Normally our church’s Christmas recital is in early December. But our vacation caused it to be pushed back (to Lizzie’s birthday).
Victoria, Sarah, and Joanna sang a beautiful arrangement of The First Noel.
Jeffrey played bass guitar with the guys on What Child Is This and Angels We Have Heard on High.
The youth ensemble created their own Christmas medley.
Because it was Lizzie’s birthday, Jeffrey asked everyone to join in singing Happy Birthday to her.
Everyone singing Happy Birthday to Lizzie. Click photo for full size.
After the recital, we gathered in the fellowship hall for food and refreshments.
Lizzie and Christeen. Click photo for full size.Joanna, Nicole, Sarah, and Victoria. Click photo for full size.Jeffrey, Grandma Stogdill, Jeri, and Justin. Click photo for full size.Jason and Tim. Click photo for full size.Josiah and Joshua. Click photo for full size.Joanna, Nicole, Victoria, Kristie T., Maureen M., Joanna T., and Sarah. Click photo for full size.
Grandma Stogdill is visiting us this Christmas for a week. She’ll get to celebrate two birthdays (Lizzie’s and Josiah’s) plus Christmas plus hear some of her grandchildren perform in the Christmas recital at church.
Josiah was initially a little discouraged because he was still full from a big lunch at Carlitta’s Diner. But later he got going and had five or six empty bowls on his tray.
Grandma, Jason, and Josiah. Click photo for full size.Nicole, Joanna, Victoria, Jeffrey, and Sarah. Click photo for full size.Nicole, Joanna, Lizzie, and Justin. Click photo for full size.Jeri and Tim at Souplantation. Click photo for full size.
So we chose self debarkation. That meant that we had to carry off our own luggage but it also meant that we didn’t have to pack up the night before. That was so much nicer. So finally on our last day, we used the elevator to get our luggage up to deck 3.
Since we had enough time to enjoy breakfast, we got a made-to-order omelette with mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, spinach, arugula, bell peppers, and some cheddar cheese. Yum!
Made-to-order omelette with fruit and toast. Click photo for full size.
For our last evening with Aunt Vivian, she treated us to burgers at BurgerFi.
Jeri, Aunt Vivian, and Tim outside BurgerFi. Click photo for full size.
They had some vegan options. Jeri got the BEYOND BURGER: 100% Plant-Based Beyond Burger® From Beyond Meat®, American Cheese, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickles, Onions. Tim got the VEGEFI BURGER: Crispy Quinoa + Fresh-Cut Veggie Burger, White Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato, BurgerFi Sauce on a Multigrain Bun.
Vegan burgers and fries at BurgerFi. Click photo for full size.
Aunt Vivian got a “real” burger plus she shared one of their chocolate shakes.
Carnival has a lot of photographers taking pictures when we are at port as well as in the evenings. We purchased a few of them.
Red background. Click photo for full size.At the piano. Click photo for full size.Cruise photo. Click photo for full size.In front of our ship. Click photo for full size.In the hall. Click photo for full size.
Saturday morning, we head to the gym. After our 20-minute aerobic workout, we switch to weights. John, who we met and talked with the day before, helped us and his wife workout on four weight machines.
We enjoyed getting some instruction and encouragement on using the machines. As the four of us took turns on each machine, we got to know each other. John’s a retired military veteran; Linda graduated with her law degree at age 60 and is now a lawyer. Amazing! Plus they’ve been married 46 years!
Here’s a picture of the four of us.
Jeri, John, Linda, and Tim in the gym. Click photo for full size.
Then it was our normal fruit, shower for Tim, and lunch. Today they had the Chocolate Extravaganza which featured maybe eight or more different chocolate cake plus a chocolate fountain and more. We chose the chocolate cheesecake and the chocolate pecan cake.
Dessert at the Chocolate Extravaganza. Click photo for full size.
Jeri took her shower after lunch. Then we relaxed. Later in the afternoon, we walked around to check our photos. Also we were hoping to see Donato and Maria. And we did run into them!
We went up on the upper deck to see the sunset.
Final sunset on the cruise. Click photo for full size.
Next was our final dinner on the ship. Jeri’s appetizer was a Caprese Salad – Tomato and fresh mozzarella, balsamico, virgin olive oil and basil.
