Sunset at Sea
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (129219)
Gainesville, Florida
July 7, 2026 2:14pm CST
My son and his fiancé are on a Caribbean cruise this week. Their July is off to a great start, with a weekend at Disney World in Orlando to enjoy the Independence Day festivities and fireworks, and now on a 5-day cruise sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. On their first day at sea, as they were sailing near the Bahamas, my son captured this beautiful sunset from the balcony of his cabin. This is the first cruise for both him and his fiancé, so needless to say they are beyond excited. Their first port of call is Nassau, Bahamas. I can't remember the other ports they will be visiting in the islands, but I do remember that they will spend some time on a private island in the Bahamas, owned by the cruise ship company.
Have you ever been on a cruise? And more specifically, have you ever been to the Caribbean? I have been on seven or eight cruises, and have loved each and every one of them. We are in the early stages of planning a Disney cruise sometime in the next two years.
18 people like this
17 responses
@lovebuglena (52670)
• Staten Island, New York
8 Jul
Beautiful photo. I’ve been to the Caribbean cruise a few times. I rather liked it. I enjoy sailing the high seas as they say.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
@lovebuglena Bermuda is one island I haven’t been to yet that I want to visit. It just blows my mind that it sits by itself out in the middle of nowhere in the Atlantic.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul
Good for you! I’m glad you had the chance to do a Caribbean cruise! I wish everyone had the opportunity, it’s good for the soul.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52670)
• Staten Island, New York
9 Jul
@moffittjc one was only to Bermuda. A few others around the Caribbean.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (175988)
• United States
7 Jul
Oh, that's a beautiful sunset!
I've never been on a cruise and have barely been out of the Continental US. I went to Mexico when I was 18 to bring a friend back to the US after he and his parents moved there. My friend didn't like it so wanted to come back to the US. He still goes and visits his parents once a year during his vacations.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (175988)
• United States
9 Jul
@moffittjc I would be arrested NOW for bringing HIM back... I didn't bring anything extra back but he might have. 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
@DaddyEvil That’s funny! I could just imagine the news story: “Man arrested for smuggling friend across the border!”
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (175988)
• United States
13 Jul
@moffittjc I didn't have to smuggle him across. Back then, they didn't bother asking for ID when we came into the US from Mexico.
I didn't have to smuggle him across. Back then, they didn't bother asking for ID when we came into the US from Mexico.1 person likes this
@FourWalls (87825)
• United States
8 Jul
How beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing that! There’s nothing like a sunset over the water.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (87825)
• United States
9 Jul
@moffittjc — I took a sunset cruise in Key West in 2020. A bucket list thing I didn’t know was a bucket list thing until I did it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul
I always love ocean sunsets when the setting sun turns all the clouds pink.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
@FourWalls I’ve been a sunset cruise in Key West before! Absolutely magical. Plus, I’ve also watched many beautiful sunsets from Mallory Square in Key West as well.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223765)
• United States
8 Jul
I've never been on a cruise. I've only been to Bermuda.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul
@LindaOHio That most have been a wonderful place to celebrate your honeymoon!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul
Aw man, you’re so lucky! I’ve always wanted to go to Bermuda! One of my closest friends from college is from there, and we talked multiple times over the years about going there, we just never followed through on it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (223765)
• United States
12 Jul
@moffittjc I went once after college and then went there for our honeymoon.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (38719)
•
8 Jul
I would love to go on a cruise
But Yvonne doesn't want to go
So I guess I won't be going on a cruise Jeff
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul
That’s a shame, I think the two of you would have a great time on a cruise. Especially you, there is lots of pie on board to eat.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
@Ineeddentures You must have strong willpower my friend. I can’t resist a good piece of pie when the opportunity arises.
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (38719)
•
9 Jul
@moffittjc
I was tempted today Jeff
Several pies
And I ignored them all
I would gladly have munched them all up
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul
I was very envious that I couldn’t be there too, as I love going on ocean cruises. And the weather was perfect for them, with smooth seas the whole week they were at sea.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (123229)
• United States
8 Jul
That is just gorgeous! I am so glad he and his fiancée get to enjoy such a special trip. I went on a cruise to three stops in Mexico back in my mid twenties, and am going this year to Canada. I can’t do another cruise to a hot locale because of my health. And despite my whole family (who is going) having been to Canada, I have not been. My sister (who has been on about 6 cruises) is taking her oldest daughter for a cruise for her 16th birthday next year, plan to go on one and never get off the boat. I think, as great as the boats are, I’d want to go ashore at least once.
