A luxury cruise helped me connect my daughter with her Latin American roots
When I was little, family holidays always meant trips to Honduras – where my mother is from and most of my family remain.
It was a place so safe I could play Matchbox cars on the road with cousins and eat fallen mangoes from the driveway, or go to the beach with my grandparents and an icebox of orange Miranda sodas and not see another soul all day.
Now, Honduras is beleaguered by poverty, corruption and crime, and our far-flung family visits us in the UK instead.
I've not been to my late grandparents' home of San Pedro Sula for decades.
In 2025, apart from my daughter's close relationship with my mum and a love of Granny's hand-made corn tortillas, her closest brush with Honduras is the supermarket label on a box of mango.
Of course, this makes me sad. I want to share with her the thrill of travel in Central America – mariachi musicians who suddenly arrive to play guitar at your table, turtles that swim so close to shore you don't even need a snorkel, ancient Mayan temples that poke out of the jungle like lookout towers – but it's far too dangerous to travel the region independently, certainly with a child.
So, when I heard of a trip called 'A Journey to the Playground of the Maya', I hoped it might hold our solution. This one-week itinerary on new small-ship cruise line Explora Journeys follows the path of the Mayans, with two separate stops in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and one in Belize; it also stops in eccentric Key West or the 'Conch Republic', an island that's geographically – and spiritually – closer to Havana than the mainland (just count the Cuban cigar stores for proof).
While my daughter is still only 12, I decided this trip could showcase the best of her Central American heritage in as safe a way as possible.
Explora Journeys turned out to be the right cruise line for the task: the only ultra luxury line with a dedicated kids' club, diverse ages on board (mostly multi-generational groups with grandparents and toddlers at every turn), and a firm focus on families.
Explora came into existence when the sea-faring Aponte family (and Napoli dynasty behind MSC, Mediterranean Shipping Company) wanted to curate voyages that mirrored their own yachting holidays. This means unusual ports, authentic destination excursions, and small ships conceived by a yacht designer rather than a ship builder (on board which, every spacious cabin has a balcony or terrace).
It also means no fakery. Much as my daughter loves them, our other voyages have included day-one stops at sanitised private islands owned by the cruise lines – invariably, these are ersatz sandy specks, selling branded merchandise in the gift shop, and zero hope of meeting a resident (there aren't any), or eating local food (ditto).
Instead, we zipped straight to Mexico on ship Explora I, first calling at Costa Maya port.
I couldn't tell if the Mayan-temple lookalike water park was a good start or bad. Then there were costumed Mayan dancers at the terminal, and the chance to pose with parrots and Mexican spider monkeys. ¡Dios mío! But once we got past the tourist fanfare, there was a bona fide Yucatan seaside town beyond – serene Mahahual – where iguanas stop traffic, and dive and snorkel fanatics congregate at thatched palapa beach bars to compare turtle sightings.
We ordered fish tacos for lunch, and I couldn't believe it when a real-life guitarist played Latin ballads at our beach beds for pesos. I asked him if he knew the song 'Amapola' (played by mariachi at my wedding) and he did. We Skyped Granny in England as he played to his trans-Atlantic audience.
Back on board, activities centred specifically around our destinations, rather than generic bingo or aqua fitness. We could take Spanish lessons (using Latin American phrases, not Castilian language); we could – and did – attend a brilliant talk about Mexican wildlife, architecture and food; or there were salsa dance sessions, as well craft classes recreating ancient Mayan glyphs.
On to Belize, which has the greatest concentration of Mayan temples, as well as the chance to climb them – if you wish to – while the government still allows the practice (prohibited in Mexico).
But we couldn't miss the world's second largest barrier reef, so joined an Explora-curated snorkel excursion to Caye Caulker, one of the prettiest of Belize's 200+ limestone islands.
Having hopped on an independent snorkel trip the day before in Mahahual, the contrast between them was marked. Explora had marine biologists on board, tour expert Javier, and an EMT; we even picked up Zee en route, a local ray whisperer who knew exactly where we could swim with the most stingrays and the fewest crowds.
I'd been turned off ship excursions in the past, when buses ferry you from sight to sight, dictated by the speed of the slowest passenger (someone always gets lost).
But at Caye Caulker, we were only 15 on board, with seven staff. There was time for a Belikin beer and conch fritters at pink-clapboard Sip 'n Dip bar, and lucky sightings of flying fish and dolphins on the restful sail back. What a difference a day makes.
