrived at the port on St. Maarten on Day 4 of our cruise on RCCL’s Wonder of the Seas. Ann and I had been here before, so we chose to take the water taxi into Philipsburg to shop around and have lunch. After another spectacular sunrise, we ate breakfast in the Windjammer Café. Then we went to our cabin to gear up for our shoreside adventure.

 

The water taxi cost $7.00 round trip. We bought tickets ashore at the shops directly by the port and were given a plastic wrist bracelet to wear for the return.

 

The taxi surprisingly dropped us at a pier I hadn’t seen before at the far end from the center of town. We trekked a short distance to the next pier over that’s been our normal stop. Facing the courthouse, we turned right on Front Street. Shopper’s Haven is a store I’ve frequented before, so we had to stop in there. Ditto for Mr. Tablecloth and other favorites. Unfortunately, the Guavaberry Emporium that is mentioned in my cruise mystery, Killer Knots, was closed today. We aimed for the Amsterdam Cheese Store at the end of the block. Their almond cookies were recommended by our cruise director, so I bought a pack of these and some individually wrapped gouda and edam cheeses. I can verify that these are tasty items and merit a return visit.

 

We lunched on mahi mahi sandwiches with fries at the relaxing open-air Ocean Lounge Restaurant in the Holland House Beach Hotel off Front Street. We sat in the shade and admired the ocean views as we ate facing Great Bay Beach.

 

After lunch, we headed back to the closest dock for the water taxi. We saw evidence of hurricane damage to structures along the way. We still had time to shop around by the port before heading back to the ship.

 

At 4:30, we went for cocktails and appetizers in the Crown & Anchor member lounge. As a Diamond member, I got four drink vouchers per day. Ann exceeded me by one more. Then we went to dinner in the Main Dining Room where I had shrimp cocktail, chicken and broccoli, and coconut cake. We’ve been disappointed that they eliminated the alternate choices that used to be offered every night on the menu. It’s clearly a cost-saving measure but not one that benefits guests. The ice-skating show came next and was as amazing as on other ships. I liked the theme of changing seasons. It was a pleasant end to a long and exciting day.

  

 

 

Coming Next – Day 5 in St. Thomas

 

Wonder of the Seas 2024 – Day 3

Day 3 on RCCL’s Wonder of the Seas was another sea day. The sunrises are glorious across the ocean.

We ate breakfast in the Main Dining Room. Later we attended a Top Tier event for Crown & Anchor loyalty members in the Aquatheater. We sipped champagne while listening to the Captain talk about his experiences and upcoming new ships.

 

For lunch, I ate a cheeseburger in the Windjammer Café. And who could resist a dessert or two? They serve free ice cream here, too, vanilla, chocolate or strawberry.

 

 

We wandered through the shops, pool area, and Solarium and hunted for rubber ducks. A pirate parade took place on the Promenade Deck that afternoon. It was fun to watch the costumed characters marching about accompanied by loud music.

 

 

Tonight was formal night. For dinner in the MDR, I had butternut squash soup with pumpkin seeds, beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce, mashed potatoes & asparagus, and apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

 

 

 

We briefly sat in on the jazz musicians at Central Park, but their quiet music made me sleepy. In contrast, the headliner show that night was “Voices” which showcased the different sounds humans can perform. The ship’s six singers exercised their vocal chords, but it sounded chaotic and noisy to us. We did not like this show and felt it wasn’t the best use of the singers’ talents.

  

Utopia of the Seas 2024 Coco Cay

Day Three of our 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas was a beach day on beautiful Coco Cay in the Bahamas. After a bountiful breakfast, we headed off the ship, our skin slathered in sunscreen and our faces shielded by hats. A sign welcomed us to this tropical paradise.

 

Near the entrance was a faux pirate ship that’s fun for kids. After a brief stop here, we continued down a shady lane lined with tropical foliage. Multiple beaches, playgrounds, and water slides abound throughout this island. You can even take a hot air balloon ride. We stopped at a splash pad water park that was fun for our 4-year-old grandson. I didn’t mind a dip under a sprinkle myself.

 

Then we settled in at Harbor Beach, a lagoon with a view of the ships in dock. While my family went in the water, I meandered further down the path. I browsed through the huts of the native market that had the same hats, clothing, water gear, souvenirs and trinkets as the Straw Market in Nassau. Then I got a Rum Punch at a tiki bar.

  

Back at Harbor Beach, I relaxed on a lounge chair. Most of the chairs came with umbrellas which was a nice touch. You just picked a chair and sat. When it got too hot, I went partially into the water to cool off. I was glad I’d worn water shoes that I had just bought at Target. The water in August was very warm. Aside from the lagoon, you could choose a beach that’s ocean-side or one at a secluded adults-only retreat.

 

The kids wanted to swim at the pool so we left our beachside perch and found a giant freeform pool a short walk away. There’s even a bar you can access from the pool. It was nice that you could just walk into the water. It stayed shallow for a distance so was very easy for our grandson. The pool is a nice option for people who don’t want to risk sea lice or jellyfish in the ocean.

 

Lunchtime brought us to the nearest dining venue, one of several scattered throughout the island. We indulged in hot dogs, burgers, barbecued chicken, salads, fruit and cookies.

 

 

We encountered some of the native wildlife including chickens and iguanas. Fortunately, we weren’t accosted by any no-see-ums or mosquitoes. After lunch, we eyed a series of approaching clouds with trepidation. This being rainy season, afternoon showers were common. We were already hot and sticky and yearning for the air-conditioned comfort of our cabins. Back aboard we went, diving into our showers to get clean. Then it was time for a rest.

 

 

Dinner was Shrimp in Garlic Sauce and Blueberry Crumble for dessert.

