jsmariner

Second Sea Day - Monday, June 26 (Evening Chic Night) When we returned to the stateroom to prepare for the evening, our celebratory bottle of Fre sparkling wine had been delivered, as promised. Upon arrival to dinner, our server Walter, who is from the Philippines, took note of DH's Barong Tagalog (which is the Filipino equivalent of a tuxedo) and asked us what the occasion was. We told him it was our 25th wedding anniversary and he said he would arrange something special for us. I ordered a Peach Sangria at the Passport Bar to take into the dining room and I loved it. Definitely planned to order it again. The night's menu: DH started with the yellow corn soup which he really liked. I got the chicken liver parfait and loved it. It was so good! The baby spinach and treviso salad was very good, also. We both selected the roasted lamb for our main entrée. I thought it was very good, but DH said the lamb I make at home is better. I do think he was being truthful and not trying to earn brownie points with the wife. LOL! We also got the stuffed portobello mushroom to share and that was delicious, too. On to dessert. DH had the crème brulee which he liked very much. I had the phyllo dough tulip. It was presented beautifully, but I felt it lacked flavor. Then Walter brought out a lovely cake for our anniversary. Several of the wait staff gathered 'round and sang "Happy Anniversary" to the birthday song tune. It was a hoot and we blew out the candles jointly. We shouldn't have, but did eat nearly all of that cake. The cake itself was nice and moist and the cream filling was decadent. The late night entertainment was either an ABBA sing along or Disco with the D.J. Neither one was of interest to us as we're 90's kids, so we went up to the Lawn Club to catch the tail end of the Movie Under the Stars - A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks. It was enough to pique our interest and we plan to watch the full movie at some point once we return home. Upon returning to the stateroom, we came face-to-face with our forgotten strawberries and "champagne". We'd eaten so much at dinner that I told DH, "As Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman, nothing else is fitting into this dress." LOL! So DH played Tetris with with mini bar items in our fridge to get the bottle of Fre to fit while I packed the strawberries into a zip lock baggie that I had on hand to also go into the fridge.

Second Sea Day - Monday, June 26 Today was our anniversary so I slept in and didn't go for my morning walk. We went to Silhouette for breakfast and made our way up to the hot glass studio. After the furnace going cold the day before, we were a little apprehensive and wanted to make sure it was all systems go for DH's class in the evening. They were holding classes when we got there. Whew! Then we tried a little retail therapy at the shops on decks 4 and 5. DH scooped up a couple of watches to add to his collection - he's a certified horologist. We wandered through the ship at our leisure which was rather nice. The ballroom dance class for the day in the Grand Foyer was salsa with members of the production staff. We'd never danced salsa before, but it wasn't too difficult and we seemed to catch on pretty easily. Then it was time for lunch in Silhouette. We had the Balinese Satay beef and chicken skewers for starters. They had a little kick to them and I feared they might be too spicy for DH, but he said he liked them. I know I certainly did. DH ordered the barbeque chicken for his main and thought it was very good. He isn't a fan of grits but said the buttermilk grits were the best he'd had. But he only ate them during his six years in the army and I'm sure anybody can cook most anything better than the army. LOL! I got the seafood brochette specifically as it was the only chance to get my favorite - scallops - on this cruise. I didn't eat much of the rice as I was watching my carbs. I rightly deduced that it wouldn't be enough to fill me and ordered the smoked turkey pesto panini to split with DH and we both found it to be quite good. Both of us selected the chocolate mousse for dessert and enjoyed it very much. After lunch, we strolled by Cafe al Bacio where I got a fruit tart to go and went to the room so I could switch out my dancing shoes from the salsa class for flats. When we got there, the chocolate covered strawberries I ordered for our anniversary had been delivered. But the bottle of Fre alcohol-removed sparkling wine was missing. I'd ordered it old-school via snail mail before the cruise in order to keep it a surprise for DH. Thankfully, I had a copy of the order and my cancelled check. So we went to guest services and the lovely Amelia took my documentation. She said she would contact corporate and the cellar master and make things right for us. We went to the promenade deck to watch the waves go by. DH surprised me by asking what our next cruise should be. We had a nice conversation and got the chance to daydream together. What I really want is to take our kids on a family cruise next - on Princess, most likely. My parents are frequent cruisers and had sailed X for years. They were at a pretty high level within Captain's Club, but quit the brand when it switched to AI fares only. My parents don't drink alcohol and have no need for wifi, so the new pricing turned them off. My dad was surprised when I told him we'd booked X for our anniversary and they'd brought back cruise only fares. He said he might have to look at X again. They sail Princess exclusively at the moment and are Platinum with them. Then we went to Craft Social as DH decided to try the Jack Daniel's tasting. We aren't big drinkers but when DH does opt for one, it's usually scotch or whiskey. I plopped myself down on a bar stool nearby and ordered a Spa Slush off the zero proof menu but it didn't end up being as good as the description sounded. It must not be ordered often because the bartender had to run off (Sushi on Five?) to get cucumber as they weren't currently stocked at the bar. I felt bad about that, but at least they weren't busy at the time. It was more alcohol than DH usually has in one sitting. I've seen him nurse a single glass of whiskey over the course of an entire evening. Although, he was in no danger of getting inebriated. Following the tasting, we chilled for a bit in a quiet booth at the back of Craft Social while he sipped away at the last of his whiskey and waited until it was time for his hot glass class. He chose to make the fish in a dark teal blue with a white belly. It took about 20 minutes and he got to be involved quite a bit. He offered to purchase a class for me but I was perfectly happy to watch and take video. It was a fun afternoon. He really liked the design of the teal and orange elongated fish here in the middle. Sadly, it was for display only.

