The Ma'am's Star Western Caribbean Review with Pictures!

[Planmaam]

[Planmaam]

 

OMG! IT WORKED!

 

Here we are at Frenchy's 44 awaiting the ride to Little French Key

Edited February 10, 2013 by planma'am

[Planmaam]

This is a view of our "ride" to Little French Key awaiting us.

 

 

The Grand Girls were getting excited.

 

 

Birds there at Frenchy's 44 were loud and getting attention:

 

 

Our "driver" as we left Frenchy's 44:

Edited February 10, 2013 by planma'am

[Planmaam]

It was a quick, 5-minute ride to our destination:

 

 

 

After we got to Little French Key, my DH disappeared for about 45 minutes; he was exploring and taking pictures. I'll post some of those he took:

 

 

 

Edited February 10, 2013 by planma'am

[Planmaam]

More of DH's exploration:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 10, 2013 by planma'am

[Planmaam]

Noni fruit grew on the island:

 

 

More tropical plants:

 

Several sculptures were found throughout:

 

 

This guy was particularly beautiful:

 

 

I found that the restrooms were particularly nice:

 

And orchids growing:

 

[Planmaam]

Please indulge me as I share more from Little French Key. I can't say enough good about this resort or its owners/managers/staff. It was clean wherever you went, neatly upkept, with several different areas for enjoying different aspects throughout. Medicalma'am shared many photos, to; I just want to add to the overall picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family enjoying the amenities:

 

 

Edited February 10, 2013 by planma'am

[Planmaam]

Oops

Edited February 10, 2013 by planma'am
Missing photos

[Planmaam]

Well, having photo problems again. Not going to try to edit out the missing ones, I'll just go on from here.

 

Our group was not the only one Little French Key, but it almost felt like it. They limit the number of people there every day, though it clearly could have handled more. Just made it seem more private. I was so surprised that there were not more people there. A little kept secret? Though Medicalma'am told me she read a review from someone there, I think it was over Thanksgiving, where it was overcrowded, as one large group had booked for the wrong day, and showed up "unexpected" for that day. They scrambled and made it work, though I think there was something about not enough food. Medicalma'am will have to provide these details.

 

Here's my favorite view:

 

 

The main bar:

 

 

Medicalma'am mentioned that we were all given two drink tickets with our entry. I originally thought I would be buying more, but instead left there with two drink tickets! I immediately ordered their signature drink, the Monely La La, upon the recommendation of others there already. They told me to go slow on an empty stomach, as it was strong and was as good as a milkshake!

 

 

So I had only drunk down about half before eating. By then, the snorkelers had returned, and one of our group had gotten sea sick while out there, so I ended up with her extra drink ticket.

 

So I ordered a second Monkey La La after eating. Then before going out to zipline, my DD gave me my DGD's second drink ticket. I didn't end up using either of these, and could not find anyone else who wanted them, either. Seems they know about how much people are going to drink after all!

 

DSIL and her SO

 

 

Another area for relaxing:

 

[Planmaam]

Still having picture problems; don't understand.

[Planmaam]

Lost one whole post. I'll recreate the photo stream here:

 

Our group enjoying the elevated area:

 

 

 

Medicalma'am and her DGD napping:

 

 

We finally headed back to the ship. Others had left earlier, who had come from one of the other cruise ships in Roatan that day.

 

Here is the view from our balcony as we were departing Roatan:

 

 

And something I never tire of seeing: the wake. Here you can tell that the azipods had turned, as the wake indicated several different directions in thrust.

 

[Planmaam]

I was second-guessing the second to the last photo in the previous post. I titled it a view as we were leaving port, but as I looked at it, I wasn't sure. Then I remembered that I had zoomed into other areas of the port, and this was one of them.

 

Here is a picture DH took of the port as we were leaving:

 

 

And here is a picture of DH taking that picture:

 

 

Photobucket quit on me, so I'm going to submit this before I time out as I try to get it back.

[Planmaam]

Friday was Cozumel. I'm with Medicalma'am; if I had known how nice Chankanaab Park was, I would have left for there immediately to be able to spend more time there. Hindsight........................

 

But we shopped in the port first; I did get a nice silver chain. Let me tell ya'll, they really must think we're all really rich or really stupid. I picked out a chain, and he asked about a pendant for it, so I found one that was OK, even though I was only interested in the chain. I asked how much, and he gave me the sales pitch first, then told me $370.00. My immediate reaction was to say no and hand it back to him and start to walk out. He then told me he'd do me a "special" favor and cut the price in half for cash. I told him I didn't have that much cash and kept walking. He said I could use a credit card, but I told him no and kept walking. He asked how much I would pay, and I said I only wanted the chain. He quoted a few prices, and I kept saying no, but I was not walking. Finally he asked me how much I would pay, and long story short, ended up paying $20.00 cash for the chain only! So if you plan to buy anything, be sure to go in with the price you intend to pay and stick to it!

[Planmaam]

Medicalma'am has told you about the taxi drive to the park, I'll start from our arrival. We had reservations for 6 of us to do the dolphin encounter, and one other person went with us to the park, and paying the entrance fee was easy.

