Dave had the whole day off which is unusual for the Band members. They usually have to work either the afternoon or evening or both. Chuck invited him to eat dinner with us. I was surprised he accepted. The ship performers are always being interrupted during their meals, by the pool, at the gym, etc. by guests who want to talk, or praise, or complain. I thought he would want more non-guest time.
He said he usually ate dinner with Pete, the lead guitarist and singer who is also from England, so we said the more the merrier if Pete wanted to come also.
We met at the Ocean Bar and then went to the main dining room at 7:00. Chuck ordered a bottle of wine for the table. I don’t like red wine, but the three guys enjoyed it with their steaks. I had a salad and the lamb chops and the strawberry mousse for dessert.
We were having a lively conversation and then realized we were the only people left in that dining room section. The waiters were standing around picking up random glasses and wiping them. When we made a move from the table, they were all over it – clearing the dessert plates and coffee cups away. Guess they get to leave when their section is cleared. Oops.
Pete and Chuck went to the BB King band’s set but Chuck didn’t last long. The sun and wine caught up with him. However, he lasted longer than me. I was already asleep before he came back.
However, I sat straight up in bed in the middle of the night when I heard the medical emergency announcement – calling for the medical response team for a cabin on the 7th floor. This was the third time this cruise I have heard this announcement but not always to the same cabin. We’ve also seen ambulances waiting at more than one port. And I still wonder about the status of the woman who had to be life-flighted from Raiatea to Tahiti because of a heart attack. Guess all the emergencies are to be expected for a cruise this long but it is still scary. Hope this episode is not too bad.
We skipped breakfast because we had the Mariner Brunch at 11:00. The brunch is HAL’s way of saying “thank you” to all its repeat guests. There are so many of us on this cruise that they have had to spread this brunch over three days. Our invitation was for today.
Officers greet you at the dining room entrance. The Captain gives a speech. The Cruise Director gives the toast – There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are dam ships, may they always be!
We were at a table for six. The menu has limited choices. The champagne was not bad today. Usually, it is very bad. I had the soup, the quiche, and the pie. Chuck had the salad, the salmon, and the pie.
We received our commemorative Mariner Society Delf tile. We have used them as coasters. I’ve seen pictures of people using them as borders or backsplashes. Some frame their collection.
After the luncheon was more time for the pool. The Captain announced the weather would be getting rainier and cooler as we got closer to California so enjoy the Sea View pool while we could.
I woke up way too early this morning. Travel nerves again, I guess. I read until my alarm went off. We did get to move our clocks back one hour last night so I felt like I got enough sleep.
We were able to go to the Explorations Café for our final Americano and Latte. I am going to miss those wonderful baristas. While drinking our coffees, we watched the final docking maneuvers into Port Everglades from the balcony.
We received paperwork from the Casino – an offer of free-play money for me and an offer of a free inside room and free-play money for Chuck. Of course, only good for a newly booked cruise. I think our calendars are already full, but the gesture was nice.
We did not get our final bill. HAL, like other cruise lines, is trying to save paper so they want you to access your bill electronically. I tried again to bring it up on the app but kept getting the same error message as yesterday. I also could not access it on the room television. Chuck finally called Guest Services and they told him what the amount was. It was actually less than what he had calculated. Probably a refund of some port taxes. HAL really needs to work on their app and website. Carnival has an excellent app and website.
We also did not get a card that told us how many miles we traveled, how much food was consumed, etc. I always liked that information. What we received was a little paper book called “Journeys” and a piece of paper with our sailing itinerary, name of the ship, and number of crew. You peel off the back of the paper and stick it on a page in your Journeys book. I will probably lose the book or forget to take it with me on the next cruise.
We had breakfast in the Lido. More people than usual but that is to be expected. We had the option to eat in the main dining room, but I didn’t want to take the chance that the service would be slow today. If we were continuing on for the next cruise, I definitely would have opted for the dining room.
HAL allows you to stay in your stateroom until your section is called to get off the ship. Or you can wait in one of the public areas. The cruise director started announcing groups about 7:30. The paperwork said it would start at 7:00 but they always put a disclaimer because ships don’t disembark until the port officials say they do.
The first group to be called was all of those people who do self-disembarkation – you have to be able to take all of your luggage off the ship by yourself. If you are driving or you took a chance and booked a very early flight and can handle all your stuff, self-disembarkation is a good way to go. We have done it on a couple of occasions.
Once that group was cleared, the suite guests were called, and then our group – 5 & 4 star mariners. According to the paperwork, I think we could have waited and left later (9:30 being the last group) but I know the room stewards were anxious to start cleaning for the next set of guests so we might as well wait at the airport.
Inside the terminal, we finally found our luggage in the sea of luggage and got in the Customs line. Once we were past Customs and exited the building, we found ourselves in the parking garage. We were not sure where to catch a taxi to the airport. One of the HAL agents pointed to the sidewalk that led out of the parking garage. We found the taxi line and were soon on our way to the airport. Ride only took about 10 to 15 minutes.
I had heard the Ft. Lauderdale airport could be a madhouse. Our experience was just the opposite. We checked our bags outside of the airport terminal. We found the CLEAR line and were at the front of the security queue quickly. They have the full-body scanners, so you have to remember to take everything out of your pockets. You won’t get through with change in your pocket at this airport. Chuck got the added bonus of also getting a personal wand scan once he exited the body scanner. 🤷♂️
Our gate was just a short walk from security. We were way early – our flight was not until 1:45 and it was now only 9:30. I passed the time by working on my photos and talking with a gentleman who was coming off a Princess cruise. He was going to be on the 11:00 flight to Boston which was the flight right before ours. Chuck read. We took turns walking laps around the gate area to stretch our legs.
There were earlier flights home than 1:45 but the cruise lines warn against scheduling a flight earlier than noon. We have been on several cruises that didn’t disembark until late – weather problems, mechanical problems, surprise Customs inspections of the ship, etc. People were frantically trying to reschedule missed flights. So, I booked 1:45 as it was the closest one to after the noon recommendation.