First Sea Day - Sunday, June 25 That evening was the Captain's Club Welcome Toast. This was my third cruise (all with Celebrity) and DH's second (both with Celebrity) so we're pretty low on the Captain's Club totem pole and this is one of the few perks we received. Afterward, the Sky Lounge cleared out fairly quickly and we took the opportunity to relax on a lounger for two with a view. Then it was off to change once again. DH got a beautiful Vietnamese Ao Dai for me for our anniversary and I felt it would be too formal for the Captain's Club event. We went to see Crystal Stark (a former American Idol contestant) and thought she put on a great show. Her vocals were strong and she had an infectious energy. She celebrated various women from Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, and Adele - to name a few. Then we took a few pictures around the ship and went to dinner. The menu: Starters for both DH and I were creamy spinach and artichoke dip and shrimp cocktail. The shrimp was your basic standard fare with four apiece. The spinach and artichoke dip left me a little baffled, though. DH said he liked his as it had some very nice chunks of artichoke. I did not get any artichoke in mine and it was not creamy at all. This was a fail in my book as the dip I make at home is much better. For the night's entrées, DH selected the grilled sirloin even though he had just gotten the same thing at lunch. This was the first hiccup he encountered with the pared down menu as he couldn't find anything on offer for the night that appealed to him. He said the one he had at lunch was far superior to the one served tonight. To be fair, it was cut way too thin and any cook would struggle a bit to properly prepare that. It was edible, but not stellar. I changed my mind at the last minute due to the description of the dish by our server, Walter, and chose the Chicken Kiev. It was excellent and I'm very glad I ordered it. I went ahead and ordered my first choice, as well, the grilled snapper to split with DH. I was a little hesitant because I don't like chorizo, but the little bits in the sauce were easily pushed aside. Also, I'm not a fan of pepper but the red pepper sauce was surprisingly good. It was bell pepper, not hot pepper. I would've eaten more of the garbanzo beans as they are a favorite, but had to watch the carb count. We both went with the white chocolate macadamia for dessert. It ended up being DH's favorite dessert of the cruise. He wants the recipe. LOL! After dinner, we attempted to get into the Sky Lounge for Silent Disco but the line waiting for headphones went out the door. Not finding the live music to our liking, we wandered out to the pool deck and danced like fools all by ourselves to the piped-in music for a couple of songs. The few people around probably thought we were drunk, but we were just high on life and happy to be cruising. We stopped by Cafe al Bacio to listen to the Party Band KutaBeat in the Grand Foyer for a while before turning in for the night.

First Sea Day - Sunday, June 25 I rose early and shuffled around in the dark to get my athletic gear on and braid my hair without waking DH. I'd brought along a pack of glow bracelets to serve as a bit of a night light and it was just enough to do the trick. (This pic was obviously taken with the cabin lights on later.) I was up on Deck 14 by 5:30 AM, before the heat and the crowds arrived. There were quite a few other walkers/joggers on the track, but not enough to make it feel crowded at all. The best part was getting to witness a beautiful sunrise at sea. Then it was back to the stateroom to nudge DH awake for the day. He is most definitely NOT an early riser. We ate breakfast in Silhouette and went up to the hot glass studio as DH was scheduled for the first class of the day. When we got there, the furnace had gone cold overnight and it was going to be a while before they got her fired up, if they could even get it going again at all. DH was instructed to check back in the afternoon to see about rescheduling. So, then we went to deck 12 forward, but the wind was too much to bear at the speed we were traveling. Up on deck 15 in front of the sports court was no better. So it was off to the aft to watch the wake and kill some time. There was a ballroom dance class in the Grand Foyer at 11:30 - Cha Cha with Cruise Director Lewis Power. We know the cha cha, but learned a new variation on the steps so it was still fun. Then it was back to Silhouette for lunch. As pre-diabetic, I think I've got pretty good self-control, but sometimes it's just easier to have a set menu to choose from. Buffets can get somewhat overwhelming. Besides, I'm a mom to five at home and would really just like to sit down and have someone else serve me while on vacation. You know? We were seated at a nice window table for two and got to watch the waves go by. I declined a starter, by DH chose the fried mozzarella sticks. Not particularly elegant fare, but just a tasty as any you'd get back home. For entrées, I selected the teriyaki duck breast (excellent with the perfect amount of ginger - yum!). DH had the grilled New York Steak which he claimed was very good. We also ordered the BBQ pork panini to share and it was delicious, as well. And finally, I declined dessert but DH had the lemon sorbet which he loved and ordered again later in the cruise. Then it was off to the Solarium for a relaxing afternoon. When we got there, the crowd had thinned out some but it still took a bit of searching until we finally found one lounger open on which to stash our belongings. One of the hot tubs had a group of teens that were slightly loud, but not quite obnoxious, and they had it filled to over-capacity. A pool attendant and an officer were speaking to them when we arrived and I overheard the officer say "over 16". Shortly after that, the group left without any commotion and the Solarium was very peaceful every time we were there for the remainder of the cruise. We sat in the pool for awhile and DH was a bit disappointed to find that it was so shallow. Then we jumped in an open hot tub for two rounds of bubbles before finding that a second lounger had opened up next to the one we'd claimed. So, I will admit to taking a nice little afternoon nap as I had only gotten four hours of sleep the night before. We returned to the hot glass studio and were relieved to see the furnace was blazing and classes currently being held. DH was placed on the schedule for a 5:40 class the following evening.

Embarkation Day - Saturday, June 24 Stopped by Cafe al Bacio before dinner. DH chose a vanilla éclair that didn't live up to expectations as there was almost no cream filling, and a lemon tartlet that won him over. I had a chocolate tartlet that was pretty good and a fruit tart which was a hit with me. I got one every time they were available from then on out. We'd opted for a table for two and traditional late dining at 8:30 PM, so we were on Deck 3 for Silhouette. I'd hoped for a window seat, but we were seated right next to the wall for Luminae. It turned out to be the perfect spot, however, as most of the dining room was very dark but we had lights directly above us so we could actually see our menus and food. DH ordered a Mexican Firing Squad for a pre-dinner cocktail which he decided was okay, but wouldn't order again. He let me try a sip but, as I'm not a fan of tequila to begin with, it didn't suit me. We'd been following the menus (and all the changes) on the Celebrity app for a little while, so we were pretty disappointed to find out we were going to be guinea pigs for a stripped down menu. Several of the items we were hoping to try were missing. We always found something tasty that suited us, but did feel a little cheated. When we got home, the app showed the previous menus had returned for the next cruise. Grrrr! The menu: For starters, DH tried escargot for the first time and decided he like it. I stole one off his plate to try and decided that I did not. He also had the cream of wild forest mushroom soup, which he also liked. I had the roasted red beets which were delicious with the creamiest Feta I've ever eaten. But my French onion soup (that I had been so looking forward to trying) was a slight let down. It had excellent flavor and wasn't too salty, but it was all broth with only a couple of onions. Not sure what happened there. For the night's main entrée, we both selected the aged prime rib and it was perfect. And rounding it out with dessert, DH had the cheesecake with strawberry and I had the chocolate cherry trifle. Both were excellent. After dinner, we went up to the Sky Lounge hoping for some late night dancing, but the floor was absolutely packed with a younger crowd that seemed to be slightly inebriated and/or high on life. It wasn't our scene and I was a little disappointed, honestly. I hoped this wasn't going to turn out to be a "party" cruise. We wandered the upper decks for a bit enjoying the fresh air, then went back to my favorite spot in front of the fitness center on deck 12. It was midnight now so I figured we would've surely cleared the coast of Florida, but there were city lights looming up before us. Then someone above us on deck 15 (in front of the sports court) mentioned to the passengers around him that there had been a medical emergency and the captain had turned back to Miami. We never did find out what the emergency was or the outcome for the passenger, but I hope he or she is okay. Once we reached the buoys marking the entrance to the Port of Miami, we felt the engines stop and a Coast Guard vessel came out to meet us. DH's brother is retired Coast Guard and had told DH some vessels were equipped with rocket jets. At the rate of speed they were traveling, he guessed they were using them. I was surprised they were going to do a vessel-to-vessel transfer at sea, but it was interesting to witness. The Coast Guard pulled right up along our port side. As we were on the bow, I didn't feel comfortable leaning so far over the rail with my phone, but DH is much taller than I am and snapped a pic. Once the Coast Guard vessel was clear of the ship, we started back up again and she really got to moving, then. I'm guessing the captain was trying to make up for lost time. We did make it to our first port, Aruba, as scheduled. At this point, it was after 1 AM and time for bed.

If anyone's interested, this is a review of cruising with Celebrity by a couple in their mid-40's after a hiatus of 25 years. Our honeymoon was on the Celebrity Century in 1998, and due to the ebb & flow of life, were unable to cruise again until our 25th wedding anniversary this year. So, here we go.... We left home and flew to FLL the day prior to the cruise. (Lesson learned - for our honeymoon we flew out the day-of and missed the ship due to weather. Had to catch up with her in San Juan and missed out on our first formal night. Oops!) Stayed at the Crowne Plaza with a view of Port Everglades if we craned our necks to the left. Woke up the next morning and could just make out the top of the "X" on Equinox's smokestack hiding behind the RC Adventure of the Seas. We had chosen the first check in slot at 11:30 AM, went through security and got onto the ship quick and easy. Then it was off to drop our carry-ons in the stateroom. We chose a prime inside cabin, midship on deck 9, and the first thing I noticed was the gray carpet. So, I was pretty excited that it had been revolutionized and we wouldn't have to look at the old burnt orange décor for the next 8 days. Yay! And if you're wondering - yes, burnt orange was the color scheme on Celebrity ships 25 years ago. I have photographic proof. Ate lunch in the buffet, checked in at our muster station, got a tour of the spa, and explored the ship for a while. We chose Deck 12 forward in front of the fitness center for sail away. We got there a bit early and had the deck all to ourselves. It was wonderful! Then it began to sprinkle a little and I wondered if we'd be rained out, but DH felt confident it would blow over and it did. By sail away time, there were maybe another dozen or so people on the deck with us so it was nice and open and not crowded at all. My parents had said they'd be watching the live stream from the port cameras online, so we waved, but they said they couldn't see us.

Let's see if I can get the pictures to post this time.

Yes, that's Kevin. We must have been on the same tour.

Oops! Sorry about the pics, but thanks for taking the time to read the review. I'm new at this. Will try to re-post later.

Disembarkation Day - Sunday, July 2 We were already docked in Port Everglades by the time we awoke in the morning and grabbed a quick breakfast in Oceanview Cafe. Our flight didn't depart from FLL until 5:30 PM, so we decided on an everglades shore excursion for an airboat ride. There was a food truck at the park and we got some gator tail bites for a snack. We'd had alligator once at a restaurant back home, years ago, and it was just as we remembered. All in all, pretty good. Then we were dropped off at the airport. Thankfully, both our flights operated on time and our luggage made it back with us. DH's hot glass fish survived the trip in one piece, too. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary with many memories made. We're hoping it won't be another 25 years before we get the chance to cruise again.

Fourth Sea Day - Saturday, July 1 Then it was time to get ready for dinner for the last time this cruise. Our final dinner menu: DH got his new favorite - escargot - one last time. I tried the Caesar salad and got my French onion soup one last time (and it did have plenty of onions). DH wasn't inspired by anything on the menu, yet again, but was thinking about the butternut farrotto based on the description. I urged him to go for it and if it wasn't to his liking, we could go up to Oceanview Cafe afterward for something else. He actually liked it quite a lot. I tried a bite and it was great. The duck prosciutto was so good. It was my turn for the sirloin steak. I ordered it medium and thought that it was quite good. We got the sauteed tilapia to share and I know it gets a bad rap, but I'm one-half Asian so I regularly prepare it for our family at home. I never would have thought to pair it with a tomato-based sauce and it was very good. Our final dessert menu: DH got creme brulee again with strawberry ice cream. I chose the sacher torte which was very good. The cannoli I shared with DH, however, was disappointing as I expected a nice lemon flavor in the ricotta but couldn't taste it at all. It was time to bid farewell to our waiter, Walter from the Philippines, and his assistant, Tarsis from Brazil. They took such good care of us and always provided timely service. Dinner was a pleasant affair every evening. We'd set our checked bag outside the cabin door prior to dinner and it had been whisked away. Our carry-on bags were packed for the morning except for a few essentials. There was nothing else to do and it was too early to turn in. We took the bottle of brut from our room attendant, Len, out onto the aft and enjoyed the ship's wake for the last time.

