Come out and join Cody Jackson, One Boy USO, at Ft Bragg on Friday May 24th and Saturday May 25th at the South Exchange and on Sunday the 26th at the North Exchange. (https://www.facebook.com/1BoyUSO)

Next up is the Fishing For Freedom Event for wounded veterans from the war on terror. This event will be held Saturday June 1st and Sunday June 2nd in Quincy Ill. Check out Cody’s facebook page for more information for these 2 events.

Cody will be signing his 2 books, Pint Sized Patriots Standing Tall and Pint Sized Patriots Coloring and Activity Book, selling his t-shirts, para-cord bracelets and the all new kids Buddy Armor to help raise money for his care packages that will be sent overseas to those serving in our military.  More info can be found at www.oneboyuso.com.

In January 2014 we have the Inaugural Cruise With Cody, Salute On The Sea to honor all Veterans. We will be cruising on the beautiful NCL Dawn to the Western Carribean, visiting Mexico, Belize and Honduras. There will be Veterans get togethers while on board with raffles and give aways. For more information visit www.cruisewithcody.com. 

Do you want a fun way to support the troops?? I got lots of stuff for sale!
NEW! Buddy Armor is $30 (with an activity book!) One Boy USO shirts are $25, RED shirt is $15, Standing Tall book is $25, Activity book is $6, Bracelets are $7 and $5 for key chains. I have lots of package deals too! All the money I make goes to the packages for the troops!! Thank you everyone!!
www.oneboyuso.com

Here are some things to do when on board the NCL Dawn for the One Boy USO Salute On The Seas (see cruisewithcody.com)

Band On The Run
Norwegian Cruise Line presents The Norwegian Production Cast and Show Orchestra in this tribute to the music and dance of the psychedelic 70’s. From the soaring melodies of Styx to the disco sounds of Donna Summer to the rock of Queen, you will flashback to the days of platforms and mood rings.

Bollywood
Norwegian Cruise Line presents “Bollywood”, featuring The Norwegian Dawn Production Cast. Don’t miss this fantastic ‘Cirque’ style show full of special effects, aerial acrobatics and incredible feats of human strength. Undoubtedly one of the best shows on the seven seas.

Comedy Variety
When’s the last time you guffawed? From standup comedy to unicycle-riding jugglers, you’re invited for an evening of laughter in the Stardust Theater.

Presumed Murdered Luncheon
The Second City has teamed up with best-selling crime novelist Scott Turow to create a hilarious who-done-it called Presumed Murdered. You are immediately brought into the action to find the killer and bring them to justice.

South Beach Rave
Norwegian Cruise Line presents “South Beach Rave”, featuring The Norwegian Dawn Production Cast. Get ready to party with an explosion of energy and excitement inspired by the heart of South Beach. Music provided by the Norwegian Dawn Show Band.

The Second City
Chicago’s legendary comedy theatre, The Second City, celebrates its 50th Anniversary aboard Norwegian Epic with a hilarious revue of sketches, songs and improvisation. Watch the brightest young comic talent in North America puts its comic spin on current events and life on the cruise ship.

White Hot Party
Entertainment – White Hot Party
Ice ice baby. Don your white attire and get to the pool deck for the most invigorating, black light glowing, electrifying party beneath the stars. Dance with our white-winged angels and be sure to get a souvenir t-shirt.

So come join Cody on this cruise that leaves Tampa on Jan 19, 2014

oneboyuso.com

Pick your room, Get the perks. PLUS 50% Reduced Deposit, AND Kids Sail Half Off. Military past and current get 10% off their fare!

