John Oram's photos with the keyword: Freedom of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas at the Pan American Pier, San Juan, Puerto Rico. She had arrived from St Maarten and would depart to St Thomas. 200_3_P1090936CE

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas and NCL Norwegian Dawn at the Pan American Pier, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 200_3_P1090929CE

Sunday 11 March 2018 saw no fewer than seven cruise ships at Port Everglades. My previous efforts with port photography had left me rather subject weary and the lighting conditions - into sun for much of the day - discouraged me from attempting a group shot or any photography from the 17th Street bridge. Instead, I waited patiently for the evening's departures. RCCL Freedom of the Seas was the last of the seven ships to leave Fort Lauderdale. A strong evening sun illuminated the stern as she sailed for George Town, Grand Cayman. 200_3_P1050033CE

This picture is part of a new series depicting Port Everglades, the busy port of Fort Lauderdale. As is usual with ports these days, access is not easy and viewpoints are limited. My pictures, then, are by no means all portraits, as I would prefer, but a record of the port at work. Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam on berth 26 (l) had arrived from Key West and would return there. On berth 21, Celebrity Summit had arrived from Willemstad and would depart for Falmouth, Jamaica. Just visible to the right of the picture, is RCCL Freedom of the Seas which had arrived from Cozumel and would leave for Basseterre. 200_3_P1040575CE

This picture is part of a new series depicting Port Everglades, the busy port of Fort Lauderdale. As is usual with ports these days, access is not easy and viewpoints are limited. My pictures, then, are by no means all portraits, as I would prefer, but a record of the port at work. In this shot, five of the day's six cruise ships are visible, six being typical of a busy day at Port Everglades. They are (l-r) Nieuw Amsterdam, Celebrity Summit, Crown Princess, Harmony of the Seas (forward of Crown Princess) and Carnival Conquest. Berthing and sailing information is as follows: Nieuw Amsterdam, berth 26, arrived from Key West, departing to Key West Celebrity Summit, berth 21, arrived from Willemstad, departing to Falmouth Crown Princess, berth 02, arrived from Bonaire, departing to Basseterre Harmony of the Seas, berth 18, arrived from Labadee, departing to Labadee Carnival Conquest, berth 04, arrived from Puerto Plata, departing to Eleuthera 200_3_P1040574R

This picture opens a new series depicting Port Everglades, the busy port of Fort Lauderdale. As is usual with ports these days, access is not easy and viewpoints are limited. My pictures, then, are by no means all portraits, as I would prefer, but a record of the port at work. In this shot, the day's six cruise ships are visible, six being typical of a busy day at Port Everglades. They are (l-r) Nieuw Amsterdam, Celebrity Summit, Freedom of the Seas, Crown Princess, Harmony of the Seas (just visible forward of Crown Princess) and Carnival Conquest. Berthing and sailing information is as follows: Nieuw Amsterdam, berth 26, arrived from Key West, departing to Key West Celebrity Summit, berth 21, arrived from Willemstad, departing to Falmouth Freedom of the Seas, berth 29, arrived from Cozumel, departing to Basseterre Crown Princess, berth 02, arrived from Bonaire, departing to Basseterre Harmony of the Seas, berth 18, arrived from Labadee, departing to Labadee Carnival Conquest, berth 04, arrived from Puerto Plata, departing to Eleuthera 200_3_P1040587C

This panoramic view goes some way towards capturing the atmosphere of a port call at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, my favourite Caribbean destination. There were six cruise ships present on this occasion and Star Clipper (centre). The number of leisure craft is also evident in this sunny scene. The larger ships are (from camera) MSC Musica, Royal Princess, RCCL Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Summit. 200_P1000961C

Celebrity Summit and RCCL Freedom of the Seas at St. Maarten. 200_P1000941

St. Maarten is a wonderful destination frequently visited by cruise ships in large numbers. They make an impressive sight as I noted in on an earlier visit on 23 November 2011. On this occasion, four of the six ships present were RCCL Freedom of the Seas (front, right), Celebrity Summit (front, left), Holland America Maasdam (rear, left) and Holland America Eurodam (rear, right). 200_P1000928

St. Maarten is the most attractive Caribbean destination I have been to where attraction is not measured in natural beauty alone. When I last visited on 23 November 2011 [qv], there were six cruise ships in port which I thought might be exceptional. However, there were six again today (or seven if you include Star Clipper). As Holland America Eurodam approached Philipsburg, trailed by sister ship Maasdam, the first four were already berthed. They were (l-r) MSC Musica, Royal Princess, RCCL Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Summit. 200_P1000906

RCCL Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Summit at St. Maarten. 200_P1000898

St. Maarten is the most attractive Caribbean destination I have been to where attraction is not measured in natural beauty alone. When I last visited on 23 November 2011 [qv], there were six cruise ships in port which I thought might be exceptional. However, there were six again today (or seven if you include Star Clipper, which can just be seen to the left). As Holland America Eurodam approached Philipsburg, trailed by sister ship Maasdam, the first four were already berthed. They were (l-r) MSC Musica, Royal Princess, RCCL Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Summit. 200_P1000890

St. Maarten is the most attractive Caribbean destination I have been to where attraction is not measured in natural beauty alone. When I last visited on 23 November 2011 [qv], there were six cruise ships in port which I thought might be exceptional. However, there were six again today (or seven if you include Star Clipper). As Holland America Eurodam approached Philipsburg, trailed by sister ship Maasdam, the first four were already berthed. They were (l-r) MSC Musica, Royal Princess, RCCL Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Summit. 200_P1000901C

St. Maarten is the most attractive Caribbean destination I have been to where attraction is not measured in natural beauty alone. When I last visited on 23 November 2011, there were six cruise ships in port which I thought might be exceptional. However, there were six again today (or seven if you include Star Clipper). In the 'front row' were (from right) MSC Musica, Royal Princess, RCCL Freedom of the Seas and Celebrity Summit. 200_P1000935C

RCCL Freedom of the Seas left San Juan about one hour late after offloading a sick passenger. She departed for St. Maarten ahead of our own Holland America Eurodam which had the same destination. TZ30_P1010618C

A fine portrait of RCCL Freedom of the Seas at San Juan, Puerto Rico. 200_P1000852

Continuing a theme I started in Antigua in 2011, this is the latest in a series of photographs featuring cruise ships in positions where they dominate their surroundings. In this view, RCCL Freedom of the Seas is glimpsed from a San Juan side street. Arriving in the morning from Coco Cay, Freedom would leave for St. Maarten after dark. 200_P1000850

The RCCL Freedom of the Seas seen at San Juan, Puerto Rico had arrived from Coco Cay and would depart ahead of our own Holland America Eurodam for the shared destination of St. Maarten. 200_P1000786