Cruising in the Time of Covid: Explorer January 19 – February 4, 2022, San Diego to Miami

[forgap]

I think it’s a matter of respect and following the guidance.  In bars and restaurants we self regulate social distance.  In busses we are unable to.  Just today, we had a couple with masks below their noses and later completely off.  I’m not the mask police but I wanted to say something.  I didn’t because my mask was tight.  
 

On another note, Puerto  Chiapas required four random passengers on tours to get an antigen test.  I was one of them.  I passed but had a moment of anxiety.  So, the protocols we are following are working.  It’s simple:  mask up, keep social distance, wash your hands.  Why is this controversial at all?  

[forgap]

Yesterday we were in Puerto Chiapas which is a new port, located in southern Mexico.  They are trying to position themselves as a tourist destination and have built a lovely port on a protected harbor.

 

The economy is largely agriculture and they are known for tropical fruits such as mangos and papaya, Chiquita banana exports, coffee, and chocolate. After the uber tourist destinations of Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, this stop was an opportunity to see an authentic slice of regional Mexico.  

I mentioned earlier that I was selected for a random antigen test.  This was a suprise.  The first shipboard announcement was that four passengers per tour would be tested, then, after negotiation with authorities, no passengers would be tested.  Then once off the ship, four random passengers would be tested.  Lucky me.  It was all very efficient however and this was the first time we had to show our vaccine cards which I had on an app on my phone.  
 

Our tour was to the Izapa archeological site which has extensive ruins dating back to Inca and Mayan eras.  
 

From there we traveled to the town of Tuzla Chico where we were educated on chocolate production, going from seed pods,

 

to the raw product,

 

to the roasted beans,

 

to grinding them with flavorings such as coffee, vanilla, or cinnamon. 
 

It was a fascinating tour.  We then sat for a dance performance which was lively and represented the cultural of the town.  27% of the population is indigenous with their own languages and cultures.  
 

The town itself was such a refreshing slice of Mexican life.  School children in uniforms,

 

 

shopkeepers and street vendors, 

 

 

a covered market,

 

and the town church.  

 

 

We are one week away from the “Dia de La Candelaria” which is a major religious and family celebration consisting a parading the virgin through the town, eating tamales, and eating cake with little Christ figures inside (and to be avoided so you don’t have to buy tamales for the town!).  The various virgins for different feast days are in niches in the church.  The virgin for Candelaria has already been taken down and positioned on a decorated float to be carried through the town on February 2nd.  

 

I know we have been complaining about our tours thus far but this was a 9/10, in my opinion.   It was one point off from perfect because it was probably 30 minutes too long (.5 point) and difficult to understand our guide due to a combo of accented English and a mask (.5 off but not her fault.)

[1982CruzStart]

So glad you finally had a good tour. Thanks for the pictures and commentary. Looked like a very interesting stop. 

[Wendy The Wanderer]

How nice, this tour sounds so great.  Reminds me of one we took somewhere in Ecuador.

[GoNavyFamily]

It appears the port stop at Costa Rica will take place as planned tomorrow! Yay!

 

Meanwhile, more food porn pictures.

 

We had our first meal at Chartreuse and it was very nice. We started with a pretty salad.

 

I had dover sole, he had rack of lamb.

Dessert was an apple pastry and a chocolate cake. 

 

 

Last night we ate outside at Sette Mari. There was a wonderful breeze and I think this is the only dinner venue at which you can eat outdoors. Even better, no reservations are needed so you can decide last minute to dine there.

 

The waiter brings to your table assorted antipasto dishes and will bring you additional items from the indoor display of salads and other dishes or you can help yourself.

 

Desserts work the same way.

 

This morning I tried to burn off a very few of the many calories I am taking in by walking and jogging on Deck 12. What a wonderful view for morning exercise! For an added treat, there were many dolphins to be observed in the waters right next to the ship. 

