Just a few words to say that with these posts, you may find typos and other strange things. I am mostly typing these blogs while lounging on deck, in the warm sunshine, watching the waves and clouds and occasional sea birds. So, my mind is not totally on writing. Plus, this new computer has a habit of jumping lines - small keyboard or glitch, I don't know why it does that. Please bear with me, as I haven't had the time to proofread as carefully as I should!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
004 - Barbados
PORT OF CALL: Bridgetown, Barbados
DATE: January 9, 2012
DAY #: 004
TIME IN PORT: to
EXCURSION CHOSEN :
Departs:
Approximately 3-1/2 Hours
Price $69.00
You don’t have to be a photography expert to join top Bajan photographer Ronnie Carrington on this photography tour that travels through quaint and little known areas of Barbados. Both experienced photographers and novices with an interest in capturing magical shots will appreciate the artistic and natural aspects of this adventure. Air-conditioned transportation takes you through the countryside, passing colorful chattel houses, to rugged Bathsheba on the Atlantic coast. During your drive, Ronnie relates fascinating folktales and interesting anecdotes. Your route offers a wealth of photographic opportunities, from the Scotland District in the hilly interior to the foaming surf of the Atlantic . Please note: Beach chair, shared umbrella, use of lockers and showers are included.
I. COUNTRY: BARBADOS
After a mishap with a plane years ago in St. Lucia, we (Jackie from Karl Suss Company and I and the folks who were on the Club Med vacation) were parceled out to hotels around Barbados to await repairs and for daylight to fly back to Canada. Jackie and I were sent to the Cacrabank Apartments, small efficiencies right on the beach. Later, I spent 10 days in Barbados Barbados Jill Walker Bathsheba . I really liked the meals with flying fish and plantains. So, I was anxious to return to Barbados
II. EXCURSION EXPERIENCES & PHOTOS
Anita had chosen a different excursion and left earlier. I walked off the ship and along the pier through the terminal with all the shops to the bus parking spot. The bus was fairly small with about 30 seats. Once all of us were on board, the driver took us through the outskirts of Bridgetown to our first photo stop. It turned out to be a palm-tree lined driveway to an estate. (not very exciting or picturesque in my opinion). Then we headed off to the Scotland District, the rolling hilly interior. The guide (the photo expert) explained how the land shifted after a big rain, some houses falling/sliding down the hillsides. He stopped the bus at a small (ugly) chattel house and again for a distant view of the ocean. Finally we arrived at Bathsheba on the Atlantic coast where we disembarked for a rest stop and photo shoot on the beach. Then the bus continued to near the Atlantic House restaurant (where I ate lunch several times during my prior visit to Barbados). There, the iconic rocks stood up from the beach, and we had a “rum punch” stop at a local bar.
The photographer sang the rum punch song, and the first to repeat it received a prize. I won a copy of one of his poems and prints for repeating:
One of sour; two of sweet
Three of bitter, four of weak.
That’s the recipe for rum punch – one measure of lime juice (sour); two measures of simple sugar syrup (sweet); three measures of rum (bitter); and four measures of water (weak). I didn’t try any!
We returned directly to the ship without any more photo stops. Some of the stops had just been “window” shots. A brief stop on the side of the road, open the window, and shoot a few frames, and then continue.
III. THOUGHTS/IMPRESSIONS
Very disappointing. In my opinion, we didn’t see any of the more famous sights on the island which would have been much more picturesque.
