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Sunsets At Sea

A Brilliant Part Of Travel By Ship

By CHRIS OWEN

December 16^th, 2015

THE BEST PART

When we think of our favorite parts of traveling via cruise ship, features that keep us coming back include the inclusive nature of it all, unpacking once yet experiencing multiple locations and an industry-wide focus on taking us away from our normal routine. Look a bit closer and one cruise line might do a better job of a common element in the cruising experience than another. Still, regardless of the cruise line, ship or where it sails one absolutely marvelous opportunity available to everyone on a ship at sea: sunsets.

Eternity stretches forever from the end of the world
We stand on the edge looking out towards heaven
Beyond the sunset and sea

Forever holds the hearts that stand on the edge of eternity
Paradise is on the far side of the bosom of Elysium
Beyond the sunset and sea

Breathlessly holding our breath Promising not to let lose the love we endlessly share
Devoted until eternity, looking
Beyond the sunset and sea

- JoJo Bean, Dodgy Dave and Meggie Gultiano

“When the sun has set, no candle can replace it.” ― George R.R. Martin

“There‘s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they‘re absolutely free. Don‘t miss so many of them.” ― Jo Walton

“Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under!” ― C. JoyBell C.

“A large drop of sun lingered on the horizon and then dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone, and a torn cloud, like a bloody rag, hung over the spot of its going. And dusk crept over the sky from the eastern horizon, and darkness crept over the land from the east.” ― John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

“…she remembered watching a summer sunset from this very spot. Not so long ago; just a lifetime.” ― Sharon Kay Penman, When Christ and His Saints Slept

“Sunset is a wonderful opportunity for us to appreciate all the great things the sun gives us!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” ― G.K. Chesterton

“I have a stalker, a beautiful one: the sunset. Every day she’s there, watching me, whether I watch her or not.” ― Jarod Kintz, This Book Has No Title

“This land, although not my native land, Will be remembered forever. And the sea‘s lightly iced, Unsalty water.
The sand on the bottom is whiter than chalk, The air is heady, like wine, And the rosy body of the pines Is naked in the sunset hour.
And the sunset itself on such waves of ether That I just can‘t comprehend Whether it is the end of the day, the end of the world, Or the mystery of mysteries in me again.”

― Anna Akhmatova, The Complete Poems of Anna Akhmatova

“the redness had seeped from the day and night was arranging herself around us. Cooling things down, staining and dyeing the evening purple and blue black.” ― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

“Bursts of gold on lavender melting into saffron. It‘s the time of day when the sky looks like it has been spray-painted by a graffiti artist.” ― Mia Kirshner, I Live Here

“This is my favorite time of day. When the sun is setting and the last of its fiery fingers caress the water line before relinquishing their hold to the darkness of the night. And I can watch as the stars pop out, one by one, to pinprick the sky with their silvery light.” ― J.A. Souders, Revelations

“But even the longest day wears to sunset.” ― Marion Zimmer Bradley

“Every end of the day is a great movie and the Sun above is surely the leading actor in this film!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

“The nights did not come gently but seemed to slam down angrily upon the Earth, and starlight transformed the golden brown of the wheat to the colour of polished silver.” ― Rick Yancey, The Infinite Sea

“Far away in the west the sun was setting and the last glow of all too fleeting day lingered lovingly on sea and strand, on the proud promontory of dear old Howth guarding as ever the waters of the bay, on the weedgrown rocks along Sandymount shore and, last but not least, on the quiet church whence there streamed forth at times upon the stillness the voice of prayer to her who is in her pure radiance a beacon ever to the stormtossed heart of man, Mary, star of the sea.” ― James Joyce, Ulysses

Write your story here. (Optional)

“Every sunset is an opportunity to reset.” ― Richie Norton

work in progress

One of the best parts of sailing with any cruise line is bearing witness to spectacular sunsets at sea. So compelling are the sunsets at sea that we commonly leave dinner tablemates behind to capture the moment. Sunrises too can also be a golden hour of wonder, worth getting up for to enjoy, often with just a few others who appreciate their natural beauty enough to leave the pillow behind.

At the end of the day, looking back on any given sailing there are highlights. Among the best parts are the sunrises and sunsets we have enjoyed along the way. Summer in the Adriatic, Fall in the Caribbean, Spring on the Rhine River, Winter off the coast of Florida; all have unique signatures that can define the beginning of a day or put a signature on the end, much like an artist signs a painting upon completion.