CRUISIN' Part 1

I am working on the photos from our cruise. There are many, too many for posting here, but I am going to pull a few to show as I tell of our journey.

Jerry and I picked up the couple we were traveling with, Bob and Nancy a little after 7 am on Thursday morning, October 9. We had to make a stop by church but then where on our way to Bayonne, New Jersey. Normally I do no like the drive up I-95, but it wasn't too bad. I really like that when you get to the New Jersey Turnpike that the have separate roadways for cars and the trucks. Makes for a much calmer drive in my opinion.

We arrived at the port right around noon and unloaded the luggage. Check-in was very easy and quick and we were given a number for the group we were in to take the shuttle bus to the ship. They were just beginning shuttle service as we were entering into the waiting area. We had our boarding picture taken and got a couple of yummy RCI cookies to tied us over till we were onboard and could get some lunch. It didn't take long till our number was called and we were truly on our way.

We were on board before 1pm and the ship didn't sail till 5pm. Also we couldn't get into our cabins until around 1:30 so we headed up to the Windjammer For the first of many wonderful meals. The Windjammer is a buffet with all types of foods to choose from. As the cruise progressed we ate here most breakfasts and a few lunches. Other meals were eaten in the dining room.

I don't want to go into too much detail right now, because I don't want to bore people who might stop by and be tempted to read this. However, I do want to show you one of the first things I loved about sailing out of Bayonne, NJ. We had the benifits of sailing out of NYC without having to go into NYC, This saved us time and money. Parking in Manhattan, even at the cruise pier is pretty pricey, and I won't even go into the traffic issues. But we did get to seethe Statue of Liberty as we sailed out of the harbor. Also the skyline of New York City. We weren't really this close, in fact we were quite a ways away, but I love what zoom lenses can do!

Before I leave this posting I suppose I really should show a picture of the ship that would become our home away form home for 9 nights. We were 4 of just over 3000 passengers and 1200 crew members. Truly a floating city. She's called The Explorer of the Seas. Isn't she pretty? This picture was actually taken in Sydney, Nova Scotia. There really wasn't anywhere to get a picture of her while in Bayonne as the port there is primarily for commercial shipping. There are no open spaces for picture taking.

So that's it for tonights post. IF you like come back and read as I relive the cruise in word and pictures.