Miami to Buenos Aires
Travel Notes
DEC. 8, 2023 – GETTING TO THE AIRPORT
We didn’t get much sleep the night before our trip. Our bags were already packed in the Highlander (barely), and fitting all our luggage into a single vehicle had not even crossed my mind. As it turned out, it was a tight fit! We were up around 5:30 a.m., and after getting ready, we had a little more time to say goodbye to our grandchildren.
Arriving at the airport around 8 a.m., we wrangled our luggage, moving it about 70 feet at a time. The relief of finally dropping off five bags and the golf clubs at the counter was immense. The sense of adventure was definitely palpable! Around 10 a.m., with the plane’s wheels up, we were officially on our way!
DEC. 9, 2023 – THE GALA
What an awesome way to kick off our cruise! We arrived at the Intercontinental Hotel the day before the Gala, giving us two full days to relax and enjoy ourselves before embarkation day. The excitement in the air was palpable as we mingled with fellow full-voyage cruisers, all eager to set sail on this grand adventure.
One of the highlights of this pre-cruise gathering was the magnetic metal name tags many of us had purchased. These made it so much easier to connect with one another, breaking the ice and fostering new friendships right from the start. It was delightful to see familiar faces and make new acquaintances, all sharing the same passion for travel and exploration.
The formal setting of the Gala was nothing short of fantastic. The ambiance was elegant, with beautiful decorations that set the tone for the journey ahead. There was an abundance of food and drink, ensuring that no one went hungry while we celebrated our upcoming voyage.
In addition to the delicious offerings, we were treated to some fun swag, which always adds a special touch to any event. Photo opportunities were available at different stations, each representing iconic landmarks from around the world. These stations provided the perfect backdrop for capturing memories with new friends, and I’m sure many of us left with our phones filled with great photos.
As we soaked in the atmosphere, it became clear that this cruise would be more than just a series of destinations; it would be an experience enriched by the people we meet along the way. With the excitement building and new friendships forming, we knew we were about to embark on an unforgettable journey. Here’s to the adventures that await us at sea!
DEC. 10, 2023 – MIAMI – EMBARKATION DAY! (Day 1)
Up early and filled with anticipation, we went to downstairs to get our shuttle tickets and some coffee before making our way back to our room to prepare for embarkation this morning. With our shuttle scheduled for 9:15 AM, the timing allowed us to wake up without feeling rushed or pressured. Of course, the shuttle turned out to be a bit delayed, departing at 9:30 AM instead, but we didn’t mind—after all, we had nowhere specific to be!
Arriving at the ship was a thrill in itself. To our delight, we found that our luggage had already been delivered to our stateroom. This little surprise made our embarkation even smoother! After a quick bite to eat, we dove straight into organizing our room and unpacking our bags.
To our surprise, we finished everything we wanted to accomplish before heading to bed that night. The room was surprisingly well arranged to meet our needs for this long journey and we were ready to face the world—our adventure was truly about to begin! With the ship waiting to set sail and the promise of exciting destinations ahead, we had to pinch ourselves to make sure this was real. We may or may not be prepared for what lies ahead but at least we are finally on our way.
DEC. 11, 2023 – PORT 1 – COCO CAY, BAHAMAS (Day 2)
Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island, was the perfect starting point for our cruise. Located in the Bahamas, it’s a well-designed island with beautiful beaches and a mix of relaxing and active options for guests.
We began our day exploring different parts of the island. There were family-friendly areas with shallow water and play zones, a large pool with upbeat music and an early crowd, and some big water slides for people looking for a thrill. There were also quieter spots with hammocks and shaded lounge chairs for those wanting to take it easy.
We ended up settling into a couple of lounge chairs under an umbrella at South Beach. The water was calm, and it was a peaceful place to relax. Later, we walked to another beach area that was more exposed to the ocean. The waves were bigger, and the breeze was stronger, giving that side of the island a more rugged feel. As we headed back to the ship, we stopped to take a few pictures and videos of the crashing waves and swaying palm trees.
One highlight of the walk back was spotting a large, detailed sand sculpture. Gwen has always enjoyed seeing these, and this one really stood out with its clean lines and creative design. It was a fun surprise that added something extra to the experience.
