Every night, we dined exceptionally well in the main dining room. Our wait staff, Sykes and Tinashe have cared for us in full style. Our tablemates, Bill and Carol, are experienced cruisers and offered insight and encouragement regarding our itinerary.

Each evening a different form of entertainment is offered. Our first show could not have been more amazing nor more difficult to describe. Aqua 80 is a water spectacle set to our favorite decade of music, the 80s.  It combines stylized synchronized swimming with aerial acrobatics that were breathtaking, along with high diving feats, which made the audience express its astonishment with many audible oohs and aahs.  The music, the energy, the dancing, the skill, and the talent… all of it makes this show rank high on our favorites list.

The evening’s second performance was One Sky. I think it impressed us less because Aqua80 was just so beyond fantastic. The description, “a masterpiece of modern movement and dance, with an eclectic, wide-ranging music collection,” might be a tad too glowing but we were happy to be out at 9:15 PM and we were certainly entertained. The day concluded with us even more enthused for this cruising adventure.

Day 2 began with a healthy breakfast at the Windjammer (I have vowed to eat well and move more. The only time I’ve used an elevator was on Day 1 and only to get my luggage to our cabin. In the course of a day, I walk between the 3rd and 16th floors often. Over time, I’m getting much less winded thankfully). We hit the jogging track when the weather permits. Besides Alaska, this has been our chilliest time at sea.

This ship, the Oasis of the Seas, is the second largest currently sailing with a capacity of 6,600 passengers. We’ve been told that we’re traveling with only 5,500 others and with all the places to go and things to do, we never seem to see the same guests very often. Everything one could want to do is offered: Bingo, scuba diving, karaoke, language lessons, pickleball, rock climbing, surfing, games of all ilk, and music everywhere. For size perspective, the photo above is of our ship with the Titanic in the foreground. Wow, right?

I discovered on our second day, the incredible William and Sue Wills. Described as veterans of the stage with over 47 years of performing, they have researched, written, and presented ‘theatrically performed dialogues’ on 36 US Presidents and their wives. For nine days, they provided an enrichment series for us cruisers, that I found absolutely mesmerizing, called “US Presidents and First Ladies Who Crossed the Atlantic by Ship”. Each performance was better than the last. I cried, laughed, and learned so much from this couple. They truly became John & Abigail Adams, John Quincy & Louisa Adams, the Monroes & the Pierces, Theodore & Edith Roosevelt, William & Nellie Taft, Woodrow, Ellen, & Edith Wilson, Herbert & Lou Wilson, Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt, and lastly Ike & Mamie Eisenhower. I did not want this series to end. There is no way to adequately describe this couple and the knowledge they bestowed upon me. To think of the travelers who have crossed this same body of vastness is mindboggling.

Speaking of those who crossed before us, I was thoroughly obsessed with my chosen reading material, David McCullough's The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris. I carried that tome with me everywhere and introduced it to anyone who was receptive. While many had read his previous books, none had heard of this very timely depiction of the exodus to France which began in the 1830s. The names discussed were those found in Who’s Who in America: Henry James, Mary Cassatt, James Singer Sargent, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Nathanial Hawthorn, James Fenimore Cooper, to name only a fraction. Did you know Samuel Morse was an incredible artist before he invented the telegraph IN Paris? This book, when finished, made me acknowledge the fact that I knew so little and that it is now one of my all-time favorites. It is a page-turner like no other. I passed it on to another bibliophile who was beyond excited to dive into its 578 pages.

In addition to the presidential talks, we went to many lectures presented by Captain Paul Golden, USCG Ret who shared with us the history of Privateers and how they really are the reason the US won the War of Independence. He also taught us the history of how the Coast Guard came to be while amazing us with stories of heroic rescues. In one lecture he shared his firsthand account of the Exxon Valdez grounding and the environmental policies he helped implement. What a guy! His were edge of your seat talks.

We were delighted by ventriloquist Ronn Lucas twice. Oh my gosh. He was so dang funny.

I took towel and napkin folding classes in order to “impress my future houseguests”.

Signature Artist Jennifer Singer entertained with modern and classic hits with a touch of Broadway.

Hypnotist Marc Savard took his “laughs to another level through his ability to hypnotize perfect strangers and get them to do hilarious and outrageous things”. This has to be one of the events that made my sides hurt with laughter the most. I’m still cracking up. He performed two different shows and I was in the front row for both.

With an ice rink onboard, there has to be some sort of ice show and we were extremely impressed with Frozen in Time. “Loved by children all over the worlds, Hans Christian Andersen is best known for his fantastic fairy tales, including The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Snow Queen.” This exceptionally talented troupe of skaters put on a fantastic production. We might bundle up and see it again before our cruise concludes.

Steve was even called to the stage to assist the very talented and very British comedian/juggler, Jay Rawlings. It was interesting timing as just that morning I said that it was about time for him to be a volunteer in some production… it’s kind of his thing. There is just something about Steve.

It hasn’t been all giggles and delight for all, sadly. We had to detour twice for medical emergency evacuations. The first was to Bermuda and the second was to the Azores. It was comforting to know that this ship has that ability and willingness. My heart went out to those cruisers whose adventures were cut short.

Mealtimes in Central Park, Merry-Go-Round rides on the Boardwalk, visits to the Library, craft classes, live music enjoyed everywhere, game participation (5 Second Rule), and the camaraderie of various like-minded travelers filled our days.