Caprese salad. Click photo for full size.
Cinnamon pumpkin cheese pie with glazed cherry tomatoes and cheese puffs.
Cinnamon pumpkin cheese pie. Click photo for full size.
For dessert, they brought out flaming baked Alaska. Jeri had a slice. Tim had the melting chocolate cake.
Baked Alaska. Click photo for full size.
We said good bye to our servers: Nikola from Macedonia, Dmitriy from Belarus, Pujiasih from Indonesia.
Nikola, Jeri, Tim, and Dmitriy. Click photo for full size.Jeri, Dmitriy, Pujiasih, and Tim. Click photo for full size.
That evening, we caught two performances of the band along with the horn trio. We also finalized our photo purchases. We really liked how the photos were digitally retrieved and browsed.
Smooth Operators and WorldTown Sound. Click photo for full size.
Fauzan was our Stateroom Steward. He was exceptionally friendly. Starting the very first day, he would greet us by name. Sometimes in the morning, we’d hear him call “Good morning, Tim and Jeri” from down the hallway.
With Fauzan, our Stateroom Steward. Click photo for full size.
Here’s a picture with a display of our favorite photos. Because they took a lot of good ones, it was hard to decide.
Friday started the same as most of the days: gym, plate of fruit (with some pastry), shower, then a trip to the buffet for salad and more.
Today’s lunch menu included cauliflower with green tahini (we both loved it), broccoli mac-and-cheese arancini (deep-fried panka-coated arancini stuffed with broccoli and cheddar).
Lunch salads including cauliflower with green tahini (in the back). Click photo for full size.Broccoli mac-and-cheese arancini. Click photo for full size.
For dessert, Tim had a slice of chocolate chip cake and Jeri had a slice of key lime cake.
Chocolate chip cake. Click photo for full size.Key Lime cake. Click photo for full size.
We listened in on a question and answer time with our cruise director, Leigh. He told a number of interesting stories of life on a cruise ship.
Q and A with Leigh Xueres our Cruise Director. Click photo for full size.
After a relaxing afternoon, we get dressed up for “elegant night.” We stopped at a number of photo stations. Then at 6:00 pm, we head to dinner.
We started with stuffed mushrooms (stuffed with spinach and Romano cheese). Absolutely amazing!
Stuffed mushroom appetizer. Click photo for full size.
Tim’s entree was spiral pasta with a creamy mushroom sauce.
Spiral pasta with creamy mushroom sauce. Click photo for full size.
Jeri had spanakopita (a Greek pie with layers of phyllo dough, spinach, and tomato) and a couscous-stuffed bell pepper.
Spanakopita. Click photo for full size.
For dessert, we each had amaretto cake (chocolate and almond) with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. We keep telling ourselves “Too much food, too little appetite.”
Amaretto cake. Click photo for full size.
We caught Jim McCue for a PG comedy show. Although the show was officially a repeat, he spends most of his show interacting with audience members. He’ll come up with funny lines based on their home state, occupation, family/marital situation, and more. (Jeffrey Jena does the same.)
Here’s a picture of us with Jim McCue.
With Jim McCue after his show. Click photo for full size.
We also caught Jeffrey Jena’s PG comedy show at 9:30. All new material and lots of laughs!
Thursday was our last port day with a stop in Aruba. With the ship due to arrive around 8:00 am and our excursion meeting at 8:30 am, we start our day at 7:00 am.
While Jeri gets ready and pretty, Tim goes up to the buffet and gets a big breakfast. Then we eat in our room.
Breakfast in our room. Click photo for full size.
Because we’re (thankfully) not getting on the water this time, we don’t have to coat ourselves with sunscreen. This tour is in an air-conditioned bus.
Our first stop was the California Lighthouse on the north side of the island. We paid $5 each to climb to the top of the lighthouse.
California Lighthouse on Aruba. Click photo for full size.
Here we are at the top of lighthouse. It was very windy!
Jeri and Tim at the top of the California Lighthouse. Click photo for full size.View from the top of the California Lighthouse. Click photo for full size.
Our next stop was where we were shuttled by boat to the vessel that had underwater windows.
