Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

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The alarm woke us before sunrise this morning. As predicted it was cloudy and rained off and on. Fortunately it never rained on us. Breakfast at Terrace started at 6:30am and we arrived as they opened. We ate a quick breakfast. Back to the cabin to use the bathroom, brush our teeth and pick up our bags and tour tickets. Antigua at a Glance tours met at 7:35am. They went in buses of about 16 passengers each. There were a dozen or more buses. I think I mentioned before that Oceania had a poor tour selection here. One to a macadamia nut farm, one to coffee and one to a safari zoo. The only excursion to Antigua is the one we took and the only promised stop after the 3-4 hour roundtrip drive was to a Jade Factory/Museum/Store. We drove through miles of bananas, coffee and sugar cane. They grow shaded coffee and we bought some at the big stop after they gave out samples. The tour was expanded by 45 minutes after ticketing for free time to eat (or whatever you chose). We got Clay a Gallo cerveza, me a frozen chocolate drink and we shared big meringues and a cinnamon raisin bun. We visited a plaza in front of an old cathedral for that free time. We also had a visit to La Merced Church, the  Santa Catalina Arch and 15 minutes of free time. Clay bought another Gallo to take back to the ship. The guide gave us worry dolls, I won a fiber ball and more worry dolls during the ride back. He gave us all maps. The Antigua map does not list Maya Jade as a point of interest, btw. Our impression was that the tour company (and perhaps Oceania) were paid to deliver us for the hour or so visit there.  There was enormous shopping area spread around the port entry. We had about 30 minutes to walk through from the bus to the ship. I bought a blouse for $35. It wasn't what I had in mind and it still seemed expensive but it wasn't the $60 they were asking in Mexico.

We tried to go to Waves for lunch but there is only seating for about 30 people there and all the hundred plus just back from Antigua were trying to eat there. There is more seating in Terrace but they weren't seating in there. So we went down to Baristas and ate some cold sandwiches.

We were all aboard on time since I assume there were few if any passengers independently touring here given O's strong warnings against it and the remoteness of the port. The Captain made a warning announcement about the sea swells and the tender conditions tomorrow. I took it as a heads up that the port would be canceled and bypassed. Clay disagreed. I guess we'll find out tomorrow. We booked this cruise for San Francisco sail in and out, Catalina Island (already canceled), Guatemala (not a well scheduled port stop excursion-wise) and Nicaragua. So, if we miss Nicaragua too, I will be sorely disappointed in Oceania. Needless to say, we have not booked a future cruise while onboard.

We'll plan to have dinner at Terrace tonight if it is calm enough otherwise we'll have to endure the menu and slow service in the Grand Dining Room. I'll post this now since I have Internet and I'll assume nothing else noteworthy will happen.

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