Fourth Sea Day - Saturday, July 1 DH decided he would join me for a morning walk on our final day. I wasn't sure he'd actually get up when it came down to it, but he did and we were on the track by 5:30 AM. Got to see one last pretty sunrise at sea and another cruise ship on the horizon. Opted for the Oceanview Cafe for breakfast over Silhouette. I got a made-to-order poached egg over smoked salmon, some corned beef hash, and a Belgian waffle with orange marmalade and whipped cream. Got a pic of the various types of tea available, as well. The pool was packed to the gills and fully exposed to the sun, so we took the opportunity to begin packing our bags. We stopped briefly to attend the Exclusive Handcrafted Clock Auction in the Grand Foyer at 10:30 AM. The ship's engineers had worked with clock makers to make a couple of designs from pieces of the engine that had been swapped out. Apparently, this was the very first time they were doing this auction and the proceeds were going to the crew welfare fund. DH wouldn't bid, but he wanted a chance to admire the clocks and see how much they'd go for. The first clock was made from a bearing and sold for $900. The second clock was made from a gear and sold for $1300. Following the auction, we participated in the final ballroom dance class offered in the Grand Foyer - merengue with the members of the production cast. I'd danced some merengue at Silent Disco the night before and it was fun to get to do it one more time. Afterward, we swung by Cafe al Bacio for a couple of IGLU frappes and DH got a slice of orange cake. Then it was back to the room to finish packing. DH wanted to go to Oceanview Cafe one last time so I indulged him and skipped the last lunch offered in Silhouette. I went a little more carb-heavy than I probably should have and got three garlic knots, a slice of Thai chicken pizza, and a grilled chicken salad panini. I think the whipped mousse was passion fruit (it wasn't labeled). Then there was a Nanaimo bar cake in honor of Canada Day, a pistachio cake, and a gluten-free strawberry cake. I only nibbled at them and didn't finish any. We went out to the Mast Grill for one final plate of fries. I like to dip mine in malt vinegar. After that, we peeked at the pool and it was nearly a ghost town. I suppose everyone was getting in one last pool day while we packed, so we could enjoy the pool in relative quiet while they packed. It was now late afternoon, as well, so the pool wasn't in the direct sun anymore. DH got in and was pleased that it was nice and deep, while I enjoyed one last French Caribbean from the Pool Bar. Then I got in only to realize the depth was over my head. So I swam for a bit and treaded water alongside DH until I finally tired out. Sitting on the ledge was good enough for me.

Third Sea Day - Friday, June 30 (Evening Chic Night) We dressed to the nines for evening again as that's just our style, but weren't bothered by what anyone else chose to wear. Hey, we're all on vacation. You do you! I did see a couple of men sporting tuxedos and one awesome kilt. We had finally broken open our anniversary bottle of Fre and drank a few glasses that night while we prepped for dinner. Then we took the last two glasses of it with us to Cafe al Bacio for a little pre-dinner treat. DH had an lemon tartlet and an exotic fruit cake. I took a little bite and it tasted like guava to me. I chose a slice of mango cake and my customary fruit tart. Then it was up on deck to catch a quick glimpse of the sunset. It's lobster night, y'all! I ordered another peach sangria in the restaurant but it wasn't right. I couldn't taste any peach. So, the next night I would order it from the bartenders at Passport who knew how to get it right. DH's starters were the shrimp cocktail (which I captured after the fact) and the creamy salmon rillette to split with me. The salmon rillette was very good. I got the chilled pea soup and I cannot even begin to describe how good it was. That lump crab meat was the best and there was a lot of it! The kale salad I selected was very good, as well. We each got our own lobster tail and then one plate of roasted leg of lamb to share. We had no complaints. It was a delicious meal. Dessert menu: We both got the baked Alaska and got to talking about our honeymoon cruise. There isn't much special about baked Alaska, when you think about it. It was really all about the presentation. Back in the day, all the waiters and assistants paraded through the dining room with flaming baked Alaskas held high while we twirled our napkins in the air to some upbeat music. Then they brought out pre-sliced portions to the table. That being said, it was still a tasty dessert. We also got the citrus roulade to share and DH declared that to be far better than the baked Alaska. Silent Disco was going on in the Sky Lounge. This time it wasn't nearly as crowded and I finally got my chance to dance as much as my heart desired. The green channel was 80's hits, the red channel was Latin beats, and the blue channel was current hits. We switched back and forth through all of the genres and even got to dance one tango together which shocked me as it's not very popular anymore. I was thrilled and it was the most fun evening of the cruise for me, hands down! There was quite the storm that night and, while we were dancing, got to witness some pretty big flashes of lighting through the Sky Lounge windows. When we returned to our cabin for the night, our room steward, Len, had left us a couple of gifts.

Third Sea Day - Friday, June 30 This was my earliest morning yet and was up on deck at 5 AM to find myself all alone on the track. I got in two and a half miles was rewarded with yet another beautiful sunrise at sea. We went to Silhouette and were seated at a table for two for the first time (rather than a table for eight) so I finally felt comfortable taking some breakfast pics. We spent a lazy morning mostly sitting in the shade of the promenade deck, enjoying one another's company while watching the sea go by. The third ballroom dance class of the cruise in the Grand Foyer was the rumba with Cruise Director Lewis Power. We caught on pretty quick and managed to hold our own, even as the music increased in speed. We had a lot of fun. Then it was off to lunch in Silhouette. DH started with the crisp fried mushrooms and the said they were good. I had the Key West salad which was pretty good, too. We both had the Nagasaki udon noodles. I couldn't finish my noodles because of the carbs, but this dish had wonderful flavor. DH treated himself to the brownie sundae and I went with the orange panna cotta for a little lighter fare. After lunch, we hung out in the Solarium for a while. I tried a French Caribbean from the Pool Bar while we watched more hot glass classes and fell in love with it. We headed to the gelateria or our Captain's Club complimentary scoops. DH got caramel and I got pistachio. The pistachio had iced over so it wasn't the right consistency, unfortunately, but the flavor was still good. DH really liked the caramel.

Third Port Day - Thursday, June 29 (Kralendijk, Bonaire) Sail away was 4 PM and we chose to experience it from the temperature-controlled Sky Lounge. I ordered a pina colada and it was a lovely treat. We sailed past Klein Bonaire as we departed. Then it was time to clean up and get ready for the evening. We went to the theater for the 7 PM show - Magician John Accardo. DH thought it was great and was very entertained. He was a bit too frenetic for me, so I thought it was just okay. The night's menu: DH only wanted shrimp cocktail for a starter tonight, so I wonder if Walter pulled a few strings for him as there were eight instead of the usual four. I opted for the grilled asparagus salad and it was very good. I also tried the French onion soup again. This time they got it right - very flavorful with plenty of onions. DH went with the grilled chicken breast for his main. It was cooked properly and wasn't dry, but he said it lacked flavor and ended up being a bit of a disappointment. I had the steak Dianne and enjoyed it very much. I ordered it medium and it was cooked perfectly. For dessert, we both ordered the tiramisu and got a bowl of pistachio ice cream to share. We went up on the open decks after dinner to stroll for a bit. I tried to take a picture of the beautiful moon but I don't know the right camera settings or techniques, so it doesn't do it justice. Then it was off to bed.

