--- CRUISE 1999 ---
Royal Caribbean
Vision of the Seas
Panama Canal - April 3 - 14, 1999
Friday, April 2, 1999 - Beginning the trip - Acapulco --Nine AM - Mary and Bob transported us into the airport. No traffic to speak of so we were there in 45 minutes. Boarded right on time. An uneventful flight to Dallas/Ft. Worth. Arrived at C22 and our next flight was from A19. Waited a short while and we were on our way to Acapulco.
Once we arrived, the fun began. Getting into Mexico, through Customs, and to our Hotel was a disaster. Lots of confusion and no real direction from anyone who spoke English. But - we made it...
Saturday, April 3, 1999 - To The Boat - Acapulco -- Morning came. I got us a couple coffees from the lobby and then breakfast. Soon it was time for our tour of Acapulco. Our guide was Eddie and he did a great job. There were four buses full of us. The Grand Finale was the Cliff Divers. That was worth it and very painless. There are plenty of observation points for everyone and truly spectacular. Then - to the ship - Royal Caribbean's "Vision of the Seas."
Since we had already processed onto the ship this morning at the hotel, we walked directly on the ship and to our cabin. #7650, - deck #7, starboard side, farthest aft. Great view from the balcony and a nice room. We took a quick walk around and got a late lunch at the Windjammer Cafe. Back to the room. A little R&R and it was time to get ready for dinner.
6 PM and off we went. Our table is #60. Nice table on the port side - farthest aft - window. A table for 10. Four did not make it.Ten PM and it was time for muster (Abandon ship practice). We did good and it didn't last very long. At the finish, the captain came on and said our departure would be delayed. American flights out of Texas had been canceled - stranding a large number of passengers headed for this boat. Royal Caribbean had managed to charter a plane for them and they were on their way but we wouldn't depart until after midnight.
Back to the room and we settled in and watched "Zorro." Good flick - though I didn't see the last ¼ of it.
Easter Sunday - April 4, 1999 - At Sea – Up and at'em at 6:30. We went up to the Windjammer (Up 2 decks and in the bow). We had coffee from the 24 Hour pot. Then puttered around and went to the Dining room (4th deck - aft). We had a full breakfast with a whole new group of people - open seating. Excellent.
Next, we headed topside to get some sun. Too hot for me- so I came back here while Linda stayed and toasted. We went down a couple of decks to the Aquarius Dining Room for a five course lunch. Great. Spent a quiet afternoon and then it was time to get ready for our formal night. Linda in her finest blue gown and me in my tux.
Met the Captain at his reception. Good speech. Then to dinner. Our dinner partners are Beth and John from Indianapolis - and Lee and Dick from Orlando. We had a great dinner. Back to the cabin for a little while and then we were off to the Masquerade Theater. The show was good (A two man magic act and an very talented lady violinist). Back to the cabin and to bed. No midnight buffet for us. Tonight's was to be served in the galley.
Monday - April 5, 1996 - Off the coast of Central America --We've been cruising about 60 miles off the coast. During the night we left Mexico and passed Guatemala just as we were awakening.
This morning we headed down for a full breakfast - a late one for us - 9 AM. Wandered around and explored a bit and back to the cabin. Linda took off to knit and BINGO. I returned to "Rainbow Six." I found sitting out on the balcony very comfortable.
We went to the Windjammer for a "light" lunch. Saw a pod of dolphin go by as we had lunch. Since then we've seen a couple turtles, many flying fish and some large fish that "porpoised" a few times but then disappeared. Very silver - a tuna, marlin?
Tonight's dress for dinner was "Smart Casual." So that we did. We were the last couple to arrive at Table 60, The Anniversary Table. All three couples at the table have Wedding Anniversaries during this cruise. Ours is April 6th (14 Years), Beth and John celebrate on the 12th (30 Years) and Lee and Dick the 13th (41 Years).
Dinner was again - outstanding. The wait staff was all dressed in Italian garb and after dinner and before dessert they all formed up on the stairs and sang "O Sole Mio." (Some statistics about the wait staff: 73 Waiters - ours is Marcelo from Chile, 56 Assistant waiters - ours is Marcos from Nicaragua, 9 Head waiters - ours is Beata from Hungary, 10 Wine Stewards - she visits every night - but no sales.... Representing 39 countries). I only had 4 courses tonight - featuring prime rib. Good food.
Lounged in the room after dinner and then to the Masquerade Theater for the show. The show featured a pair of Comic jugglers and a Comedian. Both performances were outstanding and professional level. To bed.....
