Flow Rider - Freedom of the Seas

Good morning,

There is always something new on cruise ships.  Here is the Flow Rider high atop Freedom of the Seas.  There's a sign-up for those who want to use the Flow Rider and classes are provided. 

Here's a view from the top side looking down.  You can see there is quite an audience.  We were part of the audience here, not some of the participants.  ;)

Another day I took a picture of the Flow Rider while empty.  It's interesting to see how simple the whole thing is that provides so much fun!

So much to do on board!

Lois

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Speedo Women's Race Lycra Blend Learn to Swim Solid Superpro Back One Piece Swimsuit, Black, 34

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Elegant Dining at Sea

Good morning,

Of course, a big part of cruising is the wonderful meals served on board.

These first two pictures were taken of the top deck of a three deck huge dining room aboard Freedom of the Seas.  The dining room was closed at the time I took these pictures.

This is the first deck of the dining room while dinner was being served on a casual dress evening.  The three levels of the dining room are connected by a huge open area in the center and grand staircase.

And, for those who asked about pictures of us on this cruise, here are Catherine and Carol (seated) with me standing behind them. 

Cruising is so much fun especially with family!

Enjoy,
Lois

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 Royal Caribbean Holiday Entertaining

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Towel Art

Good morning,

Those of us who cruise know about the darling critters that stateroom attendants leave for us when they tidy up our staterooms.

The two swans above were made by our stateroom attendant, Diane, aboard Freedom of the Seas.

This hanging critter was made by Stateroom Attendant, Karen, for Catherine and Carol's stateroom.

The third one is also one of Karen's creatures.  This one is reading the daily Cruise Compass, surely looking for a fun activity for the evening.

There are many, many more critters made by the stateroom attendants.  The critters are so popular that there is even an activity on board where the art is taught by the attendants to guests.  Lots of cruising fun!

Enjoy,
Lois

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Hotel Collection Bath Towels, Microcotton Luxury 30" x 54" Bath Towel Optic White

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Snorkel at Coco Cay, Bahamas

Good morning,

This is my daughter Catherine's sea level view of Freedom of the Seas as she prepared to take a look below the surface with her snorkel gear and Canon PowerShot D10 camera.  We bought the camera just for Catherine to use this way.

Nearby were others snorkeling...

...and wonderful views of the ocean floor.

We are all delighted with the camera...

...and the great pictures Catherine took.

There are so many beautiful things to see.

Here's a conch eating his way through the sea grass.  Hopefully, he won't become a conch fritter and his shell a decoration for someone's coffee table.

There are some very colorful fish...

...and snorkelers.

So pretty.

Some look curious about the snorkelers...

...but most...

...don't seem to care.

There is a crashed airplane for snorkelers... 

...and the fish to explore.

The underwater colors are just exquisite.

Finally, Catherine surfaces once again.  This is the sea level view of the beach where she started.

Thank you, Catherine, for the gorgeous pictures!  I hope everyone has enjoyed them.

Best,
Lois

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U.S. Divers Cozumel Seabreeze Dry Proflex II Mask, Fins and Snorkel Set (Medium/Large) 

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At the Beach - Coco Cay, Bahamas

Good morning,

Daughter Catherine, Aunt Carol, and I spent a morning on Coco Cay, Bahamas, enjoying the sun and sand.  This was an extremely hot day.  Our plan was to stay just for the morning and return to Freedom of the Seas for lunch.

Catherine went to snorkel while Carol and I enjoyed a shady spot to sit and talk.

A picnic lunch is served on Coco Cay, but we didn't eat ashore.  We had the same menu back on board Freedom in the Windjammer a little later.

We strolled over to take a look at the shops at the Straw Market.

When I first visited Coco Cay about 20 years ago, there was a straw market, but it was only a row of tables of merchandise that the locals had available for sale.  The Straw Market still offers merchandise from the locals, but now there are buildings and much more available for sale.

We took a look this time, but didn't make any purchases.  It's always fun to look. 

As lunch time got closer, we boarded the tender once again to go back to Freedom of the Seas.  Above you can see the dock and one of the para-sailing boats.

  This is a view from the tender of some of the shops.

Soon we were out of the cove at Coco Cay and on our way back to Freedom of the Seas to take a shower and have lunch on board.  It was good to be back on board the air conditioned mother ship for lunch!

Tomorrow I'll share some images Catherine took with the underwater camera. 

Best,
Lois

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 Picnic Time Malibu Insulated Shoulder Pack with Deluxe Picnic Service for 2, Navy Blue

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Tendering to Coco Cay, Bahamas

Good morning,

The first day Catherine and Carol were with us on board Freedom of the Seas we took the tender boat between the ship and the private island destination, Coco Cay, Bahamas.

Freedom is such a large ship that there are two tender stations on the same side of the ship so guests can be quickly shuttled ashore for a day at the beach.

The tender we are on just left that tender station to the right.  There is another tender loading at the station on the left.

As we pulled away from the tender station, the huge size of the ship becomes apparent.

A litter further out, we got a different view of Freedom.

Cameras clicked...

...and soon we had a truly amazing view.  Unfortunately, I never seem to have as much camera as there is ship!

Just a few minutes later, we pulled into a small cove at Coco Cay.

 This little island has changed dramatically in the twenty or more years I have been coming here.   Back at the beginning there were are few beach chairs on a beautiful beach.  The chairs and beach are still here, but now there is everything from scuba to para-sailing available.

We pulled in beside another tender and soon were on Coco Cay.

Tomorrow I will have a few pictures of the island.  There are so many things to do here that we didn't have time to do them all, but we certainly enjoyed our quiet morning on the island.  That's the beauty of the visit to Coco Cay:  you have so many choices to do whatever you want to do.

Best,

Lois

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 The Rough Guide to The Bahamas 2 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

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