October 14, 2026 | Seas the Day | Ocho Rios, Jamaica
A Jamaican Welcome
Ocho Rios greeted the Celebrity Summit with rolling green hills, sparkling Caribbean waters, and a sky that seemed to have been painted in the softest shades of pink and blue.
The island was certainly making a favorable first impression.
As the morning progressed, the gentle colors gave way to brilliant sunshine, towering white clouds, and water displaying nearly every shade of blue imaginable.
God certainly knows how to make an entrance.
An Engineer Never Really Takes a Vacation
While some passengers were admiring the scenery, Skip’s attention was occasionally directed toward something less picturesque: the operation of the ship.
A squall had developed while Summit was tied at the dock, accompanied by an announcement of “Echo, Echo, Echo.”
Skip was waiting for an elevator to join Jeannie for breakfast on Deck 10 when he noticed that the elevators weren’t operating.
Most passengers might have regarded this as a minor inconvenience. Skip, however, had other thoughts.
His engineer-and-captain brain immediately went to work.
He suspected that wind and water were pushing against Summit, requiring the ship to respond quickly to maintain its position. Generating sufficient power for that task, he reasoned, would take priority over operating elevators.
Was that precisely what happened? This reporter can’t say for certain. But Skip’s understanding of ships gave him a different perspective on those few minutes.
Jeannie, meanwhile, was blissfully unaware that anything unusual might be happening.
This illustrates one of the many differences between these intrepid travelers.
Skip knows what’s happening behind the scenes.
Jeannie knows where breakfast is being served.
And both consider their respective areas of expertise quite satisfactory.
Shopping for Something Money Can’t Buy
Jeannie and Skip had deliberately chosen not to book an excursion in Jamaica. Instead, they would explore the shops and attractions near the port at their own pace.
Now, anyone familiar with Jeannie and Skip knows that shopping is not exactly their favorite recreational activity.
But Jamaica introduced an unexpected incentive.
Air conditioning.
The tropical heat was considerable, and the breeze apparently had other appointments.
Suddenly, every air-conditioned establishment became an irresistible attraction.
The travelers wandered into shops with renewed enthusiasm, lingering appreciatively in the cool air before gathering their courage for another expedition into the heat.
Merchandise was optional. Air conditioning was essential.
Still, their shopping adventures weren’t entirely without purchases.
Skip acquired some famous Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans. They also selected a colorful canvas bag and a refrigerator magnet as a thank you for the family members looking after their house as they travel.
The Jamaica themed bag may soon debut at a family event back home.
Margaritaville, Naturally!
No visit to this particular stretch of Jamaica would be complete without acknowledging Jimmy Buffett.
Skip is a longtime fan, so when the travelers encountered Margaritaville, a photograph was practically mandatory.
Their wanderings also took them past a cheerful establishment named “Pizza Please!”
Jeannie, who appreciates a good play on words almost as much as a beautiful flower garden, couldn’t resist taking a picture.
They didn’t eat pizza.
But they certainly appreciated the delivery of that pun!
A Different View of Their Floating Home
An opportunity in Ocho Rios was seeing Celebrity Summit from an angle the travelers rarely experience.
From the pier, they could admire her impressive stern and the design that makes such efficient use of available space.
Summit was designed to meet Panamax dimensional limits for passage through the original Panama Canal locks, a fitting characteristic for a ship that had just carried Jeannie and Skip through that remarkable waterway.
From this vantage point, her carefully arranged decks and impressive proportions were especially apparent.
The travelers also discovered a large, colorful Jamaica sign, with Summit conveniently positioned in the background.
Getting the ship’s name into the photograph proved impossible, but the enormous Celebrity X was unmistakable.
Sometimes an X really does mark the spot!
The Umbrella Theory Survives Another Test
Readers may recall the travelers’ highly scientific Umbrella Theory.
Its central premise is simple: Pack rain protection, and the rain will politely arrange its schedule around your activities.
In Jamaica, Jeannie and Skip took the experiment one step further.
They left their umbrellas and rain jackets in the cabin.