Cozumel, Mexico, was our next stop, and we took the chance to visit Tulum (arranged by Explora and an otherwise complex journey by sea and road). It's the most spectacular of Mayan ruins, perched on the clifftop overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and well preserved as it's relatively new (13th century).
Guide Antonio had my daughter transfixed as he told us of male Mayan nobility, their skulls manipulated in a wooden vice at birth till age six, to create 'superior' flat noses, and girls the same but with the vice squeezing their ears to form narrow profiles and pointed noses.
Antonio also showed us the stone point upon which sacrificial humans had their backs broken, then revealed it was the winners of notorious Mayan ball games – not losers – who were killed for the gods, since it was a great honour. We were equally horrified and enthralled.
Via Key West and a day at sea, we sailed back into Miami a week later, where I always feel at home.
When we'd fly to Honduras in the 1980s and 90s, we always had to spend a night in Miami to make the connection, so it feels like an extension of Latin America to me, especially when you consider 69 per cent of the population speaks Spanish as a native language.
We devoured chilaquiles and empanadas at Argentinean-owned hotel Faena and practised our new phrases with server Gustavo, who came from… Honduras!
We hadn't been reunited with aunties and cousins on this Central American adventure, but I felt we knew our family better than before – and we were exactly where we were meant to be.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Billy Gilmour parties with mystery blonde on cosy yacht trip in Spain
Billy Gilmour has been spotted soaking up the spanish sunshine on a luxurious yacht with a mystery lady as he enjoys a summer break away from the pitch Billy Gilmour has been photographed partying on a luxurious private yacht on the Spanish island of Formentera with a group of mystery women. The Scots footballer, 24, who plays as a defensive midfielder for SSC Napoli, was seen cosying up to an unknown blonde woman while he soaked up the Spanish sunshine alongside Crystal Palace FC defender pal Ben Chilwell, 28. Gilmour had a successful season, playing a leading role in winning Napoli's 4th Serie A title after a 2-0 home victory over Cagliari last month meanwhile Chilwell, 28, is currently on loan after being out of favour for his side Chelsea. The pair are now enjoying a summer break away from the pitch as they enjoyed their day out at sea on their Spanish vacation. Ardrossan born star Gilmour was snapped shirtless in a pair of green shorts and was seen getting close to a blonde woman in a black bikini. Gilmour and the mystery lady were seen smiling and laughing at they rode a jet ski together with the footballer in the driver's seat. The Napoli star was also snapped diving into the sea during their fun-packed yacht trip and even showed off his cheeky side with a glimpse of his bottom as he climbed up onto the yacht ladder from the sea with his shorts hanging down at his thighs. Gilmour and Chilwell were joined by three other women on the yacht in their swimwear with the on loan player from Chelsea seen hugging an unknown brunette.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Inside celebrity holiday hotspot that's a favourite of Dua Lipa and Chloe Sims
Celebrities definitely know how to party but now a new destination is proving more popular than Ibiza. Famous stars like Dua Lipa and Chloe Sims from The Only Way is Essex have all holidayed there and it's less pricey too While Ibiza in Spain is still the top celebrity vacation spot, leading in both celebrity visits and 20million Instagram tags, it's not the only party destination attracting the 'in crowd'. A recent study by Otherworld has identified the top celebrity-approved holiday spots of 2025 based on confirmed celebrity sightings from 2023 to 2025. These destinations were ranked using Instagram hashtag counts, Google searches, number of fine dining venues, and average cost per night at a 5-star hotel. And while the Dominican Republic came in second, you may be surprised by which destination slipped into third. Tulum in Mexico has a spectacular coastline, overlooks the Caribbean Sea and has welcomed famous holidaymakers including Lottie Moss and Austin Butler to name just a few. It's slightly more popular on Instagram than the Dominican Republic, with 9.4 million tags. But what really sets it apart is the cost, at $251 per night - or £186 - for a five-star hotel, making it the most budget-friendly luxury spot on this list. However, some visitors warn this magical paradise is losing its appeal because it's becoming overrun with tourists. Tulum attracts close to two million visitors every year - a number expected to rise sharply following the opening of Tulum International Airport. Travel experts over at Lonely Planet still hail the destination for its 'cobalt water', stunning beaches, and close proximity to ancient Mayan ruins as well as the underground world of cenotes. Often dubbed 'the new Dubai' by the flock of influencers flying out there to impress