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About the Header Image: Idlebrook Wendy Darling Evensen "Wendy" one of our three Labrador Retrievers.

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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Come Walk With Me - February, 2011

Good morning,

We will soon leave Freedom of the Seas and travel back to the snow and cold of Ohio.  Here are are a few images to wrap up our very enjoyable time at sea.

The image above is part of the stairway art that I haven't yet shared here.  I went back to take this image especially for my blog friends who love birds. 
Here is another piece of art I hadn't yet photographed.  This is a large wall mosaic in the Solarium on Deck 11.
This is the Schooner Bar on deck 4.  Those are ships in bottles in the shadow boxes on the wall.
And, just a few steps away in the other direction the sun was shining down from the deck 12 skylights to deck 4.
I saw the Chief Engineer and his Engine Department posing for a picture so I took a picture, too.  ;)
 
 Up to deck 5, I walked past the Florist Cart in the Royal Promenade.  The flowers on board are always so beautiful!
Another trip to the top deck, there is the trusty ice cream machine where guests can make their own ice cream cones.
 I couldn't pass that up a couple of days ago when I took pictures of that crew life boat drill.  I almost forgot to get a picture of the cone, didn't I!
 
 Out on the water a sailboat from Norway was anchored next to one from the United States.
 Behind me darling little ones were enjoying the winter sun in the Caribbean.
 Port days are always good days to go to the pool.  You'll have plenty of space and the pool almost to yourself.
 It was soon time to pack and say goodbye to Freedom of the Seas for a few weeks.
 Oh, yes, we will be back.
 As I walked down a forward stairway I took this image of artwork appropriately hung by the pool deck.
 And, here is something people often ask about.  During the cruise I saw two assist dogs.  One was a Yellow Lab, the other a Black Lab.  Since we have one of each at home (ours are agility dogs) I was so delighted to see them.  I saw them in elevators, both times when I had my hands full of plates of food (gotta have snackies!)  from the Windjammer that I was bringing back to our stateroom.

I looked for the dogs throughout the rest of that week hoping to ask to take an image or two, but never saw them again.  The above image answers the commonly asked question, though.  This is the potty stop box of grass placed far aft on an outside deck.  It is so wonderful that assist dogs are accommodated on board.

 So, that's my February, 2011, wrap up walk.  I hope you've enjoyed walking with me once again.

Tomorrow I will pack up the last few things including my knit and crochet projects.  The day after tomorrow we will be on the road home.

Very best,
Lois

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Excursion Boats in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.

Good morning,

While you are cruising on huge cruise ships, you'll visit many ports of call.  There are many choices of activities while in those ports both ashore and on the water.  Here are some images of some of the choices of water excursions.
This tour boat arrived in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. to pick up a group of people for an excursion.  Before starting out, they took their dingy out for a test run.
It wasn't long before the passengers had boarded and were on their way out for a day on this beautiful sailboat.
Other excursions on the water are this catamaran,
 this speedboat,
 or, for a more relaxed ride, this excursion boat to cruise around the island and enjoy the sights.

Ah, yes, a day on the water. 

Enjoy!

Lois

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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

On the Way to Coco Cay

Good morning,

Our port of call today is Coco Cay, Bahamas, one of Royal Caribbean's private islands.  The island is so small that there is not a dock big enough for the cruise ships to dock.
These are the tender boats that are used to transport people between the ship and the island.  Riding the tender is part of the cruise experience.  It's a very quick trip...
...before you find yourself at the beach, or snorkeling, or para sailing....

Ah, yes, a day at the beach!

Enjoy!
Lois

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Monday, February 21, 2011

Crew Lifeboat Drill - Freedom of the Seas

Good morning,

A recent morning in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., while doing last-week-aboard things and organizing for packing aboard Freedom of the Seas an announcement was made that there would be a crew lifeboat drill.

I have four more days so can get back to packing in a couple of days....  ;)
I took my camera to deck 12 and soon was able to take pictures...
...of what looked as if they could be alien pods...
 ...in a science fiction movie.
 I looked straight down and could see the lifeboats being quickly launched.
 More and more of them....
 ...were on the water.
 If you look carefully, you can see guests on balconies below who are also watching the launching of the lifeboats.
 It's quite a picture here of the yellow pods with the anchored sailboats.
 The whole process was quite fast.
 Soon the starboard life boats were returned to the ship and shore leave was granted to the crew members involved in the drill.

OK, time to get back to organizing and packing after ten weeks on board. 

Enjoy!
Lois



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Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Yacht Cakewalk

Good morning,

We see many beautiful sailboats and yachts out here while cruising around on board Freedom of the Seas.  This yacht Cakewalk caught my eye while we were in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
Cakewalk was waiting to and finally did pull in and tie up on the dock at the right side of this image.  You can see many other beautiful yachts here also.
When I see interesting yachts I often look them up on line to learn a little of the history about them.
 According to what I found on line, Cakewalk was built in the USA for owner George Gallagher of Denver.  She's a luxury yacht that can be chartered...
 ...for $1 million per week. 

So, now when you're ready for a private cruise with a few friends, here's a great yacht for you!

Thanks for all of your good wishes for a good trip home.  There are a few more posts coming from here on the ship, then the trip home.  We're going through Cherokee, North Carolina again and look forward to seeing some snow.  

Very best,
Lois

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Saturday, February 19, 2011

Portofino Italian Restaurant - Freedom of the Seas

Good morning,

I just had to share a couple more pictures of food!

The image at the top is the bread and spread selections at Portofino Italian Restaurant aboard Freedom of the Seas.
And, this is the surf and turf dinner that I enjoyed.  The fabulous food is just part of the cruising experience.

I will just let the images speak for themselves. 

And, just a note on timing:  We are in the process of wrapping up and packing up for our trip North to Ohio.  My blog is running a few days behind where we are while are are in this "moving from ship to shore" mode.  

Best,
Lois

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Friday, February 18, 2011

Solarium Hot Tub - Freedom of the Seas

Good morning,

Several times I have walked past the hot tubs in the Solarium on board Freedom of the Seas so that I could get a picture of them.  This is the first time I have been there when no one was using them so I am comfortable taking pictures.  ;)
There is one of these on each side of the ship on Deck 11.  The hot tub literally hangs off the side of the ship so the views are spectacular.
The Solarium and the hot tubs here are reserved for adults only.  Ah, what a beautiful place to relax.
 This is an image of the hot tub from Deck 12 above.  Yes, that's it on the left hanging off the side of the ship.

Enjoy!
Lois

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