April 24 crossing the Atlantic

Usually my ramblings begin midmorning or breakfast time at the earliest.  Today I must start shortly after midnight.  There is the first Alpha call heard throughout the ship.  Alpha is the code word for medical emergency on Royal and most other cruise ships. No details, there seldom are. 

At 3:00 AM the ships speed changes, and we make a sharp turn. Shortly it is announced we are headed back to Bermuda.

This time it is a passenger needing hospital attention. The process will be different. The parties will be loaded into a lifeboat and transferred to shore.  The operation is completed by about 8:00 AM and again we resume our course to the Azores.

The ship is now travelling in excess of 21 knots, very near the top speed for the vessel. The captain is still confident we will arrive on time.

By mid day the seas have grown to 12 to 15 feet. The stabilizers are out, and the ship is rolling about +/- 2 degrees as the waves are directly on the the side of the ship. The worst direction for a smooth ride.

It appears there was a last minute substitution for the presenters of the enrichment program. They have advertised one person, but another has been giving talks.  Public speaking is definitely not in the tool box of the presenter.

A murder mystery movie in the theater turns out to be a good choice for the afternoon.

Yesterday I noticed my account was blocked from making any reservations. I have been thinking about "The Book", but haven't booked it yet. Most likely I won't. But I digress.  Even the usual of logging out and logging back in wouldn't fix my blocked account.  Guest relations wasn't busy, and they were able to quickly fix the problem.

Speaking of "the system" we had received several notices on our door from security and houskeeping about leaving our scooter in the hallway. A definite safety hazard as the hallways are barely wide enough for two passing people.  The problem with this is that we don't have a scooter, but the system says we did.  Turns out the scotter belongs with a cabin several doors down the hall.  Our cabin steward was able to rectify it. We stopped getting messages, and the scooter wasn't being left in the hall any more.

The entertainer tonight was Kevin Johnson a ventriloquist. A delightful show. I had seen him several years ago, and without a doubt he is probably the most entertaining ventriloquist I have ever seen.

By the end of the day the seas are beginnning to subside some. The skies are partly cloudy with no rain forecast. Hopefully tonight we can continue on our course without any further emergencies.

I you are believer in the myths of the Bermuda Triangle, maybe that is why we had to stop in St. George's twice.

Tuesday April 23

It has rained during the night, the decks are wet, the skies heaviliy overcast with an occasional shower. The forecast is for clearing skies as the day progresses. the temperatures are in the low 70's.

Lunch is the special roast beef sandwich at 360 Cafe. 

At about 2:00 PM the captain interupts the afternnoon with an unexpected announcement. We are changing course and heading to Hamilton or St George's, Bermuda to disembark a crew member that needs immediate hospital care.  He will be accompanied by medical staff to the hospital. There are no helicopters available to make the transfer so this is the only option. 

The captain expects to stop the ship outside the harbor, to be met by local officials to complete the transfer. We will then wait for the ships medical staff to be returned to the ship.

Our arrival in Bermuda is expected about 7:00 PM and the whole process should take about three hours resulting in us being on our way by about 10 PM.  So far we have been fortunate, and there have been no other medical emergencies that we are aware of.

Today was  the top tier event, split into two sessions as there were too many participants to fit in the theater.  There are 176 Pinnacles, 595 diamond plus, and 860 diamond passengers. About 10 passengers are becoming Pinnacle on this voyage, the most I have ever seen at one time. The top cruiser has nearly 4000 points.

Dinner is excellent, Jamaican Chicken, rice, beans and plantains. Our table mates join us for the first time, Roxanne and Kent from Houston. They dined at Chops and Giovanni's the first nights.

The headliner entertainer is a repeat from last week. Tony Tillman does an excellent show played to a packed house. Immediately following his show it is off to the other end of the ship to listen to the Symphony Orchestra. A virtual orchestra I must add, but good none the less.

Our stop in St George's is shorter than anticipated, and we were back on our way about 9:00 pm, again headed to the Azores.

With a change in wind direction, the seas have grown to 10 or 12 feet, and there is a gentle roll to the ship.  The skies are almost clear and the near full moon is bright, reflecting over the ocean. The captain says he will have no difficulty making up for the lost time.

Monday April 22 - At Sea

The weather is ideal. High 70's. The seas are following at less than 5 feet. Motion of the ship is negligible. In reality it takes pretty rough seas before ships of this size begin to roll or pitch.

Breakfast in Chops since many Pinnacle members  are barred from the Coastal Kitchen for this cruise because there are too many of us. Overhearing instructions to the crew yesterday, there are about 4000 passengers on board, about three quarters of capacity, and about 175 Pinnacle passengers, 3 1/2 times the  number last week.

Chops does not normally serve breakfast, and staff is pulled from many different areas for breakfast service. I don't want to say non functional as a team, but they need some practice. Or looking at it the other way, for the first day for the crew dong this, they manage.  I expect it will get better after a few days.

I can really tell the difference in the manifest of passengers. Pool chairs are not occupied by ghosts, and there is plenty of pool deck seating. The dance floors quickly fill with adults dancing, not chidren running around. Manhattans and old fashions seem to be the most popular drinks instead of a pretty concoction of many flavors, or bottles of beer.

The Royal Lounge instead of being empty all day is nearly full, mainly with groups of passengers playing cards or talking on cell phones with people back home.