AVAILABLE FLEET-WIDE ON 5+ DAY SAILINGS
The Haven
1 bottle of wine, chocolate covered strawberries, dinner for 2 at Italian restaurant, dinner for 2 at Steakhouse,$50 spa credit, $75 on board credit

Suites
1 bottle of wine, chocolate covered strawberries, dinner for 2 at Italian restaurant, dinner for 2 at Steakhouse, $50 spa credit

Mini-Suite
1 bottle of wine, chocolate covered strawberries, dinner for 2 at Italian restaurant, dinner for 2 at Steakhouse

Balcony
1 bottle of wine, chocolate covered strawberries, dinner for 2 at Italian restaurant

Oceanview
1 bottle of wine, chocolate covered strawberries

Studio/Inside
1 bottle of wine

Call Melissa and ask for the One Boy USO special – 877-416-9722 x 4186

cruisewithcody.com

Need a drink while on the beautiful NCL Dawn for the One Boy USO Salute On The Seas Cruise (cruisewithcody.com)? Well no need to go far, here is a list of the bars on the Dawn:

Dawn Club Casino Bar
Welcome to NCL’s Casinos at Sea. Where novices and veterans alike will enjoy slots, Roulette, Blackjack, Craps, Let It Ride®. Let the good times roll. For a detailed list of games offered, please visit the game types page in the NCL Casinos at Sea (TM) section.
Accommodates: 229

Gatsby’s Champagne Bar
Norwegian Dawn cruise ship Gatsby’s Champagne Bar.
There are moments when only champagne will do. Head to Gatsby’s Champagne Bar for an extensive selection of bubbly, decorated in classic art deco motif.
Accommodates: 68

Java Café
Norwegian Dawn cruise ship Java Café with specialty coffee and tea.
For that double, vanilla, extra hot latte with extra foam, the Jave Café is at your service with a wide variety of specialty coffees, teas, pastries, and cookies.
Cuisine: Coffee Bar
Accommodates: 76

Moderno Bar
Bar Sit back and enjoy your favorite drink at the Moderno Bar located inside Moderno Churrascaria.
Cuisine: Churrascaria
Accommodates: 8

Sake Bar
Full sake bar within the Bamboo restaurant.
Accommodates: 8

Spinnaker Lounge
Norwegian Dawn cruise ship Spinnaker Lounge featuring music and dancing.
A lounge featuring a full bar and dance floor.
Accommodates: 408

Star Bar
Norwegian Dawn cruise ship Star Bar with cocktails and piano music.
Looking for a nice spot to sit, enjoy cocktails and take in the view? This is the place. The Star Bar looks out over the Oasis Pool and out to sea with a piano player as the perfect backdrop.
Accommodates: 58

The Pearly Kings Pub
Norwegian Dawn cruise ship Pearly Kings Pub featuring English pool, large TV’s a
Going down to the pub takes on new meaning at the Pearly Kings, a traditional English Pub featuring English pool, large screen TV’s and the proper beer on tap.
Accommodates: 84

Topsiders Bar
Norwegian Dawn cruise ship Topsiders Bar deck side bar.
Located poolside at the Oasis Pool is Topsiders, a full bar in close proximity to ample sunning area, hot tubs and Sprinkles Ice Cream Bar. It’s all part of cruising’s total resort experience.

For more information about the One Boy USO Salute On The Seas Veteran cruise visit cruisewithcody.com

Cruising, what is the 1st thing people talk about after a cruise? Where they went? Formal night? How big the ship is? No, its FOOD! Nothing but food 24/7 right? Pretty much thats it. You need something to eat you don’t have to go far to find it! Ice cream, pies, cakes, cookies, pasta, shrimp, steak, chicken and yes even grits! You name it and chances are good they have it! If they don’t have it then you don’t need it.

So you have been dieting for months before your cruise, or maybe you are in training for it. Getting ready to eat. But where do I go to eat and what kind food is there? NCL offers huge choices when it comes to strapping on the "Ol Feed Bag". Here is a list of places you can try out when you join us in January 2014 for the One Boy USO Salute On The Seas Veterans Cruise. (www.cruisewithcody.com)

Aqua Main Dining Room

True, you are onboard ship, but that’s no reason not to enjoy all the
creature comforts of the big city. Choose from a daily menu that
includes selection of healthy, light choices.
Accommodates: 278
Price per Guest: Complimentary

Bamboo – A Taste of Asia

This elegant adventure into Pan Asian cuisine is a world-class
experience in the finest Japanese, Thai and Chinese cuisine with a
sushi and sashimi bar, a teppanyaki room and many more authentic Asian dishes.
Cuisine: Asian
Accommodates: 98
Price per Guest: $15 – Sushi à la carte

