19/20 December 2023
 |
| Miami |
 |
| Miami Beach lifeguard |
Toro Toro restaurant, Interncontinenal Hotel (4.0/5)
Big Bus Tour (4.0/5)
 |
| Miami's Art Deco District |
 |
| Modern art @Rubell |
 |
| A decent coffee |
--------------------------------------------------
 |
| Seven Seas Grandeur |
21 December 2023 to 6 January 2024
A magnificent new ship barely four weeks at sea. 548 staff splendidly serving the needs of 746 guests in 373 cabins all with balconies. Eight discerning and cultured dining experiences. Contemporary wellness spa and gym facilities, pool, sports deck, high-tech theatre, library and over 1,600 pieces of art.
 |
| Seafarers Way, George Town, Grand Cayman |
George Town, Grand Cayman (2.0/5)
23 December 2023
We expected a Caribbean tax haven al la Monaco and found a modest settlement of no great attraction. A short guided cycle ride to the jagged limestone of Hell and a tourist rum store revealed little of the Cayman Islands history of pirates, British colonialism and wealth disparit
 |
| Cartagena, Colombia |
25 December 2023
Spanish Cartagena has been restored and maintained colourfully and with attention to detail. Our guide was competent if too keen to get to the gem stone store, so we missed the fort and many churches. If nothing else this too short stopover revealed a city worth revisiting for its architecture, history and to taste the extraordinary range of foods and coffee on offer.
Panama Canal
One off the bucket list. An amazingly smooth operation. Train engines tow the Grandeur through each lock, keeping the ship in good shape in a very tight fit. It's 80km from Atlantic to Pacific through three lock chambers at either end. Watching huge ships slowly process across the jungle surrounded Gutan Lake is quite something. That it all works so seamlessly is a quiet tribute to well-loved 100 year old engineering.
 |
| Our cabin door |
Covid strikes
Two days of self-denial, another spent in bed, concede defeat, take a RATS, positive! Off to the medical centre - definitely Covid; so pills, nebulisers and 5-days isolation. Carole escapes to another cabin. Prudently I masked-up whilst Covid took hold, so hopefully infected no one else. In my cabin I doze on the balcony sun-bed as Grandeur steams ahead and Ted Lasso amuses me. A timely call from Captain Aris thanking me for isolating boosts my spirits on day 3. A US$14,000 medical bill drives home the diabolical state of healthcare in the US, thankfully we are insured.
 Formal dining (ship's atrium) Full Steam ahead |
6 January 2024
 |
| Grand Avenue - The Broad Art Museum and Walt Disney Concert Hall |
A bus tour on the way to the airport nicely fills the day. Plenty of highlights to visit on another occasion: From Grand Avenue with its stunning contemporary arts precinct and the art deco City Hall to the hustle and bustle of Broadway and the Farmers Market. Our stops are too short to explore properly as we head to the Tom Bradley International terminal that has made such a difference to LA airport. LA has cleaned-up since our last visit, a return visit is called for.
Regent Seven Seas Cruise (4.5/5)
Miami to Los Angeles via the Panama Canal
The ship and crew were wonderful, onboard facilities excellent and food delicious. Of the diversions, the speakers were excellent (especially one-on-one over dinner). The tepid shows lived-up to our low expectations, out-shone by the crew's production 'Krew Kapers'. A half point lost for a disappointing lack of knowledge amongst tour guides and the sommeliers. Still, a marvellous experience and special call-outs to Cafe Connection barista's whose cortardos got better and better and cocktail pianist Gino de Luca who chilled us every evening in the Observation Lounge and a geniune host in Captain Aris.
No comments:
Post a Comment