Day 145: Grenada

Well, we awoke again today with a purpose: to do some serious walking. Unfortunately, we didn't wake up until almost 9am, which, considering we wanted to eat lunch in the dining room at noon, didn't give us a lot of time to squeeze in breakfast and a hike.  So we skipped breakfast, packed just water bottles, and walked off the ship, through the terminal at the Esplanade Mall and turned left. We wanted to figure out Grenada's public "buses" as part of our walk, and the main terminal in the capital city of St. George's, where the cruise ships dock, is just north of the pier. 

We found the people there very helpful about telling us which bus to take to get to a destination (those minivans are the buses), at a cost of about US$1.50 per person. The problem is there was no place we wanted to go. 

We then continued on, walking past the several fruit and vegetable stands that inevitably spring up around every island bus terminal, and the fish market, right next door (just like on Antigua). It was another mouth-breathing opportunity. 

Across the street was an older building with the sign Meat Market on its front, which I found amusing, for its obvious colloquial connotations, but it appeared to not be in use. This isn't a huge surprise; these islands have lots of fish but very little in the way of meat, other than chicken. 

Walking through St. George's like this no longer surprises us. First, we're pretty accustomed to the fact that most of the world doesn't live as we do, and, second, the sidewalks and streets are a bit better than in Dominica, which isn't saying much, but, after nearly five months, we've kind of grown used to them, such as they are. 

Everywhere you look, there are buildings in various states of disrepair, whether due to age or hurricanes or being bombed by the US in 1983 (and not repaired since). 

I love this kind of signage!

Finally, we needed to climb a hill today, and so headed up this street to the church at the top, which provided a whole new experience from several different perspectives. 

Eventually, even with several months of experience, we were starting to feel a bit culture-shocked and headed back to the ship, arriving on board just before 12:30pm. After a good wash up, we went to lunch in the DaVinci Dining Room where I had a delicious chef's salad that I wished I'd tried earlier this winter, because it was served in a homemade tortilla bowl and was really good. 

We finished lunch in time to be out on the Promenade Deck for sailaway at 2pm, which was made even more interesting by the 5-masted Royal Clipper yacht anchored in St. George's Harbour. We'd seen this ship a few cruises ago in Barbados, but it was pretty to see it at anchor and not docked. 

It was so pleasant sitting in the shade on the Promenade Dexk that we stayed there until nearly 3pm, when Grenada was far behind us. 

At 3:30pm, there was an event called Escape Completely in the Princess Patter, and we knew what that was, having seen it on the Royal Princess last fall. The singers and dancers dress as crew and officers and passengers, and do a flash mob in the Piazza. Since we knew what to look for, we had fun spotting the cast members in various uniforms and dressed as passengers. 

All three of these are dancers:

Darling Rodney as Mr. Pizza:

It's very fun to watch, but there were no more than 50 passengers there to see it, and it's sad that so much effort is placed on 4 minutes of entertainment that so few people see. (But that's just me going on again about Piazza entertainment.)

We had time for just a quick rest before getting cleaned up for Dinner with Darko. We kept it get simple tonight, but G warned me that he might want another dinner before the evening was over (and he did!). Entertainment options tonight were comedian Phil Tag in the Princess Theater and mentalist Brent Webb in the Explorers Lounge; we've seen both, and recently, and had the Captains Circle party for this cruise at 7:30pm, and so skipped the entertainment tonight. (Sadly, there were no movies on MUTS tonight, perhaps due to the Ultimate Deck Party being held at the Neptunes Reef pool area next door). 

We did return to the Michelangelo Dining Room and were seated at the table next to our regular one. It was about 8:30pm, but the dining room was nearly empty. Darko and Komang had maybe six guests; it's quite a change from 5pm when they get slammed with 16 (18 if we get there that early). We started talking with the delightful couple at "our" table who "knew all about us" ( it's always a little scary when we're told that!), and, along with Darko, chatted until after 9:30pm. What a pleasant hour!  G had another filet, and I had sorbet and happiness reigned. 

Since it was already so late, we stayed up for our first Ultimate Deck Party of the winter (at least a bit of it), but at 10:30pm, picked up popcorn and fuzzy water on our way back to the cabin.  

