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The forward deck area is a great place to sail into the sunset but after dark it's also a great place to stargaze.  On this occasion that included Milky Way gazing.
I caught some lightning on the horizon from a distant storm in this next photo.


Forget sailing into the sunset.  Tonight we sail away into the Milky Way.

After leaving CocoCay we sail away into the sunset... literally directly into the sunset.



Oh how I miss moments like this.  

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.

The line was about 5 minutes long.  It's sort of the riding the Ultimate Abyss.  First time riders get a quick orientation session, next time should be faster.  

You can come and go freely from ship so I returned to the streets of Quebec City at night. 



 
 
 

This is an overnight port of call for Adventure so let's poke around a bit in daylight and later at night.




I was looking for the Funicular.  Low and behold it's right there not far from the ship.

 

Halfway to Seward.

A new fake feature is the Royal Transporter.  I dropped by just in time to see some new guests arriving from another ship.

? :CBS/Paramount
Pricing:
For $79.95* (plus 18% gratuity) you can be transported to another ship.  For a discounted rate of $39.95* (plus 18% gratuity) they will transport you to a random ship they choose.  Finally a heavily discounted rate is offered at $19.95* (plus 18% gratuity) but it will transport you to a different cruise line.  This is a one way trip as the Royal Transporter is only available on Royal Caribbean ships.   
* Crown And Anchor Society discounts apply.  Gold 10% off.  Platinum 15% off.  Emerald 20% off.  Diamond and Diamond Plus 30% off.  Pinnacle who have been cranky get a free transport to another ship, otherwise Pinnacle get a 50% discount.
I packed my bags and used some of my OBC for the $39.95 transport.  I'm not sure where I'll be on day two, but at least I'll be on a Royal Caribbean ship.  

Both Allure and Harmony are making their way to CocoCay and Miami respectively.  Allure left the UK yesterday.  Explorer is also crossing.  They must think they are getting closer.

Room service does sound a great idea but I'm always so excited to explore! also the hot tubs are usually empty around lunch time on embarkation day 

We usually get on pretty early around 10:30am and head straight to Windjammers when it opens, it's never too busy early on.

We always get a ship model but the little one on a key ring and then take the chain part off.
We were gutted we couldn't get one on our last cruise on the Independence of the seas!  they sold out.

We always get a ship model but the little one on a key ring and then take the chain part off.
We were gutted we couldn't get one on our last cruise on the Independence of the seas!  they sold out.

We always get a ship model but the little one on a key ring and then take the chain part off.
We were gutted we couldn't get one on our last cruise on the Independence of the seas!  they sold out.

We found out the hard way... they gave us a coconut drink and never said that we would be charged extra as its not included in the drinks package..

Wake up at 7:00am and drive over to Einstein’s on 17th street and grab coffee & bagels for us. 8am pack the suitcases. 10:15am call Uber. 11:00- 11:30am sitting on the boardwalk getting ready for the doghouse to open for lunch. 

For me, its the ship model. Started that collection a few years back. 

The CDC has required that all of the cruise lines cease advertising and selling cruises greater than 7 nights in length.  Since this is an 8 night cruise, they have removed it from the website.  It has NOT been cancelled [yet] and I am able to book cruise planner purchases if I were to want to do that....but they are not booking any new pax on this cruise right now.
If the >7 night ban remains, it is possible that Royal may choose to shorten this cruise to 7 nights (and increase the length of the corresponding 6 night cruise that follows to 7 nights).  IF they do that, they will have to amend the itinerary to account for that day reduction.  It is also possible that with the vaccines coming soon, the CDC will revoke their prohibition of the longer cruises.  Nobody knows what will happen at this point.  For now, it survives but is in suspended animation.

My husband filmed on his drone at a few of the stops we went to in Norway, lovely footage..
 

Listen and sing Escape (The Piña Colada Song)

That's just selfie-videos in action. I would consider that LESS strange on a cruise than in everyday life.

Early morning - speciality coffee, bottle of water
Morning - Maybe a mimosa or bloody mary, bottle of water
Lunch - Vodka soda or gin on the rocks with lime
Afternoon - more clear liquor and bottles of water
Later afternoon - espresso
Dinner - Red wine and/or a martini
After dinner - whiskey on the rocks or a bourbon manhattan and more water
When I type that all out, it sounds like a lot! ?

Breakfast -Start with a speciality coffee and freshly squeezed orange
Mid Morning - Start with the frozen cocktails
Lunch - Bottled water/ Red Bull & Vodka
Afternoon - Usually another speciality coffee 
Evening - Either bottles of beer or wine
Flavoured water throughout the day

Breakfast -Start with a speciality coffee and freshly squeezed orange
Mid Morning - Start with the frozen cocktails
Lunch - Bottled water/ Red Bull & Vodka
Afternoon - Usually another speciality coffee 
Evening - Either bottles of beer or wine
Flavoured water throughout the day

Breakfast -Start with a speciality coffee and freshly squeezed orange
Mid Morning - Start with the frozen cocktails
Lunch - Bottled water/ Red Bull & Vodka
Afternoon - Usually another speciality coffee 
Evening - Either bottles of beer or wine
Flavoured water throughout the day