Fort Lauderdale/Caribbean Cruise – January 2002

Wednesday 9 January – Well we arrived at the Quality Inn at Edinburgh Airport. The plan – to have a peaceful sleep and get to the check in desk in plenty of time after a lovely breakfast.

Thursday 10 January – Didn’t really sleep too well – too much going through my mind and the room was a bit hot. When I came out of the shower I was aware of a loud noise coming from the main room – it was the fire alarm! Dressed very quickly, and damply, before standing outside for 15 minutes in the cold waiting for the fire brigade to arrive and confirm it was a false alarm! Needless to say we didn’t have time for breakfast and arrived at the airport a bit frazzled – the thing we were trying to avoid by spending the night at the hotel!!

The check in desk was deserted and we got a lovely guy who thought our tale of woe was very funny – he laughed even more when he realised Steven had ordered me a “lactose free vegetarian meal” which he confirmed would be “cardboard on a plate”. This was duly cancelled. He must have felt very sorry for us and after a phone call confirmed we had been upgraded to World Traveller Plus – Business class seats but with the normal meals etc. It was a great flight out with loads of legroom – I also had on my new flight socks and was glad to arrive in Miami with ankles that didn’t resemble an elephants!

We picked up our Alamo hire car at the airport and drove up to Amerisuites in Fort Lauderdale. We had booked the hotel a year before and had been quoted a special introductory rate which they seemed to think was impossible. After some lengthy gentle persuasion from Steven we checked in after they confirmed out booking at the lower rate – was this a taste of things to come I wonder! We freshened up, but as it was after 9pm only managed to do some shopping at Publix (like Safeway!). The guy at my check out recognized my accent and asked if I was Scottish – he then shook my hand and said “welcome to Florida” – you just don’t get that in Glenrothes! By now we have stayed awake as long as we can (remembering the 5 hour time difference) and head for bed!!

Friday 11 January – Wake up early – breakfast in the hotel. By 9am we have located a salon which stocks Aveda skincare and I part with a few dollars. By 10 am we are waiting outside the Fashion Show Mall waiting for the shops to open. A few more purchases follow. We then drive on the Costco – where we get our radios, underwater camera etc and generally manage to spend a few hundred dollars. We then head off to the Broward Mall – stopping for a sub at lunchtime – quite a few more purchases made in the afternoon! We arrive back at the hotel in time to unpack, freshen up etc in time for Gail, Mitch and Zack’s arrival – we met for the first time on our cruise to Alaska in May 2001 – Steven and Gail continued to e-mail each other – and when they found out we were going to be in Florida for a few days – it was arranged they would book into the same hotel for a few days! It was really great to arrive in America and for the first time meet up with people we had met on a previous holiday!

They arrive around 7pm and Gail is at our hotel door before Mitch and Zack have parked the car! It was really great to see them again - we then went out to dinner – a lovely Italian Restaurant– and Steven tasted his first Cosmopolitan!! Gail is such a bad influence! Zack – age 16 – enjoyed himself drawing lovely colourful shapes on the paper tablecloth with the crayons provided by the restaurant! Back at the hotel we spend some time in the Nass’s suite – Zack went to bed and fell asleep – we looked at his Bar Mitzvah photo’s.

Saturday 12 January – Mitch took Zack to play in a table tennis tournament – we hit the Sawgrass Outlets Mall – I set off with my radio – and Steven sets off with his personal shopper Gail! We meet up for lunch and try Nathan’s chips for the first time – not bad! We then visited Game Works where Steven and Zack had a great time! Green Tomato buffet for dinner – before going to Jai Alai – basically a ball game where grown men catch the ball in a strange scooped bat and have to through the ball on the wall and the other team have to do the same thing without the ball bouncing twice – at least I think that was it. Anyway you have to bet on who is going to win – I did this very scientifically and managed to pick 3 winners in a row! I looked at who was playing in each game and picked the best looking one!!! Mitch and I had an early night (not together!) – and Steven and Gail chatted and had a few drinks by the pool.

