Friday Night Dinner (8 photos)

20180119 Friday night
Before dinner we meet some of the group at the Schooner Lounge. Tonight about 20 of us go to Giovanni's for Italian food. Service is family style for starter and pasta courses, so we have many to sample and the favorite scallops continue to arrive at our table. For the main, I choose veal shank and Jim chooses shrimp. Everyone has tiramisu for dessert.

Back in our room, a new critter waits on the bed.

Leaving Progreso (5 photos)

29180119 Friday afternoon
Returning to the ship by 3:30 for 4:00 departure, Delts meet for a sail-away
cocktail party on the veranda of our organizers. Indeed, Progreso is now in our rear view mirror.

Resort Beach Bums (8 photos)

20180119 Friday pm
Relaxation comes easy for some while others struggle to master the sandy terrain supporting flimsy seating. Two friends tempt gravity in a contest to determine which of their chairs can lean back the farthest without flipping. Some of our group end our beach stay with massages, including husband. Too soon we must leave in order to return to the ship on time for boarding.

Beach Resort Outside Progreso ( 8 photos)

20180119 Friday
The small beach resort named Technotel welcomes us outdoors with unlimited drinks and a buffet lunch as features of the tour in addition to use of the pool area, private beach, palapas, beach furniture, etc., all shared with resort guests who have rented condos. We soon learn that the resort's name explains the deafening techno music booming from outdoor speakers, which everyone enjoys except for our group that escapes to the surf sounds of the beach as soon as possible.

Ship & Progreso ( 11 photos)

20180119 Friday am
Down the gangway, we look left to back of ship and right to front of ship. On the other side of our dock, we see the boats that escorted us safely to port. Welcome to the Yucatán!

After brief shopping, we and three other couples ride a shuttle bus to downtown and select an excursion to a beach resort about 30 minutes away. This trip we have a modern bus with air conditioning.

Friday Progreso Arrival (7 photos)

20180119 Friday am
Yesterday was a long day of cruising across the Gulf, but today we are in port at Progreso and can leave the ship. We glance at the daily newsletter, look at the front of the ship as docked, and have coffee and a light breakfast to prepare for the day.

Thursday Evening (9 photos)

20180118 Thursday pm
We watch the horizon while dressing for formal night, barely room for the setting sun to make an appearance between gray clouds and the swelling Gulf. We meet all our college friends for 5:30 cocktails in the Viking Crown and then head for the Aquarius Dining Room. We sit with Patty and Paul May and keep conversation flowing through all courses. Couldn't have imagined that we are connecting with Paul's Alsatian heritage!

I have French onion soup and Jim has lobster bisque for starters, both have the tenderloin, I have creme brûlée and he has chocolate espresso soufflé for dessert, also coffee and Cognac.

Waiter is from Tunisia, possibly an over- confident over-achiever hopeful.

Our stateroom has a cute towel pig on the bed to end the day.