HISPANIOLA, JAMAICA & MEXICO
MARCH 18 SUNDAY TO MARCH 25 SUNDAY, 2001
We booked this cruise for three reasons. The price was right, Annette had friends (Ingebritsons) who were interested in going and the ship was the largest cruise vessel in the world at the time. Voyager of the Seas accommodates 3,100 guests. It has twice the weight of the Queen Elizabeth II and is more than 3 football field long. The main theatre is five decks high. It has an ice-skating rink and a million dollar aquarium.
The Wulffs have been extremely pleased with the Royal Caribbean line and prefer it to Norwegian, Cunard or Carnival. Oddly enough, we have found the larger Royal Caribbean ships to be less congested and void of long lines. Public areas offer much desirable seating and we have experienced no waiting for deck chairs.
The $1623 price included 7 night cruise and air fare from Minneapolis. If we reserved right away, we received cabin upgrades from category Q (deck 6) to category O (deck 8). Third person charge, if desired, $299 in same room. The price would be greatly different if it were not a from Minnesota air fare.
The narration follows the videotape that Fred took of the trip.
March 18, Sunday -- Miami
We flew United Air from Minneapolis to Chicago and then to Miami, A shuttle bus transported us to the cruise terminal via downtown Miami. We settled into our rooms and unloaded the luggage. Annette looks settled in (right)
Of course, we had the standard required life preserver drill and gathered at our muster station.
The 3-story dining room was treated to live music from a special balcony.
This is where we ate every evening at an assigned table with John, Marlene and two Indian tourists from the East Coast. He was a computer technician.
That evening we attended the Welcome Aboard Show in the La Scala Theatre. The entertainment featured David Morgan & Chucky the Duck (right).
After the show we walked down to the Promenade where entertainment was presented at the Pig & Whistle.
March 19, Monday -- at Sea
Today we could relax and enjoy the view of the Gulf. Off in the distance was the coastline of Cuba. The physically fit Ingebritsons made regular walks around the ship. Annette did her mile on the Fitness Center treadmill.
Both Annette and Fred soaked in a Jacuzzi at the “Roman Bath.” Afterwards Fred hammed it up by showing off his physique. Marlene and John too, made good use of the Fitness Center.
We visited the Navigation Center of the Voyager and looked at charts that recorded our bearings.
Captain Tor Isak Olsen had a welcome reception for the passengers. Waiters served champagne and snack while music entertained us.
Tonight we had a formal dinner in the Carmen Dinning Room. Live music added to the atmosphere. Everyone dressed up and photographers made the rounds.
Show Time had a Rhythm & Rhyme Production starring the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers. (video recording of show prohibited) La Scala Theater
March 20, Tuesday -- Labadee, Haiti
The area was discovered by Columbus in 1492 and rediscovered by Royal Caribbean almost five centuries later. It now serves as an exclusive resort for the cruise line.
The ship anchored in the harbor and passengers had to board tenders to take them ashore (right).
Singers and dancers greeted as the dock area.
Labadee’s main beach: “Nellie’s Beach”
These are ruins of what used to be a pirate trading post back in the 16-1700's. Nellie’s Place was also used as a bordello and a tavern.
Land mark Bell Tower. When the ships arrived the bell was rung in the Old bell Tower to let the local farmers know when to bring their produce down to the quay.
Native artists and crafts shops were willing to negotiate prices so we bought some oil paintings and leather goods The official language of Haiti is French, but we were visiting an area where English is spoken to tourists.
We took a break for a buffet provided by Royal Caribbean in a tent like building that provided both air and shade.
Annette and I signed up for a Coastal Excursion (optional tour) on the vessel Fire Dancer. We headed for the Bay of Acul, which Columbus visited on his first voyage to the New World. The place is naturally shielded from storms and was chosen by Christopher Columbus himself as a shelter when he went on his first voyage.
There was a lot of ship board entertainment. A pirate show was a little Disneylandish. The voodoo dancers who were Haitians claimed to be performing authentic dances. I got into the act (I’m the one in the green patterned shirt).
Bartenders served complimentary drinks of rum punch. The activities were aimed at tourists out for fun, but there was also some good entertainment.
Back on the ship they had Second Cocktails with the Captain for those passengers who had sailed with Royal Caribbean before.
We took in an ice show called” Ice Jammin.'’
The Ice Cast featured the Ice Acrobatics of David Cousans.
Celebrity Show Time starring singer Gary Puckett brought back memories.
As we returned to our room we were greeted by towels arranged as an animal by our room attendant
March 21, Wednesday
Today we docked at Ocho Rios, Jamaica (Contrary to popular belief, Ocho Rios name does not refer to “eight rivers,”the literal Spanish interpretation. Instead it is derived from the Spanish word chorreras, or “waterfalls.”) Jamaica’s most important trading partner is the United States. Tourism is of considerable importance to the Jamaican economy. Three quarters of the population are black, the next largest population group being the mulattos (13%). Unemployment is very high and there is much poverty. The large bauxite loading installations near Ocho Rios is owned by the Reynolds Company.
Our first activity here was a Tour of Prospect Plantation on a tractor-drawn rig. We were met by an animated musician greeter.
We loaded into a tractor pulled rig that offered a wide open view of the countryside.
Our guide (age 21), was one of the cadets from the Prospect Estates Training Center. Here our guide is talking about fruit grown in Jamaica
He took us to a sugar cane field for the production of rum. Here we looked over an old sugar cane press.
We stopped briefly for a lookout point over White River gorge
At a coconut grove, our guide climbed up a tree. He made it look easy.
We were shown various flowers in bloom.
The tour concluded at a shopping center where we were treated to free samples of Jablum Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee.
