Ron and Kathy's Cruise Trip

[Rissask]

Thanks Ron. I think I would like to try one someday, just to see...an Alaskan cruise would be beautiful I think oo!

Were drinks pricey though? I heard they kill you on the drinks...and how is the tipping situation?

[roni]

Drinks ran aroumd 4.50 US$. They had specials, $2.95 bloody marys and mimosas in the morning, for example. 15% gratuity was built into drinks. $10 a day tips covered the cabin staff and the waitstaff.

[roni]

To recap, we had the first night, then a Fun Day at Sea. The following morning found us at anchor near Grand Cayman.

Were taken ashore on small boats called tenders



While there we saw pretty flowers. Does anyone know the name of these flowers?



A sailing ship



A neat mosaic tile that Kathy photographed cause she does some of this



Now, we did not spend much time on shore. It was freaking hot. Stan, my brother, did not make it cause he closed down the casino at 3:30 am that day, and was not at all sober then. He could not be awakened. We had a smoothie (diet coke for me) on shore, walked around for an hour or so, bought some booze and rum cakes at Tortugas and took the tender back to the ship for some hanging out time at the pool. It was delightful because everyone else was on shore!! I would have liked to have spent more time there, but it was a short stop.

We sailed at about 3:00, drank, ate good food, gambled, danced, and went to bed. I had a difficult time going to sleep. We would be in Cozumel the next day, would head to Playa and I would show my brother the place that reminded a lot of where we grew up. In addition, it was the place I hoped to live at least part of the year starting in a few years. I wanted them to like it and I wanted them to have a good time. I was a little anxious.

To be continued.

Ron

[jx2]

I bet this was a booze cruise ship.

[sctx]

the yellow flowers look like a dwarf mandevilla

[roni]

Originally Posted by roni

Drinks ran aroumd 4.50 US$. They had specials, $2.95 bloody marys and mimosas in the morning, for example. 15% gratuity was built into drinks. $10 a day tips covered the cabin staff and the waitstaff.

That was $10 a day per person, so $20 a day for Kathy and I

[tommy]

Looks like a Pirate Ship to Me!!!!!!!!!

[roni]

Originally Posted by sctx

the yellow flowers look like a dwarf mandevilla

Thanks Scott. Kathy says you are not just good-looking, but smart also.

No accounting for taste, I reckon; but then she is partial to tall guys with good noses

[roni]

Here I am, Ron the Tour guide. While I was not too stressed, I was concerned after I learned that Dick had been a tour guide with 17 years and 100 cruises of experience. I decided doing less and enjoying it more was the way to go. We walked through the the shop village at Puerto Maya on Cozumel, grabbed a van cab and went to the ferry dock, where I bought tickets for all of us. While I get along all right in Spanish, my brother is fluent.

Here we are, arriving at Puerto Maya



I did not take a lot of photos, cause I have a bunch from previous trips.

We go on the ferry and Stan realized his wallet was missing. Fortunately he had given me some money to cover some of the day's costs, so there was only around $100 in it. Stan and his wife got off the ferry to go look for it, promising to meet us in Playa on the next ferry.

On the way to Playa, I thought Kathy and Dick would be more comfortable at a beach bar than waiting with me at the ferry terminal, so we walked up the beach to Playa Maya, admiring the Caribbean waters, the hotels and the perky young woman sunbathing topless. Even though I was on a cruise, I did not take any photos or video without permission.

After Dick and Kathy ordered a bucket of beer at about 9:30 am, I headed back to the ferry terminal, stopping at an Internet place on Calle 8 to email Susie. My cell was not working, seems like, unlike last December, I forgot to call Verizon and tell them I was going to be in Mexico.

The plan at this point was to meet the next ferry. If Stan and Amanda were not on it, I was going back to Playa Maya and get Kathy and Dick in a cab to Cueva del Chango to meet up with Susie. Fortunately, our lost wallet people walked off the next ferry, having been fortified with a couple of beers on the way over (are you discerning a theme with these folks? I thought they would be very compatible with our resident apple juice drinker).

