TravBuddy.com: Andy99's Western Caribbean Cruise 2006 travel blog Copyright 2005 TravBuddy LLC http://www.travbuddy.com/blogs/6311 In August 2006 we cruised to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, and Puerto Costa Maya. It was a great trip with a mix of activities ranging from new experiences, like a stingray encounter, to historical sites visits, including two Mayan ruins, to exploring a Mexican coastal village and time for relaxation at sea. It was our first family cruise and a great family vacation. en-us Sun, 27 Aug 2006 16:04:10 PST Quality Inn and Suites Santee (South Carolina) http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Santee-United-States-12 Sun, 27 Aug 2006 16:04:10 PST Quality Inn and Suites Santee (South Carolina) Santee, South Carolina, Aug 27, 2006

We've stayed at the Quality Inn in Santee, SC, twice. (Once when it was a former Holiday Inn motel.) Santee is a convenient overnight stop for us on …

]]> Return to Tampa http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Return-Tampa-11 Sun, 27 Aug 2006 04:43:55 PST Return to Tampa Tampa, Florida, Aug 27, 2006

Our Western Caribbean cruise came to an end as Carnival Miracle docked again in Tampa. Well, the ship actually docked sometime during the n…

]]> Puerto Costa Maya http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Puerto-Costa-Maya-9 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 05:57:11 PST Puerto Costa Maya Costa Maya, Mexico, Aug 25, 2006

Puerto Costa Maya is something of an artificial port-of-call. It was created as a destination for cruise ships. Cruise ships dock here and the pier i…

]]> Mahahual http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Mahahual-10 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:32:20 PST Mahahual Mahahual, Mexico, Aug 25, 2006

Mahahual was an obscure fishing village before the arrival of the nearby cruise ship port. Today, the tempo is picking up, but the village retains mu…

]]> Cat's Meow http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Mahahual-10 Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:36:04 PST Cat's Meow Mahahual, Mexico, Aug 25, 2006

The Cat's Meow is one of several beachfront restaurants in Mahahual. It's on the main street, Avenida Mahahual, just as you come into town. You can't…

]]> Xunantunich http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Xunantunich-8 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:00:01 PST Xunantunich San Ignacio, Belize, Aug 24, 2006

The journey to Xunantunich took us across the whole of Belize, almost to the border with Guatemala. After passing through the town of San Ignacio, we…

]]> Journey Across Belize http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Journey-Across-Belize-7 Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:00:00 PST Journey Across Belize Belize City, Belize, Aug 24, 2006

Belize was a tender port as Grand Cayman had been. But, Carnival Miracle anchored considerably father offshore this time. The tender took about 10 …

]]> Playa del Carmen http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Playa-del-Carmen-5 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 20:40:53 PST Playa del Carmen Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Aug 23, 2006

The hydrofoil arrived at the same dock used by the Cozumel ferry. Mexico! Carnival passengers were met by the various tour guides. Some passengers we…

]]> Cozumel http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Cozumel-4 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 08:29:30 PST Cozumel Cozumel, Mexico, Aug 23, 2006

Carnival Miracle docked in Cozumel on Wednesday. At the time we were there, the International Pier was still under repair and only one ship at a time…

]]> Tulum http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Tulum-Tulum-6 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:00:02 PST Tulum Tulum, Mexico, Aug 23, 2006

Soon we arrived at the turnoff for the Tulum site. As we got off the bus, we were entertained by Los Voladores de Papantla who were putting on a show…

]]> Grand Cayman http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Grand-Cayman-3 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 10:07:15 PST Grand Cayman George Town, Cayman Islands, Aug 22, 2006

I was up and on deck in the early morning darkenss to watch us glide into George Town, Grand Cayman. The ship anchored offshore and li…

]]> At Sea in the Caribbean http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Sea-Caribbean-2 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 10:07:04 PST At Sea in the Caribbean George Town, Cayman Islands, Aug 21, 2006

The first day out was a sea day. This provided an opportunity to fully explore the ship. We entered into the spirit of things by attending Cruis…

]]> SpringHill Suites Westshore Airport Tampa http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Embarkation-Tampa-1 Sun, 20 Aug 2006 06:48:08 PST SpringHill Suites Westshore Airport Tampa Tampa, Florida, Aug 20, 2006

We stayed at the Marriott SpringHill Suites in Tampa before sailing on our Western Caribbean cruise. The hotel was very comfortable and clean and the…

]]> Embarkation at Tampa http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/6311/Embarkation-Tampa-1 Sun, 20 Aug 2006 10:06:51 PST Embarkation at Tampa Tampa, Florida, Aug 20, 2006

Our Western Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival Miracle salied from Tampa. We drove to Tampa from Northern Virginia, spent one night on the road in Sout…

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