Bimini Grill

Located poolside at the Oasis Pool is Bimini Bar & Grill. Enjoy a
burger, pizza and more delicious grilled items. Then stop by Sprinkles Ice Cream Bar.
Cuisine: Bar & Grill
Price per Guest: Complimentary
Smoking: Allowed

Blue Lagoon

In honor of the midnight snack, we bring you the Blue Lagoon 24-Hour
Food Court. Whether you’re hankering for a burger or the Foot Court-
Style eatery, you can enjoy it all in a family friendly atmosphere day or night.
Accommodates: 86
Price per Guest: Complimentary

Cagney’s Steak House

Steak is the standard at our American-style steakhouse. Select from
choice cuts of Black Angus perfectly prepared like our traditional T-
bone or tender Prime Rib. Your mouth will water, so sip your favorite
cocktail in anticipation. And don’t forget to order our made-from-
scratch jumbo crab cakes and a side of our famous truffle fries.
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Accommodates: 132
Price per Guest: $25

Garden Café

The Garden Café offers a family-friendly menu of omelets, pasta,
soups, salads, and ethnic specialties. There’s even a special kid-
sized section for little eaters.
Cuisine: Buffet
Accommodates: 426
Price per Guest: Complimentary

La Cucina Restaurant

Traditional, tasty and molto italiano! Enjoy pasta with a choice of
seven savory sauces in a casual atmosphere. There are also crispy
fresh salads, pizza, authentic Italian desserts, a fine wine list and
espresso drinks to top off the meal.
Accommodates: 186
Price per Guest: $15

Le Bistro French Restaurant

You may think you’re in La Colombe d’Or, the charming French hotel
filled with the art of its famous patrons, Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse
and Renoir. Le Bistro is a feast for the senses. The walls are adorned
with paintings and the menu is filled with modern classical and
contemporary French gourmet fare.
Cuisine: French
Accommodates: 86
Price per Guest: $20

Moderno Churrascaria

As the succulent skewers of barbequed meats are carved table side, you
control how much you want with the Moderno Green and Red Chip. Green
for go and the carving continues or red to stop. Also, enjoy a wide
selection of perfectly prepared salads, sliced meats and traditional

accompanying dishes from the salad bar.
Cuisine: Churrascaria
Accommodates: 146
Price per Guest: $20

Pizza 24/7

The ocean’s very first Pizza Delivery Service is offered 24 hours a
day aboard Norwegian Dawn. Our Pizza Team is happy to deliver a piping
hot, homemade pie with your favorite toppings directly to your table,
your stateroom, or your favorite bar or lounge. Just ask your server
or call room service to place your order. "Fresh and Freestyle, that’s

Pizza 24/7.
Price per Guest: $5

Room Service

If you can’t come to the restaurant we’ll bring the restaurant to you.
We offer a menu of items, which can be prepared and brought to your
stateroom. Room Service is available 24-hours a day (There will be a
delivery charge from Midnight – 5 am).

Sushi and Sashimi Bar

Enjoy the very best sushi and sashimi expertly prepared as you watch.
Cuisine: Sushi
Accommodates: 17
Price per Guest: Sushi à la carte

Teppanyaki

Flying shrimp. Onion volcanoes. Twirling knives. The sizzles and
surprises never cease at our authentic Japanese Hibachi restaurant.
Sit around a lively shared table as a skillful chef slices, chops and
grills steak, seafood and chicken on a large steel grill right before
your eyes. Our chilled, sake-infused Wasabi Cocktail will have you

flipping too.
Accommodates: 18
Price per Guest: $25

Venetian Main Dining Room

Imagine a grand Italian Palazzo complete with crystal chandeliers, a
sweeping staircase and an award-winning, five-course menu, that is the
Venetian. The master chefs are members of the international gourmet
society Chaine des Rotisseurs.
Accommodates: 476
Price per Guest: Complimentary

Are you hungry yet? Then come join us for fun! Check out cruisewithcody.com.

