Day 78: Barbados

Our beautifully sunny weather continued all day today, and our favorite island of Barbados has never looked better. We had known for a couple of weeks that the Pacific Princess would be docked on the breakwater today, but didn't know until this morning that we were docked at the furthermost berth. Barbados hosted SEVEN cruise ships today, two larger ships (Grandeur OTS and the Carnival Fascination) on the main pier, three smaller ships (Oceania Riviera, HAL Prinsendam and the Pacific Princess) on the breakwater, an even smaller cruise ship squeezed in crosswise close to the terminal and a Pullmantur ship where I had never before seen a cruise ship, docked kind of perpendicular to the main pier and its far end. 

Luckily, the Pacific Princess arrived and was cleared shortly after 7am. After a quick breakfast in the Panorama Buffet, we walked off the ship prepared for an easy beach day. We walked out of the port and down to Lobster Alive on Carlisle Bay Beach and were seated in front row loungers by 8:30am. Go us!  It was already warm with very low humidity and sun shaping up to be a perfect beach day. I was in that beautiful crystalline water in about 7 seconds and it was just spectacular, with 100% visibility as far out as I swam. 

 

 

 

We had heard about management changes at Lobster Alive from Suzan and Greg, who were there earlier this month, and, sadly, they are not happy ones. The previous bartenders have left, including Cheryl, who took with her that unmatchable rum punch recipe that I have loved for years. Terry, who rents the chairs, is still there and it was nice to see at least one familiar face. The deal there is still the same: $15 for two chairs and and umbrella (not all of them are large ones any longer) and three half-priced drink coupons. About 11am I went up to the bar for a rum punch and discovered they no longer give change in US $. I handed over US $5 and a half priced coupon and got back some local currency that I was told would be more than enough for a second rum punch. Well...one was enough, thanks very much. They taste nothing like the old ones. I was crushed. 

 

Lobster Alive has been painted blue, and they no longer have the large green umbrellas

But other than that, the day was perfect. Well, almost perfect. I had to wrestle with my miracle swimsuit again, topped by a rash guard, when I needed to use the bathroom. Good grief that is not a pretty picture. Wet rash guard, wet swimsuit, wet me. It's a week's worth of strenuous exercise in ten minutes. I have considerably wised up though, and ordered only two piece swim shorts and tops from Lands End to take to Hawaii. I'm getting too old to pull on miracle suits. 

I purchased a beautiful abalone pendant from Sonny, the same beach vendor I bought my turtle earrings from during our visit last January.  He's such a nice guy, and remembered me and what I had bought and that it had been my birthday that day. We do love Barbados and the wonderful Bajan people! Around 1pm, I took the local currency and our two remaining half-priced coupons and went up to the bar to get two local Banks beers. Good grief...I waited in line about 15 minutes. I am not impressed with the new management. In fact, for years the Lobster Alive website linked to a blog post of mine where I had said good things. They had never asked permission but I really liked the place and didn't mind. I haven't check it recently but if it still does, I am going to ask them to remove the link. Things are no longer as they once were. We'll still go there, simply because it's a quieter location on a busy beach, but will only buy beers. 

Around 3:30pm we caught a taxi ($4 per person) back to the port. G took our heavy gear and returned to the ship but I spent some time wandering the souvenir stalls looking for t-shirts for the twins. I really wanted to get them on Tobago but there was nothing that suited, and I even had a hard time finding something in the right sizes and colors today, but finally did. I didn't want to buy any on Martinique and they've had plenty from Antigua and St. Kitts over the years. It was time for a change. There was a jumble of shuttles outside the terminal building running passengers back to all the cruise ships. Even if I had wanted to walk down the breakwater to the Pacific Princess, it wasn't especially safe to do so today, if only from the shuttle bus traffic. 

G was already in the shower when I returned and I did the same and joined him in the PES Lounge for a beautiful sailaway. We went to dinner at exactly 5:30pm and ate lightly (I had beef fajitas tonight, for some reason). At 7pm, we had a cocktail party for this cruise's MTP event. I was so happy to see that they had not squeezed a lunch into one of our sea days this cruise. As a passenger, I think it is much easier having an evening event than a mid-day one. Of course, many people prefer the luncheons. It was just a bit tight on our Mediterranean cruises when we had only two sea days every 12-night cruise to spend one of them cleaned up by lunch for the rest of the day. We had wonderful lobster, crab, scallop, shrimp and beef tartar hors doerves and several sweet treats to choose from. 

