It's Sunday onboard the Mardi Gras and on this second day of this 7-day Western Caribbean cruise, we're spending the day at sea as we head towards our first port of call, Cozumel, Mexico.  Since it's a sea day, many decided to sleep in, go to Sea Day Brunch, and…

I recently returned from a 21-day cruise on Holland America's Rotterdam. Now, I'm embarking on another cruise, this time on Mardi Gras, a unique ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet that is distinct for not having "Carnival" in its name. Mardi Gras, the first vessel of Carnival's Excel-class, is…

Well, it finally arrived.  The last day of this 9-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer Cruise on Holland America's Rotterdam and the final day of this 21-day adventure where the ship took us through the Panama Canal, to the "ABC Islands," Columbia, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas.  To say it's been quite…

Day 8 of this 9-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer cruise on the Rotterdam found us at sea heading to our fourth and final port of call - Half Moon Cay.  We also set the clocks behind one hour so we finally bid adieu to Daylight Saving Time on the ship. As…

This has been quite an adventure, and this 21-day journey is quickly coming to an end!  The next two days will be spent at sea as we make our way towards Holland America's private island in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay on Saturday followed by our return to Fort Lauderdale…

The final stop through the "ABC Islands" in the Southern Caribbean saw us docked in Oranjestad in the country known as "One Happy Island" - Aruba.  Our ship, Holland America's Rotterdam docked around 7:30 am and we were clear to go ashore shortly before 8 am.  Unlike our call in…

Our second port-of-call on this 9-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer Cruise on Holland America's Rotterdam has us visiting Willemstad, Curacao - the "C" of the "ABC islands" that make up the port calls on southern runs.  Being that Curacao is a short hop from yesterday's call in Bonaire, we had a…

After three days at sea, it's time for our first port-of-call on this 9-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer Cruise on Holland America's Rotterdam and we're docked in Kralendijk - the charming capital of Bonaire.  Looking out from the ship, the first thing you notice is the turquoise bay and small boats…

Another sea day on the Rotterdam as we head to our first port of call on this 9-day Southern Caribbean Seafarer Cruise - Bonaire.  As the ship came alive in the morning, something was amiss.  Cell phones, tablets, and self-setting watches all turned back an hour overnight as the United…

The second day of this Holland America Southern Caribbean Seafarer Cruise on the Rotterdam was a sea day and being so allowed me to compare the crowd levels on the ship's outside decks compared to the last segment of this cruise which ended Friday.  With the average age dropping a…