 

Tomorrow, the rain forest in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

 

[MomC]

Ahhh!  Puntarenas.  This is where I did zip lining.  None of the commercial zip lines like you see in many ports.  This one was waaaay back in the jungle.  Got geared up and did the first station.  Imagine my surprise when they told me I had 10 more stations to go.  I thought it was one and done.  WRONG!  I survived and was proud of myself for doing it.  But once is enough for me.

[kjbacon]

This is a great thread, thank you! I felt like I was on that excursion and at Chartreuse. Fabulous!

[forgap]

Cocktail Porn!  
 

I’ve been systematically going through the cocktail menu in the Meridian lounge - for research purposes only, but I hate to waste so I’m not a sip and spit kind of girl.  Sonia, Bogdan, and Thomas are consummate professionals.  We always sit at the bar so we can see their artistry as they build the cocktails.   FYI, I inquired about some newer non alcoholic drink bases, such as Seedlip.  They are planning to include an Australian brand in the near future.  My objection to many mocktails is that they tend to be sweet and fruity and don’t have the balance of a well made cocktail.   
 

Here we go:  Pepper Jack - Jack Daniels, passion fruit. Fresh lemon juice, jalapeño.  One version is on the rocks, and the other is straight up.  I don’t really like icy drinks so I preferred the one that was straight up.

 

 

 

I think  this is Gin Made Me Do It.  I didn’t order this but since I was sitting there, I photographed it.  Tanqueray, lime juice, orange bitters Indian tonic.

 

Mojito

Star martini - stay tuned, I forgot to take a pic of this part of the menu.  Too sweet for me.

 

Margarita

 

Finally, it’s  sangria Friday at La Veranda.  Drinking first thing in the morning is not my favorite thing to do but I’m in research mode!  Here’s one for the team!

[DatawCruiser]

Thank you for taking one for the team!  Keep up the good work.

[forgap]

I can’t seem to edit my cocktail porn post.  I think the last drink is the star martini….maybe not….tough to do cocktail research when cocktails are on board.   I need to take notes knowing that my memory may be compromised!  

[Johnthesailor]

Are people socializing in the lounges and at the bar or is everybody socially distancing with a minimum of interaction between couples/groups.  Are people sharing tables in the dining room or staying Aston tables for two?  I ask because we normally travel with another couple but are thinking of going ourselves - but we enjoy socializing with others. 
 

thanks for your input,

John

[forgap]

There is some socializing in the lounges.  We tend to like our own company so we generally sit apart  from others.   Covid certainly reinforces the distance.  However, we ate dinner last night with a couple we met on an excursion.  It was refreshingly normal.   

[Damaris1900]

2 hours ago, forgap said:

 FYI, I inquired about some newer non alcoholic drink bases, such as Seedlip.  They are planning to include an Australian brand in the near future.  My objection to many mocktails is that they tend to be sweet and fruity and don’t have the balance of a well made cocktail.   

Do you happen to remember if the Australian brand was Lyre's?  If so, I do like some of Lyre's NA offerings--especially the Italian Spritz, which is a ringer for an Aperol spritz--so that would make me very happy.

The photos are great, thanks for all the research!

[Gcto]

5 hours ago, forgap said:

Cocktail Porn!  
 

I’ve been systematically going through the cocktail menu in the Meridian lounge - for research purposes only, but I hate to waste so I’m not a sip and spit kind of girl.  Sonia, Bogdan, and Thomas are consummate professionals.  We always sit at the bar so we can see their artistry as they build the cocktails.   FYI, I inquired about some newer non alcoholic drink bases, such as Seedlip.  They are planning to include an Australian brand in the near future.  My objection to many mocktails is that they tend to be sweet and fruity and don’t have the balance of a well made cocktail.   
 

Here we go:  Pepper Jack - Jack Daniels, passion fruit. Fresh lemon juice, jalapeño.  One version is on the rocks, and the other is straight up.  I don’t really like icy drinks so I preferred the one that was straight up.

