See Me Sea Cruisin'!

Last week the Mister and I enjoyed a cruise to the Bahamas. Our ship was Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas. It sailed out of Port Canaveral on Monday October 19. We enjoyed 4 days and 4 nights of sun, sea, snoozing and snacking. It was a blur of buffets. A dearth of dinners. A litter of lunches.

And a semi comfy bed. Only mermaids and ship's passengers know what it's like to have the sea rock you gently to sleep.

A cruise is easy traveling. You take your hotel with you wherever you go. We docked next to this Norwegian Cruise ship in the Bahamas

Those beautiful resort hotels stay where they are. You have to pack up your stuff and take it with you if you want to go someplace else.

Freeport is not exactly free, but you do save money on essentials - like a years supply of Grand Mariner for example,

A sunny sight as seen from deck 11. Something about those buildings makes me homesick...or maybe thirsty......?....

Ah - a closer look - a Starbuck's! No wonder! Luckily the ship has a coffee shop, Latte-Tudes, so I don't have to leave the ship for a sip of java. But cruising is really all about f-o-o-d. Rumor has it that cruise ships are not allowed to dock back at the home port until all the food is gone. We'll do our part!

So, the Mister and I donned our "smart casual" wear and stopped by to pick up our cruise posse, Bill and Suzanne on our way to Claude's Dining Room

.

We weren't the only ones that answered the dinner bell. They're on their way to the Windjammer buffet dinner.
.

Our staterooms are just steps away from the elevators! Brilliant planning!

.

The mister looks a bit peckish. It's been at least an hour since we last ate.
.

We meet our wonderful serving staff. Amit, from India and Sunshine from China. Just two of about 40 nations represented by the ships crew.

.

Sunshine showed me how to write "beautiful" in Chinese characters.

Beautiful!

.

Amit took our dinner orders.

.

Mia, from Great Britain, was traveling with her parents and brothers. She celebrated her birthday and wore this beautiful sea foam mermaid dress for the occasion.

.

A first course of roasted garlic soup. Mmmmm!

.

And my all time favorite escargot

.
Where'd it go? Please Sir, May I have more?

After a wonderful evening of dinner, conversation, donating to slot machines and browsing about the ship we headed for our blankets and pillows
.

.
Our stateroom staff had everything ship shape and left a bunny to watch for our safe return.

The mornings brought breakfast followed by lunch and plenty of activities and naps to keep us busy until dinner.
.


Here we go again!

.

Happy!


.


Menu?


.

Sunshine captures Mia for my camera.

.

Looking a bit smug and very well fed

.


While we were away, Layla the dog caught up on her favorite catalog

.

And waited for us to set sail for home.

So, how was the trip?


.


.
Beautiful!

.