Third Port Day - Thursday, June 29 (Kralendijk, Bonaire) Skipped my morning walk again and opted to get my daily exercise in port. We were at it up and early, though, with breakfast in Oceanview Cafe. This time I remembered to capture a pic. We dressed in swimwear and cover ups for our excursion as we were finally getting a beach day. Woo hoo! Got a tour of the salt flats, the slave huts, the lighthouse, and ended at Sorobon Beach in Lac Bai. Our driver/guide, Kevin, told us they fill the ponds with sea water about four feet deep and it takes nine months to get through the process. As the water sits, it turns pink and then purple because of a mineral or bacteria of some sort in the dead coral that's abundant in the ground. When the water has mostly evaporated, they pump the remainder out to sea leaving approximately four inches of salt. Bulldozers are used for collecting it. The clean salt harvested off the top is what we use at the dinner table. The dirty salt on the bottom is shipped to the United States to treat our roads in the winter. A large conveyor belt takes the salt out over the water to load onto ships for transport. Kevin said the salt produced is 99% pure and there was a box on the beach with crystals for tourists to take a piece home. The first set of slave huts we saw had not been maintained and were crumbling. So you could see they how coral had been stacked and just mortared in place to form the huts. The next set of huts we saw were well maintained. They would have housed four men each and were really quite small. For reference, DH is over six-foot tall. Near the lighthouse on the southern tip of Bonaire, there were some of the famous donkeys. A short way down the road, we got to see a few flamingos, too. Sorobon Beach was lovely with clear blue water. The day was windy, as expected, but absolutely beautiful with plenty of sunshine. We snagged a couple of loungers in the shade, but spent almost the entire time in the water. It was only waist deep and stretched out for a considerable distance. We wore water shoes, but there wasn't any need as it was all nice, soft sand. Several windsurfers were on the water, but there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out. On the journey back to the ship, we really got to see the desert landscape of Bonaire. Back on board, we changed out of our beach wear and grabbed lunch at the Mast Grill where DH said the burgers were good and the fries were excellent. I opted for the turkey burger (without a bun - those pesky carbs again) and it was fine but needed some seasoning, in my opinion. DH got a second burger, but I skipped down to the AquaSpa Cafe for a chicken salad plate and a tomato thyme ficelle which I brought back up to the Mast Grill seating area and I thought it was delicious. We went back out to explore Kralendijk and shop until it got too hot for us to bear.

Second Port Day - Wednesday, June 28 (Willemstad, Curacao) Back on board, we showered and got ready for the evening. Decided to see the 7 PM show, Boy Band Evolution, and loved it. They were a talented quartet presenting a musical survey from a twist on the barber shop quartet to the modern pop boy bands. Sailaway was at 8 PM so we got to see the beautiful lights of Willemstad as we put to sea before heading down to dinner. The menu: I went with a Watermelon Tropic from the Passport Bar to carry in to dinner and it was just okay. I could only taste the pineapple and no watermelon. We both chose the BBQ Spring Roll to start. It was quite interesting because it was like biting into a Filipino lumpia only to find sweet pork stuffing. It was very good, but a little strange in our experience because we're culturally acclimated to it being a savory item. DH also chose the Caesar salad which he didn't like but only because he doesn't like parmesan very much and it was loaded with the stuff. I forgot to snap a pic beforehand and this was about as far as he got before declining to finish. I had the panzanella salad with balsamic vinaigrette which was pretty good. The fresh mozzarella was the best part for me. For main entrée, DH had the grilled sirloin once more and said this one was better - comparable to the first steak he'd had at lunch. But again, he chose it because of the lack of interesting options on the pared down menu. He also got the salmon and shared some with me. I had the pan seared pork loin which I liked quite a lot. The braised red cabbage that accompanied it tasted like the same recipe as the cabbage I'd gotten at the lunch buffet the day prior, but I didn't mind. My only complaint was that it was simply too much food and I only ate half of the pork. I had to assure our server, Walter, a couple of times that I was simply getting full and trying to save room for dessert - not that the meal was poor. And speaking of, dessert: I was glad I'd reserved a little room because it was a very good night for desserts. I had the blackberry-anise nougat glace and DH chose the biscuit croustillant. We each shared a little bite of the other's selection, and they were both wonderful. But Walter told us the chef was offering an off-menu special - the Grand Marnier souffle that was only offered in Murano. So, of course, we had to try it and it was amazing. We couldn't find any live music after dinner to our liking, so we wandered about on the open decks for a bit to enjoy the night sky before turning in for the night.

Second Port Day - Wednesday, June 28 (Willemstad, Curacao) I chose to skip my morning walk as I figured we'd be doing a significant amount of walking in port. We ate breakfast in Oceanview Cafe and went out on deck to watch the ship dock in Curacao then waited for the gangway to go down. We got several comments on our outfits again today and one young girl stopped us on the stairwell to ask if we'd dressed alike yesterday. I answered, "Well, we were wearing purple yesterday" and she said "Yup." I had done some research and learned that the Fortkerk in Fort Amsterdam had an intricate antique clock movement in their museum that was only one of two examples in the entire world. It had powered the clock in the church cupola until being replaced by a modern electrical unit. The church and museum was supposed to be open from 10 to 1:30 and had an entrance fee of $5 USD. This was right up DH's alley as he owns his own antique/vintage clock repair and restoration business and I was so excited for him to get to see such a rare gem. We did a little sightseeing and shopping while waiting for the church to open. We could see the church and the clock in her cupola across the bay. A couple of orioles were serenading us as we stood outside of Fort Amsterdam. It turns out they had modified their operating hours from 11 AM to 3:30 PM. When we learned the opening time was later than expected, we did a bit more sightseeing to pass the time. It was getting quite hot as the day wore on so we stopped a waterfront seafood restaurant to refresh ourselves with a couple of Cokes. Back to the Fortkerk we went, but the secretary in the church basement told us the lady guiding the tours had not arrived yet. We waited until 11:15, but she remained a no-show. I think I was probably a little more disappointed than even DH was as I had really tried to plan this once-in-a-lifetime experience for him. We were afraid we'd miss our afternoon shore excursion, so we reluctantly headed back to the ship for quick bite to eat. Our excursion in Curacao highlighted various points of interest - the Hato Caves, the Blue Curacao liqueur distillery, and the Curacao museum. It was interesting and we both enjoyed it. 49 steps to get up to the entrance to the caves. Pictures were only allowed in two chambers of the cave complex. The black and green on the cave walls are from algae. It was very warm inside and I was glad to have brought along a hand held fan. We got to see some colorful colonial-era houses from the bus as we drove along between stops. The liqueur distillery: And the museum: In the early days, they say it took seven days to travel from the Netherlands to Curacao by plane.

