I like Big Boats (and I Cannot Lie)

 Apologies to Sir Mix-a-lot, but living next to a busy port allows me the pleasure of seeing many boats, big and small. Even when my attention is to take photographs of a rocket launch, I have the tendency to be drawn to following the boats and ships at Port Canaveral.

Here are a few photos I have taken in the last few weeks. While waiting for the SpaceX to launch a Falcon 9 rocket, two large ships passed each other. The ship on the right is owned by Victory Casino Cruises and was returning from its afternoon gambling run tour. The ship on the left was leaving the port for a 3 or 4 night cruise. Perspective makes the gambling boat look almost as big as the cruise ship.

But no, as the ships get closer together, you can see that the gambling boat is just 4 decks while the RCL cruise ship is about 15 decks.

Every cruise ships that leaves is escorted by the Brevard County Sheriff. I think it is related to Homeland security.

This cruise ship was the Independence of the Seas. I have not sailed yet on this ship.

Because the fishing pier at Jetty Park was closed due to Nicole damage, I decided to take the photos of the launch from the beach. I took this shot of the Independence of the Seas as it passed by the Jetty.

I took a picture of this boat because it it just looked nice. The latest Greenline 40 are Hybrid with the roof being all solar panels. I think it just looks like a boat from the mid 20th century.

After the launch, I waited with this couple I had met from Fort Lauderdale to watch another cruise ship leave the port. There were going to be going on a short cruise the next day on the Wonder of the Seas. He gave me his business card, he works for Expedia Cruises out of Lauderdale area. I may see what he can offer me for cruise deals. They were a very nice couple.

That;s him taking the photo with his wife next to him. The ship was the NCL Getaway.

A close up of the name on the side of the ship...

I mentioned the couple was going on a two day cruise on the Wonder of the Seas, the latest ship built for RCL and is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. Here is my first shot of the "Big Boat" as it sits at dock next to the Grills restaurant.

Another shot from in front of Grills.

Inside Grills, they have a small balcony and that is where I took this shot. People were already using the slide at the top of the ship. I am not sure how far down it goes. 

The web said that the ship was leaving at 4:30 so I headed back to the Jetty Park for a departing photo. This shot is it still sitting at the dock at Cruise Terminal 1.

While waiting for the World's largest ship to disembark, this large barge passed by, with the aid of two large tug boats...

I zoomed in to get the name and saw it was Pegasus. This is a NASA barge which use to carry the shuttle rocket boosters from New Orleans to the Space Center. It has been refurbished (and lengthened) to carry the new Space Launch System (SLS) including the rockets for the Artemis, the recent moon launch. It will cary future rockets that will be going to the moon and eventually Mars.

As 4:30 approached, there was a ship leaving but it was not the Wonder of the Seas. It was the Carnival Magic. You can see the name and the little guys next to it.

A wider angle of the ship, about 15 decks like the Independence of the Seas.

As it was passing me, the Canaveral Princess fishing boat was returning from a day of fishing. Some people like the little boats to fish, but I like big boats...and I cannot lie.

It started to get dark so I decided to leave before the Wonder of the Sea left. BTW, it has 18 decks.

I need to get hold of my new friend at Expedia Cruises and ask him about the Wonder of the Seas...