This time we didn’t take the boat to America, and we didn’t actually want to set off again for another two years. But there were things that captivated us: New York City, of which we had by no means seen everything, exploring the Everglades next to Florida and, to stay on topic, going on a Caribbean cruise, which I will mainly report on. The Americans‘ favorite cruise line is the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL). We had had good experiences with them and so we booked the cruise in an anti-clockwise direction, first to Cozumel on the Yucatan, then the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti and finally back to Miami. RCCL had also just put the largest cruise ship in the world into service, the Freedom of the Seas. It could accommodate 4,400 passengers, but thank goodness only half of them were on board on our cruise, the captain told me during a chance encounter.
To New York City, 10/13/2006
If we’re going to America, then with the appropriate date. So you get straight to the point. We had a flight with Swiss Air from Zurich to Frankfurt with Lufthansa. Pleasant flight, nice to see Cape Cod and the Long Island Sound on the approach to JFK Airport. Now you want to get to your hotel in Manhattan. You can take a cab, stand in a traffic jam and get ripped off by the driver. Experienced travelers take the Air Train JFK to Jamaica Station ($15) and then the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to Pennsylvania Station ($12). It was only a 10-minute walk to the hotel, always in the direction of the Empire State Building. The hotel is a typical old box, but tall.
In the early evening, we took the subway to the Brooklyn Bridge and walked halfway across the bridge to Brooklyn. Nice to see the southern tip of Manhattan and, once we turned around, the Manhattan Bridge further down the East River to the Williamsburg Bigde. We found a nice steakhouse on the Manhattan side. When I wanted to pay without using the local expression “The Check, please”, the waiter asked me: “Do you want to pay or do you want to wash the dishes?” That’s when we knew we had arrived in New York.
New York City, 10/14/2006
Today we have decided to circle Manhattan. The best way to do this is on the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises on 42nd Street near Times Square. And afterwards we wanted to eat at the legendary Oyster Bar in Central Station. But first the Manhattan tour. We had to head towards Times Square and then a little to the left towards the Hudson River. On the way there, we were able to admire various bonze sculptures reminiscent of the Garment District, the former fashion district. For example, the bronze seamstress at the sewing machine. Today, the many clothing stores bear witness to this.
The boat tour that we had booked was the 3-hour Full Island Cruise, which traditionally takes you around Manhattan. So down the Hudson into the Inner Harbor with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, a minute’s silence as we passed Ground Zero, up the East River with its many bridges, then the Yankee Stadium on the right. Then it became rural along the Manhattan River, which in turn flows into the Hudson. Past the imported medieval monasteries (The Cloisters), a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Back to the pier. It was a very nice and interesting tour, we learned a lot.
After so much sightseeing, we needed something to eat. As planned, we made a pilgrimage to Cental Station, to the famous Oyster Bar. Great place and noisy due to the vaulted ceiling, more like a big restaurant with lots of bars. And full, amazing for the prices. To start with, we didn’t order oysters, but Manhattan Clam Chowder (clam chowder with tomato) and another fish dish, with Beers on Daught as a drink. We decided against the alternative of choosing the live lobster from the basin, fresh from Maine. If only because of the market price of € 25 for just under a pound. Well, even for a smaller animal of 1.5 kg, it adds up.
Somehow we ended up hanging around the hotel and went out again in the evening. There was a pub with craft beer and burgers just around the corner from the Empire State Building. So we went in. We couldn’t stay long because our plane leaves for Miami tomorrow morning.
To Miami, 10/15/2006
The flight with American Airlines to Miami International Airport took a good three hours. We checked out at the crack of dawn, walked to the Pen Station, took the Long Island Train at the bottom of the station, boarded the Air Train and then the plane.
When we arrived in Miami, we had to get to the ship. The shipping company offers a bus transfer for this, which is overpriced. Don’t copy this, a cab costs half the price and you don’t have to wait until everyone is assembled. But that’s not all. A large crowd had gathered in front of the ship, but it was not yet ready for the new passengers. After an hour of patient waiting, several doors opened. Finally we got to our cabin, a special inside cabin facing the promenade. This is a 135-meter-long promenade in the middle of the ship.
