Liberty of the Seas

On May 14th, we boarded the brand new Liberty of the Seas from Royal Caribbean in Miami. We were fortunate to be able to attend a special 2 night preview cruise to nowhere and the ship did not disappoint.

The ship is currently one of the largest at sea, equaling her sister ship, Freedom of the Seas. Front to back she is almost 1200 feet long and over 200 feet high which is remarkable for a vessel that holds over 4000 people. Yet she is so large, you still do not feel crowded and there are plenty of places to sit and unwind.

The 4 story promenade that runs through the ship is one of the highlights and to see it in person is an amazing sight and sensual overload. It is incredible to believe that you are on a moving ship and not in a mall on the strip.

As with all things Royal Caribbean, the service and food are always top notch. The entertainment is quite professional and enjoyable and the casino always is a place of interest if you enjoy a little flirtation with Lady Luck.

As with any new ship the rooms that have balconies are definitely the most demanding, but having a room that overlooks the Royal Promenade is just as exciting and quite spacious.

Of course, the ships FlowRider is the centerpiece of the ship, but she also boasts an ice skating rink, rock climbing wall, mini-golf, full-size basketball court and many other amenities that are too numerous to list.

If you want to be active or just relax, this ship offers something for everyone. An engineering marvel and also just a fun place to be. Check her out sometime, you will be glad you did, I know we were.

A Little Piece of Peace River

Every year in March, we decide to turn in the large cruise ships for a much smaller vessel. More precise, a canoe. An annual ritual of canoeing the Peace River in Arcadia, Florida has been a constant for me and around 20+ other friends and family as we make way to the great outdoors for a two day overnight canoe trip.



The River is one of the most scenic, remote rivers in Florida, hence the name Peace, and the scenery lives up to it's name. This past March, we experienced perfect weather and, albeit a low river, it was mostly navigable.



Camping on the river overnight halfway down the complete 23 mile stretch that we usually do, the usual abundance of food and beverage was in high gear as we ate and drank late into the night.


The next day brought the same weather and jovality as we paddled the rest of the way back to our vehicles. The spring is the best time to go, but also the busiest so reservations are important. To find out more contact Becky or Katie at www.canoeoutpost.com and tell them Vince told you about them.

Finally, we find ourselves back at the river a couple of weeks later when Spring Break is in session and we bring the kids along to swim and search for fossils and sharks teeth. This is a big thing for the river and is loaded because it use to be an ancient lagoon/seabed. We always find alot and occasionally some rather large teeth also, which we make necklaces out of.

This area is one of the great vacation spots in Florida and as popular as it is, it still feels like you are in a remote location and will draw you back again and again. Contact www.peacerivercampground.com for more camping info.

Vince