Length: 758', Gross Tonnage: 46,000 tons, Cruising speed: 21 knots

Passengers: 1,750 and Staff: 614
Cruise Dates:  December 20 - 27, 1998

Departed from San Juan, Puerto Rico

My bride all dressed up for Christmas dinner.

Our cordial table for six.  The other two couple ran independent businesses and were from Chicago.  It was interesting discussing the Baltic problems with them as their families were all from that area.

Ports of call

Orangestad, Aruba

Located just 16 miles off the coast of Venezuela, this 20 by 6 mile island belongs to the Netherlands.  It has the world's largest seawater conversion plant.

The big deal activity on Aruba aside from the beach.   Climbing the rock formations of Casibari.  There were also natural rock bridges created by the ocean currents on another part of the island.

One of the famous Divi Divi trees on Aruba

Willemstad, Curacao

The capital of the Netherlands Antilles, Willemstad has a population of just under 200,000 most of whom are mixed African.  The island is 173 square miles in size and is just 40 miles north of Venezuela.

Hiding from the heat in Hato Cave in Curacao.  It was filled with a dramatic collection of stalactites, stalagmites and crystal clear polls.

Visiting the Curacao Museum of contemporary and modern art.

This picture of a colorful building in Curacao represents the variety of shops where one can find all sorts of worthless trinkets.  And guess what, we actually spent a few hours looking!

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Just another of the small islands that dot the horizon in this neck of the woods.  It was Christmas day and one that found us aboard ship except for a one hour walk to view the local crafts being sold just off the dock.

My Dotty taking advantage of a deserted sun deck on Christmas Day.  Everyone was touring the island of Tortola.

St.. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

We had a nice tour of the island in an open-air safari bus.  This picture was taken from the balcony of The Estate of St. Peter Great House.  The view is of Dotty enjoying a cool one with Magen's Bay Beach in the background.