Virtual Cruise

By Todd Langenek

Well, it is that time again where I “must travel for work”.  The worst part of the job but I am willing to take one for the team!  I wanted to get some sailing time in with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as I have only traveled on Norwegian Cruise Lines to this point.  Up sprouted an opportunity to travel with other travel agents and attend seminars on board the ship to learn more about Royal Caribbean and their products. 

In my previous cruise experience, I posted a blog entry every day while on board the cruise.  Because of some logistical reasons, I am not posting live while on board.  For this trip, I am trying a virtual cruise experience after the cruise is completed.  I will still post a daily diary type entry so you can follow along and experience virtually what we experienced live.  I am confident that you will still enjoy this blog even though we are back on dry land when you read it.  A benefit of this method is that I am back on land and have more time (and faster internet!) to answer questions or respond to your comments about the cruise.

Now some general background information before we get into the daily trip diary.  This particular seminar was aboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas; December 3-10 sailing from New Orleans.  Royal Caribbean used to sail out of New Orleans prior to hurricane Katrina in 2005 but had to leave because of the storm.  Voyager made Royal Caribbean’s return to the port on November 12, 2011. The Voyager departs from New Orleans and visits Falmouth Jamaica, Georgetown Grand Cayman and Cozumel Mexico with 3 days at sea mixed in.

Voyager of the Seas made her maiden voyage back in November of 1999 and was refurbished in May of 2009.  She is 1,020’ long, weighs in at 137,000+ tons and carries approximately 3,000 passengers at full occupancy.  She was once the largest cruise ship and, even though she has been surpassed by several of Royal Caribbean’s other mega-ships, she is still one of the larger cruise ships around. Voyager introduced innovative features such as an ice-skating rink, rock-climbing wall and in-line skating track to the cruising industry.  This ship is ideal for those wanting a mega-ship cruise with lots of activities and several days at sea to enjoy them.

I will give more details (complete with pictures) on the exciting features of this cruise ship as we go along on our journey together.  You will have to tune in to see what features we tried on board, what excursions we tempted fate with and if I broke my previous ice cream cone eating record of 22 cones in one cruise.  Please come back and join us in experiencing this wonderful ship and fun itinerary.

Bon voyage,
Todd Langenek