Thursday Travels: The Voyager of the Seas

In 2011 we took a cruise that was a departure from the norm for us…a cruise minus our adult children. Our DD had married in the summer of 2010, and preferred to cruise sans parents for her honeymoon…I have no idea why…we are a lot of fun on a cruise! Our DS was starting a new job in law enforcement and chose to opt out as well. I admit this left me feeling a bit uneasy about cruising with just my DH. Now don’t judge…I love my husband dearly! However, 20 plus years of marriage had convinced me that we do not always see eye to eye on what constitutes a good time!

Luckily we did not have to contemplate this situation long! A couple we are friends with, E & D, came to our rescue and booked the same cruise. We had “Cruise Buddies,” yay!! It was made extra exciting as E had never cruised before…and I love sailing with newbies! We had almost as much fun planning our trip as actually taking it. It included a road trip, as we were sailing out of Galveston, and included a stop in Dallas to meet with a missionary family our church supports.

The trip to Galveston was a long day, but the stop in Dallas helped the drive seem shorter. I drove, of course…because I have control issues and hate it when other people drive as my life constantly flashes before my eyes. There…I have stated it publicly…don’t expect me to change…just move over and give me the wheel!

Our visit with our Albanian missionaries was wonderful, if short. They were in the USA for a few years while the husband attended Dallas Christian & obtained his masters degree. We visited and enjoyed an awesome home cooked Albanian meal. If you know what a foodie I am, you know I was in heaven!

Once in Galveston we checked into our hotel…and then made a bee line to a store on the beach that sold comfortable flip flops. E had made the mistake of choosing fashion over comfort for the 10 hour car ride. Her dogs were barking away! I just shook my head and wondered how she tolerates me as a friend. My idea of being fashion forward is when I wear jeans to the store instead of sweats! Then on to Joe’s Crab Shack…yes, I am sure there are better places to eat seafood in Galveston…but I am a Joe’s girl.

The next day a very friendly taxi driver took us to the port and we began embarkation. It was painless as always…except for the confiscation of D’s pocket knife, which he had checked to make sure he could bring. For our safety Royal Caribbean kept it tucked away until the last night of the cruise…when in their wisdom they felt the danger of D running amok and murdering us in our sleep had passed, and returned it to him.

Next Thursday Travels: Introducing the Voyager of the Seas

Bon Voyage! ~Marla

Thursday Travels: Grandeur of the Seas, Wrap Up

As I sign off on our Grandeur of the Seas cruise, there are two things I want to say. Firstly, cruising is something you should experience at least once in your life. You can find cruise deals for almost any budget, and a short cruise in particular can be very economical.

 Secondly, cruising with family and friends is really the most fun. My DH and I have cruised alone once, and our kids have all cruised alone as couples. The main thing we agree on is that it is just more fun with a group.

 The ships are massive and it is very easy to have alone time when it is desired. You can also split up for different excursions on port days.

 It is also nice to have more options for activities with others. For instance, my DH had no interest in swimming with the dolphins, but I was happy to have my DD and DSIL joining me in the experience. Shared experiences are always more enjoyable. So...get out there!


Bon Voyage ~Marla

Thursday Travels: Grandeur of the Seas, Cozumel

Every Western Caribbean cruise will have Cozumel as a port of call. The little island has made catering to cruisers its number one priority. I have yet to tire of this wonderful place, and this stop was one of the most memorable to date. This visit we spent the day at the very beautiful, and very large, beach club called Chankanaab. Our decision was based solely on one factor...three of us wanted to swim with a dolphin. 

Choosing to participate in a dolphin swim was a difficult decision for me. I am honestly uncomfortable with dolphins being kept in captivity for human enjoyment. When I was a teen my dream was to be a Marine Biologist. I owned a collection of Jacque Cousteau books and dreamed of working with marine animals. Veterinary medicine ran a close second.

My dreams were shattered by a particularly poor biology teacher in high school. I did not take another science class until I returned to college at the age of 25. Imagine my shock to find I still loved science and that it was very easy for me as well. By then I was married with children and nursing seemed a better fit. I will admit  that after 20 years of nursing, my heart still belongs to the animals. So, the dolphin swim was a purely selfish endeavor...and one I will never forget.

