Cruising! We found an economical Western Caribbean Cruise with Costa, an Italian Cruise line that does the Mediterranean except for some time in the winter when you can catch it in Florida. It was a huge ship with about 3000 passengers, similar to the size of the Princess Caribbean that we were on last year. We heard many languages and lots of Italian of course. Printed Newsletters and announcements were made in five languages. The décor of the ship was ornate and our cabin quite large, especially when you compare it to the bedroom in the RV! We didn’t get a balcony but the large window gave us a great view of the ocean and shores. We left from Fort Lauderdale on Sunday evening. 
First stop: Key West. We have been thinking of going there anyway so this was a good way to get a taste of it. 
The Old Town Trolley Tour (not booked on the ship) took us around the Island and gave us a history and perspective. It has a great Island atmosphere but is very built up with no room for anything but renovations. The Historic Old Town is highly commercialized with lots of quaint bars, shops and attractions. We enjoyed a beer at the Hog’s Breath, a famous watering hole and very different from the Hawg’s Breath in Kincardine. Roosters were wandering around. Apparently there are as many roosters as people living in Key West. They are protected. 
Pictures and evidence of famous people abound: Jimmy Buffet, Hemingway and various presidents. Real Estate is super expensive and we found most everything there very expensive. Sometime I would like to drive from the top of the Keys to Key West (at the bottom) to see the unique geography of the area but likely couldn’t afford to stay in Key West for any length of time!Tuesday was a day at Sea and then on Wednesday we arrived at Grand Cayman. It is a beautiful Island and looks quite built up as well. We didn’t do any shopping or banking (claim to fame?) but took a cab to the famous 7 Mile Beach for $4. That was a far cry from paying $44 each which is what it would have cost us if we took the Beach Tour arranged by the Cruise Ship! It is a gorgeous beach and the water was warm, salty and clear. 
Thursday we arrived at Roatan a small Island off the coast of Honduras. I was a bit nervous about going out on our own but it turned out to be a great experience. We shared a mini-van cab with a couple from California. Shelley, our driver is a native of Roatan and she gave us an excellent 4 hour tour with a stop at West Bay Beach. I can’t get enough of swimming in the Caribbean waters! The Island is volcanic but less developed than some; at least for now. I would guess it won’t be long before it changes. Already new Cruise Ship docks are in the works and elegant homes are being built on rugged coastlines by wealthy people looking for deals and unspoiled beaches. Shelley explained that the Roatan people have mixed feelings about the development. Of course it may provide jobs for people living in poverty. The poverty was evident on our tour of the Western end of the Island where we saw ramshackle homes, stores and a hospital that looked like it had no roof.
Cozumel was our last stop before another sea day and arrival back in Ft. Lauderdale. I have never been to Mexico so appreciated a visit to this Island. Apparently Hurricane Wilma did considerable damage there but the side we landed on had not been affected much. It is a busy Island with lots of tourism and shopping. Again, we rented a cab to a beach. You had to pay to get on some beaches, as much as $16 each! But we chose a free one and of course it wasn’t any different from the paying beach next door. Crowds of vacationers were parasailing, snorkeling, jet ski-ing, diving, jumping, climbing, swimming and just relaxing on loungers or at beach bars. We joined them. I am surprised there were no accidents! The pay off was more warm Caribbean water! And the beer was cheaper than on the ship. Locals were peddling their wares everywhere: hair braids, massage, bracelets, clothing, and souvenirs of every kind. You could get your picture taken with a huge iguana, a monkey or an albino python. Only Wally was brave enough. 
We enjoyed the company of a couple from near Ottawa at dinner every evening on board. The food was great and our servers pleasant and friendly. The Fortuna was a festive ship with excellent entertainment. There were two “Gala” evenings but the others were more casual. The last night on board was “Toga” night. What a riot! John and I spent some time trying to figure out how to tie the sheets provided so that we wouldn’t have a clothing malfunction at dinner. It worked! And it wasn’t a cruel joke. Lots of other passengers were in similar garb. Whew! I guess all those years of dressing up for Halloween, Mystery parties, and Old Boys Parades have prepared us for this type of adventure.
Another great thing about snow-birding in Florida is easy access to Cruise Ships. Without the expense of air fare and using last minute websites, cruising is quite affordable. It’s a great way to see different places, even if the stops are only for a day. This cruise was very smooth with no rolling seas. I felt like I had sea legs almost immediately. I loved the sights and sounds of the ocean (gulf? Sea?) and enjoyed the days when we had no stops. There is so much to see and do on board and just lapping up the warmth of the sun on deck is wonderful.
