We departed the Port of Galveston on Saturday at 4pm right on schedule. It is amazing watching the process of docking and undocking. They make it look so easy. The ship slides like butter through the water. The pilots can maneuver it just like a car. But that’s why they get paid the BIG BUCKS. We will be at Sea heading south to Georgetown Grand Caymen for the next 2 days. So now it’s time to explore the ship. After a good nites sleep, we went for breakfast at the Windjammer Buffet {Casual Attire} on the 11th floor above us in the back of the ship. We are on the 7th floor. We filled our plates and headed to the back, outside. We found the back was open, and full of tables and chairs for dinning.

We could enjoy the beautiful warm and sunny weather. It did have a roof over it like a porch area. Such an enjoyable area to sit and eat your meal. You could watch the waves that were constantly churning away. If you were near land, you might see a few birds flying and watching for fish to eat from the ocean. The waves just kept rolling and rolling by.

I noticed a stairway on either side of the deck. So I went up to the top on Deck 13, while Rich enjoyed the view. I found a miniature golf course, and the kids pool area with water slide. A little further I found a basketball court. Right in front of me was a rock climbing wall. Ahead was a set of double doors. I went in and found the StarQuest Lounge, which is like a Disco Nite Club. Also in this area on the top level of the Ship is The Diamond Club, and the Viking Crown Lounge.

Most of these are for the Nite Life people who like to enjoy the bar scene and have a Wonderful view out the windows that surround the bar areas. This is the area that many of the Diamond and Pinnacle levels hang out. So What does that mean” The Levels.” Royal Caribbean enrolls passengers into the Crown and Anchor Society. For every nite of a completed Voyage, you are awarded a point.

Well as you see, this is only our 2nd cruise. We are still sitting at Gold. They provide you with increasing benefits the higher you go. So for us, we were given a buy 2 8×10 pictures and get 1 free. The pictures were $10 each. We saved between both of us , $20. Not a lot, but at least something. Most of these people on board seemed to be Diamond and Pinnacle. After I did all this exploring, I went back down to Deck 11 where Rich was at the Windjammer. We decided to go swimming. Now back to the elevators, Down to Deck 7 and allllllllllll the way down the hall to our room to get our swimsuits. We decided after this, when we leave the room in the morning, we must be prepared to not come back till the end of the day. lol. “ITS A LONG WALK”. So, dress in swimsuits and cover ups all day is the plan. Now back down to the center of the ship to take the elevators back up. In the center of the ship by the elevators, is the Centrum. It is the Central Hub of Entertainment all day long. It is a large circle that is open from Deck 4 all the way to Deck 11. On Deck 4 there are chairs, love seats with side tables surrounding the edges. It is a very comfortable relaxing area with a bar right beside of course. The center is a large dance floor or stage. On the side is the area where the Entertainer performs, as well as the music accompaniment play

. Looking up is several Glass Elevators taking people up and down. Each deck is open to the Centrum with chairs and love seats surrounding the railings. It is like a giant theater. If you need a seat and the bottom is full, look up. See an empty Love Seat? Figure out which floor, RUN RUN for the elevator, pray it is fast, head for that floor and hope the Love Seat is still open by the time you get there. LOL. We did that alot. Most of the time, SUCCESSFUL. On each deck there is not only the Elevators on the Centrum side, their was 4 more elevators on the outside of the ship. So, you had about 6 to choose from.

Not only were the elevators all glass, so were the outside walls of the ship, all the way from Deck 4 to Deck 11. So beautiful to ride up and down watching the views of the ocean. Back on the Elevator to Deck 11. Head out to the pool area. Hardly any one was their……Strange……I stuck my toes in...OMG….It was so cold. Now we are use to our Eastgate heated pool. It is normally around 89 degrees. With our 100+ weather, our pool has been running more like 92+ degrees. So this is unacceptable to my body. lol We tried the Hot Tub and it was so much better.

After that we headed forward to the Solarium. It is all glass enclosed, on the ceiling also. It is beautiful. I thought it would have warm water. But nope. It was cold also.

I hope i’m not boring you with all the ship descriptions. So many people of taken Cruises, but many have not. I will stop here and leave the rest of the ship descriptions for the next time. I will also introduce you to 2 pretty cool “VERY SPECIAL” people that we met from Jamaica.

So So Beautiful