G was nearly asleep over dinner, so as soon as the party had ended, we skipped all entertainment (tonight's was production show Cinematastic) and returned to the cabin.  He's been asleep since before I finished my nighttime ablutions. Five beach days in five ports are catching up with us, but tomorrow in Martinique will be considerably less exciting. With no beach nearby, we will likely just spend some time walking around the port town of Fort de France and have an early return to the ship.  

Day 92: Happy Barbados Birthday!!

Today felt special as soon as I opened my eyes. G wished me Happy Birthday...then told me to go to breakfast without him. He needed more sleep. Only one beach day behind us, and we are already dragging. Luckily, we didn't arrive in Barbados until 9am, which gave me a chance to hit SNOOZE twice and then even reset the alarm to 30 minutes later.

Finally, I did get up, successfully put in my contacts, applied sunscreen and dressed in yesterday's dry but sandy swimsuit and beach dress and set out to go to the DaVinci Dining Room all alone. Cabin steward Awesome Ambrish greeted me with a Happy Birthday as soon as I opened our cabin door, and he had already hung balloons and a happy birthday sign on our cabin door. Good grief; who wouldn't love this?!?

Headwaiter Francesco seems to remember our favorite table from several years ago and put me at a table for four just for me at the very far corner of the DaVinci Dining Room. The Thai waiter (whose name eludes me right now (filled in later...it's Chayiut) but he knows Suttipong!) and his assistant waiter (whose name also eludes me but is something like Bananeo...or Grapeo...or something fruity-eo) were very welcoming and provided wonderful service. I had the pineapple sunrise-y thing with honey yogurt followed by another egg white veggie omelet and six grain toast. That was a breakfast that would see me though the day. 

Our arrival in Barbados today was scheduled for 9am, and, as is always the case when we have a later arrival, the lines to disembark the ship from either the forward or midship gangways stretched back to and wrapped around the Piazza. Disembarkation was complicated by the fact that we were at a far berth at the port, and shuttles buses were taking groups of passengers up to the terminal building to avoid passengers walking through the freight area. Only one bus load of passengers was being allowed off at a time, and it took some passengers an hour to get off the ship. We weren't that bad but it did take longer than it ever had in the past. 

The plan was to meet Suzan and Greg on the beach at Lobster Alive. They wanted to walk, but, with three blisters between us, G and I were taking a taxi. We had started talking with two others couples while we were standing in line to get off the ship; they wanted to go to the Boatyard, and we invited them to follow us to the cheaper taxis outside the secured port area. (If you click on the Barbados tags on the side of my blog, I posted pictures of us doing that a couple of years ago, showing where to walk to the left instead of going to the right where they'd like to force you to go, bypassing the taxis trying to fill van loads of people). The six of us got in one taxi and during the ride they asked which beach bar was better...Lobster Alive or the Boatyard. I have definite views on that (as you know) but didn't want to dissuade them from following their plan. After all, they're right next door to each other and they're both great. But Carlos, our taxi driver, piped up, telling them that Lobster Alive was better for older people (like all of us). That settled it, and we all ended up in the front row at Lobster Alive. 

I was in a party mood from the get-go, and wanted to go out to see the turtles. I don't do that very often, but I wanted to be able to remember that I snorkeled with turtles on my 56th birthday. Snorkel trip salesman Victor had struck up a conversation with us as soon as we arrived (and we ended up talking to him much of the day). We rented our two loungers and an umbrella for $15 from Terry at Lobster Alive (we've known him for years) and while the guys settled in, Suzan and I and the two other couples walked down the beach to board the glass bottom boat to see the shipwreck and turtles. Both places are right in Carlisle Bay, and you can just swim out to them, but it is tough to get the turtles to come near you without the chum that the boat operators use. I think I saw far more legs and feet than turtles, but I did see turtles, and there were some good fish around the shipwreck, and, because it was my birthday, I got two rum punches when I got back on the boat. :-)

Suzan and I returned to Lobster Alive and wasted no time getting in that gorgeous blue water on our Swimways floats. We'd probably still be out there floating and talking, but around 11:30am I realized that the bar at Lobster Alive was open and I hadn't yet had my first real rum punch. I took one of the three half-price drink coupons that we received for renting chairs and went to see Cheryl, the bartender who makes the BEST rum punches in the Caribbean. I posted a picture of Cheryl serving one up a few years ago on my blog and said good things about Lobster Alive and they have a link to it on their homepage. I was unaware of it until someone who reads my blog saw it and emailed me. Well, that unsolicited advertising got me my first rum punch free, but one just got me started. The second one went down pretty fast, too, but it is the third one that almost finished me off. 