Only four more nights of this. Something tells me tears will be shed. I'm so torn; I want to be home so badly, but I want to be here too. It helps greatly that so many crew friends, most notably Darko, are leaving on the 29th, and Komang and Raymond leave by April 8th. It wouldn't be quite the same here for us after that even if we stayed. 

But I think I fear it will never be this good again. 

Day 144: Dominica

It was fun to wake with a plan for today in Dominica, which, as you we'll know, is probably the toughest island for us. The last time we were here, and were doing this Iinerady in reverse order, we cruised up the western coast of Dominica after sailing from Roseau at 4pm. It was still light much later, and we were able to see the entire northwestern part of the island from the ship. We decided that the next time we were here, we would simply hire a taxi and drive up the coastal road until it ended where the mountains reached the sea. It looked like a beautiful drive, and, most importantly, it would be flat and relatively straight, and not encourage carsickness.  Unfortunately, as we discovered today, it would have cost at least $90 in taxi fare, and we were assured that there was nothing up that way to see. The taxi drivers want to offer island tours for minivans-full of people at $20 per person, visiting a waterfall and a gorge and...

Well, we've done all that in the past. And Dominica remains at the top of our "tough islands for repeat visitors" list. 

We ventured over to Fort Young Hotel where we enjoyed a drink and free wifi, and spent the remainder of the day on the ship, walking on Deck 7 (Deck 19 was waaaayyy too warm today), and using the steam rooms and sitting in a hot tub, but, once again, not the one on Deck 17 aft, which has been closed for most of this cruise. 

And filling out disembarkation paperwork. :-( Yep, it's finally our turn for that. Cabin steward Raymond told us he initially bypassed our cabin when distributing the forms, out of force of four months of habit, and had to backtrack when he'd discovered his error. 

We also signed up for EZ Check, a service that, for $20 per person, will allow us to place tags on our four big suitcases, set them outside our cabin door on the night of March 28th, and not see them again until our home airport luggage carousel. We've used this service in the past and LOVED it; it will be especially invaluable next Saturday when the Fort Lauderdale airport is packed to capacity and we must sit in the terminal for several hours before being allowed to go through security. 

But I don't want to think about that yet. 

On a related note- we actually started packing up a bit last cruise when we believed I might be flying back to Michigan. We were quickly forced into discussions about what I would take when or if I left, and what G would need to finish out the cruise. Thus, our beloved over the door shoe rack was taken down, which was not a huge sacrifice, as quantities of...everything are pretty depleted by now. In fact, we've run out of several things, but of the most important things (shampoo, conditioner, contact lens care, deodorant, toothpaste and dental floss) we have just enough of to see us through. I had simultaneously tried using the shower gel and moisturizer that are included in the Elite amenity packet; no surprise, but I'm allergic to one or the other or both. Luckily, G found a sample tube of Aquaphor in his stuff that will last about five more days. We're out of vitamins, out of ibuprofen, out of facial serum and night cream and concealer  and tinted moisturizer and...well, I become a scarier sight day by day. We definitely could not stay for another 10-night cruise! 

We had pizza about 2pm, which made us not very hungry at Dinner with Darko at 6pm. Once again, I had just salmon and broccoli...and vodka lime sorbet for dessert. We sat in the Wheelhouse Bar for awhile listening to four members of the Emerald Princess orchestra playing dance music, and then went to the 8:30pm Princess Theater performance of production show Boogie Shoes. The new cast is not quite polished yet, but it's always fun to see darling Rodney from Brazil, and now Igor and Steven who we met at the Backstage Tour, perform. 

Rodney's in the middle...

...and the bottom right of the pyramid:

There was another show option tonight: mentalist Brent Webb did three performances in the Explorers Lounge and Nob was in MUTS. With an early arrival in Grenada tomorrow, we are tucked into bed with fuzzy water and popcorn at 10pm. 

Day 143: St. Thomas

I have to make another confession tonight. Mom called me on it when I was talking with her today...she wanted to know what was wrong with me yesterday; last night's post sounded "off". Well, here's the truth:  I've had a bit of a cold in my lungs, I'm getting better but was left with a cough, G picked up dextramathorphan (anti-cough) tablets at Walgreens in Fort Lauderdale, they make me sleep for hours. I wasn't saying anything because I wanted to hide it from Mom; so much for that. I slept for almost 20 hours yesterday and am fine today.

So, moving on...

