SAT DEC. 12, 2009 & SUN DEC 13 - DAYS AT SEA MON DEC 14, 2009 GALVESTON (Days 13, 14, & 15 of cruise)

SAT DEC. 12, 2009 & SUN DEC 13 - DAYS AT SEA (Days 13 & 14 of cruise)

MON DEC. 14, 2009, ARRIVE AT GALVESTON, TEXAS, USA
We arrived near the Galveston harbor in a very, very thick fog.  Our docking was delayed over 3 hours before we were finally in place and allowed to begin departing from the ship.  With over 3,000 passengers the departure moved very slowly and it seemed many more hours before we were loaded on a bus (which we had booked on board) to take us to the IAH airport parking lot almost 2 more hours across Houston.  Finally, we arrived, collected our luggage and rode a shuttle to where our vehicle was parked.  We retrieved our car, loaded everything and began the drive northward toward Gilmer.  Being foggy at the port it was not sunny at the airport, so it seemed almost dark before we started toward home.  In Lufkin, we stopped for dinner at a Mexican restaurant.  (Where else to Texans stop after two weeks away from home?)  And, finally arrived home in 2 more hours.

sidenote:  I was curious about the ships in the harbor and how they met their departure schedule with the heavy, thick fog that didn't lift.  The next few days I checked on Cruise Critic postings online and found Voyager which was scheduled for a Mon. evening departure for a 7-day Caribbean cruise didn't get cleared to depart until Fri. By that time, many of those who had boarded after we left had themselves left and departed for home with a refund or guarantee for another cruise.

FRI DEC. 11, 2009 - NASSAU, BAHAMAS (Day 12 of cruise)

 FRI DEC. 11, 2009 - NASSAU, BAHAMAS  Day 12 of cruise)

Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas.  It lies on the island of New Providence with neighboring Paradise Island accessible via Nassau Harbor bridges.  The city has a hilly landscape and is known for beaches as well as its offshore coral reefs.  It retains many of its typical pastel-colored British colonial buildings like the pink-hued Government House.

We took a small boat tour around the harbor and I took all these pictures from it.

 Our ship, Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas

Sat Dec 5 - Thu Dec 10, 2009 (Day 6 through Day 11 of Cruise "at sea"

SAT. DEC. 5, 2009 through THU. DEC 10, 2009 (Day 6 through Day 11) AT SEA
"At sea" days all run together in some situations more than others.  This Royal Caribbean company worked at keeping those days interesting.  This ship with over 3,000 passengers had an "inside corridor" called "Royal Promenade".

The Royal Promenade serves as the main thoroughfare on some Royal Caribbean cruise ships. This passageway, flanked by bars, restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues, is a microcosm of Royal Caribbean's "wow" factor, and it maintains a light and fun atmosphere all hours of the day and night. Royal Caribbean's Royal Promenade is the entry point for embarking passengers, typically located on Deck 5, with an extension to Deck 6 on some vessels.  Welcoming cruisers right into the middle of the action, this area is one of the busiest hubs on any Royal Caribbean ship that has it.

Cruisers can sample the line's food and drink at any of the 10 restaurants and bars that line the Royal Promenade, including the novel Rising Tide bar, the first moving bar at sea; Champagne Bar; Mondo Coffee Bar; or Boleros Latin dance club.  This is also where you will find robot barkeeps at the Bionic Bar or tremendous views from the mezzanine level at the Schooner Bar.  Cruisers' food favorites that line the indoor boulevard include Sorrento's pizzeria and Cafe Promenade for a solid -- and complimentary -- cup of "joe", 24/7.

Browse more than a half-dozen shops, including designer brands like Kate Spade; the two-level Focus photo shop and gallery for family portraits, port pictures, and photo accessories; and plenty of stores, like Port Merchants, for logo wear and everyday items you might need.

Parades and parties are an integral part of the Royal Promenade experience and range from casual theme nights to full-on productions like "Move It! Move It!" featuring Dream Works cast members from "Shrek" to "Madagascar" and "Kung Fu Panda." (Which parades you'll get varies by ship.) Bands perform throughout the day and performances pop up from the entertainment team all evening long.

The Royal Promenade is not only chockablock with places to eat, drink and celebrate, but it's also the ship's logistical hub, where passengers can take care of business at the guest services desk, talk to a future cruise consultant or book a tour at the Explorations! shore excursions desk. Additionally, a dozen or so Promenade cabins overlook the space for cruisers who really want to stay near the center of it all.

