The Story Behind Key West’s Famous Free-Roaming Roosters

Above, one of Key West's feathered inhabitants wandering in a restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Havana, Cuba. Along the way, we stopped in Key West, Florida for a few hours.

While in Key West, I took a tour of the Hemingway House and toured the Shipwreck Museum along with shopping.

I stopped at a bar/restaurant for a break. While there, I noticed chickens walking around the tables. 

Southern Living posted an article on Key West's famous wild roosters that wander the streets.

They begin it with:

If you’ve ever strolled the quirky streets of Key West, you’ve seen them. Between pastel homes, Duval Street bars, palm trees, and the Southernmost Point, a population of loud, proud roosters struts and scratches across roads, down sidewalks, and even, occasionally, through traffic.

Florida’s version of pesky pigeons in city parks, the free-roaming roosters and hens of Key West are as naturalized a citizen as any, and a colorful symbol of the freewheeling spirit of the Conch Republic. Sometimes celebrated, always tolerated, the wild birds are as much a part of Key West as sunset celebrations and key lime pie.

To read more, go here.

Artemis II Launch Video

It was an emotional moment of pride for many that we're finally sending astronauts to the moon.

The launch of Artemis II yesterday was spectacular. It would have been more spectacular had the camera work of the launch were better. (Compare the launch video below with the one of Apollo 17 I posted yesterday. The camera tracked Apollo 17's Saturn V rocket much better.)

Still, it is great to see the launch. I noticed that political pundits like Glenn Beck and Benny Johnson were covering the launch. 

Here's a video of yesterday's launch: 

I will be at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas this month. They should have some interesting goodies related to the Artemis II flight to purchase.

Lighting Up The Night | The Launch of Apollo 17

If everything goes as planned today, the flight of Artemis II will mark the first time in 50 years since man traveled to the vicinity of the moon.

The last time was in December 1972 when Apollo 17 was sent to the moon. It was the last moon mission of the Apollo program. I remember the flight as I was at the "ripe old age" of 18 at the time. 

Here's the launch of Apollo 11.

Summary: 

On this edition we remember the anniversary of the flight of Apollo 17 astronauts Gene Cernan,  Harrison Jack Schmitt & Ronald Evans.

In the early morning hours of December 7, 1972 the Apollo 17 crew lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a Saturn V rocket becoming the last astronauts to attempt a lunar landing and bringing a close to the the Apollo program.  Cernan & Schmitt took their Lunar Module called Challenger to a landing in the Taurus-Littrow region of the Moon.  The Apollo 17 crew returned to Earth from the Moon on December 19, 1972. 

 

Key West Is A Literary Pilgrimage For Fans of Hemingway

Above, one of the many cats at Hemingway House. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Havana, Cuba. Along the way, the ship stopped for a day in Key West, Florida.

While there, I got off the shuttle bus to visit the Hemingway Home & Museum. I then took a self-guided tour of the former estate of Ernest Hemingway. There were many cats roaming around. They were descendants of a cat Hemingway had. 

Above, Ernest Hemingway's office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A piece of trivia: The Hemingway Home was featured in the 1989 Timothy Dalton James Bond movie, Licence To Kill.

AOL posted an article on why Key West is a literary pilgrimage for fans of Hemingway.

They begin it with:

Hemingway's influence in Key West is so strong that it would be difficult to avoid hearing about the writer while visiting the island. The house he lived in with his second wife, Pauline, is now the Hemingway Home and Museum. Hemingway fans travel from all over the world to visit the beautifully preserved property and get a glimpse into the novelist's private life. Besides bedrooms and family rooms, you can go into the writer’s studio, where he worked on masterpieces like "To Have and Have Not" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls." While the house is great, the best part about the museum is seeing the true owners of the property roam around their kingdom: the six-toed cats that are direct descendants of Hemingway's beloved Snowball.

To read more, go here. 

What Happens To Retired Cruise Ships?

Above, Majesty of the Seas at Havana Port in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas.

The following year, Majesty of the Seas was sold to Seajet in Greece. This took place when the worldwide pandemic hit. Majesty has been sitting and deteriorating ever since.

Some may ask, What happens to cruise ships after they're retired?

To answer that question Yahoo! Life posted an article.