I love this pic! (Suzan took it and the two below...thank God for Air Drop!)

Victor, G and Greg

G, Terry and Greg

G staying connected on Carlisle Bay Beach 

We were so lucky today with mostly sunny skies and not a single rain shower. The waves were fairly large (though we've seen them so large in the past that it wasn't safe to swim). When we weren't in the water, we sat and talked with each other, with Victor, with Terry and with Tom and Nancy who I just met today. Nancy reads my blog and was so impressed with French Polynesia that they took the 28-night round trip Los Angeles cruise down to the South Pacific (they said they know you, Adele and Don!). We missed them in Bora Bora by two days but finally met in Barbados!  Jewelry salesman Sunny came by and I bought a pair of fake turquoise turtle earrings for $10, as a souvenir of snorkeling with the turtles (they'll fit in my shoebox of life, too!).

Suzan and Greg left early to stop at a favorite stationary store in Bridgetown on the way back to the Emerald Princess. We stayed on the beach until about 3pm and took a taxi back (the option to walk back evaporated when I had that third rum punch). We were allowed to skip the port shuttle bus, and walked down to the Emerald Princess gangways. There were several other ships in port, including the P&O Adonia, the Fred Oleson Braemar and the Ocean Princess, the sister ship of the Pacific Princess. It just completed its circumnavigation of Africa and a 14-night Caribbean cruise and started a circumnavigation of South America on January 3. In March, it leaves the fleet and is being sold to Oceania cruises. It was great to see it in person just once before it is. 

We were famished, but waited until dinner to eat anything. I had calamari and black bean soup (like G said, just that would be a meal at home), and Szechuan shrimp and a Norman Love white chocolate cheesecake for dessert. Victor (the waiter, not the snorkel tour salesman)  and Darko (not that one...you'll soon need a program to keep up with all the players) sang happy birthday when they brought me a small chocolate cake, but we asked to have that sent back to our cabin to enjoy later. (It was never delivered by room service. I may need to have another birthday tomorrow). 

We made a quick stop in the Wheelhouse Bar to listen to the pianist (his name eludes me, too, but is Eastern European with lots of extra letters, like ELGeorgie (filled in later...it's Ryszard Sulek)), who is really good. We then went to the Princess Theater at about 7:25pm for the 8pm performance of male vocalist AJ Brown. He was great, and very young (but they're all getting younger every year). 

We ran into Suzan and Greg afterwards and firmed up plans for tomorrow on St. Lucia. The alarm is set for another great beach day. I warned you...it's going to be just one beach day after another for us!

And, finally, my birthday today brought back lots of memories, and two in particular stood out:  the year Mom made me a two tier cake (11 years old) and the year Mom was working and didn't have time to make me a cake so Dad did, because he thought everyone should have a birthday cake (17 years old). Today, try as I might (and I did try, many times) I hadn't been able to reach Mom using Vonage (for free!  Get the app!). She was also not able to email because she is without Internet right now, and I was feeling kind of bad that this was the first birthday of my life that we hadn't connected either by email or phone. After the show, when we were back in our cabin, I tried one final time using Skype...and it worked!  It was brief, but we did talk. However, I now don't have enough internet time to post a lot of photos from today, but I think it was a worthy trade off. I'll post more from St. Thomas using AT&T. 

A birthday spent with wonderful friends on Carlsisle Bay Beach in Barbados swimming with turtles. Last year I celebrated on Moorea by swimming with sharks and stingrays.

My view for the day. 

Life is definitely good. :-)

Day 135: Barbados

Yesterday had been a blur of on the ship and off the ship phone and Internet usage, back and forth, back and forth. While I was pricing flights and checking weather, G was meeting with the administration manager on board to see what was involved for me to leave the ship mid-cruise, and talking to the port agent about taxi cost to Vieux Fort, where the international airport is located, on the southern end of St. Lucia ($90 plus tip, roughly 60-90 minutes away). 

