Aboard the Spirit, FLL to LA

once I tell my husband about the amount of time to travel to the site he may not want to go either.

Both times I was in honduras I wanted to go to Copan but my hosts would not permit it, saying it was much too dangerous. I even had two bodyguards with very big guns.

Guess this may just not be in the cards.

Looks like you are having a wonderful time.

and I have a question for D and D, are you all planning on going to Tikal when you are in Puerto Quetzal or have you been?

I have some interest in going but wanted the general scuttlebutt about the trip.

Thanks much in advance.

I went to Tikal with Seabourne. It is a fabulous site. They actually have an "international airport" :) The aircraft used were "old" Embraer, the ones with the terrible crash history. Seats were like school buses. No flight attendant. Pilots ignored us. Every instruction was by recorded announcements. The planes (we had 2) were so bad that a row of seats came out of the floor upon landing back in Puerto Quetzel.

Tikal itself is amazing. I definitely recommend doing it but, verify what kind of equipment you will be flying on if this is important to you. Seabourne was told one thing but, when we got to the airport, it was two planes instead of one and a plane I avoid at all costs. My option was to get back to the ship, being escorted on an open air bus with all males. I went to Tikal. :)

Hello Wellseasoned, thanks for your reports...still no anchovies????????? Terrible, I may have to cancel my cruise this coming January 22....

Could you be so kind and check what kind of cigarettes are available on board? Last November on the Whisper they were out of Benson & Hedges 100's but what was available was still $50/carton....

Thanks for your help and sorry if I have inconvenienced you.

Regards

Hello Wellseasoned, thanks for your reports...still no anchovies????????? Terrible, I may have to cancel my cruise this coming January 22....

Could you be so kind and check what kind of cigarettes are available on board? Last November on the Whisper they were out of Benson & Hedges 100's but what was available was still $50/carton....

Thanks for your help and sorry if I have inconvenienced you.

Regards

May I suggest that you not rely on ship's cigarette collection but instead bring your own. Perhaps because so few people are smoking nowadays and inventory does not move quickly, the cigarettes I have purchased on recent cruises have been stale and very unpleasant.

Today we are at sea, cruising from Acapulco to Cabo San Lucas. Cloudy now, but still warm, no rain. Two days ago, at sea between Puerto Quetzal and Acapulco, there was a high wind, 60 knots. But the captain decided to sail close to the coast rather than straight across the bay, and the ship was as stable as could be. No problem.

The ship itself seems to be in good shape. Very clean and polished, hand sanitizers being used, upholstery, carpets, and woodwork look a lot better than they did on recent cruises on the older Whisper and Shadow. We've had no problem making bookings at La Terrazza, STARS, Hot Rocks, and Le Champagne at short notice. Winning a lot at trivia. And anchovies are back!! But, sadly, they ran out of white chocolate grappa last night! I blame myself for having addicted too many others to this delight in recent days.

Acapulco was beautiful yesterday. There was a special morning performance of the cliff divers just for people on SS tours. Much building of high-rise condos, hotels, etc. But the guides said that cruise ship visits have declined by 90 percent over the last three years, much of this due to the drug and crime problems.

Spinnaker 2, I spoke to some who had done the Puerto Quetzal tour to Tikal two days ago. They felt it was worthwhile and that they spent enough time at the sites, had a good meal, etc. The plane was small and not the greatest, but the flight was okay, about one hour each way.

We did a nice bus tour to the colonial capital La Antigua, which was about 90 minutes each way, but comfortable, with nice volcanoes along the way, fine town, a very interesting jade museum, and a very good lunch. I doubt that tours such as these will be among the freebie "special" tours if the new itinerary policy spreads to all the SS cruises.

Seawolf29, I don't smoke cigarettes, but I did glance into the humidor cabinet for you, and all I could really see were various Marlboros. Don't know if they have anything else. You can check with Gareth, the Head Bartender, when you board in L.A.

Today was the "Pub Lunch" in Panorama Lounge, and tonight the dinner theme is Indian. This evening the Colts-Patriots football playoff game will be shown on the Show Lounge screen. It's been a very enjoyable cruise, have met lots of happy people.

Costa Rica rainforest aerial tram

Iguana on spikey branch-Ouch

Guatemala Volcano

Same Volcano moments later with small brown eruption in clouds

Mayan Wall Painting

Who are You lookin' at!? -Mayan sculpture

thanks, it's probably the best option

Glad to hear the good stuff, wellseasoned.

about Tikal. Not quite sure what we are going to do. The small plane ride on an antique sounds rather off putting.

At our age the sense of adventure and invincibility has worn off.

Great volcano pictures.

Hope you wanted the pats to win.

When I was in Guatemala in 2010, I was booked on the Tikal excursion. We got as far as the airport (military), waited, waited, waited and no plane turned up. Apparently, the farmers were burning the sugar cane fields and there was too much smoke and zero visibility for even a little plane so the trip was cancelled. SS gave a full refund for Tikal and very quickly organised for us to spend the day in Antigua at no charge. Very good customer service I thought but extremely disappointing...what can u do?...accept and move on.

Cheers

Jennifer

When I was in Guatemala in 2010, I was booked on the Tikal excursion. We got as far as the airport (military), waited, waited, waited and no plane turned up. Apparently, the farmers were burning the sugar cane fields and there was too much smoke and zero visibility for even a little plane so the trip was cancelled. SS gave a full refund for Tikal and very quickly organised for us to spend the day in Antigua at no charge. Very good customer service I thought but extremely disappointing...what can u do?...accept and move on.

 

Cheers

Jennifer

That was a shame Jennifer. We managed to get there in 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes the plane was small and a little cramped, but the journey was worth it.