Shadowmeboy's NCL Sun 12-Night Christmas New Years Caribbean Cruise Adventure

[shadowmeboy]

So it was a busy, busy weekend, so I didn't get a chance to work on this. 😞

 

Wasn't the Gingerbread house cool?

 

We went to the lightening fast Art Auction after the Gingerbread House demonstration.  We were good on this auction!

 

Afterwards, we headed to Great Outdoors for a late lunch. Susan found a duck on the way!

 

 

 

 

The pool was hopping!

 

 

 

 

a better look at the duck!

 

 

It was a bit warm, so iced drinks were in order!

 

 

Cheeseburger with some Jalapeño!

 

 

We started to see other ships, now that we were getting close to Puerto Rico.

 

 

 

Land ahoy!

[shadowmeboy]

 

I spy with my camera lens Puerto Rico

 

 

 

Pool emptied out as we got closer to land

 

 

Our laundry had been returned!

 

We grabbed the tripod and camera gear and headed up to the observation lounge deck.

 

 

San Juan!

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

We got the pilot on, and it was time to enter San Juan Harbor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I may have got a little trigger happy?

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to San Juan!

 

Here is the Sail in Video!

 

 

[YVRteacher]

That sky!!! 
Stunning photos, Matthew!

[shadowmeboy]

On 5/20/2024 at 5:09 PM, YVRteacher said:

That sky!!! 
Stunning photos, Matthew!

 

I know! It was so cool!

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A San Juan Selfie!

 

 

 

I think everyone is a little cooped up. We joined the line to get off!

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Puerto Rico! Check off another US Territory!

 

 

 

Port Photo!

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

Due to the fact it was the evening of Christmas Eve, we did not expect to be able to do much. The big thing we wanted to do is walk up to the Statehouse.

 

 

 

What a pretty ship!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cruise terminal all lit up

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

They had this rail display down by the pier. We found the history to be fascinating. I am a railroad hound I seem to find railroad related things everywhere I go... Have I mentioned Hawaii...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calle General Pershing or General Pershing Street

 

 

The have a replica liberty bell

 

 

Puerto Rico Statehouse

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puerto Rico has done something really cool. They have a Walkway of the Presidents. Every US President who has visited the Island of Puerto Rico, while in office, has a statue here.

 

Edited May 23 by shadowmeboy

[shadowmeboy]

This reminds us of Rapid City, South Dakota, the City of Presidents. 

 

When we were in Rapid City in 2020, we took a selfie with each President lining the streets of Rapid City. Here are a few of the selfies we took.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Bush approved of our selfie taking!

[shadowmeboy]

 

Theodore Roosevelt visited Puerto Rico in 1906.

 

 

 

Herbert Hoover visited in 1931.

 

 

 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited in 1934.

 

 

 

Harry Truman visited in 1948.

 

 

 

Dwight D Eisenhower visited in 1960.

 

 

 

John F Kennedy visited in 1961.

 

 

 

Lyndon B. Johnson visited in 1968.

 

 

 

Gerald R. Ford visited in 1976.

 

 

 

The last President to visit Puerto Rico was President Barack Obama in 2011. 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

Statehouse Selfie!

 

 

After visiting the Statehouse, we headed towards Old Town San Juan on Avenue de la Constitucion aka Constitution Avenue.

 

 

 

 

Puerto Rico Police Memorial Monument

 

 

 

 

 

 

They had Plaza Colon all decorated with lights!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We headed back towards the Cruise terminal, as we only had a short visit to San Juan.

 

 

 

The Sun in San Juan!

 

 

 

Back onboard with our Puerto Rico souvenir for our travel wall!

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

Time for Pictures and Dinner! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve Dinner

 

 

 

 

Bruschetta

 

Shanghai Pork Pot Stickers

 

 

Roma Tomato Salad

 

 

Asian Noodle Salad

 

 

Mediterranean Sirloin Beef Brochette

 

 

Chicken Cordon Blue

 

 

Dessert Menu

 

We decided not to get dessert and headed down to the show.

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

This was a special one time only Christmas performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids got to meet Santa after the Show.

 

We were tired and tomorrow is Christmas. We also at in Port in St. Maarten.

[shadowmeboy]

December 25th, 2023

Port Day

Location: Philipsburg, St. Maarten

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 24 by shadowmeboy

[shadowmeboy]

Time for breakfast!

 

 

Off to Seven Seas we go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A ship!

 

 

Yogurt and granola for Susan

 

 

Fruit Salad and Cottage Cheese for me

 

 

Egg & Avocado Wrap

 

 

Eggs to Order with Ham, Bacon, and potatoes

 

 

French Toast with Ham and Corned Beef hash

[shadowmeboy]

 

Picture with Santa as we make our way back to the room!

 

 

 

Gingerbread House at Starbucks

 

We grabbed a drink before heading onto the Pier.

 

 

Lining up to head to our excursion!

 

 

A port picture first!

 

 

We had a great conversation on the pier with the assistant Shorex Manager who we had interacted with in Alaska. She was saying she was already working on her shore excursions for the coming summer.

 

 

Time to head out!

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

On the bus to Maho Beach!

 

 

if looks could kill...

 

 

Signing our life away...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sun in the Sun in the Harbor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Election season in St. Maarten

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

Princess Julianna Airport

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

We made it to Maho Beach and Sunset Beach Bar.

 

 

Flight Times

 

 

We headed down to the beach first to get the obligatory plane flying overhead selfie video!

 

 

1st inbound plane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shadowmeboy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is my Instagram Reel from the Beach!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1yJhjPLLf9/?igsh=YnJzZDg3cHF0MjA=

Edited May 24 by shadowmeboy

[shadowmeboy]

After the flyover, we made our way up to the bar and found a table in the shade to watch Airplanes! 

 

 

 

Susan took this one as you can see I am filming this United flight coming in.

 

 

At 12:25 local time on 12/25  it was 28 degrees at home, meanwhile it was

 

 

80 in St. Maarten! Merry Christmas to us!

 

 

We got Nachos and pizza!

 

 

 

Plus we got wearable drinks!

 

 

 

 

I will get that next time we are there!