Now - about our group. There is a forum very similar to the Garden Web forums; Cruise Critic is a forum for folks who cruise or want to cruise. It has several categories, but the most popular one is the Message Boards. That is where you can find out about or ask questions about ports of call, information about specific cruise lines, reviews, and the most popular one - Roll Calls. A roll call is where folks "gather" to meet each other prior to a specific cruise. Each cruise line and each ship has its spot. When someone wants to meet others, you look for your sailing; or if not there, then create a roll call. There is a lot of chatting about where you are from, whether you have been on that itinerary, what plans there might be in each port, etc. I have been a member there since December, 2003. I don't post a lot, for I have posted less than 2,000 times through the years. However, there are some posters who are posting almost daily and have tens of thousands of posts. For this 42-day cruise, we had a lot of messages. Counting traveling companions, there were more than 100 people involved on our Roll Call. We had never been to Europe and Africa and wanted to take advantage of our time there, Karen got online and lined up at least 10 shore excursions. Then she posted all the important bits of information and asked if anyone on the roll call wanted to join us. On a couple of them, the response was huge and the original plan of one small bus, became one very large bus. After many months of planning, we still needed to put names and faces together. A meet and greet was planned for the first full sea day. We met in The Crow's Nest, and since we were such a large group, beverages and breakfast treats were supplied by Holland America. (Holland America also hosted their own Facebook meeting.) This group was wonderful, since we would be travel companions for a long trip and we would go ashore with several of the group many times, it was the perfect opportunity to make friends. It was great! No one person was in charge, there was one person who had contacted Holland America prior to sailing to ask for a reserved time and place. Not everyone who was on the roll call came to this meeting, but there was a decent size group. We had been on other cruises when fewer than 10 people were on the roll call and the connections were not as good. If you want to look at some of what Cruise Critic is, there is a link. Here is a link that might be useful: Cruise Critic

One must have a reservation, allowing walk-ups is extremely rare. Generally the pricing is lower on days when the ship is in port and most passengers are away. Occasionally they feature packages that would include (for instance) three services for the price of two. Hair styling, manicure, pedicure, facials, etc. All for men and women. I experienced my first facial on a cruise ship! Before the ship has departed the pier, there will be tours of the spa area. You can see all the areas and make a reservation for whenever you feel that you need the pampering. Many time slots for Formal nights are booked on that first day. There will be information handed to you upon boarding and more information in your cabin. You can make your reservation in person or via phone. As in all purchases on board, you won't need cash, it will all go onto your cabin account and settled up at the end of the cruise.

There should be no excuse for not eating your fresh fruits and veggies. With a market like this, one could shop 3 days a week and not really need a big refrigerator at home. Maybe a freezer for ice cream.

The Episcopal Palace on Plaza Cardenal Belluga is a rococo design. Built between 1748 and 1768, it looked intriguing; however, our tour did not have the time to enter and explore. I think that was be design, to get us to return. I would have absolutely no hesitation to return to the Spanish cities that we visited. However, I won't fly that far, so I better learn to sail a yacht!