Home again, home again, jiggity jig

The Celebrity Millennium sailed back into Miami right on schedule.  After a leisurely breakfast in the Metropolitan Dining Room, we waited our turn to disembark the ship. 

Our shuttle pulled up moments after we exited the cruise terminal (getting through customs was a bother -- our line took twice as long as the other line, but since we had no deadline, or any other place to be, all was well).  Now it's get home, do laundry, and wait for the next cruise.  See you on board!

Third Post

November 17, 2011

Yesterday was a major lazy day.  I took three naps before four o’clock, and then took another one after supper.  Naptime rules!

We were docked yesterday in Roatan, Honduras, an island off the coast of Honduras.  It is a relatively new stop for cruise ships, at least on our side of the island, because there are only two stores, and one of them is the ubiquitous Diamond International.  None of the excursions looked good to us, so we stayed on board.

There is artwork displayed throughout the ship.  The following photograph is one of our favorites.

Our first night on this cruise, we had a late seating for supper – 8:30.  It was too late to be comfortable, so we asked for a change to the main seating – 6:00.  Much better for the old digestive systems.

At the late seating we were paired with a couple of professional cruisers, and they were boasting of the ships they’ve been on, the places they’ve seen, how many perks they get as repeat sailors.  We smiled and nodded our heads.

I know that folks pay good money to get on these ships, but some people are just plain rude.  One woman stormed up to the desk where seating arrangements were made, demanded to be moved to the front of the line, and when she was refused, she stomped away, declaring, “I deserve better than this!”  Note to self: file that incident away for the next time you are preaching about grace.  We should be thankful we do not get what we deserve, and we get what we do not deserve.

Our table mates are three couples who used to live in the same area in North Carolina, and now have scattered because of their jobs.  This is a reunion cruise for them, something I think they do quite often.  Very personable, very friendly.  And eat?  Those six people will put the food budget for the ship in serious jeopardy.  They are all slender and fit (and I hate them) but they eat more than I can.  They all regularly get two entrees, and usually an extra appetizer of salad, and always, two desserts.  One of the girls is about the size of Amy, and she packs the food away like a champion eater.

There is another entertainer on board, in the same class as yours truly.  She is an artist, teaching charcoal.  We went to her first class yesterday, and while I made passable shapes, Bonnie may have the talent for a new career.  We will be going to her second lesson this afternoon.

I did my “Tulum” talk yesterday to a crowd of about 50, and at the end they were full of questions.  I am pleased to report to you that I could answer them all.  Humble,  though I am.  Tomorrow as we spend our last day at sea I will do my “Famous and Not So Famous Pirates and Other Pirate Stuff” talk.  In my first pirate talk, I was sharing where pirates hailed from and I told them that Puerto Rico produced the greatest pirate of all time.  Roberto’s picture was greeted with enthusiasm.

I recounted in the last posting about Bonnie losing everything, and found it right to hand.  Well, as someone of my acquaintance would say, “You planted bad seed.”  Yesterday was my turn.  For reasons I do not recall, I was wondering where my car keys were.  I looked in the safe, in all the drawers, took the suitcases out and searched them, emptied my computer case, but no keys.  I asked Bonnie if she remembered where I had put my keys.  She said, “In the computer case.”  Well, I searched again, and guess where my keys were.  Yup!

I must report on my choices for breakfast, for one reader of this blog will be very interested.  Yesterday it was gloppies, and today it was pancakes.

We wanted to book a walking tour today in historic Cozumel, but there weren’t enough folks signed up, so we will just go shopping.  Refrigerator magnets, where art thou?

More later.  TTFN.

Second Post

November 14, 2011

What a strange day.

Before any passengers can board, the ship has to get a zero count.  So no one can stay on as a stowaway, I guess.  There were about a dozen of us who were getting back on, so they took us by ourselves to customs and immigration and we were finished in 30 minutes.

We spent the day reading and socializing.  We ate a late lunch because on this cruise, we have a late dinner seating.  Bonnie would rather not eat that late, so tomorrow I will see if we can get the first seating – 6:00 vs. 8:30.

My beloved wife was a pip today.  At lunch she lost her cane, and found it.  Walking back to our room, she announced she had lost her phone – and subsequently found it in her pocket.  Then she couldn’t find her audio book player.  “I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find it!”  It was in the bottom of her carry bag.  I’ve been afraid to let her out of my sight since then.

So, we sat up on Deck 10 for the sailway, sipped cokes and watched Miami glide by.

I talked to one of the crew at the Shore Excursions desk, and he thanked me for promoting their trip out to Tulum.  He feels like I picked up a few folks for them.  We’ll be back in Cozumel on Thursday, and the cruise director asked me to do the same talk again.  I’ll actually do 3 talks this time.  “The Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Cozumel: The Land of Swallows” (which features Tulum).  Don’t know yet what the third talk will be on the sea day coming home.

