As I stood on the veranda the sun broke through just before we eased into Fort Lauderdale port Friday morning, January 4, 2013. The Zuiderdam maneuvered slowly through the channel as the world woke around us. I enjoyed the last few minutes of movement through the water, knowing that I would soon be disembarking and headed home, rested, a little tanned, and with a few extra cruise pounds to shed in the coming days! I thought back on the week we had spent on board ship.
We had sailed on December 28. After our lifeboat drill, we enjoyed our first evening aboard getting unpacked, acclimated, and having out dinner before movie trivia and the evening show. The next day was a day at sea. After a good walk around the deck with Traci, I enjoyed the sun and sea view on the veranda while Klep enjoyed a talk on the places we would visit. After all, part of the reason we were cruising at this time of the year was to enjoy the warmth, to relax, and for me to recuperate further from my recent surgery. I really don't need much excuse to sit and read with the sound of the water as we headed toward Grand Turk.
While we were on board, we thoroughly enjoyed afternoon tea. What isn't to like about tiny sandwiched, scones with cream and jam, and iced cakes? We also enjoyed our gourmet dinners every night although I did decide to forgo the bread!
Sunday morning the sun was just up when we slid into dock at Grand Turk. Rob and Traci had a morning of swimming and snorkeling. I had a morning of delightful slothfulness before I went to an early afternoon movie matinee of "People Like Us" before tea. Our trivia team, the Klep Kats, was in place for the afternoon competition along with a room full of other teams. Although we never won the general trivia contest, we did well enough to not be embarrassed! Klep and I went to the interdenominational service before dinner and the evening show featuring James Cielan, an illusionist who made doves appear and disappear and who had two quite cute poodles which he fortunately did not make disappear.
Monday was a full day with glorious lolling in the morning followed by docking at San Juan, Puerto Rico, a tour around the old and new city, tromping up and down ramps of the old fort (begun in 1539), wading in the ocean, and more luscious lolling before we donned our dress up duds for New Year's Eve. We had had a good historical experience at the old fort, and after all that exercise, we were ready for dinner and the comedy show following.
Tuesday's dawn revealed the beautiful hills of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Since we had not excursions scheduled, we took our time leaving the boat in the warm tropical air and under clear blue skies.
The color of the water was deep turquoise; the hills lush with vegetation and tropical blooms. After going ashore, we found a tour taxi to take us around the island and up to the highest point where we got a view of the town, inlets, celebrity houses, and harbor below.
Words are inadequate to describe the beauty of the water. By four p.m., we were watching the last passengers make a dash toward the ship, the last two arriving in a police cruiser which delivered them to the gangway shortly after we were scheduled to leave. The policewoman stood outside her cruiser and accepted the applause and cheers of those of us on board waiting for the late arrivals.
Tuesday night was my favorite cruise entertainment: Island Magic, a steel band which played classical and favorites from musicals.
Wednesday we had a busy day swimming, reading, napping, going to seminars, having tea, and climaxing with our team win at Famous Faces Trivia. We proudly wore our prizes, Holland America pens, to dinner.
After some fairly rough seas Wednesday evening which rocked me to sleep, we were anchored at Half Moon Cay soon after dawn Thursday morning. By mid morning, we were on a tender headed to the beach to enjoy a morning in the sun, on the sugary sand, and in the blue, blue water swimming. What isn't wonderful about swimming the first week of January!
Thursday
afternoon we enjoyed a movie, our last trivia, ate a delicious dinner, and watched the stars from our veranda before settling down to a good night's sleep knowing we would awake to reality.
For us, cruising is as much about enjoying the experiences aboard the ship as it is the places we go. It is the fun of towel animals at night, the service of the stewards and the dining staff, the good food, and the people we meet.I always enjoy a trip through the galley where the 134 person staff prepares the dinners for the 1950 guests and the almost 800 crew members. Klep always finds some good computer ideas. We all enjoy the trivia games, the movies, and the good food. Most of all, I enjoy the view of the ocean, the fish we see, the birds, the moon over the water, the sunrises and the sunsets. Our trip this year made some good memories.
Friday morning, we gathered our bags , passed through immigration, collected our car and slowly returned to cooler weather and home.
