Caribbean Cruise 06

In October 2006, I went on a group cruise to Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Crand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

 We left from Galveston, Texas on the Carnival Conquest, a 110,000 ton Fun Ship. This was the first cruise I sailed and had a marvelous time. The most exciting part of my cruise was a horseback ride and swim in Jamaica. The tour group went about 30 miles west of Mo Bay as the port is known to a horseriding station called Chukka Blue. After the guides set us up with the horses, we rode across a field and under the highway while passing alongside a stream. We started climbing a 2-3000 foot high mountain with a deep ravine on the left - needless to say, we stayed very much on the trail. The guide picked a lime leaf and rubbed it before letting us smell the aromatic scent which was divine! Continuing on, we rode down the mountain and back under the highway to Jamaica's original highway. The horses rested for about 15-30 minutes and then were saddled with water saddles. We rode them out into the bay and the horses began to swim. This was fantastic! Once back on shore, we waited a long time for our ride back to port.

The scariest part of being in Mo Bay was waklking with one of my friends in the downtown area. People always ask you if you want a taxi and that'sa no-no unless the cab is goverment sponsored (JUTA). Jamaica is a very pretty island, but the poverty there is astounding especially compared to the well-off Caymanians in the Cayman Islands.

These are very low lying islands - I could see across the entirety of Grand Caymanfrom the ship. (All told, the Caymans consist of 100 sqare miles with Grand and Littel Cayman and Cayman Brac). These islands are part of the British West Indies. One thing about the Caymans, whemn you cruise here, the ships can't dock, so you take a tender into port. I really enjoyed the snorkling here because the waters are crystal clear and the reef is stunning along with the tropical fish and marine life. The next port was Cozumel, Mexico.

I Cozumel, there's lots to do, mostly shopping and water-related activities unless you go to the mainland of Yucatan to tour Mayan ruins. It was very hot and humid in mid to late October, so I didn't do much here.

I highly recommend cruising regardless of the ship you choose - it's a wonderful vacation and great value!