Again we have our table to ourselves. I have no clue as to where the others assigned to table 6 are dining. Maybe in one of the specialty restaurants, or possibly one of the fortunate dining in Coastal Kitchen.  I do not say that disparagingly as the selection in the dining room is much larger, the portions much smaller which is more in alignment with how much I eat, and the service good, only slightly below what the Coastal Kitchen offers.

After dinner an hour or so in Bolero's and then to the main theater for the "Effectors". We get an excellent seat, center stage about 5 rows back. The theater is packed by showtime. Obviously the word spread quickly that this is a good show.

At bedtime the skies are mostly clear, the moon is near full reflecting off the ocean. Showers are expected later in the night.

April 21 - Reprovisioning

Technically today is the end of one cruise and the start of the next. As a passenger having combined 3 cruises into one, it is just another day.

Just to be sure, the alarm is set for 7. Totally unneeded as we are up long before then.  The ship is tied up before 6:00 and by 6:45 passengers are beginning to disembark.  We have breakfast in the 270 lounge as that is where all the back to back passengers are to meet by 9:30.  We get special treatment to be processed by customs.  There are about 60 of us, 40 of which are Pinnacle members.

As we gather we are given special tags identifying us as "consecutive cruisers" We are given new sea pass cards in an envelope, but given very strict instructions not to open them until we are asked for them as we reboard the ship.

At the last minute I accept wheelchair assistance. It is probably nearly a mile nonstop walk to get off and back on.  We leave the ship, scanning our cards for the last time. The ship has to get to a zero passenger count before any new passengers are allowed on board. The crew member can go no further, and I am handed off to a shoreside worker despite the crew member being told earlier not to leave me. There is confusion and discussion among all the parties. I just sit there silently and play dumb. (An easy task.) This is not the place to raise questions.

Once settled that the crew member would wait for my return to the transfer point, I proceed to customs. Facial recognition works flawlessly. We wait for the magical zero. The wait is short, and we start back to the ship.

First step is to read our new cards. They are not activated to allow our boarding.  With 60 people people behind me they let us on anyway, but ask that we go to guest services when you get aboard and have them fix the problem.

Probably 20 of the 60 cards didn't work. The one staff member at guest relations is initially overwhelmed as he couldn't figure out why any replacement cards he made wouldn't work either.  Eventually after a conference huddle the cause was found and they were able to make new cards for those that needed them.

The perk for doing a back to back, as the cruise line calls them,  is lunch in the dining room. The only problem, I don't think anyone in the dining room knew about this, well at least not the people near the entrance. They just kept telling everyone that the lunch was just for "Key" members.  Eventually solved when we just went in the dining room and spotted several waiters ready for guests and none present. They were eager for our arrival. Less than half the back to back passengers attended.

After lunch we go to see our new cabin. Basically in the same section of the ship but 2 decks higher with a very large balcony. A result of the cabin being located on a corner. A few minutes to put everything away. 

Many pallets of provisions are being loaded into the hold. Supplies for 4,000 passengers and about 2,000 crew members for 2 weeks plus extra just in case of an emergency.

As a Pinnacle member I get extra amenities. The only thing I possibly could use is soft drinks, 18 cans  are waiting on the counter.

A stroll to the Solarium finds it closed for a private function. They are setting it up for a welcome aboard reception for Crown and Anchor members. We will come back on our way to dinner at 5:00.

At 4:30 the Solarium is already packed. The majority of the passengers are here. Royal did a nice job of having appetizers for the guests. Drinks were the usual Champagne, wine, mimossa, or fruit juice. If you want anything elese, it is on your dime.

All of the officers and many of the upper staff are on hand to greet the passengers.

By 5:00 we are on our way into the dining room. Our assigned table is table 6 in a small dining area adjacent to the main dining room. Smaller and much more quiet, our table is by one of the few windows.

Despite numerous attempts, the staff is unable to close the shades half way. They either go all the way up, blinding many guests with the afternoon sun, or all the way down blocking the view. Only resolved after we leave port and the ship turns so the sun is no longer an issue.

There is the usual disorganization of the first night. It is obvious the staff has been warned of the many Pinnacle passengers that have been delegated to the dining room. I have fried chicken, corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes. It was excellent. 

The first nights show is a comedian. The biggest joke is that not more people walked out before he finished. To say he was not very good would be and understatement.

The seas are slight, the skies clear and we are on our way to the Azores. Six days away at 20 knots. I am sending my children, and therefore grandchildren, our polar coordinates every day so they can look up on a globe exactly where I am located. A basic lesson in map reading. Good training for future cruisers.

April 20 - CoCo Cay

We share the pier with The Freedom of The Seas. Passengers begin heading to the beaches before 8:00 AM. The weather is absolutely perfect making the slogan accurate, a perfect day at CoCo Cay. The seas are flat, temperatures in the upper 70's, winds very slight.

The helium ballon rises up and down all day long. The zip line is busy, and the youngest kids are having a ball in the water park. Royal has increased the number of shuttle trams and greatly increased the staff to assist passengers with directions.

We take a ride around the island, take a few pictures and head back to the ship. I should say a nearly deserted ship as most passengers have gone ashore.

Tonight we have our last meal in Coastal Kitchen. there are so many Pinnacle passengers on the next voyage that all of us can not be accomodated. Honestly I am looking forward to a change. The service and food presentation is very good in the CK, but the menu is limited when compared to the main dining room. The final show for this leg is a comedian. Again good entertainment.

It has been many years since I had to change cabins mid voyage. Every ship and every port may be different.

We need to pack everything except hanging clothes by 9:00 AM. Our room steward will then move everything to our new cabin while we are dealing with customs and immigration procedures. We complete the majority of packing before retiring for the evening.