Overall, it was a great way to unwind after the busy days leading up to the cruise. It helped set the tone for the rest of the journey and reminded us to take time to enjoy the moment.
DEC. 12, 2023 – DAY AT SEA (Day 3)
Cruising brings a unique blend of relaxation and excitement! With so many activities available, it’s a challenge to navigate the ship—even though this is our third sailing onboard the Serenade of the Seas. There’s always seems to be something new to discover, and that keeps the journey fresh and exciting.
One of the highlights of today was finding out there is going to be a cruiser choir. We both decided to join the Christmas Choir, which will perform in the main centrum on Christmas Day. It’s always a joy to connect with others, especially those who share a love for music. Our director, as expected, is meticulous about vowel sounds, insisting that we avoid the infamous “ssss” sounds that could make us sound like snakes. It was a delightful throwback to my choir days, and I think Dominic, our director, is like almost every other choir director I have had in the past.
This ship features a small 35 seat cinema that shows movies every three hours throughout the day, providing plenty of entertainment options. This is in addition to some themed movies related to our travels, they are planning on having available in the larger performance theater and on the new large screen by the pool.
While Gwen took some time to enjoy a movie, I dedicated my afternoon to learning how to build a website. Though I was “slaving away” at the computer, I was genuinely enjoying the process and the challenge it presented. It’s nice to be able to go our different ways to find activities that interest us, but still be able to enjoy our time together.
DEC. 13, 2023 – COZUMEL, MEXICO (Day 4)
Chichen Itza is the largest of all the Mayan ruins, so off we go! Our tour began with a 45-minute ferry ride from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen on the mainland of Mexico. Once we got off the ferry, we walked about a half mile inland to board buses that would take us to the site. The bus ride itself was two and a half hours, which didn’t leave us a lot of time to explore the ruins, but we still got to see quite a bit. It’s definitely an impressive site, with large stone structures and a powerful sense of ancient history.
On the way back, we stopped for a buffet lunch where they had a Mayan ceremonial dance and drum performance. It was pretty impressive, and I know Gwen enjoyed capturing it in photos—those are the kinds of moments she loves to document. My favorite part of the day, though, was getting to meet some new people and chatting with them on the long bus ride back to the ship.
DEC. 14, 2023 – DAY AT SEA (Day5)
We had choir practice, and Gwen went off to do some line dancing and diamond art. There’s a young woman on board, probably in her late 30s, who has traveled to every country in the world. Gwen heard her speak and got a copy of her book signed—RCCL had gifted the book to all the World Cruisers, which made it even more special.
Later, we went together to see the movie GOLDA. We both found it really interesting and now feel motivated to learn more about that time in Israel’s history. It was thought-provoking and sparked some good conversation between us afterward.
In the evening, we went to the ship’s theater to see ventriloquist Kevin Johnson. I honestly think he’s the best ventriloquist I’ve ever seen. I’m not saying he was the funniest, but the technical skill was incredible—I never once saw his lips or neck move. It was a very entertaining show.
DEC. 15, 2023 – DAY AT SEA (Day 6)
Not much going on as we had a chill sea day. We’ve settled into a “Walk Around the World” program where they gave us a small book for short diary entries. They’ll stamp it if we walk over a mile. It’s all on the honor system, but I think it’ll help keep us active. Gwen thrives when she has a goal and can track her progress.
We stumbled onto a short ceremony held to honor the veterans on board. It was a nice moment that gave them a chance to see others from their branch of service, and you could tell friendships and conversations were forming right there.
The rest of the day was more time spent working on the website and attending choir practice.
DEC. 16, 2023 – ORANJESTAD, ARUBA (Day 7)
We did something we have never done before—Blokarting. Since we’ve been to Aruba multiple times, it seemed natural to try something new and just find a fun activity. It was a blast. The wind wasn’t as strong as it is on some days, but it was steady enough to let us race up and down the beach in three-wheeled, wind-powered go-karts!
Afterwards, we did a little exploring around Oranjestad. Gwen was on the hunt for postcards to send to the grandkids, so we ducked into a few shops while taking in the sights.