Of all the islands we visit on this Eastern Caribbean itinerary, the airport is furthest from the cruise port on St. Lucia. I knew on St. Kitts and St. Thomas the airport is very close, and on Barbados it's not too far. However, the flight prices were steepest on Barbados and St.Thomas. So, given what was happening with Mom, and the logistics we were facing, we decided to postpone a decision until St. Kitts, if possible. And I booked a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Detroit for next turnaround day as a fall back. Meanwhile, I am placing a call each morning to re-assess. 

I am reporting all this in an effort to "keep it real". This is as much a part of living at sea as anything else we do. And I can't tell you how much all your wonderful emails have meant to me. I've read every one, and have tried to respond to many. Thank you!

I hadn't had breakfast or lunch yesterday, and so by last night's Dinner with Darko I was starving. We ordered a bottle of Reisling, and went a long way in emptying it. In the past, when I've ordered a cheese plate for dessert, Darko noticed that I only eat the Brie and leave the other cheese (Gouda?). Last night he made certain there was blue cheese as well. Blue cheese and Brie...day savers if ever there were any!

Vocalist Mark Preston was doing three shows in the Princess Theater last night; there were no other featured performers. There's a backstory to this:  I had emailed Mark Preston a couple of weeks ago, asking if he'd sing Lady, which I've seen him do on YouTube. To my surprise, he emailed back immediately and said he'd add it to his show. Lady was "our" song, and our first dance at our wedding. Well, last night Mark introduced the song as an email request, and said it was one of his favorite love songs. The Emerald Princess orchestra no sooner started playing those first heartwrenching notes, and I was frying. G hugged me close and, at least momentarily, all was right in my world. 

We followed up with band Accent in Club Fusion before bedtime. Their female singer has gone home to be a mom, the band remains good despite her absence.  

Captain Stenzel had warned of mostly cloudy skies and occasional rainshowers in Barbados, and he was absolutely correct. After assuring ourselves I wasn't going to be flying to Detroit today, we packed for a day on Carlisle Bay Beach at Lobster Alive. G talked a taxi driver into an $8 fare (total) once we had walked outside the secured port area (don't get railroaded into going to the right; go to the left instead), so we got a front row umbrella and loungers and settled in for the day. The occasional light rainshowers only made us appreciate those big, green Lobster Alive umbrellas even more. It was only periodically sunny, but, in the end was a perfect beach day for two people who had just spent all day on Antigua in the sun, especially the one of them (not me) who is a bit pinkish red. More red than pink. (But I'll deny saying that!).  

As to the best part of my day, it's hard to choose. Was it talking with Mom from the ship, or talking with her later using Lobster Alive's free wifi (free with Vonage; get the app!) when she sounded better, or drinking not one, not two, but THREE rum punches, or riding back to the ship in a taxi (a luxury of unimaginable proportion)?  All in all, and despite the light rainshowers, we had another wonderful day at Lobster Alive on Carlisle Bay Beach. 

Once back on the ship, at nearly 3:30pm, G showered and headed out to watch the Emerald Princess's 4pm sailaway. I needed a lie down and an Ibuprofen to be up to the evening. Tonight were the three Platinum and Elite Captains Circle parties in Club Fusion, so there was no Elite Lounge in Skywalkers. We went to Dinner with Darko; once again, we were starving, which skipping lunch and spending all day on a beach does to us. I had the vegetarian Pad Thai for the first time, with shrimp added for good measure. It was delicious! And we were lucky enough to see a gorgeous sunset from our table...albeit through the salt-streaked glass. 

Afterwards we sat on the Promenade Deck watching the last of the day's light fade from the sky. 

We went to the 7:30pm Captains Circle party...and that was it for the evening.  We were tucked in bed with fuzzy water and popcorn soon after it ended.  Tonight's entertainment choice (singular) was impressionist Michael Wilson, whom we've seen several times before, and the Ultimate Deck Party was to be held on the open deck (but I'm not certain the weather was going to cooperate).

I will sleep well tonight!