The voyage to Port Everglades is relatively short, and we cruise at a little over 10 knots. A number of other ships are on the same course.

April 18 and 19 - Sea days

The Caribbean seldom fails to deliver on great weather. Sure once in awhile she kicks up a hurricane that had its birth closer to Africa, but not this week.

The seas remain quite tolerable. I doubt the captain has even elected to deploy the ship's stabilizers. An action usually taken when the roll exceeds +/- 1 degree. The skies are more sunny than cloudy, and temperatures are in the low 80's most of the day.

The coastal kitchen is getting a little busier at night. 150 guests then 160. If required I suspect the Coastal Kitchen is capable of serving 300 per night. The Maitre D is leaving in just over two weeks to move to the Utopia. Not his choice by any means. He and his family had summer vacation plans, but Royal took those away, giving him little choice but to return to work on his next contract after less than a month of vacation.

The pools have been packed. Putting towels and other objects on chairs to reserve them for later in the day has always been a problem. Occasionally the staff will clamp down on the practice by sweeping the deck chairs of towels with no people. Not so much so this week.

To give an example of how extreme the practice is, I was sitting in a deck chair early in the morning. The group of 12 chairs had one occupant - me.  A woman came along and dropped something on 8 of the chairs and then continued on!  I wanted to gather up the stuff and turn it in at the towel station, but didn't, and doubt that Royal did either.

We are headed roughly North West towards Coco Cay at about 18 knots.  The captains corner is well attended, and surprisingly there were no stupid questions. The captain did share that all refueling for the Odyssey has been taking place in Florida. Years ago it was common to refuel in southern ports when fuel was less expensive there.

During her regular trips around the Caribbean she only refuels to 3/4 of maximum. Next week she will be fully fueled for the transatlantic voyage.

The headliner shows and production shows have been excellent despite have seen many of them before. The musicians are a mixed bag. Unfortunately the location seems to have a big effect on how they sound. The piano player in the schooner bar, well is not so good. Kelly Goodrich doesn't need to be concerned about the competition.

Tomorrow we will share Coco Cay with Freedom of the Seas. Our last stop before Port Everglades where we will reprovision and take on many new passengers. Nearly all of the 50 Pinnacle cruisers are staying on for the transatlantic like me.

April 17 Aruba

We go past the port and then back into the channel to our pier. I looks like the the other end of the channel is too narrow for a ship our size to easily navigate. 

After a leisurely breakfast we head off the ship. We actually have a mission. More toothpaste. We probably do not have enough to last for another 39 days.  Again being the only ship in port, it is not overly busy. The first stop is to wait for the trolley which makes a round trip to the city center. It has been many years since I have ridden this trolley as usually there are too many people waiting. Today less than a dozen.  

The trolley was completely rebuilt with new cars and new track within the past 5 or 7 years. An enjoyable 45 minute trip with a good conductor and tour guide.

For years I have always gone to Pirrana Joe's for lunch and an adult beverage when visiting Aruba. Not going to happen this year, and maybe never again. The complex, which was the first shopping plaza in Aruba, has been sold and is being converted into Rental condos.

After completing our shopping mission we head back to the ship. Tacos again for lunch. Often an overpacked venue, on port days it is not crowded.

After lunch it is time to check on "my tree" on the sandbar along side the channel. It has seen better days. Probably 20% the size it was when I first saw it about 12 or 13 years ago. I was unable to discern any "green". It just might be dead, but I won't give up. I already have a cruise scheduled in December to check on her. 

Surprisingly we were able to make a reservation for Lynn on IFly for later this afternoon.  She did this for the first time in her life on our last voyage on the Odyssey and decided to do it again.

The winds were blowing in excess of 30 mph on deck 15 when we arrived for checkin. Rock wall climbing and the bungee jump were closed because of the wind. When the staff attempted to open the sliding doors to the checkin counter for IFly, the wind blew one of the doors off its track. 3 workers and 20 minutes to get it back in place.  Lynn had a blast, I watched and took pictures.

IFly made us a few minutes late for dinner, but I had told them at breakfast that this may happen. The roasted chicken was excellent, but as always the portions are too large.

The headliner entertainment tonight is Randy Cabral. Part comedian plus talented juggler resulted in a fabulous show. One on the best headliner performers I have seen. Unfortunately with a boarding time of 10:30 PM very few passengers were on board and the theater was mostly empty.

The weather remains great, the seas slight. Tonight we start a 2 day passage to CoCo Cay, our next port.

April 16 - Curacao

As usual I sleep like a rock. I will admit to 9 hours, but it may have been longer. Corn flakes and a glass of juice for breakfast. Exactly what I have most days,

We are secure at the dock and cleared by local authorities by 8:30. We elect to head to town early to avoid the worst of the heat.  We are moored at the new pier built especially for the mega cruise ships. I would say we are the only ship here, but I need to be more precise. We are the only cruise ship tied up at the cruise terminal. There is an empty oil tanker tied up at the other cruise ship terminal. Something I have never seen before.

As we are walking towards town the oil tanker leaves and heads to sea. I haven't the slighest guess as to why she was tied up where she was. Maybe to transfer some crew members? Or someone taking a freighter cruise?

I really can't drink early in the morning so I forgo my usual watering hole and instead settle for a few pictures and then we head back to the ship. It is warm and humid, but not as hot as predicted. Probably being on the coast so close to the water helped keep the temperatures down.

