Amused on Our FIrst Cruise and More!

Our cruise was full of fun things---some on the ship and some off.  We opted to go on six land excursions when the boat was docked.  It helped to fill our days as we aren't ones to drink, gamble, lounge around the pool suntanning, spend time at the spa, nor take dancing lessons (did I ever tell you that DJ hates to dance?).  I have decided to blog about the land excursions separately as there is a lot to show and write about, but I wanted to write a little about our experience on the ship itself.  Hence, this blog entry.  This entry will move at warp speed through the week we were on the boat as I share pictures and experiences. 

After a nice morning and plenty of time to get ready, a LONG and expensive taxi ride (the train plus bus fares were no better), and braving three or four lines at the port, we were ready to board our ship, Vision of the Seas.  Though not as big as the latest cruisers, this boat was 10 stories of luxury and fun.  This being our "maiden voyage" so to speak, we weren't quite sure what to expect, but, did we have a great time!

After finding our cabin and getting oriented, we had our first meal on board as we waited for our departure time.  We thought the ice sculpture of Royal Caribbean's insignia was cool, came back for a picture, and caught the kitchen staff just as they were moving it away  Whew!  It was the little extras like this that made the cruise even more special.

After getting our luggage and wandering a bit, it was time for our bon voyage festivities. We made our way up front (the forward of the ship) on one of the upper decks so we could take it all in.  The scenery going through the Archipeliago was pristine and beautiful.  Except for the summer homes of a few lucky people, it was pretty much just as nature intended.  We just kept pinching ourselves---how could we be so blessed?  The pictures below show us pulling out of the port and then a progression of pictures until we went to do other things:

 

 

 

 

 

Some random shots on board (and yes, we both played shuffleboard for the first time, but later in the cruise):

These guys, "Hott Sands," played what I called "happy music".  There were multiple times we would sit poolside or on the deck and just listen.

Way down at the bottom of this deep, dark hole with a mega-sized sculpture in it was another stage where groups would perform and other ship activities would take place.

The first day we were scoping out the ship, we game across a rock climbing wall at the "aft" of the ship.  We watched two guys struggle (one of them is pictured below) and not make it to the top, and then watched a woman just move up that thing lickety split (she's in the second picture).  She rang the bell and scurried right back down.  I really wished that I was younger, thinner, and in better shape---it really looked fun.

 

Besides having awesome food for dinner each night whether in the dining room or in the more casual "Windjammer Cafe" and "Solarium", the ship provided some first class entertainment.  I mean there were always small groups performing or providing dance music.  There was always the casino and multiple bars.  That's not the type of entertainment I'm talking about.  In the large auditorium, "Masquerade Theater", the ship brought in acts from the outside or had their own song and dance troupe and/or orchestra perform.  Really, really good stuff. 

 

Day Two (Sunday) - Helsinki, Finland

This first picture was taken coming in or out of Helsinki (probably when we were leaving) and then the next two pictures are later that night at sunset.  Can you say incredible???:

 

 

 

 

This night, after a wonderful time in Helsinki, we enjoyed a show, "Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme" which was a journey through classic Broadway.  The sets, the costumes, the music, and the choreography were fantastic. 

 

Earlier in the day, I had mentioned to DJ that we didn't get those cute little "towel animals" on our bed the night before, and Voila---our very own chubby bunny!

 

 

Day Three (Monday) - St. Petersburg 

We spent NINE, count them, NINE hours touring in St. Petersburg on Monday.  It was unbelievably beautiful, but probably too much for too long for everything to soak in; but there again, a fantastic experience (but DJ says we will NEVER sign up for a shore excursion that long again).  That evening we enjoyed a Russian Folkloric Show by The Russian Military Dance and Song Ensemble from St. Petersburg on the ship---very authentic, quite entertaining.   We didn't pull out until 11:59 that night (wondering if there was something about us being there into the next day so we couldn't be there at midnight).  Anyway, it had to be late because there were other passengers who were attending a Russian ballet performance.  We kind of wished we had done it, but the time was so tight between our excursion and the ballet group leaving, we weren't sure we'd make it.