Dinner in the large dining room. We were assigned a table of 6 where an American couple was already seated. From Richmond, Virginia. Nice people, not pushy, probably something better. I think they were lawyers. We went to the welcome show and then to bed. There was still some activity on the promenade when we drew the curtains. The ship had already sailed and was on its way to Mexico.
Course Cozumel, Mexico, 10/16/06
We were at sea all day. So that the passengers don’t get bored, the shipping company publishes a daily newspaper, the Cruise Compass. It contains all the day’s entertainment. What is happening when and how to dress for the evening. Apart from the usual, we had decided on the ice dancing show, the gala dinner and the captain’s reception.
In the cabin, the steward had given us a few postcards with the remark: “Now you can send your experiences home to your family and friends. This prompted us to write to our children, here on the card with the Freedon of the Seas in its original size.
Dear children,
We are writing to you from the Caribbean, on our way to the Yucatan Peninsula. We did a lot today. First we went to see Holyday on Ice, then we had a delicious gala dinner, mom and I dressed up, and finally we shook hands with the captain. There was another father and son from Germany at our table. They were the conservative type. As soon as the lady came to the table, they stood up in the old-fashioned way. And when the father heard that I was a qualified engineer, with a doctorate to boot, he, himself a graduate engineer, seemed to like it at the table. So now let’s see what Mexico has to offer tomorrow.
Best regards – your parents
Yucatan, Mexico, 10/17/2006
We had booked an excursion to the Mayan site of Tulum. And this is how it went: We boarded a catamaran from the ship, which took us as a shuttle to a seaside resort on the coast of the Yucatan. There we changed to a bus, which took us to the site in just under 2 hours.
In between, the guide entertained us with Mayan history. Where they came from thousands of years ago (from Mongolia across the land bridge to North America and on to Central America). He knew it well, because he was a Mayan himself. Finally we were in Tulum.
Tulum is located directly on a steep coast and you have a sweeping view over the Caribbean Sea. The guide explained the individual buildings and their purpose. From the astronomical alignment to the spiritual human sacrifices. Afterwards, we had a lasting impression of the Mayas. Some of the excursionists walked down the stairs to the stand, they obviously knew about the beautiful bathing area here. We had our photo taken together in front of the ruins. This way we could prove that we weren’t just culture vultures and had been to the Yucatan Peninsula before.
Back we went, all a little sleepy, by bus to Cozumel, where the ship Puerta Maya Cruise Pier had docked. A berth had now become available. Now we understood why the ship couldn’t dock there. The bus dropped us off about a kilometer from the ship so that the excursionists had the opportunity to stock up on souvenirs. We bought a silver pendant for our daughter Solveig’s charm bracelet, a tiny sombrero.
Georg Town, Grand Cayman Islands, 10/18/2006
The Grand Caymans were announced to us as follows: The Grand Caymans are a group of tropical islands that Christopher Columbus called “Las Tortulas” (the turtles) because they populated the waters around the islands in large numbers. But the name did not last long. The name “Caimanas” (Caribbean crocodiles) appeared on the nautical charts. This must have been a mix-up, surely the iguanas native to the area were meant.
And another announcement: Tender boats run regularly from deck 1 to the mainland every 15 to 25 minutes. Please listen out for the announcement when the first tender boat departs. For guests who have booked an excursion, the meeting point is at the Georg Town jetty. The tender boat leaves here 45 minutes beforehand.
After so many announcements, we were right on time at the pier, where a van picked us up. Driver and guide in one. The first stop was at a bizarre black sandstone formation of volcanic origin, which was so sharp that a sign said: Please do not go into the rock formation. The iguanas in question did not comply. Britsh Commissoner gave this area its name, he said: My God, this must be what the Hell look like.
At the second stop, the driver took us to a turtle farm. There you could look at the small and large animals and even hold them in your arms. Was Columbus right after all?
Finally, the driver and guide took us to a so-called semi-submersible, a boat in which you can observe the marine world through a glass floor and large side windows. A diver fed the exotic fish and the coral reefs were also beautiful to look at. What would a trip to the Caribbean be without this underwater spectacle? Even without snorkeling in swimming trunks.
