When this Southern Caribbean itinerary is done in this direction (which I could mention is my favorite, but, if you read along last year, you already know that), the Emerald Princess arrives in Grenada early, at 7am. Early, Sunday morning. In Grenada. Let's just say that, on our arrival, it wasn't a hive of activity on the pier.
We had thought about taking a water taxi from near the cruise ship pier to Grande Anse Beach, but, although we were up early and in the DaVinci Dining Room shortly after it opened at 7am, and could see from our table some of our fellow passengers on water taxis leaving for the beach by 8am, it's hard to get excited about a beach that early in the morning. We'll eventually do this itinerary in the opposite direction, and so we're postponing the beach until then.
However, the weather was perfect: sunny, not too hot and windy, and so, once breakfast was done, we decided to make it a third walking day in a row, which is easily done on Grenada. We first walked into the mall which serves both cruise passengers and locals, looking for the free wifi which we've usually been able to find there. I should mention that our need to wifi on land has been reduced considerably this year; the Emerald Princess wifi is allowing us to both check our Nest thermostat (which we've never had before this year so we didn't know what to expect) and our security webcams (which we've had but have never been able to see from the ship in the past). These two things provide a measure of comfort that will eliminate the need to have to actively search for wifi on shore. Still, we found it and it was fast and free and shaded and quiet, though definitely not cool. I made a phone call for free using the Vonage app before we continued on our way.
We had thought about taking a water taxi from near the cruise ship pier to Grande Anse Beach, but, although we were up early and in the DaVinci Dining Room shortly after it opened at 7am, and could see from our table some of our fellow passengers on water taxis leaving for the beach by 8am, it's hard to get excited about a beach that early in the morning. We'll eventually do this itinerary in the opposite direction, and so we're postponing the beach until then.
However, the weather was perfect: sunny, not too hot and windy, and so, once breakfast was done, we decided to make it a third walking day in a row, which is easily done on Grenada. We first walked into the mall which serves both cruise passengers and locals, looking for the free wifi which we've usually been able to find there. I should mention that our need to wifi on land has been reduced considerably this year; the Emerald Princess wifi is allowing us to both check our Nest thermostat (which we've never had before this year so we didn't know what to expect) and our security webcams (which we've had but have never been able to see from the ship in the past). These two things provide a measure of comfort that will eliminate the need to have to actively search for wifi on shore. Still, we found it and it was fast and free and shaded and quiet, though definitely not cool. I made a phone call for free using the Vonage app before we continued on our way.
John, the dreadlocked seller of water taxi tickets in the terminal gave us a big smile when he saw us. This is the Emerald Princess' first visit here this winter, and John said he had been watching for us to come through the terminal. When the locals start expecting us, I guess we are predictable. But it was wonderful to talk with him again.
We walked through the Sendall Tunnel for the first and surely not the last time this winter, and I took the requisite photo of G walking close to the side as a vehicle passed by.
We then walked along the Carenage, the harbor of St. George's, Grenada. The cruise ships dock at a more recently built pier separated by the tunnel from the Carenage. Occasionally we'll still see a small cruise ship docked in the Carenage, but today all that were there were fishing boats.
We stopped near the statue at the head of the Carenage dedicated to the people of Grenada who assisted when the Italian freighter the Bianca C caught fire and sunk in the harbor.
Several locals were seated there, some selling spices (Grenada is known as the Spice Island), others not and while G fed brioche to the pigeons, I struck up a conversation with a local named Morris who was born and raised on Grenada. It turned out that Morris was a taxi driver/chef/budding float plane pilot (this career combination being not at all strange on the islands), and he was simply the nicest guy I've ever met in Grenada. I asked for his card in case anyone reading is looking for a reliable and friendly and NON-AGGRESSIVE driver on Grenada- Morris would be your guy.
Here's his info: Morris Taxi Service, 1-473-457-5275, altonmorris2010@gmail.com. I recommend him only because if you've been to Grenada before you know how aggressive some of the drivers can be (but not mean...just a bit pushy) and sometimes it's nice to have someone in mind before you arrive.
Sitting there feeding pigeons and finding out about daily life on Grenada was so relaxing that we never did make our usual climb to Fort George, but instead returned to the ship and immediately went to the DaVinci Dining Room for lunch (it was open today due to the ship's early departure). It was one of my favorite lunch menus, and I chose gazpacho followed by a stuffed bell pepper which I adore. The nice thing about the Southern Caribbean itinerary is that the dining room is open for lunch on two additional days, Grenada and Bonaire, when we leave and/or arrive early.
After lunch, G went to a hot tub to enjoy sailaway and then to a rum tasting at 3pm in the Wheelhouse Bar. I chose to touch up my nails and go to party line dancing class (in preparation for tonight's island night party on the pool deck that I won't get to, because football is so much more important, but I like the line dancing anyway) followed by Zumba. I hadn't done any cruise staff activities yet this cruise, because, frankly, I haven't felt like it (I think I'm being a bit solitary after the wild week on the Allure), so it felt good to be slightly more participatory. We had already met cruise staffer Christopher from Australia, and didn't recognize any of the others on board.
Today's NFL football schedule needs to be mentioned here, although I did not go to watch the first game of the day; these are all being shown on MUTS, and the final (and most important) game is also going to be shown in Club Fusion.
