What I loved about the cruise. . .

 I loved the elegance of the ship with its beautiful art like the mural in the dining room above and the stage curtain below.

 

 I love this new port in Jamaica---Falmouth.  It was warm, sunny and I definitely feel more safe here than in other parts of Jamaica (Click here for our last trip here)

 I loved sitting in the sun and watching things like the life boat drills or the thrill of going up and down the Mississippi (Click here).  It was such a nice sized ship with so much going on right outside our door---concerts, aerial acts, cooking demonstrations and dance classes

 I loved our over-sized handicapped accessible room and balcony

But what made this a very special trip were the people we met and shared meals with.  Mike (originally from CT) and Fay (originally from MO) felt like family by the end of the trip (or maybe it was that CT and MO combo!)

 Then our breakfasts and lunches were often with two other wonderful couples.  Marilee and Bill from Iowa who had been English as Second Language teachers and Pat and Allen from England.  We genuinely had a great time with all of our new acquaintances.  Each of us had one spouse in a wheel chair.  Dave said he felt like a real slacker when we heard of the travels and adventures they had been on.

Unexpected Cruise Events

Grand Cayman

 Although we have sailed in January before, this cruise was exceptionally cool, windy and overcast (not as bad as the trans-Atlantic, but unexpected for the Caribbean).  We had planned on staying aboard the ship anyway, because Grand Cayman is a tendering port.  Then, we got word that we hand to tender on the other side of the island due to high winds.  The port had nothing but cabs there---many turned around and came back to the ship.  Cozumel was also overcast (see below)

Cozumel

 

The days at sea were also rough and cool---the photo on the right is me walking with my leather jacket and capris.

 This was also my first cruise with no chocolate on my pillow each night.  Other cost-cutting was in their print material---everything was black and white (compared to Disney glossy paper and color for the same port).

 In the past, we got hats or lanyards and certificates for services---no hats and a print out (not certificates) for free or reduced costs.  One RCL cruise, we even got a free dinner at a specialty restaurant.  But, not this time.  I even had to ask for conditioner because there was only  shampoo in a pump bottle in the shower.

 The biggest unexpected event was still to come---we docked in New Orleans after an ice storm.  The roads had just opened that morning.  But even with all of this, the trip was better than being at home--BRR!

Aerial Acts in Serenade Centrum

Since our room was so close to the Centrum, we often saw things like rehearsals that other might have missed.  This looked so cool, I made a point of being there when they actually performed with lights and costumes.

I know I have at least one grandchild who will thing this is really neat.  I heard so many say, "Oh, I could never do that."  Funny thing, none were me---I used to LOVE swinging from trapezes and rings when I was a child.  I still get a little giddy thinking of swinging upside down with my braids hanging down.