Over60 travel diary: Cruising the West Caribbean
Rosie Hersch, 68, is a retired pharmacist, whose hobbies include studying, cooking and theatre. Her biggest passion is travel and like the song says, “I've been everywhere man (well almost).”
We arrived at 9.30 pm, Fort Lauderdale time on March 10. It was a balmy Florida night. After a smooth check-in at our resort hotel on the beach it was straight to bed. We woke next morning surprisingly energetic. The very first thing we did was to knock on the hotel room door of our London friends who had also arrived the previous night. We spent March 11 and 12 together catching up, laughing over the good times, sharing stories about our kids and grandchildren back home, sunbaking, shopping and dining at two great restaurants, PF Chang, the first night and Coconut on the second night.
March is spring break for the college kids that go to universities in the Southern American states. You can believe everything you see on those American college movies. They had invaded our hotel and during those two days they would gather on the beach in front of their fraternity flags. The girls in their flimsy bikinis much to the eyeful pleasure of my Peter and London Peter, and the guys hauling their alcoholic drinks. When night fell they became extremely noisy party animals. They would be still celebrating at 4 am.
But we were all so excited about what was to come that we did not mind the noisy continual racket of these kids.
The cruise
March 13, our anticipated embarkation on the Celebrity Equinox had arrived. So the four of us booked a maxi taxi and headed for our ship which was to take us to the West Caribbean. Our London friends had New Hampshire friends whom we had not yet met who were joining us on this cruise. I was greatly anticipating meeting them. We did not know it as we approached our beautiful ship but we were about to have a wonderful time, the six of us, over the next 11 days.
The boarding went smoothly and quickly. Ah, that glass of champagne that is offered as you step from the gangway into the foyer of deck 5. Three beautiful days at sea followed. There is no better feeling than sitting on your stateroom balcony, looking out at an ocean that stretches as far as the eye can see, listening to the swish and roar of the waves beating against the sides of the ship that glides gently along and feeling that cool Caribbean breeze gently fanning your face and blowing your hair so soothingly.
So many activities, so much to do on a sea day if that’s your bag. If that is not your thing, lying on a pool lounge, soaking up the warmth of the tropical sun, the pool waiter handing you that delicious Daiquiri, ear phones plugged in to your favourite I tunes is such a pleasurable experience.
Day 4 and we were in Costa Rica. We visited the Veragua rainforest exploring the flora and fauna on a tram top ride above the trees, walked a trail though the under growth then took a riverboat ride on the Tortuguero canal past mangroves, palms, plantains, watching for the numerous species of birds, sloths, alligators and cayman.
Day 5 came and we were in Colon, east of Panama. We were driven to the Gatun locks to witness two ships pass through the locks. It is an incredible sight to see two enormous ships steadily transiting the canal with only about 18 inches clearance on both sides of the ship’s hull. Next stop, the man-made Gatun lake where the ships await passage through the Panama Canal either to the Pacific from the Atlantic or vice versa. Again, we witnessed nature’s beauty and saw more wildlife. We then alighted from a pier on the lake to visit a village of the Emberá Indian tribe. Through an interpreter, the chief, speaking in the Emberá language, told us that this entire area is a world heritage protected reserve and the tribes that live around this huge lake are not allowed to hunt any form of wildlife. Fishing is however permitted but watch out for the crocodiles that live in these waters!
Day 6 and 7 and we are in a very hot Cartajena, Colombia. The old town has such beautiful Spanish and Moorish style architecture. A most enticing walk lead us to the house where Sir Francis Drake lived for a month to rest between his adventures on the high seas, plundering the Spanish forts and fleets for their gold and other valuables in the service of his Queen Elizabeth the first. After some shopping, we returned to the ship. This was an overnight stay in this port. The next morning many left the ship to further explore or to take an excursion. I stayed on board to relax and just chill out. There is so much history in this place but the heat was too brutal for me to venture out again
Day 8 and another beautiful sea day was spent attending lectures about the Caribbean, enjoying the culinary delights on board and browsing the many sales in the onboard shops. Around 4pm the heavens darkened, the wind came up and it was time to leave the poolside deck chair and retire to our cabin, to sit on the balcony and watch the dark clouds transform into rain. We were heading for Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island, and I was thinking what a shame I don’t have a small fortune to deposit in an offshore tax free account in one of the many banks on Grand Cayman. Then it occurred to me that I was still so lucky that I could afford to travel to this far-off destination.
Day 9 and we had arrived in Cozumel, Mexico. We headed by ferry to the mainland of the Yucatan Peninsula and then bussed to a Mayan ruin site. For those of you who have visited Pompeii, Herculaneum, Ephesus in Kusadesi or the Pyramids this is a tour, the travelling time of which took a total of 4 hours, was not as good as anticipated. If you have not seen ruins of the past then this excursion will most likely intrigue you.
Day 10 and our last day spent at sea again, heading back to Fort Lauderdale and for most disembarkation on Day 11. But, not for me. Peter and I were staying on board to do a second cruise, this time to the East Caribbean. All through that last day people were grumbling about having to pack and go home. Wherever I was I must admit I was very cheekily gloating to other passengers that I did not have to pack because I was staying on board. I probably depressed at least 100 people that day. It was pretty naughty of me. However, I was both sad and excited. I was sad because our London friends and our New Hampshire friends were leaving but happy because my sister and brother-in-law were embarking for this second, my big birthday cruise. The last and only time that I had ever holidayed with my sister was 54 years ago when I was only 16.
Keep an eye out for part 2 of Rosie Hersch’s cruise story.
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