Crossing the Atlantic on Grandeur of the Seas

My mind set going into our two week trans-Atlantic cruise was more utilitarian than pleasure. The idea behind the cruise was that it was a major cost saving way to travel to Europe from South America. Airfare per person for one trans-Atlantic flight was 50% more than one person's cruise fare that included lodging, food, transportation and much more. Robert and I decided we'd be foolish not to save money in this fashion so we boarded with minimal expectations.


Leaving Colon, Panama

 The first few days alternated being at sea and at port. First we visited Curacao. There we walked, shopped, visited museums and had lunch before returning to the ship. 

Off the ship in Curaco.





Adorable brightly colored port town.

Barbados was special because I met Cecelia, a friend of my Mom's from the 60's when Mom lived there while serving in the Peace Corps. We barely missed connecting with her that day. At just the last minute I spotted her and the sign she made. She's a lovely woman with a huge heart and I'm so glad we spent the day touring Barbados with her, her daughter and two grandkids.



My Mom's house.



Short hike to this view point.

After Barbados the cruise set sail for the Canary Islands off the Western coast of Africa with seven "Days at Sea" ahead of us. The best way to enjoy a week sailing in the middle of nowhere was to get involved and so we did.

Breakfast for Cameron.

Breakfast around 9:30am, rock wall, water color class, small lunch. Yes, small lunch as to avoid the ever popular cruise gorge fest that results in an additional five or more pounds. Then on to the pool for some sun and maybe a nap before ballroom dance class and the rock wall again. Plus, a random fitness class, a swim in the pool every now and then and one facial that I miraculously found time to squeeze in. And all this was before 5:00pm.





Watercolor Class


Watercolor class begins

 



Taylor working hard



Totally engaged

Done for the day. Will finish painting tomorrow.

Pool Time

There were times the ship was rocking and rolling across the Atlantic so much that the pool became a wave pool. This was Camerons favorite time to play in the water. Soon he had us all joining in.

Rock Climbing on The Wall

We began on the first at sea day learning to climb. Adrian and Christian were fabulous teachers and by the end we were attacking routes one through four. Five didn't exist and number six we just couldn't get all the way. Taylor and I both made it up half way before hands were slipping and leggs were shaking. No matter, it was a blast and something we all want to do when we get home.

Day one - route one.

Route three for Cameron and four for Ryan

Cameron waiting his turn.

Awesome Adrian and two cool kids.

Christian (Chile), Marne (USA), Adrian (Romania)

Taylor attacking route four.

 Ballroom Class

Of course I had Robert for my partner but the boys had their pick of plenty of ladies eager to be their partner. It was usually married ladies who's hubbies didn't show. The boys were a bit timid at first but after a few lessons with the fabulous Don and Aida they were leading the ladies as they should and instructing some as well. They soon became a hot commodity. I loved seeing their desire and confidence to learn the classic dances.

This photo below is of Don and Aida with my dancing boys. Our dinner table happened to be right next to theirs. Every night after a great lesson Aida would gush compliments on Taylor and Ryan about their budding talent, the class and maturity they exhibited at their age, and how overall impressed she and Don were with our boys.

   

The boys would weave and bob between all these activities and their own like the pool olympics, ping-pong, shuffle board and club time. No matter who was doing what, when, the plan was to meet in our rooms at 5:30pm to get ready for 6:00pm dinner.

 Baking Class

Ryan and another cruiser learning to make apple strudel from the ship's chefs.

C'est magnifique!

Pool Olympics

For the whole story check out Ryan's blog post.

The race is on!

Ryan won this challenge. Who can find a pair of men's shorts the fastest?

Cameron wins this one. Bring me one ladies bra. Guess a bikini top works too. No is was not mine.
Some lady wipped it off under her tank top and handed it to Cameron. Notice how he's holding it. It was hysterical.

Shuffleboard

Adrian from the rock wall challenged us to a game or two. Robert and Cameron vs. Adrian and Taylor.

We had three formal nights for which we outfitted everyone thanks to a shopping spree in Lima and a few additional items on Curacao. Dress shoes, khaki pants, dress shirts, ties and one cocktail dress and shoes for me that I found while in Curacao amazingly enough. All three boys were honestly looking forward to formal night and therefore leading the charge in their shopping endeavors.

Panama Camameron. Who's Jack anyway?

Our family with Don and Aida.

After dinner and sometimes even before dessert was served Cameron would rush off to his Adventure Ocean Club! Robert, Taylor, Ryan and I would head to the theatre to watch the nightly entertainer(s) perform or challenge the boys to a game of sunset beanbag toss. After the show the boys would check out their Fantaseas teen club and Robert and I would find other things to until 10:00pm when the boys curfew went into affect.

Robert and Ryan's turn

Tenerife, Canary Islands

The first port after a week at sea.

Pyramids in Spain? Who knew.

Hmmm, looks a lot like South American structures.

Proof the island is volcanic. Beautiful colorful layers.

Mount Teide. Tallest mountain in Spain and second in Europe behind Mount Blanc at



 Amazing thing is that we never tired of being on the cruise ship and actually found ourselves not wanting to disembark in Palma de Mallorca. We even threw ideas around like staying on the ship for one more week on it's first Mediterranean Cruise of the season. In the end we decided to stick with our original plan. Finish our last three international weeks in Spain and France.

Palma de Mallorca

Our port of disembarcation

This is what you do when you are off the ship at 8:00am on Sunday with luggage to haul around. Besides nothing is open  yet and probably won't be because it's Sunday.

After walking aound town window shopping because most places were closed, there was not much else to do but hang out. So that is what we did in this local park. Taylor sketched, Ryan played guitar, Cameron doodled, I wrote and Robert napped. Our  overnight ferry to Barcelona didn't depart until 11:00pm so we had nothing but time.

Our ferry to Barcelona.

Due to our last minute booking the cabins were sold out so these seats were our accommodations for the night. They made airplane seats look attractive.



And thus ends our cruise across the Atlantic.