Where In The World Is Matt Lauer, er Weinstein?

"Why don’t you come on a cruise with us?" That’s what my cousin Mort asked us in a phone call earlier this year. He suggested a tour on the Royal Caribbean line in September. And, he added, it wouldn’t cost that much because it’s hurricane season and therefore, not high season for the touring business. Little did we know what this year’s hurricane season would be like!

So this blog comes to you courtesy of a satellite internet link on board the Royal Mariner, a floating city that holds 3,000 people as it plies the Atlantic and Caribbean. I’m writing this post lying in my luxurious stateroom. There’s barely the slightest hint that we’re moving through the mighty Atlantic toward St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands where we’ll dock tomorrow at around 9 o’clock.

Our cruise began on Sunday, September 14th. On Saturday, Stacey and I flew out of JFK bound for Orlando. Mort and his wife Sallie have a timeshare in a Wyndham resort and it took the pressure off of arriving and shipping out on the same day. Sallie and Mort drove down from their home in Montgomery, Alabama the day before and they picked us up at the airport. After spending a relaxing day at their place we left the next morning for the easy one hour drive over to Cape Canaveral and the cruise terminal. The night before we dined at an old Florida institution - the Columbia, a wonderful Cuban restaurant.

Sallie and Stacey at Sallie and Mort's pool at the Wyndham Resort in Orlando.

Stacey, hanging out on the "shore" of the Lazy River.

Mort is caught by his toe by Sallie as they float down the Lazy River.

Stacey hangs on a tube with Sallie and Mort.

We're headed to the pool bar for a refreshing drink.

Having a nice cool one at the pool bar.

Boarding was easy enough. The new terminal was efficient and uncrowded and we made our way on board. It was 11 o’clock but we were told our rooms would not be available until one. We spent the time having lunch at the Windjammer Café where we had an overabundant buffet from which to choose our fare. Afterwards, we wandered around the ship to acquaint ourselves with the layout. At first, it was quite confusing - there are 14 decks, numerous elevators and stairways, cafes, restaurants, a gym, a spa, swimming pools and jacuzzis, a library, an internet shop and a city-block long promenade laid out like a European pedestrian shopping street, lined with shops and bars. Beautifully designed, with modern art gracing the walls and halls, the ship is a high-styled, magnificent floating hotel. One thing we noticed right away - this was an upscale and glittering ship but it was also a gigantic money-making machine - at every turn and at every moment - the ship has been organized to give the guests endless opportunities to spend and spend ... and spend. That bothered me. It was crass commercialism taken to the max. But after a while, I learned to ignore it and was able to concentrate just on the beauty of our surroundings and the magnificent grandeur of the vast ocean. Compared to Queen Elizabeth II, a ship we had been on many years before, this more modern ship presented the ocean to our view at every turn and in every location.

The endless hurricanes of the weeks before our trip had us debating the sanity of setting sale into the very path of the storms. As luck would have it, we’ve been sailing through a very calm ocean with endless blue skies set off with puffy white clouds. Perfect!

Ready to board the ship.

Stacey leads the way on board.

The first thing we did (because our rooms were not yet available) was to grab lunch at one of the ship's many eating locations. We're still in port and other cruise ships are visible.

After lunch, we went exploring. Here's Sallie at the Promenade - shops and cafes laid out to resemble a European shopping street - very cute.

The center lobby with glassed-in elevators gives a dramatic view upwards through the ship.

A view of the three-leveled dining rooms. Our table was on the top level, dubbed The Sound of Music.

At 4 o’clock on the day we set sail it was announced that we would have to participate in a ship safety drill. All passengers were to make their way to a muster station wearing their life preservers and listen to some safety facts. After the drill, we made our way to an outside deck and watched the Florida coastline fade into the distance. We were off and on our way to our first stop - The Bahamas, which we would reach the next morning.

Stacey at the emergency drill. Is this a weird picture or what?

Matt takes off in his life preserver. This guy cannot figure out what the hell I'm doing.

Are we having fun yet?

We're under way. In the distance, another ship is about to leave the channel and into the open sea. Stacey shoots me shooting her.

Up on a deck to greet the Atlantic Ocean as we leave Port Canaveral.

Small boats coming back in as our big boat is leaving.

The Florida coast stretches south into the distance as we enter the Atlantic bound for the Bahamas.

Goodbye Florida. Hello Stacey and the Atlantic.

The pool area is quite a colorful scene - but it's also very crowded and noisy. Fortunately, there's a second pool that's a bit more sedate.

In my next post - Bahamas, sunrises, moonsets, St.Thomas, &c. Be sure not to miss it if you can. - Matt