After a quick shower, we are able to make reservations on the North Star, free while in port, and take some aerial pictures of Curacao.  Pictures are being posted on my facebook page "Steve Raiford" at the request of my children.

The coastal kitchen is getting busier each evening. I learn this is the usual pattern. Few reservations early in the cruise, getting busier as the cruise progresses.

All aboard isn't until 7:30 this evening, so there is no show in the theater tonight, but plenty of music in various venues. Boleros usually has good music. The accustics are so poor in the music hall that none of the groups sound very good.

Our next port is Aruba, about 70 miles away.

April 14 and 15, Sea days.

We are cruising at about 20 knots, and will reach Curacao after 2 days. The seas picked up a little as we passed east of Cuba, but then subsided as the day progressed. Temperatures have remained in the upper 70's with partly to mostly cloudy skies. We have encountered no rain.

The pool deck remains packed, many are getting unexpected sunburns, fooled by the cloudy conditions.

There are quite a few young children here, apparently related to schools in the north east being on spring break.

The top tier party is sparsely attended. There are 51 Pinnacle passengers, 427 diamond and 211 diamond plus.  Held in the 270 lounge, Lynn and I were the only guests to sit upstairs, hardly keeping the server busy.

Yesterday's production show, Effectors, was spectacular not so much for the story line, but for the special effects with scenery changes, lasers, and drones that fly over the audience.

A few passengers and some of the staff were confused in the Coastal Kitchen this morning as the "day" signs in the elevators did not get properly changed. Most were changed to "Monday", but several were left on "Sunday". For many passengers, this is the only way to know what day it is.

So far the "Royal Lounge" as it has now been named remains sparsely used, and it is becoming my go to spot to write.

The elegant suites lounge on deck 13 aft likewise is not used very much.  Probably because of it's inconvenient location. I will enjoy while I can. I have heard there are four times as many Pinnacle members on the Atlantic crossing.

We attend a back stage tour. By far the most spacious backstage I have ever seen on a ship.  The lighting in the dressing rooms is so much better than the lighting in the cabins. The production manager can run the entire show from a laptop control panel, but he usually uses a larger console backstage. Everything is timed and automatic, be he must clear every physical movement before it can take place.Primarily for safety reasons.

Dinner is NY strip steak. Excellent as expected, but the porton is too large.

There is a family at the next table in the Coastal Kitchen with two very young children. We may have just passed a couple of ducks to the mom. The children were estatic.

The main show tonight is four singers from Vegas singing a tribute to Frankie Vallie and The Four Seasons. the house was packed long before showtime.

Early in the  morning we arrive in Curacao. The weather the past two days has been pleasant with partly sunny skies. Curacao has an extreme heat warning for tomorrow with the heat index expected over 100 by mid afternoon. Many sun burns for sure.

April 13, 2024 35 Days on The Odyssey of the Seas

8 or 10 months ago I looked at doing a transatlantic cruise followed by the Greek Isles. I was greatly disappointed to find it alread sold out. Periodically I would run accross the listing again, and then suddenly there was space available. I suspect a large group had been booked and then cancelled to open up some cabins. We only hesitated a few days before booking The Odyssey of the Seas first to Curacao and Aruba,  then Transatlantic to Rome, followed by 12 days to the Greek Isles ending back in Rome.

The portion of the trip that I am not looking forward to is the flight from Rome back to the US. I looked at multiple alternatives in an  attempt to cut down plane time, but ultimately settled on a nonstop flight from Rome to Miami on ITA Airlines.

I'm not sure but I think ITA has the most restrictive carry on baggage rules in the  airline industry. My trusty carry on that has served me well for years is a couple inches too big, even though it is accceptable on most US airlines. Amazon to the rescue.

After an extensive search I order a new carry on. It arrives in a couple of days. The advertising and description indicate the measurements are within ITA requirements. I guess they use a special tape measure. It is really is too large.

Return and try again with a different product. Same result. Finally on the third attempt I find one that actually measures as advertised.

We spend hours working on the logistics for the rest of the trip now that the decision is to fly back to Miami.  Brightline, drive and park, shuttle bus, all are considered. Ultimately it is decided to rent a car, leaving it at Ft Lauderdale airport and taking a taxi to the port. On the return trip we will rent a car at Miami to drive home.

Excursions are researched and decided upon. A hotel is found in Rome near the Vatican and sights we want to see. My children have talked me into sharing pictures on facebook, an impossible task when I started writing this blog years ago as the internet service was just too slow and too sporadic.

April 12 arrives and we pick up the rental car. The luggage is packed and we are on our way.  A 37 day trip calls for a few more items than I would take on a 7 or 8 day cruise. I use my large suitcase for the first time. I think it is 20% empty, but that is OK as I hear something about space to pack purchases.

Boarding the ship is a breeze. No lines, no holdups. Just a long walk through security, boarding pass check, and the long ramp up to the ship. Our cabin is ready at 1:00, our luggage arrives about 4:00. and everything is stashed somewhere. Unfortunately even though we remain on the ship for 35 days, we will change cabins for each leg. We had no choice.

On the pier below there are no less than 8 semi loads of provisions being loaded aboard. The logistics of running a cruise ship is a monumental challenge. As long as they remember the gin and limes.

Many of the staff is the same as when we were here a few months ago. We are able to secure reservations in the coastal kitchen for the next 8 nights at 5:00 pm. The coastal kitchen is restricted to full suites guests, not junior suites, and some Pinnacle guests depending on availability. We will see what happens on the next leg when there are 4 times as many passengers that may want to be in the coastal kitchen.  Being honest, I don't do well dining late, and also realize that 5:00 is the least busy for the venue, improving my chances of being able to secure a reservation.

