Princess Cruise

 February 22 - March 5, 2026

We went on this cruise with our friends and neighbors, Vince and Kayleen.  It was not something we would have done on our own, and it was so much more fun with friends.  They had already booked the trip and at the last minute (or last few weeks) we decided to join them.

On Sunday, February 22 we left Ft. Lauderdale.  This is actually the farthest south we've been in Florida.  Our ship, Sun Princess, was launched just two years ago.

Sun Princess Forward

Sun Princess Aft

Goodbye, Ft. Lauderdale

These two pictures are the only ones I took of food, but it was all wonderful!

Our first stop was supposed to be Princess Cays, but there was some sort of scheduling conflict so we went to Amber Cays instead.  There were a lot of shops to look through (of course I bought a can coozie), and this waterfall area too.

The next stop was San Juan.  We got off and walked around a little but it was pretty hot so got back on board the ship without buying anything.

At San Juan

Our next stop was St. Thomas.  Over the years my parents had purchased several things there so it was interesting to see where they had been.  I bought some Laramar stone earrings and a can coozie but that was all.

St. Thomas Bay

One day on the ship there was a cooking demonstration by two of the chefs.  Then we were able to walk through one of the severel kitchens.  They are huge!

One morning John called me and told me to go out on the balcony and look up.  He was on the 17th deck.  I took a picture of him...

and he took one of me.

So much fun to do this trip with our friends.  Did I mention the food was wonderful!?

On our balcony

John, Kayleen and Vince went into Cozumel but I stayed on the ship as I wasn't feeling well.  John bought a can coozie for me.  I said I wasn't going to buy any more but this was different. 😁

On deck 17

They have a model of the ship.  As you can see it's pretty big.  The red dot is where our stateroom was.

Our stateroom was right next to the theatre.  I would not recommend this section of the ship because we could hear every bass boom.  However, the cabana and balcony were wonderful!  I sat out in the cabana a lot of the time.  I could see the ocean but not get burned in the sun.

I didn't take pictures of our stateroom but here are a couple I got online.

Cabana and balcony

Can you see the rainbow?

We pulled back in Ft. Lauderdale early in the morning and I caught the sunrise.

It was a lot of fun and we're really glad we went, but our next adventure will be on wheels.  Then we'll be...

Roving on.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.   Colossians 1:16

James Island County Park, Charleston, SC

January 6-12, 2026

On Tuesday, January 6 we headed for James Island to meet with friends from our Montana 5th wheel group.  We arrived a day earlier than Jim and Vickie, David and Sandi.  They came on Wednesday and we went out to dinner at a group favorite, the Charleston Crab House.  Thursday we just relaxed.  Joe and Michelle arrived and we went to dinner at Home Team BBQ.

On Friday Jim and Vickie and us two went to Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.  We started on the USS Yorktown (CV-10).  It served in WWII and Vietnam and was decommissioned in 1970.

There were four self-guided tours and we did one and two in addition to the Medal of Honor Museum.

'New' Cooper River Bridge

USS Yorktown flight deck

Just a couple of the planes displayed on the deck.

After the Yorktown we toured the destroyer USS Laffey (DD-724).
From the website:  The USS Laffey (DD-724) is the most decorated World War II era Destroyer still in existence. Commissioned at Bath Iron Works, ME in February of 1944, the Laffey was soon on her way to Normandy where she would participate in Operation Neptune. The Laffey provided support to the D-Day invasion at Normandy at the Utah Beach landing site.

Soon after the invasion, the Laffey was damaged by a German shore battery that pierced her hull yet failed to explode. By September of 1944, after undergoing repairs, she was transferred to the Pacific Fleet as a fighter director.

On April 16, 1945, during a Japanese Kukusui raid, the Laffey was attacked by 22 bombers and kamikaze, killing 32 men and wounding 71 of the 336 crewmembers. The heroic crew shot down 9 kamikaze and saved the damaged ship, earning her the nickname, “The Ship That Would Not Die.”

From the Laffey we went to the Vietnam Experience, which is a 2.5 acre exhibit set in a Naval support base during the Tet Offensive in 1968.  As realistic as they tried to make it I'm sure the real thing was much worse.

On the way into the area there was a Cobra helicopter, but not the same as John worked on.

They showed a seven minute film on the battles around Khe Sanh.  That was an awful time.

On Saturday we relaxed.  On Sunday the others left and we relaxed some more.  Unfortunately, on Monday we had to hitch up and head for home.  It was good to see friends again and visit.  Enjoyed the time around the campfires for sure!

In a few months we'll be...

Roving on.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.   Colossians 1:16