Day 115: Barbados

Prepared Saturday evening, February 22nd, but couldn't get on wifi to publish

I think Barbados is my very favorite island of all of those we visit on these itineraries, but that's not new news to you. The people are wonderful, the beaches perfection, there's history, there's scenery. There's rum. ;-)

We were up fairly early today and, after yesterday afternoon's nap, and a good night's sleep, I felt 100% again. We started our day with breakfast in the DaVinci Dining Room. We were still at our windowside table as we entered the port of Bridgetown, Barbados, and I could tell by the way we were entering the port that the Emerald Princess was going to be on the breakwater (aka the bad dock). Damn. But I was still surprised at what I was seeing out the window. The Noordam was in the second berth on the good pier, the P&O Azura was at the first berth, and Star Clipper's Royal Clipper was at the terminal berth. CruiseTimetables.com had said that just the Noordam and the Seaborn Spirit would be with us today. I wasn't even seeing the Seaborn Spirit and still I could count four ships. Hmm...

When we returned to our cabin to pack for a day on the beach, we turned the TV to the "front of the ship" channel, and I was shocked to see another masted sailing vessel in front of the Emerald Princess. With the Seaborn Spirit (still unseen), that would mean that there were SIX ships in Barbados today. What I hadn't counted on was that there are some ships that begin cruises on Barbados, particularly on the weekends. And that's what happened today; the Royal Clipper, the P&O Azura and the Windstar Wind Star were all embarking passengers, luggage, food, beverages...everything for their cruises in Bridgetown today. Yikes!

Our arrival wasn't until 10am; I was convinced that the beaches would already be full. We walked off the Emerald Princess and, as there was a waiting line to take a shuttle to the terminal, decided to walk. However, everything- shuttles and pedestrians- was stopped by freight being delivered to the Wind Star. We were routed up on the breakwater wall to continue on our way to the terminal. 

The three ships on the breakwater- the Emerald Princess, the Wind Star and the Seaborn Spirit:

Traffic jam on the breakwater:

Up and over to bypass the traffic:

The Windstar Wind Star:

We started out walking to Lobster Alive on Carlisle Bay Beach.  Going to the left instead of the right as we left the terminal, we bypassed all the taxi congestion. 

Just past the security gate, G was approached by taxi driver Richie, who made us an offer too good to refuse ($10) to take us to Lobster Alive. Although it's just a 30 or so minute walk, G was still hoping to get a good lounger location on the beach, and so took Richie up on his offer...

...and before we knew it, this was our view from the very last of the front row loungers available at Lobster Alive (still $15 for two loungers and one of the best umbrellas on the beach and three half-priced drink coupons). Yay G for thinking ahead and getting us a quick taxi!

Lobster Alive from the water. Ours were the two loungers on the left. 

Look at those wide, nicely spaced umbrellas...

...then look at the umbrellas at the Boatyard. 

See why we like Lobster Alive?  In addition, the Boatyard thumps with loud music all day, and frequent announcements when food orders are ready. There's none of that at Lobster Alive; it's the age 55+ neighborhood on the beach!

But the view of Carlisle Bay Beach is gorgeous regardless of where you spend the day. 

Lobster Alive also has the BEST rum punches in the Caribbean, made daily by Cheryl. I waited until 11am for my first one ($2 with coupon), and had planned to combine our two remaining coupons for a free drink, but G decided to have one too. Here's Cheryl serving up a rum punch for each of us.  

Despite a light, 30 second rainshower shortly after we arrived at 10:30pm, the remainder of the day gifted us with beach-perfect weather. We spent the day in and out of the water, using our floats, walking on the beach...and using free, unlimited, fast wifi from Lobster Alive. This was a nice surprise, since last time we were there, it wasn't even turned on. Well, we sat on the beach and called Mom and friends at home using Vonage (for free!  Get the app!) just to make sure everyone knew where we were and that we were surrounded by powdered sugar white sand and blue water. And

letting them know we wished they were there too, of course!

The Emerald Princess wasn't sailing until 7pm tonight, and with an all on board time of 6:30pm, we never had to clock-watch today, and that was wonderful. Finally, about 3:45pm, we gathered up our gear and walked back to the ship. We cleaned up for dinner (as much as I love a day on the beach, I hate how sticky, stinky, salty and sweaty it leaves me) and went to the Michelangelo Dining Room around 5:15pm for Dinner with Darko. I was hoping that tonight was Italian night- penne arrabiata wih chicken and brocolli would have been perfect after skipping lunch- but no luck. Instead I had a salad and a seafood skewer. 

