Almost home!!

Well, it's our last day at sea.  The sea is pretty rough today, the roughest that we've experienced since we took off.  We're not bouncing around nearly as bad as we were on the Holiday last October.

Our two stops on this leg of the trip were nice.  On Monday we were in Progresso, which is on the Yucatan Peninsula.   It's about 40 miles north east of Meridia, which is the capital of that region.  We were going to take an excursion into Meridia, but we were pretty tired and decided to just take the free shuttle into town, the ship ports at a very long pier which is about 5 miles from the town, so you've got to take a taxi or shuttle to get into town.  The town itself is pretty rough looking.  It's what a lot of people call real Mexico, not glitzed up for the tourist.  However you can tell they thrive on the tourist trade.  Everywhere there were people trying to sell cuban cigars, hair braiding, hats, etc, really pushing for you to come into their stores, slightly worse than the little shops at Cozumel or Calica.  We walked about 4 blocks from the shuttle stop to find a little store to stock up on Coca-Cola Light, their version of Diet Coke, to take back to the ship.  Then it was back to the shuttle and back to the ship.  The temperature and humidity was higher here than at any other of our stops on the trip, so it was nice to get back to our air conditioned ship.

Back on board we grabbed some lunch, and since the ship was almost empty, almost everyone seemed to th be onshore, we decided to hit the pool.  The main pool isn't the biggest in the world, and it's usually packed with kids, but with so many people onshore, the pool was almost empty.  We stayed in for quite awhile and took quite a few trips down the water slide.  It was a blast, some more adults showed up and we were seeing who could make the biggest splash and get down the slide the fastest.  I wasn't quite the biggest splash or the fastest, but I was close  :-)

Willies' splash!!!

More people started coming back onboard so the pool started filling up a bit, so we headed back to the cabin with a snack.  I took a nap while Willie went up on deck to watch us leaving port, she even got to see a few runners getting to the ship right before we took off.
We skipped supper in the main dining room and decided to hit the Lido buffett for supper, then we saw the early show.  The show this night was the second of their Vegas style shows.  It was called Spin and was very entertaining. 

On Tuesday we were back in Cozumel.  We did the same thing we did on our previous visit which was to visit a beach called the Money Bar for some snorkeling.

Pirate puppet in Cozumel

We discovered however that two snorkeling trips in less than a week isn't a good idea, we didn't stay in the water real long as it was very tiring this time around, and the water was pulling us way out to sea, unlike last time when it was gently moving us into shore.  We stayed at the little beach area for awhile and watched other snorklers and ships, then caught a taxi back to the port.  We did some shopping, picking up a few gifts.  Willie finally got a color changing back from the Del Sol shop.  It's a really neat shop, everything in it changes color in the sun.  The it was back on the ship for supper in the main dining room, the we did a little gambling and it was time for bed.

Outside the Pirate Shop in Cozumel

Since we left Cozumel the seas have been pretty rough, there was a storm brewing off the coast, we got some video of the lightening from our stateroom window.  Thing kept getting rougher for the rest of the night.  Willie actually is taking it rougher than I am, she's a little lightheaded and quesy from time to time and it doesn't seem to be affecting me except for the fact I keep
walking into the walls  lol.  Right now it's about 4:20 and the winds are blowing strait into our starboard side at about 45 mph, and we've got some pretty impressive swells hitting the side of the ship.  We're only about 200 miles from Mobile, and we've heard that right after we left Cozumel is when tropical storm, I think it's name Karl, was hitting the Yucatan Peninso we actually got out of there right in time.  The ship was really crusing last night, we're pretty sure it was to get clear of the storm.

Leaving Cozumel

Grand Atrium on the Elation

 

 

Elation and sister ship Inspiration at Cozumel Pier

Well that's all for now.  I think we'll drive all the way home tommorrow, but you never know we might stop if we get tired.  We're hoping to be back on the road by 10am or so, so that'll put us back home by 11 or 12 Thursday, otherwise we'll be home friday.

We're looking forward to being home and seeing everyone and our puppies, cats and the birds.

On our way to Progresso!!

Hi everyone, sorry I didn't get to update the blog yesterday, it was a semi lazy day with the ship returning to Mobile.  The process for our back to back cruise was fairly easy.  They had us pack our bags, since we had a new stateroom for the second cruise, then we went to the information desk at 10am, and they walked us off the ship, through customs, then right back on, took about half an hour total.  Then, unlike passengers who were just getting onboard, we were allowed to go to our new stateroom, normally you can't go to your room till 1:30pm.  It felt kinda naughty opening the big black doors that they close the passenger quarters off with till they're ready.  Our stateroom stewart meet us in the hall by our cabin, knew who we were and let us in our room, our luggage was already there waiting for us.  We hung out in the room till about 11:30 or so, then decided to go hit the pool before the ship got super loaded up.  We were swimming when the first load of passengers started coming on board.  The pool was really nice, and empty for once since we were the only ones in it.  The water is salt water, but we knew that and it was still nice to get in for a swim.  Once they opened the water slide I took a trip down it, was very fast, Willie also went down it.  Lots of fun.