Preparing to board the vessel with underwater windows. Click photo for full size.
Here we are waiting at a dock for the boat to shuttle us out to the wreck area.
Waiting for the boat to shuttle us. Click photo for full size.
Here we are heading out to the shipwreck. Our friend, Maria, is sitting next to Jeri.
Heading out to the SS Antilla shipwreck. Click photo for full size.
Donato and Maria who were our dinner table partners for the first two nights were on the same tour. Here’s a picture of us in the sightseeing vessel, sitting below deck.
Jeri, Maria, Donato, and Tim below deck. Click photo for full size.
Here we saw the sunken remains of the German ship, Antilla. Our guide told us its history. We saw lots of fish, some scuba divers, some snorkelers, as well as the ship. Unfortunately the pictures don’t have much detail.
SS Antilla. Click photo for full size.
We also noticed the living barnacles on our ship.
Barnacles on our vessel. Click photo for full size.
After our viewing, we transferred back to the boat that took us back to land and the bus. Just above Jeri’s right shoulder is a boat which they use for pirate shows. And to the left of that you can see the California Lighthouse which was our first stop of the day.
Heading back from the SS Antilla shipwreck. Click photo for full size.Approaching the dock. Click photo for full size.
Back on the bus, we traveled to the Natural Bridge. Due to erosion, the bridge collapsed in 2005. So we saw its remains and the “baby bridge.”
Baby Bridge. Click photo for full size.
Because we were now on the north coast which is the windward side of the island, the waves crashed pretty hard on the rocks.
Wave crashing on Aruba. Click photo for full size.
Our final stop on the bus was the Casibari rock formation. We climbed to the top of the formation. We could see our cruise ship.
View from Casibari rock formation. Click photo for full size.Descending the Casibari rock formation. Click photo for full size.
There were some tall cacti in the area.
Tim next to tall cactus. Click photo for full size.
We were back on the ship around 1:30 pm or so. We went straight up to the buffet for another yummy lunch with a variety of salads plus a grilled tofu and vegetable dish and a pastry that had kale and mushrooms.
Yummy salad. Click photo for full size.
We finished with Black Forest Cake and Apple Crumble Cake.
Black Forest Cake and Apple Crumble Cake with coffee. Click photo for full size.
We went to our room to rest. However because they were painting the outer hull of the ship and because we were on deck 1 (people were exiting and entering the ship on deck 0), we had paint smell in our room. So we ended up reading and resting in the library.
Here’s a picture of an empty Renoir Restaurant during the day. (Our evening dining was in the Monet Restaurant.)
Renoir Restaurant on the Carnival Conquest. Click photo for full size.
When the ship pulled out of port, we went up top to see Aruba for one last time.
Leaving Aruba. Click photo for full size.
Then we walked another mile on the jogging track. Tim got a quick shower before supper.
Although we weren’t sure if we’d like the vegetarian entree when we ordered it, we were pleasantly surprised. It was Corn, Chili, Quinoa Baked Tomato with potato jalapeño croqueta, cheese sauce, and leek hash.
Quinoa baked tomato with potato jalapeño croqueta. Click photo for full size.
Jeri’s dessert was cheesecake with strawberry sauce. Tim had the Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake again.
Cheesecake with strawberry sauce. Click photo for full size.
Dancing in the dining room.
Dining room dancers. Click photo for full size.
That evening we caught three comedy shows at 7:30, 9:30, and 10:30. The first two were PG and had very clean language. We loved Jeff Jena’s show at 7:30. He’s on Dry Bar Comedy. Here’s a photo with him.
Jeri and Tim with Jeff Jena the comedian. Click photo for full size.
So we decided to check out his adult-only show. The material was funny. We only wished that he hadn’t sprinkled used the f-word for emphasis instead of the word “very”.
On Wednesday, our port of call is Curacao which is a Dutch territory. We dock at 10:00 and our excursion isn’t until 10:45…so we have a little bit of time. (By the way, Curacao is pronounced with the first “C” having a hard “C” sound like in “Cat” and the second “C” having an “S” sound like in “snake.”)
We again started at the gym.
Morning workout. Click photo for full size.
Then, instead of fruit, we get a heftier breakfast. We even got a made-to-order omelet! We will be snorkeling later in the day.
