Better Late Than Never: Our Anthem Journey 21 February 2016

[Gennee]

Sunrise Continued...

 

 

 

[Overtyme]

[quote=Gennee;

On our way back to our room we passed the outdoor pool. Something is missing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think that was damaged during the storm.

I wonder why they haven't replaced it with something, even if it was with something different.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[BonTexasNY]

You have a lovely writing style and your pictures are wonderful. Looking forward to more.

[Gennee]

So I went through all my pictures from Day 3 to recall what we did.

 

Between sunrise and sunset I found very little. Only pictures of myself trying to play pool:

 

 

Which was interesting since the self-leveling feature wasn't working. Perhaps there was storm damage?

 

Other than that we apparently spent time in Two70:

 

 

On our balcony:

 

 

And in the Solarium:

 

 

 

 

Mmmm...Solarium.

[Gennee]

One more from the solarium:

 

 

It appears we did pretty much absolutely nothing for the day. Or, to put it another way, it was a perfect vacation day. :D

Edited June 7, 2016 by Gennee

[Gennee]

And just after hitting POST I found these:

 

 

Now I remember! It was a ton of fun. Scott wasn't sure about it but I talked him into sitting through the film and suiting up.

 

He strategically placed himself last in line when we got to the tube. Maybe he was hoping to slip away before it was his turn. :p

 

But wouldn't you know it, they went in reverse order and he was called to go first!

 

Did he enjoy it?

 

You be the judge!

 

[jerseygirl2609]

This is a great review so far, thank you!

[Gennee]

Thanks to everyone who replied and commented!

 

As Day 3 wound down we went to get ready for dinner and found a message on our phone.

 

They had changed our table so we and the folks at the 2-top next to us could share a 4-top.

 

The catch was that it put us on another rotation so we would have another wait team and would be repeating Chic that night then continuing with the new rotation for the rest of the cruise.

 

We knew our table mates wouldn't be joining us because they were at a specialty restaurant but we'd see them on Night 4 in the Grande.

 

The team at our new table was excellent and the meal was delicious.

 

After dinner we went up to the top decks to enjoy the warm weather and the sunset:

 

 

 

 

We had reservations for Spectra's Cabaret but stopped to have our picture taken. We liked this one enough to buy it:

 

[Gennee]

Spectra's Cabaret takes place in Two70 and makes full use of the technology even before the show started:

 

 

The show was much more than the technology. It featured singer, dancers, musician's and aerialists. Here is a small sample of still shots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the show we went down to the casino for a while before turning in.

Edited June 27, 2016 by Gennee

[Gennee]

The next morning was our first port of call, Labadee, Haiti.

 

As usual Scott arose early to take sunrise pictures so we could sleep in:

 

 

 

 

 

Getting closer:

 

[Gennee]

I woke up a little later. Soon we were docked and went ashore:

 

 

Scott isn't a beach person so I indulged him (after all he was nice enough to get up early; it was the least I could do! ;))and we spent the morning exploring and taking pictures. Here are a few of them:

 

 

 

[Gennee]

Some more:

 

 

 

[Gennee]

After lunch we had an afternoon boat tour booked.

 

It was nice to get out on the water.

 

The coast of Haiti is lovely:

 

 

We made a brief stop where some fishermen showed us some of the species they caught:

 

 

I love the craftsmanship of this boat.

 

Just a quick side note. They're not selling anything here since they know we can't bring seafood back on board. Of course you can, if you wish, give them a tip. I know I'm not the first to say it here, but it's not a bad idea to bring the majority of your cash ashore as $1 bills in Labadee.

 

We continued to cruise along the shore, listening to local stories and history, while enjoying the scenery:

 

 

I really respect the skill of the local boat builders.

 

 

I think I recall that our guide told us this was local water taxi. It's much easier to get from place to place by boat than by road in this area.

 

 

Soon we were making our way back to the dock. One more picture:

 

[Gennee]

Soon it was time to leave Labadee:

 

 

We had our booked NorthStar appointment just after sailing. It was spectacular sailing along the shore BUT the pictures weren't that great.

 

Why?

 

Because everyone wore white clothing. I know at least one other poster has mentioned this phenomenon before me, but here's what happens when you take a picture of beautiful mountains and ocean in a NorthStar full of white-clad folks:

 

 

I'm ashamed to say yours truly was among them:

 

 

Oh, dear. :o

 

This picture sucked a wee bit less :p

 

[Gennee]

That evening we at in the Grande with our new wait team. It was the best meal of the cruise so far!

 

Our table mates weren't there. Maybe they didn't get the message or maybe the didn't want to eat at the Grande (it wasn't supposed to be on night 4 in our original rotation, if you recall).

 

We told our waiter that we had a shore excursion the next night that would make us 30 minutes late for a 5:30 seating and that we'd be happy to dine elsewhere rather than mess things up. He said to come anyway. It was no problem. :)

 

After dinner we donated more money to the casino, listened to some good live music and went to the very funny 60 Seconds or Less game show in Two70:

 

 

When we finally turned in we found this fellow waiting for us:

 

 

Next up is Day 5, San Juan...

[Gennee]

Day 5 was San Juan but we weren't scheduled to dock until about 3:00 PM.

 

Which meant I could sleep late secure in the knowledge that Scott would get up early and take pretty sunrise pictures for me. <wink>

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Gennee]

I did manage to drag myself out of bed in time to witness the Belly Flop Contest.

 

It is basically the exact opposite of diving. Rather than trying to enter the water as vertically as possible with the smallest splash, contestants try to enter the water as horizontally as possible with the largest splash.

 

Here is a photo montage of one contestant's entry...

 

Going.

 

 

Going.

 

 

Gone!

 

 

And then.

 

The splash!

 

[Gennee]

Eventually we did dock in San Juan.

 

Norwegian Gem was already there:

 

 

Actually at 3:00 PM, let's face it, everyone else was there already. :p

 

This is right at the end of the dock to give you an idea of where RC docks when San Juan is a port of call:

 

 

Please note that this is NOT where RC docks when San Juan is the departure port.

[Gennee]

We had booked a walking food tour of Old San Juan.

 

We met our guide near the pier and were soon walking through the city:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that's a tiny house:

 

[Gennee]

More:

 

 

 

 

At one of the food stops we made our own mojitos:

 

 

We enjoyed the sights between stops:

 

 

[Gennee]

 

 

We arrived back at the ship at 6:00 pleasantly full from all the good food we'd sampled.

 

We still dropped by Silk to check to see if our table mates had come. They hadn't, so we just shared an appetizer and took a stroll along the pier to go to CVS to buy toiletries and rum.

 

And, of course, to take the obligatory night shot of the ship, which came out a wee bit better than the one I posted in my Explorer review. :p

 

Edited July 6, 2016 by Gennee

[Gennee]

Double post. Sorry

Edited July 6, 2016 by Gennee

[Gennee]

Back on board we went to see a virtual concert in Two70:

 

 

Then up on deck to get a good spot for a nighttime sail away party.

 

Soon we were pulling away from the pier:

 

 

The city walls are lit up at night:

 

 

We passed El Morro and were out to sea again:

 

[Gennee]

The deck party was still going:

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow we would be in Sint Maarten nice and early so we enjoyed the party for just a little longer and then turned in.

 

Next up is Sint Maarten. Here' a 45 second preview

for you:

[funNsun4me]

So enjoying reliving the cruise through your posts. It's keeping me sane until my next voyage in December :D