Mark Christian
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Recognize any of these criminals?[:)]
Cleaning up some old pic files and found this one. Was that the night we drank up all the Sam Adams the Outback had? Cause we sure look like it, and Bill was trying way to hard to stand up straight.[:D]
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I returned last week, but what with the Thanksgiving holiday, I still haven't settled back in. The trip involved two back to back cruises and because we were at sea for most of the 21 days, including 6 straight days crossing the Atlantic, I really didn't get many photos.
The first leg was around the Mediterranean, from Barcelona to Barcelona. No way to sugar coat it, the weather sucked, including a cyclone which hit Italy and closed nearly every port along the Med, including those that we were supposed to stop at. The waves were relentless and the ship was constantly pitching and rocking. My girlfriend spent most of the cruise seasick in our cabin [V]. I had the all you can drink booze package, so I spent most of the trip in the various bars aboard ship. Not an especially fun voyage.
Part II was much different. The GF had to fly back home and return to work, so now I had the cabin to myself for 13 days while we cruised from Barcelona to Orlando (port Canaveral to be specific). The weather was cold for the first two days, but one we left Madeira, an island which belongs to Portugal, the weather was fantastic, 80 degrees and sunshine all day long. I was out on deck every morning sunning myself (and drinking), I went swimming in the pool and (after enough drinking) I even went on the waterslide [:0]. Great weather and a great time all the way across.
One of the nicer parts of the cruise was on 10 November when it was announced that at 1700 hours all members of the Marine Corps, past and present, would be meeting at the Cascade Bar to celebrate the birthday of the Corps. Veterans of all services, as well as those who just wanted to drink with a the Marines, were invited to attend. Naturally I went and found that despite the 1700 start, members of the Corps were already present and well ahead of the rest of us in drink-count! At 1700 the Cascade Bar was renamed Camp Cascade and the official battle color of the Marine Corps was placed on display. I guess Marines travel with their flag because I'm sure that Norwegian Cruise Lines didn't provide the flag. A birthday cake was provided and the senior Marine Present, a retired LtCol, cut it, but not with a sword. The cruise company probably didn't like the idea of having swords aboard so he used a knife and presented the first slice to the oldest Marine present, who was 87 and a veteran of Korea and Vietnam (the man still looked like he could jump out of a helicopter with no problem). A good time was had by all, although much of what happened after the cake cutting is a bit cloudy in my own (and no doubt many other's) memory.
The following day was Veterans Day, known a Remembrance Day for those in the UK and the Commonwealth. There was a lovely service held on the main deck at 1030 which was conducted by a retired Royal Navy Chaplain. The Ship's captain and all officers not on duty were present and in dress uniform. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the ship's horn was sounded followed by two minutes of silence to honor all veterans or all nations and all wars. A large wreath was then dropped over the side and the ceremony was concluded. It was very touching and I give Norwegian Cruise Lines an A+ for their handling of the event.
Once we cleared the Atlantic there were stops in Antigua and the US Virgin Islands, but these islands are all tourist traps of the first order and a waste of time. I did my shopping at the K-Mart in St. Thomas UVI and bought some nice shirts at 1/3 the price the tourist shops were selling them for. To be honest, by this time we were so close to home that nearly everyone was ready to get to Port Canaveral.
On the whole it was a nice trip. The storms and heavy seas on the first leg were bad luck, but that is one of the risks of being on a ship. The Atlantic Crossing was one of the best vacations I've ever had: total relaxation. I'd do it again, but next year I have plans to visit Asia.0 -
Thanks for the update! Sounds like quite an experience! Too bad the weather was horrific for the first part, but it sounds like the second part made up for it! 0 -
Mark my wife and i have cruised quite a bit. We used Norwegian cruise line one time. She hated it. We have always used Royal Caribbean. We are members of there top cruiser award.
We have not been on one overseas. Just the eastern and western caribbean.
Where overseas would you say the best cruise is. We would probably fly overseas and get on the ship instead of ride the ship over. She would be mad at the time i put in playing blackjack on the trip over. i have played blackjack 15 hours before straight.
That was before i got cancer at Vegas.0 -
Interesting Mark. We did one cruise to Alaska, because that was the only way my mother was able to see it, but we learned cruises are not for us, so we have been hoofing it on our own ever since. There is NOTHING on board a ship I am interested in doing for more than two days. 0 -
Mark,
Not sure which boat you cruised on but a work colleague has done the Barcelona to Barcelona trip twice in the last two years.
Once on the Harmony of the seas when it?s debut as the biggest cruise ship and again when the Symphony of the seas came out.
He tried to overwork the automatic bartender but failed.
You trip across the Atlantic is the voyage I would care to take.
Mule0 -
Have been trying to talk the wife into an Atlantic crossing aboard Windstar's Windsurf for years.
We spent a week aboard her in the Eastern Caribbean a few years back, and, frankly, I will never board a traditional cruise ship again.
Dinner topside in the evening.
Under sail.
Under the stars.
Slightly under the influence.
Good times.0 -
We took the transatlantic cruise that Disney offered a few years back. We flew to Barcelona spent 3 days doing all the tourist things, then boarded the Disney ship and cruised to Gibraltar for a day trip, on to Madeira another day trip, then on to the Caribbean to a couple of island stops and finally to Port Canaveral.
Our entire trip was perfect weather and the crossing was virtually a lake, we agree it was the best cruise we have ever taken.
Oh and there were less then 20 kids on board, most of the passenger list was made up of mature adults, we all ate and drank too much, so we all had a great time !0
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