Sunday 13 January – Bagels for breakfast – another first! Steven has a bit of a cold! Went to watch Zack play table tennis. We then drove up to West Palm Beach – one radio in each car. We told each other Scottish and Floridian jokes all the way there – most of the jokes terrible – and Zack struggling with our accents! The shopping in West Palm Beach was very exclusive looking – but we managed to find a few bargains. We had a late lunch in The Cheesecake Factory – funnily enough for sweet we all had – cheesecake! It was then time to say a sad farewell to the Nass’s. There were a few tears – but we had had a fantastic weekend.

Monday 14 January – Packed our many bags and drove to the port. As we had joined the Captain’s Club we had preferential boarding. Amanda – the social hostess – met up with us and hoped we had a great Cruise! Steven had spent quite a bit of time prior to the holiday on the internet and had been corresponding with a number of people. We had sent a picture and this had been posted on Sandie Fitzell’s Summit web page.

We had our buffet lunch in the Waterfall Café and then went to check out our inside Stateroom (8089). To our surprise we had been given complimentary Champagne and fruit. Lifeboat drill followed! When we got back to our stateroom Steven realised they had us on the wrong seating for dinner so spent the next hour running all over the ship trying to sort things out, this proved to be more difficult that it sounds. Steevn was sent to three different locations on the ship to speak to different people before ending up where he began!! Unfortunately this made us rather late for the sail away party in the Penthouse – George and Mary Beth were also on the web page and had invited everyone along. A web cam had been set up and for the whole of the cruise so friends etc at home could log on and see where we were! We managed to meet most of the people on the web page although I have to admit I had a problem remembering all their names! The penthouse suite was unbelievable!

Dinner was casual – we met Karen, Vince (father and daughter), Suzie and Ken who were also at our table. We also met Reginald (Reggie our waiter) and Daniel (Danny the waiter’s assistant). The show in the theatre was a “Taste of Things to Come” – I hope not – it wasn’t very exciting! Met Taz and Mary Anne from Canada at the Trivia. Lost a quick $10 on the slots in the Casino.

Tuesday 15 January – Arrived in Key West. Hired bikes and cycled to the southernmost point (in America). Visited Ernest Hemmingway’s house (he wasn’t in!) – met most of the 61 6-clawed cats however – my favourite was Charlie Chaplin with his little black moustache!

Spent a little more time cycling round in circles trying to find a shop where Steven could buy some underwear! No luck! Handed back the bikes and tried one more stop across from the ship – no underwear so Steven will have to go short (remember this story for later!) Met Dan and Sandie in the shop and went back to the ship for lunch. After lunch we got to know each other a little bit better and Steven handed over some “Scottish” gifts! He gave Dan a Police chief’s hat – who would have believed Dan collected hats!! I always moan when I have to find room for the hats in the suitcases!

In the afternoon I had a game of bingo – only needed 2 numbers for the jackpot, so close yet so far! Haven’t a clue what Steven did because I didn’t write it in my diary but it probably involved him creating a nice pile of dirty washing! The evening show included Acrobats who were breathtaking and a Pianist/Comedian – jokes a bit old but still quite funny. We were both shattered so had an early night – asleep by 10.30pm. This cruising is exhausting work.

Wednesday 16 January – We are now in Mexico! Steven went to breakfast, I had a tracker in the cabin – sorry stateroom! Set off by taxi to Chankanab State Park in Cozumel. Had a great day lying under our little palm trees – lovely white beach – Steven went snorkelling – I thought I would try snorkelling again – my first attempt in Turkey a few years ago did not go well – Steven had to swim out and lifesave me!!! So there I was in the water mask cleared, snorkel cleared, life jacket on just in case, hanging on to a rope attached to the shore bobbing about on the waves – trying to convince myself I was nice and relaxed, put my head under the water – inhaled in half the ocean – saw about 6 lovely little colourful fish before spluttering and choking back to dry land! Hmmmm! Walked back through the park on our way back to the exit – lovely lake with lots of plants, iguanas etc. Taxi back to the ship – too late for lunch so had pizza instead!

Back out again – took a taxi in to the town – very hot and busy – a lot of building work/road works going on so a bit noisy. No purchases! Stopped off at a bar across from the ship on the way back – lovely white/grey cat with blue eyes lying sleeping on one of the tables. Steven had 2 margueritas and predictably I had a diet coke! Dinner casual – show was comedian Noodles Levenstein – some jokes quite funny! Visited “Notes” and listened to some music – 2 “delightful” teenagers who were quite like Beavis and Butthead were playing Chess – thank goodness I don’t have children!

