Our Penultimate Port

Today finds us in Puerto Plata, aka Amber Cove, in the Dominican Republic. This is a lovely purpose-built port, with a pool, swim up bar, lazy river, zip line, thousands of beach chairs and the requisite Diamonds International, tee shirt shops, and random souvenirs. We wandered around a bit, but mostly just enjoyed the view.

Tomorrow is a sea day, which for us means packing and final paperwork, and then we have a busy travel day on Sunday. I likely won’t be doing another post until we return, but next week I will be adding pictures of some of these lovely places we have seen. This has been a very relaxing trip, and we hve thoroughly enjoyed doing little but watch the world go by.

Maho Beach

Today we went plane spotting at Maho Beach. Thats the famous one where jets come in low over the beach just prior to landing. We did not see any 747 size jets (more on that below) but we did see jets land and take off. And no, not from directly behind, but from a safe side view.

(I have a picture, but dang it again, it won’t upload from the phone; the app works fine from the ipad, but that is not where the pictures reside. I’m gonna have to remember to reload this thing once I get home.)

We’re on the island of St. Maarten which was hard hit by the hurricanes last fall. There is recovery ongoing, but so much is still damaged. Many hotels are still closed (hence the lack of KLM jumbo jets), cars remain smashed in open lots, yachts and sailboats are still half sunk in the harbor, even a freighter remains about six inches from the main road to the airport. Boarded up windows are on every single block.

This island is very dependent on tourism, so they are happy to see the cruise ships returning.... and we are happy to be visiting again.

Observations

In no particular order of importance or value, here are the random observations we have noted over the past two days:
- 1950 passengers vs. 3200 passengers is a big difference, especially when you put them all in essentially the same size public space. This is noticably different in the theaters, elevators, buffet, etc. We really miss the open spaces on the Coral. Boo Hoo.
- The Concerts at Sea group are friendly, but all 700 are trying to eat lunch at the same time (in order to be in the theater for their afternoon show) or dinner for their evening events. We’re trying to figure out their schedule so we can do our things when they are not.
- Love Boat reruns are a hoot!
- Not sure what the weather is doing back home, but we’ve had two days of grey, and blowing winds and mist this morning. Crossing fingers that tonight’s clearing skies hold through tomorrow. It also means that all the people who would have been outside by the pools are stuck inside with the rest of the crowds. We did manage to sit outside and watch Movies Under the Stars tonight. Come On Sun!
- We know we sat next to some of the 60’s band members (the ones I forgot the other day were Gary Puckett, and the Boxtops) at the muster drill, and we probably keep seeing the others in the hallway. But we have no clue who they are and they sorta acted like they were hoping we didn’t ask them for an autograph in the elevator. And we didn’t, because we have no clue who they are. But we do ask how they are enjoying the cruise and they look kind of surprised at the question and we just wish them well when we step off the elevator. There is one fan who has their photos plastered on her door across the lobby...and we’re trying to figure out who we’re bumping into.
- The Fathom group is an interesting mix of people. Glad I went to check it out, but also glad I won’t be doing beach clean-up, concrete work, etc. I have enjoyed the meetings, although I did gracefully decline to participate in the life coach playbook activity. At my age I don’t need a playbook, and I definitely don’t need some kid telling me I do. But I do think they have a good purpose and can fill a niche market need. They are good people and I wish them continued success.
- Love, love, love our new waiter Yuriy, who just joined the ship on Saturday and will still be on when we return in April. Now just to find him and get assigned to his section on the crossing.
- Had the most wonderful snorkel and swim adventure today in Antigua. Night and day difference in how we felt after the one in Aruba. Great crew, more fish, better rum, and only 38 people on the catamaran, so we tipped double. It was well worth it.

And now, from your more rested blogger...

Yep, I took a few days off. The last couple of days were sea days on the Coral, involving more eating and sleeping and shopping and drinking, along with the required packing of bags (ugh). But fortunately for us, yesterday we trans-shipped to the Crown Princess, where we are now tucked into our new room.

We had to say farewell to Gene and Pam, who hands-down won the “who has the largest onboard balance” question at the dinner table, but I am happy to report they not only came away with a nice new camera, some great cruise memories, AND a Future Cruise Deposit, but Gene prevailed at the casino on the last night and managed to offset a good portion of their balance.

We understand they are headed into a couple of inches of snow in NM and will soon be wondering where the heat and humidity of Panama went.