For lunch, Chuck got us some hot dogs and fries from one of the few vendors in the gate area. The longest line of people – ordering Starbucks, of course. In addition to the hamburger/hotdog place, there was a pizza place and a stand that sold pre-packaged sandwiches and salads. There were signs around the area advertising new vendors coming but there was no definite date. Maybe the next time we fly in and out of Ft. Lauderdale there will be more choices.
The 1 1/2-hour flight was uneventful. Little bumpy but not bad. Watched three more Simpsons episodes and we got to the gate about 15 minutes early. It took a while before we could get off the plane just because the plane was packed, and everyone had carryon luggage they had to get from the overhead bins. I was glad we were early because by the time we got our checked bags, we had 10 minutes to get to the shuttle pick-up location before the shuttle was scheduled to arrive.
Our shuttle was right on time so we might have missed it if the plane had even been on time, much less if it had been late. I don’t think I am going to schedule that close again.
I dozed on the way back. Everyone was quiet so it wasn’t hard to get a few winks. Once we arrived, we packed up the truck, and took off for home. Nice to see all the Christmas lights. Since we knew there would be little food in the house, we stopped to get some Krystals to take home. Mistake. The wait time was long, but they did give us extra Krystals to make up for the wait.
Pumpkin greeted us at the door with disapproving yowls. Our neighbor’s son took great care of him, but Pumpkin definitely does not like being left in the house. But we have to keep him safe so inside he must stay.
Once we ate the Krystals and waded through the stack of mail, we called it a night. The unpacking and laundry can wait until tomorrow. It was a great trip. Just what we needed. Now, time to finish up my Christmas shopping.
Final Thoughts –
I thought the Rotterdam was a very nice ship. I heard some people complaining about some aspects of it, but I liked it.
I thought people adhered to the mask rules pretty good. The only time it seemed people should wear masks but didn’t were when they were dancing either at BB King or Rolling Stone. Lots of people in a close area – no masks.
Just because I didn’t participate in a lot of ship activities doesn’t mean they weren’t offered. I just usually prefer to relax by the pool. But if you are so inclined, you could participate in sports tournaments – ping pong, basketball, shuffleboard, etc. You could attend lectures. You could play Bridge or Mahjong. You could do crafts – animal towel folding, origami, flower arranging, etc. You could always go to the game/puzzle room and pick out your favorite. There is no reason to be bored on the ship.
We overpacked again. Brought back clothes that we never wore. The laundry perk is great. We just have to do a better job packing. Lighter luggage would be better for our backs too. Fewer clothes is my goal for next time!
I am also going to replace one of my carry-on suitcases with one that has four-wheels. The one I took kept tipping over whenever I let go of it. When we were moving, I found myself dragging it. It is also very beat-up looking. Time to go.
I love Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (9:00 – 2:30), Carnival Corporation’s private island. It is a beautiful, white powdery sand beach. There are a lot of excursions you can do – horseback riding in the surf, glass bottom boat ride, cabana rentals, swimming with stingrays, and snorkeling to name a few. But, having said all that, we opted not to get off the ship today. Why, you ask?
Today is the last day before disembarking the ship tomorrow. Since we are not staying on like a lot of people are for the next 10-day cruise, we have packing to do and I don’t like to pack sandy, wet clothes or snorkel gear. If I want to just get some sun, I can do that out by the ship’s pool. I really prefer going to HMC on the first day after a Ft. Lauderdale embarkation.
Pictures from previous visits to Half Moon Cay –
We slept late and had breakfast in the Lido. Again, the lines were reasonable and there were a lot of food choices. Really like the fresh pineapple. The only fruit that I have not liked is the honeydew melon. I didn’t think it had much taste, but I am not crazy about it even when it is sweeter.
We played some slots for quite a while and then I cashed out my “bank” – the amount of money I had left on my room key. For an 11-day cruise, I only lost $100. I felt pretty good about my casino gambling.
After the slot play, I got in some sun before having lunch in the Lido. But I could not put off the inevitable – time to pack up. If we didn’t know we had to pack up, the room stewards left a hint on the bed.
Once we decided what we would be wearing home tomorrow, I was able to divide all the stuff between the two bags that would be checked and the two smaller ones and the backpacks that we will carry on the plane. I watched “Young Frankenstein” with Gene Wilder while I packed. I hadn’t seen that movie in a long time. Still hilarious.
While I was packing, Chuck came to tell me that the Casino was hosting a mini-slot tournament and that anyone who had earned 100 points this morning playing slots was eligible to play in the tournament. Eligible players had until 8:00 to try their luck in the tournament. He checked our cards, and we were both eligible. He had already played, and he was in the “No 1” position. They are only going to award money to the top three. I stopped packing and went down to try my luck. I didn’t make the Top 10. Oh well. Keeping our fingers crossed that Chuck stays in first place.
We had a farewell drink at the Half Moon Cay bar. We really liked the two bartenders. We will mention them by name in the post-cruise survey. We’ve been reminded quite a lot today to please complete the survey when we receive it.
Tonight, Chuck had the beef short ribs. I had the wiener schnitzel. The piece of meat was huge. For most of the meals the portion sizes have been fine but tonight, it was just too much. I’ll remember not to order it again. We hate to waste food.
By the time dinner was over, it was almost 8:00 so we made our way back to the Casino. Chuck’s name was still first on the leaderboard. At 8:05, they called his name as the official tournament winner! Great way to end the cruise!
We attended the 9:00 set of the Rolling Stone Rock band. I have really enjoyed this venue. I wish all the ships had it. Decided to call it a night after the session. Have to put the two big bags outside the door before midnight. We’ll pick them up in the terminal tomorrow.
No towel animal tonight.
Tomorrow – Disembarkation and Travel Home
Travel Trivia*
Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
Located in the Bahamas approximately 100 miles southeast of Nassau.