We spent the rest of the afternoon by the pool, relaxing and soaking up the sun. Later that evening, we went dancing. We still feel like we are just on vacation, even though you can tell by the atmosphere and the camaraderie of the cruisers that this isn’t your normal cruise.
DEC. 17, 2023 – WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO (Day 8)
Doug and Margaret headed off for an exciting scuba diving adventure, so Gwen and I decided to explore on our own. We caught a taxi and made our way to Blue Bay Resort, which turned out to be a great pick for both of us. The beach was beautiful and quiet—perfect for Gwen to relax, read a book, and do some light snorkeling in the clear turquoise water. As for me, I was drawn to the resort’s golf course, which offered sweeping views of the ocean.
Since I didn’t have a playing partner, I made the most of it by playing two balls against each other on every hole. It was a fun and peaceful way to enjoy the course at my own pace. The fresh breeze off the sea and the calm setting made it one of the most relaxing rounds of golf I’ve ever played. After finishing up, a friendly resort staff member offered to store my clubs for me and even gave me a ride down to the beach, where Gwen was waiting.
We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out reading and enjoying cold drinks and snacks under the shade of a palm tree. The staff across the resort were incredibly helpful—always smiling and quick to assist. The woman at the welcome desk offered to call a taxi for us when we were ready to head back, which saved us time and hassle. With great service, stunning scenery, and relaxing activities for both of us, Blue Bay Resort is definitely a place we’d love to come back to next time.
Later in the day, we explored the shops near the port, where a lively local celebration was taking place. The streets were full of music, laughter, and small booths selling handmade crafts and souvenirs. As the sun set, we found a spot to eat dinner overlooking the water. Just as we were finishing our meal, the cruise ship began to pull away from the harbor. Suddenly, a burst of fireworks lit up the sky, reflecting off the bay in shimmering colors. It was the perfect ending to a memorable day.
DEC. 18, 2023 – KRALENDIJK, BONAIRE (Day 9)
Our excursion in Bonaire was definitely one of our favorites. We walked about a half mile from the port to catch a water taxi. It took us to an island that is preserved as a National Park. We were allowed to take our beach bags and towels to the beach and then reboarded to be taken part of the way back to our original departure. Our captain stopped the boat while about 8 of us went down a ramp and jumped into the water with our snorkels and fins. It was an easy float/swim called a drift snorkel along the coral reef back to the beach where our towels were stowed.
We met up on the beach with some friends from Florida and Gwen went back out for more snorkeling. She was glad she did as some of the largest fish were just off the beach where the underwater terrain dropped significantly. There were so many fish on this snorkel trip, it was like swimming in a large aquarium.
DEC. 19, 2023 – DAY AT SEA (Day 10)
Same itinerary as previous Sea Days as we have a choir practice on every one leading up to Christmas. We are also working diligently to get this website caught up. The good news is that we are learning more and more each day on how to use this software.
We had dinner later at one of the specialty restaurants, CHOPS, that was not as good as our normal nightly service where they pamper us. Are we being spoiled? Yes.
DEC. 20, 2023 – BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS (Day 11)
We booked a semi-private tour for 8 people or less that ended up being a private tour. Our guide, Dunstan, was great at making sure we got the pictures we wanted and taking us to the sites that we wanted to see. We started at Bridgetown, the capital, in the south and worked our way up the western coast where most of the celebrities stay near the Sandy Lane Resort. We then went to St. Nicholas Abbey, which sits on 400 acres and still runs as a rum distillery today. After doing a rum tasting we worked our way across the island to Bathsheba and the dangerous waves and rocks that protect the eastern coast.
We ended our tour at Hunte’s Garden, one of the most unique gardens we have ever toured. With many sitting areas to rest in a peaceful tropical oasis, it was a beautiful way to end the day.
DEC. 21, 2023 – ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA (Day 12)
We had a very unique experience here in Grenada. Before this cruise a Messenger group was formed with the idea of taking Christmas to the Bel Air Children’s Home located on this island. After communicating with the home about the needs and wishes of the children, many cruisers donated gifts and money. When Royal Caribbean became aware of our efforts, they wanted to participate. They saw some of the big item requests and met needs with new pots, pans, bedding and numerous other gifts.
