Day 7 – Saturday, May 29

Last Day at Sea

No doubt, we slept as long as we could. After a long night of partying and no port of call, who cares when we get up. It wasn’t like we would miss any food! Although we were at sea all day, on our way back to Port Canavaral, Florida, we knew our journey was coming to an end but that did not mean the party was over. Royal Caribbean makes sure you have fun from the time you step on the ship until the time you leave.

Karaoke Idol Championship Finals

Throughout the week, the Royal Caribbean had been hosting a series of Karaoke contests featuring the cruise guests as contestants. One of our skaters, Maxine (Detroit) made it through all of the preliminaries to the finals. Out of eight contestants, four women and four men, the championship show produced three winners: Best Female, Best Male and Best Overall Performance. Our very own, Maxine (Detroit, MI) took home the prize for Best Overall Performance! Maxine took her soul to the stage and sang her heart out sending the applause meter straight to red. When she hit her notes, the whole crowd stood and applauded. Congratulations Maxine for bringing home the Royal Caribbean Karaoke Idol Crown.

Two-on-Two Basket Ball at Sunset

We were in the middle of the NBA finals between Detroit and Indianapolis so basketball fever was high. Sherri Hayes (Indianapolis, IN) challenged Tyrone Watts (Texas) to a game of one-on-one basketball. So we followed them up to Deck 12 to see if Tyrone would meet Sherri’s challenge. They were joined by two youngsters, about 8 and 12 years old who made for a good two-on-two match up. Sherri and her teammate beat the pants off of Tyrone’s team. Part of the way through, Tyrone gave up. He couldn’t take it anymore. Huffing, puffing and limping, he blamed his premature fatigue on old age but we all know the deal. He was not in as good shape as he claimed to be and almost passed out on the court. Talking about “I need a break”. Yeah, right. Tyrone was down by sundown.

Cocktail Reception and Social Hour

The skaters had a get-together in the Dragon’s Lair. Free cocktails were the order, thanks to the Detroit Rhythmic Rollers and PM Travel Services. Meanwhile we socialized and said goodbye to our friends both old and new. We had memory books to sign and email and phone numbers to exchange. We had such a wonderful time that we needed something to remember our trip and all the new friendships we had made. To top it off, we had chicken wings! That is something we had not had since we boarded the ship. All during the trip we had been eating and eating and eating. I knew I had been craving something and when I saw those chicken wings on the table, that was it, I was done! (Until dinner about two hours later).

Last Semi-Formal Dinner

Everyone got dressed for the last Semi-Formal Dinner in the Rhapsody Blue Dining Room. Earlier in the day, Sherri Hayes (Indianapolis), told us she would surprise us and grace our presence at dinner in a never-before-seen side of her. Her plan was to let down her hair (out of the braids), put on some make-up, get her nails done and put on a dress! I knew I had to capture this moment in history. Sherri in a dress? Don’t think I wasn’t down there with my camera in hand.

When we arrived, each table was decorated with all the proper place settings just as it had been every evening before. Tonight was the last chance for the head-waiters, waiters, and severs to give their all to serve us. They all presented service with a smile while bringing us any and everything we desired on the menu. The crew serenaded us in a parade throughout the dining room that ended with them positioning themselves on a spiraling staircase leading to the second level. What was all the pageantry for? Tips of course. Well-deserved tips. Not once did they ever sway from that top-notch service that makes the cruise so enjoyable. All of the guests gladly tipped their servers in appreciate for the “spoiled” treatment they received during the entire cruise.

Halfway through dinner, Sherri walks in. No make-up, no nails, no hairdo, no dress. She punked out and began pointing fingers talking about everybody did not come through for her to do her hair and nails so she didn’t dress up.