Costa Maya is a small tourist region in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, the only state with Caribbean Sea. This municipality is close to Chetumal (capital of the state) on the border with Belize, until recently British Honduras. The area is generally undeveloped but has been growing quickly and rapidly after construction of a large pier to accommodate cruise ships. The Costa Maya includes two small villages – Mahahual and Xcalak – and extends physically from Xcalak in the south to the southern border of the Sian Ka’an in the north, a distance of approximately 100 km.
The beach at Costa Maya Port, looking toward the cruise ship pier.
The resort of Costa Maya Port viewed from a cruise ship docked at the pier.

While Xcalak is approximately 60 kilometers (37 mi) south of the Costa Maya cruise port, the fishing village of Mahahual is only about 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) away. Cruise ships can easily be seen from the village. Mahahual has soft sand beaches, grass thatched palapas, and a coral reef a short distance off-shore called Banco Chinchorro, as well as several bars, restaurants, and shops. A new development called New Mahahual is being created directly inland from the port. When ships are in port, the village is busy with cruise passengers.

Costa Maya’s port has a new and modern tourist shopping mall. The center has a central plaza with saltwater pools and ‘swim-up’ style bars. There are several jewellery stores and many small shops selling ubiquitous souvenir items. It is generally open only to cruise ship passengers.

Costa Maya is the closest port of access to many of the lesser known Mayan ruins in the Yucatan including Chacchoben and Kohunlich. These sites are substantially less excavated than the better known pyramids of Tulum and Coba to the north; Chichen Itza and Uxmal in Yucatan.

The port sustained heavy damage due to Hurricane Dean in August 2007. This included the dock designed for cruise ships. Holland America’s Westerdam was the first cruise ship to return to the port since Hurricane Dean on October 31, 2008.
History
Pre-Colonial

Around 6500 BC the Indians started agricultural activities. The agriculture was of the slash and burn type. Around 3500 BC the agricultural skill had developed as such that they formed permanent villages in the center of Mexico. The Maya are not the first tribe to appear in Mexico; they were preceded by the Olmecs near the Gulf coast. The first Maya like tribes appeared around 200 BC in the south of Mexico (Chiapas).

The Maya were predominant in three areas: the northern area which is the Yucatán Peninsula, the central area which is the Petén area and the western area which are the lowlands bordering to Belize. The Costa Maya falls under the western lowlands. The agricultural skills evolved between 200 BC and 900 AD to the extent that workers could be made available to build the beautiful cities as we know them today. In the area around the Costa Maya the building styles called Rio Bec and Chennes are found. The Mayan culture weakened during the period of 900 AD to 1200 AD. Other tribes influenced the building styles in that period (an example of this is Tulum).

The Río Bec and Chennes sites are some of the most recent found in Mexico. Most of the sites were found by rubber farmers scouting the forest in search of rubber trees. The discovered sites are as follows:
Río Bec     Chennes
Río Bec     Chacchoben
Calakmul     Chicanná
Río Azul (Guatemala)     Becán
Naachtúm (Guatemala)     Xpuhil
Uaxactún (Guatemala)     Dzibanche
Tikal (Guatemala)     Kohunlich
Nakum (Guatemala)    
Mutul (Guatemala)    
Tayasal (Guatemala)    
Naranjo (Belize)    

During the Mayan high times there was a flourishing maritime trade along the Yucatan coast. The Mayans used large dugout canoes. They traded in fabrics, jade, obsidian, salt, and shells. The area of Xcalak was a landing point because of the two openings in the reef. Xcalak means ‘the twins’ in Yucatec Maya. A small unnamed site was found just east of the current village of Xcalak.
Colonial
Yucatan

The first contact between the Spanish conquerors and the Maya took place in 1502 in Honduras. Initial contacts were friendly; however when Francisco Hernández de Córdoba arrived on the Yucatán Peninsula in 1517 intent on conquest, the Maya resisted. Thousands of Spaniards were killed within a short period of time, giving subsequent conquistadores adequate excuse for subjugating the native population.