We had the honor of going with a few other couples to deliver these gifts with Santa. With the help of 2 of the ship officers, we received transportation and lunch for everyone involved, including the kids. (As a side note, I found out that one of the 2 officers was our Hotel Manager who has a home in Cherokee Village, AR! We have many friends in common.)
Our focus on this trip was the children. Our hearts were so touched by all of them! They loved being held and hugged. The home appeared to be very well run and everyone was so appreciative of our efforts to bring Christmas to their home.
While all the children loved receiving gifts of dolls, dinosaurs, watches and other gifts, it appears that a candy cane from Santa was the most treasured! The candy canes were consumed immediately with lots of smiles as our fellow travelers quickly unwrapped the candy for their little hands.
Both of us will treasure the smiles and hugs we received on this unique shore excursion. The home director made us aware of how unique it really was. They had never had anyone from a cruise ship come to visit them. We both really loved this day as it helped us share the love of Jesus at this special time of year.
DEC. 22, 2023 – DAY AT SEA (Day 13)
The morning started off with a talk from Captain Stig. He has been with the Serenade of the Seas since she was built. He is from Norway and shared slides and talked about his life as a sailor and some of the interesting experiences he has had. At the end there was a Q&A session where we found out that we could possibly be in for rough seas when we reach Drake Passage. There have been times when he has faced 40 foot waves on past journeys. When asked how that would affect our ship, he said we would be “uncomfortable”. He had a great sense of humor.
Our Christmas Choir had the last practice before our dress rehearsal on Christmas Eve day. We are thankful that the RCCL staff are finding fun ways to involve the world cruisers. We had a meet and greet this afternoon with the managers and officers over entertainment on the ship. One of them came up with the idea of a passenger choir.
Most importantly, today is the day that our website seems to be totally caught up and functioning properly. Finally! We didn’t know what we were really getting into when we started this site, but we have become a lot more knowledgeable and efficient lately.
DEC. 23, 2023 – DEVIL’S ISLAND, FRENCH GUIANA (Day 14)
Devil’s Island walking tour turned into a sea day as the waters were too rough to take us ashore in tenders. We spent the day getting work done, planning future ports, and just hanging out on the ship.
DEC. 24, 2023 – DAY AT SEA (Day 15)
We are trying hard to stay healthy and intellectually stimulated while on this journey. We have developed the habit of walking and listening to audio books. Our goal is to walk at least a mile every day and on sea days to get in 2+ miles.
Gwen and Margaret went to a Cultural Enrichment talk in the theater. They had a professor who spoke on the history of Bossa Nova music in Brazil. Gwen and Margaret found it quite interesting. They will be adding Bossa Nova music to their playlist
Gwen, Margaret, and Doug also did an onboard book exchange that was planned prior to sailing. It was an Icelandic tradition called Jolabokaflod translated as “Christmas Book Flood”. It originated around the end of WWII when Denmark gained its independence.
They had some great Christmas activities to get us in the holiday mood. We didn’t know it, but the 25 or so kids on board had a Christmas Choir. Gwen went to hear them and came back to the room wiping her eyes. She had a flood of emotions watching the children sing and thinking about her own grandchildren.
DEC. 25, 2023 – DAY AT SEA – MERRY CHRISTMAS! (Day 16)
We were up around 8 a.m. as they had promised home-made eggnog in the Schooner Bar. It was nice to attend a church service where we sung Christmas Carols and had a nice message from a Catholic priest who did a good job of keeping the service inter-denominational. We always like having time to return the focus of Christmas back to where it should be, the birth of our Savior.
Finally, the day was here for our Christmas Choir. We were overwhelmed with the turnout from the passengers and they surrounded the Centrum, even up several floors. It was a lot of fun to do something musical with the other passengers. Those type of activities always deepen your relationships with each other.
One of the highlights of the day was to sit and watch It’s A Wonderful Life in the Rogers suite. Gwen and I had bought some bags of popcorn in Aruba so it made us forget we were on an ocean.
Of course our big highlight was getting to Facetime with all our children and grandchildren. It is always fun to hear kids excitedly tell you what they got for Christmas!
God Bless you all, and we hope you had a great day remembering the birth of Jesus and may that continue into next year.
