twangster

Later as we approached Miami under the cover of darkness it was almost time to debark.

I looked down to see the Captain on the bridge wing.  Our eyes met and I gave him the nod.  He understood.  

Warp drive engaged, we are heading back out to sea.


When it's a made up cruise you can do things like this.
I think I'll stay on Empress one more day, there's an island calling my name.

If you booked your existing cruise with a TA and visit NextCruise while onboard,  any NextCruise booking will AUTOMATICALLY be assigned to the same TA.  
If you didn't book your existing cruise with a TA and booked it direct with Royal, then any booking made at NextCruise will remain unassigned to any TA.
You can instruct NextCruise NOT to automatically allocate a booking to your existing TA but unless you explicitly do so, any new booking will be assigned to your TA.

All the Empress photos remind me of something that has always boggled the mind - the public spaces on the smaller ships have so much more room to move around. In particular, the Schooner Bar has less chairs and tables in what appears to be MORE space than on some of the newer, bigger vessels.

@Matt 's "perfect" MDR menu:
 

Step daughter has a hard time riding in back seats of cars on a highway but didn't have a smidgen of an issue on deck 17.  

@Matt 's "perfect" MDR menu:
 

Some evening photos from around the ship.





It's fitting to visit this next port of call while on Empress of the Seas so I'm staying put for the night.  
Time to give the Royal Transporter crew a break.

Sunset at sea is the best.


I spotted a Celebrity.  That's the Silhouette of the Equinox.  



I looked at my watch and it was 5 o'clock.  Cheers!

The MDR on Empress is also very nice with ample views to the sea.






Ever wonder if a piano in the MDR is just a decoration?  Not on this ship.

Since I'm staying, I might as well eat dinner in my favorite Chops in the fleet.

Remember the bread?  Yum.

Who knew you could miss a wedge salad?

The 16oz. bone in ribeye.

Banana Sundae for dessert.

Some night views around the ship. 









I think I'll spend a few days on Empress.  There are a couple of ports I want to visit while I'm in the Caribbean.

It doesn't take long for today's sunset to arrive.
Where better to take it in than the aft deck behind Boleros?

Let's wander forward for some forward views.



Looking at these pictures I remember the smell of the ocean air.  Closing my eyes brings me right back to this moment.  

Time for sail away with a Diamond and above event:


Sailing past the largest cruise ship in the world while on the smallest cruise ship in the fleet.  



I looked at my watch and it was 5 o'clock.  Cheers!

The best Boleros in the fleet!

Day Three
Riding in the Royal Transporter is a lot like riding the Ultimate Abyss.  Keep your elbows in at all times but otherwise it's a fun ride.
Now onto the next ship on this virtual fake cruise...
"The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated?" - Mark Twain "It ain't over till it's over." - Yogi Berra  "I don't have to believe everything I read on the internet.  Only time will tell" - Me Given the rumor mill that has been in full swing I'd thought I'd return to my favorite little ship with the biggest heart - Empress of the Seas.  
For those that haven't heard speculation fed rumors have Empress leaving the fleet.  Royal Caribbean denies these rumors so I'm going with that.  Just in case, I'm planning this next segment of my virtual cruise on my favorite little ship.
As long as she is being offered I'll keep booking cruises on this little gem.  Debating her fate can be experienced in other threads, this is my small tribute to her and I thank you for keeping this thread that way.

I feel for you.  I know a teacher who has taught special needs classes.  We've talked about the special needs students and their parents several times as various approaches to reopening have been tabled.  
Some special needs students can't understand the concept of personal space or maintaining distance.  Remote learning isn't ideal for any student but for some special need students it just doesn't work at all.    It can be more difficult applying pandemic protocols to special needs students for in person learning, the same protocols that have many challenges in general terms in public schools before considering special needs.   
Some teachers are at risk or have at risk family members at home and are seriously concerned what they might bring home.  It's one thing to reopen schools, should at risk teachers or those with at risk family members be forced to work in school during a pandemic or be terminated?
Teachers in the U.S. already face a shortage of school supplies.  Will school boards supplying PPE?  Not going to happen, at least not here.  One proposal a month or so ago would have given a teacher one new mask every week, that was the best they could do. 
There is no good solution with a highly spreadable and potentially deadly virus in play.
The current situation is extra hard on the parents of some special needs students.   

@Matt 's "perfect" MDR menu:
 

Step daughter has a hard time riding in back seats of cars on a highway but didn't have a smidgen of an issue on deck 17.  

I think you'll love the loft suite, they are very unique and truly impressive.  
It's hard to find anything like them on any other cruise line.

Step daughter has a hard time riding in back seats of cars on a highway but didn't have a smidgen of an issue on deck 17.  

I think you'll love the loft suite, they are very unique and truly impressive.  
It's hard to find anything like them on any other cruise line.

@Matt 's "perfect" MDR menu:
 

I did a GS on Harmony on deck 6.  I loved the easy access to the ship.  It's such a convenient deck to reach everything except the pool deck.  
The downside was that a grand suite is nowhere as impressive as a loft suite.
We had the beverage package so the Schooner Bar was our closest point to obtain beverages so from that perspective the trip to deck 17 was only required for CK. 
I had the opportunity to upgrade to an L1 but it was another $1,200.  I opted for the beverage package for two and used the surplus to pay for a few excursions. 
I missed being in a loft suite but really liked the location of the GS on deck 6.  A loft suite that used decks 6 & 7 would be the ultimate and best of both worlds.    

Yikes.  I wonder if the Blue Jays will look to relocate on a more permanent basis, assuming MLB doesn't shut down completely.  Maybe next year they'll try the NHL bubble approach.