their fans. You can fly to Tulum, Mexico from London, Manchester and Birmingham - with most routes including a stopover in New York. A spokesperson from Otherworld commented on the study: 'Some places attract stars because they're remote and private, others because they're easy to post about. What's interesting is how much that mix varies. "You've got destinations where everything's built around luxury, and others where it's about vibe and visibility. That difference is shaping how people, celebrity or not, think about where they want to go next.' Meanwhile, Ibiza, Spain is one of the top celebrity-approved vacation spots of 2025, with stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kendall Jenner spotted there in the last two years. The spot has over 20million Instagram tags, and offers the most fine dining options (136). Five-star hotels average $695 a night, which is less than many other luxury destinations. The Dominican Republic stands out for its number of luxury stays, with over 3,200 resorts and villas, more than any other place here. It may not be as Instagram-famous as Ibiza, but it still pulls strong celebrity interest, including Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. At $359 per night, it also offers some of the lowest five-star rates.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I took Mum on a cruise holiday after Dad died - it was a poignant reminder'
My teacher parents, after laying down their chalk and retiring, got a taste for cruises. Holidays had never been better. Then Mum's best shipmate died – suddenly, horribly – leaving her in a strange new world. Summers lost their shine, well, everything did, but she'd still gaze longingly at cruise deals. Enter: me. The busy, messy, wild middle-aged child, offering to share a cabin on a week-long MSC Mediterranean cruise. I'd been promising her a proper catch-up for ages, and this was one way of doing it. Multi-generational holidays, with younger kids, parents and grandparents, are nothing new – a study showed a third of adults have been on one in the past three years, with the Boomer generation generally picking up the bill. And MSC says 28% of its travellers now cruise with three to five generations, and its ships are designed with activities to suit all ages. But this was different – a "mummer" holiday – proper bonding time, with grandchildren at home. Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones goes on cruises with her mum and no one had been thrown overboard, so the combination could work. Mum and I flew to Rome and met MSC Seaview at Civitavecchia Port. We woke up every day in a new location – Majorca, Barcelona, Cannes, Genoa, and La Spezia – before sailing back to Rome. This was my first cruise, so it was completely uncharted waters. We spent the first day at sea, getting lost and acquainted with Seaview's 19 decks, waterfront boardwalk, and dizzying, glass-floored Bridge of Sighs. Seaview was launched in 2017 and has room for 4,100 passengers and 1,000 crew, with a theatre, casino, spa, ten-pin bowling, indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs and 19 lounges and bars, including a chocolate-themed one. There wasn't a tired-looking part of the ship, save our faces on day one. The atrium is its classy party core, spanning four decks, where there's live music and staircases that sparkle like the sea thanks to hundreds of Swarovski crystals in each step. A cheery mix of ages and nationalities onboard, too – MSC is an Italian-Swiss line, so lots of "fit Italian fellas", as my 76-year-old mother, Janet, noted. The daytime noise, games and kids' splashy-and-sporty zones are considerately confined to deck 16, with its Panorama pool and 425ft zip wire – I strapped in and squealed high above sunbathers, while Mum declined the offer, but took thrilling footage of my ankles. Technology is not Janet's strong point, but she had a go, with me as tech support, scanning her first-ever QR code to read the evening menus at our allocated Silver Dolphin restaurant, where she also had her first taste of octopus and dolphinfish (thankfully no relation to Flipper). She was eventually able to navigate the useful MSC app, smart lifts and touch screens dotted around the decks, where you can access information about the ship and your itinerary. Only one trip to the IT desk onboard was required – very much user error. Pulling back the curtains to a new place each morning felt like a dream. Majorca was a revelation for her, wandering sleepy, sun-dappled cobbled streets, me saying 'watch your step' every step of the way. We cooed at the cathedral, sniffed bougainvillea, and tried on fedoras and sunglasses. Janet loves to shop, and dilly-dally, and talk to anyone who will listen, whether they speak English or not. I'm used to racing about, herding young kids, but by virtue of her wonky knees, we stopped for coffees and ice-cream, and actually finished conversations. Early starts to disembark paid off, as we were back on board to catch a theatre show and seek out the champagne bar – Mum's favourite place to wet her whistle. Our package allowed for 15 drinks each day, which I dare