First Port Day -Tuesday, June 27 (Oranjestad, Aruba) After our excursion, we explored Oranjestad for a bit and shopped for souvenirs. Of course, I had to snap some pics of the blue horse statues for our eldest daughter who just graduated with a degree in Equine Management. Back on the ship, it was time to shower off the heat of the day and prep for dinner. We didn't get to experience sail away at 9 PM because we were at dinner, but felt when the engines fired up and we got underway. The menu: DH started with escargot again and the garden fresh salad with thousand island dressing. I had the Asian consomme and the garden fresh salad with white balsamic vinaigrette. DH and I both chose the broiled haddock for our main entrée selection and it was very good. And finally, dessert was chocolate lava cake which DH thoroughly enjoyed and panna cotta which I found light and refreshing. Based on DH's rave review from lunch previously, we both got the lemon sorbet and it did not disappoint. We spent a little time walking around the Lawn Club and sat in the aft to watch the wake for a while then headed off to bed.

First Port Day - Tuesday, June 27 (Oranjestad, Aruba) I returned to behaving myself and got up for my morning walk. This time I was up on deck by 5:30 AM and found myself sharing the track with only one other person. It was glorious! The sunrise was so beautiful. I'd come around the curve of the track to the port side and see the horizon growing lighter with each lap. I did two miles in 45 minutes that morning and treated myself to a little relaxation while waiting for the buffet to open at 6:30. Washy-washy before heading to the buffet and I couldn't help myself from snapping a pic. Even the bathrooms are elegant. You go on a cruise to be served, but I did revert back to wife-mode briefly. Grabbed a couple of croissants, a few strips bacon, and two cups of coffee to-go to add to our chocolate covered strawberries that I pulled out of the fridge and re-plated. Delivered breakfast in bed to DH. He's got it so good! Went up on deck and watched as we docked in Aruba. Then decided to stay onboard as we didn't have a shore excursion planned until 2 PM. The Solarium was deserted and that suited us just fine. We had our choice of any lounger we wanted and got a hot tub all to ourselves But we learned that being the first isn't always best. The overnight cleaning chemicals hadn't been agitated yet and the fumes were basically too much to bear. One round of bubbles and we were both done. We went up to the hot glass studio as they told DH his creation would be ready by 10 AM. He unwrapped it and it was still very warm. Went to Oceanview Cafe as Silhouette is only open for lunch on sea days. They had two Filipino dishes today - beef nilaga and chicken adobo. Had to try them to see how they compared to my mom's cooking as well as my own. DH agreed my nilaga is far and away superior to what was on the buffet, but I don't think they added patis (Filipino fish sauce) which is extremely pungent but absolutely makes the dish. The chicken adobo tasted identical to my mom's and my own, but our sauce is thin like broth and theirs was thick like gravy. They must add cornstarch as a thickener which I may try back at home because I liked the consistency. I also had the roast beef from the carving station with horseradish, the battered fish with malt vinegar, and some red cabbage which was slightly sweet. I found everything to be excellent. DH and I both tried the lemon meringue in a cup which was very good, but I only ate half because of the carbs, and a piece of no-sugar added chocolate cake which was decent but nothing to rave about. We dressed to head into port and got several comments and compliments on our outfits from fellow passengers and people in town. Our excursion was the Atlantis submarine. We don't scuba dive or snorkel so this was our chance to see the marine life. I'd gone with this same company in Barbados with my grandparents on my first cruise back in 1997, so it was actually more fun to sit and watch DH's reaction. We saw a couple of sunken ships and descended to a depth of 139 feet. The highlight was getting to see a few sea turtles.

Second Sea Day - Monday, June 26 (Evening Chic Night) When we returned to the stateroom to prepare for the evening, our celebratory bottle of Fre sparkling wine had been delivered as promised. Upon arrival to dinner, our server Walter, who is from the Philippines, took note of DH's Barong Tagalog (which is the Filipino equivalent of a tuxedo) and asked us what the occasion was. We told him it was our 25th wedding anniversary and he said he would arrange something special for us. I ordered a Peach Sangria at the Passport Bar to take into the dining room and I loved it. Definitely planned to order it again. The night's menu: DH started with the yellow corn soup which he really liked. I got the chicken liver parfait and loved it. It was so good! The baby spinach and treviso salad was very good, also. We both selected the roasted lamb for our main entrée. I thought it was very good, but DH said the lamb I make at home is better. I do think he was being truthful and not trying to earn brownie points with the wife. LOL! We also got the stuffed portobello mushroom to share and that was delicious, too. On to dessert. DH had the crème brulee which he liked very much. I had the phyllo dough tulip. It was presented beautifully, but I felt it lacked flavor. Then Walter brought out a lovely cake for our anniversary. Several of the wait staff gathered 'round and sang "Happy Anniversary" to the birthday song tune. It was a hoot and we blew out the candles jointly. We shouldn't have, but did eat nearly all of that cake. The cake itself was nice and moist and the cream filling was decadent. The late night entertainment was either an ABBA sing along or Disco with the D.J. Neither one was of interest to us as we're 90's kids, so we went up to the Lawn Club to catch the tail end of the Movie Under the Stars - A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks. It was enough to pique our interest and we plan to watch the full movie at some point once we return home. Upon returning to the stateroom, we came face-to-face with our forgotten strawberries and "champagne". We'd eaten so much at dinner that I told DH, "As Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman, nothing else is fitting into this dress." LOL! So DH played Tetris with with mini bar items in our fridge to get the bottle of Fre to fit while I packed the strawberries into a zip lock baggie that I had on hand to also go into the fridge.

