When we first boarded the boat, we were accosted by a gal with a spray bottle. Hmmm…
Us: What is this?
Them: Hand sanitizer

We think, ok, guess that’s cool, but right now i’m carrying all my crap and don’t have the ability to rub my hands together…
Little did we know this was just the beginning of the hand sanitizing brigade!
Every door of the buffet was staffed with a hand spraying bottle holder and god forbid you try and pass without a squirt. I think they might have have chased you down and tackled you if you kept going. We never tried it.
By mid way through the cruise, the buffet changed gears and you were not even allowed to select your own empty plate or pick up your own napkin and silverware. You had no access to the spoons or serving implements on the buffet – you had to point at what you wanted. Do you have any idea how hard it is to make a taco or a salad by pointing at stuff???
You were not allowed to get your own coffee or milk. If you wanted sugar packets, salt, or ketchup you had to get it from them.
There was a vague sign indicating an “increase” in gastrointestinal issues after one of the ports had led to these new precautions. Of course i’m thinking some yahoo on the boat had a drink with ice and got tummy trouble and now i can’t even get my own food, sigh.
Apparently their way of doing things works since it is the only cruise line that has not been shut down by the health department.
But it was still weird!

Costa Maya was kind of a bust. The “beach” area was run by locals charging 30 bucks a person to be on the beach and have coronas. We skipped it, hung in the “compound” – the secure area right off the boat where only certain locals are allowed to harass you.

Honduras was super crazy, no built for tourists. The “compound” was nice, and there was a good coffee shop, but anything right outside was icky and reminded me of Tijuana. Apparently you could take a cab to some nice beaches but hubby and I aren’t that adventurous and our friends decided not to depart that info on us. Thanks guys. We hung on the boat, napped and got in a swim!

Before we left the boat though, we got to see the staff perform lifeboat drills! It was really cool. The boats were held on pulleys directly below our room.

Belize City – This required tenders to get from the boat to the mainland. This time we decided to be like all the cool kids and get a cab to a beach. Alas there are no beaches. We ended up in a man made beach, with an entrance fee and icky marina water. Sigh. But – We did find free wi-fi! Woohoo!!!  I’d definitely stay on the boat next time!

Also on the beach were chickens, roosters, and Iquanas!

Cozumel – I was finally ready to part with some of hard earned cash and see some ruins! I couldn’t wait! Tulume was built up on the sites to be this kick ass ruin site with a nice beach! Sweet! Most of the the tour was spent getting there. Boat from Cozumel to Playa del something or other, an hour bus ride to Tulume – with a 1/2 hour stop at the walmart of mexican crafts. We did get a neat plate for the wall, but i think i would have been happier with more time at the ruins.

The guide was nice enough but his english was spotty and his info was limited. He took us around the ruins from afar, but never close us. Never gave too many details about anything. We did enjoy the ocean near the ruins and almost missed the bus back!!

Final day at sea was pretty low key. I had a nice long workout, a nap, lunch with the conference crowd, and then spent the afternoon reading by the pool. Mmmmm. It was lovely!!

I’ve got a lot to say and some interesting pictures to share, so I’ll be parceling out our adventures over a number of days, so you aren’t forced to read a novella or watch a slide show of our trip!

Hubby and I went on a cruise early in December for 360 Flex.
It started in New Orleans – who knew cruise ships left from there? who knew it took 10 hours to get out of the dang river to even get the whole cruising business started?

We spent a night in New Orleans – well we stayed near the airport with 40K hematologists (apparently there was a convention).
We took an expensive cab ride to experience bourbon street and Cafe Du Monde.
I can now cross both those items off my “Life’s To Do” list and never return…  (needless to say i was less than impressed)

We got a cool tour of New Orleans on the way to the bus the morning of. The bus driver was funny and informative. It was crazy to learn how high the water was in some places and how it never hit other areas. Weird.

We got on board right around the noon hour and were amazing at the amount of people already on the boat, drinking, partying and EATING up a storm. Woah!

We found our fancy room – with a balcony – granted not bigger than a chair, but alas it was a door with fresh air while the boat bounces along the waves! For me, it was fabulous!
The first night we did a meet and greet with the peeps from hubby’s conference. That was fun! Always neat to meet new people and this time with spouses. Usually the significant others don’t get to come play, so it was fun to see who was with whom!

The first day at sea was the first day at the conference, so i got to wander around the boat and enjoy the open air!  (Even write my Christmas cards out!)

We stopped at Costa Maya, Honduras (Guatemala was having elections and shut down all public transportation), Belize City, and Cozumel.

(more on the ports to come)