Thursday 17 January – Breakfast in our stateroom – At sea today. I have quite a sore throat – probably the snorkelling! Steven played table tennis (met Tom for the first time, a minister from Henderson, near Las Vegas, – same age as Steven although I have to say looked considerably younger – and just as mad about competitive sports), shuffle board and volleyball (which had to be abandoned as it was a bit windy and 2 balls were lost of the back of the ship not before one of then nearly gave a sunbathing passenger on a lower deck a black eye!)

Steven and Tom played basketball while I bought my postcards (all 21 of them!) – Ordered a Darjeeling and wrote my postcards – remember to stick my little pinkie in the air when drinking my tea.

We were invited to Afternoon Tea in the Fitzell’s Stateroom (Dan and Sandie) at 4pm – this was served to us by Xavier – their butler – the sandwiches and cakes were delightful although I have to say I was more impressed by the fact their stateroom had a bath!! We had a lovely time together which was made perfect by watching the sunset over the ocean from the balcony! A memory to last forever!

Afterwards we went with Dan and Sandie to the Normandie for dinner – the speciality restaurant on the ship that offers 5 star cuisine and service – our whole dining experience took 3 hours!! Thank you Michel Roux for my fantastic pudding! We met William the waiter (who reminded me of Richard E Grant) and had a truly memorable meal! William was English and a little “upset” Dan had placed Scottish flags in a champagne glass on our table! The show tonight was songs from famous artists – Cher, Bee Gees, Elton John etc.

Friday 18 January – Hello Costa Rica – Steven was adamant we were getting a taxi in to town – the guy organising the transport was adamant we were getting the shuttle. After a bit of debating – we got the shuttle (after missing the first one!). Spent 1 hour walking around Porto Limon – they really don’t have much but were exceptionally friendly. It was very hot to start with but then unfortunately came on very heavy rain. Shuttle finally arrived to take us back to the ship! We bought some wooden boxes etc from the stalls set up beside the ship – for some reason Steven bought a large wooden parrot!!

Back n board we had lovely pasta for lunch – met Taz and Mary Anne again. My sore throat was getting the better of me so I went for a lie down – although I couldn’t really rest due to a constant sound of running water coming from the back wall of the stateroom! Steven went back off the ship and walked quite a bit taking photo’s and talking to the locals. When he returned he played basketball and volleyball yet again with Tom. Informal for dinner – only Vince and Karen. I really didn’t feel very great so had an early night. Steven danced in Revelations nightclub I believe.

Woken at 3am with Steven talking on the phone asking for the noise of running water to by switched off. Ended up with someone visited the room and Steven going off to another stateroom to try to get some sleep – I was ok due to my earplugs!

Thursday 19 January – Steven return to have breakfast in the stateroom a bit tired and grumpy (how did I know the difference I hear you ask – good point!!!) Arrive in Colon, Panama – leave by bus for a trip to the Panama Canal – watch the Sea Princess go through the Gatun Locks. Message from Guest Relations saying we could move to another Stateroom due to the noise of water – told Steven he could move if he wanted but I was not spending hours packing up all our stuff! Went to see the stateroom anyway – number 6111 – beautiful room with a balcony! Went back to original room and packed and moved within the hour!

Went on deck to watch us leave Colon! Formal night – Steven took about 1 hour to put on his kilt – I wore my new gold outfit – I left sparkle everywhere I went – literally! Dinner at Captain’s table with George (Assistant Hotel Manager). I was seated at the top of the table but Steven was seated next to Yancy (yes that’s right – Nancy with a Y) who was a model/dancer from Miami. Needless to say she was very pretty so Steven spent the rest of the night with a stupid grin on his face – you would think someone would have mentioned to Yancy that her dress didn’t fit! Lets just say she wasn’t wearing any underwear and nothing was let to the imagination. Ask Steven where I was that night and what I wore and I bet he hasn’t got a clue – although I was in some photographs that were taken – Steven at the top of the stairs with Yancy. Me? – yes you’ve guessed it at the bottom! Anyway the meal was lovely – I had a pork and pasta dish - the best yet (apart from the Normandie). We were presented with a red rose and photograph to mark the occasion. Met Dan and Sandy afterwards (who were at the Captain’s table for the late seating so we could meet and thank Danny! Steven was still grinning! The show was “Encore”. Steven fell asleep on the balcony in his Celebrity robe!

