HOLIDAY CRUISE 2025
My holiday trip was a cruise on American Cruise Lines Pioneer. Three people I met on last year’s cruise also booked this trip. I flew American Airlines from DFW to Tampa, Florida on Friday 19 December. Upon arrival I wended my way through the terminal to the Uber pick up area. Upon arriving at the JWMarriott Hotel around 3pm, I checked into room 1671 and took a nap.
Janice, Susie, and I ate dinner in the hotel at Driftlight Steakhouse in the hotel. My burrata and tomato salad, crab cakes, creme brûlée, and port were delicious.
On Saturday, at breakfast, I realized there were several people aboard the cruise with whom I had cruised before—some at the same time last year. We were transferred by motor coach from the hotel to the boat docked in St. Petersburg. Once aboard, I went to my cabin (418) and unpacked.
Then I went to the lounge where carolers were singing. I encountered Doug Krispin, the onboard lecturer; we remembered cruising the Columbia and Snake Rivers together. Jean, Janice, Susie, and I ate lunch in the dining room after the drill. Talking and laughing made the time pass quickly, and it was about 1:30 when I returned to the cabin. The “Sailing Celebration” was on deck 5 at 2. Afterwards, I had to ask Jasmine to unlock my cabin because I forgot my key. “Pioneer 101” was at 4 followed by Doug’s lecture, “When Florida Was Spanish.” From there, several of us went to the “Singles Get Together” before cocktail hour and dinner. After dinner, Doug spoke about tomorrow’s port, Marco Island, before Jasmine recapped tomorrow’s excursions. Kristen talked about the onboard activities scheduled for tomorrow before “Flower Power” sang 60’s music.
On Sunday morning in Marco Island, almost impenetrable fog shrouded the port.
The “Everglades and 10,000 Islands” tour was scheduled for an 8:30 departure. After a 45-minutes drive, we arrived at the Port of the Islands where we boarded a boat with Bobby as captain/guide. It was sunny and 80 degrees.We sailed through the canal to the Gulf seeing an alligator and birds of various species including ospreys, pelicans, egrets, anhingas, herons. Bottlenose dolphins surfed our wake.
We returned to the dock, reboarded the coach, and were back onboard the ACL Pioneer by 12:15.
At 5, Doug presented his port preview for Key West. Skipping cocktail hour, Jean, Janice, Susie, and I went to dinner. We enjoyed recapping our day as well as sharing stories. Jasmine gave an overview of tomorrow’s excursions at 7:45; limited comprehension led to numerous questions. Next Kristen tried to talk about tomorrow’s onboard activities and screwed it up. The evening’s entertainment, “Music of the 70s,” by “Flower Power” began 15+ minutes late.
Our Monday port was Key West.
After breakfast, I picked up the free “Key West Trolley” pass. Who knew that shipwrecks snd salvage once made Key West the richest place in the country?
After riding the complete circuit, I got off where I boarded and bought delicious conch fritters. Because I locked myself out of my cabin—again—I had to find someone to let me in to get my key before eating. My afternoon “Sailing Schooner” tour departed at 1:15. We crawled into taxis and were driven to the pier to board America 2.0, a two masted vessel. Once on board, we were offered drinks and enjoyed over an hour’s sailing. How relaxing and refreshing!
After docking, taxis returned us to our ship. We gathered on deck 5 hoping for a beautiful sunset; the sun went down behind a cloud bank.
After dinner, I played “Christmas Trivia” before Jasmine recapped tomorrow’s tours and Kristen gave a rundown of the onboard activities for the day. The entertainment was a guitarist who sang some Jimmy Buffet songs.
Tuesday morning it was 74 degrees, partly cloudy, and muggy when I got up at 5am. My “Harbor Cruise and Dolphin Watch” tour began at 9. Taxis transported 6 of us to the Sea Breeze for the tour. One of Key West's chickens greeted us; it's illegal to "harass a chicken" in Key West. We passed numerous houseboats and saw some huge yellow iguanas in waterside trees and “AirB&B” accommodations on the water. ‘Fury Water Adventures” had banana boats, jet skis, parasailing, trampolines, and slides from their anchored floating platform. We saw one dolphin, but the highlight was seeing 2 Eagle Rays breaking the surface of the water.
After returning to the pier, a taxi transported us back to the ship. At 4:15, Doug lectured on “The Secrets of Devil’s Island - Dry Tortugas.” The “American Experience” After dinner, we played some trivia before Jasmine gave information and instructions about tomorrow’s activities. “Flower Power” performed again tonight; three times isn’t always a charm. The motion of the ocean made for good sleeping.
Wednesday was Christmas Eve, and we were in Punta Gorda. After breakfast, I went to the lounge to await Doug’s talk, “Crispin’s Crusin’ on the Columbia,” at 9:30; his presentation and photos brought back memories of that trip. After the “Eagle Society” event, Susie, Janice, and I had lunch; we ate in the shade on the top deck. I returned to my cabin and napped before sitting on my balcony for a while and “vegging out.” There were 6 of us at dinner, and we had an enjoyable meal. After playing a Christmas themed trivia, we were entertained by “Acoustic Blue,” 2 excellent singers and instrumentalists.
On Christmas Day, I went to the Sky Lounge for breakfast. Janice and Susie came and Jean joined us after she ate in the dining room. I returned to the cabin before the “Yankee Gift Exchange;” it was enjoyable watching as gifts changed hands. After lunch in the Sky Lounge, I went to Bingo and won a shot glass. Doug’s presentation was “Piracy on the High Seas—Fact or Fiction.”
Dinner followed. Another session of Christmas Trivia preceded Doug’s St. Petersburg information. Next Jasmine recapped tomorrow’s excursions before Kristen gave a rundown of the onboard activities available. Samwell, a vocalist with an amazing voice, entertained with Christmas songs. Several requested “His Eye Is On The Sparrow,” and his rendition was heartfelt. It felt like I’d been to church.
On Friday, we were back in St. Petersburg. It was a little foggy and 64 degrees when I got up at 5:15. The “Historical Trolley Tour” departed at 9. This morning Rui Faris, Director of St. Petersburg Museum of History, was our guide. His site descriptions and information became part of an interesting narrative about the city. We learned about land speculation, bootlegging, and other nefarious activities. At Whitted Airport he spoke of the birth of commercial aviation.
Arriving back at the port about 12:15, Jean and I went to the Sky Lounge and waited for Susie and Janice to return so we could all have lunch together. My afternoon tour was the Chihuly Art Collection. My first stop was Morean Glass Studio across street and down the block where I witnessed the best glass blowing demonstration I have ever seen. He made a “Chihuly Style” platter, and it took about 50 minutes. Afterwards I went back across the street to the gallery where I made photos of the glass installations.
The Morean Art Center bought the Chihuly glass and charges admission so that the art center can offer free admission. We returned to the ship about 3:40. At 4, Doug spoke on “Blackbeard and Other Fabled Floridian Pirates.” We went to dinner. The hour-long “Holiday Lights Trolley” tour began at 7. It was so-so; the tour from The Conservatory would have been ten times better. It was cool on the open air trolley, and I wore my coat for the first time.
After returning to the ship, I went to hear “Flashback” perform. Their show was very enjoyable and several of us danced quite a bit. I returned to my cabin about 10:30, finished packing, put out the bag, and went to bed.
Saturday was departure day. Janice, Susie, Jean, and I had breakfast. The airport transfer was at 8. I flew American Airlines nonstop from Tampa to DFW. We boarded and took off on time. The flight was smooth, and I was inside my apartment at 2pm CST.
