All aboard for the perfect Getaway
KELLY WILLIAMS loses her preconceptions about cruising
FROM the moment the waiter set fire to the bar, we knew we were in for a good night. One minute, we were sitting enjoying the ambiance of Miami’s Baoli restaurant, the next, the party erupted sending the lights flickering to the beat of Kanye West’s song, Gold Digger.
The experience was the first of many firsts for me on the eve of leaving America’s ‘cruise capital of the world’ on board Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Getaway.
I’ll admit I had preconceptions, mainly based on my dad’s samey collection of photo albums featuring him wearing a tux on the stairs of a grand ship.
But to me, the Getaway felt different somehow, and as we left the port doing a zumba routine on the dance floor of the top deck during the sail-away celebrations, I was already starting to warm to the experience.
Our journey, which began in Miami, took us across the Western Caribbean stopping at Roatan in Honduras, Harvest Caye in Belize and Mexico’s Costa Maya and Cozumel.
The first day spent crossing the Atlantic Ocean into the Caribbean Sea provided the chance to explore the ‘floating resort,’ which boasts 27 dining options, 22 bars and lounges, spa suites, waterslides, children’s creche, fitness centre, casino, rope park, theatres and even a nightclub.
With almost 4,000 guests on board the expansive ship, it was easy to forget we were at sea, but for the obligatory towel animal that greeted us in our cabin at the end of each day.
Our arrival in Roatan saw us taken on a guided bus tour, stopping at various parts of the island. Part of the huge Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (the second largest worldwide after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef ), it’s known for its beaches, dive sites and marine life and has fast become an important cruise ship, scuba diving and eco-tourism destination.
In true tourist fashion, we watched as the locals made coconut bread and coconut candy and others performed a traditional dance to celebrate their freedom from slavery.
We also took a boat trip and saw some of the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch –one of the deadliest hurricanes – which wreaked havoc and chewed up ships in its wake back in 1998.
The following day saw us sail into Harvest Caye – a 75-acre oasis in Southern Belize and the latest jewel in NCL’s crown, which opened to visitors in November last year.
The cruiseliner shelled out millions for the “exclusive piece of paradise” which boasts a 15,000 sq ft pool – one of the largest in the Caribbean – complete with a swim-up bar.
There’s a shopping village, salt water lagoon for water activities, zip wire and 500ft private cabana beach for those willing to fork out hundreds to lounge in luxury.
While we were there, plans were in the pipeline to operate open shuttles and water taxis and run snorkelling trips and excursions from the man-made port. Eco-activities and interactive wildlife programmes have since been launched.
The 400 people who work at Harvest Caye are all locals in a bid to “create a Belize experience.”
Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd said: “We have worked closely with the government of Belize to ensure that this spectacular destination was authentic for our guests, provided economic opportunities for the local community and preserved and protected Belize’s incredible natural beauty.”
However, much like a theme park, they operate the island on a pretty much 9-5 basis.
Be warned, too, food and drink packages on board the cruise liner do not apply on the island.
Costa Maya was our next stop – a small tourist region that thrives off the footfall from the cruise ships.
We took a shuttle truck to the village and found a choice of beachside bars, all proudly offering free WiFi.
For $20 you can even have an hour-long relaxing beach massage.
The area is generally undeveloped but has been growing rapidly after the construction of the pier to accommodate the ships.
Plenty of locals are making the most of this, relentlessly selling their wares, even to sunbathers.
But don’t be scared to haggle for a bargain as even during a flip-flop emergency, I wasn’t willing to pay the $25 the trader was trying to charge me. You can’t blame a guy for trying though. It was onto Cozumel next, an island whose many visitors flock to scuba dive and snorkel.
But before I could experience for myself what all the fuss was about, our adrenaline was pumped up on the ATV jungle tour as we razzed around on off-road quad bikes for a while before a more calmer afternoon with the fish.
It was fascinating watching as swarms of tropical fish darted around us frantically snapping up food from our tour guide. We also spotted several starfish beneath the waves.
Leaving the Caribbean Sea and heading back to Miami allowed more opportunity to indulge in what the ship had to offer.
We (briefly) endured the chilling temperatures of the ice bar, watched the production of Million Dollar Quartet and relaxed at the spa.
There were magic shows, duelling pianos, a comedy club, salsa dancing and a plethora of other activities to get involved in... so there was no time to get bored.
As a mum, it was easy to see the appeal of cruising, with teenage clubs and childcare facilities available right up until the early hours.
It’s also handy having a pre-paid food and beverage card to save having to carry cash around.
In what felt like a whirlwind, we were back on dry land after docking back in Miami.
But before we flew home, there was time to explore the city and visit Little Havana – home to Miami’s thriving Latino community.
Cubans began migrating to Florida in the 1950s but their numbers swelled after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, and in the 1960s the area was named Little Havana.
We also visited Wynwood, a neighbourhood overflowing with vibrant artwork and stunning urban street graffiti.
Overall, my first fly-cruise was much more than I expected, challenging my preconceptions as something that only appeals to the older traveller. You don’t even need to pack your sea legs!