Cocoa, FL - Cruise Days 6&7

Looks like a gloomy day.

Fortunately that's behind us and a rainbow ahead!

Our friends Pat and Steve are Platinum Card cruisers.  They invited us to the Party.

Free Drinks

We try a new place for lunch,  La Strada. Was described as Italian Street food but it was BBQ.

We are way out in the Ocean and there was a large lone bird flying above.

Everyone though a seagull but I thought way too far out. I Google lensed it and came up as an Albatross. Glad he didn't land on the ship!

One Wandering Albatross was tracked for an incredible 87,000 miles – spending almost all its time in the air and descending to the rolling seas only to feed. This is the equivalent of circling the earth more than three times without ever touching land

Found our favorite group 

It was the 2nd Elegant night.  Dinner was a choice between lobster tails or prime rib.  I ordered 2 lobster tails and Gary ordered Prime Rib and a lobster tail for me.  

A diet is in order when we get home.

Funday 2 at sea. 

 Started packing up our things, we arrive back in Port early tomorrow morning and we need to put our bags out between 8 and 10 tonight. Went for breakfast and came back to a heart.

After breakfast went to check out the ice carving demo

Devil went down to Georgia

.The name of this one escapes me ok

Watched the ice carving demo after lunch

The next morning we wake up in port

 

We get to leave fairly early 

A bit of a wait for the shuttle

Then Home Sweet Home

Cocoa, FL - Cruise Day 5

 Wake up to another beautiful sunrise as we pull into St. Thomas.

Catch docking in the room on the TV cam

This morning the Towels take over the lounge chairs.

We share a short taxi ride to Charlotte Amalie, the Capital.  Dropped off at the Market Square.

The city started as a Danish settlement in 1672, named Taphus ("beer hall") before being renamed for Queen Charlotte Amalie of Denmark in 1691.  It became a key Caribbean trade hub known for pirates, sugar, and its unique step streets. The U.S. purchased it from Denmark in 1917.  

In case Gary gets tired.

Local wild life

We decide to go take the Tram to catch the views.

We got a ticket to ride

You board the Tram while it is stilloving, don't hesitate!  Up up and away.  

Quite the view from up top.

 

They advertise the "World Famous Bailey's Bushwacker. I gave it a shot (it has 7). Gary had a beer.  It was dangerously good.  Glad the next stop is the Ship within walking distance.

We head back down

We board and pull out a short time later.  We were parallel parked between 2 other ships on the dock.  They made it look easy.

And the sun sets on the other side.

We go to a show at the Teatro Rosso  after dinner.  Extremely loud.

A busy 3 days going port to port.  2 days at sea returning to Cape Canaveral.

Cocoa, FL - Cruise Day 4

Have my early morning coffee on the deck

And catch another beautiful sunrise

The rest of the gang wakes up and we enjoy breakfast at the Lido Deck buffet.

As we pull into San Juan Puerto Rico past one of the Forts 

Almost to Port

And we're on our way

We didn't book a tour so just winging it.

We get to Columbus Park

Can't pass up the photo op

We head over to the Fort

Castillo San Cristobal is a National Historic Site.  Fortunately I have a copy of y National parks Pass on my phone.

Named after the saint patron of land travelers, Saint Christopher, Castillo San Cristóbal, is considered the largest fortress built in the Americas

A narrow entry to one of the Garitas

Our cruise ship in the background 

Nice views from the windows

The fort was designed to catch and retain as much rainwater as possible and the 5 cisterns underneath the plaza could hold approximately 800.000 gallons of rain water.

Some of the interesting buildings 

Some of the local wildlife

We were heading to the Governors Mansion (La Fortaleza) and came upon this Christmas Tree

And Guards blocking the way.  Apparently you have to reserve a spot to visit.

We're just a block from Cathedral San Juan Bautista so we ventured there.

More of the local wildlife 

We head back to the ship 

We're running out of time and sun.

Got back and the ship headed out shortly after

Had just enough time to get ready for Dinner.

The Mariachi Dancers came through

Our waitress Rhea grabbed Kathy for a Dance.

Tomorrow St. Thomas!