February 5, 2019

January 15, 2019

 Last night we went to Willie’s Grill and Icehouse for supper, our second visit to this restaurant.  Joyce and I each ordered their rack of ribs that we thought were very good.  Read more about Willie’s here:  https://williesgrillandicehouse.com/about-us/

January 19, 2019

 We left Hidden Valley at 11:00 AM yesterday to begin our nineteen day “vacation” to the Caribbean.  Our first stop was at the Seaside Inn (link is only for Room W on the 4th floor.  Our’s was on the 1st floor.) Airbnb in Kemah, TX.  The drive wasn’t too bad, just some slowing through Houston and then when entering the Kemah area.

 This is our first stay in an Airbnb.  The Sea Side Inn is a 4-story building that has been remodeled sometime back.  Each floor has individual rooms have a different theme and provide a king bed and in our room, a Jacuzzi tub.  On the third floor is a common living room and kitchen area.  There is free WiFi but it does slow down when heavily used.

 Last night we went to Tootie’s Seafood for supper and had a great meal.  If you are ever in this part of Texas make sure you check out this place.

 This morning we were in the living room having coffee and tea when one of of our house-mates, Brad Kerr came in to make his coffee.  We talked a little and he said he was the grandson of Mr. Robert S. Kerr who was a very powerful U.S. Senator from Oklahoma.  Mr. Kerr was the 12th Governor of Oklahoma and the first governor to have been born in the Oklahoma Territory.

 In 1929 Mr. Kerr founded the Kerr-McGee Corporation, the huge energy corporation with holding in oil and nuclear power.  Anyone remember the movie “Silkwood” staring Meryl Streep, Kirt Russell and Cher?  Yep, the same Kerr-McGee that the movie was all about.  Learn more at these sites:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086312/
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=k000144
https://oklahomahof.com/member-archives/k/kerr-robert-s-1956

 On Brad’s recommendation we had breakfast at Skipper’s Cafe.  Even though the place was packed when we got there we got seated right away.  Very large portion’s and everything was delicious.  Darn, we missed the belly dancing on Friday night.

January 26, 2019

 On Sunday the 20th we drove down to Galveston for our cruise to the Caribbean on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas.  You might recall that we cruised on Liberty two years ago, doing a back-to-back stay on her for fourteen days and now we’re doing the same thing this time.  The only difference is that we will be visiting Costa Maya, Mexico this time.

 After getting checked in our cabin we reacquainted ourselves with the ship and then checked out the Diamond Lounge.  We left Galveston about 4:30 PM and headed headed south.

 After cruising for two days we made it to our first stop in Roatán, Honduras.  Since we had been here before and did an excursion then we just decided to stay on the ship and relax.

 Our next stop was in Costa Maya, Mexico.  After having breakfast we got off the ship and fully intended to hire a taxi and see some of the city.  There were five other ships in port, one being the Oasis of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships the world.  When we got off the ship and walked around the shopping area in the pier area it was packed with people.  We started walking and we walked, and walked and walked some more.  We both said, “the heck with this” and went back to the ship.

 Our next stop was in Cozumel, Mexico where we have been many times.  We did get off the ship to pick up some Amoxacillian and some Arnaca cream that I use on any bruises I get.  Joyce scored a couple of t-shirts and a necklace/bracelet combo.

 During the course of the week Joyce did real well in the casino, winning a very nice jackpot and earned enough points to get a free cruise.

January 28, 2018

 After a day of cruising we arrived back in in Galveston yesterday morning.  Since we are on a back-to-back with another 118 folks we all met in the Star Lounge to be escorted off the ship and to clear customs.  The last time we did this all went very smoothly but this time, not so much.

 We sat in the lounge for well over an hour and then more time down in the terminal.  After getting through that ordeal fe finally got back on the ship for the lunch that Royal provided for us.

 Today is a sea day so Joyce booked us a massage yesterday afternoon.  Joyce did her’s yesterday and I got mine done this morning.

January 30, 2019

 Yesterday we arrived in Cozumel, Mexico about 7:30 AM.  After a nice breakfast in the dining room and then headed to town to exchange a t-shirt that Joyce had bought last week.  That chore was taken care of very quickly but Joyce then went into the same jewelry store she was in last week and of course she had to buy something.  She scored a really nice earrings and necklace set that is beautiful. After returning to the ship we just relaxed for the rest of the day.

 This morning we arrived in Grand Cayman at 10:30 AM.  We had every intention of getting off the ship and wandering around for the day.  However, since this port is tendered and we have been here a couple of times, we decided to hang out on the ship.

February 1, 2019

 Yesterday we arrived at Falmouth, Jamaica at 7:00 AM.  I had been working with Richard, a dining room waiter Liberty to set up a private tour with one of his relatives who works for a tour company.  After getting off the ship Richard met us and escorted us to meet our tour guide and driver Jevaun Foster.

 We had a great time talking to Jevaun, learning a lot about the culture and other things about Jamaica.  We had planned to go see the Rose Hall Mansion but when we got there the parking lot was full with tour buses and they were short of tour guides.

 We then drove just down the road to the main part of Montego Bay and to a little outdoor cafe’ to have a Jerk Chicken lunch that out of this world good.  Next we made a stop at a grocery store to pick up some hot sauces which were a lot cheaper than in the tourist stores.  We then drove the “upper” road to the Roof Top Bar and Grill (used to be the Sky Bar And Grill) for a cold one.  The views from there are spectacular.

February 5, 2019

 We are now back at Hidden Valley RV Park after an easy departure from the ship and an uneventful drive from Galveston.

 All-in-all this cruise was great.  We met some really nice folks and saw some beautiful things while in the ports.  Will we do another back-to-back?  Probably, but will most likely combine two shorter cruises.  Fourteen days in a long time on a cruise ship.

 Our next cruise is on the Ovation of the Seas out of Seattle going up to Alaska in August.  I think there are still cabins available so if anyone of our friends who would like to go on that one book it ASAP.

 As I said earlier Joyce won a free cruise.  Well, she actually got enough points to get two freebies.  We will use those to do another back-to-back on the Enchantment of the Seas starting 28 October thru the 6th of November out of Galveston and going down to Mexico.

 We have been studying the idea of only staying in Texas for a three months and then making a run to Florida in January 2020.  Also, we have been thinking about doing a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s owned Celebrity Cruise Lines for sometime now.  With that said, Joyce checked into a twelve nighter out of Fort Lauderdale in February 2020.  Since this would be our first cruise with them they offered us free drink packages, pre-paid gratuities and a $500 onboard spending credit.

 So on the the Silhouette we’ll be going to the southern Caribbean and visiting St. Croix, U.S.V.I., Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and St. Kits.  Anyone want to go?


More later.

Barry & Joyce