We appear to be ready to sail at 5:00, but don't. We head to dinner and have a perfectly prepared filet of beef tenderloin. About 10 after six the ship begins to move. We learn the delay was caused by a passenger that had to be removed from the ship with the help of local police authorities. Fiurther details are not shared, but I expect the passenger is now having a bad day.

The welcome aboard show is good. The usual introductions of the cruise director, some of his staff, the captain and the band. followed with a comedy routine by a guest performer. 

A long walk back to the cabin and it is lights out.  The skies are clear, the winds light, and seas slight. For the next two days we be at sea headed to Curacao.

Jan 12 - Return to Tampa

Tampa is a small port. I think at most they can dock 3 cruise ships. We are tied up to the dock long before I awake at 5:30.

I pack my carry on and we head to the dining room for breakfast. We have lots of time to kill.

Often I avial myself of wheelchair assistance for disembarkation. With the high demand for the service on this ship and the fact that the ship and port are smaller, I elect to forgo that convenience today.

The ship is cleared by authorities early,  and disembarkation begins. Our luggage tag number is called just after 8:00, nearly 40 minutes before the anticipated time. The walk up the gangway to the terminal, across the terminal, and down to the luggage hall is long. With a few stops I make it.

There are no lines for having our passports checked. They do not have facial recognition, but do have 6 or 8 agents manually checking. 

Now it is time to see how well valet service works for retrieving my car.

The valet stand is clearly labeled and is a few steps away just outside the terminal door. I hand the attendant my ticket, a runner heads off to get my car. Within 2 minutes my car is waiting with the trunk lid open ready for our suitcases. I step off the curb into my car. Definitely worth the few extra dollars!

I take a few minutes to plug my home destination into the GPS and we are on our way.  As often is the case, GPS takes me a different way than I would go. But she usually knows more than I do, especially about current local conditions.

It is a gloomy day with fog, low clouds and a light misty rain. Traffic is heavy as would be expected on an early Friday morning. We are guided to I-4 to get out of Tampa and then take the back roads to Clermont. Must faster than the major highways.

We are home by a few minutes after 10:00, the water is turned on, the heat turned up, and laundry started.

In conclusion, a very enjoyable trip despite the cold rainy weather. I verify that it was just 10 years ago that I had last sailed on the Constellation. Looking at the condition of the ship today would give no indication that she is as mature as she is.  I say mature as I avoid the "O" word.

Jan 11 - Sea Day

The skies are overcast and rain occasionally falls. Not a day for the sunworshippers.

The dining room is busier this morning, but the delay is only a few minutes at most. I try the pancakes this morning. Like with nearly everything else, the staff  does a good job.

The last "beyond the podium" presentation about interviews with the Hollywood greats  is at 10. This is followed with the cruise director interviewing the Captain and the Hotel Director. A new format that has replaced the Q&A with  the officers. Personally I don't feel it was done very well. It was totally scripted by the CD and it came across as a bragging session of how great Celebrity is.

Today is the last cruise day, tomorrow it is back to daily reality. I am supposed to be at a train show Saturday and Sunday, but I will be prudent and skip it with my leg issue, and instead consult with my primary care physcian as to the best course of action for a complete and speedy healing.  In reality, it is much better today than it was when I boarded the ship.  In part because I have learned what not to attempt to do. I normally favor my left leg as it has had issues most of my life. Now suddenly I have had to reverse strategy, favoring my right leg. Not an easy change.

The afternoon is filled with trivia and a musical murder mystery. Absolutely hilarious.

By Noon time the special procedures because of the norovirus outbreak have ceased. I guess the cruise line doesn't care if you get sick now as you will be home before any symptoms appear.

Prime rib is my choice for dinner in the main dining room. As with nearly every choice I have made, it was excellent. Definitely much better than the dining room food on Royal.

After dinner, we enjoy live music until 9:00 and then I must pack. Luggage should be out by 10:00.

I set my alarm for 6:00 so we can go to the dining room for breakfast. Our scheduled departure time is 8:45 but we must vacate our cabins by 8:00.

The forecast is for showers and cool temperatures when we arrive in Tampa.

Jan 10 - Costa Maya

By the time I see the light of day we are docked in Costa Maya. The Carnival Jubilee, a new LNG fueled ship out of Galveston with about 6,500 passengers, shares the dock with us.

We are in no hurry, and head to the dining room for breakfast. Busy, but not packed. Again I have cell service. An excellent feature of my shared T-Mobile plan. I say shared because it is really my daughter's and she shares with me. Effective coverage is provided in several hundred countires around the world. It is rare I don't have cell service while in port.

We decide to walk into port. My leg is still sore, but I have learned what moves I can make and what not to do. Oh, and how many drugs to take and how often. The benefit of being prepared for many contingencies. The port area is crowded. We browse the stores, watch passengers playing with the dolphins, and catch the "flyers" decend from the 75 or 80 foot high pole. Always a spectacular sight, but nothing I would ever dare to do.

The weather is perfect. Sunny, a little breeze and no rain predicted. I ride the pier shuttle into port, but walk back. Hot and tired, but the leg survives.

Fried chicken legs and corn on the cob for lunch in the buffet was excellent. I couldn't have asked for it to be prepared any differently.