We came back to our stateroom to change clothes to go to the theater, and discovered a problem – the toilet won’t flush!  Neither does the one in the stateroom down the hall from us.  So maintenance has been called.  In the meantime, we venture out to mid-ships where there are functioning toilets.  Ain’t life grand.  Ah, the life of cruise talker.

November 15, 2011

I am happy to report to you that the toilet is fixed, and a crisis averted.  Let’s hear three cheers for the maintenance staff.  Hip, hip, hooray!  Keep it going.  Hip, hip, hooray!  You’re doing great.  Hip, hip, hooray!

We went to the late seating for supper last night, but decided that supper at 8:30 is too late.  So I asked for a change, and for the rest of the cruise, we will be at the early seating.  We breakfasted by ourselves, but had lunch with two other couples.  One from California, and the other from Aiken, SC.  How neat is that.

The cruise director, Rich, moved me into the Cinema this morning for my “Pirates of the Caribbean” talk.  A much more intimate venue than the sprawling theater.  There were about 50 folk in for the talk, and they were a good crowd, listening, laughing at my corny jokes, and asking questions.  I’ll do another talk tomorrow before we sail out of Roatan, Honduras.  Unlike most cities where ships stop, there is very little to do dock side, unless you take an organized tour, and Rich said, a lot of the people will be back on board early, so I’ll talk about the Mayan ruins.

This is formal night, so I am going to try to post this, and then get into my Tux.

TTFN!

November 10, 2011

Our cruise got off to an interesting start on Tuesday evening – with a trip to the Emergency Room.  Bonnie had carpel tunnel surgery last week, the medicos took the stitches out Tuesday afternoon, and Tuesday evening while I was packing, she looked down at her hand and said, “I’m bleeding!”

Being an Eagle Scout with a First Aid Merit Badge, I knew exactly what to do!  I put my head between my legs and did not faint.

I helped her wash her hand, and then, using band-aids, pulled the wound together and off to Doctor’s Hospital.  The ER doc said, “All is well, just pulled loose on top (well, due).”  He put steri-strips on and we returned to packing.

We drove to Miami yesterday, singing “Happy Birthday” to Jennifer on the way.  Happy 41st to our first born.  Does that make me old?

The Florida Turnpike is not user friendly.  Here are some of the signs: “There are no cash ticket booths in Miami. Use Sun Pass.”  “Penalty for not stopping – $100.”  Liars!  There are cash booths, so they stressed my co-pilot out for nothing!

Dinner at Denny’s was less than satisfactory.  No apples for the chicken apple salad. Green beans that were overcooked and underflavored.  A waitress who never came back.  May I see the manager, please.  And the price of our bill was reduced.  Yipee!



11 – 11 – 11

Me and Danny Glover!

We pooped out early.  Again.  But not before we had supper with a delightful gathering of folk.  Among them Jenna, and her daughter Cornelia (from Atlanta) celebrating their birthdays – Mom’s tomorrow, daughter’s today.

We rolled out of bed around 7 a.m., to a gently rocking ship.  As rough a sea as we’ve ever sailed, but still quite comfortable.  Coming back from breakfast, we stopped at Guest Relations so we could get another map of the ship, and as we walked away I heard a young man ask for sea-sick pills for his very sea-sick wife.  Laugh at our Trans Dermal patches will you!  Ha!

Our table mates for breakfast were Jack and Phyllis from the Holy City, home of PNC Park and Heinz Field.  Conversation was filled with references to the Pirates and the Steelers.  They, like your humble scribe, follow the Bucs more closely than we do Big Ben and the boys.  All together now, a few bars of “It’s A Small World.”

I met last night with the cruise director, Rich, and his associate, Caissie.  We did an interview for broadcast on ship’s TV, and then my first talk will be at 12:30 today – “Cozumel, Land of Swallows.”  “Pirates of the Caribbean” will be offered on our return day at sea.  When we dock at Cozumel, Bonnie and I will be escorts for an 8 hour trip to the ruins at Tulum.

First talk over.  Bonnie pronounced it as well done.  Perceptive woman!  The rolling of the sea that I mentioned above had intensified by the time I did my talk.  I tried to walk across the stage as the ship was rolling, and I almost fell upon my derriere.  That would have been great for the shipboard entertainment, as they record the talks and replay them throughout the cruise.  So I stayed by the podium.  Your our not-so-humble cruise talker received a warm ovation.

November 12, 2011

An early start today, after we did the “Fall Back” maneuver – Cozumel is in a different time zone.