Made-to-order omelettes. Click photo for full size.
After coating ourselves with sunscreen, we’re ready! We disembark and meet our tour group. After boarding the open-air bus, our tour guide took us through parts of Curacao and explained its history.
We stopped at an old salt flat to see some flamingos.
Flamingos. Click photo for full size.
Eventually we arrived at Blue Bay which is part of a resort community.
On the beach at Curacao. Click photo for full size.
Here we got our snorkel gear and then headed out into the water. The water was still cool. By comparison, when we snorkeled at La Paz, Mexico, the water was warm.
The beach was picturesque. Clear blue water, palm trees, lounge chairs, warm temperatures…what more could you ask?
Seeing tropical fish with their variety of shapes and bright colors is always fun and amazing. Because Jeri’s mask couldn’t seal tight, she just used the mask to peer into the water to see the fish and coral.
Snorkel area at Blue Bay beach in Curacao. Click photo for full size.
Iguanas live on the island.
An iguana. Click photo for full size.
After we returned to the ship, we cleaned up and then grabbed a salad at the buffet. We also got another vegetarian enchilada; this one had kale and canolli beans…a little spicy, but yummy!
After our late lunch, we tried the water slide. Although you start slow, you keep gaining speed as you approach the bottom. Here’s Jeri at the top.
Jeri ready to try the water slide. Click photo for full size.
Here’s Tim hitting the bottom.
Tim at bottom of water slide. Click photo for full size.
Back in our room, we took showers and got cleaned up. We again leave the ship to walk around and shop.
Close to the ship is Rif Fort which was built by the Dutch. Inside now are various shops and restaurants.
Next to Rif Fort. Click photo for full size.
We saw gun holes and took pictures for Josiah who had already explained their function to Jeri. The openings are called arrow loops or arrowslits. The design made it easy to shoot out but hard for the enemy to shoot in.
Arrow Loop from the inside of Rif Fort. Click photo for full size.
Here’s a view from the outside. Notice the three slots.
Three arrow loops viewed from outside of Rif Fort. Click photo for full size.
Near the fort was the waterfront from which you could see the Queen Juliana bridge which is the highest bridge in the Carribean.
Queen Juliana bridge in Willemstad, Curacao. Click photo for full size.
We walked across the floating bridge (which you can see in the above picture) to the historic part of Williamstad.
In Willemstad, Curacao. Click photo for full size.
The sun was setting as we were ready to board the ship.
In Willemstad, Curacao near the Carnival Conquest. Click photo for full size.
For dinner, Jeri’s appetizer was a tomato and green bean salad. Tim had a regular salad.
Tomato and green bean salad. Click photo for full size.
We each had the Italian dish, penne noodles in a tomato sauce with eggplant, zucchini, olives, capers, and some mozzarella cheese.
Penne noodles in a tomato sauce with eggplant, zucchini, olives, capers, and some mozzarella cheese. Click photo for full size.
Our server gave us plenty of cooked broccoli!
Plenty of broccoli. Click photo for full size.
Dessert was Boston Cream Cake and Orange Almond Cake.
Boston Cream cake. Click photo for full size.Orange almond cake. Click photo for full size.
Edge performed for our evening entertainment. He was funny and entertaining.
In the theatre. Click photo for full size.Edge. Click photo for full size.Edge performing with audience volunteers. Click photo for full size.
Tuesday was a day at sea. Sea days are always very relaxing. It’s so nice to just lie in bed and not be thinking that is time to get to work on the 101 things that need to get done.
We started in the gym again. We first worked out on the elliptical machine for 20 minutes.
Jeri on an elliptical machine. Click photo for full size.
Then we used some of their weight machines.
Tim lifting weights. Click photo for full size.
After showers, we had lunch which was mostly salads plus a kale and white bean quesadilla. You can see the quesadilla on Jeri’s plate in the picture.
Lunch Buffet. Click photo for full size.
We finished with a slice of German chocolate cake and one of tiramisu cheesecake. Sugar overload!
German Chocolate Cake and Tiramisu Cheesecake. Click photo for full size.
After lunch was total relaxation, Jeri read and worked on some puzzles. Tim took an hour and half long nap.
