MAYA INDIANS GAVE THE WORLD CHOCOLATE ~ Six hundred years ago the Maya Indians flourished near Cozumel, Mexico. World Book Encyclopedia reports during those 600 years the Maya gave the world: writing, mathematics, the calendar, rubber, astronomy, open fields to play sports (stadiums), law and order, hallucinogenic drugs, Mayan art and most important of all chocolate! When you're in Cozumel be sure to purchase Mexican chocolate along with bottles of pure Mexican vanilla. Baking with Mexico's pure vanilla guarantees a moist cake for many days. Belgium chocolates are wonderful. But Mexican chocolate is divine. U.S. Customs permits you to take home both. When the Maya were developing in Mexico the Romans were developing in Europe. In fact, Rome gave us Valentine's Day because of Roman Emperor Claudius II. Under military orders Claudius forbade young men to marry. He was convinced single men made better soldiers. But a priest named Father Valentine disobeyed the Emperor and secretly married soldiers to their sweethearts. When Valentine was found out he was beheaded. English Poet Geoffrey Chaucer (shown above) wrote poems about this during the Middle Ages. His poems were written on small cards describing the feelings of young love between soldiers, their sweethearts and the priest who protected them. Chaucer's cards have since inspired people to exchange Valentine's Day cards world wide. Hallmark did not invent Valentine cards, but Hallmark did help carry on this beloved tradition. A deposit of $350 per person for this cruise now is 100% refundable up to Nov. 2, 2020. For these rates ALL TIPS and TAXES ARE PAID, ALL DRINKS are FREE, including the Classic Alcoholic Package, and you have a $300 ON BOARD CREDIT (OBC) for your stateroom to buy shore excursions, spa treatments, or whatever else you may choose on the ship. Water exercise classes will be held daily in the ship's indoor, heated Solarium pool. Dinner is in the Formal Dining Hall each evening at 6:00 PM. You're seated at private dining tables reserved for you and your traveling companions. Social distancing will be practiced on the ship and on shore excursions. In Key West be sure to visit the home of Ernest Hemingway where he wrote his American masterpieces and where you can buy all his books. When walking through his lush, tropical back yard look at Hemingway's swimming pool. It was the only privately owned pool in Key West for many years. But Hemingway never bragged about it. In fact, he'd complain about its cost. Embedded in the pool's cement deck is a dime with his own words pressed into the cement, "This pool cost me the last dime I had."