Carnival Valor 7 Day Cruise
September 11th to 18th, 2005
Eastern Caribbean with a departure from Miami

-Cabin 7392 on the Empress deck

-King size bed with balcony

-Two chairs and a small coffee table

Leaving the Port of Miami

-Biscayne Bay Causeway

-The sea wall that protects Miami Beach and all those trendy South Beach hotels

-South Beach Condo's

- Miami Yacht Club

-Port of Miami

-Fisher Island is the richest neighborhood in Miami Beach
-They use the ferry boat to get over to their multi- million dollar estates

Nassau

As many as ten cruise ships a day dock at Nassau (as most people call the island), and the Bahamas as a whole play host to more than three million visitors a year. Those looking for peace and quiet, deserted beaches, and world-famous fishing and sailing head to other islands. But those who want action, they come to Nassau. They flock to Cable Beach and the beaches of Paradise Island for water sports and a lively surfside scene. They hit famed Bay Street for hopping nightlife and duty-free shopping.

-The Valor and Disney Wonder docked side by side

-Prince George Wharf can handle a half dozen cruise ships at the same time

-This ship named "Imperial Majesty" did casino trips
between Nassau and Miami every other day

- Over 3000 passengers and a crew of almost 1000

Walking Tour of Nassau

The Public library has no glass in the windows. They had three computers but the librarians admitted they had no idea how to operate them. Nassau is very laid back but in spite of that they librarians were able to help me find the location of my parents 1940's house.

The actual address was Hubbard's Cottages N-4914 West Bay St, Cable Beach-Nassau, Bahamas. Today the location of those cottages are the 14th hole at the Radisson Cable beach resort. The golf club house has been renovated but was known in the 1940's as "Sir Harry Oakes Westbourne Estate".

Nassau has the advantage of being tropical but not too hot. It stays between 70f to 90f all year

-The "Yellow Door Map Store" along the main street of Nassau
- This little treasure of a shop has maps and books going back centuries

-Parliament House

The Constitution of The Bahamas is based on the Westminster Model; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Executive Branch, The Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch.

As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations The Bahamas recognizes Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. The Governor-General is Her Majesty's representative in The Bahamas and constitutes a symbol of the nation's unity.

-View down Bay street, a tax free haven

A Day at Sea

-This is why we prefer our own cabin. Wall to wall people

-The rear of the ship is an adults only area

Side view of the ship looking towards our cabin

-The front of the ship (forward) is always the private area for the staff. Their own pool and sun loungers.

-The rear of the ship is my favorite spot

-The end of a relaxing day. Our cabin steward always
turned down the bed and leaves a towel animal

St. Thomas and St. John's - US Virgin Islands

-St. Thomas is where all the cruise ships dock

-Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the three islands

-Our cabin mid ship

-We decided on a day trip over to St. John's
(a separate island about 20 miles south)

-Even though this is the smallest of the Virgins, 28 square miles in size, many say it is the loveliest

-The ferry from St. Thomas takes you to Cruz Bay

Two thirds of St. John is a U.S. National Park, and here you see what the world is like when nature takes care of itself. Spend day after day on beach after beach, each with its own panoramic view.

-Trunk Bay

-Trunk Bay is actually a national park and a dream spot for snorkeling

-Scenic lookout looking towards The British Virgin Islands

-The Historic Annaberg Sugar Mill

-Cinnamon Bay

-The Vanderbilt's lived here for decades till they
donated their estate to the US Virgin Islands

St Martin (France) - St Maarten (Holland)

St.Martin and St.Maarten is a very odd island. Shared by two countries the only thing that separates the two islands are a few mountains and a large salt marsh

St. Maarten is the smallest Island in the world to be shared by two governments-namely the Dutch and French. The Dutch side occupies the southern 17 square miles, the French = 20 miles. Both Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin have maintained a peaceful coexistence for over 350 years, the longest of any two bordering nations.

The two territories have enjoyed harmonious relations through their history and have shared the prosperity of many years without dispute. The Treaty of Concordia executed on March 23rd 1648 established this coexistence and has the unique distinction of being the oldest Treaty still in force today.

As part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dutch St. Maarten is been both politically and economically stable. The territory is not only a safe and pleasant place to do business, but also to establish roots and raise a family. The total population has grown from 13,156 in 1980 to nearly 39,000 in year 2000. It is estimated that the population of St. Maarten consists of 77 different nationalities.

-Water Taxi from the ship to downtown $ 1.50 per day

Front Street's most prominent landmark is the Courthouse, built in 1793. A grand white wooden structure topped with a cupola, it now serves as St. Maarteen's courthouse. Also on Front Street is the Simartin Museum, which gives visitors an excellent introduction to local history. Among the artifacts on display are pottery from the island's original inhabitants, the Arawaks, and cargo salvaged from a British ship which sank off the coast in 1801.

-Endless shopping opportunities include everything
from flea markets to designer shops

-Cobble stone main street with over a mile of unique shops

-Beaches are everywhere and topless is the norm

An Afternoon of Snorkeling

-We were signed up for a few hours of shipwreck diving

One of the most popular dive sites is the wreck of the British warship HMS Proselyte, which sank in 1801. Today its haunting remains lie atop a reef a mile south of Great Bay. Another common destination is the freighter Teigland, sunk deliberately on Cable Reef in 1993. It has already begun to attract animal life and underwater vegetation.

-Incredible shipwrecks full of exotic fish

-Random views of our ship

Our Last Day at Sea

-Celebrating our 30th anniversary at sea

Soon after this the sunset and Lorraine saw distant lights at sea. At first we thought it was a fishing boat but after I got out the binoculars we discovered it was a white submarine with no markings.