Ironically, while here in Costa Maya I get an email from my daughter asking if we would like to join her in December on a cruise to Cozumel and Costa Maya. The answer will probably be yes, but I need to check the calendar more carefully once I am home before making a  firm plan. We have been asked to organize the train club Christmas party, and that will come first.

Service is slow again in the lounge before dinner. Our server has been working since 6:00 AM, called to extra duty to fill in for a fellow crew member that left the ship in Cozumel, scheduled or unscheduled was not shared.

The beef tenderloin, carrots and green beans are excellent. 

A brief pause for some music in the Grand Foyer and then to see Gabriel, an illusionist, in the main theater.  His show is excellent, a little more grand than most magicians. His card manipulations are excellent, his disappearance from the stage effective, and his escape from a straight jacket while hanging from his feet above the stage quite dramatic. He is booked on the ship thru March. With more equipment than most headliner entertainers it is not surprising that he is booked here for an extended period of time.

In overhearing other passengers it sounds like Holland has cut out most of it's live entertainment much the same as Carnival. 

There are a number of passengers here enjoying a discount on their fare compliments of the casino. But I can assure you they are paying for that discount by making heavy gambling contributions. Making the casino non smoking has not hurt their business. In fact I would argue that it has helped significantly. Everytime I walk thru, the casino is packed.

Most passenger behavior has been good. Much better than on ships with a younger crowd. But of course there are exceptions. Riding in the elevator with the hotel director a passenger took the chance encounter to complain strongly that the water glasses in her cabin were not changed often enough. Of course it never occurred to her to ask the cabin steward.

Separately I did learn that two of the dozen or so young children on the ship are the 9 and 13 year old daughters of the hotel director. Originally from eastern Europe they now reside in Pennsylvania.

The seas remain under 5 feet and the ship is quite stable as we head towards Tampa at about 18 knots. By dinner time the skies have changed from being mostly sunny to solid cloud cover with a few showers. Tomorrow will be our last "gulf" day.

Jan 9 - Belize

The alarm is set for 6:30, breakfast will be delivered to the cabin between 6:30 and 7:00. At 8 we need to meet our tour group in the theater.

By 6:30 we are  anchored several miles from shore along with three other ships. The Radiance, the Celebrity Edge, and a Holland America ship. The winds are still brisk at 20 knots, but the  temperatures are supposed to be in the low 80's all day with 100% sunshine and no rain. A perfect tourist day. Despite the distance from shore, I have good cell service.

We are using two tenders today, one forward and the other midship. Tender boarding is slow. There are many elderly passengers, many that move much slower than I. It takes almost an hour to load and be transported to the dock. After another 45 minute wait we board our tour bus.

I must say the planning was horrible. Four ships and probably 8,000 passengers descending on the port at the same time for shore excursions, and only capable of only loading 2 buses at the same time. The process was painfully slow and disorganized.

I hadn't remembeed a lot of my last visit to Belize. There are several new casinos and several partially completed new developements. Much of the city still looks very poor. Few homes have air conditioning. There are few automobiles, not surprising since gasoline cost $7.50 per gallon. Belize has oil, but no refinery, so the oil is exported and finished products imported.  None of the homes have heat. A few weeks ago the temperature dipped to below 50.

A cruise port with docks for cruise ships is in the process of being developed on a nearby island. I heard no estimate of its intended completition and also got the feeling that many locals were not in favor of its developement.

Our tour guide was good, and I think everyone heard her despite the fact that the microphone did not work.

By shortly after noon we were waiting for the return tender to the ship. 

Back on the ship, surprisingly security isn't even collecting alcohol bought on shore. If passengers only knew this earlier. 

The pool grill is not busy so it is a good place for lunch. If you ask they will put your plate in a small oven and then everything is served nice and hot.

No cashews or other tidbits at the Ensemble Lounge again tonight. Yesterday we were told the bartender forgot to order them from provisioning. Today the first waiter tells us they are all gone. A second waiter an hour later tells us she will go check. When she returns she says they were all transferred to another ship. Take your pick, the end result is the same.  The ship has also run out of Pinot Grigio wine. A pretty basic wine staple, and this is not a heavy drinking crowd. Oh well.

Just before heading to the dining room for dinner the captain makes an announcemnt that there is a suspected outbreak of norovirus. A very common GI ailment that easily spreads in congested environments like schools, sporting events and cruise ships.  Several protocols change, the most notable being that servers will be serving all food in the buffet instead of passengers being able to help themselves.

Tonight is lobster night. A limit of one per guest has been imposed by most cruise lines. Lynn gets mine. I have beef tenderloin which is excellent.

The entertainment in the theater is two brothers from Urkraine performing on a ship for the first time. They are excellent acrobats in superb physical condition working with rings and hoops. Unfortunately they need to fill time to get the show to 45 minutes, and it was done with monotonous pounding on drums which detracted from thier true abilities.

Tomorrow we start heading North and will spend the day in Costa Maya.

Jan 8 - Cozumel, Mexico

By the time I awake at 8:00, many passengers are already off the ship. We share a dock with the Radiance of the Seas. Two Carnival ships are at the next pier. A fifth ship is at the dock a few miles distant. Cozumel will be busy today.

With internet service thru my cell carrier T-Mobile I can easily check the local weather. Not ideal. The temperatures are near 80, but there is a 30 to 50% chance of rain all day.

Heading for breakfast in the dining room I manage to trip over a very low coffee table near the Rendevous Lounge. Total stupidity on my part. Already suffereing from a pulled tendon since just before the cruise, I concede it now hurts to move my right knee. Not enough for the ships doctor, but enough that considering the weather I will just stay on the ship today and dig into my emergency kit for the Tylenol.

