SUN, SANDY BEACH, PICNIC FARE, HURRAH FOR PRINCESS CAYS

Sunday, January 28, 2024
Sky Princess
Stateroom S222/17
Princess Cay, Eleuthra Island, Bahamas
Sun, 83F

TK and I do enjoy visiting each cruise line’s private islands. Princess, which is part of the Carnival Corporation, has access to what they call Princess Cays. It is located at the southern end of the island of Eleuthera Island, Bahamas.

Sporting our swimsuits, and with sunscreen, towels, sunglasses, and my latest book, we headed to the “Elite” lounge for our priority passes for the boat shuttle to the island. It was a short 10 minute ride to the sunny, sandy island, perfectly set up for the day.  At 10 a.m., we were almost the first ones on the beach. There are plenty of lounge chairs, restrooms, and bar set ups.  I think there are less palm trees, possibly the result of hurricanes, but several shelters have been built for those who prefer shady areas.

 

We found a sandy spot in one of the shelters with plenty of space on each side of our lounge chairs and a nice breeze. Lounge chairs in the sun are edge to edge, not our style.

 

By 11 a.m. we were very hungry and crew members had set up a picnic buffet with burgers, hot dogs, sausage, chicken, BBQ ribs, salads, luscious fruits (pineapple, melons, bananas, apples), chocolate chip cookies, and probably more. I only saw what I like!  There are plenty of sheltered picnic tables for eating—

Janie is hungry!

Fruit buffet 

You can probably guess that I did a lot of reading and TK checked out the water. I put my toes in the sea to test the water, cold, probably 70s. I’m a warm water person.  I love looking at it though!

 

On our walk we saw bungalows/cabanas and now I am going to aspire to renting one next time! I don’t know why we never noticed them before. Believe it or not, each one is equipped with four chairs, a table, a ceiling fan, and air conditioning! There are two lounge chairs are on the small porch, and  two more lounge chairs with an umbrella.   I think if we rented one of those bungalows I might not return to the ship.

 

We returned to the ship about 3 p.m. 

Sky Princess is waiting for us!

TK enjoyed the retreat pool near our room, and I continued to read. Soon enough TK was watching the football game (KC Chiefs won). 

 

Now after dinner, he is watching the 49ers and Lions play on the TV in our stateroom while he rests.

 

We had a great day in the sun today!

TK's Takes: Good beach day! A lot of people

ADVENTURING TO AVENTURA MALL

Saturday, January 27, 2024
Sky Princess
Stateroom S222/17
Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sun, 80F

 

Double Rainbow, over the 

Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas

From our balcony

A double rainbow greeted us this morning in Port Everglades! We are sailing on the Sky for one more week, so we are “Guests in Transit.”  We had to get off the ship and go through U.S. customs.  This process is so easy now—one’s photo is taken, matched with records, and within 10 seconds one is free to pass through. Technology!

 

TK surprised me by calling an Uber to take us to the Aventura Mall we heard about a week ago, the 5^th largest mall in the country. 

 

By 10 a.m., we were walking around this beautiful upscale mall. Are you saying to yourself, “What the heck, a mall?”  I can’t help it, I like to walk around malls, and TK doesn’t mind, it is a good workout! I love window shopping, checking out fashions, looking for something different.  I always think I will spring for a Hermes scarf, a Gucci bag, or something like that, but in the end, I don’t do that. 

 

I didn't know that Porsche was into watches 

and fashion too

Penney's!

NOrdstrom

Louis Vuitton

Quite a display for two purses

There's a camo outfit!

Jimmy Choo

If they only had a green and blue scarf!

Tiffany and BMW, sign me up!

This is a $200,000 BMW

About noon, TK called me to meet him near a Macy’s entrance. He did not realize there were two Macy’s in this mall and the one he was at had 4 inside entrances. Believe me, finding him added a lot of steps to my Fitbit!  When I found him, he was excited to show me he had found sfogliatella! My favorite Italian pastry which I wrote about over and over when we were in the Mediterranean. He was very pleased with himself, and he should have been! After eating two (better step up the walking!), we decided to say goodbye to Aventura Mall and return to the ship.

