UWC 2nd Half Update and Post Cruise Reflections

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by

Matthias Chan
in ,

Oops. Forgot to hit post. Three months late, as life has been a whirlwind settling back into the states! Reconnecting with a lot of people and just re-setting as I figure out what’s next. Enjoy the update, and if anyone reading this wants to catch up, shoot me a message! Photo gallery table at the bottom of this post is a good reference for links.

  1. Highlights from Second Half
    1. Kenya Safari
    2. South Africa – Penguins and Tour
    3. Namibia – Dunes and Ocean
    4. Gibraltar – Dolphins
    5. Croatia – National Parks
    6. Norway – Northern Lights
    7. Iceland – Puffins!
    8. New York – Sunrise Helicopter Tour
  2. Post Cruise Updates
  3. Sharing Pics with the World
  4. Daily Photo Galleries

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It’s been about a month since the world cruise ended and instead of lots of little updates, I’ve got one big catch up update for the second half of the cruise and then will release some summary posts in the following days and weeks.

I was caught up through the first half of the cruise, but once we hit Dubai, the wifi got pretty slow, so even though all the daily pictures and social media posts were up to date, the blog was hard to keep up to date because of the speed of the uploads.

Highlights from Second Half

From Days 148 to 274, there were a lot of awesome days and highlights (see table at bottom of article for full list of all the galleries). A few to mention before the deep dive posts…

  • 3 day safari in Kenya — Sunrise hot air balloon over savannah, and incredible days in Maasai Mara
  • South Africa — Tour with our new friends from the cruise (the Gus Bus Tour), multiple safari’s all over the country
  • Walvis Bay, Namibia — Dune and Marine Safari — Lots of incredible views of dunes and dolphins
  • Gibraltar — Incredible photos of dolphins right up against the boat and surfing the waves
  • Croatia — Amazing glacial lakes, cascades and waterfalls, would go back in a heartbeat
  • Northern Lights outside Oslo
  • Puffins in Iceland (and at sunset)
  • Sunrise Helicopter Ride over New York

Kenya Safari

South Africa – Penguins and Tour

Namibia – Dunes and Ocean

Gibraltar – Dolphins

Croatia – National Parks

Norway – Northern Lights

Iceland – Puffins!

New York – Sunrise Helicopter Tour

Post Cruise Updates

After the cruise, I headed back home to Minnesota. Took a week to drive back, stopping through Smokey Mountains for some bear photos and my alma mater to say hi to a few folks before getting back home.

Then we had people visit us in Minnesota for two weeks so I’ve been taking people up to the North Shore to see some of the best parks and fall colors. In between trying to settle back into a normal routine, figure out what I want to do next and visiting the baby tigers at the zoo!

While it’s been busy, trying to also figure out what exactly to do with all the photos, and have some fun ideas and stuff in the pipeline…stay tuned!

Sharing Pics with the World

Got to share some pics also with a reporter, and they ended up over on the Daily Mirror, you can read up on that over at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-13916267/Royal-Caribbean-cruise-world-Serenade-seas.html

