All Good Cruises Come To An End

Day 11 – 18 December 2025 – Sea Day

We’re currently sailing somewhat northwestish – I’m not sure it we’re heading north-northwest, or more west-northwest.  One of those.

We’ve hit some sunny areas, some overcast areas as we just motor along.  It’s a relaxing day for everyone.  There are all sorts of activities on board the ship, but I’m catching up on putting photos into the computer, sorting them by location, labelling, exciting things like that. 

To keep passengers happy and busy, the pastry chefs made dozens of specialty cakes featured at lunch – multi-layered and decorative concoctions, each one looking yummier than the next.  However, I found it all rather overwhelming!  Too many options, too many flavors, multi layers so way too much frosting or whatever.

So I just had my macadamia nut cookies after lunch.  Well, they’re really white chocolate and macadamia nut cookies.  Not that I’m a fan of white chocolate, no no no no no.  But they are the absolutely perfect texture and consistency for cookies!  Chewy and a little sticky around the edges, so the caramelized sugar in the dough sticks to one’s teeth for a moment.  Soft and chewy in the center.  The white chocolate chips add bursts of sweetness, while the macadamia nuts add a sudden crunch in counterpoint to the chewy cookie dough.  Just perfect!  (Okay, very dark chocolate chips instead of the white chocolate chips would make the cookies perfection.  But I’m talking texture here, not taste.)

Day 12 – 19 December 2025 – Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

We both skipped going ashore to this little island, even though it’s a ride in the ship’s tenders to get there, and I do enjoy that little bonus boat ride.  No, it’s just Half Moon Cay itself – it’s sort of Caribbean Lite, a Disney-ized version of the Caribbean.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s a gorgeous white beach with perfect aqua water.  But it’s a small uninhabited island designed and built by the cruise line, specifically for cruise ship passengers.  Nothing real about it, nothing truly part of the Caribbean culture.  A very sanitized version of things.  It’s a well-situated stop for cruises heading in or out of Florida, and provides a good location for a half-day visit.  As well as a way to make more money with excursions, food, shops for last minute purchases.

Just, not my kind of place.  Way too faux, all of it.

So, packed most of my stuff in the morning, and will have a relaxing day to edit photos and get the blogs ready to post once we return to Tucson.  Or maybe just sit on our balcony and enjoy the sunshine.

Days 13 & 14 – 20-21 December 2025

We stayed in the same hotel, took their shuttle to the airport, and flew home to Tucson.  Of course, all the flights were delayed for various reasons, and we arrived back in Arizona half a day later than anticipated.  But at least our luggage arrived as well.  We take whatever wins we can get!