 

Sfogliatella--very much like those we ate in Europe 

(by the dozens)

Nice fresh sandwiches

Mozzarella and Tomato sure look good!

Sfogliatella on the right

Rosetta Italian Bakery!

It was there just for us!

TK called up Uber and away we went.  Sky Princess was waiting for us, and we breezed aboard, ready to sail away again.  We could tell this week the passengers are a livelier crowd. Probably attributed to the “Concerts at Sea, 50s and 60s Themed Oldies Cruise.”  When guests book the cruise, they may also book the concerts. The concerts were full when we booked, but we will experience them vicariously through friends, Jeff P and Doris, who are on this cruise. 

  

Elmer welcomed us back to our table #84 in Soleil Dining Room. He had a little more time tonight to talk to us-last cruise he had 2 large tables with 18 people, plus us so he was very busy. He told us about his father in law’s farm back in the Philippines where they grow coffee plants, papaya, avocados, bananas, and more. Elmer has been working for Princess for 25 years and has a wife back home.  The contracts are nine months long with three months off.

Sugar Free "Lemon Pie"

Watching our calories haha!

After dinner tonight I decided to try the hair salon while TK rested—it has been a very long time since I have done that on a cruise ship.  I hope the styling lasts for tomorrow’s beach/picnic day at Princess Cay. That is kind of a joke because it will be hot and humid there!

Onward to sea we go!

Yesterday was a sea day, and there wasn’t much to tell because we basically read and ate and read and ate. We did go to the Veterans Get Together. One of the ladies and her husband were in the Air Force for 20 years each. There was also a World War II veteran, too.  I love seeing the camaraderie amongst veterans.

 TK’s Takes: He couldn’t believe the Millcreek Mall is the 13^th largest mall in the U.S.

For those who are intensely interested, here is the rundown of some of malls we have experienced:

• King of Prussia Mall, 3^rd largest in USA, 2,793,200 sq. ft., built 1963, 450 stores.
• Aventura Mall, 5^th largest in the USA, 2,700,000 sq. ft., built 1963, 300 stores.
• Sawgrass Mills Mall, 11^th largest in the USA, 2,260,610 sq. ft., built 1990, 350 stores. 
• Millcreek Mall, 13^th largest in the USA, 2,200,000 sq. ft., built 1975, 175 stores.

 

SUNNY, FRIENDLY COZUMEL

Thursday, January 25, 2024
Sky Princess
Stateroom S222/17
San Miguel de Cozumel, Mexico
Sun, 85F

Public art on the main street of San Miguel de Cozumel

Cozumel is an island off the Mayan Riviera coast. The main city, San Miguel de Cozumel, has three cruise ship terminals, Puerta Maya, Punta Langosta, and the International Cruise Terminal. Princess and Carnival cruise lines mainly use Puerta Maya, where our ship docked today.

As you may imagine, this port is a favorite destination, and today five cruise ships are in port. Near us are the Carnival Dream and the Carnival Paradise. A Royal Caribbean ship and a German cruise ship are nearby.  That means that over 20,000 people (passengers and some crew) are visiting the area! Despite the number of people, we did not feel “crushed.”

Three behemoths

The docking area has been built up by probably both the cruise ship industry and Mexico—lots of shops and restaurants. When we get off the cruise ship, we can walk to this area through a very large duty-free shop. Outside that building, there are many shopping choices, souvenirs, diamonds, RonJon’s, Margaritaville, DelSol (color changing shirts), Cariloha (bamboo clothing, bedding, towels), and many more.

TK and his new friend

TK taking a rest

Janie and Puerta Maya

Oasis at port

Shopping area at port

Another view

It has been eight years since we have been in Cozumel, and we wanted to visit our favorite areas.  We easily hailed a taxi to the main area downtown ($10). Soon we noticed that a lot of road work and construction were underway on the main street along the shore.  In the taxi, we saw the floats in preparation for Mardi Gras, but could not figure out where they were when we were walking—the streets are in disarray.

