Cruising into Twenty - Twenty two : Something old and something Nieuw

[scubacruiserx2]

Back on the ship we had my pocket camera ready  ( for videos ) and the Telephoto Canon for some reach . We cast off at about 16:30 and switched to video .

 

 

 

Switching back to the telephoto we could the Riu  and it's Moorish architecture in Palm Beach . And like the aforementioned Apple Leisure Group , it's an all inclusive and priced at $666 a night - it's a heck of a deal . You can see the red windmill just to the right of the building .

 

 

Back to video we were picking up speed as we were approaching the airport . The planes coming in for a landing have to wait until we have cleared the airport to avoid collisions .

 

 

 

 

 

 

And less then a minute later the first plane took off 

 

 

And after making a U turn we were headed North again

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Near the airport runway is some Palapas where we dove on our first visit to Aruba

 

 

You can learn to fly or dive here . We would be sticking to diving and photos and you can see my camera in the yellow case

 

 

 

Our first dive was a plane that after cleaning was placed underwater as artificial reef . On the tail of the plane Pat spotted an octopus which normally sleep in the day but it was feeding so it was awake .

 

 

 

 

It was afraid that we would steal it's meal so it tried to scare us by puffing open and changing color 

 

Afterward we swam through the plane

 

 

On the Nieuw Amsterdam we could see the oil refinery to the South

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

It was a three ring circus of Carnival owned ship lines in Aruba

 

 

 

 

We could see our next aft corner balcony in this photo leaving a week from Tuesday

 

 

Oil rigs at sea

 

 

 

As we were leaving the Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Sea was moving in to spend the night . It's name sounds like a soup .

 

 

Collision course ?

 

 

A pre dinner sunset

 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

While dressing for diner we perused the menu at the Tamarind on TV

 

 

 

 

Pat chose a Cucumber Mojito and I picked a plan B Saketini

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We were getting to know our servers pretty well and we had Apple on nights 1 and 4 and Aya on nights 2 and 3 . First up was the Shrimp Crackers

 

 

Followed by Jewels of the Sea soup ( it sounds like the name of a Royal Caribbean ship)

 

 

Next was a Satay Sampler and a Thai Beef Salad , The beef was cooked properly but still very chewy

 

 

 

It was followed by Lobster and Shrimp Potstickers and Fried Soft Shell Crab

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Main courses

 

Wasabi and Soy Crusted Beef Tenderloin and Wok Seared Lobster

 

 

 

 

Dungeness Crab Fried Rice

 

 

Bento and Yuzu Cheesecake

 

 

 

 

[puppycanducruise]

Hope your Tamarind dinner tasted as good as it looked.

[scubacruiserx2]

10 minutes ago, puppycanducruise said:

Hope your Tamarind dinner tasted as good as it looked.

It really did . But we over ordered and over ate .🥨

[scubacruiserx2]

We woke on our first of 2 days at sea to a morning with odd lighting and overcast conditions . It was also an interesting sunrise . The Princess ship came out of some rain and looked like a ghost ship on fire .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Today's Travel Tip - Cruisemapper.com It gives ship info , deck plans , Itineraries and position ( tracker ) .

[scubacruiserx2]

Breakfast was at our happy place . Full English Breakfast for Milady and Eggcellent Benedict with English sausage .

 

 

They have good fresh squeezed 0J and we brought a gift from the Captain on the first day to add some bubbles .

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

When we were taking to Alvin and Wency at the Retreat on HMC day we had mentioned that we had enjoyed the Caribbean Lobster and that was what we would miss the most by not going ashore . They told us that if we gave them a 2 day notice on a day at sea that they could make it happen here on the ship . We did make that request and they said to meet them at lunch time . We were up top earlier in the day and it didn't look too promising .

 

 

 

 

The rain seemed to come and go and when it was dry they would open the sunroof over the pool .

 

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

We did go up at lunchtime and caught a couple showers

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Rain at the Retreat . Rice  in the Salt . Mr Margarita and Mrs Mojito . Open Sesame . Lunch is served .

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Calamari and Lobster . We were almost alone because of the rain . We were charged $20 p.p. The best $40 that we spent on the trip !

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

A couple of video clips

 

The ships announcements at lunch

 

 

 

A wake view on a rainy day

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

With a down day at sea I wanted to take some better photos of NS #7131 . I used my Sony pocket camera first and now I switched to a Canon with a wide angle lens for Halfacts . This was our favorite NS and had the most room inside at about 500 sq ft. inside .

 

 

 

The TV was in a different position instead of behind the couch

 

 

 

 

 

Facing toward the front door

 

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[RuthC]

28 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

The TV was in a different position instead of behind the couch

It's still impossible to watch from the couch. How is anybody supposed to watch TV in that room??? 

[scubacruiserx2]

Dressing and changing area

 

Shower

 

 

Whirlpool tub

 

 

 

Light stayed on at night

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The verandah

 

This was not our favorite . 

 

 

 

 

That belongs to the Zuiderdam # 5191

 

[scubacruiserx2]

After lunch was a nice nap as the sea had calmed

 

 

The pool was open for business

 

 

 

The Capri cabana

 

 

 

 

 

We had ordered a Tribeca Pizza for a snack and all we had to do was wait for delivery

 

 

It sounds like the kind of pizza that we get from California Pizza Kitchen . Roasted Chicken , red Onion , Cilantro , BBQ sauce and Smoked Mozzarella .

 

 

 

The Pizza was a warm mess . Lots of chicken and dough but little else . The BBQ sauce tasted like the tomato sauce from SpaghettiOs . If the lunch at the Retreat was it's finest hour then the Pizza was it's Waterloo .

 

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

The sea and sky had a very calming and almost hypnotic effect .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Dinner was at the Pinnacle Grill and is was as busy as we had seen it all cruise .

 

 

We had brought our own Red and White

 

 

First up was the Escargot followed by candied Bacon and Shrimp Cocktail

 

 

 

 

Pat's King Salmon was good but didn't photograph well . The Filet Mignon had a good sear and I was concerned that it was over cooked but it was perfect . It was nice and tender so unlike the tough Turf that I had on New Year's Eve .

 

 

 

 

 

I felt like we were at the Crowne Grill on the Enchanted Princess . We have our first dinner booked there on week from tonight . Desert was the Creme Brulee and Key Lime Pie .

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Tzarina will be the Champagne of choice for my Queen on the Valentine's Day cruise .

 

 

 

 

Tsarine Champagne is available at The Champagne Company and was created by Maison Chanoine founded in 1730. Leading aspects of French life, culture, fashion and language resonated greatly within Russian high society at that time and one of France's most important and beautiful illustrations was most admired - Champagne.

Cuvee Tsarine was created in honour of the Russian Empire which in the 19th Century was the prominent export market for Champagne and the bottle design reflects the swirling spires of St. Basils Cathedral in Moscow, redolent of the great Russian dynasties.

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by scubacruiserx2

[rkacruiser]

1 hour ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

First up was the Escargot followed by candied Bacon and Shrimp Cocktail

 

I still don't understand the popularity of this candied Bacon.  It seems such an odd appetizer.  I will  have to try this during my next HAL cruise.  Escargot?  I'll take two, please.