Day Five ~ San Juan

Since we didn't go to bed until almost 1:30, and we didn't arrive in San Juan until 2:30, we decided to sleep in and be lazy this morning.  And we did.

We woke up around 9 and just snuggled in bed for a good long while.  Doug went to the Park Cafe for pre-breakfast pastries while I made coffee and got dressed.  We relaxed on our balcony with pre-breakfast and planned our day.

We planned to collect our pictures and go to the shops and actually buy something this time lol.  I bought a few things in the shops this trip...a mug, tree ornament, hoodie and a few t-shirts for Doug.

They are calling for scattered storms and a high of 85.  So far it is cooler with blue skies and fluffy clouds!  I am loving the weather.  It is going to snow at home!

We made it to breakfast just in time.  I had oatmeal and pineapple.  Then we went to the pool and found 2 loungers right in front by the pool...score!!

We enjoyed our morning and early afternoon at the pool.  They had a pool-side BBQ (sausages with sauerkraut) and the world's sexiest man contest, which was really funny.  Andre, the activities manager, does all the pool-side activities.  I'm not sure what Mitch, the cruise director, does.  We were in the pool a lot since it was so hot!  I had my bikini on and my poor white virgin belly got burned.

About 2 we noticed we were pulling into port, so we went to the room to shower and get ready to leave the ship.

We did leave the ship, but didn't go far.

We actually stayed at the terminal and bought alcohol.  Quite the deal...huge bottles of Don Q rum for $10 each/buy 3 get one free.  So we bought 8.  We also bought Jordan a bottle of tequilla for his birthday.  It is a special reserve that is numbered and limited.  We paid $50.  Jordan searched it out when we got home and gave it to him.  It's a $207 bottle of tequilla.

We took my favorite ship picture and then headed back onboard.  We were off the ship for maybe 40 minutes!  We planned to enjoy the quiet pool.

We took pictures and checked Facebook and called home before getting back on board.  We checked in our alcohol and then went to the Park Cafe for a snack.  The Park Cafe is in the Solarium part of the pool deck.

We walked around a bit taking pictures.

The long walk down the hall to the aft!  The view is worth it!

We went to the room to rest before dinner.  I text with Jordan and called Allen.  Isaac called on his way home from work. It was nice to talk with the boys.  They told us about the snow.  I am happy to be missing that!!

Since we were in port until 10 pm there were no pictures.  So we headed to dinner, which was so-so tonight.  Doug had shrimp cocktail and beef stroganoff with rice.  I had goal cheese polenta (blah) and it had baked beans with it (weird).  Dessert, that was fabulous!  Doug had Boston cream pie, which he loves.  I had the most amazing hazelnut souffle with frangelico sauce!  It was AMAZING!!

We hurried through dinner so we could get a seat in the centrum for the aerial show.  It was very crowded and we couldn't see very well.  But from what we could see, it was very impressive.

While we waited for the show we took pictures of ourselves in the mirror in the ceiling.

 Aerial show

After the show we headed to the pool deck for the sail away pool party.  We LOVED the pool party on Explorer.  It was a snooze fest on this ship.  We got there early and sat through 10 minutes of rain, but it cleared up nicely.  We weren't hungry so didn't care about the buffet.  We thought Mitch would show up, but nope.  It was Andre the activities director.

About 10:30 we headed back to the room with drinks and snacks and sat on the balcony.  We made it an early night since St. Thomas was tomorrow!  We LOVE St. Thomas!!

Day Six ~ St. Thomas

We set our alarm for 6 this morning so I didn't feel rushed.  I'm glad we did since I'm pretty slow moving this morning.

We sat on the balcony with pre-breakfast.  I was journaling while Doug took pictures.  We're planning our day!  The weather is going to be amazing!!

 The Jewel was in port with us today!  I am looking forward to sailing a Radiance class ship some day.

So we headed to the Park Cafe for a quick breakfast and back to the room to pack up and head out as soon as possible.  We plan to go to Emerald Beach Resort and do some shopping at Havensight Mall today.  

We've not heard our neighbors on the balcony at all this trip.  But!  This morning the ladies to the right of us came out on their balcony.  It is a daughter traveling with her mom.  The mom is probably late 60s?  She wears an obnoxious amount of perfume.  So much so that we had to go into the room because it was giving me a headache on my balcony. So much so that you could start to smell it half way up the hall walking toward the aft.  You could smell it walking by their room with the door closed.  I walked by one day while Louis was cleaning and had the door open to their cabin.  I don't know how he took care of their cabin....it was ridiculously obnoxious!  

I grabbed towels and bottled water on our way out and then headed to the taxi stand. 

We did stop for the photo ops while leaving the ship.

I did browse a few shops along the way.  Havensight Mall is all decorated for Christmas!  Before Thanksgiving.  Just like at home.

So we caught a taxi.  Louise was our taxi driver.  She was so nice!  And she told us a lot of history.  In St. Thomas they drive on the wrong side of the road, but American cars.  

We LOVED this beach!!  So calm and clear and sparkly.

 The view from our chair where the hardest decision was deciding what to eat and drink.  I had frozen white Russians and a grilled chicken sandwich with fries at the beach bar.

 We had company for a while.

 LOVE the sparkly water!

 The path to the beach from the resort parking lot.

 Resort pool

 View of the ships from the taxi

 So long St. Thomas!  Until we meet again.  We hope to spend a couple weeks at the Emerald Beach Resort some day.

 Just these few ropes hold us at the pier.

 Somebody on the Jewel watching us leave.

 The buildings are so colorful!

What an amazing day on the beach!!  

Back on the ship we showered and changed and went to the Park Cafe for a snack and got mudslides from Dane in the Solarium bar for sail away on our balcony.  We took lots of pictures and called Isaac.  We sent Isaac and Maranda a text with a picture of the Jewel.  They are sailing on her sister ship, Brilliance, for their honeymoon next year.  Exactly one year from the day we were in St. Thomas.

Sailing away on our balcony.  So long Jewel!

We rested on the balcony for a while then got ready for dinner.  There is a 50s and 60s party in the centrum tonight and an 80s after party in the VCL after that.

We went and collected our pictures then had more taken at several stations.

Then onto dinner, which was really good tonight.  Doug had shrimp cocktail, NY Strip steak and honey walnut tart.  I had gourmet meatballs, turkey with mashed potatoes and veggies, and drunken kaluha cake (YUM!) and coffee and moscato.

After dinner we went to deck 4 in the centrum to get a sea for the party.  It was really crowded, but we snagged 4 seats and waited for Dave and Sue to join us.  People do NOT like you to save seats.  We did anyway.  They are such a nice couple.  I am SO glad they are local!

Then we went to the VCL for 80s night.  We danced a little then headed to the Park Cafe for a late night snack of burgers and fries and then back to the room.  It was an awesome day and a fabulous night.  Tomorrow...St. Martin!!