2016 Our First Caribbean Cruise - AKA The Gary Cruise

Caribbean Cruise!    

Ft. Lauderdale Dec 1 to Dec 10, including a cruise on the Freedom of the Seas, Dec 4 to 10

We flew through Denver and Houston on Dec 1. The original plan was to spend one day and night in Denver and go to Ft. Lauderdale non-stop on Dec 2. Bill thought it would be a better idea to just go straight to Ft. Lauderdale so we would have two full days to spend there before the cruise.

We spent over two hours in the United First Class lounge in Denver, which makes the waiting so much more pleasant. We had a good breakfast of cereal, fruit, sweet rolls and coffee. Just before we left for our next flight, they were bringing out a nice lunch of salad bar and cold cuts. We could have stayed long enough to have a little bit of lunch, but we weren't hungry, so on we went. 

Waiting for our flight in comfort

The flights were fine and we landed in Ft. Lauderdale in the early evening, got the shuttle and went to the Springhill Suites, where Gary had arranged for us to stay. The suite was not the best we've ever seen, but it was fine, and larger than a regular hotel room, so we were happy. The bed was comfortable and the area was not too bad.

View from our window

We walked over to explore the shopping center across the street from the hotel, but found nothing special about it. I had thought it was going to be a nice big mall, but it was more of a strip mall. We were looking for dinner, but we couldn't find a restaurant, other than Burger King, so we went back to the hotel and had the cookies that we had wrapped up from the lounge in Denver. Then we went to the hot tub for a while and hit the bed early.

On Friday morning, we took a walk to Hollywood Beach, about 4 and 1/2 miles. It was fun, and we weren't in a hurry, so it was pretty good, but once we got there, it had gotten hot and we were tired. We went to Ocean's 13, a bar right on the beach, and Bill had a couple of beers that cost him a total of $3.00. That revived him enough that we walked down to the water and along the beach, finding shells, for about a half mile.

Ocean's 13 at Hollywood Beach

Bill had put sunscreen on, but we didn't take any with us, so we had to get him out of the sun, and we couldn't walk back, because there would be very little shade so we decided to call Uber. The driver called us and said he was on the way and would be there in five minutes. A few minutes later, he called again, and asked where we were. He said he would be there in 30 seconds. We were at the edge of a huge parking lot, so we could see quite a lot of area, but we didn't see cars moving like they were looing for someone. After 15 minutes, I tried to call the guy, but had no luck, and we found out that Uber has no phone support for passengers. Bill was getting pretty exhausted, so I went up to ask the parking lot attendant for assistance and she kindly called a taxi for us. The taxi driver was there in just a couple of minutes, and he turned out to be very friendly. He took us back to the hotel, and we conversed all the way. He said that if we needed a ride while we were there, we could call him directly. Bill took a rest and I read by the pool. That evening, we walked one mile in the rain, past the shopping center, to a TGIF and had a wonderful dinner.

We had a brownie sundae for dessert

The walk back was dry. We went to the pool for a while and called it a day.

Saturday, after breakfast and a stroll around the hotels in the area, we walked to a bank that was about a half mile north of the hotel, which was the opposite direction from the day before. On the way, we were pleasantly surprised by an igloo of iguanas (Tony decided that since we don't know what a group of them is called, they will be called an igloo henceforth.)

We got back to the hotel, and I got on the phone to see if I could find something to do for the afternoon. I discovered that there is a water taxi that takes people through the Intracoastal to Ft. Lauderdale Beach area. It was only $20.00 each and there were on and off privileges at multiple stops. So, we called our taxi driver and he took us to Margaritaville at Hollywood Beach to catch the water taxi. Bill had a bear while waiting. We found out that all beers in that area are not as reasonable as those at Ocean's 13. One beer was $9.00!

Margaritaville Beer

The water taxi took about 45 minutes to get to the first stop. It was a pleasant trip, with lots of beautiful scenery. The narration was good, so we learned a lot about the area. We saw several huge orange and yellow iguanas, but weren't able to get any photos.

Steven Spielberg's Yacht

Our first stop in Ft. Lauderdale took us to a very crowded area where there was a Riptide Concert going on.

After we got away from that area, the crowds thinned some, and we were able to walk for miles along Ft. Lauderdale Beach.

At one point, we were getting tired, so we found one of the water taxi pick up points, which was just a sign at the end of a cul de sac. The taxi came along and took us to the end of the line where we got off, expecting to find dinner, but it turned out that the restaurants were very pricy and crowded, so we caught a taxi back the area we had walked through and went to a little Italian restaurant where we had a pizza and Bill had a glass of wine. I was able to charge my phone for a little while so I could take more pictures after dinner.

Spazios Restaurant

Across the street from Spazios

The ride back to Margaritaville was cold but still fun.

Open drawbridge

Fancy house on the Intracoastal

When we got back, we called our taxi driver, but he was off for the night, so we got a waiting taxi and went back to the hotel. We went in the hot tub for a few minutes. It was a wonderful day.

Sunday morning, we took a walk around the grounds and got packed for the cruise. We met Gary's brothers, Dave and Mike, in the hotel lobby and we waited together. Gary was supposed to pick us up at noon, but he was very delayed by all the traffic at the port, so he didn't get there until well after 1.