Tuesday, April 6, 1999 - Our 14th Anniversary, Puntarenas, Costa Rica --We continued along the coast of Central America all night - Nicaragua to be precise. Up on deck as the sun came up and land was in sight on three sides. Soon the Windjammer opened and we had breakfast sitting in the very front overlooking the bow and our objective. Next we went up to deck 10 and as far forward as we could get and proceeded to oversee the docking of the boat. It went very smoothly.
We soon headed off to see Costa Rica. A short walk off the pier and there was a small collection of outdoor shops with some great crafts. We bought one hand painted piece for $13. It's great. Very hot and humid. They had a small band with three pretty young dancers performing on the dock as we came and went from the ship. Very nice touch.
To the Aquarius Dining Room for lunch. Open seating - but we ended up at table 60 anyway. Nice lunch.
Soon, it was time to prepare for our anniversary dinner. The meal was excellent once again. Most everyone went for the top sirloin as the entree with a scattering for the other five courses. The head waiter delivered an anniversary cake and the wait staff and our table partners sang "Happy Anniversary."
The show tonight was a "Broadway Rock Review." Lots of singing and dancing. Very good. Back to the room and right to bed. Turn the clocks ahead one hour tonight. Cruising south off the coast of Costa Rica.
Wednesday, April 7, 1999 - At Sea - Off the coast of Panama – On deck at 6:30. Sun was already up. To the Windjammer for breakfast. Sat in front and watched many large seabirds glide on the wind wave in front of the ship. They stayed with us all day. They would patrol our bow wave and pick off flying fish that took to the air. They are "Brown Booby's." The Captain called them B-52's cause they drop their bombs all over his ship.
We had lunch in the Dining Room at table 56. Smart Casual for dinner tonight. No anniversaries today so it was a "normal" six course meal. Beth and John came here to our cabin for a visit and then to the Viking Crown Lounge for a rest and a drink. We decided not to go to the show tonight. It was billed as a "Concert Pianist", and somehow we elected to stay away from it. Instead, we went back to the room and watched "The Horse Whisperer." Good movie. To sleep. We were off the coast of Panama all day and made the turn (around the southern most point of North America) towards the canal about 5.
Thursday, April 8, 1999 -- Panama Canal -- Woke at 5:45 and was topside when they opened the Windjammer doors at 6. We were approaching the Panama Canal. We had breakfast in The Windjammer and then spent the day transiting The Canal. We entered the first lock about 8. We left the third lock about 11:15 and entered Gaillard Channel.
Linda and I headed up to the Windjammer for a "Pasta Line" lunch The afternoon was spent moving through the fresh water system over to Gatun Locks. We entered them at 4 and left the third and last one at 6. We'd gone from the Pacific to the Caribbean (Atlantic). Quite an operation to watch and appreciate.
To dinner. A great selection again. We all had a good day - compared notes and had a great six course meal. We are now off the north coast of Columbia - headed for the Netherlands Antilles.
The show tonight was "Make Mine Broadway." It was well done.
Friday, April 9, 1999, At Sea - Off the coast of Columbia, South America. -- Up at 6:30. Still dark, windy. To the Windjammer for coffee. Read "Rainbow Six" while the sun came up and then all morning. At noon, we headed downstairs for lunch. Nothing special all afternoon - generally read and R&R'd.
To dinner at 6 - Smart Casual tonight. Everyone was on schedule and we had another great dinner. Out of the blue - they brought Linda a birthday cake. How they knew it was coming (the 24th) is an unknown.
To the Royal Viking Lounge with John and Beth and then to the show. The entertainer was "Kenny James." He is a singer of some stature - excellent show that went on for over an hour. To the room and to bed.
Saturday, April 10, 1999, Willemstad, Curacao -- Woke at 6 and headed up to get some coffee. Watched the sunrise over Curacao.
Prepared ourselves and headed for the dock. Soon we were on a 65' dive boat headed for Curacao Bay and some diving. After 25 minutes we all suited up and headed into the water. Temp - 79 degrees and fish everywhere. There was even a small sunken tug for atmosphere. It was beautiful.
To the dining room for lunch. Sat with a nice bunch of people including a couple we sat with this morning. They are from Cumberland, Maryland and just celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary.
Next - we walked to town. We wandered around a little and then I left Linda to shop some more.
Time for dinner. We ran in to our Table 60 friends in the Centrum area. Sat around for a while and then headed down for dinner. Tonight was "Lobster" night and "Baked Alaska." The Head Waiter did the flaming of the Alaska and the waiters did a great parade. Lots of fun for everyone. A short session of everyone doing "The Macarena."
To the show at 9. The feature tonight was a comedian. An old guy, but very funny. He did a good show and a great finale that included a patriotic video tape.
Sunday, April 11, 1999, Oranjestad, Aruba – Up at 6 and got cuppa. Beth, John and Linda soon arrived. Breakfast for those who wanted it and then we split up for the day.
We got our act together and headed out into the shopping area. Most places were closed - Sunday Morning - but we wandered around anyway.
We went upstairs to the Windjammer for lunch. Next it was time to head for our Snorkel Tour. We boarded a large catamaran along with 75 other people (capacity is 90) and headed off. Sailed west and then north along the west coast. After about an hour, we picked up a mooring and everyone went overboard for some snorkeling. Lots of fish and warm water. After a while, they moved slots to over a W.W.II wreck of a German U-boat supply ship. It was very windy and rough - so we decided to stay aboard for this dive. Sailed back to the ship and arrived back in our room at 5. Just in time to get ready for dinner.
Down for dinner at 6. Great meal. The usual six courses.
Monday, April 12, 1999, At Sea -- Woke at 6:30. Headed up for coffee. We are moving steadily, but slowly toward St. Thomas. I read up there until about 8:30 when I found Linda. She had got up in time to go for her last massage at 8. Had breakfast and then we went and sat in a quiet area while she knitted and I continued to read "Rainbow Six."
Soon it was 11 and time for the "Debarkation Lecture." We went and listened to our Cruise Director, Jacqui Perry, fill us in on all the details of the next couple days and the procedures for getting everyone off the ship and back into the US.
Time for lunch. Ran into Lee and Dick in the Windjammer. Lunched with them.
Formal Night at Dinner. Formal photos were taken and a great dinner again. The show tonight was another Song and Dance Stage production. Very well done and lots of costumes and staging.
Tuesday, April 13, 1999, St. Thomas, USVI -- Linda was up first at about 6 and we headed up stairs to the Windjammer in time to see us enter Charlotte Amalie Harbor. We were the first ship in of three. We had breakfast in the Windjammer and then were called to immigration. Went through that in the "Schooner Bar" very quickly.
We packed and headed for the Masquerade Theater and they gathered us together for a trip to St. John's. Right on schedule, we headed for the "Island Girl." She is a large boat that held us all (100 people?) easily. The 45 minute trip over to Cruz Bay was very pleasant and the narrator was informative. Climbed onto an open air bus and a short drive over to "Trunk Bay", including a couple stops to take in the views. 1 ½ hours at the beach and snorkeling the reefs. This is a National Park and even has an "underwater" trail marked with underwater signs summarizing what you see. I even saw a 3" barracuda cruising the reef. At 11:45, we started making our way back. We arrived in our room about 1:15. A quick change and we headed for lunch.
The 5 course lunch out of the way and it was time to hit the shore for some shopping. We went shopping right at the dock's "Havensight Mall." We found a Linen Store and purchased a new tablecloth and napkins. I then headed back to "The Vision" and Linda continued.
Soon it was time for our "Last Supper." Everyone was on time and full of their day. Lee and Dick had shopped downtown and at the Havensight Mall all morning. Beth and John went on the Kon-Tiki booze cruise. Everyone had a good day. Another excellent meal. We said good-bye to the Wait Staff who had taken such good care of us for so long.
To the room. Linda finished the heavy duty packing and then headed out for Bingo. I followed soon after. They played a "cover-all" until there was a winner. A lady from San Francisco hit it for $7781. The last show started at nine - Beth and John joined us. A good show with the Cruise Staff and a good magician. Back to the room and finished packing. To bed..
Wednesday, April 14, 1999, San Juan, Puerto Rico -- Woke at 5:30. Got our act together and down the dining room for a 6 AM breakfast. Beth and John were there and we had our last meal. American Airlines has reps aboard this morning and Linda went down and checked us in and got luggage tags for our bags. Now we wait. Distance sailed since we left Acapulco - 3047 nautical Miles. We left our room about 7:15 and found seats on Deck 4 right near the gangway. Sat and waited and we were called to disembark at about 8:30. The process went pretty well and we were at the airport with 1 ½ hours to wait. Plane boarded on time - a full 757 - and the flight was uneventful. The flight arrived 4 minutes early - I found the Limo and Linda got the luggage. Got home about 4:15.
--- The End - of another great cruise ---
