We Really Did Go to Nassau!

And On to Nassau! 

Geri & Big Daddy

Dorothy at The Queen's Staircase

What a wonderful surprise, we really DID wake up in Nassau!  I hadn't been there in at least three or four years and it was a first for Geri so we booked a tour after we got off the ship.  Once we'd looked around at the offerings both inside and outside the secure area of the port we found Big Daddy's Taxi & Tours.  Big Daddy takes about 10 - 14 people on a 2 1/2 hour tour of Nassau (which was just about all the time we had) and everyone is family on Big Daddy's tour.  Big Daddy is not shy, and his tour was pretty funny.  He jokingly claims to be the father of Ana Nicole Smith's baby (but he was on vacation so they never took his DNA) and he showed us the Governor's Mansion, Parliament, Princess Margaret Hospital,  Fort Fincastle, the Queen's Staircase, a rum bar, rum cake factory, Atlantis Resort & Casino, the Straw Market and more .  I'd go with Big Daddy again, he was a hoot, and he's a hard worker (and he kept track of all the stragglers).  If you're going to Nassau and want a short tour you can reach him here.

Atlantis Hotel & Casino

Then it was back to the ship (and our feet were already sore, but I did the 45 minute in the gym thing - earning two desserts at dinner), and then went to the Travel Agent talk with Vicki Freed and Michael Bayley.  What was really great this afternoon though was the parade on the Promenade Deck that started at 4:45 PM.   Everyone loves a parade, and when you get one with fairy tale princesses, Puss 'n Boots, Shrek, and other Dream Works characters, not to mention knights in white horses (yes, in not on), junkanoo dancers and lively music ... well it's a great little parade! 

 

 Cruise to Nowhere - But Was it Really?!

My Dorothy went on her first cruise in almost 600 days.  I can't count that high using my paws but she has this little thing she calls by letters and numbers, HP12C, and she says it told her she hadn't been away in a l-o-o-o-n-g time.  Anyway she left me here, even though I laid down on her winter coat and would not get up the night before - I thought she would stay here if she couldn't put  her coat on. I was kind of frantic once I realized she was gone but I didn't really notice that she'd left until I finished licking the peanut butter bone she gave me - that was kind of sneaky of her. She knows how distracted I am by food! Thankfully she was home in less than 48 hours, but she did lots of cool stuff in that short time.  Here's what she had to say:

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas -Re-Inaugural 2015

On January 12th I received an invitation from Cruise Planners Home Office to participate in a Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas "Revitalization Event".  Included was the following information:

Geris' First Cruise

The Freedom departs from Port Canaveral and this will be a 2 night preview event (cruise to nowhere). 
I asked Geri if she wanted to go with me on a "Cruise to Nowhere" and after explaining what that was she said "Sure, why not?" It was Geri's first cruise (despite 6 years in the Navy), and I'd been trying to get her on a ship since last May.  So I was very surprised when the captain announced during the lifeboat drill that we would be heading for Nassau.  In fact, I leaned over to Geri and said "Somebody better tell the Captain that this is a cruise to nowhere". 

We drove to Port Canaveral from Jacksonville, only about 2 1/2 hours, and even though the weather wasn't PERFECT it was about 140 miles closer to South Florida and you could feel the difference.  Geri tried not to seem to excited - but she did go get a mani-pedi before we left, so that was a little bit of  a giveaway.  She hates having her picture taken, but I would not let that deter me from recording her FIRST CRUISE!!!

The Freedom of the Seas looks terrific!  Upgrades accomplished during dry dock included new bed frames, mattresses, sheets, pillows, duvets and flat-screen TV's in every stateroom. The Vintages Wine Bar has been renovated, there are first run movies in the 3D theater and poolside, the Britto Water Park looks sparkling new and the DreamWorks experience was wonderful.  Our first exposure to DreamWorks aboard this ship was at the Sail Away party held just after the lifeboat drill.  Nothing like watching King Julien  and Gloria the Hippo dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller".

After dinner both Geri and I made contributions to the Casino, yes - we got sucked in.  But nothing major and then the new bedding seemed to shout our names more loudly than the dance party at 11 PM.  I MUST be growing old, I never would have missed a dance party in my 20's!  Where will we be tomorrow?  At Sea?  In Nassau?  Who knows ... it doesn't matter as long as I'm on a cruise!!