The Noordam sailed at 5pm, and while we were at dinner, the Seaborn Spirit sailed. That ship is so tiny (10,000 tons) that it did a U-turn right in the port, and sailed out bow first. We skipped coffee and dessert (temporarily) to go up on deck to watch the Emerald Princess sailaway. The lights of the P&O Azura and the Royal Clipper reflecting off the water were stunning. 

Also beautiful was what was left of the sunset, which we had missed. See, good things come to those who are late!  ;-)

We finally positioned ourselves up on Deck 16, where we could watch Captain Stenzel on the bridge wing as he used the controls there to thrust away from the berth. He backed into the basin and turned the bow to starboard and we left the lights of Barbados behind us as we sailed. 

G and I next sat on the Terrace Deck watching the lights of the island fade behind us, then returned to the Michelangelo Dining Room for Dessert with Darko and Coffee with Komang. The only featured entertainment tonight was two performances of production show Boogie Shoes. The Ultimate Deck Party was starting at 10:15pm, but we're skipping it all in favor of an early bedtime. The rum, the sun, the time spent in the water and walking have caught up with us, but we can sleep with visions of clear, turquoise water dancing in our heads. 

Day 75: Barbados

I am slowly easing back into cruise life. I cannot believe how removed from it all I felt after just two days immersed in football. I missed two dinners and one breakfast in the dining room, and when I arrived back there today for breakfast, I was greeted as if I was an explorer just returned from her latest adventure. No, the cause of my absence wasn't quite that exciting, but close. I'm convinced I won't survive the game against the Patriots. 

Arrival in Bridgetown, Barbados was early, at 7am, and the thrusters were doing their thing at 6:28am. Still, we managed to fall back asleep for a bit longer. It was almost 9am before we finished breakfast, and our subsequent stroll on the Promenade Deck showed us it was a beautifully sunny day, but still so windy. In fact, that large Bermuda flag was never even flown from the back of the ship today...it probably would have torn itself apart. 

Despite the sun, we weren't in a beach mood today, which was fairly shocking. Part of it was that there were three cruise ships in Barbados today:  the Emerald Princess, the Celebrity Summit and the P&O Oceana. We knew the beaches would be busy. But mostly it was because G wanted to do some laundry and I wanted to use a steam room and by the time we were done with both those things, it was almost time for lunch. With a 3:30pm on board time, the day was getting away from us. 

Instead we set out to walk, and first walked over to the Mount Gay Rum factory and the beach that's right across from it. We didn't take the $10 rum factory tour today, but have in the past and may return this winter. We also stopped by the bus terminal for northbound buses and got some information on taking a bus to Harrison's Cave. We've never toured the cave, but are considering it for a future trip. The bus is US $1 each way; the entrance fee is $30 per person. It could make a fun and easy day. 

Once back in the port terminal, I purchased two prints of chattel houses done by local artist Neville Crawford. He's the artist who made those bookmarks I gifted to friends a couple of years ago, with Barbados sand footprints on the back. I love his work and I love the chattel houses of Barbados, so the prints were perfect. Afterwards, we walked down to the end of the breakwater where the Celebrity Summit was docked and I took several photos along the way to show you how large the port of Barbados is. 

The Celebrity Summit on the breakwater (aka the bad dock) 

The angled part of the breakwater is where the Crosieres de. France Horizon was short enough to dock during our last visit on December 24th 

The P&O Oceana and the Emerald Princess 

The Emerald Princess and the Celebrity Summit from the end of the breakwater

We could tell that the P&O Oceana had previously been a Princess Sun Class ship (the funnel surround was that telltale Princess arch), and so looked it up online. It was previously the Ocean Princess.

The Emerald Princess had the first berth (aka the good dock) today, and this is why it's called that; look how close it was to the cruise terminal. 

We reboarded the ship at exactly 3:30pm, and went immediately to the hot tub on the back of Deck 17 for sailaway, but didn't stay long. There are so many Platinum and Elite passengers on this cruise that three Captains Circle parties were held tonight. We were going to the first one, at 5pm, and so got ready for the evening early. We sat with friends Bob and Janet and Ross and Claudette and were pleased to be recognized, along with another couple, for our 50th Princess cruise. Afterwards, we were gifted a bottle of Korbel from a couple who had won it in the drawing but doesn't drink.  We're going to take it to Skywalkers tomorrow to share with friends. There has been no shortage of champagne this cruise!