DEC. 26, 2023 – FORTALEZA, BRAZIL (Day 17)
We decided not to explore this port. We have read about some incidents involving the robbing of tourists and because it seemed to lack any original sites to see, we stayed on board and got some things caught up. I am working on some LLC’s with Doug so we have had some time to develop those.
Gwen enjoyed some time reading, swimming, and watching dolphins in the bay. She also went to the theater to hear a Brazilian singer they brought onboard for the show.
We found ourselves later in the pub listening to Daniel Ondaro, when we met up with Andrew and Ale Kenney. We talked a lot about faith, family, and travelling. They are some of the TikTok’ers documenting their journey on social media. We invited them to join us in a Bible Study/Community Group that we are starting.
DEC. 27, 2023 – DAY AT SEA (Day 18)
Today was the first At Sea Day after crossing the equator, so Neptune made his appearance on the pool deck today. It was more of a fun time to drench some of the officers in an ice bath. Their crime was dancing in videos with the Tik Tok’ers on board. They showed some of the videos. RCCL is getting a lot of online publicity from these videos going viral on Tik Tok, so of course they dowsed some of them as well so they could post more of the videos.
Gwen attended an enrichment lecture by a Brazilian professor on Revelry of the Kings. We also launched our Bible Study group with 8 people (including our friends Ale and Andrew Kenney (TikTok’ers). We spent our first meeting telling our faith stories and it got emotional real quick as people shared both loss, pain, and joy in their lives.
The evening entertainment of 5 singers and 2 dancers and the ship band was absolutely entertaining. What a well laid out program of singing, dancing, and instrumentals. One of the best shows we have ever seen on a ship.
DEC. 28, 2023 – RECIFE (OLINDA) BRAZIL (Day 19)
We took an Uber to the neighboring town, Olinda. The views from the town were spectacular! We toured some churches, then sat for lunch in a park area where there are several stands that sell a local dish that used to be what struggling families would eat. A “Tapioca” is made from Cassava root ground to a starch flour that becomes a thick tortilla type shell, which contains either cheese and meat, or chocolate and coconut. Not the most delicious or nutritious, but was an interesting lunch.
We also toured a small museum that houses some of the figures created for Carnival. It was well worth the 50 cent admission fee. I even got to try one on to see how the dancers would move to bring them to life. When we got hot, we found an empty Red Bar that served us up 20 oz. Heineken Beer for $3. We got another Uber to take us to the lighthouse on the hill for some quick photos, then back to the ship. A very fun and very inexpensive trip. Even with buying a shirt and some things for our grandkids, we spent less than $50 for the whole day. Brazil was a bargain in our book.
DEC. 29, 2023 – DAY AT SEA (Day 20)
We spent time working on photos and website along with doing some laundry. We were able to get in some reading at the back of the ship in the Windjammer cafe.
As good as the evening show was 2 nights ago, was this evenings show as bad. Brazilian musicians and dancers were brought on board. The music was not that great and the dancers, in skimpy costumes, felt compelled to bring children up on the stage. Doug and I walked out on the show, as we thought it was not appropriate. We all met up in the Schooner Bar to watch Ohio State play Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. We met some new friends who live in Columbus and teach at Ohio State. That was fun but the game wasn’t as the Bucks lost in a very low scoring, boring game.
DEC. 30, 2023 – DAY AT SEA (Day 21)
Just found out that our neighboring cabin had a water leak above the closet and it may have ruined most of their nicer clothes. RCCL has put them into an upgraded suite, and will work to replace and clean clothes as they are able. Mark and Jane have been such nice people to visit, we are hopeful they will get to move back. (They don’t like the bigger suite as the closet is smaller than their original suite)
Gwen played in a Baggo (Cornhole) Tournament and won 3rd place. The last 3 teams each beat each other and a tie-breaker was used.
DEC. 31, 2023 – RIO DE JANEIRO (Day 22)
Today was another Wonder of the World as Gwen and I had an earlier group departure than Doug and Margaret. Their group didn’t leave till 10 a.m. and that suited them just fine.
We boarded a bus with 28 others and our guide told us about the history of the city. It was interesting to learn that Rio is called a “city of levees and tunnels”. Throughout history its leaders would build a levee and reclaim more of the ocean for expanding the city.