The remaining three of us were met at the pier by Tom’s sister Gigi and her husband Bob who graciously drove a couple of hours over from Ft. Myers, picked us up at the Coral, dropped our bags at the Crown, got lost in the parking garage and went to lunch with us at our favorite greasy spoon seafood joint in Fort Lauderdale. After a brief drive up the coast, they returned us to the Crown, we said our farewells and boarded the ship. And proceeded to join a similar, but yet vastly different, cast of characters onboard.

First off, there is a Concerts at Sea group onboard. 700 aging children of the 60’s, Chubby Checker, the Lovin’ Spoonful, Paul Revere’s Raiders and a few other popular 60’s groups who’s names escape me at the moment. We saw some of them at the muster drill, but for the life of me I could not tell you who they are or which group they belong to. We’re not part of this group, but I am pretty sure we will be hearing at least a portion of the music by osmosis....the sound equipment they brought onboard takes up the entire conference room on deck 6.

Secondly, there is a group of about 200 from the new Fathom re-invented ‘cruise for a cause’ and their promotional videographers. We had heard about this one online and joined out of curiosity, which may have been a Huge error on my part, but will absolutely provide for some remarkable blogging. There will be much more to follow on this, but I just want you to know my cohort group meets with Katie today at 10 for an informative meeting on ‘What it means to be a Fathom cruiser’...and then Colin (who is all of maybe 29 years old) will be leading a guided discussion on “creating our personal playbook on finding a purpose filled life”. Yeah, there will be loads more to report about this one.

Lastly, our dining assignments were again goofed up. We again waited at the appointed dining room (for an hour!) to get them fixed. And again were told that the linked bookings did not come through from headquarters in Santa Clarita, CA. The ‘best’ they could do was put us at a table for 10 in the very early dining seating while simultaneously telling us that ‘everyone wants the big tables, you will have no trouble getting a small table in Anytime’. Fine we said, just put us at one of those small tables that nobody wants in Assigned dining because we know the big tables take much longer to serve. They could not, so we said we would try their big table for one night, but as we walked away, Jackie mentioned quietly to me how disappointing it was that the Crown could not do what the Coral did last cruise. 30 minutes later the new dining assignment card was delivered. Table for three, quiet corner in the back, next to the window. And a fabulous waiter. When we left after coffee and dessert, we walked past the large table previously assigned...they were about halfway into their entree course.

Stay tuned....

12 days in...

And I have to say I am beginning to wear out a bit. We started out with a good mix of sea day, port, sea day, port. But the last few days have been essentially all port days. Yeah, I know that we didn’t actually get off the ship in Panama yesterday, but we did run around from one deck to another and side to side and to and fro for about 9 hours. Well, Tom did. I stopped to-ing and fro-ing after the first set of locks and just enjoyed the scenery from my balcony, but still we all barely made it through the show last night and headed to our rooms around 8:30 for needed sleep.

Today was a flurried morning in Cartagena, Colombia. We had a short port stop here, only 5 and a half hours from 8-1:30. We did a stroll through the Old Town of Cartagena and while we loved the old architecture of balconies and cobbled streets within the fortress walls, we were less than enamored with the traffic, the heat, the humidity and the non-stop peddlars. We’re skipping the dining room tonight and hitting the early show, as we have another port day tomorrow - Aruba where we are all going snorkeling and won’t care what the humidity is.

As proof, I am including some pictures with this post. A very bedraggled victim of the humidity and heat, a traffic situation on the way in that had us all laughing, and a couple of the lovely streets of Old Town.

Transiting the Panama Canal

Arising early, before dawn, we were treated to a spectular view of the Southern Cross, the lights of 50 or so container ships lined up for a slot through the canal (unlike cargo ships, ours was purchased 18 months ago so we had a priority slot) and then sunrise over the Pacific Ocean.

Yep, that is not a mistake - the sun rose in the east, but because of the way Panama has a big S curve, it was over the Pacific. Look at the map.

After all that we headed into the Miraflores locks, a true engineering marvel opened in 1913. We watched as the canal workers rowed out to pur big ship in a little two-man rowboat to throw a line that allowed us to hook up to the little train car called a mule that drags us through the locks.

I will try and include a few pictures of the locks, the infamous Culebra Cut (8 miles of mountain that still continues to slide into the canal today) and some of our fellow ships taking The Shortcut.

