Prepared Friday evening, December 5th; all Internet on the Emerald Princess has been down for nearly 24 hours.
Barbados was an "early arrival-early departure" day today, and the Emerald Princess was scheduled to arrive at 7am. We set an alarm for 6:15am (yikes!), but G was awake even earlier than that. We sat at the IC drinking coffee until the DaVinci Dining Room opened at 7am (once again, vanilla ice cream was an integral part of G's breakfast), and by 8:15am were packed and ready for a beach day.
The Emerald Princess was docked at the (I've learned a new term from Captain Nick) breakwater today (I've always just called it the bad dock or the far dock) and so we took a free shuttle bus to the terminal. Because it was still early (and the crew hadn't yet arrived), we were able to get on the free wifi in the terminal and check on things at home. Sounds like some of you are in a bit of a chill; stay warm. ;-)
I was very willing to walk the 25 or so minutes to Lobster Alive (make a note of that, please), but G was livin' large today and, in the interest of time, we took a taxi over. Friends Greg and Suzan were already there and we settled next to them in two loungers under an umbrella in the first row and spent a wonderfully relaxing and fun day in the sun. The water at Carlisle Bay Beach is clear bright blue, the sand like powdered sugar, the entry slope into the water even and gradual...really, this is probably the best beach we visit on these itineraries. Chair proprietor Terry is still there, and filled us in on this year's prices: $15 for two loungers and one of the best umbrellas on the beach and two half-priced drink coupons which can be combined for one free drink. (Get the rum punch).
Here's calm and quiet Lobster Alive from the water:
For comparison purposes, here's the more popular Boatyard next door:
The beach for both offers the same fantastic views:
We had to be on board by 3.30pm for a 4pm departure, so we left the beach about 2:50pm and enjoyed our walk back to the ship. Once past the historic warehouses that border the original harbor of Bridgetown, the walk to the cruise port follows along the water and is nicely sidewalked.
Once on board, we got cleaned up for dinner and went to this cruise's Captains Circle party where we were joined by Greg and Suzan. Staff Captain Domenic Lavadera, who we got to know a bit last winter, has returned from vacation, and was the host for the early party. G and I were starved, having skipped lunch and spent the day in and on the water, and it was Italian night, so I had a double salad (spinach with pine nuts and pecorino- my favorite, and penne arabiata with broccoli and chicken breast. What is it about carbs that make me crave them after a day on a beach?
We sat in the Piazza for 40 minutes enjoying strings duo Playthoven (it's fascinating to watch them produce their diversity of sound) but were also waiting for an 8pm activity billed as the Christmas tree lighting. Yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It was obvious this morning that today was decorating day; there were large boxes of decorations scattered around the ship with that telltale Emerald Princess sticker (like our box of mail) which indicated they had come on board on turnaround day. The decorators must have boarded today. We spent the day on the beach and returned to a decorated ship...what a concept!
Anyway, we were a bit confused about how this Christmas tree lighting was going to work, as we sat there looking at a fully lit tree in the Piazza. Well...deputy cruise director Lynn unplugged the tree, we counted down and it was plugged back in. OK, so it wasn't the most festive event, but the end result is the same...the Emerald Princess is dressed for the holidays!
There was a lot more to do tonight: singer Mark Preston's second show and the tropical island night party on the pool deck, but we're worn out. We've instead chosen an early bedtime and Thursday Night Football on our cabin TV (hopefully...and it's so offered in Club Fusion, but not on MUTS).
Tomorrow: St. Kitts and possibly another beach!