The next adventure in store for us was to be found at Dunn’s River Falls, a 600 foot waterfall.
Annette and Fred took in the sights.
Tourist ventured out on the rocks amid cascading water to pose for pictures.
Guides helped climbers in single file up the falls.
It’s all on the video tape.
Back on the ship for a late lunch we ate at the Windjammer with a nice view of the harbor in the background. We always managed to fill a large plate here with appetizing food.
A walk around the upper decks gave us a chance to see the climbing wall with participants, and the family swimming pool. Note: John Ingebritson climbed to the top of the wall. Annette (lower right) watched the feat.
The ship even had a chapel for those who wished to get married at sea.
Dinner at the Carmen was enhanced by entertainment from the waiters, including our Ronnie.
Fred slipped back to his cabin for film and found another towel animal waiting for him on the bed.
Ice Jammin'’ Ice Production with Ice Cast and featuring Ice Acrobatics of David Cousans. Our second viewing of this show. This time from front row seats.
Mardi Gras Parade, Royal Promenade, replete with a band and festive costumed performers. We recognized many of those in the parade as Royal Caribbean dancers and singers, as well as ice skating specialists.
We slept well that night!
March 22, Thursday -- at Sea
Today was a day for relaxing or working out in the exercise room. One could get a beautiful ocean view through the wrap-around windows. John and Marlene took their regular laps around the ship on the Promenade Deck.
We also made good use of the Jacuzzi .
At dinner were were pleasantly surprised with wine from Sara of New Ulm Travel. Ronnie poured the first bottle for our evening meal. I usually book cruises direct, but if I can go through New Ulm Travel at no extra cost, I give them the business.
Dreamscape Production, La Scala Theatre that night.
March 23, Friday
The Voyager arrived at Cozumel, Mexico around 7 am. On the map it is located in the upper right near Cancun.
The word Cozumel is from the Mayan cuzam huzil, “Land of the swallows”. For more than 4,000 years, Cozumel was the exclusive domain of the Mayan Indians. Surprisingly, neither the Spanish explorers nor any other Europeans made an effort to colonize the island. When the first Europeans arrived in the 1500s they brought with them the small-pox virus; the disease eventually wiped out the island’s native population. In the mid 1800s Mayan refugees fleeing persecution by the Spaniards in other parts of Mexico, started to repopulate the island
Annette and I decided to take the Cozumel Island Tour. We started with the Mayan Ruins of San Gervasio from Post Classical Period (1200-1650 AD). On the map the ruins are located on the line leading off to the upper left.
Our Mayan guide was quite knowledgeable about the history of the ruins. At the time these ruins were discovered by the Spanish, they had already been abandoned.
With a little imagination we could transport ourselves to a bygone era, the world of the ancient Mayas.
And to walk up these ceremonial steps...
Or to step under this arch with a temple to the fertility goddess Ixchel. Many women from the mainland Mayan settlements made the pilgrimage here to Ixchel´s shrine at some point in their lifetime.
This Iguana was only one of many that roamed through the ruins with us. They were used to humans and made no effort to hide.
Fred found much to video here.
Our van transported us over to the windward side of island (map above) and we turned right to a virtually uninhabited stretch of waterfront…
We worked our way around the end of the island to reach Playa Sol beach on the east side. Here we could lounge in the sun or shade ...
and watch the various water sports activities.
John and Marlene opted for a mainland tour of the Mayan Tulum Ruins. We would have joined them to see those famous ruins, but Fred had already spent considerable time there in 1994.
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The evening dinner included singing by the chefs and waiters assembled along the Carmen staircase.
The table service for the evening was especially good.
Headliner Show Time stared Singing Impressions of Martin Dube in the La Scala Theater. He was better than great Imagine all of your favorite artists performing in the same evening! Impressionist entertainer Martin Dube does just that. With hundreds of voices and characters from Elton John to Celine Dion to Pavarotti, Martin combines his five-octave voice and magical charm to deliver the ideal class-act show.
When we returned to our room for the evening, there was our towel animal waiting for us. Fred thought he had hung himself. But, Annette said we have to increase our allotted tip for the room attendant.
March 24, Saturday -- at Sea
More relaxing and exploring the ship We spent some time at the Atrium. This atrium area runs fore and aft through the middle of the ship, and it is four decks high and over 100 yards long. This space has been designed to look like a village street, complete with shops, pubs, cafes, and even a cobblestone" street.
This evening we had a Feast of Nations Diner. The waiters sang “Hey, Look Me Over” with enthusiasm. The Ingebritsons shared their New Ulm Travel gift wine with our table. Anald Desai added another bottle of red wine to touch off the final meal. Our friends from India (via New York) were not only great table guests, but wonderful people to share so many other activities with during the cruise.
We will miss them.
The Farewell Variety Show stared the Royal Caribbean Singers & Dancers featuring Duo “Claudio” and introducing Comedienne Janine Gardner
Janine Gardner had entertained US troops overseas with Bob Hope’s Comedy USO. She’s graced the main stages of Las Vegas’ prestigious MGM Grand, Bally’s, and The Riviera Resort Hotels, has appeared numerous times on SHOWTIME, A&E, and HBO’s Comedy Central, and was featured on Disney’s World Wide Millennium Celebration live via satellite on NBC.
Another advantage of taking cruises with the mega size ships is that the large number of customers means big time talent. After the show we tagged our luggage and placed it outside our cabin door. RCC had given us color-coded tags to assist departure traffic.
March 25, Sunday
Breakfast was usual -- quite comprehensive. We met in the library and played cards until our amarillo color was called.
United Air: Miami/Chicago/Minneapolis
Returned home in New Ulm around 10 p.m.
The End
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