More Dockside Activity - Nassau, Bahamas

Good morning,

This is a continuation of yesterday's post documenting the preparations for removal of four, two ton propeller blades from Freedom of the Seas in Nassau, Bahamas.

This huge crane will be used to move equipment for the project and the propeller blades themselves.

Officers are on the dockside to supervise the activities.

Here the Chief Engineer and other officers watch from the gangway.  Behind them, in blue shirts are some of the Miami Divers, the company hired to perform the underwater removal of the propeller blades.

 The Staff Captain and Captain are also on the scene.

 I definitely have the best spot to get pictures.  I'm standing on deck 4 of Freedom of the Seas.  I can move back and forth along the deck to get images of all of the action.

 The Captain and Chief Engineer consult about the job...

 ...as a giant piece of machinery the divers will use is removed from the ship. 

 The divers assemble their equipment as soon as it is on the dock.

 Behind the ship a yellow oil boom is in place as a precaution in case there is any oil leakage.  I didn't need to be used, but was there just in case.  The small yellow boat is Freedom's rescue boat, in place also for safety in case it is needed.

 Oxygen tanks for the divers are removed from the black pick up truck...

...that will then be used to pull the orange paint cleaning machine into place.

Assembly continues as the machine is pulled into place.

 Stay tuned. 

Tomorrow we will see all four propeller blades out of the water.

Lois

Preparation for Removal of Propeller Blades - Freedom of the Seas in Nassau, Bahamas

Good morning,

We are in Nassau, Bahamas, aboard Freedom of the Seas.  What you see on the dockside below is a pair of giant cranes that will move equipment ashore to be used to help divers remove four, two tons (each!) propeller blades from the ship.

The cranes were on the dock when we arrived.

The entire process was extremely well planned and executed.

The ship was tied up...

 ...the divers were here.  The are standing under the shelter on the left of this image.

 Across the channel is the famous Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island.  An aside:  before being renamed Paradise Island, this was Hog Island because the pigs were kept here.  My, how things have changed!

 Security was quickly set up on the dock so guests could go ashore and visit Nassau.  We remained here overnight so guests had a chance to sample the night life of Nassau.

 Back to the aft part of the ship, the crane was moving into place to move ashore the heavy equipment the divers would use.

 I had the perfect place to take pictures of the action from deck 4 of Freedom.

 The gangway is now in place.

 The flat bed truck you see on the dock is in place to receive the propeller blades when they are out of the water.

Stay tuned!  This is quite a process.  More images to come tomorrow....

Lois

Unusual Visit to Nassau, Bahamas

Good morning,

Earlier this month we had a very unusual visit to Nassau, Bahamas, aboard Freedom of the Seas.

The lighthouse above is at the entrance to the port.

It has been awhile since we have been here.  The commercial part of the part has grown.

Over on Paradise Island is the famous Atlantis Hotel, Shops, and Casino.

It was overcast and rainy when we pulled in.  I walked to the aft of the ship to take pictures as we pulled into our "parking spot."

 It appears there is a new roof being installed on the covered shopping mall that is where cruise passengers must pass between the ship and the town.

 I've seen the tug Amber Jack here for thirty years.

 It was early and chilly when we pulled in.  There were no people at Senor Frogs and no one on the beach at the hotel next door.

 Our Azi PODs stirred up the sand as we pulled into the dock.

I have an amazing series of images to show you over the next few days as four huge propeller blades were removed by divers.

Stay tuned!

Lois

Johnny Rockets - Freedom of the Seas

Good morning,

I only go to Johnny Rockets aboard Freedom of the Seas when our daughter is on board.  If I went any more often than that, I would have to be taken off the ship as cargo!

Before you even put your order in, the fries and onion rings arrive.  I just LOVE onion rings!

I had a great time with our friends Martha (not pictured), Russell (left), our Aunt Carol (right), and daughter Catherine (not pictured.)

And, of course, the servers in Johnny Rockets also entertain...

 ...by dancing.  I just loved the expressions of the little guy sitting in the booth behind me as he watched the servers dance.  So cute!

 Good friends, good food, good fun at Johnny Rockets! 

Enjoy,
Lois

Navigator of the Seas - Falouth, Jamaica

Good morning,

We shared the port of Falmouth, Jamaica, with Navigator of the Seas, one of our sister ships. 

This doesn't happen all the time so when it does, it is fun to take pictures of this and the other beautiful ships in our Royal Caribbean fleet. 

I took this series of pictures as we were pulling into the port aboard Freedom of the Seas.

We got a good view of the new staterooms that have been added on the top deck.

 Similar staterooms will be added to Freedom of the Seas in dry dock next month.

 The Viking Crown Lounge - that huge round thing at the top - makes it easy to spot RCCL ships from a distance.

 There were people watching Freedom of the Seas pull in as we took pictures of them. 

Navigator of the Seas is a similar design, but slightly smaller ship than Freedom.

So pretty!


Lois