It's about 6am and almost light outside. There are a number of large ships off our starboard side. They appear to be just sitting in the water, probably waiting for permission to enter the Canal but we are rolling right along. We've been through the Panama Canal back in 2012 on the Zuiderdam and we understand the operation of this transport system but it's a fascinating piece of history I'm eager to revisit. Karen can't understand such excitement this early in the day but quietly prepares for the day. I'm out the door and up to Deck 9 aft to take a few pictures of the new bridge crossing the Atlantic end of the canal, the Centennial Bridge. The one at the Pacific side has been there for many years, part of the Pan American Highway. ... read more

Our schedule for today is open. No meetings. No luncheons or receptions. No nothing. We have a few things we may be interested in checking out but no obligations of any kind. We wander up to breakfast for some cereal and fruit, Karen has toast and some vegetables along with an egg. Other than coffee, that's it. Returning to our room, I grab my laptop and IPad and head for the theater while Karen takes her swimsuit and bag. I plan on listening to a presentation by the on board cruise consultants for those interested in future cruises aboard Holland America and Karen is going up to the spa. We make the split. The cruise consultants, a husband and wife team, are knowledgeable and dispense some valuable information. I'm already aware of most of their "secrets ... read more

It's not the alarm that awakens us at 7. It's the whirring of motors and clanging of metal against metal that brings us out of an otherwise restful night's sleep. Just below our window sits a 50' commercial vessel, bobbing up and down, with a small crane swinging about. Several workmen are moving some materials on or off the ship through the access door on Deck A, two levels down. Now the alarm clock sounds and, while the commotion below is over, there is no return to "dreamland" so we're up. Our ship is scheduled to moor off Half Moon Cay at 8am where we have reserved another clam shell, the same thing we had last week. Since we're free to come and go to the island at any time between 8-4pm, we take our time ... read more

Today we have arrived at Key West, the last stop of our seven day cruise through the Western Caribbean. There are two other ships in port with us, the Carnival Sensation and a Royal Caribbean ship docked at the main harbor in town so we must use the facilities at the adjacent naval station. Although it's just an extension of the commercial pier, it's on an active military base and access is restricted. Once off the ship passengers will be escorted off the base and no photos are allowed while on the facility. Our alarm sounds at 7:30am and minutes later the immigration instructions start. Although we will be docking in Ft Lauderdale tomorrow, Key West is the first US port we are arriving at after visiting foreign ports so that is where immigration officials will ... read more

With our ship the last to dock in Cozumel at 11am, we have plenty of leisure time this morning. We take a light breakfast poolside, observing the docking process as we pull along side the Carnival Valor. Today they are five other ships in Cozumel, all of them here prior to our arrival at 11. Along with the Carnival Valor and Carnival Victory are the Rhapsody of the Seas, Vision of the Seas and Celebrity Reflection. Including the Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam, there are 17,141 cruisers in Cozumel for the day. Arriving so late, it will be afternoon before we get to Senor Sanchez Beach Resort. With breakfast over, we run a few errands aboard ship. We find that we still have over $300 of shipboard credit to use in the next two days, none of ... read more