Gym's Ramblings: Atlantic Odyssey 2025: The Florida Current (updated with pictures)

Everything had unfolded like magic that morning on April 19th. At noon on that Easter Saturday, our hero and his lovely sidekick successfully checked out of the hotel, cabbed it over to Dodge Island and found the Oceania Vista waiting for them behind Terminal J. Once there, they handed their luggage to the porters and quickly negotiated the port security and the Oceania check-in desk. Soon after, following a nice lunch, the dynamic duo found their 150 pounds of luggage in front of their assigned stateroom on Deck 12. Mrs. Gym then took charge and expertly unpacked and stowed everything away. Thus, the 2025 Atlantic Odyssey had begun.

Author's Note: Kudos to Mrs. G here. The skill with which she takes charge of the luggage, a thankless and mundane, yet paramount part of every trip is much appreciated by her dear husband.

The adventurers would now spend the next 45 days on the at sea, aboard the Vista, Oceania's newest vessel and its first 'Allura Class' ship. Having sailed on all of Oceania's vessels, Gym and his dear wife were soon to agree that this new boat is the creme de la creme. It is similar in size to the Marina and Riviera but much nicer. It is somehow roomier than those other two 1200-passenger ships and the interior and exterior design is fresher and more functional. Both Mr. and Mrs. G are happy with this product that they believe they have contributed much capital to over the years.

This odyssey would eventually see the Vista on a heading to cross the vast Atlantic Ocean. However, first it would head south to Key West and then begin a shake out run along the Florida Current, through the Bahamas and out to Bermuda for a couple of days before returning to North America at Charleston and heading back to Miami again on May 1, 2025. At that point, the poorest performing passengers will be let go and replaced with better, more lively, seafaring privateer-types. After successfully completing that first loop, the Vista would leave Miami again and head back towards the Old World. Vista would stop again in Bermuda and then cross the vast ocean to touch down in the Azores before continuing on to mainland Europe. On the TransAtlantic crossing, Gym hopes that there will be plenty of fat merchant vessels for him and his boarding party to plunder.

At the time of writing, we have already visited Key West and Freeport, Bahamas. Key West was really fun for our hero but not so fun for his lovely bride who was bedridden with a cruel 24-hour bug of some type. While in Key West, Gym checked out the house that Ernest Hemingway lived in while he wrote 70% of his novels. For 19 bucks one can get a guide who will show you around the place. Gym enjoyed that immensely. Then he strolled in a big loop around town, a very walkable historic place with many 19th century mansions and pretty tree-lined streets. Freeport, Bahamas was basically a container and transhipment port with taxis that could take you to various points-of-interest on the island. As Gyms lovely bride was still recovering from her illness it was decided that they would just get off to wander around the open-air mall next to where Vista was parked and return to the ship for a nice nap. They had visited the island a couple of times before anyways.

Last night Vista road the Florida Current around the Bahamas and then turned onto an easterly heading for Bermuda. April 22 is a full day at sea and Vista will arrive in Hamilton on the 23rd, unless Gym and his boarding party have been busy plundering Spanish Galleons.

So far the adventurers have enjoyed fair seas and nice warm temperatures.