Departed on American Flight 2008 on Saturday, April 12th, 2003 for Florida. At the airport we were greeted by Norwegian Cruise Line staff and driven to the Norwegian Sun. We were immediately very impressed by the ship. It had sailed on its maiden voyage in September 2001 and everything glittered. We were told that it took 100,000 gallons of paint to cover the exterior and interior surfaces. Takes 25,000 light bulbs to light the way and it operates 12 passenger and 9 service elevators. Our state cabin was quite large with beautiful furniture.
April 13, 2003 At sea. Explored the ship and learned how to get around. In the evening joined the Captain's Party for cocktails and after dinner were treated to a fabulous show featuring the Jean-Ann Ryan Company in excerpts of Mayfair Lady, Les Miserables and an American in Paris.
April 14, 2003 At sea. Started the day by working out at the Gym. After breakfast we were asked to stop by the Latitudes Desk where in recognition for being repeat customers were given a very pretty Latitudes pin. Spent most of the day relaxing by the pool and getting to know fellow passengers. That evening was formal night and everyone got dressed for cocktails and dinner.
April 15, 2003 Willemstad, Curacao. The island is located in the southwestern Caribbean just 35 miles north of Venezuela and 42 miles east of Aruba. It is 38 miles long and from 2 to 7.5 miles wide. The population of 150,000 is made up of believe or not of 55 nationalities. Willemstad is the island's capital and only city. Many of its buildings are painted in different colors giving the city a quaint and festive look.
April 16, 2003 Oranjestad, Aruba. Located sixteen miles from north coast of Venezuela this island is very dry (17 inches of rainfall a year) and humid. The beaches stretch 7 miles along a serene coast and the views are spectacular. We drove to the Seaport Village Marina where we boarded a catamaran for a 30 minute cruise heading to a submarine dive site. The cruise provided us a different angle view of Aruba.
We got on the submarine Atlantis and waited with trepidation and anticipation to the dive that took us to a depth of 150 ft. We were able to see up close exotic marine life, amazed by the colorful schools of tropical fish, huge sponge gardens and coral fields and lastly The Morgenster a small sunken coaster. This was the first time we had ever been in a submarine. On our return to shore we walked through the center of town, window shopped before our return to the Sun. After dinner we listened to concert pianist Valdimir Zaitev in his prize winning concert.
April 17, 2003 At sea. We got up at 7am and worked out for an hour at the Gym. Showered, had a great breakfast and spent the morning poolside. At 1pm took a Cha Cha dance class and at 2.00pm listened to a concert by pianist Vladimir Zaitsev. At 3.30 we were treated to a Chocoholic Buffet. Two wall to wall tables of fantastic looking and incredible tasting pastry. We must have gained several pounds just looking at that spread. After dinner we went to a show featuring Don Bryn & Mr. Noseworthy a hilarious ventriloquist and ended the evening dancing to music played by the Norwegian Sun Trio.
April 18, 2003 Sailing through the Panama Canal. The canal is 50 miles long from deep water in the Atlantic to deep water in the Pacific. It requires about 9 hours for an average ship to transit the canal and it would be raised 85 feet in a continuous flight of three steps at Gatun Locks. The length of the Gatun Locks is 1.2 miles. It is an amazing feat of engineering and just for perspective, during excavation 152.9 cubic feet of soil were removed. If placed on railroad flatcars they would have circled the globe 4 times. Completed in 1914 it could still accommodate today's ships, the size of our cruise ship with twelve inches to spare on each side.
April 19, 2003 At sea. Got up at 7am, worked out for an hour at the Gym showered, and of course had a great breakfast. Spent part of the morning poolside, playing Ping Pong and talking to fellow passengers. Listened to a lecture by Dr. Edward Hibler and viewed a short video on Costa Rica. The variety show in the evening was (back by popular demand) Don Bryn & Mr. Noseworthy and a concert by pianist Vladimir Zaitsev. At 10.30pm joined the 70's Night Fever Dance Party which ended late into the night.
April 20, 2003 Puntarenas, Costa Rica. When Spanish explorers arrived at the beginning of the 16th century they found several tribes with a population estimated at 200,000 living in relative prosperity. Costa Rica was the first Central American country to grow coffee and export bananas. It is now noted for its natural beauty and friendly people. Because of Easter Sunday everything was closed so we enjoyed a stroll on this lovely beach.
April 21, 2003 At sea. Started the day by walking around the ship seven times (approx 3.5 miles). After a seven course breakfast sat by the pool, did the daily Sun crossword puzzle and played Ping - Pong. At 2.30pm attended Acapulco, Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta Port talk covering points of interest etc. At 5.30pm joined the Norwegian Sun Band for "Ballroom Dance Time" which was a lot of fun and exercise too. After dinner we were treated to Cirque-Pan a show featuring the Jean-Ann Ryan Company. As usual they were excellent and their dancing very entertaining.
April 22, 2003 At sea. Workout, Poolside now our routine at sea. At 1.00pm took a Tango Dance class and that evening at Spotlight showtime enjoyed the Broadway veteran Holly Lipton ( Jesus Christ Superstar and others).
April 23, 2003 Acapulco, Mexico. Since 1571, Acapulco was the most important commerce and trading port for Europe with the Philipines and other Asian and South American ports for 400 years. During that time, Acapulco became a haven for pirates including Sir Francis Drake. Acapulco played a key role in the Independence of Mexico from the Spaniards in 1810. It began its transformation to that of a vacation destination in the 1920's when the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, visited the bay on a fishing expedition, and the Highway to Mexico City was completed in 1931. It is now home to 1.5 million inhabitants.
We started our visit at La Quebdada admiring world famous high cliff divers. Driven to the outskirts of town we enjoyed the very beautiful panoramic landscape. We stopped for refreshments at the Acapulco Princess Hotel constructed to resemble an Aztec pyramid.
April 24, 2003 Manzanillo, Mexico is known as the Emerald of the Pacific, for its beautiful beaches and luxuriant jungle. Unfortunately we only had just enough time to walk some of the narrow streets that were filled with activity.
April 25, 2003 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Located on the edge of the Sierra Madre range it was once a quiet fishing and farming community. During the 1500's it was a stopover for explorers and pirates. After the filming of the movie The Night of the Iguana in 1964, Puerto Vallarta became a tourist Mecca. Below are pictures of the bay considered one of the largest in the world, the beautiful beach at Mismaloya and a formation of rocks off the coast.
April 26, 2003 Cabo San Lucas. The resort town of Cabo San Lucas, developed into a tourist hot spot the last forty years. During the Spanish colonial era, its natural harbor was periodically used by passing mariners, but since it offered no source of fresh water and scant protection during the summer storm season when chubascos rolled in, it was largely ignored by the Spanish. By the 1930s, a small fishing village occupied the north end of the harbor, and was inhabited by approximately 400 inhabitants. Cabo San Lucans today enjoy free access to its great beaches and we took advantage of this for a quick swim after shopping in town. That evening we enjoyed Comedy Showtime with a very funny Fred Klett.
April 27, 2003 San Diego. Went ashore and headed for Old Town. The colorful shopping, hand-crafted arts and historic sites, all with the charm of Old Mexico made for a nice visit. After dinner we had a Farewell Party and Ballroom Dance and regretfully went back to our cabin to pack as the realization the holiday had ended set in.
April 28, 2003 Los Angeles. Debarked and drove to LAX for our return flight home.