GEORGETOWN, GRAND CAYMAN
January 5, 2008


GEORGETOWN, GRAND CAYMAN
January 5, 2008


GEORGETOWN, GRAND CAYMAN
January 5, 2008


Retiring to bed on Friday evening I was confident that the next morning I was surely going to Hell….well as it turned out, I didn’t make it! You see, I was scheduled to go on a shore excursion in Grand Cayman that visited a small village affectionately known as Hell! Last minute changes meant that the underwater submarine adventure I had booked for the afternoon had to be moved up in the day so my time in Hell would have to be scraped. As the Cruise Director so aptly said when we boarded the ship…we would, from time to time need to use the “F: word on our trip…so, being FLEXIBLE, for now, my trip to Hell has been postponed.

Arriving to a cold and windy Ft. Lauderdale mid afternoon on Wednesday, I had a delightful and restful evening at the Westin where I constantly ran into members of the “Club”….people that had been on last year’s Grand World Voyage. It is amazing how many faces and names I recognized. Some, who sailed on Friday on the Amsterdam for this year’s world cruise came early just to see friends off on the South America cruise. Oh these club members! I quickly hooked up with my four Canadian friends: Marguerite, Isabelle, Rudy, and George. Together we made our way to the ship for an easy embarkation early Thursday afternoon.

Although I booked a small inside cabin, at the last minute Holland America offered me an “upgrade” at a price I couldn’t refuse, so I am now ensconced in a lovely cabin with a large window, king-size bed, a small sofa, walk-in closet and recently refurbished bath complete with large soaking tub. I am set! My “home” for the next five months.

My dinner arrangements were confused on the first evening so I found myself at the later seating with a group of single travelers. It seems that the head waiter never got the email confirming our reservation for a specific table for the five of us at the earlier seating. Understanding and patient, I sat at the “new” table the first night with pleasant people. Luckily the great staff was able to rearrange the giant jig-saw puzzle of tables and on Friday I was properly assigned to “my” table with the Canadians and three other interesting travelers.

As usual, the food is wonderful….and so far….so good. I have begun my regime of lots of walking and careful dining….the five month spa adventure has begun.

After a rather turbulent night of fairly rough seas that disturbed many…(not me…I just went to bed and imagined that I was swinging in a hammock suspended between two palm trees) I awoke to a calm and beautiful day with the ship anchored just off the shore of the capitol city of Georgetown, Grand Cayman.


After a smooth and comfortable tender ride to the shore, it wasn’t long before I was boarding an open air two-storied boat that after fifteen or twenty minutes across beautiful blue seas we arrive at the Atlantis XI, a state-of-the-art, air-conditioned, 48 passenger submarine. Diving to depths of over 100 feet we saw thousands of beautiful tropical fish and marine life. Brain coral, sunken barges, and even a submerged sculpture….a mermaid used as an underwater landmark for divers, captured our attention for over an hour. It was the most comfortable “scuba” dive I have ever had.


Strolling around the busy and quaint center of town, I marveled that even though Hurricane Ivan destroyed or damaged almost 80% of the buildings in 2004, most were quickly repaired and reopened resulting in a small thriving community of colorful and attractive shops, restaurants, and resorts. What fun it would be to return and spend some time snorkeling and enjoying this delightful place.

I returned to the ship in plenty of time to enjoy a late lunch and prepare for the early sailing as we make our way to Costa Rica.

So my 2008 adventure at sea has begun…I am indeed a lucky man to be able to enjoy such a great time.