Hernan Cortes landed in 1519 on Cozumel and within three years he had conquered most of the area, with more help from the smallpox with which his men had unintentionally infected the natives, than actual battle. Twenty years later the Mayans suffered their final defeat by Francisco de Montejo. Not content in having reduced the native population by half or more, the Spaniards destroyed many Mayan artifacts in an attempt to suppress the culture itself.[citation needed]

Following Mexican independence in 1821, the Mayan territories of Chiapas and Yucatan decided to join the United States of Mexico in 1840.[citation needed]

In the 19th century Mennonites came to Mexico from the Netherlands.[citation needed] The Mennonites can also be found around the Costa Maya and can easily be recognized by their denim overalls and checkered red[citation needed] shirts.
Costa Maya

The history of Xcalak dates back to pre-Hispanic times, with 16 archaeological sites having been discovered between Punta Herrero (south of Bahia Espiritu Santo) and Boca Bacalar Chico. Seven of these sites are located between Punta Gavilan (just north of Guacamaya) and Boca Bacalar Chico, the border with Belize.

In the 16th century, English pirates took over a large part of the coast and attacked Spanish ships that transported gold and riches back to Spain. Spain tried to defend its interests by constructing forts such as the one at Bacalar. Pirates continued to devastate the region, intending to take over the entire peninsula in the name of the English Crown. The reign of the pirates lasted until the end of the 19th century, taking advantage of the indigenous rebellions and the abandonment in which the region was found.

At the end of the 19th Century, the Mexican Navy took control over what is today the state of Quintana Roo. In 1897, during the presidency of Porfirio Diaz, a treaty was signed which established the territorial limits between British Honduras (now Belize) and Mexico. This caused serious problems for Mexico because the territorial limit was at the center of Boca Bacalar Chico canal. This natural canal separates the Xcalak peninsula from Ambergris Key, and as a result, Mexican military vessels lost access to Chetumal Bay and remain at the mercy of Belize for permits.

Due to the lack of access to Chetumal Bay, Brigadier Angel Ortiz Monasterio, the Mexican consulate, commissioned engineer Rebolledo to find a suitable place to build a port in this area. Rebolledo selected Xcalak because two natural entrances through the barrier reef would permit navigation. The port was established in an effort to permanently occupy this area. From this site, Mexico intended to direct a military campaign to stop the supply of arms to the Maya rebels of Quintana Roo, who were participating in what is known as the Caste War. This led to the establishment of a base on the southern limits of Xcalak peninsula.

In October 1899, a site was constructed on the Zaragoza Canal to provide access to Chetumal Bay. (This canal south of town has recently been reopened and re-dredged in another effort to allow military vessels access to the bay.) At the same time, on the Caribbean coast the widening of the entrance through the reef was initiated. In addition, a ‘Decauville’ railroad was built between Xcalak and La Aguada (on Chetumal Bay) in order to relieve the boat traffic through the narrow international canal.

The development resulted in a port system which overcame the lack of a direct entrance into Chetumal Bay. Equipment was unloaded in Xcalak, taken by train to La Aguada, and then reloaded and taken to Payo Obispo, which was founded two years earlier. Thus, the village of Xcalak was founded on May 19, 1900 as the base for the ‘Southern Fleet’ and the first shipyard in the Mexican Caribbean. At the same time, the first telegraph in the state was built.

When the Federal Territory of Quintana Roo was created in 1902, there were three important villages on the coast: Xcalak in the south, Vigia Chico in the middle, and Puerto Morelos in the north. The Xcalak village was the only village in the territory that did not depend on mahogany and chicle (used for chewing gum). Xcalak relied upon fishing and the exportation of coconut. The organization of copra, or coconut ranches, began in Xcalak and expanded to the bay area. Copra exportation eventually replaced fishing.
Current

In the 1950s, Xcalak’s economy was very healthy, boasting developments such as stone and wood construction, an ice factory, and electric plant, storehouses for large quantities of copra, grocery stores, a billiard hall, a movie theater, and an ice cream factory. Xcalak was the most important supply center in the region. After Hurricane Janet(1955), Xcalak was in ruins. Many of its inhabitants died, including the lighthouse keeper and many sailors. The survivors were traumatized and a large group migrated to interior towns. The survivors who remained in Xcalak returned to fishing. The area was repopulated with people from San Pedro and Sarteneja, Belize, as well as from Honduras and El Salvador.

The fishing trade resulted in social organizations. On October 25, 1959, the Cooperative Fishing Production Society of Andrea Quintana Roo was founded. It consisted of 49 members. Fishing techniques were greatly altered with the arrival of the first outboard motors made by Calipso and Lister.

