Fake, Made Up and Completely Impossible Virtual Cruise Blog

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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.  

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It doesn't take long for today's sunset to arrive.

Where better to take it in than the aft deck behind Boleros?

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It's always 5 o'clock on this cruise.  That means it's happy hour!  

Balcony wine courtesy of the CAS.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

[HeWhoWaits]

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.

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Day Four

Sunrise as we approach today's destination.

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The reason it's fitting to visit this next port of call while we sail on Empress of the Seas is because they were a package deal of sorts with the acquisition of Admiral Cruises.  

Both Empress and CocoCay have come a long way since then.  

The addition of the pier was a game changer and the introduction of Perfect Day at CocoCay was all that many times over.

Sailing from Florida and on Empress of the Seas it was simply unavoidable for me to make this stop at CocoCay.

Let's take a little look around...

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Everything about Perfect Day at CocoCay screams fun!

We'll start at Thrill Waterpark.

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Captain Jack's

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Chill Island - aptly named.

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Lot of loungers and umbrellas.

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Having visited a number of time since Perfect Day at CocoCay was completed I can't imagine CocoCay without the Oasis lagoon.  

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The new food options are pretty great.

Time for a second...

 

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Time for my Perfect Day to begin to wind down.  That process starts with our departure.

I miss CocoCay, but i will be back.

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

Oh how I miss moments like this.  

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Time for the second half of my CAS BOGO dinner.

Goat Cheese Salad

The Grilled 9 oz. Filet Mignon.

Shortcake for dessert

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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.

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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.

[FionaMG]

Loving it. Keep it coming. 

[Skigoofy]

Thank you for this! I can almost feel the sun on my face instead of the fluorescent work lights in my eyes.

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Those Milky Way photos are amazing!

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Day Five

It's not often Royal Caribbean visits Tortola so while I'm on Empress let's do just that.  The warp drive brought us here in no time.  

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Whenever I get the chance I head over to Jost Van Dyke. So that's where we head today.

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Jost is a small island with a smaller population but this beach is world renowned.  

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Cruise relaxation mode engaged.

I heard in a press briefing a Painkiller might prevent Coronavirus.  I looked at my watch and it was 5 o'clock.

Unsure of the recommended dose, I had several.

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With that it was time to head back to the ship.

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After Happy Hour at the Schooner Bar I saw the Captain in the Centrum and asked if we might pop into San Juan while we are here.  

Since we are in the vicinity, he said sure!

When it's a made up cruise, you can do things like this.

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With our last minute and late arrival it didn't take long for the shadows to grow long.

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Visiting Old San Juan at night is always a treat.

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Walking back to the ship...

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With that it was time to depart OSJ.

All good things must come to an end including my time on Empress of the Seas.  It seems like Radiance should have reached Hubbard Glacier by now so I think it's time to beam back to where I started.

Tomorrow is another cruise day and I look forward to the cooler Alaskan weather.

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I dropped by the Royal Transporter with bags packed but it seems my timing was off.  Radiance was at Hubbard Glacier while I was drinking Painkillers, I mean medicating against the virus on Jost Van Dyke.   

I could beam over to Radiance where she was or pick another ship.  I love the Caribbean but was really looking forward to cooler weather.  The crew suggested New England.  That's actually a pretty decent idea.  Cruising with the Royal Transporter team opens up a whole new aspect of cruising.     

"Surprise me" I said.  "Something on a New England cruise... but keep it on a Royal Caribbean ship" (I need my points to keep climbing the Crown and Anchor ladder).

I'm not sure where I'm heading but I'll find out when I get there.

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Day Six

I've landed back on Adventure of the Seas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in between ports.  I need a sea day to slow down and relax so this is perfect.

Let's take a look around the ship while we wait for our next port.

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How about some mini-golf?

You don't see too many two level mini-golf courses at sea.