Catching Up

Whaaat ? ! ? I haven’t blogged since Huatulco. Oh my, I think you had better fire me as I am obviously not a very good blogger this trip.

So in an attempt to play catchup:
We have stopped in San Juan del Sur, Nicaraugua, a sleepy little fishing village that mostly survives on surfing tourists. Who do not spend their time in fancy resorts, so there aren’t any. But there are numerous little bed and breakfast and hostel places with a couple of rooms for rent above the family living quarters. And if they have no rooms to rent, they offer laundry services. We walked down an entire street of rentals and laundries, and then sat on a bench on the seaside boardwalk and just watched the families on the beach, the vendors strolling by (No thank you, I do not want an ocarina, bird whistle, carved bowl or beads) It was all very picturesque, including the lady on the boardwalk with two monkeys on a leash just like pet dogs. No, I don’t have a photo as she was charging for pictures.

While Jackie and I meandered, Tom, Pam and Gene went ziplining. I have seen some of the videos, and it is very reminiscent of the zipline in Belize (that’s for you Barbara and Richard). I am well past the ability to do that sort of adventure any longer and it was a good thing that I chose to just take it easy that day.

After another sea day (meaning: Sleep in, eat, watch a performance or lecture or show, eat and repeat) we stopped in Costa Rica yesterday where we did an eight-hour 10 in 1 tour. We saw capuchin monkeys (photo to follow), birds and the rainforest, Carara (sp?) National Park (also a rainforest but on the mountain top), banana and fruit plantations where they make fabulous fruit smoothies including the mango-papaya-coconut combination I tried. Plus a replica old plantation town, even more unusual fruit trees and birds, termites, giant ants, some sort of beetle about four inches long (ick), waterfalls, macaws, and general jungle mayhem. THEN we went crocodile hunting, but since all wildlife are protected in Costa Rica it was the photo sort of hunting. We saw little young crocs (3 feet long) up to adults about 25 feet long. These were about 50 years old, but crocs live about 150 years, and continue to grow their entire lives, and can get much larger - up to 45 feet long! Most of us were just plain worn out by the end of all this, and we all fell asleep pretty quickly after dinner.

And slept some 9-11 hours according to reports this morning. We’re not quite the youngsters we used to be, even though we sometimes try.

Today is a sea day (see above description for daily agenda) and we just finished the first meal of the day at 11:30. It is now noon, and I think I will have the Drink of the Day, a Caribbean Cooler.

Tomorrow is the Panama Canal adventure....starting at 6 am. I will try to blog, but do not be surpised if I must apologize yet again. <sigh>

Huatulco

Although today was a port, we did not do too much. Walked around, sat at a beach bar and had some beers. Forgot to ask the price first and got ripped off by twice the worst price at any of the other bars. We should have known better and won’t make that mistake again. So came back to the ship instead of spending money out in town. Their loss. The town is an adorable little fishing village and we would enjoy coming here again.

My Guilt Complex

Yes, I am feeling guilty about not blogging. There have not been any truly blog-worthy moments that I can remember, which is not to say that those events have not happened, I just keep forgetting about them.

So in no particular order:
- We won musical Bingo! Me, the one who has no musical ability nor the memory for songs. Our prizes were the New! Rubber coasters with the ship name. Yeah, people fought over trivia answers so much that apparently corporate decided to cheapen the prizes from $1.95 down to 99 cents. Still, a win is a win.

- Have I mentioned how much I love this ship? Perfect size (1950 passengers, 1000 crew) and never feels crowded. There is a line for anytime dining when we leave the dining room around 7:00 each night, but that has never impacted us with our traditional set time. Nothing else requires advance planning. One can find seats in the theater 5 minutes before a production show, there is always a seat in Horizon Court buffet, there are plenty of chairs and sofas along the windows in the public hallways....yep, we love this ship enough that we checked out the next couple of year’s itineraries to see what we may want to do. Answers are Alaska in the summer, Panama in the winter, and a Circle South America 60 day trip in February. The Island, (which used to be a twin sister ship until they added 50 cabins across the back) likely still feels much the same and it does the same itineraries except its 60 day trip is in the fall and is a Pacific Rim circle from Alaska to China, Japan, Vietnam and Hawaii.

