Day 16 - Sea Day - A Royal Christmas

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For most Christmas is a personal experience based on local customs and religious beliefs shared with close friends and family. Spending Christmas in the Atlantic on a ship with several thousand close strangers seemed odd at best.

This year Royal Caribbean created a memorable Christmas for all on Serenade of the Seas. The ship was decorated for Christmas including a beautifully tree in the Centrum. We had shows and concerts for entertainment along with outstanding selections of food in the Windjammer and main dining rooms. Evening and morning services were available in several denominations. Christmas eve featured caroling and Christmas morning Santa arrived with presents for the kids. Royal Caribbean thought of everything and definitely made Christmas 2023 memorable.

During breakfast Christmas morning Captain Nilsen made an announcement surprising everyone. About 9:00 AM we would be crossing into the southern hemisphere. He wanted to do things properly, so if anyone missed the equator marker buoy, he would give them another opportunity by turning the ship around and crossing back into the norther hemisphere then passing the buoy a second time. To my surprise he did just that. We made a tight circle in the middle of the Atlantic. Nothing like an April Fools prank on Christmas morning. Christmas 2023 is definitely memorable.
Location: 68GR2J2X+24

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