Sunday 20 January – Woke up with daylight flooding through the curtains – will we ever be able to return to an inside cabin – I doubt it! Steven out on the balcony at 7am taking photographs. Met Gregario – our new stateroom attendant – he delivered our breakfast. Docked in Cartagena, Columbia. Took Deluxe tour with Dan and Sandie – visiting the Monestary, Fort and many emerald shops. The street traders were a little numerous and over enthusiastic! It was very hot but a very interesting trip! Bought some coffee from a street trader – at least I hope it was Columbian coffee!

Back to the ship for 1pm – very lengthy queue to board. Lifts too busy so took the stairs. Went to the Waterside Grill for the obligatory pasta (I also had a lovely toffee apple!) The restaurant was so busy we could hardly get a seat! Visited William in the Normandie to book our next visit. Rushed up to the Penthouse – George and Mary Beth had invited all the web page people for a drinks party – Lee threw his white wine over Steven – an accident I believe – unfortunately it was the first time he had put on his new Ron Jon T shirt! Back to the Stateroom for a very quick change in order to meet the Captain for cocktail’s in the Celebrity Theatre! Ran along for dinner at 6pm followed by a blether with Norman, Be, Daryl and Tenise (who were also at the Captain’s table. Visited the Emporium to purchase a few amber pendants. Returned to the Stateroom to find Steven asleep with his mouth open with Country and Western music playing from the TV – lets just say it’s not going to go down as one of my more pleasant experiences from the Cruise! Guess we’re not going to the show!

Monday 21 January – Arrive in Aruba. Steven gets up early and goes to the gym. Breakfast at the Waterside Grill. Meet up with Dan and Sandie and pick up our hired car. Not the best hired car we have ever had. It is only a small island and our car has accumulated 64,000 miles. Dan navigated – which I was glad about. Unfortunately there are about 2 road signs in the whole of Aruba – by some miracle (or Dan’s enviable navigational skills) we find the Natural Bridge. Very beautiful – but very windy. We then drive on to a lighthouse (stopping on the way to take photographs of the cactus) – we find a quiet little beach – Steven goes snorkelling, Sandie and I chat and watch the numerous iguanas right beside us while Dan had a little snooze – I thought I heard some snoring but maybe it was distant thunder. Steven arrived back and a short panic follows when we think the car keys are at the bottom of the ocean. Thankfully they were not because suddenly it came on very heavy rain and we all made a dash back to the car – rather wet and sandy!

Drive back to the main town and drop off the car and have a very civilised “Afternoon Tea” in the Waterside Grill. Casual night at dinner. Lost another $20 on the slots while Steven had a little nap. Show at 9pm saw the return of Rob Long the Pianist/Comedian together with the Celebrity Band. The sea was quite rough at one point but eventually calmed down. Steven once again ends the day on the balcony – lovely night – the moon is on her back in a very starry sky.

Tuesday 22 January – Straight down at 9am for the fantastic watch sale. Bought a gold watch. Vince from our dinner table bought 6! Joined Dan and Sandie in the Waterside Grill for breakfast. I tried again at the bingo – nothing! Steven took part in the shuffleboard tournament – won – I said he was competitive!! Picked up the menu from the Penthouse – we have been invited to dinner. Steven had a quick 10 minutes in “Notes”. Quite a few of the web page met up at the Captain’s Club Cocktail Party in Revelations. (Dan not there as he was feeling a little under the weather.)
Afterwards we all went to lunch together in the Cosmopolitan Restaurant. Steven then plays basketball with Tom. I say ta ta to another £20 on the slots. (Lasted quite a while though!)

