Unlike our visit here last cruise, today was gorgeously hot and sunny...a perfect beach day. There were four ships in port: the P&O Ventura, which is exactly the same size as the Emerald; the Norwegian Sun; and the AidaLuna -we call it the AidaLuncha and its sister ship, the AidaVida the AidaPizza :-). It was a busy day on Barbados.
After breakfast in the dining room, we gathered up our beach gear and headed out. We didn't even try to use wifi in the terminal; four cruise ships...there was no way that was going to be fast, if we could even get on it.
Since we were docked at the second berth, we had to take a shuttle to the terminal, but still, from ship to Lobster Alive took just 45 minutes. Once at the beach, though, we had to settle for the third row of chairs and umbrellas from the water; it was as busy on the beach as I'd ever seen it.
We spent the day in and around the water, playing in the waves, floating in our floats. As a public service ;-) I did walk down the beach away from the Boatyard to see what deals the other beach bars are offering.
The Boatyard is $24 for two chairs and am umbrella with two free drinks and taxi fare back to the ship. It is young and loud and crowded and has a rope swing off the pier, and an "ice berg in the water".
Lobster Alive is $15 for two chairs and an umbrella with three half-price coupons for drinks. Nicest umbrellas and best rum punches!
Dee's Place is $15 for two chairs and an umbrella. No drinks included.
Copacabana is $15 for two chairs and an umbrella with two free drinks.
Finally Michaels (really, that's the name) is $15 for two chairs and one drink.
That information was as of today and subject to frequent changes. Like, by tomorrow morning.
I finished my second rum punch by 1:30pm to be able to walk back to the ship at 2:30pm. Once onboard, G headed to a hot tub while I (altogether now) washed things out and crashed for an hour. I was totally worn out. There was no Elite Lounge is Skywalkers tonight due to the Captains Circle parties. We usually go to the party that's held from 5:15pm to 6:00pm, before dinner, but friend Phyllis who we've cruised with for seven winters now was third most traveled passenger on the ship, and asked us to join her at her reserved table at the 7:30pm to 8:15pm party, so we did.
We received two shocking bits of news at the party: Captains Circle host Catherine was just promoted to Future Cruise Consultant on another ship (from a one stripe to a two stripe officer) and is leaving at the end of this cruise. So happy for her; sad for us!! And Captain Pomata, who has been on the Emerald Princess since it launched in 2007, is leaving 1/27 to go home for his break (that we already knew), but he is going to the Crown Princess when he comes back. It won't be the same without him here! But, on ships, even more than in life, change is the only constant.
We didn't get to see I Got the Music tonight, but did listen to pianoman Kory Simon for a bit, and then the Beatle Maniacs in Club Fusion. People were lining up 30 minutes ahead of time for a seat for their 9:30pm show.
Afterwards, it was past my bedtime. Rum and sun and sand had taken their toll. Tomorrow: St. Kitts.
Photo 1: rooster on the walk to Lobster Alive
Photo 2: Captain Pomata at the Captains Circle party