anyone to manage. Barcelona brought more laughter. It was a short shuffle to the stalls of La Rambla, for a long shuffle around the famous La Boquería market, heaving with people, pastries, olives, strawberries… and unmentionable meat counters. My stomach, having valiantly tried to hit my 15-a-day the night before, was ill-prepared for the offal, eyes, teeth and tongues. Stomachs settled down on board. While evening meals at the main restaurant were hit and miss, the two speciality restaurants smashed it – Butcher's Cut (excellent surf and turf) and our favourite, the Teppanyaki restaurant, where Japanese dishes were cooked in front of us and chef Rafael put on a high-energy show, serenading us with with Tina Turner, juggling eggs and pulling surprises from his hat, before throwing morsels at my mum's mouth, and somehow missing. Twin beds had been arranged for us, and drifting off at night was easy – a surprise as we're both used to sleeping solo. Our cabin, on deck 11, near the panoramic lift, had enough space to swing a dog, and was blessed with a balcony, sofa, safe, mini bar, interactive TV, and an impressive en suite with a powerful shower. Admirable storage, too, where Mum could hide her eight pairs of shoes, most of which didn't touch foreign soil. Here, I was the brains (though that's debatable) and brawn, sorting excursions, dragging bags and retracing many, many steps when we'd lost things. Mum, however, was the bringer of order in our cabin. She's used to running a tight ship at home, whereas I just about tread water. We settled into a Bert and Ernie evening routine at bedtime, with silly jokes and unsolicited relationship advice. Any accounts of my snoring should be immediately discounted – and we can now laugh about her falling over my phone charger cable on a 1am flit to the loo. When her bed called for her earlier than mine, I sampled late-night Seaview, its White Party (where guests wear white clothes), silent disco, gay night and karaoke, and watched couples dance or just gazed at the moon. It was really special to wake up, reach out and hold hands in the morning, even if it was then followed by a dash to the mighty breakfast buffet to stuff ourselves and race for the tender. Which we almost missed to Cannes, which was busy setting up for the film festival. We paused for A-list-price orange juice (Janet: '27 euros for three orange juices?! I wanted a drink not the whole plantation') and sauntered past Dior and Chanel stores down glamorous Boulevard de La Croisette, for a paddle in the Med among the beautiful people, with Seaview in the distance. There, was Mum probably the only person singing 'I do like to be beside the seaside', with chocolate ice cream down her best vest. 'She's restless like the sea, your mother,' my dad once beautifully said. These days, you'd call it undiagnosed ADHD. We had two excursions booked in ('school trips for grown-ups!') and saved ours for last, on our two Italian stop-offs. From Genoa, which shares the St George's Cross flag, and is birthplace of that other hardy sailor, Christopher Columbus, we took a bus to the fishing village of Camogli, with its double-take dreamy buildings and clanging church bells, catching a boat to tiny Portofino, loved by Tom Hanks and Michelle Obama for its snorkelling, and where Dolce and Gabbana have a villa retreat. We, however, had free ice-cream vouchers, so we felt like life's real stars. The swooniness continued, arriving in La Spezia, for our seven-hour Italian Riviera Cinque Terre tour, via bus, boat, train and Shank's pony. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – a string of five famously pretty ancient fishing villages on rugged coastline, dripping with vineyards, charm and surprising colour – are such head-turners they're now a Unesco World Heritage Site. We got bonus beauty, too, with a guided wander around Portovenere, the Port of Venus, to load up on heavenly pesto and focaccia. It's the jewel of the Bay of Poets, an area that stirred the souls of Shelley and Byron. Dad would have loved it. The boat trip was magical, the train from Monterosso back to Genoa a hoot, the final push to the bus, herding a tired, sweaty pensioner in the 26C heat, less so. 'Are we there, yet, Kay?' Talk about role reversal. It was an early night for both of us for the trip back to Rome, and our flight back home. Time had flown – we'd been having too much fun. We also got friendly with a psychologist from New York (her services were not needed) who was there with her older mum for a belated Mother's Day treat – they'd upgraded to the Yacht Club premium experience, including 24-hour butler service and gourmet dining. Four countries in seven days felt wild, especially as I work from home and struggle to visit four rooms in a week. But it was the enforced closeness with Mum that made it so special – a reminder to make memories before that ship has sailed. A seven-night MSC cruise from Rome visiting: Palma de Mallorca (Baleari Is), Spain; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes (Côte d'Azur), France; Genoa (Portofino), Italy; La Spezia (Cinque Terre), Italy costs from £1,399. Visit