Very satisfied, we took the tender boat back to the ship. Well rested, we went to dinner and then visited FreedonIce.com (the ice dancing show) again. That was cruising at its best today!
Montego Bay, Jamaika, 10/19/2006
Montego Bay has great bars and restaurants, well-known shopping centers and an incredible number of leisure activities. And thanks to the hospitality of the Jamaicans, you will always have a good time. The island’s beaches are great for swimming etc. We didn’t listen to the shipping company’s advertising, because we had something else in mind: a rum tour to the famous Appleton distillery in the interior.
We were a small group and drove through the area for quite a long time. A young woman told us a lot about Jamaica’s achievements, which we didn’t really want to acknowledge as we drove past. Broken roads, poor huts in the banana plantations. The Appleton Estate, the rum distillery, was a completely different story. Everything was spotless, with a restaurant and tasting bar, surrounded by sugar cane fields. There was a guided tour and explanations about the production and storage of the spirit. The cask strength of the rum is interesting, over 90% alcohol. After the tasting, we had a delicious lunch. We enjoyed this together with a Canadian couple from Calgary.
Once back, we dutifully showed our Sea Pass and were allowed back on the ship. There we were reminded that half of the cruise was over and that we had to hand in the departure form at reception by 6 p.m. We should also remember to leave our gratuities, which could be handed in at reception by midnight. This was followed by information about other activities that we could find in the daily schedule. We opted for the Once Upon a Time theater performance and then a gin and tonic in the Viking Crown Lounge. The ship is already on its way to Taiti.
Labadee, Haiti, 10/20/2006
Today we are in Labadee, Haiti, the private island of Royal Caribbian International. We have lots of activities prepared for you on the beach and also on board when you get back, have fun! That’s the message for the day.
Indeed, the ship has entered the bay, the tender boats are not needed, there are ferries from land. The shipping company has created a vacation paradise here, separated from the rest of the country by a high guarded wall and thus from the desolate conditions there, which no passenger would want to experience. We don’t spend much time bathing and sunbathing, but look for the interesting corners. In the process we read:
There are two historic buildings in Labadee, Nell’s Pleace and the Old Bell Tower. The Englishwoman Nell came here at the time of the Buccaneers and built a post office and a pub. “Pirates of the Caribbean” sends its regards. The old bell was used to announce that the farmers should bring their produce to be loaded. And then there is Dragon’s Breath. The sea beats against a hollowed-out rock formation and it sounds like the roar of a dragon.
We had a great day, taking the bus from one point to another, mostly to where there were cool drinks.
Course Miami, Florida, 10/21/2006
Today is the last day. Even though all good things come to an end, we want to tell you one thing: IT’S NOT OVER YET! Today is the day when you can do things you’ve been meaning to do all week and see things you haven’t seen yet. We simply want you to have an unforgettable day. Here are a few examples of the highlights of the day:
– Oktoberfest, celebrate the traditional Oktoberfest today. German sausage,
bread and pastries will be offered along with Sam Adams beer. 11:30 a.m. –
1:30 p.m. at the Bull & Bear Pub, Royal Promenade, Deck 5
– Evening entertainment, Now You See It with magician Drew Thomas and the
dancers and singers of Roya Carrribian, Arcadia 19:00 and 21:00 in the Arcadia
Theater, Deck 3 & 4
– Departure information in German, you are cordially invited to a meeting with
the International Ambassador Mohamed to discuss the departure formalities,
15:00 in the Galileo Restaurant, Deck 5
So much for the announcements in the Cruise Compass.
Of course we wanted to see what the Americans mean by Oktoberfest. It wasn’t authentic, but it was quite funny and everything was delicious. We also went to the magic show, the Americans know a thing or two about shows. In between, we visited the international ambassadors, but didn’t learn anything new.
We had another look at the ship. What did we like best? Definitely the Royal Promenade, which was so nice to stroll around. Upstairs, the O-Two Zone, the water paradise where the children could play so well and didn’t want to leave. And the ice show was really great.
This is the first part of the cruise, go on to Rental car tour Florida.
The highs and lows of cruising, sometimes described in literary terms 