We arrived at the base of the 2000ft hill that supports the 120ft Christ the Redeemer statue. We were put on a tram that takes you to the top of the hill. A few stairs had to be navigated for us to stand at the base, looking up at the statue. It was an emotional experience in seeing the outstretched arms of the statue with the clouds as the backdrop.
It was time for a lunch that RCCL had planned at Assador Rio, a Brazilian steakhouse. The entire restaurant was rented out for us. The food was fantastic and so were the views of the beach it sat upon. You also had a clear view of Sugarloaf mountain.
When we were back on the ship, we set sail to position the boat out in the bay of Copacabana Beach. As the clocks hit midnight, the 1.5 mile wide fireworks ignited to light up the sky. From the distance we were away from it, we could see the 10 stations setting off the exact same fireworks in a very impressive display. Happy New Year!!! May this be the year that Christ returns!
JAN. 1, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 23)
Spent the day working on this website. I needed to move it from one hosting site to another. I am struggling with the backups and getting the website to restore to its original condition. But… I am learning a lot!
I went to a theater improv class today while Gwen worked on our pictures. It was fun to learn ways to memorize lines as we did some theater exercises with about 12 people.
We met new people in the pub as it was packed with people watching the Michigan vs Alabama game. It was fun to have all the fans together in the same room. As the cheers would roar, so would the groans. I met a couple, Randy and Teresa from Mississippi, and they vacation in Arkansas. We had a lot in common and they lived in some of the areas that I had lived in during my early years in college.
JAN. 2, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 24)
Sea days are always nice as they give us a chance to participate or watch ship games and activities. They had an egg drop competition today that was quite interesting to watch. Over 25 entries had their contraptions dropped into the Centrum floor from the 9th deck. Some entries drew Ooohs! and Ahhhs!, while others elicited cackles as the eggs splatted on the plastic sheeting. The emcee, Sheenah, wore a hard hat.
We had a wind shear storm today that brought straight line winds of 60-70 mph winds. It caused the ship to list to starboard and the heavy rain came in the doors and ran across the carpeting. They shut down the front elevators temporarily while they cleaned the mess. It all only lasted about 45 minutes. We have heard that it was over dramatized on social media. It really didn’t affect us much.
Our Christian Community Group met again and we are up to 14 people. It was great to discuss Spiritual Relationships with others and note how they impacted our faith and how we need to reach out to others.
We went to a Chef’s Table tonight and although the menu was a repeat of a Chef’s table we did in January of 2023, it was still fantastic. The other diners are what always makes or breaks one of these. We met a couple, Ron and Joanna from Savannah, Ga. that were really nice. The evening ended with them inviting us to Savannah and us extending the same offer for NW Arkansas or Florida. The evening was topped off visiting with a couple from our Community group that we are finding more and more in common. Brian and Shari are game players and we will be getting together soon.
JAN. 3, 2024 – DAY AT SEA (Day 25)
Very chill day, today. Gwen did some walking and reading. Doug and I worked a bit on projects.
Played Euchre with the Rogers. This is always a good time and our fall back routine if nothing else interests us. Though Gwen likes to go to the shows, even she doesn’t want to go every night.
JAN. 4, 2024 – MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY (Day 26)
Today was so surprising to us. Wow, Uruguay you are quite the country. The first thing we noticed on our excursion (Wine Down in Montevideo) to the Spinoglio Winery, was how well kept all the homes were. You could tell people took pride in their living spaces as yards were mowed and there was little trash laying about. The winery was fantastic as Alejandra (the owners wife) gave us a tour of the facility. We were then fed fingers foods and wine, while watching musicians and dancers performing native dances. The wine was so good, I bought 2 bottles even though we get all the wine we want for free on the ship.
We were given a tour of Montevideo on our return to the city. We loved the architecture and really enjoyed the sights we got to see.
Got a Question?
Feel free to ask us any travel questions or anything you would like to know about specific pictures.
It is great to read your updates and see the pictures here. Keep them coming, please. 😊 We love you both.
I just wanted to wish you both Merry Christmas 🎅. You are thought of often and loved all the time. Be safe and have a great time celebrating our Lord and Saviors birth.