Coco Cay, Bahamas, Oct 15th

Hurray! We appear to be in front of the hurricane!

We arrived at Coco Cay under overcast skies. I immediately decided to stay in the stateroom...dry! Besides, as you see, there were critters on the island that were large and loose! Jack did venture out to the tender for a quick ride ashore. The better weather followed and it turned out to be a pretty nice day. This is a small private island, nestled in between many other little islands (owned by other cruise lines). Other than swimming, everything else had a charge...para sailing, seadoing, kyacking, glassbottom boating, and more. The food and non-alcoholic beverages were all brought from the ship and were free, but anything else had a fee.

Noro-virus has not escaped us! We have heard that 60 staterooms are quarantined because of the illness. They say that the virus lasts for 24 hours, however, no one recovers in less than three or four days... We were not quarantined because we have colds, not stomach ailments!

As we sat down to dinner tonight the Captain came on the PA to tell us that we would be making an unexpected stop in Freeport, Bahamas tonight because there was a crew member that needed to have an appendectomy! We watched out our window as the tug boat came up and slipped next to us for the transfer. Poor soul!

At Sea, Oct 16th

We were offered a "Suite" menu for Room Service breakfast this morning! We could not figure that out. When they delivered our wonderful breakfast, they asked about a cake. Jack had no clue and I was in the bathroom, so he said to send it to the dining room! We still had no idea. Today was a special Cruise Critic Luncheon and we were sitting with some very knowledgeable cruisers, so I asked and they said that it must have been on our Profile..our anniversary. We were under the "Don't ask, Don't tell" plan, so they didn't get it from us. When we returned to our stateroom after lunch all was figured out! THANK YOU - JIM STACEY ALLIE BRIAN

Beautiful Bathrobes with matching slippers, champagne, flowers.. What a surprise!

Tonight is a formal night and since all of my evening clothes are still hanging at home we are heading for the Buffet for a quick snack and then on to the Theatre for the Production Show.

Tomorrow is an at sea day and also a packing day, so this will be our last addition for this cruise! When we arrive in port we usually do the "Express Disembarkation", where we drag our bags off the ship ourselves in order to get ahead of the zoo! We had to change that this morning, as I am still having respiratory problems and would have a hard time pulling my bags and using my inhalers at the same time! So.. Irene and Joe, it will be a little later than we thought before we get to Ocean Pines... We will call you when we are on the road...not too early...

GO TEXAS RANGERS!

Love to all.....

At Sea Sunday, Oct 10th

Today Jack started complaining about a scratchy throat. We spent a quiet day and Jack went to another lecture on the Panama Canal. By evening, my ear started to throb and my throat was also scratchy. We decided that spending the day in Puntarenas, on and off the highly air conditioned bus was what had done us in!

Panama Canal Monday, Oct 11th

There were no tours planned for the Canal, but at the last minute the Captain decided to add some shore excursions. We had been through the Canal in March and so a tour would have been okay, but we just were not feeling well! Jack has a full fledged cough and I am now scared to death that I might go into bronchitis, like I usually do. Jack decided to slow down and stay close to the stateroom and I took to the bed or the chair by the window to rest and ward off evil bugs! The pictures are of Holland America's Statendam, also known as "Those Dam Ships". The Statendam was right in front of us in the opposite canal, as we entered. You can see that the Statendam had already been raised about 84 feet and then you can see her sail away from the locks toward the Gatun Lake Bridge. We spent the day cruising around the lake and then we finally went to a pier to pick up those who had gone on the tours. By now, I had a fever and was hovering in the bed, so Jack just got a bite and then came back for a quiet evening.

Cartagena, Columbia, Oct 12th

Determined to get rid of my ailment, I stayed in the room again today. Jack did get off the ship and walk down the pier. We had been in Cartagena in March, taken a private tour and shopped for emeralds, so we really didn't anything here. Tonight was Room Service dinner!

At sea, Oct 13th

Another day for me to rest and re-coop! The fever has gone and now I am just puny! Jack is better but still coughing! We spent the day watching the Miners in Chile on the TV. Jack brought dinner back for me then he ate quick in the Lido and went on to the Theatre for the night's entertainment, a female singer.

At sea, Oct 14th

After leaving Cartagena we were in some bumpy waters all night, but it settled down and since then the seas have been quite calm. This morning we showered and dressed and went for breakfast. I still have to go slow because as soon as I try to speed up, I start to cough! It is a VERY long walk to any food, as our room is just under the Bridge, and all food services are at the Aft.. good exercise, but not when you cough and hack every few feet!

Today was a special Wine Tasting for Cruise Critic people, but we didn't get to breakfast until after 10:00am and that event started at 11:00am. The Cruise Critic group also scheduled the Backstage Tour and the Bridge Tour (no camaras!). We went to the Captain's Brunch for Captain's Club members as we at the Select Level (one more Celebrity cruise to reach the Elite Level) You can only touch elbow to elbow, as there is no handshaking aboard ship, but we did elbow the Captain and some of his top Officers. There were some brunch foods, lots of free drinks and entertainment from the Show People.