- Yesterday we were in our first port, Puerto Vallarta. We didn’t do much, although Pam, Gene and Jackie went whale watching in a Zodiac boat and saw lots of humpback whales. Tom and I went down the boardwalk and met up with our Corrales neighbors who happened to be on a week long vacation in PV. Pacifico beers, homemade Pico de Gallo (I would have eaten that with a spoon it was so good), and chicken fajitas for four of us totaled $22. I can see why so many folks like to winter there.

- Today we hit the second of the many $10 Sales at Sea. I bought two Christams ornaments, a manta ray and a starfish. Congratulate me on not purchasing the purses, scarves, tee shirts and hats.

- The sea air and a few restless (knee) nights have caught up with me. I fell asleep somewhere around the third quarter of the Alabama-Georgia game and did not arise until about 9:30 this morning, which is about 10 or 11 hours of sleep, which I must have really needed. We have a marathon night planned this evening; dinner, then the Movie Under the Stars, then the production show Encore which is by all accounts is supposed to be a really fantastic new production show. Maybe I better go rest up. 😁

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun...

...as the saying goes. If I could sum up the flurry of the past three days, that would about cover it. We all got to LA safely, managed to find the shuttles, got to the hotel (some more efficiently than others - again the shuttles), and Tom and I even rented a car, zipped down to visit with Dad who is doing pretty well, and is on the upswing again, and then returned to the hotel via only two Sigalerts. (You have to have driven in California for a day or two to understand that one.)

Our group of five finally met up over club sandwiches at the hotel and we pinched ourselves knowing the ship was on its way. We confessed to several overstuffed bags, but figured we could get all five of us to the pier in our own shuttle car before returning the rental. And we did. Tom was the heroic shuttle driver who got everyone safely to the port, dropped us off and we managed to all get onboard within a few minutes of each other.

Of course, there was a serendipitous event first. Jackie and I had agreed to sit and wait just outside the entry doors until Tom was able to join us after gassing up the rental car, returning it and walking back to the pier. Because Jackie and I can sit and talk just about anywhere, this was easy. And as we sat and talked, we looked across the broad sidewalk and saw this group of men in blue suits who were guiding guests to the doors and assisting those who needed wheelchairs. During a lull, I looked across at them and said, “Do any of you gentlemen know Peter Wyrick?” Whereupon one of them said “I’m Peter...” but he left unsaid the “who the heck are you? ? ?” part. Well, Peter B. Wyrick was one of Tom’s commanding officers in the Marine Corps, with the VMA-214 Blacksheep. We had heard he had started working at the Los Angeles Harbor as a greeter....and we had found him. After we tried to have Peter sneak attack Tom (Tom recognized him right away) and much catching up of what happened over the last 35 years, Peter escorted us through check-in and we walked right on to the ship.

Since then we have been exploring the ship, eating and drinking at nearly every opportunity, getting turned around and lost on a nearly hourly basis and laughing all the way. We are very pleased with the size of the Coral Princess and the mix of passengers. A very nice change from what we encountered two months ago on the Emerald. This ship only holds 2000 passengers, but has nearly the same amount of public spaces. Meaning there are few crowds, one can always find a seat in the venues AND the buffet, and we have yet to encounter any of the boorish personalities we saw on a too-regular basis on the last trip.

Today is our second sea day, and we already have too many things to do and not enough time. The sun has just risen at 8 a.m. Tom, Pam and Gene have met for deck walking (lovely wide promenade on one deck) and some weights in the gym, while I write this and listen to a wonderful presentation ( History channel production maybe? ) on the construction of the Panama Canal while also deciding what we want to do during our first port visit tomorrow in Puerto Vallarta. One thing we do have on the agenda for PV is visiting with one of our Corrales neighbors who happen to be on vacation there. Oh, and a slot pull tournament. And a luncheon in the dining room today. Oh, so much we want to do and then sometimes we decide it is just more important to sit and watch the ocean drifting by.

This is turning out to be one of our favorite cruises already.

And we’re off to the Big Ditch

Having just finished the long, boring read of how the Panama Canal was created, well...Tom read the whole thing. I gave up after the French and right about the time Teddy Roosevelt got involved. Mostly because politicians were just as self-serving and unethical back then as they are now. SO I read the Wikipedia version in about 10 minutes with added emphasis on the engineering marvel of the Culebra Cut and called it a day.

I ‘ ll be blogging more sporadically this time. Not necessarily daily, but certainly when there is something interesting to say.