The 2400-acre island official name is Little San Salvador.
The Cay was purchased by Holland America (Carnival’s subsidiary line) in 1996 for $6 million.
It features a 2-mile-long stretch of a white sandy beach curved outwards on each end forming a half moon shape, hence its name.
It is a wild bird preserve designated by the Bahamian National Trust
*Trivia provided by Wikipedia and Holland America literature
First time since Sint Maarten that I have not set an alarm. Still woke up at 6:30. All the snorkel gear had dried out, so it was time to repack it and store it away. Tomorrow is Half Moon Cay, and we could snorkel there, but it is the last day before disembarkation, and I don’t want to be repacking wet gear. I doubt that we get off the ship.
We had breakfast in the main dining room. We were seated at a shared table but nobody else was seated with us. How sad is that? So, a table for six became a table for two. Oh well. The crepes were excellent.
Today was a typical sea day – time by the pool, lunch in the Lido, and some balcony time.
Tonight, was our second Gala night. There were a lot of sparkly dressed women tonight. I thought they would serve lobster tonight but no … the featured meal was tenderloin and grilled shrimp. I had the ricotta and spinach tortellini. Wonder if lobster will ever get back on the menu without the upcharge?
We played some slots and then some blackjack. It has been a long time since I have played blackjack. I’m still Queen of the 16’s.
We listened to the first set of the Rolling Stone Rock band and then attended another Cantare performance – “Timeless” – I thought it was even better than the performance the other night.
After the performance, we called it a night. Once we got back to the room, our Mariner tile was on the bed. Typically, there is a Mariner lunch, and they hand out the tiles at that luncheon. Not sure if they will bring back the luncheon some day or if it is gone for good.
Today is the last port day for us – Basseterre, Saint Kitts & Nevis (7:00 – 2:30). It’s another beautiful morning and another beautiful rainbow!
We docked promptly at 7:00. Our room service breakfast came soon after. At 8:00, the cruise director announced that the government was allowing HAL sponsored tours or government-approved independent tours. However, if guests want to wander around, they must stay at the port. There are more shops at this port than Dominica so it might be a place that could occupy some time.
The only other time we have been to St. Kitts we took an island tour which was very interesting. Today, we scheduled a snorkeling tour – “St. Kitts Snorkeling Adventure.” The HAL description of this excursion –
Enchanting, impressive and breathtaking — that’s a snorkel safari along the pristine Southeast Peninsula of St Kitts, where green vervet monkeys far outnumber human beings.
At Port Zante Marina, you will board a snorkel boat. Your snorkel stops will be at Shitten’s Bay and Ballast Bay — both teeming with tropical fish and coral life — turtles, eagle rays, stingrays, schools of salt-water chub, snapper, angel, parrot fish, squirrel fish and sand sharks may be seen.
Take time to explore the many virgin reefs, and the extensive soft corals, fans and sponges that make up the reef life.
Notes:
Non-alcoholic drinks and water will be provided. Wear your swimsuit; bring a towel, sunscreen and a hat. Guests with heart problems, epilepsy, diabetes or asthma are not allowed to participate. Waiver must be signed and medical conditions disclosed. Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed. All snorkel gear is provided. Life vests must be worn. Maximum weight is 300 lbs.
I worked on Chuck’s snorkel mask again with Sea Gold and rinsed it twice with a solution of baby shampoo. I hoped that the extra treatment would help keep his mask from fogging again today.
At 9:00, we met the tour guide at the pier and we were able to walk to the dock. Yay! No death-defying van ride today.
Today’s boat was a double-decker speed boat named “The Game Changer.” Captain Ricky was at the helm. We sat on the top covered deck and enjoyed the breeze. Took us about an hour to reach the first bay.
Ricky kept us entertained with information about St. Kitts. He told us that there are several U.S. real estate developers looking at St. Kitts and Nevis for some golf communities. I hope they show some restraint and not ruin the island.
Unlike yesterday, the water was very calm, and we were able to drift around over the coral with very little effort. However, I thought the water was much colder than yesterday. Maybe it was because I wasn’t swimming as hard. We stayed there about 45 minutes.
Another 15-minute ride and we were at the second bay. The unique aspect of this bay was all the star fish on the ocean floor. They were very colorful.
We had a fun ride back. We tried to get Ricky to let us go down the slide on his boat but he said “uh, it’s not part of your approved package.” I guess HAL thought we might break a hip on the slide.
But, he did crank up the music. More rum punch and lots of dance music – “Sweet Caroline!” And I only had one rum punch this time. Not letting them sneak up on me today.
Once we got back to the dock, there was a line of Celebrity cruisers getting ready for their excursion. They saw us singing and dancing and looked very envious. They should have been. We had a great time. And Chuck’s mask did fine today.
We had lunch at the New York Deli and Pizza place outside on the Panorama deck. I had a meatball sub and Chuck had the Reuben. Very good sandwiches.
Spent the rest of the afternoon poolside. Water still too cool for me but the hot tub was great.
For dinner, we sat at a shared table for six. Two couples that were traveling together but they did ensure that we were part of the conversation. That inclusion doesn’t always happen. I had the Rock Fish. It was light and flaky. Chuck had the NY Strip.
The show on the main stage tonight was “Origin” which was a presentation about the history of the Holland America Line. The cruise director did a live narration. I thought the movie was informative and touching. I think it should be shown on every ship at least once.
After some slot play, we called it a night.
Tonight’s towel animal – Penguin
Tomorrow – A Sea Day
Travel Trivia*
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
In 1493, Christopher Columbus was allegedly so smitten with this volcanic island that he named it after St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.
St. Kitts (shortened from St. Cristopher by British sailors) and sister isle Nevis were part of the British Empire until 1967, earning semi-independent status when they were named associated states of Great Britain.
In 1983, the 68-square-mile St. Kitts and Nevis became an independent, two-island nation with a parliamentary government headed by a prime minister.
