Off to our Next Adventure!

 We took an 8:30 shuttle out from All Star Sports to head to Tampa Bay and the Cruise Ship that awaited us.  I think we all were a little sad to be leaving Disney behind, but at the same time slowing down our pace and adding some rest and relaxation was very much needed. Going all out at Disney takes a ton of effort! Our shuttle ride was smooth and surprisingly traffic free, allowing us to make the journey quickly and quietly to Port Tampa Bay Dock 3, where our ship, the Grandeur of the Seas awaited us.

The Grandeur of the Seas is a smaller and older ship compared to some in Royal Caribbean fleet, with a max passenger size of 2,446. For comparison, Royal's newest ship, The Star of the Seas, has a max passenger size of more than triple that, at 7,600 guests! Despite this though, the students found the amenities and style of the ship quite nice, and once we we all abord they wasted no time adjusting to cruise life!

While we waited for our rooms to be ready,  we camped out on the pool deck and went to Windjammer for their all you can eat buffet. Once our rooms we set each group headed their own way, whether that included catching some sunshine on the main deck, exploring the rest of the ship, or testing our the bed in the stateroom with an afternoon nap. Andrew and Brayden even joined in on the Sail Away dance party!

This cruise will  also definitely have a number of firsts for everyone too! For some it is their first cruise, for others, it will be their first taste of new foods. Not the escargot though (Andrew always orders that on cruise ships). No, this is the much rarer and harder to come by delicacy knows as steak! Both Graycie and Drew tried it for the first time tonight! While reviews were mixed (one enjoyed it, the other dislikes the texture) everyone had a great dinner together, and I look forward to future gatherings and discussions in The Great Gatsby Dinning Hall.

After dinner, we headed our separate ways, some to the gym, others to the pool and hot tubs, and still others to some of the many activities aboard the ship. Tomorrow is a sea day, but we will meet as a class to participate in "The Great Search of Nations" as we begin to learn more about this floating city were are traveling in. All for now from The Grander of the Seas!

Paul Fonstad