Now that we're dealing with two cabins, it's a bigger production to do anything, even breakfast. Karen and I get up by 8 but the entire group cannot possibly make it to the breakfast venue until after 10 due mainly to the beautification process taking place next door. The kid tries passing out toast, coffee and juice, ordered through room service by him.  Arriving at the Lido, we all have an adequate breakfast; fried egg, toast, fruit, orange juice and c...

So I set the alarm for 7:30am but forget to set my clock ahead one hour so I'm up extra early. We don't have much to pack up, just our two backpacks with last minute items. Our three big bags are already gone, having been picked up last night by the crew. We asked for a late departure and were issued "purple 2". Karen texts Queenie and finds she is actually in Ft Lauderdale, apparently having gone to Miami yesterday just to check it out and have dinner wi...

Today we are at Holland America's private island, Half Moon Cay. It's a short stay, only 8am- 3pm but that's fine for us. We've been here before, back in 2012 when I rode the horses and Karen and I played with the stingrays. Today our plan is just to relax on the beach and enjoy the sunshine. We have reserved a clamshell, a place of refuse from the sun and the kooks where we have two lounge chairs and somewhere to keep our stuff together. Just $20...

It's a sea day so we have no place to go and no schedule to meet yet we won't be able to get everything done. What?  How can that be?  First of all, we get up late, like 9am. Sure, the laundry guy showed up at 8am with the clothes Karen sent in yesterday for cleaning and pressing. That woke me up but it didn't keep me up. I went back to bed for another hour. Then Karen got up and, of course, being the gentleman that I am, I remain in bed a little...

It's another 6am start. That's early for a couple of retired old geezers but our shore excursion starts soon after we dock at 8am so we need to get started. Today we're going on a catamaran ride to St John Island for some snorkeling, followed by snacks and drinks before returning to St Thomas Island. A room service breakfast will get things started. In 1917, St. Thomas was purchased along with Saint John and Saint Croix by the United States for $2...