This is the first day we go to the main dining room for breakfast. The french toast was good. Nothing fancy, no piece of bread 2 inches thick, just normal french toast. The dining room is full. 

While enjoying breakfast, the rains start. Not a shower but a heavy downpour. The skies are solid with rain clouds. Definitely looks like a day to stay on board.

I catch up with the dozens of emails in my inbox. In looking for a quiet place to sit and type, it is quickly obvious that at least 50% of the passengers have also chosen to remain on board.

By shortly after noon the skies have cleared, the rain stopped and the sun is shining. Maybe we have paid our 50%. Lynn decides to take a short walk into town. I remain behind and watch as a passenger from the Radiance is taken away by ambulance.

Cocktails as usual  about 4:30. The veal dinner is excellent in the main dining room, and the service has substantially improved since the first 3 nights.

As is typical each evening there is live music in the wine bar, The Rendevous Lounge, my favorite, and the Grand Lobby. We catch a set on the way to the theater for the 9:00 PM show. I have yet to choose a lounge and been unable to find seating. Such a contrast with the megaships.

Our clocks get turned ahead tonight, the third change on this trip. OK by me as it permits an extra hour of sleep.

The seas are about 5 feet and there is a gentle roll to the ship broken by an occasiinal shudder.  The guest performer on the main stage, a man eithoit his sea legs yet, had difficulty maintaining balance when he stood up from playing the piano.

Tomorrow we will be in Belize. A tender port where we have an 8:00 AM shore excursion. The csptain has told us we will be in port an hour longer than scheduled.

2 Days at Sea

Entering the gulf after having left New Orleans about 11 PM last night, the skies begin to clear up. Rain is reduced to an occasional shower. Other than cold, I can't tell you what the outside temperature is. The ship has chosen not to share such information with guests. The public spaces on the ship continue to require heavy clothes and a jacket for most passengers. Other than a few brave soles in the hot tubs, the pools are deserted.

The days are occupied by the usual games, speaker presentations and trivia. The winds today are about 35 knots, almost directly on the port side. The ship is rolling slightly, the stabilizers doing a good job.

As often happens,  information on the "app" is out of sync with reality. Dozens of us waited in the theater to no avail for Clelbrity's equivalent of the captains corner. It just wasn't scheduled for today despite what the app said, or no one bothered to tell the captain. Take your choice.

Duck hiding is progressing. I watched one that remained for 24 hours before disappearing, major success. I watched another scooped  up by a beverage server within a minute. I have not spotted any others than one's I have hidden. Considering the demographics and the fact there are only about a dozen kids under 25, I am not surprised.

As we progress southerly the temperatures begin to warm. By the end of the second day many people are on the pool deck, that is until the rains return and drive everyone for cover.

The quality of food in the dining room remains good. Short  ribs, were delicious. Pasta is made to order in the buffet. Perfectly cooked. Steak of various names seems to often be my go to choice.

The pool dance party is moved indoors because of the rain. I didn't plan to attend anyway.

Our next port will be Cozumel, Mexico. Arrival is expected about 6:30 AM.

Jan 5, 2024 New Orleans

I am dressed and in the lounge on Deck 11 shortly after sunrise to watch our arrival in New Orleans. 

As expected the river winds back and forth like a slimmering snake. Many tankers, freighters, and barges are anchored just out of the channnel or tied to docks waiting to load or unload. One tanker is being slowly loaded with coal being scooped out of barges with a clam shell bucket crane. A very slow process. A few other tankers are loading or unloading oil products at one of the many refineries.

The skies are overcast and a dark plume of smoke from a nearby fire is impervious to any sunlight. Our decision to cancel our excursion is reinforced.

The captain makes the decision to use the deck 4 ramp for disembarkation instead of the ramps on deck 2 which would normally be used. A move to protect the passengers from some of the impending heavy rain that is forecast for most of the day. 

Passengers begin to disembark about 10:30, a little late. The rains begin an hour or so thereafter. We elect to just stay on the ship.

I have pulled a tendon or muscle in my leg. Sometimes walking is OK, othertimes, painful. The cure is gin muscle relaxant and rest.

The dining room is nearly full, with a few passengers probably electing to dine in the city. There is very large mall with shops and restaurants adjacent to the pier.

The entertainment in the theater is a comedian. Well attended  and an excellent  show. Not one word of profanity!

The ship leaves New Orleans about 10 PM. I am sound asleep as we head down the river towards the gulf on our way to Cozumel, two and a half days away.

Jan 4, 2024 A Gulf Day

Our passage across the gulf is uneventful. Seas remain slight, the weather cloudy and cool with a high of about 55. Needless to say there are lots of chairs available around the pools.

The ship is very clean, and in excellent repair. carpets are fresh, seating good, and shipwide I must say some of the most comfortable seating I have encountered in a long time. The carpets look brand new and show no sign of wear anywhere.

The corridors are bright. The big deficiency is in heat. The public spaces are very cold throughout the ship. In all my ship travels to Alaska, Europe, the North Atlantic and around the world, this is the coldest I have ever found a ship. Not a mechanical failure, but a management decision to put profit way in front of passenger comfort.

When we return to the cabin, just before lunch there is a note on the door advising us of our new 6:00 PM dinner time in the main dining room. Our contingency plan was to have a good lunch in the dining room if we could not get earlier seating for dinner. We go to the dining room anyway even though our contingency plan is no longer needed. Lunch is decent. I have a cheeseburger and fries. Being a sea day and only a dozen people outside by the pools,  the dining room is packed, not something the staff appears prepared for.

