My luggage begins the journey...

Two of my suitcases will begin the four month journey a little ahead of me.  Both cases are waiting by the door for pickup by FEDEX tomorrow.  Two more bags will be packed and brought with me on the plane to FLL.

ATW: Map of the voyage

Click graphic to make it larger.

Here's a map from HAL that I've modified with a timeline.  The voyage is on the ms Amsterdam (click here).

Around the World Timeline

JANUARY

Jan 05    Depart Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US @ 4 PM

Jan 09    Santa Marta, Colombia

Jan 10    San Blas Islands, Panama

Jan 11    Panama Canal

Jan 12    Crossing the Equator

Jan 13    Manta, Ecuador

Jan 22    Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia

Jan 24 & 25         Papeete, French Polynesia

Jan 26    Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Jan 28    Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Jan 30    Alofi, Niue

Jan 31    Cross International Dateline (Feb. 1 disappears with the crossing)

FEBRUARY

Feb 02   Nuku Alofa, Tonga

Feb 05 & 06         Auckland, New Zealand

Feb 07   Waitangi (Bay of Islands), New Zealand

Feb 10 & 11         Sydney, Australia

Feb 13   Melbourne, Australia

Feb 15 & 16         Adelaide, Australia

Feb 19   Albany, Australia

Feb 21 & 22         Perth (Fremantle), Australia

Feb 23   Geraldton, Australia

Feb 26 & 27         Benoa (Denpasar), Bali, Indonesia

MARCH

Mar 01  Semarang, Java, Indonesia

Mar 02  Tanjung Priok, Jakarta,Indonesia

Mar 04 & 05        Singapore

Mar 06  Port Klang, Malaysia

Mar 07  Penang, Malaysia

Mar 08  Phuket, Thailand

Mar 10, 11, 12    Thilawa (Rangoon), Myanmar

Mar 15  Colombo, Sri Lanka

Mar 17  Cochin, India

Mar 19 & 20    Mumbai (Bombay), India

Mar 23 & 24        Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Mar 26  Muscat, Oman

Mar 28  Salalah, Oman

APRIL

Apr 02   Safaga, Egypt

Apr 03   Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

Apr 04   Aqaba (for Petra), Jordan

Apr 06   Suez Canal at Suez

Apr 07   Alexandria (Cairo), Egypt

Apr 09   Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey

Apr 10 & 11         Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Apr 12   Katakolon, Greece

Apr 14   Naples, Italy

Apr 15   Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Apr 17   Cartagena, Spain

Apr 18   Malaga, Spain

Apr 19   Cadiz (Seville), Spain

Apr 22   Ponta Delgada, Portugal

Apr 23   Horta, Portugal

Apr 30   Arrive Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US @ 7 AM

Around the World Itinerary and Excursions...

Well, it's hard to believe, but the ATW trip is about two months away.  I'm waiting for the return of my passport with the required visa to India (all other visas can be obtained on the journey), and I've finished selecting my activities/excursions, too.

Use this link (click here) to see the final timeline and the excursions I plan to participate in while on the journey.

A video of this year's ATW trip on the ms Amsterdam...

This video was recently posted on YouTube by folks participating in this year's (2014) around-the-world tour.  The itinerary was slightly different (Africa was on the list).  It looks like they had a great time aboard the ms Amsterdam.  

Lower Whitewater Falls (Oconee County)

My cousin, Greg Lucas, works for the Department of Natural Resources, and he does hikes for OLLI at Clemson University.  He was kind enough to allow me to tag along with his group yesterday, and we ventured to the Lower Whitewater Falls.  Here's the trail map and a few shots I took with my iPhone (because I forgot my camera).   

Source:  http://www.sctrails.net/trails/MAPS/LowerwhiteFalls%20map.html

The road to the trail was a little bumpy.

Greg in his dual purpose suit (Halloween pumpkin and bright orange to alert hunters).

The beauty of Lower Whitewater Falls in Oconee County (SC).

Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

The ship stopped at a private island in the Caribbean for the folks on the MSC Divina.  The island is owed by the Norwegian Cruise Line, but MSC has it for the day.

Arriving from the ship by tender to Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas

I had Cabana 11 on the smaller beach.

The view from my cabana.

The water felt great!

