June 16 to June 20
I will confess that we have been home for several days and that we had such a good time the last week of the trip that we didn’t do any of the blog after June 15. Also we didn’t buy the wifi so we only had internet when we were in port and during that time we went on snorkeling excursions and had a wonderful time.
So June 16 was a day at sea, resting, swimming in the pool and eating and watching a movie in the day and a show at night after dinner.
June 17 we arrived in Cozumel, at and 8:00am, then off to a snorkeling excursion. We walked down the pier and around a building to board our catamaran sail boat. We went about a half an hour out to snorkel on a reef close to some beaches and small hotel. Beautiful snorkeling with a great ladder down the middle of the ship. Snorkeling is easy, putting on my fins and getting in and out of the boat, not so much anymore. We just loved it. Then we went for 15 minutes to a beach shared by at least 4 catamarans. The beach had chairs and large blow up slides in the water. They did sell things there, offered beach massages and sold lunch but we weren’t interested in that. Our boat came in first so it was quiet and we pulled 2 chairs into the shade. The way the catamarans came in, everyone (about 50) had to stand on the front to be able to come onto the beach. They left the same way. We went into the water for 15 to 20 minutes and then David went back to our chairs to enjoy the beach. I stayed in the water for 15 more minutes before joining David. So nice to sit in the chairs and enjoy the warm air but out of the sun with the all the people around us having a great time. Back on the ship for a late lunch so that meant a late dinner as well. Great day.
June 18 We anchored at George Town, Grand Caymen at 10:00m We took a large water taxi to the pier and then walked a few blocks to their store and dock to get on the boat. We were surprised to go out in the bay to find the reef not too far from our ship. The reef ran between our ship and another ship and the town. We got into the clearest most beautiful water I can ever remember seeing. The coral and the fish were nice and the snorkeling was fantastic. We loved it! after an hour we got on the boat and went back toward the dock to snorkel over a ship wreck. That was also very interesting and some fish and even some coral were there. The ship had come into the Harbor in the early 1900s as it was leaking. It had been a sailboat and had 2 big engines installed on it. The crew went into shore to the bars and left the pumps running. The cargo was rice, and it got wet and the ship sank in the night. Later the British army blew it up as it was a navigation hazard so it makes for interesting snorkeling. glass bottom “submarines” bring tourists to see it as well as snorkel boats. The second boat came close to some of our snorkelers as they weren’t paying attention and that captain didn’t seem to care. Our boat captain said you don’t need a captain’s license in the Grand Caymens. Sounds scary
We finished snorkeling, went back to the dock and walked back to the pier to catch a water taxi back to the ship to leave at 3:30pm. Not much time in port. Too bad as they have several world famous beaches on the island that would have been great to see.
Sea Day on June 19 We spent the afternoon swimming and then packing most of our stuff while leaving space for our wet swim and snorkel things from the next day. David has a real talent for packing. We did see the end of the World Cup in Seattle Us vs Australia. The ship had been telling when all the world cups matches were held and as we passed bars and meeting rooms you could hear the cheers. Many were very excited about all of it. I meant to go to the theatre to watch the US match but ended up only watching the end on our stateroom tv. Dress Up night again as it is a sea day and a nice show in the theatre.
May 20 1 to 6 in Nassau, Bahamas We left the ship when it bock to walk down the pier to get on a catsmaran. We went about half an hour to a nice reef. It was in a direction we has not been to before.. Not bad snorkeling. We noticed in our 21 years together that the reefs and fish have decreased. So sad but we are thankful for what we do see. We are disappointed that people don’t get together to ban sunscreen that is not reef safe. It isn’t easy to buy that kind and people just don’t seem to know it exists and why we should buy that kind or just wear sun shirts and hats.
This boat didn’t provide fins, only masks and snorkel. They also had less people on the boat so they were not always there to help you in and out. So I decided not to wear my fins as I thought I might need some help in and out. I was fine without them and David wore his. Someone needed help in the water and someone jumped in to help them so they did all the basic safety and that is what matters.
Happy to have 3 snorkel adventures that week but the ship dropped us back at the pier with the shops and then we had to walk 1/2 to 1 mile back past all the shops in our wet bathing suits carrying the snorkel things and wet towels. This happed in several other ports on different trips so it is common but irritating.
June 20 We docked in Miami again, took a bus to the airport and then flew first to Atlanta and then to Seattle. Before we left, they told us our direct flight was cancelled so we had to settle for this one. That is part of traveling.
We arrived late at night but we were there for Cole’s 2nd birthday on June 21. We baked a cake, shopped for presents and bought some fresh food and then drove up to Kirkland for dinner. So good to see them after 5 weeks.