The Green Vervet monkeys, found all over the island, originally arrived is St Kitts when the French occupied the island sporadically in the time frames of 1665 to 1690. They brought them as pets. Eventually the French were deported, and the monkeys were not allowed to enter the boats, so they were abandoned on the island. Today, there are 1.25 monkeys for every human on the island.
A Google photo
*Trivia provided by Wikipedia and literature from Holland America
I woke up at 5:30 and got to the Explorations Café right when they opened at 6:00. “Oh, you are early today. The usual?” How do they remember everyone’s “usual”?
We ran out of hanging room service cards and forgot to ask our room steward for more, so we ate breakfast in the Lido this morning instead of having a room service breakfast. It was not as crowded as I thought it would be and the lines moved pretty fast.
It was a pretty day for a sail-in. At the dock, we were surrounded by both large and small boats; however, none as large as the yacht we saw on Sint Maarten.
St. Thomas, USVI, is the other port on this cruise that guests could take a HAL sponsored tour, an independent tour, or just wander around through the town. We have been here before and have taken an island tour and we have just wandered around.
For this time, we signed up to take a snorkel tour over to St. John’s Trunk Bay. Unfortunately, we got a notice that this tour had been cancelled. I was able to sign us up for another snorkel tour to Honeymoon Beach. Honeymoon Beach is also on St. John so I am not sure why we couldn’t go to Trunk Bay. Guess some mysteries aren’t meant to be solved.
Anyway, our tour was to meet on the pier at 9:30. Once we got to the gangway, we had to wait before going ashore because a stretcher was being brought into the ship from an ambulance. Always a sad sight. I hoped the guest who had to be put on the stretcher would be okay. We never heard what happened.
We had a long bumpy ride in an open-air taxi to the dock on the left side of the road. We passed by a number of boat lots. They seemed to be as common on St. Thomas as car lots are around here.
Our ride to St. John was a motorized sailboat called the Stars and Stripes. Took about an hour to get to our snorkeling spot off of Honeymoon Beach. Captain Max hoisted the sail, but it was just for show. However, the colorful sail did help us spot our boat among the several that were anchored in the same place as us.
The current was strong so if you didn’t want to snorkel, you could ride a zodiac to the beach. Chuck and I opted to snorkel. We swam toward the beach and then let the current take us to the coral area.
We saw some beautiful fish, but we were constantly kicking against the current so not to go past the boundary. Chuck was having issues with his mask not getting a good seal and fogging up. Aggravating when that happens.
Next, we swam over to the sea grass to find the sea turtles. We did find one. He paid no attention to us.
Once we returned to the boat, they offered small glasses of rum punch, champagne, soft drinks, or water as we sailed back to the dock. The rum punch tasted just like fruit juice. Sneaky. I had more than one. I should have had just one.
We ate lunch at the Dive-In Burger place on the Lido Deck when we got back. I then slept off the effects of those sneaky rum punches in the lounge chair on the balcony.
We were back in the main dining room for dinner tonight. I thought the Asian noodles would be a good choice for my dinner. They were not. Way too spicy.
After dinner, I had enough energy to listen to one set of the Rolling Stone Rock Band. I then drank some ginger ale, took some Tums, and called it a night.
Tonight’s towel animal – a dinosaur.
Tomorrow – St. Kitts
Travel Trivia*
St. Thomas / St. John, USVI
St. Thomas together with Saint John, and Saint Croix, form a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), located in the Caribbean Sea.
Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493 on his second voyage.
The Dutch West India Company established a post on Saint Thomas in 1657.
In 1917, Saint Thomas was purchased (along with Saint John and Saint Croix) by the United States from the Dutch for $25 million in gold, as part of a defensive strategy to maintain control over the Caribbean and the Panama Canal during the First World War.
The actor Kelsey Grammar was born in St. Thomas.
The U.S. Virgin Islands is the only location in the United States where you drive on the left side of the road.
St. Thomas has more than 40 pristine white sand beaches with turquoise waters.
At 31 miles, St. John is the smallest of the three main US Virgin Islands.
Since 1956, approximately 60% of St. John is protected as Virgin Islands National Park and administered by the US National Parks Service.
The main economic driver of Saint John used to be sugar cane. However, the island is now almost entirely reliant on tourism.
*Trivia provided by Wikipedia and Holland America literature.
Today’s port is Roseau, Dominica (8:00 – 3:30) and we were greeted this morning with a rainbow!
Today’s port was supposed to be Martinique, but the government decided it did not want cruise ships to dock. We had a snorkeling trip planned for Martinique and I tried to get a snorkeling trip for Dominica when it was announced that it would be a substitute port. However, I was not quick enough, and the snorkeling trip sold out. There were not many excursions to choose from today, but I was able to get “Best of Dominica and Scenic Drive. I wasn’t able to copy the excursion description, but it is basically a short tour of the island.
Unlike the last two stops, the government of Dominica said only people on HAL sponsored tours could leave the port area. No independent tour operators were allowed to sell their tours. The only wandering you could do is in the small port area where a few souvenir tents were set up. Why so strict? We were told that Dominica has very limited healthcare facilities and a very low vaccination rate of the residents. However, any tour operator associated with the HAL sponsored tours supposedly were fully vaccinated and had a booster.
We had room service again for breakfast and then went to the pier for our tour. The tour guide said there were 99 people for this tour so we were divided into five 20 passenger vans. At least these vans had little wider seats than the other vans did.
It was déjà vu all over again – winding roads up and down mountains, left side driving, passing each other with a “beep and go!” I don’t know how much more my heart can take. Our tour guide was very good. She gave us a lot of information as we watched the scenery and didn’t mind answering any questions that we had. We were a curious group. She was able to answer the big debate – Duh-mi-ni-kah or Dom-i-nee-kah (answer at the bottom).
We drove through Roseau and part of the Botanical Gardens.
