Author: Dan

Roatan is an island off the north shore of Honduras. The cruise resort, on Mahogany Bay, is on the south side. Diane is guessing that’s its name because a lot of mahogany wood originates from here. Something to research.

Wherever you have Caribbean, you have pirates, right? Apparently there was a lot of piratey activity here back in the day.

Chair lift over to the beach side for nachos, a margarita, Long Island iced tea and sex on the beach. No not that kind of beach, the drink.

Back to ship for some thermal spa time, a nap, dinner, then dancing with our shipmates til some I forget when wee hour.

… does not begin at the port. There’s no way a behemoth cruise ship is getting near a dock in Belize City. The ship shimmies its way through a crazy set of turns to arrive at and tie off to a dock (floating, I presume) about 5 miles offshore.

A fleet of… seasoned… water busses then shuttles you to and from the mainland.

The port shopping area is not too unlike any of the other Caribbean ports we’ve been to. Lots of vendors hawking tours of the city (we didn’t leave the gated compound,) gift and clothing shops, and of course diamond shops.

Clearly catering to the US and European tourists that drive the local economy.

Visited shops for maybe a half hour, bought a shirt, then hitched a ride back to the ship.

The pale blue (and white and gray) dot (smudge) we call “home” for now.

Hit the thermal spa and napping til dinner.

Eighties Night, kicked off with a silent disco. So much more fun than I expected. Only strange if you’re watching without headphones.

Imagine letting two random dudes on the ship with this technicolor shirt. 😆

Diane and Magdalena, our fearless leader / teacher / cruise director / friend.

The Star Princess is brand new, christened just 11 days ago, and so she has every electronic feature imaginable. All guests are issued little AirTag-like trackers instead of cards. So, the system knows where everyone’s at, and, unlocks your cabin door as you walk up to it. And, for extra feedback that you’re reaching for the right door, a little ring around the door handle lights up.

Mostly bums in the morning, some ship exploring, until our first dance class, at noon.

More bumming about and napping until dinner at the hibachi restaurant. It was Formal – Red night, so here’s our obligatory pic in front of the elevator infinity mirror…

And us with our good friends Rick and Marian.

Followed by a Latin music production in the main theater, Latin music and dance with our classmates (and many others) with a live band. Will see if anyone posts pics and share.

Wound down afterwards at the aforementioned Sphere theater, and back to our cabin a little after midnight.

Ten points to our first child to catch the paraphrased movie reference. The Star Princess is one of their Sphere Class ships. so named, I presume because of structures like this theater forward on deck 17. Stunning setting. Feels like a cathedral.