Report from My Cruise

Been back a few weeks, but had a pm saying I'd never shared about the cruise. Did I tell everyone that I LOVE CRUISING? It is a great vacation . . .

March Trip

Sunday 9th - SS/AM preached, caught a flight to Miami and stayed at a lovely resort overnight

Monday 10th - loaded about 11:30 am. Nice cabin with big window on same level as lifeboats. Dawn Princess holds about 2200 if lots of kids, but because this was a longer cruise, only 25 kids and 25 teens and about 1800 adults. Nice. Left Ft Lauderdale about 5. Ate continually.

Tuesday 11th - At sea along Cuba and Haiti. Ship goes about 20 mph and and it is about 1250 miles to South America so you do the math. 3 pools, 5 dining rooms (+ room service 24/7, all included). Formal attire tonight, reception, big Vegas-style show after dinner

Wednesday 12th - At sea in open water heading south. More time for pool, games, movies, instructional programs and FOOD. Just think of a gourmet meal with 5 choices for appetizers, 5 soups, 3 salads, 8 main courses, 7 desserts - EVERY MEAL. And as much as you want - scampi and a steak tonight

Thursday 13th - Landed at Curacao, Netherland Antilles on the South American coast. Arid Wyoming-like land. Walked in quaint town and shopped a little. Every night gourmet meal and live entertainment - comedian and juggler. In a port usually 7am-5 pm then move during the night. Hardly feel ship motion

Friday 14th - Coast Guard stopped us from landing in Venezuela. Grr. We were going to visit an herbal farm form which my wife (the doctor) gets stuff. But deemed unsafe, so all ships stopped going here and Colombia. Had a midnight buffet and Caribbean party on deck until the wee hours to make up for "missing" our normal day

Saturday 15th - Breakfast in bed, then leisurely morning while many did tours of Barbados. Left after lunch and visited the town and orchid farms and a large series of caves. 88 degree temp and about 8 degrees north of the equator. Just like Wyoming. Right

Sunday 16th - In Rosseau, Dominica for the day. Visited a church there, then inland into rugged mountains and rainforest, waterfalls, etc. Beautiful site and sparse population. Wife spend a few hours in the spa when back on board. Did I mention food? And btw, every night we would go and swim while many were having early dinner and not burn up in the sun. And at midnight before retiring, we'd hit a hot tub (they had a dozen) and relax.

Monday 17th - Beautiful St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Been there before, so just hit some shopping areas. When in port 90% of the shipmates leave the ship - WE stay and enjoy everything to ourselves!

Tuesday 18th - heading north, day at sea. Another formal night and broadway musicale. Amazed at the talent. Many "acts" change ships in every port.

Wednesday 19th - Eleuthero, Bahamas for a day on the beach. Beach volleyball (I looked like a beached whale) but a great day. No, I did not get dreadlocks. Did I mention food? And a hot tub and full moon?

Thursday 20th - Docked in the am and cleared stringent customs (most other cruises it has been a laugh; this was serious) Flew of out Ft Lauderdale to Chicago, then Denver.

BUT

Nothing was flying out of Denver. Did not know, but Rockies and Denver itself had been crushed with 48+ inches of snow and DIA was closed Tues-Thurs 1pm. We landed but couldn't get out. 4000 stranded, some had been there for two days. Red Cross was giving out cots, blankets and tons of food. What a zoo.

About 10 pm they paged me. They had found a motel room (I have to sleep with CPAP/oxygen because of my health) and a driver. What an answer to prayer. Good night for us, and flight the next day to shuttle to Casper by 10 am. So just 12 hours late. Shovel 24+ inches off the deck so I could get into my house . . and longed for Dominica again.

Can you tell a great time? Relaxing vacation. Cannot begin to recommend cruising to anyone as #1 vacation. And Princess or Celebrity (adult oriented) over Carnival or Royal Caribbean (geared to little kids and teens).

Okay. Bored to tears. But cruising is MY hobby, so there you go . .