Second Sea Day - Monday, June 26 Today was our anniversary so I slept in and didn't go for my morning walk. We went to Silhouette for breakfast and made our way up to the hot glass studio. After the furnace going cold the day before, we were a little apprehensive and wanted to make sure it was all systems go for DH's class in the evening. They were holding classes when we got there. Whew! Then we tried a little retail therapy at the shops on decks 4 and 5. DH scooped up a couple of watches to add to his collection - he's a certified horologist. We wandered through the ship at our leisure which was rather nice. The ballroom dance class for the day in the Grand Foyer was salsa with members of the production staff. We'd never danced salsa before, but it wasn't too difficult and we seemed to catch on pretty easily. Then it was time for lunch in Silhouette. We had the Balinese Satay beef and chicken skewers for starters. They had a little kick to them and I feared they might be too spicy for DH, but he said he liked them. I know I certainly did. DH ordered the barbeque chicken for his main and thought it was very good. He isn't a fan of grits but said the buttermilk grits were the best he'd had. But he only ate them during his six years in the army and I'm sure anybody can cook most anything better than the army. LOL! I got the seafood brochette specifically as it was the only chance to get my favorite - scallops - on this cruise. I didn't eat much of the rice as I was watching my carbs. I rightly deduced that it wouldn't be enough to fill me and ordered the smoked turkey pesto panini to split with DH and we both found it to be quite good. Both of us selected the chocolate mousse for dessert and enjoyed it very much. After lunch, we strolled by Cafe al Bacio where I got a fruit tart to go and went to the room so I could switch out my dancing shoes from the salsa class for flats. When we got there, the chocolate covered strawberries I ordered for our anniversary had been delivered. But the bottle of Fre alcohol-removed sparkling wine was missing. I'd ordered it old-school via snail mail before the cruise in order to keep it a surprise for DH. Thankfully, I had a copy of the order and my cancelled check. So we went to guest services and the lovely Amelia took my documentation. She said she would contact corporate and the cellar master and make things right for us. We went to the promenade deck to watch the waves go by. DH surprised me by asking what our next cruise should be. We had a nice conversation and got the chance to daydream together. What I really want is to take our kids on a family cruise next - on Princess, most likely. My parents are frequent cruisers and had sailed X for years. They were at a pretty high level within Captain's Club, but quit the brand when it switched to AI fares only. My parents don't drink alcohol and have no need for wifi, so the new pricing turned them off. My dad was surprised when I told him we'd booked X for our anniversary and they'd brought back cruise only fares. He said he might have to look at X again. They sail Princess exclusively at the moment and are Platinum with them. Then we went to Craft Social as DH decided to try the Jack Daniel's tasting. We aren't big drinkers but when DH does opt for one, it's usually scotch or whiskey. I plopped myself down on a bar stool nearby and ordered a Spa Slush off the zero proof menu but it didn't end up being as good as the description sounded. It must not be ordered often because the bartender had to run off (Sushi on Five?) to get cucumber as they weren't currently stocked at the bar. I felt bad about that, but at least they weren't busy at the time. It was more alcohol than DH usually has in one sitting. I've seen him nurse a single glass of whiskey over the course of an entire evening. Although, he was in no danger of getting inebriated. Following the tasting, we chilled for a bit in a quiet booth at the back of Craft Social while he sipped away at the last of his whiskey and waited until it was time for his hot glass class. He chose to make the fish in a dark teal blue with a white belly. It took about 20 minutes and he got to be involved quite a bit. He offered to purchase a class for me but I was perfectly happy to watch and take video. It was a fun afternoon. He really liked the design of the teal and orange elongated fish here in the middle. Sadly, it was for display only.

First Sea Day - Sunday, June 25 That evening was the Captain's Club Welcome Toast. This was my third cruise (all with Celebrity) and DH's second (both with Celebrity) so we're pretty low on the Captain's Club totem pole and this is one of the few perks we received. Afterward, the Sky Lounge cleared out fairly quickly and we took the opportunity to relax on a lounger for two with a view. Then it was off to change once again. DH got a beautiful Vietnamese Ao Dai for me for our anniversary and I felt it would be too formal for the Captain's Club event. We went to see Crystal Stark (a former American Idol contestant) and thought she put on a great show. Her vocals were strong and she had an infectious energy. She celebrated various women from Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, and Adele - to name a few. Then we took a few pictures around the ship and went to dinner. The menu: Starters for both DH and I were creamy spinach and artichoke dip and shrimp cocktail. The shrimp was your basic standard fare with four apiece. The spinach and artichoke dip left me a little baffled, though. DH said he liked his as it had some very nice chunks of artichoke. I did not get any artichoke in mine and it was not creamy at all. This was a fail in my book as the dip I make at home is much better. For the night's entrées, DH selected the grilled sirloin even though he had just gotten the same thing at lunch. This was the first hiccup he encountered with the pared down menu as he couldn't find anything on offer for the night that appealed to him. He said the one he had at lunch was far superior to the one served tonight. To be fair, it was cut way too thin and any cook would struggle a bit to properly prepare that. It was edible, but not stellar. I changed my mind at the last minute due to the description of the dish by our server, Walter, and chose the Chicken Kiev. It was excellent and I'm very glad I ordered it. I went ahead and ordered my first choice, as well, the grilled snapper to split with DH. I was a little hesitant because I don't like chorizo, but the little bits in the sauce were easily pushed aside. Also, I'm not a fan of pepper but the red pepper sauce was surprisingly good. It was bell pepper, not hot pepper. I would've eaten more of the garbanzo beans as they are a favorite, but had to watch the carb count. We both went with the white chocolate macadamia for dessert. It ended up being DH's favorite dessert of the cruise. He wants the recipe. LOL! After dinner, we attempted to get into the Sky Lounge for Silent Disco but the line waiting for headphones went out the door. Not finding the live music to our liking, we wandered out to the pool deck and danced like fools all by ourselves to the piped-in music for a couple of songs. The few people around probably thought we were drunk, but we were just high on life and happy to be cruising. We stopped by Cafe al Bacio to listen to the Party Band KutaBeat in the Grand Foyer for a while before turning in for the night.