2:00pm: Jets v. Ravens
5:30pm: Cowboys v. Giants
9:15pm: Broncos v. Patriots
So, as you can see, the chances of watching a particular game on the ship is pretty slim, at least until playoff time, but there is plenty of football available to be seen on Sundays, and Monday and Thursday nights.
The Captains Circle parties for the Platinum and Elite Captains Circle members were tonight; we went to the party held from 5:15pm to 6:00pm. Captain Nick Nash is a bit of a hoot; we'll see if his jokes change a bit from cruise to cruise. He made a stunning announcement (and gave a shout out to Cruise Critic at the same time) when he said that, in response to all the chatter on Cruise Critic, the new Regal Princess, that is launching next year, will have a central staircase for passengers. Huge news to me...I had previously read the Princess announcement about an aft pool and a promenade deck, but not a mid-ship stairway. Captain Nash was harious, said he never read Cruise Critic but he wife did, and then would call him to ask, "Now what have you done?" Amanda, the Captains Circle hostess from the US is new to us, but, wow, she knocks it out of the park during her part of the party...perfectly polished and professional but friendly too.
From the party we went to dinner. I'm not sure if I've mentioned that our table for dinner is in the Michelangelo Dining Room mid-ship on Deck 5. Corn and Immanuel are looking after us quite well, but we didn't dawdle; two courses and coffee and we moved on. We wanted to return to our cabin to change for football, and try to get a chair well ahead of the Broncos-Patriots game. Another aside: from where we sit we have a full on view of the table setting for the Chefs Table and there have been two so far this cruise. We try to get out of the way before the fanfare starts, but it certainly brings back wonderful memories of attending the Chefs Table last February with friends Martha and Betsy.
Other entertainment was light tonight; singer Bobby Wilson did two more shows in the Princess Theater, but except for dance music and a game in the Explorers Lounge, that was it until the island night party at 10pm. Dressed in shorts, we're catching the end of the. Cowboys-Giants game while waiting for the start of the important one.
Here's his info: Morris Taxi Service, 1-473-457-5275, altonmorris2010@gmail.com. I recommend him only because if you've been to Grenada before you know how aggressive some of the drivers can be (but not mean...just a bit pushy) and sometimes it's nice to have someone in mind before you arrive.
Sitting there feeding pigeons and finding out about daily life on Grenada was so relaxing that we never did make our usual climb to Fort George, but instead returned to the ship and immediately went to the DaVinci Dining Room for lunch (it was open today due to the ship's early departure). It was one of my favorite lunch menus, and I chose gazpacho followed by a stuffed bell pepper which I adore. The nice thing about the Southern Caribbean itinerary is that the dining room is open for lunch on two additional days, Grenada and Bonaire, when we leave and/or arrive early.
After lunch, G went to a hot tub to enjoy sailaway and then to a rum tasting at 3pm in the Wheelhouse Bar. I chose to touch up my nails and go to party line dancing class (in preparation for tonight's island night party on the pool deck that I won't get to, because football is so much more important, but I like the line dancing anyway) followed by Zumba. I hadn't done any cruise staff activities yet this cruise, because, frankly, I haven't felt like it (I think I'm being a bit solitary after the wild week on the Allure), so it felt good to be slightly more participatory. We had already met cruise staffer Christopher from Australia, and didn't recognize any of the others on board.
Today's NFL football schedule needs to be mentioned here, although I did not go to watch the first game of the day; these are all being shown on MUTS, and the final (and most important) game is also going to be shown in Club Fusion.
2:00pm: Jets v. Ravens
5:30pm: Cowboys v. Giants
9:15pm: Broncos v. Patriots
So, as you can see, the chances of watching a particular game on the ship is pretty slim, at least until playoff time, but there is plenty of football available to be seen on Sundays, and Monday and Thursday nights.
The Captains Circle parties for the Platinum and Elite Captains Circle members were tonight; we went to the party held from 5:15pm to 6:00pm. Captain Nick Nash is a bit of a hoot; we'll see if his jokes change a bit from cruise to cruise. He made a stunning announcement (and gave a shout out to Cruise Critic at the same time) when he said that, in response to all the chatter on Cruise Critic, the new Regal Princess, that is launching next year, will have a central staircase for passengers. Huge news to me...I had previously read the Princess announcement about an aft pool and a promenade deck, but not a mid-ship stairway. Captain Nash was harious, said he never read Cruise Critic but he wife did, and then would call him to ask, "Now what have you done?" Amanda, the Captains Circle hostess from the US is new to us, but, wow, she knocks it out of the park during her part of the party...perfectly polished and professional but friendly too.
From the party we went to dinner. I'm not sure if I've mentioned that our table for dinner is in the Michelangelo Dining Room mid-ship on Deck 5. Corn and Immanuel are looking after us quite well, but we didn't dawdle; two courses and coffee and we moved on. We wanted to return to our cabin to change for football, and try to get a chair well ahead of the Broncos-Patriots game. Another aside: from where we sit we have a full on view of the table setting for the Chefs Table and there have been two so far this cruise. We try to get out of the way before the fanfare starts, but it certainly brings back wonderful memories of attending the Chefs Table last February with friends Martha and Betsy.
Other entertainment was light tonight; singer Bobby Wilson did two more shows in the Princess Theater, but except for dance music and a game in the Explorers Lounge, that was it until the island night party at 10pm. Dressed in shorts, we're catching the end of the. Cowboys-Giants game while waiting for the start of the important one.
;-)