Tht first few cruising days

April 16 Evelyn went to stretching and aerobics as she did almost every day on the cruise. I set the combination to the safe and met her at the omelet station (I was on a high protein/low carb diet). She had cereal as she did most mornings. We took some sea sick pills, had lunch, went to an art auction, plyed one free game of bingo and heard a lecture on the Caribbean. We had dinner in the dining room with a couple from England, Gerald and Margaret Haycock. There was a show after dinner every night. Tonight was from Mr. Producer. We were feeling woozy and went to bed.

The 17th we spent in Cozomel, Mexico. After breakfast we walked around the town looking for a tank top shirt for me. We found only one large that didn’t advertise Corona cerveza. We enjoyed the walk and returned to the ship for lunch and a nap. We went onto the deck and laid in a lounge chair in the sun. I went into the hot tub and talked with a couple from Germany. We went to dinner in the restaurant where we had to dress more formally. The entertainment was a group hypnosis act so we left and went to dance in the observation lounge. The cruise had an excellent brass band and we enjoyed dancing to their music throughout the cruise.

The 18th we had breakfast and bought a DVD about the cruise through th Canal. We went to a party for “Latitudes” members (people who had been on at least one cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. We then went to lunch and took another nap before the lecture on the history of the Canal. Tonight was the captain’s reception offering champagne. We should had worn our dress clothes but we didn’t. We met the people we had eaten with the previous evening and were invited to join them again. Frank and Lorraine Murphy were from Perth, Australia. We were joined by two single ladies from Britain. There were many Brits on the cruise. We danced to a couple, Duo Royale, for a while and then went to a smaller theater to hear a black comedian that I talked with after his act. I learned that he had performed often at Snickers, a comedy club in Fort Wayne.

On the 19th I came down with a sinus infection that I think I caught in Cozomel. I went to the gift shop area and bought some Contac Cold and Flu for $10.75. When trapped on a ship one will make many purchases that he has to make. I went back and took a nap until lunch in the dining room We walked 3 ½ times around the ship’s deck that was to be a mile and then went back to the pool area to lie in the sun to have some heat on my lungs. We had only a light snack and then went to a variety show, Que Noche. There was a resident song and dance group that performed many times. They were very good but this show was poor. We were in bed by 9:30.

The 20th was the bid day in the Locks. We were up at 5 AM because the Jones’ had encouraged us to see the sunrise just before we entered the locks. It was quite an experience and took all day. We had a good vantage point but many late risers crowded in front of us. I had to tell one man to get out of my space. We got separated from each other and she walked on the treadmill while I wandered around the ship taking many pictures, some of which were keepers. We went to the library and played Rummikub that was provided by the cruise line. They also provided many other games and many decks of cards. They even gave them out to anyone who asked for them. We got four decks for our park. We then walked the ship a few times while we were in Gatun Lake and going through the final locks. We had dinner and went dancing again. It was dark before we were refueled and left the canal for our trip though the Pacific. We didn’t stay long because I was not feeling very well. We went back to the cabin and watched a movie.


It rained on the 21st although the seas remained calm. We discovered a worship service was held each morning at 9 and Sunday at 8. We had our usual breakfast and then attended a lecture on the Mayans and Aztecs. We had dinner with the lecturer and his wife at an earlier dinner. We had lunch and then went to the art auction. At each auction a painting is given away. The winning number was 871. We had 872 and 873. We talked with the winner and might buy it from her later in the voyage. We took a nap and decided to stop the sea sickness pills because we still felt very “loggy”. We decided to register for a score excursion in both Acupolco and Hualtco, Mexico. It was Latitudes night at the galleria and a real super salesman got hold of us and Evelyn bought $1050 worth of jewelry. I had told her I would not argue about spending money on this cruise so she bought a beautiful necklace. She makes jewelry look quite good. We went to dinner and then the show which was a comedian, David Naster. I don’t remember much about him but I think he was cleanish and funny.

