When Josh and I decided on our Honeymoon trip, going on a cruise was recommended, and it was an excellent idea. It was wonderful to be able to unpack our bags and move into a hotel room, and yet see many different places. It was like staying in a resort, but having the experiences of a multi-country trip. All in all, cruises are a great vacation idea.

We were on Norwegian Cruiseline, on the Norwegian Jewel. Our captain was Norwegian, and loved to come on the loud speaker in the morning, before we woke up, and say, “A verry verry good morning to you all, Ladies and Gentlemen… this is your captain speaking…” Then he would give a few announcements. Next would come our cruise director, Paul. He would repeat whatever the captain just said (in case we couldn’t understand his accent?). Occasionally our cruise’s activities director would come on and say, “Does everyone know what time it is? IIITTTT”S  BINGO TIME!!” Another reason these announcements became so funny is because we had some members from Second City onboard to entertain us, and they made up a great skit about a man trying to propose, and every time the mood was just right, one of these announcements would come on. Hilarious.

On board we had lots of things to do. Our favorite: eating!

The main dining room: Tzar’s Palace

The main dining room: Tzar’s Palace

We also enjoyed watching the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea.

Or swimming in the pool and sitting in the hot tub.

Pool

Waterfall at the pool

Josh and I spent some time playing cards in the game room during our sea days.

Library

Game Room

One thing that was awkward when we first arrived was how narrow the hallways are. They are very repetitive, and confusing at first. After a couple of days though, you might not get lost anymore.

Hallways to cabin

Our cabin

Our cabin

Our bathroom

Shower

Everyone has to do a safety drill when they board! It helps us know what to do in case of emergency. In a real emergency, everyone would panic and chaos would ensue, but we can pretend that people would act with good judgement and all meet in the places they were supposed to.

The Casino

A bar

One of the many lounge areas

A restaurant

The cabana band playing some tunes

The Japanese specialty restaurant

Sushi bar and lounge are below

The Karaoke Bar. Josh didn’t let me sing, but we did play Who Wants to be a Millionaire there.

The Auditorium, during a musical show

One of our favorite onboard activities was the game-show nights. Josh and I went to all of them, and we almost always got to play. It was fun, and we were pretty good. They also video-taped some of them, and Josh’s lack of trivial knowledge amused the whole ship for several days. Luckily, when it was my trivial knowledge, they didn’t record it! For the record, international traffic signs are cicles. America is once again, NOT international in its customs.

In the morning after our wedding, Josh and I went to the airport and flew to Athens. We spent a day and a half there, looking at the sights, then we got on the Norwegian Jewel and sailed off to explore Greece and the Mediterranean. It’s been really fun on the ship. There’s a lot of restaurants, pools, a spa, fitness center, and shows. We have a balcony which is really nice.

This was the view from our room in the Hilton Athens.

The Olympic Stadium in Athens.

Charlotte in front of the Olympic Stadium.

Josh in front of the Temple of Zeus.

The Temple of Zeus.

Josh is amazed by Athens… or by Charlotte.

The Temple of Zeus.

The Temple of Hephaistos.

The Parthenon - there were so may people here! They are in constant reconstruction, but I guess it takes a long time for them to accurately rebuild the old temples. They have quarries filled with rock segments, labeled as to where they are supposed to go.

The Parthenon.

At the Acropolis. There were about three different temples here.

The Porch of the Caryatid, part of the Erechtheum, at the Acropolis.

The Temple of Hephaistos.

Beautiful sunset from our balcony on the Norwegian Jewel.

 See more pictures here.