I really appreciated Dinner with Darko tonight after two days away, and too many meals of pizza and ice cream. I had the seafood skewer and sautéed spinach and a glass of wine and was a happy camper. Even better: pianist Ryan Ahern is back on board. We had seen him in November (I think) on the Emerald Princess, and loved his show. I didn't mention, because we didn't go, that singer Mark Preston is on board and did a show last night, and will preform again tomorrow night. Also back:  the ventriloquist act with dummy Mathilda. It seems like the entertainment is repeating just every couple of months, which is so much better for back to back cruisers than two winters ago, when we saw Rollin Jay Moore every. single. cruise. 

We followed up Ryan's show with popcorn and fuzzy water. I hadn't yet typed a single word of this post, and needed to get started. We have a big day tomorrow, and want to try to sleep well despite the bounciness on the back of the ship tonight.

Christmas has been over for almost three weeks. Someone forgot to tell the winds. ;-)

Day 36: Barbados

Prepared Friday evening, December 5th; all Internet on the Emerald Princess has been down for nearly 24 hours. 

I'll say it again (and again and again and again) this year:  I think Barbados is my very favorite of all the islands we visit each winter. When the sunny is shining brightly (as it was today) and we go to a beach (as we did today) and we drink rum punches made by Cheryl at Lobster Alive (which we might have done once or twice today), the day can't help but be fantastic. (As it was today). 

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!

Day 116: Barbados

Wow. What a day we had on beautiful Barbados. There simply isn't a better beach anywhere on this itinerary than Carlisle Bay Beach, within sight of the cruise ship pier. I love it when that happens!

G was the first one off the Emerald Princess when it was cleared at 7:00am. With three large (Emerald Princess, Vision of the Seas, Celebrity Eclipse) and three small cruise ships in Barbados today, he knew his best chance to get on the free wifi in the cruise terminal was to be there early. He was able to check the webcams back home, and reassure himself that all was well. When he returned to the ship, we went to the buffet for a quick breakfast, and then returned to the cabin to pack for the beach.

What can I say about a day at Lobster Alive that I haven't already said this winter? It wasn't the prettiest day- there was sun, but several clouds too- but by getting there early, we were able to get a front row umbrella and loungers. I wasted no time getting in the water, and spent the day alternately swimming and sunning and drinking THREE rum punches. Whew! They certainly pack a punch, but by starting early, at 10:00am (I opened the bar), spacing them out and eating Fruit Loops throughout the day, I was fine to return to the ship. And if I thought I had been hard drinking today, Bridget next to us drank four rum punches and followed them up with a Banks beer chaser. But I didn't see her the rest of the evening. Wonder why??

We all rode back to the ship together just before 3:00pm, and once on board, G and I both had a lie down. What is it about a day on the beach, even a relaxing day on the beach, that leaves one so tired and so hungry?

We went down to Deck 5 really early, and were surprised to see the doors in the Michelangelo Dining Room open at 5:15pm, so that's when we went in. By 6:45pm, we were already done with dinner, and walked around the ship listening to music until the 7:30pm Captains Circle party for Platinum and Elite members. I could not endure another alcoholic beverage, and so just had a fuzzy water. Captain Nick Nash, it turns out, is quite funny and made it a most enjoyable party.

Afterwards, we decided to skip comedian's Al Katz's show in the Princess Theater (we'd already seen it this winter) and instead sat through part of a music trivia in the Explorers Lounge until I decided that all the powder-fine sand I had had in my contacts all day had caught up with me. Fuzzy water, blog and bed. It had been a typically wonderful Barbados day.

Photo 1: paddle boarding class on Carlisle Bay Beach

Photo 2: our home for the day

Photo 3: Royal Clipper, the sailing yacht that give G a headache just to look at

Photo 4: another sailing ship, Windstar's Wind Spirit, was also in port

Photo 5: Captain Nick Nash entertaining the passengers at the Captains Circle party, with Captains Circle host Tracy de Boom

Barbados- Part 3

Photo 1: the Atlantic coast near Bathsheba

Photos 2 to 5: Andromeda Botanical Gardens

Photo 6: Betsy, driver Ali and Martha