It begins with:

Cruise ships are so massive that some of them are actually bigger than aircraft carriers. But like any other vessel on the ocean, they don't last forever. When their eventual end comes, cruise lines sometimes sell retiring ships to other companies, who repurpose them in various ways. This was the case with the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth 2, which are now floating hotels in California and Dubai, respectively.

Sometimes, cruise ships are rebranded and continue sailing the world after they're sold. For example, Margaritaville at Sea's newest addition, the Beachcomber, was actually purchased from Costa Cruises. In fact, this is the third ship the Jimmy Buffet-inspired cruise line has bought from Costa. However, the Majesty of the Seas, once one of Royal Caribbean's biggest ships, didn't get a new lease on life. It was sold to Greek ferry company Seajets in 2020. For years, the deteriorating ship has been docked, with no signs of sailing again.

If there is no demand for a ship to be repurposed, it may be scrapped. This was the fate for several Carnival cruise ships over the years, including the Ecstasy, the Fantasy, and the Sensation, among others. The decision to scrap a cruise ship is typically made for a variety of reasons, which can include renovation costs. Essentially, any money spent to modernize an older, outdated ship could ultimately result in a net loss. Some of these ships eventually end up in the largest cruise ship graveyard in the world.

To read more, go here. 

Beloved Royal Caribbean Vessel Now Looks Like A Ghost Ship

Above, Majesty of The Seas docked at Havana Port in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In April 2019, a friend and I took a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba. 

A year later, Royal Caribbean retired Majesty and sold the ship to Seajets in Greece. Then the pandemic hit. Since then, Majesty of the Seas, renamed Majesty of the Oceans, has been sitting unused in Greece. Its future is uncertain.

Above, yours truly aboard Majesty of the Seas. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

The following from Yahoo! Life shows the ship today.

They posted:

When cruise lines like Royal Caribbean build a new cruise ship, they don’t expect it to sail in their fleet forever. Most major cruise lines plan to get about 30 years of life out of each new ship they build, but that doesn’t mean that a ship is scrapped when it’s retired.

Large cruise lines often sell their aging vessels to smaller lines that will refurbish and rebrand them to continue sailing for many years to come. For example, up-and-coming cruise line Margaritaville at Sea is growing its fleet with ships purchased from larger Costa Cruises.

But while Margaritaville at Sea has carried out its expansion plans successfully with refurbished ships, some cruise lines’ plans for acquired ships don’t work out so well.

That appears to be the case for Greek ferry operator Seajets, which bought up eight cruise ships during the pandemic, according to a Cruise Industry News report, including Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas. Some of the ships Seajets purchased have since been sold for scrapping, while others, like Majesty, are laid up and deteriorating in a Greek port.

A recent YouTube video by drone videographer Michael Miller, which was shared in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit, offers a haunting look at how Majesty now floats like an abandoned ghost ship in a port in Eleusis, Greece.

It is sad that a popular ship is deteriorating away. 

To read more, go here.

10 Must-Do Activities In Key West For Cruise Passengers

Above, salvaged artifacts on display at the Key West Shipwreck Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, I was planning to re-visit Key West, Florida. But those plans were scrubbed when the pandemic hit, so I ended up traveling around the Four Corners of the continental U.S.

I had visited Key West for a few hours as part of a cruise to Havana, Cuba in 2019. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to go back. I still do, but I am very soured about air travel. It is nowhere near as enjoyable as it used to be.

Cruise Radio has posted a list of the top 10 must-do activities for cruise passengers in Key West. Some of which I did during our stop.

They begin with:

Every trip to the Florida Keys is complete with a visit to Key West. People come from all over the world to experience fun in the sun with the taste of the island life this destination offers its visitors.

From the bars and museums to the endless celebrations, here is a list of eleven popular attractions for your Key West itinerary when visiting Key West, Florida.

To read more, go here.

Carnival vs. Royal Caribbean: Which Is Better?

Above, yours truly on the cruise to Havana, Cuba in 2019. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

TheTravel has posted an article comparing Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. They ask, "Which is better?"

Personally, I have cruised once with Royal Caribbean and never on Carnival. I enjoyed the Royal Caribbean cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba in April 2019. I have no complaints.

The article begins with:

With so many cruise lines to choose from, finding the right one can feel overwhelming—especially for first-time cruisers. Two of the most popular options, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, often come up in the conversation. Carnival recently surpassed Royal Caribbean in total number of ships, but more doesn’t always mean better. So, which cruise line truly delivers the better experience?

