Caribbean Cruise

Right before my father died… I had the opportunity to do this with a friend…

Was a Caribbean cruise 🚢 😮 (thank god I had the experience cause now? Nope!)

I’m good with being closed in on the ocean with people like that… not after watching everything unfold – for now anyway.

But it was an incredible experience!!! A friends company paid for that. It was a prize/gift… so… it was amazing – and am very lucky for that experience!! I thought I would share the photos (the ones I am not in lol ✌️)

We left through the Port of Miami… our first stop was St Thomas ❤️ … then on to Tortola ❤️… and finally finishing on the Bahamas ❤️- before returning to the Port of Miami…

Here are some photos from that trip… all these photos and videos are my own. I hope you can see them 🙏

I had to fly cross country to get from Northern California to Miami, Florida … I was only allowed ONE suitcase 😮😱 lol (I did ok, it did not kill me lol) I took the largest suitcase I could find lol ✌️😄

We had to take 2 planes ✈️… I believe it was Salt Lake City, Utah we passed through …

Leaving the Port of Miami… every time the boat left dock… we had a pilot boat that would follow and connect with the ship.

A pilot boat is used to transport maritime pilots between land and the inbound or outbound ships they are piloting.

Leaving Miami…

This was my room… I had a balcony ❤️

Sunrise the following morning on open water ❤️ the pictures are beautiful – but in no way do it justice… it was breathtaking 🌅 The colors were incredible!!!

There were thousands of things you could do on the ship 🛳!! Every time I left and came back to the room… they made towels into animals, and had options of anything you ever wanted or could imagine to do!!! A little run down of what was offered

Coming into St. Thomas ❤️ … One of the US Virgin Islands … I did not need a passport or any papers to enter because is a US territory… I am a citizen of the United States 🇺🇸…

Docking in St. Thomas…

We disembarked off the ship… this was my ship… was the Norwegian Cruise Line – the ship was MASSIVE!!!

From there we took the cutest little bus 🚌… with heart windows (Oh my god! I love that bus!! ❤️) … to take an excursion and go snorkeling 🤿

The boat we took the excursion with was privately owned, they played music, served drinks – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and had fresh fruit and snacks for us…

Once we got to the isolated beach on some island 🌴 … we snorkeled 🤿 – which was amazing… I saw Nemo and Dori ❤️ among other amazing creatures and things – was incredible!!

I had to put my phone away for those things because my phone is not waterproof lol… but was incredible. We spent most of the day doing that.

Then it was back to shore and back on the massive cruise ship… and back out to sea we went again…

On to Tortola – which is a British Virgin Island 🇬🇧 … I do not have a passport, but instead they allowed me to bring my birth certificate and my California drivers license – and I was allowed to get off on the island… I would have to show those again to reboard the ship.

On Tortola, we only browsed the shops. I bought a few small souvenirs.

The ship was so massive we could see it over the shops!! 😮

Then it was back on this ship, and off to the Bahamas!! Leaving Tortola…

Sunset in open water …

Our meals and everything on the ship was all inclusive … meaning we didn’t have to pay for anything AT ALL… we still tipped though.

Here was one of the dining rooms we ate in – was buffet style – any kind of food you could possibly imagine!

There were meal times… but when was off time, you could always do room service. They catered to anything you wanted!! As if you were royalty 😮 – ask and you shall receive, no matter what it was 😮

Then we arrived in the Bahamas 🇧🇸 … Nassau …

I accidentally left my phone on the ship, but we just walked around and took in the sights – it was beautiful!!! I have photos but they are not on my phone.

Time to leave Nassau…

Here is that Pilot boat I was telling you about…

The Pilot boat will have a pilot from that particular port you are at, who will help guide your boat off the dock… when they are done the pilot boat comes and takes the pilot back for the next ship… they get right up next to the ship!! 😮 …it’s incredible to watch!

Off he goes, and we head back out to sea…

My last sunset on the ship 🛳… again these photos do NOT do the “true beauty” justice – it seriously takes your breath away!!! So peaceful, heavenly, and serene!!

The following morning, we returned to the Port of Miami

In all, it was a 9 day cruise… I was extremely lucky to have that experience and the only reason I got to have that, is because my friend won a trip through her work. It was a once in a lifetime experience!! Was incredible!!! I will never forget

No matter how much I tried to savor every moment – it was like I blinked and it was over.

We saw a comedy show, went to watch a movie sitting in hot tubs (the movie we saw was “Sully”), there was a water park on the ship, and also a casino… we were never bored! It was amazing!!

The one and only time, that I have ever left the United States – it took my breath away and I will always remember!!!

Back home to California …

Was an incredible experience!!!

I hope it all loads so you can see 🙏 … it’s a REALLY large post 😮

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