003 - Roseau, Dominica
PORT OF CALL: Roseau , Dominica
DATE: January 8, 2012
DAY #: 003
TIME IN PORT: to
EXCURSION CHOSEN :
Accessible Dominica
Rainforest Drive
Departs:
Approximately 3 Hours
Price $49.00
Don't miss this opportunity to experience a waterfall without the need for a lot of walking. Start with a cultural drive through the Capital of Roseau to the Morne Bruce Caribbean Sea . At the Botanical Gardens, you will be able to see the famous and endangered Sisserou and Jaco parrots in protective cages, along with many large trees, exotic flowers, and tropical plants. From here, continue towards the interior of Dominica Jaco Falls Layou River —the longest and largest river in Dominica
I. COUNTRY: DOMINICA
For the purposes of this blog, I decided against including a lot of information about each of our stops on the world cruise. Anyone interested in Dominica
I’ve actually been to Dominica
II. EXCURSION EXPERIENCES & PHOTOS
Both Anita and I chose the excursion listed above. However, I woke up with a headache today and did not go anywhere. I had her put the “Privacy Please” tag on the door and just stayed in bed. I did not get breakfast, I did not have lunch; but in the middle of the afternoon, I did eat a pear from our fruit basket. When Anita returned, she ordered Room Service for me – vegetable omelet, toast, and tea – since it was almost suppertime. The toast came as bread, and the teapots were empty. She called back and the waiter brought teapots with hot water in them. I went back to bed after eating.
Around eight o’clock, I did get up, as the headache was abating somewhat. I prepared my clothes and photo bag for tomorrow’s excursion in Barbados. Since we are meeting at 8:00 am to begin the excursion, there’s not much time to paw through all the stuff trying to get organized at the last minute.
III. THOUGHTS/IMPRESSIONS
I missed Dominica entirely. So, no photos, no impressions, nothing. I will have to review Anita’s photos since I was unable to take any!
I did hear the story that a lady on the pier was standing too close to one of the tour buses or vans, and it backed over her foot. Then, apparently thinking it was a rock, the driver pulled forward, running over her foot again. The ship was late sailing out of the port because of this accident. One of the staff took her to the hospital, and we couldn’t leave without him. We later heard that the lady was flown home where her foot had to be amputated. How awful!!
To continue in this morbid vein, it seems that each year on this world cruise, some folks die. We actually met a lady whose husband died in the middle of their last world cruise. I never thought about it, but I guess with the average age maybe in the 70s, anything is possible.
We had also heard that several passengers were denied boarding in Fort Lauderdale because they did not get their Brazil visa on time. It clearly stated that the trip would have to be forfeited if all visas were not in order – can you imagine paying for a trip of this magnitude, packing and shipping all the luggage, and then being denied going the day of embarkation? Yikes!
002 - At Sea
DAY AT SEA
DATE: January 8, 2012
DAY #: 002
I. LOCATION: CRUISING WHERE?
Our second day at sea cruising the Caribbean.
II. ACTIVITIES
A. MORNING
Up early and breakfast at the Lido Restaurant (the buffet, casual area with “stations” for each item – fruits, hot cereals, eggs cooked to order, meats, pancakes, cold cereals and yogurt; around the corner are the muffins and pastries). There is so much food! For the first 48 hours of the voyage, the servers will put all items on your plate (health regulations and to keep “sick people” from passing on germs) – after that, we can serve ourselves, the cold items at least. The stewards will bring coffee and juice to the table; and if your hands are full, will bring your plates as well. One fellow who brings around the coffee cart has a “Chico Marx” horn. Beep, beep. The stewards are very helpful, always smiling, always quick to please.
A quick break from unpacking at 10 am to meet the other folks who have posted regularly on the Cruise Critic website. There are many of us there in the Crow’s Nest – the bar at the top of the ship with the amazing views. But, it is one of the smoking-allowed places around the bar, so it’s a short visit for me.
B. AFTERNOON
Back to unpacking, organizing the desk, nightstand, and bathroom. Will it never end????
C. DRESS CODE/THEME FOR THE DAY
Tonight is our first formal night, a traditional event with on-stage staff introductions by the Captain. I will wear the brown dress from Fiori Bridal in Essex Jct., paired with a gold sequined scarf.
D. NOTABLE MEALS
The Dining Room is decorated with large Earth balloons, white covers on the chairs, and flags of many countries. Very nice very festive. I chose the caviar appetizer, filet mignon and Maine Lobster tail.
E. NOTABLE ENTERTAINMENT
The entertainer tonight is Melissa Manchester, who sang her famous songs. Her daughter accompanied her on several songs, and she had video from her grammy-award winning song (back in the 1980s) and video of other performers she knows where they were singing along with her. Interesting.
Am very glad to get out of the dress and shoes at bedtime!