First Sea Day - Sunday, June 25 I rose early and shuffled around in the dark to get my athletic gear on and braid my hair without waking DH. I'd brought along a pack of glow bracelets to serve as a bit of a night light and it was just enough to do the trick. (This pic was obviously taken with the cabin lights on later.) I was up on Deck 14 by 5:30 AM, before the heat and the crowds arrived. There were quite a few other walkers/joggers on the track, but not enough to make it feel crowded at all. The best part was getting to witness a beautiful sunrise at sea. Then it was back to the stateroom to nudge DH awake for the day. He is most definitely NOT an early riser. We ate breakfast in Silhouette and went up to the hot glass studio as DH was scheduled for the first class of the day. When we got there, the furnace had gone cold overnight and it was going to be a while before they got her fired up, if they could even get it going again at all. DH was instructed to check back in the afternoon to see about rescheduling. So, then we went to deck 12 forward, but the wind was too much to bear at the speed we were traveling. Up on deck 15 in front of the sports court was no better. So it was off to the aft to watch the wake and kill some time. There was a ballroom dance class in the Grand Foyer at 11:30 - Cha Cha with Cruise Director Lewis Power. We know the cha cha, but learned a new variation on the steps so it was still fun. Then it was back to Silhouette for lunch. As pre-diabetic, I think I've got pretty good self-control, but sometimes it's just easier to have a set menu to choose from. Buffets can get somewhat overwhelming. Besides, I'm a mom to five at home and would really just like to sit down and have someone else serve me while on vacation. You know? We were seated at a nice window table for two and got to watch the waves go by. I declined a starter, by DH chose the fried mozzarella sticks. Not particularly elegant fare, but just a tasty as any you'd get back home. For entrées, I selected the teriyaki duck breast (excellent with the perfect amount of ginger - yum!). DH had the grilled New York Steak which he claimed was very good. We also ordered the BBQ pork panini to share and it was delicious, as well. And finally, I declined dessert but DH had the lemon sorbet which he loved and ordered again later in the cruise. Then it was off to the Solarium for a relaxing afternoon. When we got there, the crowd had thinned out some but it still took a bit of searching until we finally found one lounger open on which to stash our belongings. One of the hot tubs had a group of teens that were slightly loud, but not quite obnoxious, and they had it filled to over-capacity. A pool attendant and an officer were speaking to them when we arrived and I overheard the officer say "over 16". Shortly after that, the group left without any commotion and the Solarium was very peaceful every time we were there for the remainder of the cruise. We sat in the pool for awhile and DH was a bit disappointed to find that it was so shallow. Then we jumped in an open hot tub for two rounds of bubbles before finding that a second lounger had opened up next to the one we'd claimed. So, I will admit to taking a nice little afternoon nap as I had only gotten four hours of sleep the night before. Then we stopped by the hot glass studio again and were relieved to see the furnace was blazing and classes were currently being held. DH was placed on the schedule for a 5:40 class the following evening.

Embarkation Day - Saturday, June 24 Stopped by Cafe al Bacio before dinner. DH chose a vanilla éclair that didn't live up to expectations as there was almost no cream filling, and a lemon tartlet that won him over. I had a chocolate tartlet that was pretty good and a fruit tart which was a hit with me. I got one every time they were available from then on out. We'd opted for a table for two and traditional late dining at 8:30 PM, so we were on Deck 3 for Silhouette. I'd hoped for a window seat, but we were seated right next to the wall for Luminae. It turned out to be the perfect spot, however, as most of the dining room was very dark but we had lights directly above us so we could actually see our menus and food. DH ordered a Mexican Firing Squad for a pre-dinner cocktail which he decided was okay, but wouldn't order again. He let me try a sip but, as I'm not a fan of tequila to begin with, it didn't suit me. We'd been following the menus (and all the changes) on the Celebrity app for a little while, so we were pretty disappointed to find out we were going to be guinea pigs for a stripped down menu. Several of the items we were hoping to try were missing. We always found something tasty that suited us, but did feel a little cheated. When we got home, the app showed the previous menus had returned for the next cruise. Grrrr! The menu: For starters, DH tried escargot for the first time and decided he like it. I stole one off his plate to try and decided that I did not. He also had the cream of wild forest mushroom soup, which he also liked. I had the roasted red beets which were delicious with the creamiest Feta I've ever eaten. But my French onion soup (that I had been so looking forward to trying) was a slight let down. It had excellent flavor and wasn't too salty, but it was all broth with only a couple of onions. Not sure what happened there. For the night's main entrée, we both selected the aged prime rib and it was perfect. And rounding it out with dessert, DH had the cheesecake with strawberry and I had the chocolate cherry trifle. Both were excellent. After dinner, we went up to the Sky Lounge hoping for some late night dancing, but the floor was absolutely packed with a younger crowd that seemed to be slightly inebriated and/or high on life. It wasn't our scene and I was a little disappointed, honestly. I hoped this wasn't going to turn out to be a "party" cruise. We wandered the upper decks for a bit enjoying the fresh air, then went back to my favorite spot in front of the fitness center on deck 12. It was midnight now so I figured we would've surely cleared the coast of Florida, but there were city lights looming up before us. Then someone above us on deck 15 (in front of the sports court) mentioned to the passengers around him that there had been a medical emergency and the captain had turned back to Miami. We never did find out what the emergency was or the outcome for the passenger, but I hope he or she is okay. Once we reached the buoys marking the entrance to the Port of Miami, we felt the engines stop and a Coast Guard vessel came out to meet us. DH's brother is retired Coast Guard and had told DH some vessels were equipped with rocket jets. At the rate of speed they were traveling, he guessed they were using them. I was surprised they were going to do a vessel-to-vessel transfer at sea, but it was interesting to witness. The Coast Guard pulled right up along our port side. As we were on the bow, I didn't feel comfortable leaning so far over the rail with my phone, but DH is much taller than I am and snapped a pic. Once the Coast Guard vessel was clear of the ship, we started back up again and she really got to moving, then. I'm guessing the captain was trying to make up for lost time. We did make it to our first port, Aruba, as scheduled. At this point, it was after 1 AM and time for bed.