I got a little carried away with the heavy equipment

I have no idea what some of these machines do

but they were busy

Pancho's Backyard, the restaurant connected to the original 

Los Cincos Soles on the main street--

a beautiful setting!

Our favorite shop is the original Los Cinco Soles, where we have purchased pure vanilla and fairly priced silver chains in the past.  The shop also has an attached restaurant, Pancho’s Backyard, that we have enjoyed many times.  It felt good to be back there, I cannot explain why other than the salesclerks are always so friendly.

There is colorful public art along the main street, which is also along the shoreline.  It did not take us long to explore the rocky, sandy shore for beach glass!  I am sure we were a sight in our regular clothes searching the narrow beach, but we easily found a handful, mostly green, frosty, and brown!  This is not a shoreline for sunbathing.

Seahorse

There's a "wrecked" boat, let's make art

"Beach" area where we found beach glass

Beach glass! 

The heat was not oppressive, and there was a nice breeze as we walked toward the ship.  We hailed a taxi for a ride back and then headed to Pancho’s Backyard 2 for authentic Mexican food. We shared cheese quesadillas, salsa, and chips while a couple played the xylophone—just the right sound for our day in Mexico!

Los Cinco Soles near the ship

This mule was created in metal, very 

cleverly done

Pancho's Backyard near the ship

where we had lunch

 I think next time that we are in Cozumel we will go to Nachi Cocum, a favorite beach. It is limited to 130 people per day, costs between $55 and $69 per person, which includes a 4-course lunch, all you can drink (including beer, liquor, cocktails, water, wine, sodas, and juices), free wi-fi, lounge chairs, and a server who will attend to your requests.   The taxi ride is about $15/2 each way.  The server will call the taxi for you when you are ready to leave.  We were there once before, and this beach is beautiful. There are certainly other great beaches near San Miguel de Cozumel.  https://cozumelnachicocom.com/

We returned to the ship after lunch, and while TK rested, I read another book. Since I brought a suitcase full of books, I better keep at it!

From our balcony you can see the long duty free shop leading to the main shopping 

area built by cruise companies

Tonight was an elegant night, with lobster and filet mignon as our choice. TK loves escargot. The Chantilly swan was graceful and tasty!

 

Chantilly swan for dessert

TK’s Takes: Cozumel has changed a lot since we were here last.

TK liked this sign:  

"Throw your chewing gum here"

AND IT RAINED IN BELIZE

 Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Sky Princess
Stateroom S222/17
Belize City, Belize
Cloudy, Some Rain/84F

Janie and TK in Belize

Belize is a country on the northeastern coast of Central America, bordered by Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. It is 8,867 square miles and has a population of approximately 440,000.  We visited Belize in 2012 and were impressed by the MOHO chocolate factory, but we did not see it this time.

Due o the shallow waters of Belize City’s harbor, cruise ships must anchor a few miles away and use tenders to take passengers to shore, a half hour boat ride each way.

The tender on the way to the port

Love the colors!

More colors!

A few shops

Back to the ship

Ready to board after these passengers disembark

A few shots of Belize City from the tender

Not long after we arrived at the shore, it started to sprinkle and then rain more heavily for a little while. This became the norm. No rain, sprinkles, rain. We do travel with umbrellas!  Visiting these islands and walking around is good exercise and since the purpose of this trip was to get warm and avoid snow, we are happy!

The rest of the day was spent relaxing, reading, and eating.  There was a very small island in view of our balcony and my super lens was able to take a close-up photo—it looked deserted, but there certainly are some super homes on it.  We also saw some possible sand dredgers by the island, and a few large sand “dunes.”  A check on the Internet did not answer my question, nor did the few photos of Belize islands resemble what I saw.  Mysteries!

Mysterious island

Close up, but no people! 

TK’s Takes:  The ride to Belize City was long, longer than he remembered.