001 - At Sea
DAY AT SEA
DATE: January 7, 2012
DAY #: 001
I. LOCATION: CRUISING WHERE?
“Our first day at sea begins with a gorgeous sunrise on the turquoise Caribbean waters” – I wrote that sentence when I was preparing the format for the blog. I really can’t remember what the weather was now that I’m ready to actually publish the daily blog since I didn’t keep any notes those first few days. But, here goes:
II. ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE
A. MORNING
We were both up early (6:00 am), and had breakfast in the Lido by 6:30 am – the starboard (right) side opens for continental breakfast at 6:00 am and both sides open for full breakfast at 6:30 am. We seem to prefer the starboard side for some reason.
The day will be spent unpacking the luggage I brought. There is something to be said for simplicity (and nudity!). There is not enough closet space (or is it that I have brought too many clothes, haha). I have rearranged everything twice. We had seen, first-hand, the mishandling of baggage by the workers, but I had no idea the damage that could be done until I opened the “toiletries” duffle and found a plastic tote smashed and one bottle of mouthwash empty, the duffle smelling ever so minty.
The velvety Slimline coat hangers I bought from Bed, Bath & Beyond did not survive shipping or baggage handling. Several were broken when I opened the duffle, even though the duffle was packed very carefully. And, once I put clothes on the hangers and moved them around the closet rod, the hooks broke right off. The slightest pressure, the slightest twisting – arrggghhh – I think more ended up in the trash than on the closet rod. The whole idea was to pack the hangers/clothes in tightly and to “cascade” the hangers, which, according to the advertising and pictures on the box was the whole purpose of these hangers. Well, the Slimline hangers couldn’t take the weight either and broke. So frustrating!!! The wooden hangers provided by the cruise line take up so much room in the closet, which is why I tried the “space saving” hangers – what a waste of money!!
B. AFTERNOON
I folded up the duffles as I emptied them. No matter what I do, it does seem as though I will take 2/3 and Anita will have 1/3 of the closet space. There is stuff everywhere!! And, I hate chaos and the mess.
C. EVENING
Early dinner, good food, and good conversation. The show this evening was a fellow who played the violin, piano, and guitar, mostly instrumentals, some singing. Being English/Irish, his rendition of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” didn’t quite cut it for me. Hard to sing country songs with an Irish accent.
Off to bed early! Still trying to catch up on some sleep.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
000 Embarkation Day
EMBARKATION DAY
DATE: January 6, 2012
Day #: Embarkation
I. AGENDA
A. MORNING
Anita went down to the hotel lobby and brought back up muffins and yogurt for breakfast. I surely didn’t want a repeat of an overpriced buffet breakfast again, notwithstanding our thoughts that the lobby bar might be busy with other breakfast hunters. (There are at least three Holland America ships departing this morning, and we’ve heard there are about eight ships total in port.)
A porter will pick up our checked bags which will go directly into a truck to be taken to the ship and to our room. We found a travel program on Vietnam which showed the Chi Chu tunnels, which is one of her excursions, while we waited in our room. After he arrived, we waited in the lobby for the bus to pick us up and take us to the pier. It’s the old “hurry up and wait” (again!). There does seem to be some order to the chaos, and the bellman did say it was like that every weekend the ships are in port. Excitement and confusion abound.
Around 11:30 am, we boarded the bus for the short drive to the pier. Upon arriving and going through security, we were given a number and told to wait – a sitting area had been set up against one wall. The cavernous first floor bounced conversations back and forth, the noise level rising as more passengers piled in. Attendants passed around fresh cookies and lemonade. Approximately one hour later, our number was called and we proceeded to the check-in station to have our passports taken (and kept) and our photo taken for our shipboard ID card.