Notwithstanding this rather bold departure from established procedure, they enjoyed favorable weather throughout their approximately 90-minute exploration ashore.
As they headed back toward Summit, however, dark clouds were gathering over the hills.
Once again, they returned to the ship comfortably ahead of the rain.
A brief shower eventually arrived, but by then the travelers were safely aboard.
Their rain gear remained completely unused.
The Umbrella Theory’s remarkable success continues, although its scientific credibility remains under review.
Jeannie and Skip are simply grateful that God blessed them with another opportunity to enjoy His beautiful creation without getting soaked.
An Evening of Music, Memories, and Laughter
At 7:00 PM, the evening’s entertainment featured Steve Moris, a talented comedian and musician whose performance brought plenty of laughter along with some impressive musical versatility.
Moris has enjoyed a long career in entertainment, including work as a supporting musician for the Beach Boys and other notable musical credits.
His combination of comedy, singing, guitar playing, and harmonica made for a wonderfully entertaining performance.
And just when playing one instrument while singing seemed sufficiently challenging, he occasionally played guitar and harmonica at the same time.
Apparently, one instrument at a time simply wasn’t ambitious enough.
It was another reminder that entertainment aboard Summit continues to offer pleasant surprises. Sometimes the best shows aren’t the most elaborate productions, but simply a talented performer, a guitar, a harmonica, and the ability to make an audience smile.
The People Behind the Experience
At dinner, Jeannie and Skip found themselves once again in the capable hands of Satya and Dennis, their attentive dining room team.
Their table companions, the two Terrys, were absent. The travelers suspected their excursion to climb Dunn’s River Falls may have left them operating on a different schedule.
Satya and Dennis, meanwhile, had already endured a particularly demanding day.
Upon arriving in port, the crew had participated in a mandatory emergency drill, spending approximately an hour outside in the tropical heat wearing their uniforms and life jackets.
And while passengers enjoyed another delightful day in Jamaica, the crew continued carrying responsibilities that most passengers seldom consider.
Their dedication deserves recognition.
It’s easy to take the comforts of cruising for granted when so many capable people work quietly to make them possible.
Like Sands Through the Hourglass
Somewhere along this grand adventure, Skip began thinking about an old, familiar phrase:
“Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”
His thoughts weren’t really about a television soap opera.
They were about time.
This remarkable journey is drawing toward its conclusion. More sand has collected in the bottom of this adventure’s hourglass than remains at the top.
And yet, as Skip observed, time passes at exactly the same pace whether the travelers are passing through the Panama Canal, exploring a Caribbean island, or going about the ordinary business of everyday life.
The difference is often how carefully they pay attention.
There is another hourglass to consider, too.
At this stage of their lives, Jeannie and Skip recognize that more grains may have already fallen than remain above. None of us knows how many are left.
But Skip’s reflection wasn’t about counting the grains that have fallen or worrying about those still waiting.
It was about treasuring the one passing through the narrow opening right now.
Being present.
Noticing the beauty.
Sharing the laughter.
Appreciating the extraordinary blessing of simply being together.
As evening approached, the heavens seemed to illustrate his thoughts.
Skip captured some extraordinary photographs of the sunset. Brilliant oranges, warm golds, and soft pinks illuminated the clouds above the darkening Caribbean.
It looked as though God had taken His paintbrush to the sky and created another masterpiece.
No two sunsets are exactly alike. And once a particular evening has passed, that moment cannot be recreated.
But it can be appreciated.
It can be remembered.
And, if we’re fortunate, it can be shared with someone we love.
Tomorrow will bring another day, another destination, and another opportunity for Jeannie and Skip to discover what the Lord has prepared. Come along for the next dispatch.
For now, they’re thankful for this one.
The sand continues to fall.
And they’re determined to treasure every grain.
Until the next adventure, this is your roving reporter aboard Celebrity Summit, where the scenery is magnificent, the company is even better, and every moment is a gift from God.
Written in part by Lumen Aid, roving reporter for Island Time Travels.
