April 26, 2012 Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

We woke up to another sunny and warm day in the Bahamas. Up to the back outside buffet for breakfast. Waited around for awhile and then caught the tender over to Great Stirrup Cay.

Lots of construction going on, on the island. We walked around for awhile and then had lunch at the buffet on the island. Decided to head back to the ship as we both had gotten a bit too much sun yesterday.

Spent the afternoon resting and relaxing.

We went to a future cruise presentation and then got ready to go to dinner.

Dinner was in the pay Italian restaurant (thanks NCL). We started with an antipasto plate and bread. A complimentary bottle of Pino Grigio was brought to our table. For the appetizer, I had the tomato and mozzarella and Diane had the fried calamari. My main course was the special; pork tenderloin with gnocchi and Diane had the seafood linguini. We asked to share the Tiramisu for dessert but she talked us into both having our own. We both left very full but it was a wonderful meal.

We both are very tired and will have an early night. Back in Miami tomorrow morning. We have a city/water tour booked for 10am since we know we can't check into our hotel until the afternoon. I will try to update as often as I can but the hotel does not have free wifi :(

April 27, 2012 Miami, Florida

We woke up around 6:30am and headed up to watch the sun come up. Had breakfast at the buffet at the back of the ship and then back to the cabin to get ready to leave.

They started calling self-disembark people around 7:30am so we started to make our way down. We ended up at the doors and there were no other people there and we were off the ship in minutes. This was the quickest I have ever gotten off a ship. 

We grabbed a cab to our hotel and had them store our luggage. We sat in the lobby for a while until it was time to head to Bayside for our tour. The city tour was wonderful. We saw lots of areas of the city (South Beach, Coral Gables, Little Havana) and it really is a lovely city. 

Back to Bayside for a lunch stop and then on to the boat tour. We saw lots of huge mansions from the water. 

Once the tour was over we stopped for a quick drink before heading back to the hotel to check in. Our room this time has a pool view and the room has been renovated - very pretty.

We went out for a walk to the hotel Diane stayed at last time she was here (which is just down the street). We stopped for dinner at a bar between the two hotels and shared hummus and crab cakes.

Not sure why but there was lots of traffic in the downtown area tonight and the drivers love to use their horns! We walked around a bit more and then headed back to the hotel.

Tomorrow South Beach!

April 28, 2012 Miami, Florida

We woke to an overcast day. We got up and got ready and took the bus to South Beach. Got off at the pedestrian area near Lincoln Road. 

We got there around 10am but most stores didn't open until 11am so we just walked around. We walked over to Ocean Drive which is the area with lots of sidewalk cafes. As you pass each one, someone is standing outside trying to get you to come into their cafe. They all offer 2 for 1 drinks and there are lots of breakfast and lunch specials. 

We stopped at a place with cheap snack type food. We each got a beer (2 for 1) and I got the calamari and Diane got the shrimp which we shared. 

The food took a really long time to come out so the waiter brought us 2 more beer on him :). The food when it finally came was yummy. As we were sitting there we had our first celebrity sighting (well, sort of celebrity); Ross Matthews (Ross the intern from Jay Leno). We had read in the paper he was staying in the area and if I hadn't read that I don't think I would have recognized him. 

Just as we were getting ready to leave it started to rain. Most of the cafes have umbrellas so we could walk under them. It then started to rain even harder, so we stopped and waited for it to let up. This cafe had cheap drinks so we both got a small pina colada (we are on vacation).

Once the rain stopped we walked over to TJ Maxx and Diane bought a new pair of shoes as her feet had been really bothering her. Stopped at a Publix and then we got the bus back to our hotel. As we got close to the hotel, the traffic was really bad as there is a Miami Heat game today and there were lots of people heading there.

For dinner tonight we went down to the hotel bar. Diane had a beer and I had a diet Coke (trying to watch the calories lol). We shared a roasted pineapple pizza. Our order took so long that the waitress brought us each another drink on the house - deja vu from lunch.

We are hoping for better weather tomorrow since Diane would like to get a bit more sun before she heads home.

April 29, 2012 Miami, Florida

We woke to a windy and raining day in Miami :(

Lounged around the hotel for a while hoping it would clear up and when it didn't we put on our rain coats and headed out. We went shopping at a few stores near the hotel and I bought a pair of sandals at Ross (like Winners). 

We then stopped for lunch at a Caribbean chicken place. We both got the chicken quesadilla wrap which were very yummy. Lots of different sauces and condiments that you could put on your food and the prices were really cheap - the wraps were $2.99. The place was also very busy with locals which is always a great sign. 

Just as we finished eating, Diane noticed a man outside that was having what looked like a seizure in the street. We went outside and there was another man helping him. I asked if we should call 911 and the man said yes, so I ran back into the restaurant and asked someone to call. Back outside and a woman from a nearby store was on the phone with 911. Just then a man on a bike stopped and said he was a paramedic and immediately pulled out some gloves and started to help the man. The man had stopped seizing but there was a lot of blood near him. Nobody seemed to know exactly what happened. The ambulance finally arrived (but took much longer than we thought it should) and took the man away. 

