Cruising the Gulf of Mexico! 

A humongous 16-storey "monster" ship, a luxury stateroom with balcony, unlimited dining options at amazing world class restaurants, free drinks, live music, dancing - what's not to like?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when the suggestion of a November cruise came up. I had done some cruising in the past: the Greek Islands, Egypt, the Bahamas, Alaska, but that was a long time ago. I was already going to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Schedules would have to be changed and last-minute flights booked. I managed and reached New Orleans the night before. 

My heart sank when I heard there’d be 6,000 people on the ship! Thank goodness, one didn’t see them all at once, although the scene at the Port of New Orleans was intimidating and chaotic with several hundred people and a line that snaked endlessly around long corridors. An hour or so later we’d reached the security check-in which seemed brief and perfunctory after the long wait. 

Norwegian Breakaway - the Largest Ship to Dock in New Orleans!

But that was all forgotten when we boarded the “Norwegian Breakaway,” which we were told was the largest ship to ever dock in New Orleans. She was a beauty! I had already upgraded to a mini suite and spent forever on my balcony, enjoying the breeze, the balmy weather, and the mesmerizing blue of the Western Caribbean. Except for one hot and humid day at Cozumel, daily temps were in the upper 70s with little or no rain. 

Shipboard activities ranged from nightly game shows to major theatrical productions, bingo, karaoke, and the casino. I looked in on some of these but what I enjoyed most was the live music, the spa, and daily dinners with the “Caesar’s” gang: our intrepid leaders Sha Ree and Minyanna along with Tom and Kendra; our adventure to the icy-cold Skyy Bar, and enjoying Japanese, Brazilian, French, and other cuisines. 

I was also chuffed to do some salsa dancing and - most unexpectedly - to find an excellent partner, Nestor from Puerto Rico. It was quite an experience (and somewhat daunting) to dance salsa, merengue, and machada on the open top deck of the 16th floor still damp from a passing rain shower - after first having trod the entire length of the ship from fore to aft in the semi-dark with scaredy-cat thoughts of toppling overboard! 

Cruise "Horror" Stories!

I had watched cruise “horror” stories on YouTube the week before I departed and tried not to think about catastrophic power failures, toilets backing up, contagious sicknesses, and a morgue on every ship. Yes, sadly, people die on cruises; some even commit suicide! One person was evacuated by helicopter from our cruise because of a medical emergency. If I wasn't at the spa then getting acupuncture, I would have run up to look! Why are disaster scenarios so morbidly fascinating?

Lots of older people like to cruise and they go from one cruise to the next without a break; they say it’s cheaper than paying rent and getting maids to clean up their homes!  I spoke to several. One of them, Sam (a disabled former engineer from Montgomery, Alabama in his mid-80s), told me he was recovering from five hip surgeries earlier this year. 

I met a woman, Pamela, from a Chicago suburb, who was cruising with her blind daughter. She was recently widowed and spoke movingly about missing her husband and their travels together. 

It was a seven-day cruise. We were four days at sea and three days docked at Cozumel, Mexico; Harvest Caye, Belize; and Costa Maya, Mexico - in that order. Ports were bustling places with activities ranging from snorkeling, tubing, swimming with dolphins, and zip lining, to visiting cacao and rubber plantations, and Mayan archaeological sites. I’m a history buff so I chose the Mayan sites. (Full disclosure: I was too chicken to zipline having tried it out in Costa Rica and been scared out of my wits)! Check out my Maya blog on shore excursions to Tulum, Nim Li Punit, and Chacchoben. 

Spice Farm, Belize

I enjoyed visiting the Spice Farm in Belize, privately owned for 27 years by India-born Thomas Mathew, from Kerala. It grows basil, oregano, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, lemon grass, turmeric, curry leaf, black pepper, and vanilla, as well as moringa (or drumstick), coffee, coconut, teak, sandal wood, cacao, mahogany, spiny bamboo, cashew, and exotic flowers: jasmine, water lilies, black orchid, and birds of paradise. 

Best of all, I had forgotten all about my serious pollen allergies and was handling, smelling, and tasting the cinnamon, lemon grass, and black pepper leaves with no ill effects!  (Twice this year, while in New York, I got severe skin hives from being in the vicinity of lilies and bamboo plants and was put on an intense dose of Prednisone!  Or maybe it’s a North America thing with suspect pollen, ragweed, mold spores, even fertilizer). 

Tequila Tasting!

We did a fun excursion to a tequila tasting warehouse in Cozumel! Tequila is like wine, the most expensive kinds are aged and can range in price from 700 to 1,000 dollars a bottle. Made from the blue agave plant, it is akin to cashew or coconut "feni” from Goa. By law, tequila must be produced in Mexico. There are three types: blanco, reposado, and añejo - and the luxury Don Julio brand with its extra añejo is considered the granddaddy of super premium tequila!  (Pity there was no similar rum tasting in Belize, a major manufacturer and exporter of rum)!

My steward, Dede, did his best to make the trip unforgettable. My only grouse was that the air conditioning was too strong. The cabin was freezing. I had to turn it off and get blankets. The restaurants were also freezing which impacted what we wore - we couldn’t really dress up! The Internet did not work either except briefly on the final night and that was a bit of a bummer!

The boat was also a bit rocky and I know that a few passengers suffered from motion sickness. I was in good shape though having bought Dramamine wristbands (as per YouTube advice)!  Another great purchase was the insect repellent bracelets and stickers for one’s clothes or backpacks, and the magnetic wall hooks for the cabin. So useful!

Cruising the Gulf of Mexico could be so much fun!  Who knew?  

New Orleans Postcript: Live Jazz, Gumbo Festival

There is something so special and vibrant about New Orleans, that most diverse and interesting of American cities. On the final day before flying home we spent several hours enjoying New Orleans' sunny weather, listening to live street jazz at the French Market, consuming coffee and beignets at the Cafe du Monde, and enjoying brass bands at the Treme Creole Gumbo Festival - although it was a challenge finding vegan gumbo minus gluten and seafood! 

Ludi Joseph

Washington, D.C.

Dec. 3, 2018