Daily Photo Galleries

Day #LocationLinkHighlight
147Serenade of the SeasGallery– Julian’s Show (one of the Voices of Royal)
150Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesGallery– Sunset over the sand dunes of Abu Dhabi
152Nairobi, KenyaGallery– Lions, Elephants and other animals on safari
– Elephant silhouette at sunset
153Nairobi, KenyaGallery– Sunrise hot air balloon safari over savannah
– Full day safari
154Nairobi, KenyaGallery– Lake Naivasha Safari, lots of kingfishers, fish eagles and hippos fighting
156Mahe, SeychellesGallery– Beautiful beaches and ghost crabs
160Port Louis, MauritiusGallery– Catamaran, beaches and waterfalls
161Port Louis, MauritiusGallery– Beautiful waterfalls
– Seven coloured earth
– Giant aldabra turtles
162Pointe des Galets, Reunion IslandGallery– Canyon hike and amazing panoramic views
165Serenade of the SeasGallery– Blood moon (full moon)
166Port Elizabeth, South AfricaGallery– Addo Elephant National Park (Full Day Safari)
– Baby and Adult Black Rhino!
– Lots of Wildlife
167Mossel Bay, South AfricaGallery– Walking with Elephant Experience
– Half Day Safari
168Cape Town, South AfricaGallery– Safari with Wildlife
169Cape Town, South AfricaGallery– Gus Bus Tour!
– Awesome Views
– Boulders Beach and Penguins
170Serenade of the SeasGallery– Moon
171Serenade of the SeasGallery– Seals, Whales, Sunset
172Walvis Bay, NamibiaGallery– Dunes and Ocean, Sandwhich Harbour
– Dolphins, Seals, Birds
174Serenade of the SeasGallery– Sunset
175Luanda, AngolaGallery– Viewpoint of the Moon (Canyons)
– Lovely birds
178Takoradi, GhanaGallery– Forest Hike
180Serenade of the SeasGallery– Sunset
181Dakar, SenegalGallery– White Rhino
– Hornbill
– Lion (Close Up Experience)
183Serenade of the SeasGallery– Guest Talent Show!
184Tenerife, Canary Islands, SpainGallery– Anaga Rural Park
– Couple Overlook Spots with Incredible Views
– Teide National Park
– Auditorium at Sunset
185Tenerife, Canary Islands, SpainGallery– Lots more time at Teide National Park
– Basilica
– Candelaria
187GibraltarGallery– Dolphins!
– More Dolphins — Breaching, underwater, surfing, incredible shots
189Serenade of the SeasGallery– The Whitney Drake Experience (one of the Voices of Royal)
190Corfu, GreeceGallery– Panoramic Views
– Coastline
– Cliffs
– Town Views
191Bari, ItalyGallery– Sassi District (Old Historic Town)
– Falcons
– Matera
– Port and Sunset
192San MarinoGallery– Stunning Views
– Castles
– Sculptures
– Cathedrals and Basilicas
193Ravenna, ItalyGallery– Bologna – Streets and City
– Piazzas
– Arches, Towers, Churches, etc.
– Beautiful university city
194Trieste, ItalyGallery– Venice
– Gondolas
– Canals
– Lovely streets and neighborhoods
195Koper, SloveniaGallery– Lake Bled
– Panoramic Views
– Hike and Castle
196Zadar, CroatiaGallery– Plitvice National Park
– Cascading Glacial Lakes
– Waterfalls
– Lots of wildife
197Split, CroatiaGallery– Krka National Park
– More waterfalls and glacial lakes
– Split Overlook and Panoramic Views
198Dubrovnik, CroatiaGallery– Game of Thrones Tour
– City Views
– Harbor Views
199Kotor, MontenegroGallery– Lovćen Mountain and National Park
– Panoramic Views
– Hiking, Wildlife and Flora
201Valetta, MaltaGallery– Self Drive Around Island
– Blue Grotto Views
– Archaeological Parks
– Coastal Hikes
202Sicily, ItalyGallery– Neapolis Archaeological Park
– Siracusa – City and Streets
– Stromboli Volcano – Erupting
203Naples, ItalyGallery– Sorrento Views and City
– Mozzarella and Lemon Tasting
204Rome, ItalyGallery– Colosseum
– Villa Borghese
205Carrara, ItalyGallery– Florence – Basilica and Overlook from Piazza Michaelangelo
– Pisa
206Portofino, ItalyGallery– Castello Brown Overlook and Hikes
– Hike to San Sebastiano
207Ajaccio, Corsica, FranceGallery– Panoramic Views from Catamaran
– Views of the city, shoreline and Serenade
208Cannes, FranceGallery– Seillans and Fayance – Provincial Villages of France
– Village Views
– Panoramic Views of countryside
209Villefranche, FranceGallery– Lookout point and hike up the mountainside
– Beaulieu-sur-mer – next town over along the coast
– Balise saint Michel – up the mountain for views of both bays and panoramic views
211Palma de Mallorca, SpainGallery– Highlights of Mallorca through Questo Scavenger Hunt
– Castell de Bellver – Views of the city
– Santa Catalina Neighborhood and Market
212Barcelona, SpainGallery– Barcelona — lots of building
– Basilicas and other architecture
215Cartagena, SpainGallery– Panoramic Views of Cartagena from Cerro de los Moros
– Fountains, Buildings and Archaeological Parks
– Lots of Street Art and Sculptures
216Málaga, SpainGallery– Castillo de Gibralfaro
– Plaza de Toros
