Back to the Islands
Midwinter Break
Saba Island, seen in the distance from St. Maarten. Saba is 28 miles away.
The volcano, Mount Scenery, is potentially active, but the last eruption was in 1640.
The pod extending out from the cruise ship appears to be a control room used in docking.
The bathrooms in St. Maarten aren't fancy, but they don't want you to wash your feet in their sinks.
Snack bar near the port. We didn't stop there, but it had an air of authenticity about it.
Interior hallway on the ship. These were interior rooms, stacked back to back.
A British cruise ship in St. Thomas. Everyone appeared to be on this upper deck, watching a football match. As near as we could figure out, it was the "FA Cup third round replay between Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers" on January 15th. Manchester won 5-0, and the crowd went crazy, waving British flags for the next hour or so.
Karen & her brother Chip's girlfriend Brenda at the Viking Lounge on Deck 14.
The bar at Morningstar Resort on St. Thomas, where we went to swim.
Two drinks, $30 (gratuity included).
We had to reboard the ship at 2:30 for a 3:00 departure. This is what happens when you don't get back to the ship early--the joys of mass tourism.
The presidential suite aboard the Freedom of the Seas. Relatively narrow, but with a wide outside balcony facing the stern. There were two staterooms on either side, two of which also opened on to the balcony.
The interior promenade, six decks high, with specialty shops.
Facing the bow there were several theaters.
High tech: touch screen locators were available around the ship.
The family that plays bingo together, stays together. They sold four cards for eight games for $32.
Judging from the estimated handle and the prizes awarded, the house does fairly well with these games.
One of the lounges where the cruise company sells future cruises, etc.
Welcoming signs in various languages. On this trip it seemed the majority of passengers were English speakers. Other times there have been more people from other countries.
Karen worships at the shrine of the one-armed bandit.
It gladly accepted her offerings.
The "flow rider" on the rear upper deck. Powerful pumps simulated a surfing experience.
On board "rock climbing." There was a guy in Key West a number of years ago who claimed he invented this diversion. He had one mounted on a trailer.
And they definitely don't want you washing your feet in the bathrooms in St. Maarten.