 

 

 

I think  this is Gin Made Me Do It.  I didn’t order this but since I was sitting there, I photographed it.  Tanqueray, lime juice, orange bitters Indian tonic.

 

Mojito

Star martini - stay tuned, I forgot to take a pic of this part of the menu.  Too sweet for me.

 

Margarita

 

Finally, it’s  sangria Friday at La Veranda.  Drinking first thing in the morning is not my favorite thing to do but I’m in research mode!  Here’s one for the team!

Try the Virgo...my fav

[puppyluv1]

Your photos are fantastic!  Loving this thread. 

[GoNavyFamily]

Yesterday's excursion in Costa Rica "Aerial Tram and Rainforest Adventure" was easy, if anticlimactic and not quite what I expected from the description given. We had a pleasant hour+ drive from the pier to the restaurant and tram with an excellent, knowledgeable guide who talked about the country, the people, and his desire to conserve natural wildlife. We are on the Pacific side of the country; the Caribbean side is, I understand, more tropical.

 

The views on the drive were not exceptional other than being told we were going over a river where lots of crocs reside, and periodically seeing the ocean and mountains beyond. We did pass a small boat yard where you could clearly see a boat in stages of being built. I though that would have made an interesting stop to add to the schedule!

 

The restaurant at the entrance to the tram is large, very clean with very nice restroom facilities and a small gift shop. We were served a nice lunch before boarding the tram. 

 

The foilage and feel of the area is not what I expected. It didn't really feel "rain forest" and we saw no tropical birds or animals while on the tram, which was disappointing. Still, it was pleasant enough. 

 

The "walk through the rainforest" portion of the tour was no more than following a set path just behind the restaurant where clearly specific foilage had been planted to augment what grew naturally. Our guide provided interesting information on trees and plants which have been or are still used for homeopathic remedies or spices for eating.  We did see a couple of iguana and the guide pointed out some tropical birds you could barely see from the ground. 

After that it was back in the bus. We elected to have room service dinner and we were impressed how our wonderful Butler, Preston, set a beautiful table in our cabin. It is definitely better to eat in a restaurant, however, as the food is much hotter and tastes better.  

That's my report on Costa Rica!

[InsGuy3]

1 hour ago, GoNavyFamily said:

Yesterday's excursion in Costa Rica "Aerial Tram and Rainforest Adventure" was easy, if anticlimactic and not quite what I expected from the description given. We had a pleasant hour+ drive from the pier to the restaurant and tram with an excellent, knowledgeable guide who talked about the country, the people, and his desire to conserve natural wildlife. We are on the Pacific side of the country; the Caribbean side is, I understand, more tropical.

 

The views on the drive were not exceptional other than being told we were going over a river where lots of crocs reside, and periodically seeing the ocean and mountains beyond. We did pass a small boat yard where you could clearly see a boat in stages of being built. I though that would have made an interesting stop to add to the schedule!

 

The restaurant at the entrance to the tram is large, very clean with very nice restroom facilities and a small gift shop. We were served a nice lunch before boarding the tram. 

 

The foilage and feel of the area is not what I expected. It didn't really feel "rain forest" and we saw no tropical birds or animals while on the tram, which was disappointing. Still, it was pleasant enough. 

 

The "walk through the rainforest" portion of the tour was no more than following a set path just behind the restaurant where clearly specific foilage had been planted to augment what grew naturally. Our guide provided interesting information on trees and plants which have been or are still used for homeopathic remedies or spices for eating.  We did see a couple of iguana and the guide pointed out some tropical birds you could barely see from the ground. 

After that it was back in the bus. We elected to have room service dinner and we were impressed how our wonderful Butler, Preston, set a beautiful table in our cabin. It is definitely better to eat in a restaurant, however, as the food is much hotter and tastes better.  

That's my report on Costa Rica!

