Next time will be better, Royal Caribbean promises
Last week's column was all about New Orleans. This week, it's all about the seven-day cruise from The Big Easy on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica. And there were problems.
Traffic nightmares, a new port terminal (not quite finished), new staff, new ship (the biggest ever to visit New Orleans) all made up for a perfect storm that, for some passengers, resulted in embarkation delays of three and a half hours. They promised it will run much more smoothly on the second voyage.
Our ports were varied and the tours offered more choices than I had seen in a while. Because of delays, our time in Cozumel was shortened, so our group decided to check out some-thing called Salsa, Salsa. At nine o'clock in the morning, we were learning to make every kind of salsa, plus plenty of margaritas.
A one-mile walk into town was therapeutic after that. We went to La Choza, a restaurant highly recommend by locals. You find it on the main beach road. Go to the town square, walk a couple of blocks away from the waterfront, and you will find a building that is rather unappealing. Don't let that bother you. Once inside, you will find the best of fresh Mexican cooking.
Heading back to the ship, make sure you don't pay more than $7, and that's only if your ship is not moored in town.
In Grand Cayman, from Deck 12 on the ship, you can see across the island to the other side (its tallest point is about 20 metres). This is a small island about 40 kilometres long and 7 kilometres wide with lots of snorkelling, fishing and beaches.
We opted for Stingray City, where you can mix, feed, and kiss the stingrays, if you like, while walking on a four-foot-deep sandbar. While most of our group found it a thrill, one "participant" danced in terror, trying to avoid the fish. Those who didn't run for the boat bonded with nature for an hour.
Where to eat? The locals said: "Hammerhead, mon." It's about 100 yards from the tender station and the fish is freshly caught and fantastic. Fish and chips, a thin layer of batter filled with the freshest of fish, was a popular choice. Try it with a Cay Brew - funky and fun.
Our final port on the Voyager of the Seas was Jamaica's newest port, which finally opened in February. The cruise line and the government have done a great job of creating - on reclaimed land - a people-friendly environment in Falmouth. It's filled with small shops selling all that's local in a well-spaced area that is worth your time to see.
Georgian architecture abounds throughout the town, from plantations to brick mansions to cottages. The structural motif is a nod to this area's colonial past. There is a lot to do here and, if you want, there are tours to Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay.
The best part for me was going to the 18th-century Good Hope Estate, about 2,000 acres in size and about 45 minutes from the ship. It ascends to near the top of Jungle Hills, where no fewer than five ziplines cut through the jungle canopies.
Even though modern times prevail, the plantation allowed us to see how the owners lived long ago. They used watermills for the fields, damns nearby for watering the plantation, and rivers to provide the drinking water. The water from those rivers, while green in colour, is filtered through limestone and is clean and clear enough for locals to drink.
Tubing down the Martha Brae River in the late afternoon was peaceful and educational about our jungle surroundings.
It didn't dawn on me until it was time to board the Voyager of the Seas that Freedom of the Seas was also in port. The two are "mother" ships that spawned the Voyager and Freedom Class of ships, seven vessels in total. Visit portsandbows.com for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Phil can be contacted directly at [email protected].作者: tiffiant 時間: 2011-12-4 06:49
Voyager of the Seas docked next to Jewel of the Seas in Cozumel, Mexico