– Basilicas and other Buildings
– Beach and Coastal Views
– Roman Theater
– Dolphins at Sunset
– Views back through the Strait of Gilbraltar
217Casablanca, MoroccoGallery– Habous Market
– Hassan II Mosque — Amazing
218Agadir, MoroccoGallery– Paradise Valley Views and Hike
220Lisbon, PortugalGallery– Sintra Natural Park – Overlook, Hike and Views
– Forest Views
– City Walk and Views
221Porto, PortugalGallery– Gerês National Park – Amazing Views and Nature
– Waterfalls and cascades
– Lush vegetation, hiking and nature
– Aquaducts
– Birds feeding
222Vigo, SpainGallery– Statues, Sculptures, Fountains and Parks
– Castle, Cross and Panoramic Views of City and Bay
222Serenade of the Seas (Show)Gallery– Daniele’s Show (one of the Voices of Royal)
224Cobh, IrelandGallery– Port Views from Ship
226Cherbourg, FranceGallery– Port Views from Ship
– Sunset
227Le Havre, FranceGallery– Étretat – Hike and Coastal / Cliff Views
– City sights of Rouen
– Churches and Cathedral of Rouen
– Sunset at Rouen
228Le Havre, FranceGallery– Monet’s Gardens and House (Giverny)
– Boucles Natural Park along the Seine River
– Phare de la Roque – Cliff Side and Viewpoint
229Southampton, United KingdomGallery– Westquay Shopping Mall
– Sculptures and Art around the city
230Zeebruge, BelgiumGallery– Zwin Nature Park – Birds, Insects and Nature Views
– Zeebruge City Walk
– Moon
232Skagen, DenmarkGallery– Skagen – Town, Elf House and Windmill
– Trail
– Old Castle, Dunes and Views
233Warnemünde, GermanyGallery– Warnemünde – Town Walk
– Train to Rostock
– IGA Park – Lots of views of ponds, gardens, wildlife, etc.
– Rostock City walk to Ravensburger Outlet
235Riga, LatviaGallery– Walk through Riga – Buildings, Sculptures, Art
– Black Magic Store
– Freedom Monument and Park
236Tallinn, EstoniaGallery– Linnahall – Old City Center
– Medieval Old Town
– Panoramic Views from Top of Saint Olaf’s Church Tower
– Cathedrals (Alexander Nevsky and St Mary’s) and Gardens
– Stunning Views all around
237Helsinki, FinlandGallery– Library – Central Meeting Point
– Scenic Walk around Lake
– City Walk
238Stockholm, SwedenGallery– Golden and Blue Hour Views of Stockholm from Serenade (view of Gröna Lund and Harbour)
239Stockholm, SwedenGallery– Stockholm during the day
– Sail away through Swedish Archipelago
– Panoramic and Sunset Views of Archipelago
240Visby, SwedenGallery– Medieval City and Walls
– Renaissance Festival
– Park with Waterfall and Views
– Cathedral and Old Town
– Botanical Gardens and Oceanfront
241Klaipeda, LithuaniaGallery– Harbor Walk and Town
– Parks and Birds in Fountain
242Rønne, DenmarkGallery– Svaneke, White Sand Beach and Boardwalk, Round Church
– Marina and Coastline Hike
– Neighborhood and Beach Hike with Birds (Pair of Birds)
243Kiel, GermanyGallery– Lake Eutin
– Forest Hike
– Lots of Birdlife
244Copenhagen, DenmarkGallery– Copenhagen Zoo
– Pandas! Giant and Red 🙂
245Aarhus, DenmarkGallery– Himmelbjerget Views over Valley and Lakes
– Train and Scenic Ride from Vrads
246Oslo, NorwayGallery– Northern Lights
247Kristiansand, NorwayGallery– Northern Lights
248Haugesund, NorwayGallery– Langfoss Waterfall
249Olden, NorwayGallery– Briksdal Glacier
– Stryn
– Skylift Views
– Great hiking and panoramic views
250Ålesund, NorwayGallery– Path of the Trolls
– Gorgeous Views
– Rainbow over Valley
251Serenade of the SeasGallery– Moon
252Amsterdam, NetherlandsGallery– Planes in moonlight
253Vestmannaeyjar, IcelandGallery– Sunset
– Puffins at Sunset!
254Vestmannaeyjar, IcelandGallery– Puffins all along the coast
255Vik, IcelandGallery– Puffins (in rain)
– Waterfalls
256Reykjavik, IcelandGallery– Waterfalls
– Skaftafell
– Black Sand Beach
– Canyons and Cliffs
257Reykjavik, IcelandGallery– Lava Show
259Prins Christian Sund, GreenlandGallery– Glaciers
– Cruising through Sound
– Mist
– Amazing Views
260Qaqortoq, GreenlandGallery– Lake / Resevoir
– Viking Ruins
– Iceberg
262Serenade of the SeasGallery– Northern Lights
263Saint Johns, Newfoundland, CanadaGallery– Puffins and Island Tour
264Serenade of the SeasGallery– Rubber Duckie Puzzle (+ Timelapse)
266Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaGallery– Sea-Doo Tour
– Views around Halifax
268New York, New YorkGallery– Broadway, Once Upon a Mattress
269New York, New YorkGallery– Sunrise Helicopter Ride
271Royal Naval Dockyard, BermudaGallery– Snorkeling Tour
274Perfect Day at Coco CayGallery– Puzzle Timelapse
+3Smokey Mountains National ParkGallery– Waterfalls
– Panoramic Views
– Black Bears!
+4Saint LouisGallery– Forest Park / Art Hill
– Fountains
– Washington University in Saint Louis – Brookings Hall (Day and Night)

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