In 1980, a 120 kilometers (75 mi) gravel road was built, forming the Chetumal – Carrillo Puerto highway. This established a land route between the village of Xcalak and the rest of the state. People often recall that the first vehicle to arrive in the village was a Land Rover.

At the end of the 1980s Costa de Cocos and the first dive shop, ‘Aventuras Chinchorro’ (now XTC Dive Center), opened. Soon after that a second dive shop ‘Xcalak Dive Center’ appeared. These developments increased tourism and marked the beginning of a new period.

On August 24, 1995, the government of Quintana Roo published the decree for the ‘Ecological regulation for the area referred to as the Maya Coast’ (Punta Herero – Xcalak). The decree outlined tourism development plans for the Costa Maya corridor. Xcalak was designated as one of the sites for the greatest development. The restoration of the municipal pier in Xcalak was completed at the end of 1995 to facilitate tourism development. In June 1996, a ferry pier was built at La Aguada in order to provide service between Chetumal and Xcalak. At the same time, the existing airstrip in Xcalak was enlarged.

There are approximately 300 native inhabitants of Xcalak, most rely on fishing for their livelihood; however, many are now working in tourism and recently the Tourism Cooperative was formed. Officials that have their headquarters in Xcalak include: the Municipal Delegation, State Government representative of the Judicial Police, a port captain, immigration officer, and Navy base. As part of the social structure, other associations have been formed: the Parents Association, the Electricity Committee, the fishing Cooperative, and a Community Committee in which different representatives of all community sectors participate. It is through the Community Committee that issues regarding the management and conservation of natural resources are addressed.

The resort was hit directly by Category 5 Hurricane Dean in August 2007.[2] The area was also hit significantly by Hurricane Ernesto (2012) in early August 2012. Although much of the resort was not hit heavily, the surrounding town of Mahahual has experienced a large amount of damage.

For more information about the Cruise with Cody, visit www.cruisewithcody.com

Now a bit about the island…Cozumel is Mexico’s largest island, nestled just 12 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Cozumel measures 28 miles long & 10 miles wide,and is world renown for it’s dazzling white sandy beaches and the remarkable clarity of the multi-hued azure Caribbean ocean in which it rests. The climate is subtropical & the people native to Cozumel are of Mayan descent. The Maya were a great culture of farmers, fisherman & warriors who ruled from Campeche to Guatamala for over 2000 years before the arrival of the Spanish Explorers in the 15th Century. They were quite an advanced civilization, and the legacy of their culture survives in the vestiges of the huge cities that they built during their reign. One of the lesser known, but very interesting sites is here on the island and is called San Gervacio. Now a park with a  project to study the Mayan culture, this was once a sacred site where Mayan women journeyed to worship the goddess Ixchel, the goddess of fertility. Other fascinating sites such as Chichen Itza with its massive pyramids that rival those at Cheops, and Tulum, the only Mayan city built overlooking the sea, and even Tikal in its lush jungle settings where wild monkeys still can be seen, each are an easy one day excursion from Cozumel.

Cozumel itself was a sleepy little fishing community until 1961, when a Frenchman by the name of Jacques Cousteau declared us one of the most beautiful scuba diving areas of the world. Since that time Cozumel has become an underwater marine park to protect the delicate balance of it’s dazzling coral reefs & abundant variety of tropical fish. The underwater wildlife is absolutely amazing here & due to the clarity of the water ( 100 – 200 ft. visibility, depending on the season ), you do not have to be a diver to enjoy it. Simply put on a mask & snorkel and jump in & you will feel like you have been dropped into a tropical fish tank !!

In addition to the spectacular open water diving, the region of Cozumel and Akumal are well-known for the underground rivers that honeycomb the porous limestone of the Yucatan which provide some of the most beautiful cave and cavern or "cenote" diving in the world. Many of these caves are very highly decorated and are like floating through the finest dry cave you have ever seen, simply filled with water that is as clear as air. Because they are supported and protected by their water filled environment, they are pristine and each has its own particular marine life, unique to a waterfilled cave environment.

Join Cody on his cruise to this island, check out www.cruisewithcody.com for more information.

