We cast off from the Cozumel pier at 11:30 p.m. and set sail (so to speak) for Tampa. The next morning we were traveling at 19.5 knots, close to top speed. Most of the trip had been made at slower speeds, sometimes as slow as 13.4 knots.

About three that afternoon, I was resting on the lower promanade deck when I saw a splash. I dragged myself off the deckchair and went to the rail. The water was alive with dolphin. They were Atlantic bottle nose dolphin (think Flipper)and it was easily the largest school I had ever seen. They were rocketing around leaping and splashing, diving under the ship, racing along side, riding the bow wave and generally having a high old time. They were faster than the ship. I think that if the ship was cruising at slightly more than 20 mph, the dolphin were doing at least 30. There were hundreds of them on my side of the ship and probably that many more on the other side. The rail was soon lined with facinated tourists.

That night, after we bid goodbye to our Indonesian servers in the dining room, there was a big party on deck. Being among the youngest people on the ship, we lasted until after midnight and woke up the next morning docked in Tampa. The rest of the trip was just a ride in the car. I'd go again tomorrow.
Howard
PS - Net weight gain, 0! I walked it off.
H