About the entertainment! On leaving Cabo San Lucas there was a comedian, John Knight. We are always skeptical about these comedy shows, especially after having seen %u21CA Man and his Duck%u21D one time when we cruised with Jim, Stacey and Allie! This guy was really very, very good and we actually laughed%u226a lot! It is an easy audience, as there is no one under the age of 60 on the ship! On the following nights we were entertained by the singer, Chris Riggins, who was so-so, the impressionist Joey Van, who was really good and the Violinist, Martin Lass, who was quite entertaining.

At Sea (Oct 7th) between Mexico and Costa Rica

I am always grateful for at sea days, when I can sleep late and practice the art of resting! We did manage to walk the length of the ship to eat, though. Jack went to lecture on the Panama Canal and I read and sewed! We were invited to a special Backstage Tour, through our Cruise Critic organization. We met in the theatre and then were broken into smaller groups for a tour with a cast member. Our cast member was Ashley from Canada, who is a dancer. Ashley is very bubbly and fun and we enjoyed her quips and tales of %u21Cbehind the scenes%u21D drama! The entertainer tonight is a singer, Christopher Contillo, who was okay!

Puntarenas...day two

Today we raced down the pier to meet with our tour guide, Charlie Soto! We found him and then waited for others from the ship to come along. Our meeting time was 8am. We were off for a short tour of Puntarenas, although there is not much to see... it is very poor here and the people are not exactly neat-freaks! We spent the rest of the day eating fresh fruit at a plantation and feed the monkeys at La Roca Rainforest. We ate lunch at a very popluar locals eating spot on Jaco Beach, trying out the local foods. It was good; chicken, fish or beef with rice, beans, pasta, calamari, fish soup, salads, and more! Then back to driving through more rainforest to the Tarcoles River, where we took a small boat to see the crocodiles, birds and lizard population. The expert croc-man got out and tempted the crocs with chicken parts. It was really close and one croc actually came right up to where I was sitting! I had to quickly move one seat over, afraid that it would launch itself into my lap! It had lots of teeth! We did not get back to the port until 5:00pm and we were pooped! Again, no shuttle, so we hiked down the pier again. We raced through getting cleaned up so that we could go to dinner...Jack hates to miss a meal! I would have been thrilled with a sandwich from Room Service.... We left Puntarenas at midnight, but Jack and I hardly stirred, as we were so tired.

At sea

A day of rest at sea! Jack and I belong to an internet group called Cruise Critic, where information is exchanged for specific cruises and one can also get signed up for private shore excursions....meaning that you can pass on the ship tours and go in smaller groups! These groups also have Meet & Greet gatherings onboard and sometimes other exceptions become available to us. On this cruise, our Cruise Critic group has been invited to tour the galley and to also tour the bridge. These tours are not given to everyone, and we are asked to keep it "confidential"! Today was our day to visit the galley. We were invited to meet at the Champagne Bar, where we were given Mimosas or just plain Champagne, while everyone gathered. We were then divided into two groups and we were guided through the galley. Our guide was the Assistant Hotel Manager. The pictures are of just the salad, vegetable, soup and desserts side of the galley. The meat and seafood are all prepared on the opposite side of the ship. One of the many afternoon events was the ice carving. Jack just loves to get pictures of this each time we sail! Tonight's entertainment was a male singer who I thought was so-so!

Acapulco

We sailed into Acapulco Bay on a beautiful sunny morning. I was so surprised to see such a huge city! There are more than 5 million people living here. We had arranged a tour through Cruise Critic and we quickly got off the ship to meet with our group of 28 people. We all piled into 3 large air conditioned vans and set off for the day. Our guide was Rosie and she was wonderful! We toured the city and then headed to the hills for a beautiful overview. Next was on to the famous Cliff Divers, then some shopping time before heading to Las Flamingos Hotel, which was once the favorite Acapulco hangout for the Hollywood Stars. It was very hot and we were able to rest a while and have a drink and some snacks. All in all, I was very impressed with Rosie and also with Acapulco. It was really quite pretty, despite the size of the city. Tonight's entertainment was Joey Van, a musical impressionist and comedian. Jack and I really enjoyed this show; he was quite amusing!

Huatulco

After a pleasant night of gently swaying in slumber, we arrived in Huatulco Bay. It was VERY hot today and VERY humid. This is a very underdeveloped place that won't stay underdeveloped for long because it is really quite beautiful. It consists of nine wonderful coves along the coast, with very little but some private hotels and almost no tourism. We did not tour here, but just waited until the crowd died down and then went ashore and walked, for just a short time, through the few shops in the town square. The beaches looked beautiful and the water looked very inviting, but Jack and I are not that adventurous. After just a short time we were soaking wet so we returned to the ship for showers and dry clothes. This is definitely a place to go for a quiet, slow paced rest, though, as it is quiet and peaceful, plus very beautiful! Tonight's entertainment was a Violin Showman and Composer, Martin Lass. I was skeptical, but really did enjoy the show!