The first actual stop was Morne Bruce. This large mountain with its panoramic view used to be the spot for the garrison that was built by the British to protect the island from the French. The garrison was closed in 1854 and the cannons were removed. Most of the buildings were torn down. I was glad the day was clear so we could see so much.
The next stop was a small restaurant/gift shop. Since all 5 vans stopped at the same time, it was good that they had two bathrooms for women and one for the men. Still had very long lines. We were also served a passion fruit punch. It was okay. I still preferred the guava one from the other day.
I really enjoyed photographing the little bird that was having a nice time picking at the papaya. He had no fear of me. He was happy that he had that big piece of fruit all to himself.
We were back on the ship by 12:30. It was a short tour but a nice introduction to the island. Maybe we will get to go back some day and snorkel.
We decided to try the Grand Dutch Café for lunch. It serves Dutch-themed food and desserts. The food is complimentary. If you want coffee or alcohol, you pay extra. We both ordered the Dutch Pea Soup and a Ham & Gouda cheese sandwich. We ordered a cream-filled chocolate pastry to share.
My food came out quickly. Unfortunately, Chuck had to ask twice for his food, and I had eaten all of mine before he was finally served his food. I thought the food was very tasty but not sure what happened with the order. HAL usually doesn’t have this type of snafu.
Chuck decided a long nap would be perfect this afternoon. I used the time for downloading and reviewing photos on the laptop. Since we will be snorkeling at the next two ports, I will trade my DSLR camera for my waterproof camera.
We decided to eat at one of the other upcharge restaurants tonight – the Tamarind. The Tamarind is an Asian-inspired restaurant on some of the HAL ships. We have never eaten there before but we love Asian food. A bonus is that as four-star mariners, we get a 50% discount on the meals at the upcharge restaurants.
Our reservation was for 7:00. We arrived a little early so we were seated at the bar. Their drink special was the Cucumber Mojito. It was refreshing but a little on the sweet side. I think I like the Cucumber Sunrise served at the Alchemy Bar on some Carnival ships better though.
The Tamarind is located on the 10th deck (Panorama deck) overlooking the aft pool on the Lido deck. We were seated near a window so the view of the pool and the stars was nice.
Chuck had the Satay Sampler and the Wasabi Beef Tenderloin. I had the Lobster and Shrimp Potstickers and the Crispy Duck. We both had the Jewel of the Seas soup.
The food and its presentation were very good. But the length of time between each of the three courses, I thought was excessive. At times, I felt forgotten and was getting antsy. It didn’t help that the restaurant was crowded and then a group of ship’s officers came in so a lot of waitstaff attention was diverted to them. I hope this service was just a fluke because I would like to try the Tamarind again someday. I just don’t like spending two hours eating a meal.
Because we didn’t get out of there until 9:00, we were late to the comedy show and had to watch the comedians by leaning on the balcony from the upper floor. There were absolutely no seats to be found. I guess everyone who had floor seats must have gotten there at 8:00. There was a new comedian tonight for the first show: Bud Andersen and then he was followed by Flip Schultz who had new material in case you saw him earlier in the cruise. I thought Bud’s routine was funnier.
Still think they should have had the comedians perform on the main stage. They were showing two movies in there tonight: Downhill and then The Misfits. Never heard of either one of those movies. I would be surprised if they had better attendance than the two comedians had.
I went back to the room to get our snorkel gear ready for tomorrow. Chuck went to do battle with the slots again.
Tonight’s towel animal is an elephant.
The answer is: Dom-i-nee-kah
Tomorrow – St. Thomas, USVI
Travel Trivia*
Roseau, Dominica
Dominica is its own island in the Caribbean, technically a part of the Lesser Antilles. It is not the Dominican Republic.
The Commonwealth of Dominica has been an independent country since 1978; the currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar and the official language is English.
Dominica has the second-largest boiling lake in the world. Boiling Lake is one the most famous places on the island. It was discovered in 1870, and it’s technically a flooded fumarole in a volcanic crater.
Dominica only has four amphibians —and one of them is the giant ditch frog, or “mountain chicken.” It’s one of the largest in the world, is only found in Dominica and Montserrat, and it’s so iconic, it made it onto Dominica’s official seal. Also…it tastes like chicken but is no longer eaten as it is endangered.
A Google photo
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) and some scenes from the third film in the series, At World’s End (2007) were filmed here.
Dominica was named by explorer Christopher Columbus after the day of the week he sighted the island in 1493: Sunday – or Domingo in Latin.
Dominica is home to the largest indigenous population in the East Caribbean. Around 3,000 Kalinago (once referred to as “Caribs”) still live in Dominica.
Dominica’s national symbol is the Sisserou parrot, a rare bird indigenous to the island.
Another Google Photo
Dominica is home to nine active volcanoes, although there hasn’t been a major eruption since 1997 and before that in 1880.
In Dominica, there’s a river for every day of the year – 365 in total.
Roseau is the capital and largest city of Dominica. It is a small and compact urban settlement, in the Saint George parish and surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Roseau River and Morne Bruce (mountain).
There are six secondary schools in the city as well as eight primary schools. A community college, the Dominica State College, is in Roseau. There are two private medical schools, All Saints School of Medicine and Ross University School of Medicine, and two private universities, Ballsbridge University.
NBA basketball player Garth Joseph was born in the town on August 8, 1973.
*Trivia provided by Wikipedia,Holland America literature, and the Dominica tour guide.
Our port today is Barbados (8:00 – 4:30). The only other time we have visited Barbados we went snorkeling because the water around the island is known for an abundance of sea turtles. We were not disappointed. We were surrounded by sea turtles. Today, we were going to see the other animal that the island is known for – “the green monkey.” The Holland America (HAL) tour is called “Green Monkey Eco Discovery.” The website description is
About the Excursion
Leave the port and travel inland through the center of the island, alongside sugar cane fields and peaceful villages. As you skirt the east coast, enjoy the rugged beauty of the landscape and the pounding surf of the Atlantic Ocean. This area is a National Park.
