Cruise #5 : 2/14/03 - 2/24/03
We truly must have loved our 2002 cruise, given that we decided to repeat it in
2003. Almost down to the same week of the year. Same cruise line,
same ship, same itinerary.
We are starting to get into a rut. This was our second trip to Princess
Cays and Costa Maya, and our third trip to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. There just isn't anything
like white sand beaches, warm water, lots of sun, and a few drinks.
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This was also the first time we repeated a cruise line. In a word, we
LOVE Princess. We foresee ourselves cruising with Princess for quite
a while. The ship offers 6 restaurants, 4 pools, countless hot tubs,
a full-fledged arcade, 2 theaters, virtual golf, 9 hole miniature golf, and 14 lounges. |
Ok, I didn't think last year's entertainment could be
surpassed, but I was wrong. This cruise had the "Most Laughs Ever."
Each night we had some kind of comedian. Either stand up, magician, or ventriloquist
comedian.
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And yes, if you were wondering, we say it every year, BEST CRUISE YET!
Cruise number 6 is scheduled for this October.
Cruise number 7 is June, 2004.
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Watch the fishies.
Hollywood Beach Resort
February 14, 15, and 23, 2003
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Looks awful doesn't it ;-) Tough living. Can you believe
people actually live here. |
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Hollywood Beach Resort from the beach.
We stayed here before and after the cruise.
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Nick's is a fine drinking establishment. Besides potent drinks and
good music, they also server their world famous jumbo shrimp. |
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Need I say more. |
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The boardwalk. This boardwalk goes for miles. Most of it is
lined with condos and hotels.
However, for the half mile or so along
the Hollywood Beach Resort you find many shops, restaurants, fine
drinking establishments, and some of the oddest people on the planet.
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O'Malley's
Rich's and my favorite drinking establishment.
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Captain Bob. This guy was playing at O'Malley's back in September
when we were here for the Dolphin-Jets game. To our delight, he was
here again. He plays classic rock such as
Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc. |
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Unfortunately the day the cruise ended - a very sad day - the weather
was not quite up to South Florida standards.
So the wives and
kids took a taxi to Walgreen's to buy Monopoly. They played for
hours. Mild mannered Lisa won both games.
Something is very wrong with that ;-)
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Here Ryan is focused on defeating his Mom. |
Departure
Grand Princess
February 16 - 23, 2003
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Gee, who are these people?
Lisa, Jeff, and Karen.
Lisa is standing on a higher step than Jeff, trying to maintain her
illusion of Big Bad Mama. |
Grand Princess has 3 galleys. We were happy to tour
the galley that serves the 2 dining rooms. |
Lots of gleaming stainless steel, even the ceiling. Make you
wonder if they ever have food fights. |
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Grand Princess tour below. |
The photo above shows the liquor bottles all locked up! Stay away,
Karen! |
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Stained glass decorates the 3rd floor Grand Princess atrium ceiling.
We noticed this on our last day, of our second cruise on this
ship! Makes us wonder what else we have missed.
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Promenade bar. One of our favorites. Piano or stringed
instruments are playing in the background making this lounge a relaxing
environment.
Plus, they serve espresso. Gotta have our lattes!
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Yep, that is a glass elevator.
Going up?
Or is it down? |
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Painted Dessert Southwestern Restaurant |
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Pools |
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Neptune pool sculpture. |
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Lotus pool located by the spa on deck 15 forward.
Adults only, except from noon to 3. Nice.
Lap machine is tucked between the two hot tubs. A little loud,
but made a heck of a current to swim against.
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Pretty. |
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Calypso pool on deck 14 midship. This pool has a retractable roof
(see next picture).
Other cruises, they close the pools at night. Not here. You
can swim late if you wanted. Nice.
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Here is the roof.
Reminded us of "The Safe" (Safeco Field, where the Mariners
play). |
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Our favorite pool. Located deck 12 aft, this is always adults
only. No screaming, no splashing. |
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A very long hall way. See if you can find your cabin. |
Cozumel
Cozumel 2001
Costa Maya
Thursday February 20, 2003
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When we opened our window, we looked right over at this ship, so close
we thought we could reach out and touch it.
This photo was taken from our mini-suite balcony. About 30 feet next to us was
parked the Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Sea.
We could have thrown some food over to them.
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Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas in the foreground. Grand
Princess in the background. |
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Welcome to Costa Maya, a mall carved into the jungle for our enjoyment. |
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The Benders! Such a CLOSE KNIT family. See Jeff, way off the
left? And Lisa is in the center, doing her best to worm her way
under that lady's umbrella (it was raining). Ryan and Rich seem to
like each other off to the right side of the photo.
Who ARE those four strangers in the middle of the photo?!
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What would it take for you to hold a small little cigarette in your
mouth while a Mexican swings a string with a rock at each end
attempting to smack the cigarette?
I'd cover my privates, too.
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On your mark.
Get set.
GO!! |
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He danced around and stomped and banged his rocks by himself for
awhile. It sounds silly, but it was pretty cool. |
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We told the Mexican authorities to watch out for the Benders. We
warned them that the webbed feet Yankees would be trouble.
Here you
see Jeff attacking this harmless innocent carefree nice little bull.
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The jungle.
It looms up behind the shopping center like a wild... um...
jungle. |
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Dance anyone?
Quick Time Movie of Mexican Dancers. |
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Touching scene; son and dad. |
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Lou and Jeff on the pier.
Now, Jeff is TWELVE! And he is just as tall as Lou. That's
scary. |
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Monarch of the Seas bails. No, not water. Cozumel. |
Costa Maya 2002
Grand Cayman
Wednesday February 19, 2003
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Celebrity welcomes Grand Princess to Grand Cayman. |
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snorkeling
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