Is that Preston from Goa, India? He was our butler on a Mariner Suite a few years ago. He was absolutely GREAT!

[GoNavyFamily]

3 hours ago, InsGuy3 said:

Is that Preston from Goa, India? He was our butler on a Mariner Suite a few years ago. He was absolutely GREAT!

Yes I think so. An extraordinarily nice young man. Has already finished his 6 month contract but is remaining until Regent can assign a replacement. He is anxious to see his young son but says he loves his work.

[InsGuy3]

1 minute ago, GoNavyFamily said:

Yes I think so. An extraordinarily nice young man. Has already finished his 6 month contract but is remaining until Regent can assign a replacement. He is anxious to see his young son but says he loves his work.

He certainly is extraordinary. We are on the next cruise on Explorer on February 4. Hope we get an opportunity to connect with him again. Fingers crossed. 

[forgap]

We had a long but enjoyable day yesterday in Costa Rica.  Our travel agent had signed us up for a special “Distinctive Voyages” tour.   Eleven of us departed the ship on a minibus with good AC and wifi!  Our agenda was to first hike on aerial bridges and then take a boat ride on the Tarcoles River.  We headed south through beautiful countryside, the pacific on our right and very high mountains on our left.

 

The route took about an hour with the obligatory stop for restrooms and souvenirs.   Our guide was well versed in the flora and fauna of the region so we had some unexpected stops to look for monkeys, admire iguanas, and gawk at sunbathing crocodiles at the crocodile bridge.  

 

We then arrived at an eco lodge for another bathroom break before starting our hike through the temperate rain forest and the hanging bridges.  We heard birds but didn’t see any.  Insect life was very visible, especially the very industrious ants, tending their queen by bringing bits of this and that into the nest.  

 

The hanging bridges were not for acrophobes.   They were suspended above deep ravines and shook and swayed as we traveled across them.  This took about an hour and a half and we were pretty hot and tired when we got back to the bus.  We had a break for iced tea and delicious tropical fruit at the eco lodge before traveling to the Tarcoles River.  

 

Costa Rica is a paradise for birders.  Many of the summer residents in the US and Canada go south for the winter and end up in Costa Rica.  I added quite a few birds to my life list.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The river is famous for crocodiles, who can live beyond 75 years.   The guide said that many of them had been named by the locals, the biggest is Osama bin Ladin (because he hides), but there is also Bill, Hilary, and Monica, and Donald Trump (because he had a big mouth).  This is Captain Hook (because he lost an arm in a fight over territory):

 

The Crocs were alarmingly close to the boat and we were cautioned to keep put hands inside.  
 

The sun was setting while we were on the river and the birds were roosting for the night.
 

 

 

And, finally saw Scarlet macaws!  
 

 

Oh, and we had a handful of “influencers” from Spain on our boat ride.  They were young and photogenic, creating media for a Spanish you tube channel!  
 

 

We returned to the ship at 7:30, hot and tired.  We took a quick shower, tried to make ourselves presentable and had a great dinner in Compass Rose.  

 

 

Edited January 29, 2022 by forgap

[Jimmcdaniel]

3 hours ago, forgap said:

Oh, and we had a handful of “influencers” from Spain on our boat ride.  They were young and photogenic, creating media for a Spanish you tube channel!  

They look like "brochure people".

[DatawCruiser]

11 minutes ago, Jimmcdaniel said:

They look like "brochure people".

With no masks in sight.

[mrlevin]

24 minutes ago, DatawCruiser said:

With no masks in sight.

Why would you wear a mask outdoors?

[DatawCruiser]

23 minutes ago, mrlevin said:

Why would you wear a mask outdoors?

Maybe because they are standing in close proximity to others?

[RachelG]

GoNavyFamily, disappointed for you that they didn’t stop and let you watch the crocodiles in the River from the bridge.  There was certainly a lot of action going on when we were there.