Day 1: Embarkation Port of Miami.
Day 2: At Sea.
Day 3: Belize City, Belize. This was our third visit here. This port is becoming more popular with cruising ships, mainly for the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere (Great for Scuba) and a beautiful coastline, as well as a lush tropical forest.
Day 4: Costa Maya, Mexico. This was our first visit here. It is known for Mayan ruins, lagoons with sparkling blue waters and virgin beaches. Great shopping right at the end of the dock.
Day 5: Cozumel, Mexico. This Island off the coast of Mexico is a well known port of call for many cruising ships. It is famous for the best snorkeling area in the Caribbean. Some of the interesting excursions offered by RCI are the Mayan ruins of Tulum and the Xcaret Eco-Archeological Park. Also, there is great downtown shopping.
Day 6: Georgetown, Grand Cayman. A well known port of call in the Caribbean. Some good shopping, but not inexpensive. Interesting excursions: Stingray City where you can swimm/snorkel with stingrays; Visiting the Turtle Farm, with creatures from a few ounces to a gigantic 500 pounds; and the Two Men Bubble Sub, also known as SeaMobile Submarine, which we did a couple of years ago (diving in a glass bubble sub for a 360 degrees view of sea life in the coral reef).
We had dinner with Captain Ole Johan Gronhaug again; he is a very pleasant gentleman who should be proud of this magnificently run ship. Naturally it was our best meal on board. We met some interesting people from Turku, Finland and had animated conversations with Purser David Warren who made us feel at home. Concierge Martin Sanchez was very helpful throughout the week with tickets and daily papers (Vincent was very happy reading the Italian newspaper La Stampa).
Mary Ann Yao, the Loyalty Ambassador, helped us with Crown & Anchor information (all passengers become Gold Members on their second cruise; Platinum after their 5th cruise; Diamond after their 10th cruise; and Diamond Plus after 24 cruises). There are many perks with each level including discounts, upgrades, on board receptions and gifts of wine and memorabilia.
We always say that RCI's crew is the friendliest and this cruise was no exception. The Captain sets the tone and character of the ship and the very competent Captain Gronhaug sets a fine example. Loyalty Ambassador Mary Ann, Concierge Martin and Chief Purser David are all a credit to RCI. Food on board is very good in preparation, taste and presentation. Service on board is excellent.
Day 7: At Sea.
CONCLUSION
This trip combined all of the elements of a perfect cruise---- Sun, Moon, Stars, calm sparkling sea and rest. Just how lucky can we be? Well, two days after arriving home, we were facing Hurricane Katrina heading for a direct hit on our hometown. We were spared the full force, since it made landfall in Broward/Dade Counties just south of Boca Raton, Florida. We still have our wonderful cruise memories of beautiful skies and great weather.
This was our 52nd cruise and our 26th on RCI ships. We have not yet had a bad cruise, but some cruises have been better than others. We have already booked seven future cruises: The next on the refurbished Sovereign of the seas, Sept. 5; then on Carnival Glory, Oct. 1; Star Princess, Oct. 23; Navigator of the Seas, Dec. 3; Costa Magica, Jan. 8, 2006; Carnival Liberty, Jan. 29, 2006; and finally on the next RCI behemoth Freedom of the Seas, Sept. 24, 2006. Between now and then, we may book a few more cruises for the spring and summer of the coming year. Happy Cruising!