After swimming we went back to the room and changed, then back up to the lido deck to meet some people that I had been chatting with on the Carnival message boards.  We actually had a gift exchange and I got a really nice handmade pen, and Willie got a set of coasters.  Then it was time for the Muster Drill, this time we were in a lounge at the back of the ship, last time we just had to go to the pool.  This one was a bit longer than last weeks, we have a new cruise director onboard and they had us walk out onto deck to our lifeboat station, didn't have to do that last week.  Still it's nicer than it used to be as you don't have to bring your lifejacket with you.

We went to supper at around 8:30, different dining room this time.  We have 3 other couples at our table this week, 1 from Memphis, 1 from Mobile, and 1 from New Orleans.

After supper Willie went to do laundry, since we did the two back to back cruise and didn't want a ton of extra clothes with us it worked well that way.  Most people don't realize that there are several laundries for the passengers on the ship, and if you become a platinum cruise, which is 10 cruises with Carnival, you get complemetary laundry service.

We both slept in this morning, got up around 10:30, head up to the lido deck for breakfast and are kinda taking another lazy day at sea.  Right now I'm sitting in the lounge along the Elation Way typing this up.  The ocean is calm, but the skys are getting a littly cloudy.  I saw on the weather that one of the storm systems is pushing into Puerto Rico, and then moving into Cuba which isn't real far from us, so we might get some rainshowers.

Not sure what we'll do this evening as we saw the main show last week.  It is formal night though, so we'll get dressed up and go have some lobster for supper.  We're scheduled to arrive in Progresso at 7am in the morning and we'll be getting off the ship around 9, taking a tour from a company called AutoProgresso, and we're going into the capital city of Meridia, then visiting one of the Mayan ruins and swimming in a cenote, so it should be another awesome day.

Attached are some pics from the last few days, and hopefully I'll post some more tommorrow.

Our trip is now half over, and we're missing home, but still having fun.  We'll see everyone in a few days, so till then keep checking back for more updates from us here on the Elation.

Ron and Connie, couple who were at our table on the first cruise

Our main and assistant waiters

Dining room staff singing on the last night on our first cruise

Lighthouse on the way out of Mobile

 

 

Sunset over the Gulf

Splash I made coming out of the water slide!!

Hey, We're In Calica!!!

Willie on her ATV

Hello everyone, I know I'm running late on this update, but it's been a busy couple of days. You'd think when you were on a cruise you'd have all the time in the world to type something like this up, but you'd be wrong, seems like we're always busy or napping, lol.

As I'm typing this we're getting ready to pull out of our second port of call, Calica, Mexico. I'm sitting out on our balcony, enjoying a very nice breeze, waiting for the ship to take off, we're supposed to leave at 5, and it's about 4:45 now, so either we're getting ready to go, or waiting for a few last minute stragglers to get to the ship.

When I posted my last update it was still on our embarkation day and we had just gotten on the ship, well since then we've had one full sea day, mostly consisiting of lounging around and eating. We did have some luck in the casino, which is nice cause Willie thinks that means more shopping money. We did go see the welcome aboard show Monday night, which was really good and they had a comedian named Happy Cole, he was hilarouis, almost made me wet myself.

We got to see him again on Tuesday night when he did an R rated show which was even funnier. We also took in the main show Tuesday evening which was called Rythm, it was very good, lots of good song and dance numbers. Spent a bit more time in the casino and won a bit more. We met two very nice couples who share a table with us in the main dining room, and have really enjoyed chatting with them about our various activities during the few days we've been onboard. Tuesday night was also the Formal/Elegant night on the ship, so everyone was dressed up nice, and this time I didn't get seasick so I was able to enjoy not one but two lobster dinners!!!

On Wednesday we were at the island of Cozumel. We decided not to take an excursion and to go off snorkeling on our own. We were on our way into the port town when we realized that Willie had forgotten her sunblock, and I'd forgotten to get a bottle of water and my hat, so Willie went back onto the ship to get it. When she got back she told me she had a bit of trouble, apparently when getting back on the ship, she put her sail and sign card into the machine and the alarms went off. She'd gotten on the wrong ship. The Carnival Legend was docked right next to us at Cozumel and she tried to board it instead of the Elation. LOL... We caught a taxi just outside of the marketplace and went to a local beach a couple of miles from the port called the Money Bar. It was a very nice area to snorkel with a bit of coral to snorkel around, we saw quite a few fish, I saw a spunge, and lots of pretty coral. There were very few people around us in the water, as most people go on an excursion to snorkel a few miles further down the beach. After snorkeling for a few hours we caught a taxi back to town, did a little shopping and got back on the ship in time for lunch. We've discovered that it's great to get back onboard around 1 or 2 as the lines at the buffet are very short, so we can get back on board, get lunch, then there is plenty of time to shower and nap.