We went back to our hotel and decided since the rain hadn't stopped, and we were soaked, we would watch a movie. We watched "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close". It was a different movie but we did enjoy it.

We went to the hotel restaurant for dinner - Diane's treat for my birthday :) We shared a shrimp cocktail and then I had the Thai chicken and noodle salad and Diane had crab cakes. Diane has been talking about crab cakes since her last visit to Miami 2 years ago, and she still has not found the same kind as she had before... For dessert we shared a  slice of Key Lime Pie (my new favourite).

Hoping for sun tomorrow.

April 30, 2012 Miami, Florida

Another rainy day in Miami :(

We went out and picked up a few last minutes things for me to take on my cruise. We then went to our favourite hang out for lunch - Chilli's Margarita Bar in Bayside Market. They have great 2 for 1 frozen margaritas. We shared a triple dipper which was 3 different appetizers - yummy!

Back to the hotel and since it wasn't raining we decided to head to South Beach. Walked around for a while and then it started to pour, and I mean pour!! We were soaked. Took the bus back to the hotel and changed into dry clothes.

We went to Bayside for dinner but we weren't hungry so just walked around. 

At the hotel they are having a wine festival - Spanish Rioja wines. We sat and each had a glass. Nice way to end our stay in Miami.

Hard to believe our 10 day trip is almost over. Diane flies home tomorrow and I start the next part of my trip, my 2nd cruise - this time solo.

May 1, 2012 Miami, Florida

Our last day in Miami was overcast but warm. We got up and packed. While packing a workman came to the door to update the TV but said he would come back after we checked out. We went down to see if my ship had come in :) and it had! Back to the room and since we were all packed, we told the workman they were welcome to work on the TV. So we were entertained by 4 different workman working on different things on the TV. They were upgrading the pay TV system. Nice guys!

We then went down and checked out and then sat for a few minutes in the lobby. Around 10:45am Diane said her goodbyes and left to catch her flight which leaves at 1:30pm. I am now sitting in the lobby writing this while I wait to take a cab to the port.

I arrived at the port around noon. They were trying to get people to take the shuttle to Bayside but since Diane and I had spent a lot of time there, I decided to just wait at the terminal. They said boarding wouldn't start until at least 3pm but I was on board by 1:40pm. Because a lot of people took the shuttle, there was not a lot of people on the ship for a while. Grabbed a bite to eat at the buffet and while I ate dessert (sugar free Key Lime square - yucky and fruit salad - yummy), I sat with a nice woman from Florida who is also travelling solo. After eating I thought it was time to have a sail away drink. Went to the pool bar and had a Mango Mai Tai. I sat next to a nice couple from England. I am really glad people so far have been really friendly and easy to talk to.

Then I went to the Sky bar to meet up with people from the Cruise Critic roll call. It is nice to finally put faces to people I have been talking to online for the last year.

Back to the cabin and my suitcase had arrived so I unpacked and settled in. 

When I finally looked at the clock I realized I had missed dinner. My dinner time is 6pm and it was 6:45. I went back up to the buffet and had some stir fry veggies and a very yummy oatmeal raisin cookie. 

At 7:30pm it was time for the muster drill. When I got to my muster station, there was the woman from lunch. It turns out her cabin is only a few away from mine. After muster I went around taking more photos and then back to the cabin to get the tripod as it was starting to get dark. 

Walked around a while longer and than it was time to call it a night. The seas are rocking just enough to put me right to sleep.

May 2, 2012 Sea Day

Woke to a sunny day on the Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures are in the low 20's and there is a nice breeze. Seas are very calm and the sea depth beneath the ship is 15,000 ft!!

Went down to the Promenade Cafe (much quieter than the buffet) and got a coffee and a muffin. After eating, I walked around the ship. I found a new place that has a bridge view area. When I tried to get back inside the doors wouldn't open and I had to flag down a couple passing on the inside who helped me pry open the doors. I guess I should have gone back in the way I went out - I will remember this next time :)

Back to the cabin and I grabbed a book and went up to the Solarium and read for a while.

 
At 10:45am there was trivia. Met a guy from my message board and we formed a team of 2. We ended with a score of 16/20 which we thought was pretty good since the winners got 19/20 but they were a team of 6+.

At 11:30am the time changed and it became 12:30pm so I went to get a bite to eat since tonight is formal night and I didn't want to miss dinner in the dining room again. Another trivia game later in the day and then it was time to get ready for dinner.

Dinner = now that was awkward! I was supposed to be at a table for 8 but they sat me at a table with 4 couples. And since I wasn't there last night they figured they didn't need the 9th chair so it and the place setting had been removed and had to be put back after I arrived. Also these 8 people were part of a large group travelling together. Everyone was very nice but I still felt out of place. I think Royal Caribbean must have thought they were doing me a favour since all of these people were from British Columbia.

Back to the cabin. I had a quiet evening. Now bed time :)