January Cruise Vacation 2014

The early morning sun falls on a funnel of Holland America Eurodam as it nears Grand Turk. 200_P1000636 Geotagging approximate

At risk of looking like the front page of a holiday brochure, this image shows Holland America Eurodam at Grand Turk. 200_P1000716

This vehicle which used to be used to convey cruise ship passengers and is still in some sort of use was seen in the Palm Grove district of Grand Turk. The 'Old Town Trolley' titles can just be discerned on the side. 200_P1000737

I have appropriated a near-homophone of a late-sixties phenomenon to title amusingly a tribute to an event of the early 1960s surprisingly (until you know the history) located on the Caribbean island of Grand Turk. On 20 February 1962, the Mercury-Atlas Friendship 7 capsule, with John Glenn on board, orbited the Earth three times before returning to the Atlantic near Grand Turk. A replica capsule is part of this display in the slightly incongruous surroundings of the Cruise Center shops. 200_P1000730

On 20 February 1962, the Mercury-Atlas Friendship 7 capsule, with John Glenn on board, orbited the Earth three times before returning to the Atlantic near Grand Turk. A replica capsule is part of a display in the slightly incongruous surroundings of that island's Cruise Center shops. 200_P1000732

On 20 February 1962, the Mercury-Atlas Friendship 7 capsule, with John Glenn on board, orbited the Earth three times before returning to the Atlantic near Grand Turk. A replica capsule is part of a display in the slightly incongruous surroundings of that island's Cruise Center shops and this example is a short distance away outside the island's airport. The Eurodam, on which we had arrived at Grand Turk, can be seen in the background. Our guide suggested that this was the original capsule but conceded that it might be another replica. Online resources place the actual original in the National Air and Space Museum, Washington. 200_P1000749

The USCG Cutter 'Gannet' (WPB 87334) at Dania Beach, Florida. Gannet is an 87' Coastal Patrol Boat. The U.S. Coast Guard is quite unlike the similarly named organisation in the UK which evolved into the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. In the US it is one of the armed forces and comes under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security which reflects the strength and breadth of its role. A cutter is any CG vessel of 65' or greater length and with crew accommodation. Smaller vessels are known as 'boats'. 200_P1000608

USCG 33125 is a 33' Law Enforcement Special Purpose Craft (SPC-LE). The waters around Port Everglades are busy with recreational craft much of the time and especially during the departure of cruise ships. The USCG works with the Broward County Sheriff to keep the channel clear for these departures. The U.S. Coast Guard is quite unlike the similarly named organisation in the UK which evolved into the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. In the US it is one of the armed forces and comes under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security which reflects the strength and breadth of its role. A boat is any CG vessel of less than 65' in length. Larger vessels are known as 'cutters'. 200_P1000603

USCG 33135 is a 33' Law Enforcement Special Purpose Craft (SPC-LE). The waters around Port Everglades are busy with recreational craft much of the time and especially during the departure of cruise ships. The USCG works with the Broward County Sheriff to keep the channel clear for these departures. The U.S. Coast Guard is quite unlike the similarly named organisation in the UK which evolved into the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. In the US it is one of the armed forces and comes under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security which reflects the strength and breadth of its role. A boat is any CG vessel of less than 65' in length. Larger vessels are known as 'cutters'. 200_P1000609XC

The waters of Port Everglades and the Florida Intracoastal are very busy and especially so during the departure of cruise ships. The channel for their departure is kept clear by the U.S. Coast Guard and by the Broward County Sheriff Harbor Patrol boat. In this view, they meet briefly before going about their respective business. 200_P1000614C

The waters of Port Everglades and the Florida Intracoastal are very busy and especially so during the departure of cruise ships. The channel for their departure is kept clear by the U.S. Coast Guard, as depicted earlier, and by the Broward County Sheriff Harbor Patrol boat, here. 200_P1000611

This is one picture in a series about the colours I saw in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, 200_P1010037 Geotagging provides incorrect naming as Cat Island is the adjacent island

This is one picture in a series about the colours I saw in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, 200_P1010034 Geotagging provides incorrect naming as Cat Island is the adjacent island

This is one picture in a series about the colours I saw in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, 200_P1010005 Geotagging provides incorrect naming as Cat Island is the adjacent island

This is one picture in a series about the colours I saw in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas, 200_P1010003 Geotagging provides incorrect naming as Cat Island is the adjacent island

This is one of the first sights which greeted me on Half Moon Cay, Bahamas and is in a series about the colours I saw there although it has a standalone title. 200_P1000982

This is the scene at Port Everglades, Florida shortly before the departure of Oasis of the Seas for Nassau. The massive ship, which can carry 5-6000 passengers, is based there (with sister Oasis Class vessel Allure of the Seas). Its size is evident from the way it dwarfs the port infrastructure and nearby cargo ship SCM Fedra. 200_P1000532

The massive Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas manoeuvres away from the quay at Port Everglades under way to Nassau. The Oasis Class vessel can carry 5-6000 passengers and was the sixth and final ship to leave Fort Lauderdale on this January Saturday. 200_P1000539