After a bit of time in the state room we got ready for supper, we decided to skip the show that evening and just had supper, then Willie adjourned to the room and I went back to the casino, by the time I got to bed I had 400 bucks more than I started with.

Thursday we were at the port of Calica, which is actually in the region of Playa Del Carmen, Calica is actually the name of a sand mining company, and they have a port large enough for cruise ships, so that's where the ship docks. We pre-booked an excursion through a company called Calica Excursions over the internet. It was an ATV Jungle Adventure. We took a taxi from the port to the location, about 5 mins, then had a two hour ATV journey through the jungle in the area. We traveled around a few older Mayan huts, then to a cenote that was a little ways off the trail where we got to swim in the crystal clear cool waters for about 20 mins, then back on the trail and got to go into a cave that the Mayans used at one time.

Swimming in the cenote!!

Mayan Cave

Red Headed Tarantula that chased Willie down the ATV trail

The trip was a lot of fun, and Willie even managed to only run into one other atv. He stopped and she smacked right into him. After the excursion we got a taxi back to the port and then it was back to the ship for changing and lunch.

Well that's all that's happened so far, I'll add some pictures and probably blog more tommorrow while were at our next day at sea. After that it's back to Mobile then out again on our way to Progresso. We're having a blast, but we're missing everyone at home and our puppies.

Talk to you soon, I'll be calling when we get back to Mobile,

Signing off, Dave n Willie!!!

We're on the ship!!!

We'll we've made it onto the ship. We decided to park in the Mobile County Garage which is attached t o the Raddison Hotel. It's $7 per day compared to $15 per day at the port. I dropped Willie off along with our carry-on bags at the port, then went and parked and walked over to the port. It's only about 4 blocks and wasn't a hard walk at all, however I took a wrong turn and ran into a dead end because of a fort in the middle of the area, had to backtrack to find my way to the port lol, took me about 15 mins or so because of my wrong turn.

Once I finally got to the port we went up the escalators and got to go through a special set of metal detectors and then into the VIP area, nice seats to wait sit in while we waited, unlike regular boarding which you have to stand in those long lines for, took about 10 mins and they called our number and we went into the private little office where we got our sail and sign cards then it was onto the ship. I think the whole process took about 20 mins from the time we came up the escalator till we were on the Lido deck.

About a quarter after one our room was ready. We got upgraded before the trip from an interior room to a Ocean Suite. It's on the Veranda deck, which is one higher than the Lido, there aren't very many rooms up here, so it's nice and quite. The balcony has an obstructed view, but you can still see the ocean and stuff, and for the price it was well worth it and it's our first balcony room, so we're excited about it.

The room itself is bigger than the standard or ocean view rooms. We've got all the standard amenities along with a couch, coffee table, refrigerator, bigger vanity/dressing area, bar ware if we needed it, slightly bigger bed, it's very nice. The balcony has a couple of chairs and a table on it for sitting outside.

As it's now about 2:30 we haven't left port yet, Willie just came back in with something from the buffet, I see it's a cup of ice cream and she's hoping she hasn't eaten too much.

I'll post more either tonight or tomorrow morning while we're out at sea.!!

Mobile from our balcony

Willie with her ice cream

We're in Mobile!!!

Well the first part of our vacation is finished. We took off at approx 5 this morning and are now in Mobile, AL as of 6:30. We've check into our hotel, the La Quinta Mobile Inn and are awaiting the arrival of our supper. The trip down was pretty uneventful with the exception of stopping at least once every hour or so for Willie to pee!!

The room is a nice one, has two full beds instead of a queen, but sometimes that's what you get when you book a cheap room with priceline.com. The room was only 45 bucks so it was a good deal.

The internet access in the room is kinda flakey, so it seems we can only use one of our computers at a time, not sure what is up with that.

We've got some Papa John's Pizza on it's way, so we'll have some supper then call it a night. We've both been up since one and we're both pretty tired, so an early night and we'll be up ready to go in the morning, we'll be able to board around 11, so the next update should come from the ship!!!

Me trying to get the internet working so I could upload this!!  LOL

 

 

Our bathroom at La Quinta

Shot of the beds