Day 3

We were finally able to make it to Blu for breakfast, and hubby enjoyed his table-side muesli experience. I opted for the blu-berry pecan pancakes and met up with another few CC members who were also eating their first meal of the day in Blu. I'll repeat once more how much we enjoy the choice of sitting at a two-top next to another couple, it allows conversation with different passengers each time we enter the venue. We quickly stopped in Michael's Club for a specialty coffee, then did a bit of shopping on the way to a 10:00 am talk on "What to do in San Juan"

A short visit with the staff in Qsine to discuss our dinner choices for the following evening. Roger's allergies are accommodated at every turn, even with such a diverse menu as the one offered on the IPad. We can't wait!

I had plans at noon to pop into the first scrap booking session (love the great free kits they hand out), after grabbing a quick snack with hubby at the brunch in the MDR. Always a great meal, wonderfully executed and fully appreciated on a day we would be heading off the ship for some strenuous exercise. I enjoyed the crafting time with some nice ladies, and reconnected with another CC member who was also a part of the group.

There are so many folks we have spent time with over the last two days...we love running into them around the ship and in the ports. Roger and I always go out of our way to engage in conversation wherever we go on a cruise, whether it be staff or fellow passengers. We love people and it further enhances our cruise experience. Before our vacation is over, we have had the pleasure of spending time with so many fellow cruise lovers from all over the world and we continually run into those familiar faces throughout the week we are on board the ship.












Our sail into San Juan was perfect, the view from the forward deck and our balcony, allowed us to get a couple great photos.












A view from a gun turret in one of the towers

We had chosen a 5 pm ship excursion for a Segway Tour of Old San Juan, but we wanted to figure out what the city had to offer us from 2-4, before we joined our group later in the day. We've met a nice couple our first day and decided to share some time together off the ship. We all planned to walk through the old city together, and make our way up the hill to San Cristobal Castle, the fort to the left of the ship. We were very happy to see that in honor of the Martin Luther King holiday, our entrance fee for the day was waived. The historical site was very impressive, and the warm temps high up on the hill, kept us on the breezy side of the fortress, seeking shade more often than not.




The view was incredible no matter which area we were standing in at the fort




My own soldier boy, having been an Army wife for the first 12 years of our marriage, the history and vastness of this fort was pretty incredible for me. During WWII, this post was still being utilized as an active military installation.


We waived farewell to our new found friends and headed back to the ship for a quick bite to eat before joining our small group for our segway adventure.




We had so much fun on the Segway...fuzzy picture taken by the tour guide

I must say, as we were all climbing the steep hill up to the fort earlier in the afternoon, I did have a premonition regarding our ability to maneuver through the cobblestone streets on a segway. We'd previously ridden on these interesting two-wheeled vehicles in Cozumel beside the beaches, which was pretty much a flat straight-away along the coastline. Interestingly enough, I was correct in assuming, we would be out on those bumpy narrow streets buzzing up the hills on our way to discover San Felipe Del Morro Castle, the fort to the left of the ship. We were divided into two groups of five, and along with our tour guide spent the next 2 hours riding our segways through the various paths to the far reaches of Old San Juan. We had such a great time and for someone who is not the least bit athletically inclined, I held my own riding up and then down those old streets. I was so glad we had opted for the late session of the tour, I can only imagine how hot it was during the 2:30 outing. Our trip was a blast and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!



The ship in port at night in San Juan


On the way back to the ship, we ran into yet another couple from our CC group, and the husbands shared a beer while the ladies popped into CVS for a quick minute to pick up a few items. Only as we finally made our way back to the ship, did we feel a few sprinkles falling from the sky...our anticipated chance of showers, had held off for the entire day.

We shared an incredible dinner in Blu (lobster appetizer--sea-bass entree) where the staff helped celebrate hubby's birthday with a cake and a song. We met another nice couple sitting at the table adjacent to ours, who joined us for the Masque dance party in the Grand Foyer. This is an activity not to be missed, the interactive concept has recently been introduced across quite a few of the ship's fleet, and we have enjoyed participating on several occasions. Quite a few folks complain about the venue...the theater would not work for this type of entertainment because the interaction of folks who happened to be strolling by, would not occur in a remote area like the Sky Lounge. I applaud Celebrity's innovative ideas and welcome more forward thinking actives like what we experienced at the party. The crowds were having such a great time, and before the evening was over, everyone who heard the music joined in and could be seen dancing, including the passengers going up and down in the elevators. It was a sight you would not want to miss.

I intend to post photos when I return home, it is almost impossible to include any with the slow Internet connection as it stands now. I'll also add some detailed excursion reviews to the proper boards at another time.

Next up....St Marten and our first trip to Marigot on the French side of the island.