Turn inland and gradually ascend until you arrive at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, situated in a lush natural setting. Stroll freely through a primary monkey sanctuary, viewing the Barbados green monkey at close range. There are also deer, wallabies, otters, and tortoises living here. Don’t miss the large walk-in aviary where many exotic birds are housed.
Return to the harbor via the west coast, often referred to as the Gold Coast because it is home to a number of famous and wealthy residents, as well as the island’s finest hotels and restaurants.
Pass through Speightstown in the parish of St Peter, as well as Holetown — the landing site of the first British settlers in 1627. Speightstown is the second-largest town on Barbados and was once known as Little Bristol. It was eventually named after William Speight — the Member of Parliament on whose land it was built.
Notes:
Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Participants must be able to navigate uneven ground comfortably.
Our day started with coffee and bad news. We got our disembarkation papers in the mailbox. So soon? I feel like the cruise is just getting started and they are telling us how we are going to leave. Our flight is not until 2:00 on that Sunday so at least we can be in the last group to leave the ship.
This excursion is one of ours that got a time change. We were supposed to leave at 9:30 but now it is not leaving until noon. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the later time. We have reservations at the Pinnacle Grill tonight – the ship’s steak house – at 6:00. We won’t be getting back until about 4:00 so I will be hurrying to get cleaned up and ready for the reservation.
However, it was nice to have a dining room breakfast without hurrying. We then relaxed on the balcony and watched what was happening at this port. It is an industrial port so there were a lot of cargo ships in port with us. Holland America provided free shuttles from the port to the terminal to help ensure people wouldn’t get hurt walking through this busy port.
The cruise director made the same announcement that she made yesterday – the government would allow government-sponsored excursions as well as HAL excursions but no independent wandering. Also, do not wear any clothing that has a camouflage design. Only Barbados military can wear camouflage clothing. I remembered this rule from the last time we visited.
Once we arrived at the terminal, we found our tour director and were soon packed into another cramped van. I guess they bought from the same dealer who sold the ones in Saint Lucia. We also had the same type of driving experience – winding, narrow roads with left-side driving. Ugh.
Our tour guide was very informative as we drove through different towns.
Thought it was interesting that this local chain restaurant ran McDonalds out of town. Our tour guide said that it was a chicken restaurant and chicken is much more popular than beef in Barbados.
Our first stop was a place named Bathsheba because all the wave foam supposedly reminded people of the milk bath that Bathsheba was said to have been taking when King David saw her.
Our next stop was the wildlife preserve. They timed it just right so we would be there at the 2:00 feeding time.
According to the literature we received, “The Barbados Wildlife Reserve, established in 1985, is focused on the conservation of the Barbados Green Monkey. It is situated on four acres of natural mahogany forest. In addition to the Green Monkey, there are also tortoises, peacocks, reptiles, and Brocket deer. Except for the reptiles and some of the birds, the animals are free to leave the Reserve at any time.The animals are wild so do not touch or feed any of them.”
There were many meandering wooden and uneven brick paths in the Reserve but they all converged on the feeding area in the middle of the Reserve. We certainly didn’t have any problem spotting and photographing the animals. What you really had to be careful of was not tripping over them as they had no problem getting around your feet.
We were scheduled to leave at 3:00 but we didn’t leave until 3:15 as one person in our group got on the wrong van and the tour director had to check all the other vans to locate her. She didn’t even realize that all the other people on the van were not in her group. I think the tour guides are going to have to carry flags or banners to wave. Apparently, we can’t follow directions.
As the tour description mentioned, we headed back to the ship through the high-end district of Barbados. Lots of upscale restaurants and high rises. Our tour director pointed out the Villa that the singer Rihanna purchased for $22 million. She grew up in Barbados. I was more interested in the congested traffic that was making the drive back to the ship very, very, very slow.
The ship had the shuttles waiting for us at the terminal to get us back through the port to the ship. The ship pulled away from the dock promptly at 4:30 and I started getting ready for our dinner.
The Pinnacle Grill is one of HAL’s upcharge restaurants. As part of our booking promotion, we each received one free meal at the Pinnacle for this cruise. Chuck had the crab cake appetizer, Lobster Bisque, and 16 oz ribeye.
I had the Clothesline Candied Bacon appetizer, Lobster Bisque, and King Crab legs. I had to pay a little extra for the crab legs but since we were getting the rest of it complimentary, I splurged (and ate them all before I thought to take a photo – they were that good!). We split a serving of asparagus. We passed on dessert even though the cheesecake did look amazing.
Once we finished dinner, we had several activities to choose from – Rum Cake Tasting, a set from the Rolling Stone Rock band, NFL game on the Lido pool big screen, or the show on the main stage.
We chose the main stage show. It was called Off the Charts and featured the two piano players from the Billboard Onboard dueling piano bar, the dancers from Step One, and the lead female singer from the BB King band. The show centered around famous singers from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. I thought the best two singers were the lead from the BB King band and the male piano bar performer. They both had powerful voices and great stage presence. I didn’t think the dancers added much to this performance.
The ship had a lot of wave action tonight. I’ve been taking my Bonine so it didn’t affect me. However, we did make it an early night as we have an early excursion tomorrow.
We were pleasantly surprised to find that our laundry had been returned this evening. We just sent it out this morning. Since we have achieved 4-star mariner status with HAL, we get free unlimited laundry services. We send it out all dirty and wrinkled and we get it all back clean and pressed and wrapped in tissue. So nice.
The towel animal tonight is a dog, I think.
Tomorrow – Dominica
Travel Trivia*
Bridgetown, Barbados
Barbados was first called Los Barbados, which means ‘the bearded ones”. The country owes its previous name to its fig trees and their long hanging, aerial roots. This prompted Pedro Campos, the Portuguese explorer to name the country Los Barbados, because the trees from afar looked like they had beards.
Barbados is known as ‘the land of the flying fish’ because of the abundance of flying fish in its waters.