While DD, DSIL, and myself, frolicked in the water with DH watching, DS and DDIL found a comfy beach spot and began working on their tan. The beach is very nice at Chankanaab, and especially popular with snorkelers. What it does not have is the nice sloping sand beach entrance into the water. It makes up for this in size and beautiful grounds, but for me it is a one time visit kind of place.

There is a fee to enter the facility, unlike Mr. Sancho's, our go to beach in Cozumel. It does have a reproduction of Mayan ruins, a lagoon, and gardens that are lovely and very enjoyable to walk through. We saw some pretty impressive Iguana's up close and personal there.

I actually did not snorkel at Chankanaab. There are stairs to enter the water and they were ridiculously crowded. Once past the stairs a snorkeling class/group were flailing around in the water. I gave up and decided laying on the beach with food and drink was a preferable way to spend the rest of my day.

My daughter and I were talked out of some money for a picture with an Iguana and a Parrot...but the pictures were so worth it! And yes, the Iguana is perched on my head.

The dolphin swim was worth any residual guilt...though I will not do it again. Big tip...do not book the swim through your cruise line!! We saved almost half by booking it directly through Chankanaab. They even send you a voucher for your cab fare. And it includes your entrance into the park. It is also refundable if bad weather causes your swim to be cancelled. Save yourself some money and book direct.

All in all we enjoyed a relaxing day at the beach...even my DH, who stayed fully dressed right down to his shoes and socks! Enjoy the pictures...and...
       Bon Voyage ~Marla

Thursday Travels: Grandeur of the Seas, Costa Maya, Mexico part 2

As I mentioned in my last travel blog, our family split up in the port of Costa Maya. While four of us discovered the rich Mayan history around us...my DD and DSIL became beach bums for a day! While I wouldn't trade our Mayan experience for the world, I do think the next time I am in Costa Maya that beach experience will be calling my name.

Majahual (pronounced Ma-ha-wall) is a small coastal village about 2 miles south of the fancy new port of Costa Maya. There are some who complain that you have to travel to get to the beach...and the village is a fishing village and rather poor...but it is worth it!

My DD and DSIL spent the day at a beach club. I had done extensive research for them on the best choice and recommended Pez Quadro. I must have done well, because they returned happy and relaxed, with a glowing report of the establishment.

Now be warned, these are not the kind of beach clubs you will find somewhere like Cancun. This a small village, not a renowned resort area...at least not yet. None the less, they had a wonderful time. 

A package was purchased for $35 per person that included lounge chairs, an umbrella or palapa, nachos, and an open bar for the entire day. They certainly got their moneys worth, and DD managed to snag a massage on the beach as well.


Though I only stepped on to the beach for a few minutes that day, I can report the following per my kids...

• the beach was clean
• the sand was white

• the service was excellent
• the drinks were wonderful
• the food was good

• the area was not overcrowded
• the dancers/singers from the ship hung out there

• the water was clear
• there is a great view of the ships

• you can buy from local vendors
• you can buy great cigars

• the bathrooms/showers are clean and quite nice

• they have really cute menus

Really a great way to spend a relaxing day in port in a still fairly unspoiled area. Enjoy it before the big hotels move in!


Bon Voyage ~Marla

Thursday Travels: Grandeur of the Seas, Costa Maya, Mexico part 1

Costa Maya, Mexico. A port made specifically for cruise ships. Yep, look up the history of Costa Maya and you will find it is quite short, as in non existent. Built by savvy developers in 1995, its purpose is simply to bring in tourists. 

As a port it tends to bring mixed reviews. The shoppers are not impressed, though the pier does offer the "International" experience, Diamonds International, Tanzanite International, color changing clothing International...OK, you get the idea. But if you want to hang out in a fancy pool all day, it does have that! Seriously though, it is a great area...if you get away from the port.

We did just that, though we did divide up. DH and I, along with our DS and DDIL, decided to explore the nearby Mayan ruins. Meanwhile, DD and DSIL decided a lazy day at the beach was more their speed. We all had a wonderful day, but today I will focus on the Mayan experience.