22nd we worshipped in the large theater. I learned that the pastor is hired by NCL. I might apply sometime but don’t have much hope, not being ordained. Evelyn was beginning to come down with whatever I had so she went back to bed after worship while I wandered around the ship. I woke her at noon and we had lunch in the sandwich shop in the omelet location. It changes for different meals. We went to another art auction and she went back to bed. I went to a lecture on humor given by last night’s comedian. His theme was that laughter can be found in even the most serious situations and keeps EMS workers and others from falling apart on their jobs. He emphasized how healthful it is for us to laugh vigorously. There was another lecture on the history of Mexico before our dinner at the Pacific Heights restaurant. In addition to the free dining rooms, this restaurant was also free but required reservations. It featured “cooking light” items and was good also. There were 5 other specialty restaurants that charged for the meals, but we never went to any of those. The meals in the dining rooms were elegant enough for us. We played some cards and then Evelyn went back to bed. I went to the sports bar to watch a game, wanting to avoid keeping Evelyn awake. I met a law professor from Denmark and had an interesting conversation with him. He was consuming wine by himself and invited me to join him in a glass. I had a small portion because I was avoiding carbs. He spoke fairly good English but kept saying “boom, boom, boom” when struggling to find a word for expressing his thought. I saw him as a lonely alcoholic but saw him with his wife several times after that. He was always gracious and glad to see me so I know he was lonely the first time we met.

We stopped in Puerto Quetzal on the 23rd. No one seemed to know it was Shakespeare’s birthday. Evelyn was sicker so we didn’t do anything until after noon. We had not signed up for a trip to Antigua (which we were told was beautiful) but she was too sick to go anyway. We did take a shuttle bus to a small shopping center near the ship. We bought a tank top for me and looked for a dress for her. Nothing was right. We returned to the ship where she slept more. There was a drill and all the crew had to line up on shore. There were 934 serving us. Our camera batteries were dead so I missed the photo op. I must have left it turned on. I found a friend who had brought his battery charger and charged the batteries. We had dinner and talked with people at three tables. They were from Sydney, Australia, Vancouver, BC and Minneapolis, MN. We went to another comedy show that was only fairly funny and were in bed by 10.

24th found Evelyn up and exercising at 7 while I slept until 8:45. I was not as well as I thought I was. We took a morning nap and went off the Huatulco, Mexico where we bought 3 shorts and shirt sets for the Beeli kids and a dress for Evelyn. We also bought throat lozenges and diet Pepsi to take back on board. The ship served only diet Coke. We also took a catamaran boat around the bay and saw many of the beaches and rock formations. This is a big sailfish habitat and a contest is held in November each year. We had noon snacks on the ship, a nap and then dinner. The entertainment was an original show by the dance troupe.

I got up on the 25th and weighed in. I had lost 8 pounds by staying on the high protein diet. I had only tasted desserts a couple of times. We met with a couple that worshipped with us each day at sea named Ray and Priscilla. He was part native American and had an extensive ministry to natives of many countries. They had been to Acapulco before and we rented a cab with them to go around town. We went shopping at a market and bought another dress. We went to see the young men dive off a 100+ foot cliff into the bay. It was thrilling. They even had to climb up the sheer cliff in order to dive. We were still looking for medicine and went finally to a Wal-Mart to get some. We were back at the ship in time for lunch. The taxi driver had agreed to take us around for $20 but wanted $60 when we left him. We gave him $30. He did drive us quite a ways over town but we felt robbed by his request. We had lunch and a nap. We got to see part of a folk dance troupe that had come on board to perform and I talked with the director about Folkmoot USA. We went back on shore and bought some nail polish for the girls and received a free bag that changes colors in the sunlight. I put it down on the outside deck and we left it for no more than a minute and a half. It had been taken during that time. I had hoped that it would be turned in as lost but it didn’t happen. I was really angry. We had dinner at the buffet and then saw a comedian/juggler who was very funny. We plaid a game of Yahtzee and went to bed.

We had worship today because we were at sea. Afterward I inquired as to whether our bag had been turned in. It hadn’t but somehow one of the receptionists gave us one nearly like it and two bottles of nail polish. We were blessed. This was the day to sign up for the talent show and I did. I had to search for the lyrics to “Welcome to My World” and found them on one of the discs for the Karaoke shows. One of the staff copied them for me. We went to the beginning waltz class but found it too elementary. We had lunch and I attended to audition. I did the act for the band leader and then left. I walked a mile around the deck and then napped with Evelyn while a movie played. We had dinner in the dining room.