BTimmer's Almost Live - Zuiderdam 1/2-30/22 -San Diego to Florida RT

[Btimmer]

18 minutes ago, zelker said:

Thanks for your 10 points above!  Very helpful as we contemplate whether to cancel or not for our upcoming 35 days on Zuiderdam.  

 

So are you staying on for another trip to FLL and back? 

Unfortunately not.  I would love to, but DW isn't keen on it.

[dchip]

37 minutes ago, zelker said:

Very helpful as we contemplate whether to cancel or not for our upcoming 35 days on Zuiderdam.  

BARB!!!!!!!!!

[kplady]

3 hours ago, Btimmer said:

While we're not done yet, thanks to everyone who's followed along. Are we cruising again? Look for a thread this summer when we go north to Alaska for a land and sea tour.  Then in August, we're off to Greenland & Iceland.

Hi Tim,

What cruise are you on in August to Greenland and Iceland? We're doing 24 days on the Nieuw Statendam going there!

Thanks for your blog and posting here - I love traveling along vicariously with you. Stay healthy!

Laura

[Btimmer]

2 hours ago, kplady said:

Hi Tim,

What cruise are you on in August to Greenland and Iceland? We're doing 24 days on the Nieuw Statendam going there!

Thanks for your blog and posting here - I love traveling along vicariously with you. Stay healthy!

Laura

We'll be on the NS with you  - Boston to Boston.

[0106]

12 hours ago, Btimmer said:

Fourth, because of Covid we've exclusively taken HAL excursions.  All have been good and as advertised with a few hidden gems

 What “hidden gem” tours do you recommend for our Panama cruise credit in February?

 

Thanks for all the insights you gave provided.

[Btimmer]

5 hours ago, 0106 said:

 What “hidden gem” tours do you recommend for our Panama cruise credit in February?

 

Thanks for all the insights you gave provided.

In Huatulco, we took the 5 Bays catamaran cruise with swimming.  At the swimming location, we went snorkeling beyond the marker buoys.  Some of the best snorkeling in this area we've experienced.

 

We had time after the excursion, so we took a $5 cab ride to the little nearby town.  It wasn't very touristy and we like that.

 

Finally we enjoyed salsa & chips and two sodas for $12.50 at the restaurant closest to the beach and ship.

 

[rkacruiser]

8 hours ago, Btimmer said:

In Huatulco, we took the 5 Bays catamaran cruise 

 

This is an excellent excursion.  

[Btimmer]

Today was our second visit to Huatulco this trip.  We were about 1/2 hour late in arriving due to several strong currents overnight.  On the sail in, we watched whales, dolphins, and jumping tuna.

 

Our HAL snorkeling trip was to a local beach and turned out to be excellent with lots of colorful fish and coral formations.

 

After the excursion we enjoyed a large mixed ceviche at the local restaurant we ate at last visit.

 

The Zuiderdam departed just after 6:30pm by backing out to sea and pivoting around to make way for our next port of call, Puerto Vallarta.

 

Our only evening activity was to watch the Secret Identities.game show which was pretty funny.  The comedian was on next, but we declined to stay and watch it.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[dchip]

How wonderful to see so much sea-life on your way into Huatulco. We were blessed to stop there in 2004. It was an amazing experience. Also visited again in 2017. The port had grown up but was still very special. We did the 5 Bays Tour in 2004!
 

I have really been enjoying your love thread and blog. Thank you. 
Denise

[Btimmer]

Below are a few pictures from our snorkeling excursion to a beach just 5 minutes from the pier.  There was an abundance of fish in the coral formations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by Btimmer

[0106]

Was the tour called Huatulco Beach & Snorkel? That is the one I purchased prior to your recommendation about the 5 beach catamaran tour. 

[Btimmer]

3 hours ago, 0106 said:

Was the tour called Huatulco Beach & Snorkel? That is the one I purchased prior to your recommendation about the 5 beach catamaran tour. 

Yes.  Do the Huatulco Beach & Snorkel if snorkeling is your highest priority.  
 

Once at the beach,  head immediately to the buoy boundary and up near the rocks on the left.

Edited January 26, 2022 by Btimmer

[0106]

Looking forward to hearing about Puerto Vallarta.  Hope you are well.

[dchip]

Your fish photos are amazing! Thanks so much. 

Edited January 28, 2022 by dchip

[jeh10641]

Hi, Tim,

I will be sorry when you return home because your posts are so much fun.

 

Jim

[Btimmer]

1 hour ago, dchip said:

Your fish photos are amazing! Thanks so much. 

Just wait until I post some from today in PV.

 

Here's the sunset as we ready to depart PV, our last port.

 

 

[Btimmer]

After reboarding for the last time I thought I would share the four things I've missed:

 

1. Popcorn

2. Chopsticks.  There have been none available.

3.  Cookies available at times other than lunch.

4.  More information about the senior officers and especially the new captain.  

 

The B2B has been wonderful.  Impeccable service, spot on shore excursions, a fabulous Caneletto crew, and lots of great memories were made.

[Btimmer]

2 hours ago, 0106 said:

Looking forward to hearing about Puerto Vallarta.  Hope you are well.

Doing very well.  Thanks for asking.

[Btimmer]

Here's a view as we move away from the dock.  We were the only ship in port today.

 

Edited January 28, 2022 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

Departing photo.

 

[Btimmer]

Today's snorkeling was really good.  The sheer quantity was impressive. There were 3 dominant species, King Angelfish (black with gold tail& white stripe), Seargant fish (black and yellow striped), and brassy chub (large silver fish).

 

 

 

 

[Btimmer]

Part of our trip today was a short uphill hike to a waterfall at Yelapa.  There were many interesting murals along the way.  Here are a few.

 

 

 

[dchip]

Thanks for the wonderful photos once more. Yelapa is one of our favorite places. The murals are all new since the last time we were there. I saw my first ever Manta Ray on the way to Yelapa once. Amazing. 
Cheers, Denise

[Btimmer]

22 minutes ago, dchip said:

Thanks for the wonderful photos once more. Yelapa is one of our favorite places. The murals are all new since the last time we were there. I saw my first ever Manta Ray on the way to Yelapa once. Amazing. 
Cheers, Denise

I forgot to mention that there was a humpback whale family cavorting in the bay just off Yelapa.  The photographer caught a picture of the whale out of the water.  I'll check my big camera today for what it might have.

Edited January 28, 2022 by Btimmer

[Btimmer]

Here's a picture of the baby whale surfacing.