back from a cruise

We have been on a western Caribbean Cruise. It was a nice escape from winter although temperatures were mild in our area while we were away.

The ship was the Carnival Breeze, which we have been on before.  

It's bright and pretty on the inside. This is the atrium...with it's spiraling staircase.

We mostly enjoyed the beaches at the ports where the ship stopped.  This was Costa Maya Mexico.

Lonnie had a nice massage right on the beach.

We like to find a spot in the shade.  Peaceful and relaxing. Still just a few steps to the water.

This next beach is my favorite of any beach anywhere.  It's Mahogany Bay...the island of Roatan, off of Honduras.

The reason I like it so much is because it's wonderful for snorkeling.  There are lots of coral formations just off the beach. So much to see underwater...the coral and marine plantlife, and so many colorful fish!  

See the orange kayak directly in front of the boat on the left on the photo below?  That's one of the local guides who offered to pull me behind his kayak out to the "drop off" to see even more and larger fish.

At first I refused thinking I could surely swim out there myself.  But after exploring all around the close-in coral, I couldn't see a way to get past it since it was so close to the surface.

So when he came by again I took him up on the offer.  I grabbed the rope and kept my legs up and my mask in the water and he paddled through the maze of coral at a nice slow pace so I could see everything.

Then suddenly we were past the reef and I was floating over seemimgly bottomless turquoise ocean. It was amazing...quite an experience!  The guide said we were in 85 to 100 feet of water.

Afterwards, I told him to wait while I went up to my beach chair to get a cash tip for him.

"Thank you, Mama", he said when I handed it to him.

We had found a nice shady spot for our chairs and it never crossed my mind that my back was getting sunburned while I was looking under water all day.  

But it was.   Ouch.    At least not bad enough to blister.

So the rest of the cruise had me seeking shady spots...which wasn't a problem. One side or the other is always shaded on the ship.

And I had a long sleeved UV blocking shirt with me - I should have had it on in the water.

 Blue skies and blue ocean for the entire week. Still glad when the ship pointed toward home though.

It's always good to be back home.