Conference abbott::cruise_travel

39.0. "The VERACRUZ of the BSL" by DNEAST::CAHALL_KATHI () Wed Oct 05 1988 21:00

    This was a package, including bus from Waterville, Maine to Portland
    Jetport; plane to Tampa; cruise to Mexico; and then home via ship,
    plane, and bus.
    
    We left Waterville on a Monday in April.  Very early - before dawn.
    We had to wait for the bus - it was late.  A very surprised crowd saw
    a good ol' yellow school bus pull up to take us for a 1 1/2 hour ride to 
    Portland.  Now mind, it is snowing and very cold.  To say we were
    not thrilled was to put it mildly.  Bus driver sat inside while we
    loaded our own luggage in the last few seats.  Had to keep pulling
    luggage higher to have enough seats for everyone.  Glad we had no
    sudden stops!
     
    Arrived at airport, forced frozen limbs off bus, gathered luggage
    and checked in.  First thing the person in our group who was arranging
    all this did was call travel agent at home and complain about the
    bus.  We were promised a better bus when we returned.  Flight was OK.  
    Changed planes in Atlanta.  
    
    Arrived in Tampa.  Waited about an hour for shuttles to take us
    to dock.  Waited about another hour to be allowed to board.
    
    Found room, unpacked, went up top to watch us depart.  Hit bars.
    
    We were second seating for meals.  Excellent choice - don't have
    to get up early for breakfast.  And no time to kill between dinner
    and what I considered "proper" hour to start serious evening partying.
    
    Noticed ship movement increasing during dinner but this was my first
    cruise and I thought it was normal.  Left dinning room and found
    white bags tucked in handrails about every foot.  What did I know,
    thought this was normal, too.
    
    Stopped in room for a few minutes, companion gave in to motion sickness
    and called it a day.  I wandered around outside - HUGE waves, LOTS
    of people sick.
    
    Next morning, companion extremely green and moving no further than
    bed to toliet and back and forth.  Many times.  I went to breakfast.
    Had to keep tipping bowl of oatmeal to keep milk in bowl.  Not to
    many folks showed up for this meal.
    
    I wandered around some more.  Sick folks everywhere.  Captain made
    announcement we were skirting a storm.
    
    At lunchtime, dinning room almost deserted.  Of course, I ate.
    
    Captain made another anouncement - to miss worst of storm (?!?!?!)
    we were going considerably out of our way and would not arrive in
    Mexico in AM Wednesday as planned but later in day.
    
    By dinner I probably could have counted the folks present on one
    hand.  I ate, in between chasing silverware, coffee cup, plate,
    etc. in order to keep everything on table.
    
    Very quiet evening for me.  Walked the decks looking at MONSTER
    waves.  Heard a lot of crashing and banging inside ship.  Announcements
    were made at during the evening as the casino and the bars closed
    up shop early.
    
    Next morning things were a little calmer.  Captain made another
    announcement, due to how far we had gone out of our way we would
    not arrive in Mexico til Thursday.  Would have to skip Wednesday's
    port.
    
    News around ship was that thousands of $'s of damage had been done.
    The gift shop lost most of the glass in their display cases, dining
    room and bars lost a lot of glasses, plates, etc.  Some casino
    equipment that had toppled over was ruined.
    
    During the rest of Tuesday it gradually became calmer.  Wednesday
    was a very pleasant day at sea.
    
    Arrived in Playa Del Carmen early Thursday AM.  Had to wait for
    launched to take us into shore.  Not much there, glad we had opted
    for the bus trip to Cancun.  Waited about 1/2 hour for buses to
    take off.  
    
    Very interesting ride - roads extremely narrow, driver extremely
    crazy.  He delighted in passing everything in sight.
    
    Had a couple hours to shop in Cancun and caught bus back to ship.
    Waited for launch back to ship.
    
    We left during the evening Thursday and spent a very calm Friday
    at sea.  Docked in Tampa early Saturday.  Was about a 2 hour wait
    on the ship to clear customs before disembarking.
    
    Gathered luggage, climbed on shuttles for ride to airport.  Rest
    of trip rather dull from here.  
    
    When we arrived in Portland there was a very nice bus waiting for
    us.  So the trip did end well.
    
    All this for a 1/2 day in Mexico, 1/2 of which was spent on a bus.
    Next time I'll fly to Mexico! 

    

    If you don't mind my asking...was this some kind of bargain cruise?
    Just curious.

    Hi Joe,
    
    Read your last trip, sounded very interesting
    
    
    Dan