 

Day Four (Tuesday) - A Day at Sea 

 

We attended a comic situation as we watched our cruise director and head chef demonstrate some cake decorating (it was a total spoof).  Then just because he's a good sport, DJ tagged along while I took a class in napkin folding. I popped in on a scrapbooking class for a few minutes.  We soaked in the sun, took in a movie, played some shuffle board, and ATE TOO MUCH.  Late that afternoon we became part of a trivia team that competed for the rest of the week.  We didn't take the championship.  Our team consisted of two beautiful sisters from Portugal (one an attorney and one just starting her residency in medicine) and a young paraplegic from England named John and us, THE OLD FOGIES .  We had lots of fun meeting with them three times that week. That night we went to one of the most authentic re-do's on the Beatles I have ever seen.   A group of Liverpool natives who actually even looked a little bit like the real deal, The Backbeat Beatles, put on an incredible show---totally fun.

 

 

 

Day Five (Wednesday) - Riga, Latvia

Our ship actually docked on the River Daugava.  I snapped these shots from our cabin window in the early morning hours, just as the sun was rising as we moved slowly into port:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent the entire morning from 8-noon in Riga.  It's a beautiful city, and I just happen to have a niece who is serving a mission for our church in Riga.  Unfortunately, there was no way to predict where we would be when during our tour so we could at least meet her or take her and her companion to lunch or something. 

 

When we were back on the ship and were done with lunch, we needed to fill up our afternoon.  They were having a ring toss tournament on board.  DJ loves horse shoes, and  so he thought he'd check it out---you know, see if it was just for kids or for everybody, etc.  It turned out that it was a pretty serious set up; not like a little plastic kiddie set.  There were only three adults and three teenagers that showed up.  DJ was throwing ringers and got more points that anybody in the first round, so even though they were planning on multiple rounds, nobody else had any points.  He was named the champion!!   He not only got a medal, but he got a new hat (that was the cool part).

 

 

At 4:00, it was time for Progressive Trivia Round 2!  That night we were entertained by Graffiti Classics.  Two women and two men who not only play two violins, a viola, and a bass, but sing and dance as they perform classical music.  It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  I mean they danced while they played (even the guy on the bass).  There were fabulous musicians, and no one could say that classical music was boring that night!

 

Day 6 - (Gdansk, Poland)

 

I was flabergasted by the beauty of Gdansk!  We actually bought several watercolors of Riga and Gdansk to frame for our home.   Thoroughly loved it.  We toured for six hours before going back to the boat.

 

Later that night, The Royal Caribbean Sngers and Dancers performed in Boogie Wonderland, "a high-energy tribute to the disco era featuring classic music from ABBA, Donna Summer, and more."  Really enjoyed this show as well.

 

Day 7 - (Visby, Sweeden)

 

This day started out uniquely.  It was raining---the first time we had had any serious rain the whole week.  Besides that, the boat has to anchor at sea there, and the passengers have to ride in tender boats to the shore.  Don't think I told you how DJ gets seasick (at least he did on a whale-watching expedition in Hawaii years ago). So...I don't think either of us felt too good about this little ride when we saw the conditions!  Those waves (though they may not look to bad in the picture, were 3-4 feet high).  We were rollin' and pitchin' and dippin'.  You can get an idea of how stormy it was in the second picture---all cloudy and foggy.

 

 

 

 



We had a lovely walk in the town of Visby.  Can't wait to post the pictures in about 6-7 blog posts.  After our return to the boat, we participated in our Final Round of Progressive Trivia and enjoyed the boat for our final full day.  We also had to pack so we could have our big bags ready to go that night.  We enjoyed a French couple perform a beautiful show---kind of a mix of acrobatics, aerial performance, and circus art.  Beautiful to watch.  We were additionly entertained by our cruise director who "knocked our socks off" with a vocal rendition and a final performance by the boat's singers and dancers.  Then we went to dinner (we had the late dinner every night at 8:45 and sat with a couple from Germany and another from Switzerland).

There was a gorgeous sunset that night while we were eating:

We returned to our cabin for the last nigt and were welcomed by our elephant friend:

We're addicted.  We hope we get to cruise again and again and again.  What a wonderful way to vacation.  You don't have to worry about following maps, GPS malfunctions or lack of information, crazy drivers, parking spots or lack thereof, making reservations over and over, transportation to and from activities, trying to find a good restaurant, etc.  Hopefully, health and money permitting, we can see more of this beautiful world in such a wonderful way.