Jeri relaxing in our room. Click photo for full size.
The we went up top of the ship and walked a mile on the walking/jogging track. We also watched a beautiful sunset.
Jeri and a beautiful sunset. Click photo for full size.
The brass trio was playing as we entered the restaurant.
Brass Trio. Click photo for full size.
For appetizers, Tim had broccoli and cheese soup. Jeri had the minestrone soup. Tim saved his soup and added his steamed broccoli, carrots, and onions to it. Then later he used it as topping on his baked potato.
Broccoli and cheese soup and Minestrone soup. Click photo for full size.
Our main entree was grilled tofu with vegetables.
Steamed vegetables, French fries, baked potato, and grilled tofu with vegetables. Click photo for full size.
For dessert, Tim had the Carnival Melting Chocolate Cake and Jeri had bread pudding.
Bread pudding. Click photo for full size.
After dinner, we headed straight to the lounge so we could find a seat for the comedy show. Percy Crews 2 did a PG-rated show called “Old School.” He was funny, but not as funny as the previous show.
Monday around 8 am, we docked at Grand Turk. This was four hours ahead schedule since we didn’t stop in the Bahamas the day before. Again we started in the gym.
In the gym. Click photo for full size.
Then we each had a plate of fruit. We wandered the ship and looked out over the island.
On the ship at Grand Turk. Click photo for full size.
Then we changed clothes and got a falafel wrap from the California Deli.
With Falafel Wraps. Click photo for full size.
We left the ship with plenty of time to spare. So we got to the excursion meet-up place early. We visited with Faith Anne and her husband who are the owners of Exclusive Escapes.
Shortly Gary and Marshall came back and dropped off one tour group and picked us up. Because our ship arrived in port early, quite a few people took an earlier tour. So instead of 12 in the group, we were joined by a couple and their daughter (who didn’t snorkel). Our group was nice and small.
On the snorkeling boat. Click photo for full size.
Our first stop was a shallow coral reef. Gary led the way. He had some Cheerios in a bottle that he used to attract the fish. The fish would swim right up to him. One time we were close to him and the yellow fish would actually swim by and brush us as they swam past.
Gary caught a small nurse shark by his hand and let us touch it. Then he let the shark go.
Our second stop was a spot near an underwater cliff where the sea floor drops suddenly. The water is so clear that you can see the drop off. Gary dove down about 50 feet just holding his breath. Then he let out some Cheerios for the fish.
Both of us are still new to snorkeling, so we each swallowed some very salty seawater. Aside from that, we really enjoyed our time. Although initially the water felt cool, we acclimated pretty well.
After returning to the beach, we walked back to the ship.
On Grand Turk. Click photo for full size.
There were two Carnival ships at Grand Turk that day.
Two Carnival Ships. Click photo for full size.
Back in our room, we each hopped in the shower and got clean again. We caught the sunset as we sailed away from Grand Turk.
Catching sunset on the ship. Click photo for full size.Leaving Grand Turk. Click photo for full size.
We got ready for dinner which is always one of the highlights on a cruise. Tonight they had vegetarian spring rolls! For the entree, Tim got stuffed Portobello mushrooms; Jeri got the Indian dish. The mushroom dish was exceptional!
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms. Click photo for full size.View inside of the Stuffed Portobello Mushroom. Click photo for full size.
For dessert, we both had the apple pie a la mode.
Apple Pie a la Mode. Click photo for full size.
For our evening entertainment, we saw the Gender Showdown. The host was our cruise director, Leigh, who made it very entertaining.
The game show format involved a number of rounds. Each round required one or more volunteers from each gender. Two rounds were in the format of Family Feud.
One round had six people join hands and see how many people could fit inside.
Gender Showdown Balloon Relay. Click photo for full size.
The last round was a relay which required each person to blow up and tie a balloon. Then he or she ran to his or her captain and had to pop the balloon in some specific manner like chest to chest, back to back, our sitting on the captain’s lap. Hands could not be used to pop the balloon. Then the person ran back and tagged the next team member.
After the show, we stopped to listen to the string trio. An older man made a request and then got up to dance.
Sweet Liberty taking requests. Click photo for full size.
