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!!