Belize City, Belize will be the 2^nd stop on the inaugural Cruise With Cody, Salute On The Sea! (www.cruisewithcody.com)  here is a little bit of information about Belize

Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize and was once the capital of the former British Honduras. The population of Belize City is 67,964, with neighboring adding up to about 80,000. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country’s principal port and its financial and industrial hub. Several cruise ships drop anchor outside the port and are tended by local citizens. The city was almost entirely destroyed in 1961 when Hurricane Hattie swept ashore on 31 October. It was the capital of British Honduras (as Belize was then named) until the government was moved to the new capital of Belmopan in 1970.

Belize City was founded (originally as "Belize Town") in 1638 by British lumber harvesters. It had previously been a small Maya city called Holzuz. Belize Town was ideal for the British as a central post because it was on the sea and a natural outlet for local rivers and creeks down which the British shipped logwood and mahogany. Belize Town also became the home of the thousands of African slaves brought in by the British to assist in the forest industry. It was the coordination site for the 1798 Battle of St. George’s Caye, won by the British against would-be invaders, and the home of the local courts and government officials up to the 1970s. For this reason, historians often say that "the capital was the Colony", because the center of British control was here.

Belize Town slowly improved its infrastructure and has been the object of numerous infrastructural projects. Nevertheless, many of the streets built from colonial days are still small and congested, a majority of houses are still susceptible to fire and damage from hurricanes and the city is always awaiting something calamitous to happen.

For more information about visiting this port with Cody check out www.cruisewithcody.com

Roatan Honduras will be the 1^st stop on the inaugural Cruise With Cody, Salute On The Sea! (www.cruisewithcody.com)  here is a little bit of information about this small but fun island.

The island was formerly known as Ruatan and Rattan. It is approximately 60 kilometers (37 mi) long, and less than 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) across at its widest point. The island consists of two municipalities (out of a total of four in the department):
Jose Santos Guardiola in the east (named for the former president of Honduras) and
Roatán (also including the  Cayon Cochinos) further south in the west.

The most populous town of the island is Coxen Hole, capital of Roatán municipality, located in the southwest. Other important towns include French Harbour, West End, and Oak Ridge (the capital of José Santos Guardiola municipality).

The easternmost quarter of the island is separated by a channel through the mangroves that is 15 meters wide on the average. This section is called Helene, or Santa Elena in Spanish. Satellite islands at the eastern end are Morat, Barbareta, and Pigeon Cay. Further west between French Harbour and  Coxen Hole is Stamp Cay and Barefoot Cay. Known as Burial Key until 2001, Barefoot Cay now is privately owned and houses a luxury resort popular with celebrities. Starting in November, 2012, American Airlines will offer non-stop service to Roatan.

Located near the  Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest barrier reef in the  Caribbean Sea (second largest worldwide after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef), Roatán has become an important cruise ship and scuba diving destination in Honduras. Tourism is its most important economic sector, though fishing is also an important source of income for islanders. The island is served by the  Juan Manuel Galvez Roatan International Airport  which includes direct flights from Miami, Atlanta, and Houston via American, Delta, United and TACA airlines respectively, with other domestic connections for international flights arriving into mainland Honduran cities like the capital Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and San Salvador. Roatán is also serviced by the Galaxy Wave express Catamaran ferry.

Throughout European colonial times, the Bay of Honduras attracted an array of individual settlers, pirates, traders and military forces, engaged in various economic activities and playing out political struggles between the European powers, chiefly Britain and Spain. Roatán and the other islands were used as frequent resting lonization of the Caribbean, the English occupied the Bay Islands on and off between 1550 and 1700. During this time, buccaneers found the vacated, mostly unprotected islands a haven for safe harbor and transport. English, French and Dutch pirates established settlements on the islands. They frequently raided Spanish cargo vessels carrying gold and other treasures from the New World to Spain.