Both cater to a wide range of travelers, from families with young kids to couples and retirees, and each offers a packed schedule of activities across dozens of ships. In 2025, both lines are also making bold moves with their private island offerings—Carnival is launching Celebration Key in the Bahamas, while Royal Caribbean expects to bring 3.5 million guests to its popular Perfect Day at CocoCay.

In this article, we’ll compare Royal Caribbean and Carnival side-by-side, exploring their differences, similarities, and what makes each a favorite among millions of cruisers every year.

To read the full article, go here. 

Duplicate Southernmost Buoy To Stand In During Seawall Repair

Above, the Southernmost Point buoy in April 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who want to take a selfie at the famous Key West Southernmost Point buoy can continue to do so. But there's a little catch.

The buoy won't be the "real" one or at its location at the Southernmost Plaza. I saw the buoy in April 2019 when the tram I was riding in passed it.

The reason is, the plaza is to be repaired later this summer, so a duplicate buoy is being made to accommodate tourists.

According to the Keys News:

The City of Key West assures the world that the island’s most-photographed landmark, the Southernmost Buoy, will continue to be photographed while the intersection of the Southernmost Point is repaired later this summer.

While the original Southernmost Buoy will be temporarily unavailable to visitors, the city is constructing a new, temporary buoy, which will be placed at the Duval Street Pocket Park, 1400 Duval St.

Past storm events have undermined the existing Southernmost Plaza, according to city spokeswoman Alyson Crean, and the city is readying to repair the seawall and other damage at the corner of South and Whitehead streets. The work will require the closure of the area, impacting access to the existing buoy, Crean said.

The buoy being fabricated will provide visitors and residents alike with the same photo opportunity. In the meantime, the plaza will be repaired and enhanced, and the original buoy will remain at its current location.

To read more, go here. 

 

Gold, Silver To Be Recognized As Legal Tender In Florida

For those living in Florida and, I presume, those visiting the state, can use gold and silver as legal tender under a law just signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

According to the Florida Daily:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida House Bill 999, a bill that recognizes gold coins and silver coins as legal tender for the payment of debts.

“Florida stands firmly for freedom, economic self-determination, and resistance to government overreach,” DeSantis said. “But for too long, outdated regulations and unnecessary sales taxes have made it impractical for Floridians to enter the gold and silver market. I signed HB 999 today to change that, by initiating the process to recognize gold and silver as legal tender in our state and, with rule ratification from the legislature, free from sales tax.”

According to the official legal summary of the bill, gold coin and silver coin are defined as the solid, pure form of gold or silver in various physical forms.

The gold coin and silver coin must be imprinted, stamped, or otherwise marked with the coin’s weight and purity and may be imprinted, stamped, or otherwise marked with only the name or symbol that identifies any refiner or mint of the gold coin or silver coin. The bill provides for statutory construction to clarify the scope of gold coin and silver coin being recognized as legal tender.

The use of gold coin or silver coin for payment is optional.

To read more, go here. 

Travel Ordeal of Flights To Cruises

Above, cruise ship departure from Miami cruise terminal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last summer, a friend and I booked a flight out of Albuquerque to Miami to take a cruise to the Bahamas.

We booked a flight that arrived in Miami in the wee hours of the morning of our cruise departure date. We had no problems getting to Miami, but the flight was a long one as we had to catch a transfer flight from Salt Lake City, Utah to Miami.

Getting to the cruise terminal from the Miami airport was a different matter. We pre-paid for a shuttle service, but that never arrived. We called them several times and got no response. Ultimately, we took Uber to the terminal.

TheStreet posted an article on the pitfalls of airline flights to reach a cruise departure port. 

They start with:

Sometimes, even when you think you’re playing it safe with your travel plans, what can go wrong does go wrong.

Even if you’re an experienced cruiser with plenty of smooth sailings under your belt, your streak of good luck can easily be broken by circumstances outside of your control.

If you’re flying to your cruise departure port, your chances of a flight delay impacting your arrival at the port are pretty significant. On average, more than 20% of flights experience some kind of delay, according to U.S. Bureau of Transportation statistics.

Booking a flight that arrives on the same day as your cruise is risky and generally not recommended due to the unpredictability of air travel. Most expert cruisers recommend always flying in the day before your cruise departure. But sometimes, even that isn’t enough.

