Travelogue

My one week vacation included the air, water and land experience. I was cruising with the Carnival Conquest to Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Mexico.

Day 1 and 2: I embarked the huge ship from Galveston an hour and half by road from Houston, Texas. The ship was huge; I have been on huge war ship before never a cruise liner. Sailed two days on the Sea before I reached Jamaica. There are shows, games, formal nights, music and of course the food which kept me busy. I won some bingo games too. And attended some crew parties, since I was there as crew family. I also got the privilege to be on the navigation bridge to view the ship maneuvered.

Day 3: Jamaica (Montego Bay): The Island is beautiful, mountainous and lush green. We drove for two hours to Ocho Rios on the north coast to the beautiful Dunn’s Water falls. We climb the 600 foot water falls with a human chain stopping constantly to take photo’s and dipping in the cold water, the water was gushing and cold more than usual - as it was raining continuously. And then went to Dolphin’s cove where you get to swim with the dolphins and touch, dance and yeah kiss them. (Sally she is cute) The reggae music is great. No trace of the world cup cricket there other than two banners of Brian Lara in some ad. (Since it was the week of the world cup finals, kind of surprising) Next day we went to Grand Cayman

Day 4: Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman): This Island is clean and with colorful roof tops. We went to the Sting Ray Sand bar which is a 25 min boat ride to mid sea and then we walked in waist deep water and the huge Sting Rays start coming towards you. I was scared to be stung like Steve Irwin, but the guide told us that these are friendly ones – the fishermen while returning from their catch threw the fish which they did not want on the sand bar, the sting rays started coming there for the free food and soon the fishermen starting touching and playing with them. Apparently the tail is not the sting; it’s near the start of the tail. The male ones are smaller and the female are really huge…velvety and smooth, try a massage it’s awesome. They suck the food, so get food near the mouth …whoosh it’s gone. The island is full of Iguana’s basking in the sun. The saying is if you kiss a sting ray there is luck for 7 years, I am keeping track now.

Then finally the country I wanted to go to - Mexico.

Day 5: Mexico (Cozumel): Here we did clear Kayaking and saw the Regal blue tang (Dory in Finding Nemo). We drifted away in the clear blue sea and had to be towed back :-). And then we did deep sea snorkeling for around an hour. Wow… the coral plants and the colorful fishes, I really did not want to get out from the water, there was two fresh water caves the water color was different and cooler and the fish in the caves were wonderful - slowly by our side there was a baby shark. And here were the colorful Nemo (clownfish) fishes.

Day 6: Lazed around, slept under the open sky and watched some shows. Highlights: Jamaica and Grand Cayman felt like home a bit, since they drive on the right side of the road. I mean the real right. Montego Bay is greener, mountainous compared to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Also the later two islands were hit by hurricanes in the past years. The crew really works hard to keep the guest happy; the amazing part was around 3000 people get off the ship and return back on time. And the sea is with beautiful amazing colors, calm and sometimes rough.

It’s the most pampered vacation you can go on. And I love the Caribbean waters. And I still feel like I am swaying in the sea, at work