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Place the cursor over the photos to read the
descriptions; if you click on any of the thumbnail pictures,
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Page 3 of 9 |
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Page 3 of 9 |
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On the second night of the cruise, Captain Glenn Edvardsen
welcomes all guests in the beautiful Palm Court high atop the
ship for his Cocktail Party. Enthusiastically, he grabs the
microphone and after introducing his fellow officers, he
jokingly asks if we have enjoyed today's call at Freeport,
Bahamas. The unified "No!" that rises from the crowd says
it all. On this cruise, the ports of call almost
seem to let the Crystal Cruises product down. In fact, many guests
seem to prefer to stay on board in port! |
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Each winter,
Crystal typically schedules a couple of short "taster"
cruises in the Caribbean which are ideal to attract newcomers
to the line.
On this 7-day Thanksgiving cruise, the ship is fully booked
and the number of repeat passengers (often exceeding 40%) is
much lower than usual. Calling at Freeport, Nassau, Cozumel and Key West with two days at sea, our voyage starts
with a 9:00 pm departure from Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday. The next morning,
Crystal Serenity slowly approaches Freeport and docks
right next to some container ships, dry docks and an oil
refinery. A 15-minute taxi ride brings us to Port Lucaya, a
custom-built tourist trap with brightly colored shops, a straw
market and some restaurants and bars. Being a Sunday and with only one cruise ship in port, most shops are deserted and
the same goes for the sprawling resort area that is being
developed next door. However, with a crystal clear sea, white
sandy beaches and a Bahama Mama (the drink, that is) in
hand, who can complain? |
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The next day Crystal Serenity docks in
Nassau, fun paradise in the Bahamas. There are four large ships in port and the
lines to leave the dock area are endless. T-shirts vendors and
taxi drivers are everywhere. In Nassau's Main Street the crowds work their way
through rows of duty-free stores, returning to their ships carrying boxes of cheap liquor. |
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Wednesday sees our
ship
anchored off the town of San Miguel on the Mexican island of Cozumel. I have fond memories of my two visits to the island
in 1992, when a distinct Mexican flavor colored the touristy
town. However, times have definitely changed here, because on this November day, no
less than eleven cruise ships call at Cozumel. You can
see them arriving from all directions. The Norwegians,
Carnivals, Princesses, Disneys, Royal Caribbeans and
Celebrities belch out tens of thousands tourists who
immediately take possession of the island. Gone is the Mexican
flavor; on this day Cozumel feels like an overdeveloped U.S.
annex where you can buy cheap Corona beer and Cuban cigars.
And again ... lots of t-shirts! |
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Despite its huge tourist
appeal, Key West has retained much of its charm and friendliness. We arrived on
Friday morning and are transported to the center of town by trolley. There and
then, we decide to take the full 90-minute tour that shows us many of the fine
homes and the southernmost point in the Continental USA.
With its laid-back atmosphere
and rustic tropical looks, I can't help falling in love with Key West. |
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For a
cruise that is labeled "Seafare's Expedition", I would have
expected a somewhat more adventurous array of destinations.
Still, Crystal Cruises provides excellent port information
sheets that can be picked up from the Reception area. Well
done! |
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