Wish I would have seen one of these fish.
Barbados has the world’s third-oldest parliament. It has been in operation since 1639.
*Trivia provided by Wikipedia and information from Holland America.
Today is a new port for us – Castries, Saint Lucia (8:00 – 3:30). Up until this morning, all the announcements about going ashore said guests would be limited to only going on Holland America (HAL) sponsored shore excursions. However, once we docked, the cruise director announced that the government had decided to allow guests ashore if they were on a government-approved tour operator excursion. However, we were not allowed to explore or wander around on our own. It was said that all of these precautions were to limit our exposure to anyone who might be unvaccinated and/or infected.
From previous cruises, I know that many people like to take shore excursions from independent operators rather than a ship-sponsored excursion – mostly because the groups are smaller and the prices usually less expensive. If you research well, you can find tour operators who are reputable and will get you back to the ship on-time. If you go with a ship-sponsored tour, the ship guarantees you will be back on time, or the ship will wait for you or pay to get you to the next port.
Today, I wondered if people who had signed up for a ship excursion and then heard the announcement about independent operators cancelled their HAL excursion to find an independent. If they cancelled, did HAL refund their money? I had heard HAL was going to be more lenient in shore excursion refunds due to the changing requirements of the local island governments. I never did talk with anyone who changed so I can’t say for sure.
We ordered room service breakfast for this morning. We completed the breakfast card last night and hung it outside our door. The breakfast was delivered promptly at the time we requested. We were able to watch the sail-in from the balcony and then finish getting ready for our tour without having to deal with crowds in the Lido.
Over the years, the room service breakfast choices have been scaled back. They have also added some breakfast items that are an extra charge. However, you can still get a hot breakfast of eggs, bacon, or sausage, hashbrowns, toast, coffee, and juice without paying extra. Other choices include a continental breakfast, cold or hot cereal, or a yogurt parfait – all without paying extra.
Chuck got the hot breakfast and I got yogurt and the continental breakfast. I tip the delivery person, but it is not required. The food was very good. Everything that was supposed to be hot was hot and everything that was supposed to be cold was cold. All served on nice china, good flatware, and cloth napkins. Very nice start to the day.
At 9:30, we went ashore to the pier and located our HAL tour – “Aerial Tram Adventure.” The tour description on the HAL website is
About the Excursion
Flirtatious hummingbirds, impressive buttress root systems, and persistent Ficus stranglers are your companions on this rain forest aerial tram ride.
The Aerial Tram transports you up and away from the heat and bustle of the lowlands to an ecological park located in the heights of St Lucia’s forest reserve. The open-air gondola ascends quietly through the rain forest, offering a magical view of nature in all its majesty — towering gommiers, impressive chatanniers, and the remarkable phenomenon of the strangler Ficus. Playful hummingbirds and bananaquits are everywhere.
An experienced naturalist interpretive guide will point out giant ferns and magnificent heliconia and identify the calls and the plumage of the birdlife that makes its home in the Caribbean oceanic forest.
The ride affords a bird’s-eye view of the forest and a spectacular panoramic vista of the north of the island. With much to see and hear, the tram ride is a celebration of color and life — a restorative retreat to invigorate the senses.
Disembark at the Aerial Tram base station located in the area of Chassin, some 2,000 feet above sea level, nestled at the base of La Sorcière mountain. From here, it is just a half-hour drive back to Castries.
Notes:
The tram park premises are non-smoking. Maximum weight is 350 lbs. A café and souvenir shop are located at base station. Closed-toe walking and/or hiking shoes are mandatory (no high heels, sandals, or flip-flops) for guests who wish to walk the Fern Nature Trail (optional).
What the description didn’t include was that you were packed into a van and driven 30 minutes to the site. They drive on the left side of the road very fast around the hair-pin curves up and down the mountains. When they pass, they beep and “go” regardless of traffic conditions. I was so glad I had taken a Bonine before the ride so I didn’t get car sick. Terrifying.
Once all three of the vans arrived at the base station, we were divided into groups of 8 to be able to get on an open-air gondola for the ride up the mountain. It sprinkled for a few minutes but the sun soon came out. The breeze was very nice. I did see some hummingbirds flitting around the beautiful flowers at the base station. I just could not get a photo.
We didn’t have to wait long before our gondola was ready. Chuck and I were sitting on the 2nd seat from the front. The naturalist was in the back of the gondola (seat with backpack), but she spoke very good English and she projected well also so we didn’t have a hard time hearing her.
As we rode, she did identify the trees, bushes, vines and flowers. I didn’t take notes or record her commentary, so I have no clue as to what all these pictures are except they are trees, bushes, vines, and flowers. Sigh. Their sizes were impressive. We did see some birds and hummingbirds, but they were too fast for a picture.
Once we got to the very top, we had a wonderful view of the island and the Caribbean Sea. It was very peaceful ride up and down the mountain through the eco park.
We did see some people zip lining and from the shouts they sounded like they were having a great time. We have gone ziplining in the past and it is a lot of fun.
Roatan 2012
Once we got off the gondola, she offered to take us on the 20-minute nature walk. If you didn’t want to go, you could just go on to the gift shop and get some free fruit juice. We opted for the short hike. We should have opted out because she walked and talked so fast that I couldn’t keep up and take pictures too. The ground, of course, was very uneven and I had to really watch where I stepped to keep from turning an ankle. I would have been better off just photographing the flowers around the gift shop.
Nothing gets in the way of the vines, not even boulders
There were two different types of fruit juices offered. One was a guava-based juice and the other was something made with flowers. I liked the guava one better. A little bird kept landing and hopping about trying to get some juice. Don’t know what kind of bird and my pictures are grainy. I will never get a job with National Geographic.
Once we were told to get back on the vans, we knew to get on Van #2 as directed by our driver when we had arrived. We got on Van #2; however, it was not the same driver. Okay. We started to get off but our guide said “No, my group stays on this van. It is Van #2.” We stayed on. Then, she comes back and says “Oh, there are two Van #2 so you are on the other Van #2.”