The cruise was really fun. We love being on the water so much, and having a balcony on the ship is a necessity for us. We were diverted from our route to Grand Cayman, our first stop, by a critically ill passenger. They were going to make a stop in Key West, Florida, but all of a sudden, we turned around and headed back on course. It turned out that the person passed away. That was very unfortunate for the family, who had to continue with the trip.

Grand Cayman was pretty uneventful. We got a bus, which was really more of an old van that picked up people along the way, and went to Seven Mile Beach, which was what Gary recommended. We walked back toward town on the sand, carrying our shoes, and after a mile or so, we went up to the road and walked a little bit more. We got to a Ritz Carlton Resort, and went inside for some watermelon and cantaloupe water, and to use a restroom.

Ritz Carlton Resort

Pretty flowers

The ships in port

Then we found the bus stop and went back to the ship. We spent the rest of the day at the pool and hanging out on the ship.

Cozumel, Mexico.

We left the ship and were walking to town, and noticed that two people were following us. We moved over so they could pass, and they stopped and said that they had been following us because we looked like we knew where to go. So, we spent the day together and became friends. They taught us how to take advantage of all the free trinkets the jewelry stores offer without actually buying anything. We were offered free shots of tequila in almost every shop, even the jewelry stores, which we accepted and enjoyed thoroughly. And, we were surprised to be offered weed and blow in many places. Those offers we passed up. Beers were $1 and $2, and we were serenaded at one of our many beer stops.

Cozumel from the ship

Serenade

Our ship and the only other one in port

Time for another beer

Costa Maya, Mexico. We spent part of the day with Denise and Jeff, but they were more adventurous than we were. We stopped at the plaza just past the shopping area, that was free to everyone. There was a huge pool, and two large bars, as well as lots of shops with, yet, more tequila tastes. Denise and Jeff wandered off to explore, while we swam. They came back to tell us that they had found that we could go to a beach "up the road" for $6.00 cab ride and $3.00 entrance fee for each of us. It had chairs, umbrellas, white sand and free drinks. We had heard about the scam offers, so we decided not to take the chance. Turns out we were very wrong. They had a wonderful time, swimming in the crystal clear blue-green water. We wish we had gone with them, but we were glad they had such a great time. Next time we go on a cruise that goes to Costa Maya, we will know where to go.

Jeff and Denise as we left the ship

Thursday night, after our partial day in Costa Maya - The reason for the cruise - Abbacadabra - The Ultimate Abba Tribute. Gary Raffanelli suggested that we take the cruise, because he knows we love their performances. So, why not? The cruise was wonderful in itself, but the concerts made it totally special. Gary called us on Monday, and invited us up to visit him in his suite, which was just above our modest balcony room, We stayed for an hour or so and he said the performances were going to be on Thursday, and we could go to t...he sound check if we wanted to, so we got to the theater at 4. The only people in there besides the performers and the ship techs were Gary's brothers, who are just as friendly as he is, and one of his biggest fans, a late 70-something British lady named Lilianna, who adores him, and us, so that was pretty cool. We stayed for the 7 pm and the 9 pm shows, and we sat in the front row, which was so different from where we usually sit in a theater. Denise and Jeff joined us for the 7 pm show, and they said they had a good time. We loved every moment of the shows. 

The private party, with open bar, was on Friday at 4, and even though it was officially from 4 to 5, it didn't really end until almost 6. What a great way to spend the last day aboard the Freedom.

Singing at the party                                                         Dave dancing with the Twin Towers

Steve, Rich, Gary, Haley, Leslie, Susie, and Trent after the party

The last day of the cruise was a hang around day. It was raining most of the day, but we went to the pool for a while with Denise and Jeff, and we spent some time reading. On Saturday, Dec 10, we pulled into Ft. Lauderdale about 5 am, and we met them for breakfast at 7. We gathered our luggage and walked off the ship about 9. It was pouring and Denise got soaked walking out to find the Uber car she had ordered. We loaded everything and the driver took us to the car rental place, where we picked up their car, and they drove us to the airport.

Unfortunately, we had to wait near the ticketing area for over two hours, because we were there over six hours before our flight. The line got longer and longer to check luggage, so I went outside to see if curbside check-in was an option. There was no line at all, so we got the luggage checked and we were on our way through security.  

Crazy line to check the luggage - over 100 people long

                                                                                    The wait outside was short and quick

We were able to sit in the United First Class Lounge in Ft. Lauderdale for almost four hours before our first flight, because we were so early. They served delicious minestroni soup, cheeses, vegies, rolls, chocolate chip cookies, and, best of all, they had an open bar. Bill chose wine and I had my first Cosmopolitan, and my second. Our Royal Caribbean beverage containers were a perfect way to carry our "leftover" drinks ...onto the plane, so we could finish them at our leisure.

We volunteered to be bumped, and they said they would compensate us $400.00 each, take us to a hotel near the Miami airport, give us dinner and breakfast and we would get to Sacramento by 8 pm tonight. Tony was going to Denver in the morning, so he wouldn't have been able to pick us up at the airport. We thought we might stay over with Gee Weckerle and Joe. who have a condo there, and then rent a car the next day to drive home, but it turned out that they didn't need our seats after all. That was disappointing, but, really, we were so glad to walk in the door of our very own house last night and sleep in our comfortable bed. Our dogs were ecstatic to see us. They haven't let us out of their sight all day.  There is truly no place like home.