 

That night, we attended the ice-skating show. It amazes me how they can do these performances on a moving ship, although we hardly felt any motion at all on this voyage.

  

The day for me ended with a drink at the Schooner Bar. I’d missed the piano player, so it was a fairly quiet atmosphere. Sadly, our trip would come to an end in the morning.

 

I wanted more time on board to explore other venues and try some of the specialty restaurants. And so, after I told a friend about how much I enjoyed this cruise, we booked a 7-night adventure on Wonder of the Seas for the fall. It should be less hot then, and this would go to the Eastern Caribbean plus Coco Cay so I’d get to explore more of the island. The best remedy for post-cruise blues is to book another one. As for our grandson, he’s eager for his next cruise. What impressed him the most about our trip? “The ducks,” was his response.

And so ends our sojourn on Utopia of the Seas.

Tell me, did you enjoy these posts? I like doing journal entries to share with my readers, but it does take time away from writing the next book. Recently I read that blogs were passe. If true, should I call it quits, keep posting about my life experiences, or change my focus to writing topics only? LEAVE A COMMENT with your response and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a hardcover copy of Shear Murder, my wedding mystery. This story follows Killer Knots, where Marla and her fiance find murder on a cruise ship. Now they’re ready to tie the knot for real.

Utopia of the Seas 2024 Day Two

Back onboard Utopia of the Seas after lunch in Nassau on Day Two of our 3-night trip, we had a brief rest in our cabins before exploring Central Park on Deck 8. We searched for rubber ducks, evidently a Big Thing on cruises, and only found one hiding in the shrubbery by the Solarium. Some kind ladies gave Caleb ducks during the voyage so he went home happy.

 

Central Park has a number of specialty restaurants, the Rising Tide bar that goes up and down the center of the ship, a café with complimentary food, and concerts in the evening when you can catch the musicians there. The greenery offers a peaceful interlude in the midst of sensory overload.

 

Dinner on the second night for me was a Mediterranean appetizer, shrimp cocktail, braised lamb shank, a peach dessert and crème brulée. Yes, I ate two desserts. Why not?

   

   

Satisfied with our meals, we headed to All In! Production Show with singers and dancers. What stood out from my previous 30+ cruises were the special effects. Utopia of the Seas is a brand-new ship and it showed in the technology. From doors that open at a wave to ship-wide WiFi that allows you to text your companions, the level of technology was impressive. This show used it to greater heights. Lasers provided illuminations such as I hadn’t seen before, and drones circled the stage with twinkling lights. This event truly dazzled the senses.

 

Coming Next: Coco Cay

Utopia of the Seas 2024 Nassau

On Day Two of our 3-night voyage on Utopia of the Seas, we visited the Port of Nassau. Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. Once a pirate haven, today the islands are a popular tourist destination. The tropical weather and natural wonders bring in many visitors. Since I’d been here before, I didn’t need to take a tour to see the forts, the government buildings, or other attractions.

 

But first, I indulged in a hearty breakfast on the ship. Ms. Washy Washy greeted us and steered us to the row of sinks in front of the Windjammer Café. Breakfast is my favorite meal on a cruise. Look at all these delights! They had every one of my favorite dishes. You could have fresh omelets made, too, although I opted for either a ready-made omelet slice or a prepared fried egg.

 

 

 

 

   

 

We exited the ship to walk down a long concrete pier straight into downtown. There are some shops right outside the port and more on Bay Street. We crossed over to the Straw Market and jostled our way through the crowded stalls. As I learned later, you can buy much the same goods on Coco Cay at their native market.

 

We stopped at Senor Frog’s for lunch. Here I couldn’t resist ordering a Bahama Mama. We shared a platter of nachos with cheese. The appetizer portion was enough for all four of us. This venue is very noisy but upbeat and cheerful. If you want a quieter location, go outside to the bar in the back that extends over the water.

 

   

I love the color of the sea in the Bahamas. Its turquoise clarity lets you see clear to the bottom.

 

 

Coming Next: Day Two Afternoon

Utopia of the Seas 2024 – AquaTheater

We ate in the Main Dining Room early seating on Utopia of the Seas for dinner each night. Our server was excellent, being prompt with the menus and the food and making paper origami designs for my grandson.

 

For this first night, I chose a crab cake appetizer, prime ribs and this yummy chocolate dessert.

 

 

After dinner, we strolled along the Promenade on Deck 5, noting the bars and shops and the band playing. My favorite lounge here was the Pesky Parrot. I tried their version of the Painkiller. I’m not a fan of frozen drinks in general and this one did nothing to change my opinion.

   

   

 

The AquaTheater show was amazing. High dives from way above into a small pool below astounded us. Diving, acrobatics, loud music, and colored lighting all came together into a spectacular show.

 

Coming Next: Nassau, Bahamas

Utopia of the Seas 2024 – Sailaway

The pool deck on Day One of our 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas was lively, with bodies crowding the lounge chairs and music thumping at the two pool areas. We saw a food truck that offered wrapped snacks later in the voyage and free soft ice cream at a dispensary called Sprinkles.

 

At the far end Forward was the Solarium, a quiet area with a clear roof for adults only. This has its own bistro as well. I didn’t have any difficulty finding a chair in the Solarium during the cruise.

     

 

Up on Deck 16 were the basketball court, miniature golf, slides, wave rider, and zipline. Also, there’s a Mexican eatery here to quench your appetite. This food is complimentary.

 

Then we went to watch the sailaway at a good vantage point on Deck 16. Glass windows were all around. If you want to find an outside jogging track, it’s on a lower deck.

    

It always gives me a thrill to watch the last strip of land go past and to head out to sea. This time was no exception. Our grandson was awed at being on a ship sailing on the ocean.

 

Time grew short, and we had to go to the Main Dining Room for dinner at 5 pm.

Coming Next: Evening Activities on Day One