Considered one of the most happening "neighborhoods" on Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class vessels, the Royal Promenade -- which is near twice as wide on Oasis-class ships as it is on Voyager- or Freedom-class ships -- bustles with activity, day and night.

Cruisers can become self-proclaimed pop stars at the On Air Club karaoke bar, while a giant copper globe built into the facade above the Globe and Atlas Pub "cracks open" to reveal the Atlas Bridge, a platform that unfolds 10 feet above the boulevard on hinged hydraulics to create a surprising performance area.

During our cruise, I made the following pictures that show events and other happenings on the Royal Promenade.  The "street level" of this Promenade was on deck 5.  At one end of the "street", there were public balconies for the deck directly above the street--deck 6 with a staircase connecting that deck to the street.   Also, at that end, a staircase connected below to deck 4.   The picture below shows the lower connection during normal traffic and in the background, a staircase connecting to a bridge on level 6.

 This is the beginning of the Mardi Gras parade...

 ...ending
I loved this MG sports car parked on the "street" in from of a bar.

 I had a MG in the mid-80's, but never a classic like this.

The four of us filled 6 days with attending a performance on the ice at the ice skating rink on the ship; attending info sessions about other cruises, one specific was about Galapagos that Sylvia & Marlys enjoyed and it led to our enjoying that cruise a few years later.  Also, one day we participated in a "Cabin Crawl" which is sponsored by Cruise Critic.  It is an event where various Cruise Critic members who have different categories of cabins--from inside to owner's suites--volunteer to open those cabins for tours of all Cruise Critic members.  We read books, took naps, and WE PLAYED GAMES!  Boy!  Did we play games!  The ship made one dining room available for game playing.  We played Mexican Train dominoes for hours; sometimes beginning shortly after breakfast and playing until lunch with a cookie break during mid-morning  Then we started again after lunch or after the nap that came after lunch, sometimes playing until almost the dinner hour when the ship needed to set up that dining room for the evening meal.  We went to see the movies on board.  We walked a scheduled exercise plan and tried out new restaurants for both lunch and dinner.  It was not a boring 6 days.  It was relaxing because there were no demands put on our time that we could not meet.

And then, on we prepared for the arrival at Nassau, Bahamas.

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FRI. DEC. 4, 2009 - TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS

Fri. Dec. 4, 2009 - Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain (Day 5 of cruise)
We arrived on schedule for the day in this scenic location off the northwest coast of Africa.  Our stop was in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. (nestled on the slope of this mountain)  Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a port city on the island of Tenerife, in Spain's Canary Islands.  Santa Cruz has a population of  206, 593 within its administrative limits.  The urban zone extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 500,000.  It is the second largest city in the Canary Islands and the main city on the island of Tenerife.

 These are harbor pictures taken as we docked.

 Note the ships on the horizon...

 The elevation of Santa Cruz is just a few feet slightly above sea level.

 First glimpse of the town, Santa Cruz; after we boarded a bus for a tour to the Mount Teide area; morning rush hour

 Because our time was very limited at this port (scheduled departure early afternoon) we chose to take a bus excursion that would take us to Mount Teide, 12,198 ft,  a volcano that last time erupted in 1909.  Outside the city,  almost immediately we began climbing.

 Then we could see Mount Teide for the first time.  The land between us and the volcano looked much like the desert land around Las Vegas with black (probably lava) rock and low-growing desert plants.

 We stopped for a picture and rest break.

On the next stop,  we seemed nearer some of the mountains.   (We were still very far away for these in the background).

 But, the walk was easier to manage these formations.

 Back in the bus, we became aware of climbing into the clouds.  We were unable to see Mount Teide (12,198 ft)

The trip back was not so exciting.  I think some of us slept a little.

 Then, we returned to the city to see The Auditorio de Tenerife which is an auditorium in Santan Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain that was designed by architect Santiago Calatrava.  It is located on the Avenue of the Constitution in the Canarian capital and next to the Atlantic Ocean in the southern part of the city.  (If you have visited Sydney, Australia, perhaps you will remember a somewhat similar opera house there also sets near the ocean).  The building is framed within the tenets of the late-modern architecture of the late 20th century.  The majestic profile of the auditorium has become an architectural symbol of the city.  It is home to the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra.

We returned to the ship and soon sailed away for 6 days "at sea" as we crossed the Atlantic.