June 30 End of the World Sail Away Party

Cruise Director Ray wanted a "class photo" of the worldies and used it as an excuse for a deck party.  We grouped up for a photo and things went a little crazy from there.

The gangway coming down.  A sorrowful event.

 Deck party begins with a spelling test -- YMCA

 Ray with photographer Chris to get the group photo

 Party continues with Michelle singing

 Ray decides that, even considering the Oceania demographic, he's going to get crazy.  "Everybody into the pool"

 Surprisingly, it works!

 Suki, the most traveled person aboard, joins to pool party

 Erik and the Hair enter

 Cynthia, Robin, Chic, Lynn, Christian

 Wil

 Bruce & Pat

 The Hair, even soaking wet, rises to the occasion

June 30 Key West

Our last port call.  Worldies Joyce and Craig live in Key West, and organized an open house as they got off the ship one day ahead of the rest of us.  We had visited KW less than 2 years ago so we just wandered around a bit.

The End of the World Cruise rainbow

 We had to dock at the Navy Pier rather than Mallory Square, so there was a shuttle bus.  Very cute.

 Street art

Worldies Chic and Robin at Sloppy Joe's

 This is the T-shirt the worldies wanted but couldn't get from Oceania.  Yet here it is on a crew member.  Just remove the word "Crew" and we would have bought them in quantity,.

 We ate lunch at Sloppy Joe's.  I had a Sloppy Joe.  It was very good.  It was tough to remember to PAY for the meal at the end.

 Bruce meeting with the locals

 The sign in this laundromat doesn't really make me want to clean my clothes here.

 Obligatory tourist photo, and metaphor for our return to travel on land

June 28-29  At Sea

Oceania had a flurry of ATW events in the last few days of the cruise.  There was a late evening "Mix and Mingle" with the crew, followed the next morning by a Mimosa Reception.

Just before the Meet and Mingle, Steve and Tricia did their comedy magic show.  It was only about 10 minutes long but quite cute and entertaining.  In my opinion, even though there were probably about 10 different comedy-magician acts that came through the Insignia Lounge during our trip, the two best were the entertainment staff members: Steve and Tricia, and earlier in the cruise Assistant Cruise Director John did a highly alliterative performance.

 Although this looks like the Insignia Table Tennis Team, these were the guys from the laundry.  One of the ATW incentives was free laundry, and the service was excellent.  I'm glad I got a chance to thank them personally

 Mariah, along with Bruce and Cathi.  Tracking Mariah's mood swings was a pleasant occupation for us passengers.

 At the Mimosa party is the Hair, with Erik from the entertainment staff living underneath.  An impressive mating display viewed in the wild.

 Captain Flokos is amused by it all.

 The Captain with Gloria, who had won the Cruise Director for a Day Auction, and was the CD today.

 L-R, Ricardo the ATW Concierge who had Luggage Free on speed dial during the last segment of the cruise, Tricia the ATW Hostess, and Farid the Executive Chef.  Great people, all of them.

 Recognized as the most courageous worldie was Charles, who was traveling alone and recovering from a stroke.  He was slow but methodical and participated in the trip and excursions with the rest of us.

Worldie Pam Kennedy and Bruno, our favorite Maitre'd. 

June 27  Cartegena Street Art & Doors

There was street art all around the Old Town of Cartagena.  There were metal sculptures and fabulous doors.