I have mentioned my sister is a Disney fan too, and they are planning a Disney cruise as well. The kids can’t wait for that one!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
I would love to go on a cruise to Canada! I’d also love to do a cruise to Alaska. I spent a summer in Alaska once when I was 12, and have always wanted to go back.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
@AmbiePam I need to do an Alaskan cruise before all the glaciers melt from global warming! Lol
What part of Canada will your cruise be sailing to?
1 person likes this
@dodo19 (48342)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
9 Jul
@moffittjc Same!! Occasionally I'll even see some purple! I love it!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
@dodo19 I just love the vivid and vibrant colors the sun can produce on and in the clouds!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
Nothing beats a good sunrise or sunset, especially when at sea! My favorite is when the setting sun turns all the clouds vibrant shades of pink and orange.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (137725)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Jul
I never have been. Glad they are having a great time
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
Seeing all their pictures has got me itching to go on another cruise, but it will probably be about 2 years before I go on one. In the meantime, I’ll live vicariously through my son.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (99228)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Jul
Absolutely lovely sunset, I have never been on a cruise and couldn't afford one anyway. I saw what cruising was like when I watched The Love Boat 
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
I think growing up watching the Love Boat made me love cruises so much! And I know they can be expensive, but what you get for the price makes it all worth it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
At least you’ve been on one! Do you remember the name of the cruise company you sailed with?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
@JudyEv Yes, I believe Cunard owns the Queen Mary.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (385169)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jul
@moffittjc Not reeally but it was on the Queen Mary II. Is that the company? Maybe it was the Cunard? The food was to die for. I do remember that.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (123466)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 Jul
I have yet to take a ride aboard a cruise ship in my lifetime even though I have been aboard a ship that traveled from Colon Panama that was a passenger ship before it was converted to a freight ship that was taken to a scrapyard in Texas in the early 1980s.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
How far are you from New Orleans? I think there are several cruise ships that sail out of there.
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@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
@Deepizzaguy That’s more than I thought, but still not a horrible distance away. Do you ever visit NOLA?
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (123466)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 Jul
@moffittjc About 206 miles west from Lake Charles.
1 person likes this
No, I haven’t been on a cruise. That would be nice to experience.@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
@thelme55 Most modern cruise ships are so big that they don't rock back and forth like smaller boats do. Also, modern cruise ships have counterbalance weights in the bottom of the ships that slide back and forth counter to the wave action so to keep the ship steady.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
Cruises are so wonderful, and they take such good care of you on the ship, and pamper you like you are the most important person ever.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (79770)
• Germany
11 Jul
@moffittjc That sounds good but it’s hard for me as I get sea sick for being too long inside the ship.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
I’ve been to all the Caribbean islands, including Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. I have a girl who works for me that is from Trinidad. She is always cooking Trinidad meals and bringing them in for us to taste and sample.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (210968)
• United States
8 Jul
Nice shot, I have been on a cruise..I went to the Bahammas..probably not technically the Carribbean, but kind of exotic nonetheless.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul
I’ve always wondered if the Bahamas counted as part of the Caribbean? At least the southern part should since it stretches down to the Turks and Caicos.
@LeaPea2417 (40168)
• Toccoa, Georgia
8 Jul
What cruise line are they sailing on? I have been on 3 cruises. The 1st was a 7 day on the Princess Line cruising Alaska. I was with my Mom on that back in the 1980s. The second was on Carnival Cruise Line in 2007, a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas with my husband. The third was in 2017 on Norwegian Dawn Cruise Line sailing from Boston to Bermuda. It was a 7 day cruise.I was with my husband, son, his best friend and my parents. All 3 cruises were wonderful, with no problems. Great memories.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul
He was on Celebrity Cruise Lines. I have been on Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Carnival.
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18507)
• Torrington, Connecticut
9 Jul
What a fantastic way to start the month! A weekend at Disney World followed by a Caribbean cruise sounds like an unforgettable vacation. That sunset from the ship's balcony is absolutely beautiful what a perfect first cruise memory for them.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129219)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul
It definitely was a great week for them. And they got so lucky on their very first cruise to have a perfectly smooth ocean. They both were so worried about getting seasick.
1 person likes this
