After our unexpected day at sea yesterday, Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam has arrived at her first port of call for this 7-day western Caribbean cruise, Georgetown, Grand Cayman. Since we skipped Costa Maya, Mexico yesterday due to sea conditions, our original 11am arrival time in Grand Cayman was moved…

I’m now three days into this 7-day Western Caribbean cruise on the beautiful Holland America Line Nieuw Amsterdam, and as I mentioned in yesterday’s report, we had some rough seas that made their appearance late in the day on Monday. As we sailed to our first port of call, Costa…

We’re sailing towards our first port of call on this 7-day Western Caribbean cruise on the beautiful Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam, and the day is being spent at sea. As I mentioned in yesterday’s report, Holland America Line ships, except for the Rotterdam, carry far fewer passengers than the mega…

Fresh off a week onboard Carnival Celebration, I’m back at sea, this time cruising on Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam, a ship I sailed on back in 2010 during her inaugural Caribbean season. Part of Holland America Line’s Signature Class, she’s a mid-sized ship that blends modern comfort with the…

It’s the final day onboard the Carnival Celebration as we head back to Miami, putting an end to this latest adventure as we sailed through the western Caribbean. On this cruise, we made stops at Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, as well as Roatan, Honduras (Mahogany Bay). With it being…

My time on Carnival Celebration is quickly coming to an end, as today we are in the first of two back-to-back sea days on our way back to Port Miami for an early morning arrival on Sunday. Sea days are always hectic on a cruise, as we’re all captive audience…

Five days into this 7-day Western Caribbean cruise, my fellow passengers and I are spending the day in Roatan, Honduras, at a Carnival-owned port called Mahogany Bay. Opened in 2009, the port is designed as an exclusive destination for passengers cruising on several of the cruise lines under the Carnival…

The next port of call on this 7-day western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Celebration keeps us in Mexico, making a short run from Cozumel to our current stop: Costa Maya. The day began with an early wake-up, as a ship-wide announcement was made at 4:50 a.m., requesting passengers with…

It’s time to visit our first port of call, Cozumel, on this 7-day Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Celebration.  Known for its crystal-clear waters, cruisers heading to Cozumel usually book excursions for snorkeling and diving at spots such as the Palancar Reef or spend time checking out the beaches,…

We’re sailing to our first port of call on this 7-day Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Celebration, and today we’re spending the day at sea. With a fully booked ship, it’s going to be “one of those days!” By that, I mean all areas around the ship will be…