Category: Caribbean

Day at sea and wine-tasting musical Wine Lovers

Mom at the wine-tasting musical, Wine Lovers

Day 3, Monday, September 12, 2016 This was another day at sea. For lunch, Mom and I attended the wine-tasting musical Wine Lovers. We learned to “See, swirl, smell, sip, and savor” five different wines (Estancia Pinot Grigio, Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay, Beringer Founders Estate Pinot Noir, and North & South, Norwegian’s proprietary Red Blend from… Continue reading Day at sea and wine-tasting musical Wine Lovers

Day at sea with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

Smash hit musical, After Midnight

Day 2, Sunday, September 11, 2011 We started the day with a moment of silence in honor of 9-11. It’s hard to believe that it has been 15 years since that fateful day. I can still recall how I felt watching the destruction of the Twin Towers and the subsequent attack on the Pentagon and… Continue reading Day at sea with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

2016 Eastern Caribbean Cruise

Saying goodbye to Miami and hello to the Carribean

Day 1, Saturday, September 10, 2016 Mom and I left Sarasota for the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Escape on a Cruise Connection bus. The bus was about 45 minutes late picking us up. Listening to the people already on the bus, we found out that this was the first time this particular driver made this… Continue reading 2016 Eastern Caribbean Cruise

Caribbean Cruise: Day 5: Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel shoreline

Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the neater coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. This popular cruise ship destination became famous in 1961 when Jacques Cousteau declared Cozumel one of the most beautiful scuba diving areas of the world. Since then, Cozumel has become an underwater marine park to protect the delicate balance… Continue reading Caribbean Cruise: Day 5: Cozumel, Mexico

Caribbean Cruise: Day 4: Roatan, Honduras

Roatan, Honduras

Roatan, Honduras is the largest of the Honduras Bay Islands. It is about 77 k long and less that 8 k across at its widest point. Roatan’s history traces back to the Maya civilization. It has seen the arrival of the Conquistadors, the Garifuna, and the fishing industry. In 1990, about 19,000 English-speaking people inhabited… Continue reading Caribbean Cruise: Day 4: Roatan, Honduras

Caribbean Cruise: Day 3: Costa Maya, Mexico

Costa Maya flag

Costa Maya is in the only state of Mexico bounded by the Caribbean on its east. Although the official language is Spanish, many speak Mayan. As a linguist, I would love to hear Mayan. The Mayans were predominate in the area from 200 B.C to 900 A.D. There are many ancient ruins such as Chacchoben,… Continue reading Caribbean Cruise: Day 3: Costa Maya, Mexico

Caribbean Cruise: Day 2: Day at sea

Ship's wake in choppy seas

To make up for the lost time, the captain sped over the large swells and whitecaps and altered the itinerary. Instead of stopping first at Roatan, Honduras, we will first visit Costa Maya, Mexico. On our first day at sea, mom and I walked about two miles on the promenade deck. She spent 20 minutes on… Continue reading Caribbean Cruise: Day 2: Day at sea

Caribbean Cruise: Day 1: Welcome to the Norwegian Star

This trip is a 6-day Western Caribbean cruise out of Tampa, FL, exploring Roatan, Bay Islands (Honduras), Costa Maya (Mexico), and Cozumel (Mexico). I am traveling with my mother, sister Doris, and friend Elizabeth. I hope you will enjoy our adventure. We left Sarasota around 10 AM. Dennis made lattes for Elizabeth and me to sip on as we drove to the Tampa pier.… Continue reading Caribbean Cruise: Day 1: Welcome to the Norwegian Star