Off to the restaurant we went, probably over-paying for cabs (40 pesos). Arrived at CdeC and Susie had just arrived. Everyone was favorably impressed and this amateur tour guide breated a sigh of relief.

After a wonderful brunch, we loaded up and drove a few blocks to the PlayaInfo office to drop off some books to a reader there. Then we did a way quick tour and stopped off at Covi's for some tequila and Kahlua, after which we went to Paamul. Susie is, BTW, a primo person and we were glad to be with her.

Paamul sustained damage from Emily. Some trailers and palapas looked all right, others were pretty damaged. Some new cabins are being built, and we were there at siesta time:



We spent several hours relaxing at Susie's, the restaurant bar - oh, the manager of the restaurant is Brasilian, and Stan and I got to talk Portugues and turns out we lived in the same city for several years. That was fun. We also met aligarcia and her family and talked about the process of moving to Mexico and learned of their experiences.

Here is another photo from Paamul



Susie dropped us off near the ferry terminal, Kathy and Amanda bought vanilla and hot sauce, we took the ferry over to Cozumel, where the taxi driver was impressed that I knew about Hidalgo and El Grito, got back to the ship where we......ate, drank, danced, gambled and had a good time.

Ron

[mav68]

Originally Posted by roni

ate, drank, danced, gambled and had a good time.

Ron

That seems to sum up a great vacation right there!

Beautiful pics and great report! Thanks for sharing with us .

[roni]

So we returned to the ship after our day in Playa and Paamul. Let me say once again what a great host Susie was and is. Finest kind. Meeting aligarcia and her family was another bonus.

Running into Tyra, Scott and Terri was also neat. By the time we ran into Frank at Cueva and stopped by the PlayaInfo office, seeing Heather, Mitch (who I had not met before) and ran into Anna on the way out - my brother thought we were part of a community. He was right, it feels a bit that way to us.

Back at the ship Stan talked them into letting him back on without ID (they do take your photo when you first board), and we - ate, drank, walked around, danced and like that.

The next morning we woke up to our last "Fun Day at Sea". After breakfast Kathy and I went to the deck below the the big pool deck and laid out in the sun at the aft of the ship by the small pool, aka the patio pool.

Not much action after that until the debarkation talk (Kathy peristed in calling it the Deportation talk), when the martini drink specials started. Just call me a lightweight, but a tradition and a lemon martini and a couple of other drinks had me about right for dinner, accompanied by two bottles of wine and a last night bottle of champagne.

Kathy went to bed soon after that. Stan, Dick and I hit the bars and I danced with some young women. After a couple of dances I decided they were too hip for me and I headed to the casino. Bought $50 of chips and sat down at a blackjack table. Walked away 3 hours later with $95, so it was not a bad night. After some early morning pizza, it was off to bed for a too early wake up.

No pics with this episode. There will be some of St. Pete in the next and final chapter.

Ron

[caramba]

Originally Posted by roni

No pics with this episode. There will be some of St. Pete in the next and final chapter.

Ron

Looking forward to it.

[cuffedlinks]

Originally Posted by roni

No pics with this episode. There will be some of St. Pete in the next and final chapter...

I should HOPE so....

...for Pete's sake...

[NorthMinnesota]

Still appreciate your humor Cuffed! LOL!

[TAPPY]

I have been watching way to much Travel channel lately...and I saw Samantha Browns 1st cruise trip this weekend....it was a 12 day Mediterranean one, I have to admit that looked like great fun and a easy/relaxing way to see several countrys (a quick look see ) at once. I priced out that same trip this weekend for the three of us and it was surprisingly affordable. (even when you add in drinks and excursions) Just wondering if any of you have done the Transatlantic or European cruises and what you thought of them ?

We get some great deals on cruises in this area because we are close to a lot of ports (Galveston, Mobile, New Orleans and all the Florida ports as well).

DISCLAIMER: I know you dont get the full travel experience and none of regular forum peeps are really considered cruise people just trying to get some information from some one who has been on this type of cruise. Not trying to compare it to vacation in Playa etc. !!!!!