Once again, after some intensive research, I decided to forgo the cruise ship tour and go with an independent local company. What ensued was one of the most memorable days of my cruising experience. I found a gem in this company, and we had an amazing experience that put the cruise ship version to shame. Our trip to the Chacchoben ruins was led by a man who actually grew up playing among the ruins. The Native Choice is run by Ivan Cohuo, who's father built next to the ruins in the 1940's. His knowledge is incredible! You will not find this on any cruise ship excursion.

Chaccoben was wonderful, and as Ivan was training to be a Mayan healer, his botanical knowledge was fascinating! We learned so much, and with a small group it was easy to ask questions.

Additionally we had the experience of eating a traditional meal with a Mayan family at their home in the nearby village. Again, a very unique experience that the ship didn't offer. 

They had the typical Mayan kitchen...a small open air hut separate from the main room...so if there is a fire their home will not burn down. No gas, propane or electricity to cook with, Just good old man made fire.

We learned to make corn tortillas and learned a lot of fascinating cultural facts. Mainly that a bride is valued mostly for her tortilla making skills! You see here our DDIL trying her hand at it. Behind her is Ivan.

The meal was delicious and most the ingredients are actually found in the garden surrounding the home. The Hibiscus tea was wonderful!

After lunch one of the woman put on traditional dance clothes and shared their dances with us. She began with a traditional woman's dance which included a beer bottle balanced on her head, then had others join in. My DS and DDIL had a blast!

We finished with a tour of their home, a single room hut. They are actually quite well to do, as they have a concrete foundation and electricity in their hut. They even had a 10" TV and a sewing machine. And yes, they do sleep in the hammocks, which are tied up out of the way during the day.

They were a wonderful, gracious family, and we enjoyed our time with them. Looking at this picture you can see why we decided that our DDIL must be of Mayan descent! My DS, at 5'10", was a GIANT!

Upcoming: DD and DSIL's beach experience in Majahual.


Bon voyage! ~Marla

Thursday Travels: Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas

Our cruise on the Grandeur remains especially memorable for two reasons; It was the shortest cruise we have taken, and also the most enjoyable. This is particularly amazing considering the food and service were probably the worst we have ever experienced on a cruise. 

That said, it is my experience that the worst day while on vacation still rivals a great day at work! Therefore, I generally can overlook quite a bit when it comes to the food quality and service. The food was not terrible...simply not as good as on other cruises. The service in the dining room, however was amazingly poor for a cruise ship. We gave our server the benefit of the doubt, and assumed he was new to his role as a main waiter vs. assistant.

The cruise was only five nights, instead of seven, and was much too short! We were having such a great time that it was almost painful to disembark after such a short time! We only went to two ports, and we had an absolutely great time at both. This cruise also had the distinction of being the first for DD's boyfriend, now husband...so I will refer to him as DSIL. And of course our DDIL came with us, so we had two young couples with us, which makes it even more special!

We spent evenings playing Hand & Foot and Apple's to Apple's. We were so hooked on Hand & Foot that we even played it during our layover times at the airports. I have never enjoyed airports as much as this trip. The family time was priceless and really added to the vacation.

We also returned to winter cruising, which I much prefer. There is nothing better to beat the post Christmas blues and the bitter Kansas cold, than a Caribbean cruise. Not to mention you avoid hurricane season that way as well.

The down side? In order to score $160 round trip air fare to Tampa, Florida, we drove two vehicles to the Kansas City Airport. What should have been a three hour drive was stretched somewhat when we encountered a snow storm just outside Topeka. Despite watching other cars and trucks careening off the Kansas Turnpike, we made it safely to the airport with plenty of time to spare.

Our flight was inexpensive because it was convoluted. We flew from Kansas City to Detroit, changed planes, and on to Florida. Luckily the weather in Detroit was better than in Kansas City, and the flights were uneventful. Upon arrival in Florida it was in the upper 40's and we enjoyed hearing the locals complain about the bitter cold...this after we left single digit temps in Kansas! After a quick bite at IHOP, it was off to bed for a few hours at the hotel. 

The Royal Caribbean pier in Tampa was the nicest I have seen, and boarding was very painless after a short wait in the lounge area. The Grandeur is a sister ship to the Rhapsody, both are Vision class, thus the layout was the same, which made navigating the ship very easy. And so began our cruise traveling to the ports of Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.


Next: Costa Maya, Mexico


Bon Voyage! ~Marla