On November 27 we arrived into Key West. Due to the hurricane damage we could not dock, and overall we did not see that much damage except for some damage to piers and some boats that were still stranded out of water. We took a glass bottom catamaran ride out to the only living coral barrier reef and then took the Conch train/trolley through old town Key West.
November 29, we arrived into Belize City. We had a shore excursion that included a panoramic tour of Belize City and then we went to Altun Ha to see the Mayan ruins. Belize has a series of coral reefs that runs along the entire country, which makes it the second largest living coral reef system in the world. Due to the reef we had to be tendered by boats from Belize as most of the water getting to Belize City is only 3-5 feet deep.
Altun Ha is a medium sized Maya center which housed up to 8-10,000 people in it's prime around 500-600 AD. The excavations revealed that this site had incredible wealth and had the largest carved jade treasure in the Mayan world called the Jade Head.
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| Black Orchid, Belize's flower |
On the 30th we were to stop in Roatan, Honduras. This was the best picture we could get of the country as they had experienced significant rain and the water around the island was very brown from the runoff. They announced that we would not be able to stop at Honduras due to the roads not being in a safe condition for travel to our various excursions, but the country was also having political unrest. So an unplanned day at sea.
So we had two days at sea in a row, so we just relaxed, walked the ship, watched movies and attended their evening entertainment. All the entertainment except for one night in Panama was done from the Viking Sky entertainers They were all excellent and put on some great shows. Below is a picture of the three male singers who did a great Rat Pack tribute.
December 2, our next stop was Puerto Limon, Costa Rico where we took a boat trip up the Toruguero canals in Toruguero National Park to see the 3 toed sloths, Howler monkeys, birds and the Jesus lizard, which runs on the surface of the water.
We next ported at Colon, Panama and then took the shore excursion to Panama City and the old town area. Colon seemed very impoverished, but Panama City was very modern with lots of buildings in their financial section of town. All the pictures below were from Panama City.
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| Santa Clara Convent |
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| Bridge of the Americas |
That evening for entertainment, we were entertained by the Panamanian Ballet Folklorico Dances & Allegories.
On December 4 we entered the Panama Canal, went half way and then into Gutan Lake, turned around and came out of the canal the same way we came in rather than going through to the Pacific Ocean. The whole process took about 8 hours. Quite interesting to see.
On December 5 we were in Cartagena, Colombia. We took a tour of Cartagena Cludad Vieja, an old city built in the 16th and 17th centuries, inside the walls of San Felipe de Barajas Fortress which stretches for 7 miles and is 25 feet thick, making the walls the longest in South America.
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| San Pedro Claver Church |
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| Reclining Fat Lady Statue. Supposed to rub for good luck. |
December 6 was another day at sea. The Viking Sky three female vocalists did a great show.
On December 7 we arrived into Montego Bay, Jamaica. Our shore excursion was a raft trip down the Martha Brae River. We had a great captain and he moved us slowly down the 3 miles of the river on his raft.
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| Oldest home on the Cayman islands. |
Farewell Reception put on by the captain and staff.
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| Cruise Director |
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| Captain of Ship Ben |
Additional pictures of the ships staff and our room.
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| Our favorite Bar waiter - Ardel |
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| Asst Cruise Director Jamie Clarke |
December 9 was another day at Sea and we landed back in Miami on December 10 and then flew back to Phoenix.
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