Quantum of the Seas Inaugural Cruise 11/14-11/16
O M G
The day has arrived- two years in the making… we are finally
on our way to Port Liberty to embark on our journey to nowhere! Thank you Rachel Ray and also to the person who
nominated Friends of Freeport to be part of the first ever Thanks for Giving
show.
As we approach the port the excitement is huge within the
car- four of us, joining the others… check in is really quick in spite of the
fact that two of our party do not have the requisite “Set Sail” pass…
Find your cabin, unpack and start this journey!
Wrist band on, phone/camera charged and off we go…
Find IFLY so we can learn how to do s simulated sky dive… no sign up but wait here and maybe you can
give it a go- so, wait we do, and fly we do!
Watch a short video and learn the hand signals you will need to
communicate with the instructor inside the tube… chin up, legs straight legs,
bent, relax…. Sure- easy for you to say…suit up in your flight suit, ear plugs,
helmet and goggles… walk up the stairs and…fly I do and it was quite fun
Then back through the legs of Priscilla- or is her name
Felicia (still don’t know… oops!) the huge and kind of creepy pink sculptured
bear that sits on the outside upper deck of the ship…
See Alison and Kurt’s state room- that’s one big state… lol
Wander the ship, meet and eat, and DRINK!
Devinly Delicious – restaurant and bar with “light” cuisine…
some real yum!
Windjammer buffet- miles of food- all sort of things at each
meal time.
American Icon Restaurant- a five star restaurant on board. There are many others including Rocco
DiSpirito, Johnny Rocket, Chic, Silk, Izumi, numerous little spots to get
innovative and awesome food! And many
many bars where we can sample many amazing drinks- all free on this inaugural
cruise!
Then on to the inaugural ceremony- in attendance are a
family from Make a wish foundation, all the captains of ships on the line, the
COO of the line, Kristin Chenowith, drummers on the wall, an earth harp…
It’s almost time to depart- it’s dark and the sky line of
NYC is sparkling… we cruise past Lady
Liberty.. a toot of the horn in memoriam in front of the Freedom Tower and away
we go…we’re underway and it is magical!
Dinner and the comic, then a Journey cover band and the
piano bar with an awesome keyboard player… and then it’s lights for Shari.
Up before dawn and to the gym- odd to ride a bicycle on a
ship that is rolling with the waves, feels like I have to balance a stationary
bike and that’s quite difficult… the elliptical calls as the sun begins to rise…
coffee and a shower and then the day can begin for me!
Wandering the ship once again- let me find out about the “Northstar”
something of a gondola that rises three hundred feet above the sea water, and
moves in a 180 degree arc above the ship- glass walls and not a problem for
this woman with fear of heights- I promise fellow passengers that I will not
scream and keep my promise- chatting quietly to myself and video-recording the
entire journey.
Breakfast/lunch with Patti and more shipboard wandering with
a brief stop at the stores to shop and peruse the bounty available to
passengers.
A drink at the pool-side bar and off to Mama Mia- Broadway
on board… Very well done!
Then a return to the Northstar with the group.
Quick- change your clothes it’s 6 pm and dinner starts at
630 in the American Icon Restaurant where Baldwin serves Freeport@! (Baldwin is
the name of our waiter…) Food is fantastic..
Next to the music hall so we can listen to some music, sing
and dance and have a libation or two…
Time’s up, bedtime for Shari
Awake to try to see us go under the Verranzano Narrows
Bridge- oops, missed that, but I watch as the ship is expertly parallel parked
by the captain.
Journey over and it’s been wonderful but WAY to short!!!
Home again!
