2019 USS U.S. GRANT REUNION CRUISE
The 88 shipmates/guests arrived at the cruise terminal in Port Canaveral by private vehicle and charter bus. As the cruise ship departed the port, it passed by the pier the USS Grant Blue and Gold crews used during their DASO missile launches of the Polaris A3 or Poseidon C3 missiles.
Cruise reunion attendees received a $75 per stateroom credit from the Association for use during the cruise. The Association also presented a bottle of wine at each table during the last dinner of the cruise. The wine was used during the ‘Submariners’ Toast’ at that dinner.
Onboard activities, while at sea, were numerous and enjoyed by many of the attendees. Stage shows, comedy clubs, movies, several small musical groups and passenger fun and games were available throughout the ship during the cruise. Food – and more food – was available almost 24 hours a day. All 88 of the reunion attendees always met as a group for every onboard dinner.
The cruise ship stops at Amber Cove (Dominican Republic), St. Thomas and Grand Turk provided ample opportunity for the attendees to enjoy the beaches, surf and snorkel. Many also did the zip lines, parasailed, took catamaran trips, drove ATVs and/or rode horses at these three stops.
The San Juan stop was full of hundreds of years of history. Tours through ‘Old San Juan’ provided a glimpse into the centuries-old city for the attendees. With two forts, the cathedral with Ponce de Leon’s remains and the government buildings to visit, the tour was busy and informative. Other attendees took this opportunity to visit the only U.S. rainforest, El Yunque. The hike through the rainforest was worth the trip. A short ferry ride across the bay took many to the Bacardi rum distillery. After a short presentation and a tour of part of the plant, ‘samples’ of the plant’s products were available. The Puerto Rican food available throughout the city was readily sampled by our group.
The attendees’ final dinner of the cruise was interrupted between the main course and dessert by the Association president, Ed Farris. Ed proposed the ‘Submariners’ Toast’ to not only our group but to everyone in the ship’s dining room. As usual, the cruise ship dining room became quiet during the toast, which ended with everyone in the Grant group shouting “DIVE! DIVE!”.
After the final day at sea, the Grant group disembarked the cruise ship early as a group. Some of them collected their luggage and headed to their cars in the parking lots. Others boarded the charter bus for the trip back to the reunion hotel or to the airport.
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