Frankly, flying is no longer enjoyable for me. Too many flight problems have cropped up over recent years. I am now avoiding airlines and just going to travel with my motorhome. At least I have more control traveling that way.

To read more, go here. 

9 Quick, Must-see Stops In Key West

Above, the Key West Lighthouse from the Hemingway House and Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Havana, Cuba. As part of the cruise's itinerary, the ship made a stop in Key West, Florida for the day.

While there, I managed to visit the Hemingway Home and Museum, the Shipwreck Museum, visited a cigar store and managed to have a Margarita at a restaurant's bar.

The Miami Herald posted a list of nine quick trips for those on a day trip or a cruise with a limited amount of time in Key West. 

They begin with:

So you’ve made it to Key West on your cruise or arrived for a day trip. You have a limited amount of time to explore this tiny tropical island before you pull out for your next stop. 

What are you going to do?

You’ve got options. 

See some history. Tour museums. Visit some landmarks. 

You can always just grab a cocktail and wander Duval Street, soaking up the sun, sights and shops. 

Here’s a Top 10 list of things to do in Key West:

To see what they are, go here. 

11 Free Things to Do in Key West

Above, take the free Duval Street Loop bus and see places like Sloppy Joe's Bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in April 2019, I went on a cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Havana, Cuba. Along the way, the ship stopped for several hours in Key West. Passengers spent the day roaming around town and toured its attractions and did some shopping and eating (or drinking).

For myself, I toured the Shipwreck Museum and Hemingway House. Those places charged admission, but they were worth it.

However, there are free things to see and to in Key West if one is a little short on cash or a cheapskate.

The Saturday Evening Post (!) has posted 11 free things to do in Key West.

They begin with:

Like any island town that has to import just about everything from gas to groceries, the resort destination of Key West, Florida, can be a pretty pricey place to visit. The good news: You can go for days from dawn to dusk without paying a single dime for sightseeing.

Here are 11 fun Key West freebies.

To see what they are, go here. 

19 Trips to Take In Your 60's

Above, the end of U.S. Highway 1 in Key West. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following doesn't apply to me anymore as I am two years out of my 60s. It is a list of 19 trips to take while one is in their 60s.

The suggestions range from cruises, balloon rides, train rides, ancient Egypt and others at Newsbreak.

They start off with:

While health and finances may present some concerns, the majority of people hope to spend plenty of time traveling in their 60s. There are many destinations and experiences out there for people of all budgets and levels of fitness. Even if you aren’t fully retired yet, there are options for shorter trips too. Let’s take a look at some of the best trips you can take in your 60s.

To read more, go here. 

10 Best Cruise Lines for Seniors and Retirees

Above, a singer with an entertainment group flashes me a peace sign aboard
a Royal Caribbean ship en route to Havana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is at retirement age-plus, the following is for you.

It is a list of ten best cruise lines for seniors and retirees by Nasdaq.com. Here, they describe what ship features and attractions that are best suited for the older generation.

Of the list of ten cruise lines, I have been aboard one of them, Royal Caribbean. That was a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba in 2019.

They begin with:

New adventures await you after retirement. And what better way to explore the world than on a luxurious cruise? Providing comfort, convenience, and life-enriching experiences for seniors, cruising offers a variety of options tailored to their needs and interests.

Let’s examine the top ten cruise lines for seniors to discover what makes them unique and why they might be the perfect fit for your next vacation.

To peruse the list of cruise lines and what they have to offer seniors and retirees, go here. 

How To Spend A Day In Key West

Above, the marker of the southernmost point of the U.S. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During our 2019 cruise to Havana, Cuba, we made a stop in Key West, Florida for a day of roaming around town.

For me, Key West was the highlight of the cruise trip. So much so, that I wanted to go back in 2020, but the pandemic put an end to those plans.

Above, yours truly enjoying a Margarita in Key West.

For those who wonder how to spend a day in Key West, Southern Living has some suggestions.

They begin with:

When you're in Key West, you're on island time, so cancel the morning wake-up call and let the crashing waves and beach breezes be your alarm. Put on your walking shoes and prepare for a day of blue skies and palm-shaded sidewalks. From brunch to the beach to cocktail hour and beyond, we have plenty of ideas for your stay, so let us put together your ideal itinerary for a day in Key West.