The afternoon is filled with several trips to hide ducks, and a "beyond the podium" presentation by David Fantle, a professor from Marquette university relating experiences of interviewing 200 entertainment greats over a 50 year career.  A very entertaining program with unknown details about the likes of Bob Hope, Gene Kelly, Judy , George Burns and many other great Hollywood film and stage stars.

The 5:00 to 7:00 cocktail hour starts at 4:30 compliments of our server. While in the lounge we watch the line grow for the my time dining room from a few dozen people to a line stretching from the dining room entrance through the elevator lobby, completely thru the Rendezvous Lounge and beyond. Many wait 45 minutes to just get through the lounge.

Our dining room on deck 5 is much better organized. We arrive 2 minutes before 6:00, are immediately greeted and taken to our table. A table for 6, seated with passengers that were able to switch from late dining to early. Not surprising, all are from Florida.

Dinner takes 2 hours, not unexpected. The food is good and they do a good job dealing with the two passengers with special dietary needs.

The main show tonight is Jared Freiburg and the Vagabonds. A high energy piano, bass, and drums in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis.  Excellent.

Our speed has been in the neighborhood of 12 knots as we journey towards New Orleans. It is appproximately a  8 hour journey up the river from the gulf. Not a passage for the inexperienced at night. We expect to  be docked by about 9:00 am.

Jan 3, 2024 Celebrity Constellation

The first cruise of the year. We chose this cruise because of it unusual itinerary. Sailing from Tampa we first go to New Orleans, La. and then to the Western Caribbean.  There are only a couple of cruises a year that do this, and that was reason enough. Being honest, adding to the destination is the fact this is a 9 day cruise on a smaller, older ship. Facts that keep the younger cruisers at home or on different ships. No zip lines or wave riders here.

Our assigned boarding time is 12:30, meaning that we can depart from home after 10 and still have time to stop for breakfast on the way. For a few extra bucks I have booked valet parking to avoid any hassle with the car.

We are anxious to get under way and leave the house a few minutes before 10:00. Traffic is lite, we are late enough to miss the morning congestion. I never know which way to go to Tampa. Sometimes it is faster to take 50 to 95, other times 27 to I-4.  Today my car GPS says 27 and I-4.  

After the usual pit stop at a McDonalds, I arrive at the terminal 30 minutes before my assigned time. There is little traffic. I am quickly directed to the "Valet" line. Our luggage is handed over along with the car keys. I carefully check that I am not leaving anything in the car.

With passport and printed boarding pass in hand we are quickly processed and board the ship. The agent really appreciated that we had printed boarding passes. Much faster and easier for them than scanning from someone's phone.

Not that the Constellation is a small ship, but the gangway goes down to board the ship, not up as with most vessels. I have sailed the Constellation before, but it may have been ten years. I remember none of her, but definitely a pleasure to be on a smaller ship where it is only a few minutes walk from one end to the other.

Cabins are not open, but we are allowed to drop our carry on bags and get our keys while the crew is still preparing for our stay. A much appreciated change in policy.

The first stop is the dining room to change our dining time. When I booked, only 8:30 was available. Impossible for either of us. As I have matured the food digestion has definitely slowed down.

We are added to the wait list for 6:00 PM dining. No promises, but she will let me know. I have little influence with Celebrity being in the middle of the status ranks.

The second stop is at shore excursions to cancel our tour in New Orleans. The weather forcast has been for cold temperatures and heavy rains in the afternoon and evening. A boat tour through the swamps is not worth getting cold and soaked.

Next stop is to check in at our muster station. Of course at the other end of the ship. Everythig is always at the other end. In the process a walk thru the casino. A smoke free casino. Finally! Not that I am a gambler, but the smoke often wafts thru the ship to other areas.

Our luggage arrives and everything is quickly stowed away. For a ship that is over  20 years old, the accomodations are very spacious with ample storage room. Yes the shower has a plastic curtain instead of a glass door, but the shower itself is larger than on many of the newer ships.

A beverage or two in the lounge on deck 11 as we sailaway and head out of the Tampa Bay Harbor. About 2 1/2 hours after departure we will pass under the Skyway bridge. I say pass under as our clerance is less than 5 feet.

Before we get to  the bridge we hear the first medical emergency announcement. Thirty minutes later the captain tells us he will be stopping the ship to transfer a passenger to the coast guard for transfer to a shore side medical facility. No details are given other than that the passenger is stable.

Dinner in the buffet is a little disappointing, but better than trying to eat at 8:30 or 9:00. Steak is being offered. I didn't know you could slice a piece of meat so thin and still call it steak. Regardless, I don't cruise for the dining. If I did, I would often be disappointed.

Shortly after passing under the bridge, the ship comes to a stop, the passenger is transferred to a coast guard vessel, and we resume our journey.

The passenger manifest on this ship is definitely more mature. If I don't count any of the crew, I think I have seen one person under 30.  Surprisingly though, the number of first time cruisers is quite substantial.

The production show is decent, a tribute to classic songs, mostly from the 60's and 70's. the theater is about half full.

It has been a long day. We turn our clocks back an hour for the next week, and retire early. In the Gulf of Mexico the seas are about 3 feet and impact litlle roll and pitch to the ship. As predicted rain showers arrive just after dark and continue for much of the night.

I will say tomorrow is a sea day, but in reality it is a Gulf day.