7 Nite Southern Caribbean Cruise
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Monarch of the Seas

Length: 880', Gross Tonnage 73,941 tons, Cruising speed: 19 knots

Passengers: 2,354 and Staff: 827
Cruise Dates:  May 9 - 16, 1999

This cruise was partially a "freebie".  It came about as a result of the running aground of the ship we were scheduled to be on for our Christmas 1998 cruise.  It was this same "Monarch of the Seas" which had an accident attempting to offload a critically ill passenger at St. Maarten during the middle of the night.  Several passengers who were on the ship at the time were also on this cruise and described what was a mighty scary experience.  Everyone was told to evacuate at around 2 a.m. leaving everything behind.   After a day or so waiting for air transportation, they finally made it back to their homes.  Imagine some 2,300 passengers being evacuated to the small island in the middle of the night.

Those who were scheduled for the Christmas cruise were given a free cruise and that's what we took advantage of by taking this one.

Our table was right next to the window and with two interesting coupes from NJ and Puerto Rico.

Here is my bride getting highjacked by the Ship's Pirate

Our port of departure was San Juan.  

Ports of call

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

We crept along the 60 miles that night so as not to arrive at St. Thomas too early and incur unnecessary docking charges.  After a busy day of shopping for things that Dotty had wanted, but didn't buy, on our Christmas cruise we headed back to take in all the activities and food aboard our ship.

Fort-de-France, Martinique

Bridgetown, Barbados

St. Johns, Antigua

Philipsburg, St. Maarten