MARCH 2017 CRUISE


FIRST DAY:   In order to make our flight connection (Halifax/Newark/Miami) we rolled out of bed just before 3:00 a.m.  There were so many people catching flights that the shuttles were stuggling to accomodate.  However we got to the airport as scheduled, and from there to Miami all went smoothly. We made the ship in time for a late lunch of Kobe burgers and Mexican beer.  After our luggage arrived we unpacked in time to go to the compulsory lifeboat drill (boring).  This was followed by a small social event organized by an Italian couple with whom Betty has been corresponding on e-mail.

We then had a magnificent supper at Jacques' (the ship's French restaurant).  Everything from the Foie Gras to the Crepes Suzzette was delicious.  With the exception of Betty's starting glass of Champagne, however, we drank Californian wines throughout the meal rather than French.  We hurried from the table at 9:25 and rushed to the theatre and managed to find two seats in the second row just as the curtain rose.  It was not long before the two of us were quite asleep and I hope the spotlights sufficiently blinded the singers so that they were not aware of our boorish behavior.

KEY WEST: I always wanted to visit Key West but never made it until this trip.  I hope the other places on my bucket list are more interesting.  The island of Key West is about 2 x 4 miles and has a population of about 25,000.  The only employment is tourism.  We took a hop-on-hop-off open bus and got a good tour.  There are lots of hotels and restaurants but only two small beaches.

We had planned on walking along the main shopping street, but decided that there are only so many tee-shirt shops that one wants to visit.  If I purchased all the tee-shirts for sale in Key West, the entire Chinese army could be outfitted without making a dent in the supply.  Perhaps I am being unfair in picking on tee-shirt shops.  After all there are just as many places that offer sunglasses.

CUBA: This is the first Oceania ship to be allowed into Cuba.  There are lots of Americans onboard who are very excited about being allowed in Cuba.  As both Betty and I have been to Cuba on several occasions we were less keen.  Not all of the Americans are/were so positive.  Several were upset with what I thought was an even-handed enrichment lecture on Cuba's history.

We had dinner with one guy who refused to get off the ship at Havana.  But, then he told us that he would like to see the United States invade and annex Cuba.  I bit my tongue and didn't bring up the Bay of Pigs.  He also told me in no uncertain terms that one couldn't get modern health care in Canada.

It has been a few years since we were to Havana.  Driving around the city on a hop-on-hop-off bus showed us that Havana is less decrepit than it was a few years ago.  There are still abandoned buildings but there are many that are being carefully restored.  As well, the streets have the classic cars from the 50's but intermixed are now newer Japanese and German models.