It was not easy climbing in and out of those vans so there were some disgruntled people. We were all going back to the same ship so why not just fill up the available vans and go? Disorganized.
Another crazy 30-minute ride and we were back to the ship. I found a cute hummingbird ornament at one of the souvenir tents at the pier. It seemed fragile so I hoped it would make it back home without breaking.
The Lido was still serving a light lunch so that was our first stop after dropping our backpack in the room. Afterwards, we went back to relax on the balcony and to watch the sail-away at 4:00 and be ready for the scenic cruising in the Soufriere Bay past the Pitons (pronounced: pea-tons) at 5:00.
There were dark clouds in the distance, and you could see the rain coming toward the ship. Then the sun partially came out and we had the most brilliant rainbow. It lasted the entire time we were in the Bay. Mesmerizing.
The Pitons were majestic. I was told that the snorkeling near them is wonderful also.
The last picture I took was just after a jet plane flew over. It seemed to cut through the clouds and leave a gold streak in the sky.
At 7:00, it was time for dinner. We were seated at a table for two. I had the chicken cordon bleu and Chuck had the beef stroganoff. We both had dessert tonight as they offered carrot cake and I love carrot cake. Another different area of the dining room and a different wait staff but the same great service.
However, at the end of the meal, I was miserably stuffed and decided that I would rather go back to the room, listen to the waves, and work on processing the many, many pictures I made today than listen to the bands or go to the main stage and watch the Step One Dancers perform Musicology. Good choice as I fell asleep quickly. I was glad I didn’t drop my laptop. I would have been embarrassed if I had fallen asleep during a performance.
Chuck went to the Casino. Unfortunately, he did not make it to Round 4 of the tournament so no prize money for us. He did receive two t-shirts and two ball caps. We are holding our own at the slot machines.
No towel animal tonight.
Tomorrow – Barbados
Travel Trivia*
Castries, St. Lucia
St Lucia, situated in the Caribbean Sea, is the second largest of the Windward Islands located in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The island was created because of volcanic activity and is 27 miles long and14 miles wide. The Pitons – Gros Piton and Petit Piton – are twin volcanic peaks that rise from the sea and have helped make St. Lucia famous.
Jacquot, or the St. Lucia Parrot, is a bird native only to these islands. It is the national bird of St. Lucia, and its scientific name is Amazona Versicolor.
Wish I had taken this picture. We never saw one.
St. Lucia is home to Roseau Valley Distillery, which is famous for producing more than 21 types of rum.
*Trivia provided by Wikipedia and information supplied by Holland America
We have six port days in a row. Today is the first one – Philipsburg, Sint Maarten (8:00 – 3:30). It is one of the two ports that are allowing independent excursions or just wandering around if you wish. However, we received a notice from Holland America that the French side of Sint Maarten is experiencing civil unrest. All Holland America excursions to the French side have been cancelled, and they advised all guests to stay on the Dutch side of the island.
Wonder who owns this beauty
We had visited Sint Maarten on our previous Carnival cruise and had a great time snorkeling. We hadn’t really thought about what we wanted to do today. Given the warning that we received, we just decided to stay on the ship.
We watched the sail-in from the balcony. We pulled into next to the Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas. It was so much bigger than our ship, it blocked our view to the island. As I was looking at it, I realized I only saw a few people out and about and they all looked like crew members. Found out later that the ship was in for a dry dock – repairs and refurbishing.
With most people off the ship, I decided that today would be a good day to take some photos of the various pieces of artwork around the ship.
I also discovered that the staff was beginning to decorate the ship for Christmas.
I also loved the atrium sculpture of the Rotterdam.
After getting some photos, we spent some more time at the aft pool. No breeze so this area felt much warmer than the two sea days.
Time passed quickly and it was soon time for the sailaway. After we pulled away, it was time for the SEC Championship – University of Georgia vs Alabama. Not going to be shown on any of the ship’s television sets. I was able to find it on my computer but the connection was poor so we only watched it for a little while. Later on, we found out that Alabama beat Georgia again. Sad. Thought UGA had it this year.
Dinner tonight was a crab cake appetizer for both of us. Chuck had the halibut, and I had the pasta for our main selection. We have been skipping dessert which seems to baffle the waiters.
We went to a set of the Rolling Stone Rock band and then we went to see the comedy performance of Flip Schultz. The venue was packed. I think HAL should have had him perform on the main stage instead of the BB King showroom. In the main stage area, HAL was showing the BBC film – Planet Earth II in Concert. We have seen this film before – lots of nature and the film is accompanied by live music from the musicians of the ship.
Chuck went to play in Round 3 of the slot tournament, and I called it a night. I was sleeping so hard I didn’t even hear Chuck come in.
We got our first towel animal tonight – a swan.
Tomorrow – St. Lucia
Travel Trivia*
Saint Maarten
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Sint Maarten-St. Martin is the smallest landmass in the world to be shared between two countries. Sint Maarten occupies the southern half of the island of Saint Martin in the Leeward Islands; the northern half forms the French territory of Saint Martin.
It is said that Sint Maarten-St. Martin actually received its name from the day that Christopher Columbus landed on the island, which was on November 11, 1493, the holy day of St. Martin of Tours.
The division of the island between the Netherlands and France dates to March 23, 1648, under the Treaty of Concordia. Local folklore indicates that the division of land began with a walking contest between a Frenchman and a Dutchman. Before they started, the Frenchman drank wine while the Dutchman drank the stronger jenever (Dutch gin), allowing the Frenchman to cover more territory and claim more land.
There is no physical border between the two countries. You may travel between the two countries freely.
The island is 37 square miles, and it also boasts 37 beaches. Despite its short runway that is located between a large hill and a beach, major airlines fly large jet aircraft into St. Martin’s Princess Juliana International Airport.
Trivia provided by Wikipedia and Holland America literature