From breakfast up on the Resort Deck, we returned to our stateroom to pick up our going ashore documents. We passed young couple who were dragging their suit cases.  I asked, “You’re not leaving us, are you?”  The lady said, “Just as soon as we can get off of this ship!”  Bonnie said, “Well, I hope you had a good time.”  The lady said, “It’s been a terrible time!”  A few minutes later, we walked through the Grand Foyer, seeking our disembarkation, and there were the two unhappy sailors.

Parenthetical remark: I really dislike the phrase Happy Camper or Not A Happy Camper – let’s apply for a new tired, worn out cliche.  But then, it wouldn’t be a cliche, would it?

The two had multiplied and now there were four.  No idea what it was all about.  We guessed extreme sea sickens (we did see one woman with her head in a trash can).  But whatever the cause, I’m glad I won’t be paying their airfare back to the U. S. of A.

Bonnie and I escorted a group of tourists to the Maya ruins at Tulum.  Basically, our job was to help keep the group organized, and see that they followed our guide’s instructions.  Several people in our group had seen my earlier performance and asked me questions about the Maya’s and Tulum.  That was neat.

Tulum was as magnificent as we remembered it from an earlier trip to Cozumel.  The last Maya site built, it continued to be populated by local citizens.  Until the Spanish came in, and what they did not kill with the sword, they killed with plague and disease.  By the end of the 16th century, Tulum was an empty site.

Parenthetical remark number 2: The Maya’s had their revenge, after a fashion, sending tuberculosis and a particularly nasty version of syphilis.

I got some great pictures, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  The only downer was the ride from the dock to the mainland.  “Bumpy” and “chopping” do not do the waters justice.  I saw another bucket head lady on the tender that took us to Playa del Carmen. 

One of the folks who went with us to Tulum had a bit part in a movie directed by Robert Redford.  The film was “The Dark Wind,” based on a Tony Hillerman book with the same name.  Hillerman is one of my favorite authors and it was great meeting someone familiar with his work.

We ended the day a great dinner, and a really super show. 

November 13, 2011

“The best laid plans of man oft times go astray” William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2.

Well, if the Bard didn’t say that, he should have.   And if Hamlet didn’t say it, some sure did.

The nightly entertainment has been good.  Except for a professional comedian flown in last night for the occasion, all performers are members of Millennium’s crew.  And what a talented bunch they are.  Last night they did “I-Broadway” which featured music from “Wicked,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “West Side Story,” “ Superstar,” “Lion King,” “Tommy,” “Mamma Mia,” “Cats,” “Jersey Boys,” and “Hairspray.” 

They only did one song from “Cats.”  Can anyone tell me what song it was?  Oh, now let’s not always see the same hands!  Of course it was “Memory,” and like it does in the Broadway show, it was a show stopper here.

When we got back to our stateroom last night, we picked up our copy of “Celebrity Today,” and learned that my final talk would be today at one o’clock.  Opposite the Steelers-Bengals ball game. 

They talk went well.  As I talked about “The Pirates of the Caribbean,” I slipped in a few modern Pirates – Roberto Clemente, Danny Murtaugh, and Bill Mazeroski.  The crowd was bigger than the one at my first talk.  The cruise director apologized, saying these week-end cruises are largely beer and beach.  Oh well, as the Bros say.

And to all you Macedonian’s reading this, I can put people to sleep in several countries.  Bonnie said one of the attendees was snoring up a storm.

Almost on board

November 10, 2011

Our cruise got off to an interesting start on Tuesday evening – with a trip to the Emergency Room.  Bonnie had carpel tunnel surgery last week, the medicos took the stitches out Tuesday afternoon, and Tuesday evening while I was packing, she looked down at her hand and said, “I’m bleeding!”

Being an Eagle Scout with a First Aid Merit Badge, I knew exactly what to do!  I put my head between my legs and did not not faint.

I helped her wash her hand, and then, using band aids, pulled the wound together and off to Doctor’s Hospital.  The ER doc said, “All is well, just pulled loose on top (well, duh).”  He put steri-strips on and we returned to packing.

We drove to Miami yesterday, singing “Happy Birthday” to Jennifer on the way.  Happy 41st to our first born.  Does that make me old?

The Florida Turnpike is not user friendly.  Here are some of the signs: “There are no cash ticket booths in Miami. Use Sun Pass.”  “Penalty for not stopping – $100.”  Liars!  There are cash booths, so they stressed my co-pilot out for nothing!

Dinner at Denny’s was less than satisfactory.  No apples for the chicken apple salad. Green beans that were overcooked and underflavored.  A waitress who never came back.  May I see the manager, please.  And the price of our bill was reduced.  But tonight!  Yipee!

More after we get on the ship.