B. AFTERNOON
Dragging our carry-on luggage and newly printed shipboard ID, we took the elevator to the second floor for our embarkation photo and gangway walk. Once on board we went up to our stateroom. Cautiously opening the door, cameras in hand, we expected to find a mountain of luggage awaiting us. Not so. Nothing had been delivered yet! All the information I had been given indicated our luggage would be picked up by FedEx and would be in our room when we arrived. Disappointed!! (sorta)
With nothing (really) to unpack right away, we dropped our carry-ons and went up to the Lido Buffet to a quick lunch. I gave Anita a perfunctory tour of the ship and, looking over the side of the Lower Promenade Deck (the walking deck), we saw pallets of luggage in huge open metal boxes waiting to be taken into the bowels of the ship, along with produce, meats, flowers, etc. That solved the mystery of where our missing luggage was – and everyone else’s, too.
Our luggage arrived in drips and drabs – one or two at a time. It was still overwhelming, and I dreaded hearing the steward knocking on the door with more!
C. EVENING
We had signed up for early dining – 5:30 pm in the Main Dining Room, the LaFontaine, so just left the mess and went upstairs. Our table, #303, has 10 chairs and we introduced ourselves to our tablemates:
1 Doug and Sharon from near Edmonton, Canada
2. John and Betty from Kentucky
3. Douglas and Micah from near Washington DC and Indonesia
4. Werner and Jutta (pronounced Verna and U-ta) from Germany
Good conversation and “get to know you” evening – with the same tablemates for the entire voyage, you’d think we’d run out of things to say to each other, but I don’t think so in this case. Sometimes when groups of people travel together and sit together, it becomes tedious if there is a new person at the table since the conversation usually revolves around the shared “at home” experiences. None of the couples at our table know each other, so there will always be something new to talk about. Hooray!
We were late leaving Fort Lauderdale so missed the Sail-Away party since we were already in the dining room – was it because there was so much more luggage to place onboard? (all mine??? No, of course not).
I didn’t go to the show tonight – early bedtime. Lots of unpacking to do tomorrow!
000-1 Hotel Day
Relaxing at the Hotel
DATE: January 5, 2012
Day #: Embarkation Day minus 1
I. AGENDA
A. MORNING
“Woke up to warmth and sunshine here in Fort Lauderdale.”
When I was preparing the format for the blog page several weeks ago, I had written that sentence. Boy, was I ever wrong! Anita whispered at 6:30 am – “you awake?” Of course, I had been awake since 5:30 am. It was still dark outside. The news channel reported a temperature of 50 degrees, and we noted the palm fronds swaying in the breeze. Not exactly a heat wave. Not exactly “wind chill factor” weather either, but not what I expected. Although, if I remember correctly, the 2012 Farmer’s Almanac predicted wet weather for these couple of days. Nope, that’s not happening either.
Anita headed out for a walk once the sun came up, and I found the China Grill for breakfast. Let’s just say that I’ve had better, free breakfast buffets at a Super 8. The only redeeming factor: the view was definitely not Vermont-ish - crews were polishing a gleaming, white, towering yacht docked just outside the restaurant windows.
Boat traffic churned up the channel, fishing boats and pleasure boats heading to the open ocean. A clear blue cloudless sky bespoke warmth (out of the wind).
After quick walk along the sidewalk and under the bridge, to take a few photos – hey, there’s the Carnival cruise ship (one fellow at the JFK airport was scheduled to leave on this one today), I returned to the room. Time to re-pack my luggage, iron some clothes that had been packed for over a month, sort jewelry to wear onboard tomorrow, just get organized.
B. AFTERNOON
After Anita returned, we chatted a while, and I spoke with an RVing friend from the WIN’s group who was currently in Yuma, AZ. She’d love to join us for some “girl time”. Wish she could! She’d certainly add some life to the party.
I am unable to get onto the hotel wi-fi – something about a charge of $12.95 for a 24-hour period. So, I’ll write these pages and connect once I get onboard.
We took a walk around the docks and ended up at the bar near the pool, sitting at a table in the sun. The beer was orangey and cool, the mango BBQ chicken sandwich and fries and cole slaw (shared) just the ticket for a late lunch.
Back to the room for some chocolates and down time. Anita headed off on another walk as I worked on the blog. The Holland America rep is downstairs in the lobby, and Anita brought back the health questionnaire. We’re on Bus #1! Hooray!
Luggage to be taken must be near the door by 9 am; we and our carry-ons in the lobby by 11 am. I am soooooo ready!!!
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