 

A view one direction down the boardwalk once you entered:

 

 

And a view the other direction where you could see another port where three more cruise ships were docked.

 

 

This is where we went to have our dolphin encounter.

 

 

We got a quick bit to eat here while Medicalma'am waited for her CD of pictures to be made.

 

[Planmaam]

We didn't have much time until we had to head back to the port, but we wandered over to the beach area for a short time to relax and let the grand girls swim or play in the sand.

 

 

The blue, blue ocean:

 

 

And white beach sand:

 

 

 

Relaxation central; just wish we had more time there.

 

[Planmaam]

Playing in the sand:

 

 

All good things come to an end, and it was time to wander back to the port. We saw this creature along the way:

 

 

And a final shot from the park: DGD didn't want to leave, but at least posed for this picture, sans smile.

 

 

Once back in the port area, these birds were there to greet us.

 

 

So then it's a long walk down the quay to the Star

 

 

And the "tower of ships" and a party to greet us!

 

 

Music was playing and many crew members were there to welcome us back on board after our last port. Cool towels, I think a fruit punch, and clean beach towels in exchange for the used ones. This is pretty impressive, and I loved it!

Edited February 11, 2013 by planma'am

[Planmaam]

We all headed back to our rooms to shower and change, and this was the view as the ship once again left a port.

 

 

Enough hot water for all the showers. Which reminds me, I forgot to add to the Costa Maya day that when we returned from the beach, we all had to take showers that were tepid at most. I figured it was because everyone on the ship was trying to shower at the same time. That's why I was plesently surprised that after Cozumel there was more than enough hot water.

 

We had our second cocktail party in the Star Bar:

 

 

Medicalma'am and her DH

 

 

Screenma'am and her DH, Bullit

 

 

Myself and my DH, DD, and DGD

 

[Planmaam]

Having fun at the cocktail party.

 

 

DGD showing off one of the tattoos she got

 

 

We went to Moderno for dinner that night, and I think I just got pictures of some of us at a time, as some were at the salad bar. We wanted to go to the Chocolate Buffet after, so did not linger.

 

 

We got some night shots on the ship as we headed to the buffet.

 

 

 

[Planmaam]

Saturday was the Bridge Tour day. We were in the earlier of the two tours. We met Cat, the Group Services Coordinator, at the arranged meeting point, and she called roll. Then we followed her onto the bridge where we were offered champagne or orange juice and hors d'oeuvres.

 

View out the front of the ship:

 

 

The captain spent the whole hour with us, explaining the major functions of the bridge and answering questions.

 

 

My DGD actually asked an intelligent question; here is the captain answering her:

 

 

The Ma'ams with the Captain:

 

 

 

And with the Star's bell:

 

[Planmaam]

We didn't see the whale on the early tour, but we did see a school of flying fish:

 

 

 

Another shot with the Captain:

 

 

And one with my DD and DGD at the ship's bell:

 

[Planmaam]

DH didn't have time for breakfast before the bridge tour, so I sat with him on the pool deck while he ate. DD joined us after taking DGD to the Kid's Club again. I decided to take some orange juice back to the cabin, and walked with DD into the buffet. Two women were coming towards us, and DD spoke to one; she had met them earlier and helped them locate the library, which was just across the hall from her suite. As we moved off, the younger one stopped and turned to me, asking if she knew me. I looked at her again, and sure enough, it was the Fire Marshal from SLC; she and I serve on a State Board together! Small World! DD told her I was her mom, and she introduced us to her mother. Who'd a thought we'd meet in the middle of the Caribbean, not even knowing the other was on the cruise!

 

Orange and cranberry juice; I finally opened our complimentary sparkling wine on the last sea day, but we never emptied the bottle. I hope the room steward was allowed to enjoy the rest!

 

 

 

Enjoying my Mimosa in that wonderful slipper chair I enjoyed so much.

 

 

And another shot of that wonderful Lavazza Coffee Machine that we used so much! Notice we are down to one container of the "yellow stuff" by now ;)

 

 

And enjoying the wake once again:

 

Edited February 11, 2013 by planma'am

[Planmaam]

It was from his vantage point on the pool deck as he ate a late breakfast that DH saw and got pics of Medicalma'am's DD, DSIL, and DGD enjoying the pool and slide:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I even see a smile on her DSIL's face!

[Planmaam]

And a beautiful sunset ended our day.

 

 

 

 

This is where the sun was setting in the west and the moon was rising in the east:

 

 

 

 

I like this one of DH taking the first picture, because you can also see his reflection in the glass.

 

[Planmaam]

It was off to our last cocktail party in the Star Bar, and Cat, the Group Services Coordinator stopped in to tell us good bye. She had lost her voice to laryngitis by now; just too much talking this cruise, I guess!

 

Screenma'am and Cat

 

 

And with me:

 

 

And me with our waiter, Vincent:

 

 

Medicalma'am and her DGD

 

 

And me with my DGD

 

[Planmaam]

DD and her friend, Jogurl:

 

 

DSIL and her SO:

 

 

DD and DGD

 

 

And loving cousins: