The Joneses Go Cruising

Last year, Dad Jones suggested we take another cruise as a family. The thought was that it's a great way to travel as a family, and would give Mom Jones something to look forward to. Sadly, Mom didn't live long enough to go, but she would have been delighted to know that Dad and all of the siblings and spouses gathered to spend the time together.

 

This cruise is an eastern cruise, and we sailed from New York City to Halifax, Nova Scotia and back in the course of a week.

Here's the view from the Caribbean Princess, shortly after boarding.

 

And we're off!! We were in New York only long enough to get off the plane, take a bus ride, and get on the ship.

This is the largest cruise ship we've been on: 3500 passengers and around 1750 cruise workers.

 

 Here's Lady Liberty, on hiatus due to our government shut down.  Doesn't she look lonely?

Shot of the new Freedom Building, built to replace the twin towers (it's the tall one).

Now as you may know, cruises are difficult things. You have to be king of the world.

You have to enjoy fresh salt air

and churning seas.

You must climb billions of stairs because there's never room on the elevators and it's time to eat (again). Now I know what you're thinking: climbing all those stairs while eating all the cruise food will help balance things out and result in a 50 lb weight loss. 

 

Nope.

There's a lovely string quartet playing, making you feel guilty you didn't practice more as a kid.

There are "movie under the stars" nights that are too cold and too late to stay up watching the

not-so-fabulous movie Oblivion. The alternative is to go to your room and watch Love Boat reruns. Do you remember The Love Boat as an incredibly bad tv series? Good for you! Your memory is fine!

Worst of all, you are forced to eat gazillions of calories, including more desserts in one day than we usually eat in a year.

Yes, life on a cruise ship is...hmmm-FANTASTIC!

Next: New Port, Rhode Island