Dropped off Vince’s birthday card and present (he was 75!) then headed up to the Penthouse for dinner. Had a great meal with Mary Beth, George, Mary, Bob, Anne & Jim served by Carlton the butler. Swapped Scottish gifts for some buckeye beads! A little late for the show so missed a bit of the soul singer however we heard all of Noodles. One joke “What do you call a Jewish dilemma – Free Ham!”. Chatted to Karen and Vince who appeared to be buying more watches. We then met Tom, Robyn, Daryl and Tenise. Went to Revelations for a little while with Dan and Sandie – Steven was having water to drink until Jim Carroll (The Cruise Director) very kindly bought our round of drinks – it then changed to a Pina Colada. (True Scotsman!)

Wednesday 23 January – Early start in George Town, Grand Cayman (6 other ships in port with us today!). Alarm set for 6.15am followed by breakfast in our stateroom at 6.30am. On the first tender boat with Dan and Sandie (after walking half way round the ship) – a little surprised they were playing the Titanic song as we boarded! Found Captain Marvins and take the minibus to the boat. With 14 people on board we travel for around ½ hour – Most people get of the boat to snorkel – needless to say Man from Atlantis, Steven, is the first person off the boat and I decide not to bother!

Sandie and Dan both had a go – Sandie received some personal tuition from one of the guys on the boat and managed some pretty impressive snorkelling. Dan reminded me of myself in Turkey – but at least Dan can swim! Moved on to the sand bank at Stingray City and I did get out of the boat in to the sea because my feet could touch the sand! I wouldn’t say I swam with the Stingray’s exactly – just bobbed about beside them. I did manage to snorkel for about a minute by holding my breath under the water! We all took a turn to hold a Stingray! Steven gave them some food and we did manage to get some good photographs with the underwater camera – one stingray decided to sit on Steven’s head!

Back to the ship for a quick shower (definitely a bad hair day!) and lunch in the Waterside Grill. I caught the tender back to George Town and did a little shopping – fudge! Very hot! Back to the ship for a little rest – Steven stayed on board to play volleyball, basketball and shuffleboard with Tom (it later transpired all Steven’s underwear needed to be laundered so he had on my knickers – I’m glad he didn’t have an accident that required medical attention!)

Went to the Fitzell’s stateroom at 6.30pm for champagne and canapés served by Xavier the butler. The Caesar salad was tossed freshly at the side of the table – delicious! I had the lamb to follow but didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the Chateaubriand – had my fantastic pudding again though! Sadly William had flown home from Grand Cayman due to a family emergency! Took some photographs at the “official spots” ourselves! Met Andrea and Mark (web page) for some more photos. Went to Broadway show with Dan and Sandie – we are all extremely tired after our long day – we all sat looking rather dazed and every so often realised a song had ended and clapped like 4 performing seals!

Thursday 24 January – Attended breakfast in the Waterside Grill at 9.30am. Met Sandie and went to the disembarkation seminar in the Celebrity Theatre. Everybody is a little sad today because you know the cruise is nearly over – back to reality. Did a little last minute shopping and lost another $10 in the casino. Steven learnt how to throw an American football.

Lunch with Dan and Sandie in the Waterside Grill followed by our first game of shuffleboard. Go back to the stateroom to do a little packing – depressed! Steven and Tom are playing basketball etc followed by Steven putting Tom through his paces in the gym! I did a bit more packing - I met Dan and Sandie in the Library for a game of Scrabble – I managed to win by getting a “q” word on a triple word score – first and last time for everything I suppose. Last dinner with Reggie, Danny, Karen, Vince, Susie and Ken. This is the night when you hand out the “tips”! I did a little more packing – bags need to be outside the door for 12. Went to the final show – Metro, Bob Long etc followed by the Cruise video!

I could prattle on a bit more about our wait at the airport follow by our seats on the return flight at the emergency exit, the woman behind me pinching all my magazines, a delightful flight attendant etc etc etc but I won’t – my fingers hurt and Steven is getting hungry.

That’s all folks!! Except –

My conclusions – We both had a fantastic holiday – before and during the Cruise. Deepening existing friendships and making friends with people I hope we will meet again in the not too distant future! I am a little upset however that after spending an afternoon writing 21 postcards none arrived at their destinations!

Your conclusions – Steven has too much energy and is far too fit and healthy for his age. (The cross dressing incident is a bit of a worry though - I believe he also had my trousers on one night) Fiona needs to visit gamblers anonymous!