The first step? Put all your cares away. Key West is a worry-free zone. Trade your worries for a slice of Key lime pie on a stick. After sampling Key West's signature dessert, stroll the white sandy beaches or visit one of the region's historic sites. There's something for everyone in Key West, Florida, so here are some suggestions to help you plan your next trip.

To read more, go here. 

Royal Caribbean Shares Rules Passengers May Not Know

Above, yours truly enjoying a stogie onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

As one goes through life, they learn that there are rules imposed by society, government and companies. 

This also goes for cruise lines. Some have lots of rules and some are more lenient. It is important to know what a particular cruise line's rules are. 

TheStreet has posted an article on Royal Caribbean's rules on board their ships. 

A friend and I took a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba with Royal Caribbean. I was able to enjoy my cigars without being hassled by the ship's crew. 

The article on Royal Caribbean begins with:

When you take a vacation, there are a lot of rules you typically need to follow. These are generally there to make sure all guests, including you, are safe and have the opportunity to enjoy their time. 

And if we’re honest, some rules are there to protect the interests of the company you’re paying for your vacation. For example, when you visit Walt Disney World, there are rules that prohibit you from allowing your children to swim in fountains or lakes in the theme parks, and ones that govern how many times you can visit each ride through the Lightning Lane entrance if you buy the service.

Cruising is no exception to this. And some of the rules cruisers have to follow are well-known, especially by people who have taken multiple cruises in the past. For example, you cannot buy liquor or wine while in port, or in the ship’s duty-free shop, and then take it back to your room to consume. And you cannot throw anything off of your balcony into the ocean.

On the other hand, there are some rules that aren’t as well known, especially when it comes to where and when smokers can enjoy a cigarette or cigar on a cruise ship. But there is one important rule that Royal Caribbean makes sure its cruisers know.

To read more, go here. 

The Cats of Hemingway Home

Above, two of the Hemingway Home cats. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During the cruise to Havana, Cuba, our ship stopped at Key West, Florida for the day.

While there, I went to the Shipwreck Museum, a cigar shop, a outdoor patio bar and Hemingway Home.

At Hemingway Home, I saw several descendants of author Ernest Hemingway's cats. Some of the cats have six toes. They wandered around the property and mingles with visitors. There's also a cat cemetery on the property.

Garden & Gun has posted an article on the cats.

It begins with:

When the Hemingway Home first opened its foliage-framed gates to the public sixty years ago, visitors got to enter the preserved Key West oasis that inspired one of America’s literary heroes. Today, the property looks much as it did when Ernest Hemingway lived there in the 1930s: typewriters are strewn about desks, vibrant mustard-colored art deco tiles line bathrooms, and of course, dozens upon dozens of six-toed cats roam. “We have fifty-nine cats at the moment, and about half of them have extra toes,” says Alexa Morgan, the director of public relations at the Hemingway Home and Museum. 

To read more, go here.

FEMA Directed To Avoid Homes With Trump Signs

Another great reason to be glad the Democrats have been voted out.

 

Absolutely sickening and inhuman. Thank God this horrific and prejudiced administration is leaving. https://t.co/ToP68Aq6Oy

— Rep. John Block (@RepBlock) November 9, 2024

Royal Caribbean Will Raise Gratuity Rates Next Month

Above, dinner on board Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the
 Seas (now in mothballs somewhere in Greece) in 2019.

  

Last week, I mentioned Norwegian Cruise Line's gratuities when ordering a cocktail from the Norwegian Sky smoking area bar. It was $20 a pop.

It looks like Royal Caribbean will be raising their gratuity rates starting next month.

USA Today reported:

Royal Caribbean International guests may face steeper bills on their next cruise. The cruise line will raise its recommended gratuity rates next month, according to the company.

Passengers staying in suites will pay $21 per guest each day, up from $20.50, while rates for all other cabin categories will increase from $18 to $18.50.

The changes take effect Nov. 1. Travelers who book and pay their gratuities ahead of that date can lock in the current rate, the cruise line told USA TODAY in an email. 

Gratuities are automatically added to passengers’ onboard accounts, but can be adjusted up or down before they disembark. Those funds are “distributed to crew members, including dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams as well as others onboard who work to enhance the overall cruise experience,” according to the line’s websi

I took a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas in 2919. I don't recall the gratuity amount.  

To read more, go here.