Just back from a 4 night shortie aboard Splendour of the Seas to Cozumel and back to Galveston, Jan. 16th  20th.

We followed a cold front into the Gulf and half the ship ended up green around the gills. Fortunately, neither my husband nor I are bothered by rough seas. Our first night out was accompanied by 22 waves and 70 mph gusts. She was a rockin and a rollin. My husband, on a triple dog dare, went into the spa pool alone. No other guests in the solarium. It looked like a pan of dish water sloshing around like mad and per his diving watch was a chilly 72 degrees. You could see the bottom of the pool going up and the water would spill over the side coming down. It was hilarious and he enjoyed the thrill but apparently the ship staff thought the pool, in fact both pools indoors and out, should be closed, because the water was evacuated that night and the nets put over the pools. They didnt open again until we docked in Cozumel.

We sailed out of the front at dawn and got our first look at what the hurricane left of beautiful Cozumel. The pour trees! All stripped and just budding back out. Looked like stilts sticking out of the ground. Some hotels we remembered from last time were completely gone, only foundations left. But the people havent changed. Reconstruction going on at a furious pace. It will be no time until things are normal again. Due to the high winds our day in port, most water sport excursions were canceled but our 2 bus loads of Passion Island visitors voted to go on, so we went out to the island with determination. It has been considerably damaged (mostly trees, and all the little buildings were blown away) but the restrooms and kitchen and cabana have been rebuilt and the buffet was fantastic as well as the beverages/open bar. Our guide Alex made us all feel like old friends and did his best to make the visit a good one in spite of the high winds that blew the stinging sand on our legs. The usually azure crystal clear water there was sand churned by the wave action so it was not as spell binding as it usually is, but we are determined to return again the next sail. The rest of the day was spent eating a little Cozumel Cerviche Mixto, Wonderful! Octopus and all! The sail back home was uneventful as the weather goes. Peacefully calm and enjoyable. Read more