In 1797, the British defeated the Black Carib, who had been supported by the French, in a battle for control of the Windward Caribbean island of St. Vincent. Weary of their resistance to British plans for sugar plantations, the British rounded up the St. Vincent Black Carib and deported them to Roatán. The majority of Black Carib migrated to Trujillo on mainland Honduras, but a portion remained to found the community of Punta Gorda on the northern coast of Roatán. The Black Carib, whose ancestry includes Arawak and African Maroons, remained in Punta Gorda, becoming the Bay Island’s first permanent post-Columbian settlers. They also migrated from there to parts of the northern coast of  Central America, becoming the foundation of the modern-day Garifuna culture.

The majority permanent population of Roatán originated from the Cayman Islands near Jamaica They arrived in the 1830s shortly after Britain’s abolition of slavery in 1838. The changes in labor force disrupted the economic structure of Caymanian culture. Caymanians were largely a seafaring culture and were familiar with the area from turtle fishing and other activities. Former Caymanian slaveholders were among the first to settle in the seaside locations throughout primarily western Roatán. Former slaves also migrated from the Cayman Islands, in larger number than planters, during the late 1830s and 1840s. Altogether, the former Caymanians became the largest cultural group on the island.

For a brief period in the 1850s, Britain declared the Bay Islands its colony. Within a decade the Crown ceded the territory formally back to Honduras. British colonists were sent though, and asked William Walker, a freebooter with a private army, to help end the crisis in 1860 by invading Honduras; he was captured upon landing in Trujillo and executed there.

In the latter half of the 19th century, the island populations grew steadily and established new settlements all over Roatán and the other islands. Settlers came from all over the world and played a part in shaping the cultural face of the island. Islanders started a fruit trade industry which became profitable. By the 1870s it was purchased by American interests, most notably the New Orleans and Bay Islands Fruit Company. Later companies, the Standard Fruit and United Fruit Companies became the foundation for modern-day fruit companies, the industry which gave Honduras the sobriquet "banana republic".

The 20th century saw continued population growth resulting in increasing economic changes, and environmental challenges. A population boom began with an influx of Spanish-speaking Mestizo  migrants from the Honduran mainland. In the last decades they tripled the original resident population. Mestizo migrants settled primarily in the urban areas of Coxen Hole and Barrio Los Fuertes (near French Harbour). But in terms of population and economic influence, the mainlander influx was dwarfed by the overwhelming tourist presence in most recent years. Numerous American, Canadian, British, New Zealand, Australian and South African settlers and entrepreneurs engaged chiefly in the fishing industry, and later, provided the foundation for attracting the tourist trade.

English is the first language of all native islanders regardless of race and Spanish is spoken second, whereas mainland Honduras is primarily Spanish speaking. It remains this way because of the islands past as a British colony as well as all islanders being the descendants of the British Isles. With the steady influx of mainland Hondurans migrating to the islands an increase in Spanish has arisen but because of the tourism and cruise ship industry that support the islands, English continues and will remain to be the first spoken and dominant language among all native island peoples. Over time the form of English spoken by the Caracol has changed. The language differs mostly in morphology but also in pronunciation and accent and, to a lesser extent, in syntax and vocabulary, from the English of the other British Caribbean colonies. Evidenced by the usage of the wide variety of old standard English terms and words that are used throughout the islands. They are similar enough to be mutually intelligible and understood throughout the entire Bay Islands. The language can also be learned, although it is not taught in the general sense, whilst the accent derived from the wide variety of expatriates living and working on the Islands from North America and Europe.

Tourist activities in Roatán include diving, eco-tourism, adventure sports like zip lining, sport fishing, and glass-bottom boat tours. Boat charters are also available weekly from the West End & West Bay to Cayos Cochinos and Utila. All major hotels as well as the smaller hotels in West End, West Bay, Oak Ridge, Sandy Bay and French Harbour all feature their own private dive shops for guests. There are two outer banks on the south side of the island that feature coral formations and species that are found nowhere else in the world. The best place to make bookings in The West End is at The Beach House Information Centre, located at the entrance of West End on Half Moon Bay.

Island tours via independent tour operators or transportation provided by the hotels are popular among visitors with local island drivers providing a narrated tour of the island. Most tours often pass through the historical island towns (including Punta Gorda which is the oldest settlement in the Bay Islands), the Carambola botanical gardens, and the Arch’s iguana farm.

 See www.cruisewithcody.com for more information about the cruise with the One Boy USO.