Most folks signed up for a "clam shell" which provided some protection from those tropical sun rays.

Returning to the ship for the return voyage to Miami.

Leaving Old San Juan

Here are the shots I took yesterday as we departed from San Juan.

St. John Gate is the entrance to the city of San Juan.

A view of the city walls of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The fort protecting the city/island.

Final departing shot of the historic area.

Colorful homes along the beach.

Another sea day...

It's a relaxing day at sea today, which is just what I needed.  Here are a few of the "miscellaneous" photos of the ship.

It's kind of hard to see, but I saw a complete rainbow over the ship early this morning.  It both started and ended in the ocean ... no pot of gold!

The MSC Divina is the newest ship in the fleet (christened by Sophia Loren in May 2012).  It's beautiful with three pools.

This is my favorite pool.  It's indoors one floor above my cabin and you can relax in the shade.

The auditorium of the ship.

The nightly entertainment has been great!

San Juan, Puerto Rico

The ship docked in Old San Juan which is an island and the capital of the group of islands that form the Puerto Rican archipelago.  Here are a few of my photos from today.

Arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Unlike many other parts of the world, the people of San Juan had no precious metals to use in decorating their churches and cathedrals.  They distinguished their churches with paint to show their affection for the church.

Exteriors of all buildings in Old San Juan must fit the historical facade requirements.  Interiors are often modern and updated.

A inside look at the City Hall of San Juan and the area allotted to the Mayor.

The Cathedral in San Juan is one of three Catholic churches that has a crucifix that uses a copy of Christ based on the Shroud of Turin (physical size of Christ and face as preserved on the shroud).

San Juan is one island in the Puerto Rico archipelago, but it is surrounded by walls that vary in thickness (up to 70 feet wide) for protection.

A statue that celebrates the culture of the three groups that formed the Puerto Rico community.

The port of San Juan is right downtown.  Of course the island is only 1 x 3 miles and can easily be walked.

Readying the ship for departure.  Note the ship's bridge extends out on both sides of the ship to aid in docking.

St. Martin and Sint Maarten

We arrived and spent the day on the island of St. Martin.  There's two sides: French and Dutch. The port is on the Dutch side (Sint Maarten), but I spent much of the day on the French side of the island. It's so small.

Here are a few shots I made while part of a Jeep caravan that circled the island.

Arriving at the port of Philipsburg, Sint Maartin

Ships seem to travel in groups via the shipping lanes.  The Disney and Norwegian ships beat us to port this morning.

I participated in a Jeep caravan that circled the island.  A dead iguana marked the spot as we entered the French side of the island.

Orient Beach, on the French side of the island, is a nude beach for those wishing to cast off his/her clothing.

The "party bus" came by as we observed the local sites.

Orient Beach ... No so busy today!

My selfie on a nude beach ... but with clothes!

The local bar/restaurant we visited.  The waiter was from France (remember, the French side is official French soil) so he didn't need a visa or work permit.

I had lunch in the capital of Marigot ... creole grill platter of seafood.

I did an excursion by Jeep, and some folks did so by various water vehicles too.

It was back to the MSC Divina for a dip in the pool before dinner.

Spending time at sea...

I am spending two days at sea to get to Phillipsburg, St. Martin, and life takes on a routine.  Eat, exercise, go to the pool, repeat (like the shampoo instructions).

Here are a few shots from my first two days on The Divinia.  I am to take a tour of the French side of St. Martin via jeep tomorrow. 

Note the staircase steps below.  We were told that each step cost around $20,000 and contains Swarovski crystals.

The water slide is popular.

There are three saltwater pools and many hot tubs available on the MSC Divina.  

The view from my balcony.  This is part of the bridge that is used when coming in to the port.

I'm in Miami...

The view from my hotel (left).

The view from my hotel (right).

I'm in Miami.  It was rainy when I arrived yesterday, and they're calling for more rain in the afternoon.  I will be off to my ship this afternoon (MSC Divina).  The trip calls for a couple of days of sailing to Phillipsburg, St. Martin in the Eastern Caribbean.

The focus of this cruise is the Eastern Caribbean islands of St. Martin and Puerto Rico.  The cruise will also spend a day on an island in the Bahamas.