After coffee from the Internetional Cafe and breakfast with Luis Gabriel from Mexico in the DaVinci Dining Room, we packed for one last beach day on Water Island. Once again, the 10am ferry from Crown Bay to Water Island was filled to capacity (get there early; stand in line!), and G then ran up the hill from the ferry dock on Water Island as I schlepped the backpack and the beach bag up the hill. I walked with Norm and Maggie and Mike and Cindy, two Cruise Critic couples G had met at yesterday's Meet and Greet, and by the time we arrived on Honeymoon Beach, G had claimed a palapa for a bit of shade for our group. All six of us rented loungers from Heidi's Honeymoon Grill ($10 each; get $5 each back when they're returned) and settled in for the day. Unfortunately, it was a busy day on Honeymoon Beach, being a weekend, and there were lots of residents and excursion boats on the beach. Still, for a weekend, it was probably one of the least crowded beaches in the US Virgin Islands. The day was sunny and hot and quite breezy. By the afternoon, the sand was getting too hot to walk on, and I remember that on our final visit there last winter we had encountered the same thing. 

For nearly four hours, we basked in the sun and used our floats in the water and chatted. Oh, and we might have had a few beers (G) and Sprite Zeros and Gin (me). Darko had had a plate of cookies sent to the cabin last night when I didn't show up for dinner, and we had packed them up for the beach, and they were pretty delish about noon today. 

Shortly after 2pm, I faced a decision:  either do another swimsuit pull down/up in the tiny bathroom on the beach, or return to the ship on the 2:30pm ferry. I'm still easily winded after that cold, and didn't think I had the strength to manhandle a wet swimsuit off and back on, and so decided to call it a day, as did Mike and Cindy and eventually G. But walking back to the ferry dock, I took a second to take this photo for the last time this winter. Sigh. 

We decided to shower and dress for dinner as soon as we returned to the ship, and then sit in Skywalkers using Internet and making phone calls until the ship sailed. It was Breeza Marina night in the Elite Lounge...but it was also Most Traveled Passengers (MTP) party night, and so I was abstemious in Skywalkers, and enjoyed just a fuzzy water with some of the delicious hors doerves that Jefferson sets up every night. 

We were struck, as we sailed away past Water Island and Honeymoon Beach, that, not only was that the last time doing that this winter, but it was our last time viewing sailaway from St. Thomas from Skywalkers on the Emerald Princess. After 41 sailaways from St. Thomas on this ship, it was the end of an era. Sailaways on the Royal Princess will be quite different, and not in a good way. 

We kept it simple at Dinner with Darko; G had a burger and I had salmon, broccoli and rice. As I've said before, the longer we stay, the more we eat like we do at home. We enjoyed chatting with Captain Stenzel at the MTP party (cutoff was 340 days or so), and told him how much we've learned from his maritime history lessons during his noon updates. He recommended a book written by a Cunard captain that was full of such nautical nuggets of knowledge, and one that we will certainly buy. We love this sort of thing!

With a Pinch of Salt by Captain Nick Bates

The featured entertainment for this evening was the Frankie Valli tribute act known as The Unexpected Boys. We had seen them perform on Christmas, but had been told that former production show singer Kurt Robbins, whom we'd gotten to know this winter, was coming back to perform as one of the four singers. Unfortunately, he had thought they were coming on board in Aruba, but instead they came on board today in St. Thomas. As G said, The Unexpected Boys unexpectedly arrived. We missed the first two shows due to the MTP Party, and will not make the 10:15pm show. At least G won't. ;-)  I might sneak back out after I publish this post to watch the show. But I learned my lesson on Christmas Day, and won't be sitting in the front row again!

Day 142: At Sea

Well, so much for cruising with intensity. While we started the day strong, and G kept up the pace all day, I fizzled out before noon and had the downest down day of the winter. 

We had intended to go to Ye Olde Pub Night last evening, in the Explorers Lounge, but never made it. We were both asleep early, but awoke well before 7am today. We started the day with mimosas at breakfast in the DaVinci Dining Room, and that's quickly becoming a favorite way to start a sea day. I limited myself to a fruit plate, because I thought lunch would be a full one, but G went all out and had a double cheese omelet.

As of today, our clothes still fit just fine, but we're both being a bit carefree this last cruise! 

Keeping it healthy, my mid-morning blended latte was decaf (of course) and skinny. Still, sitting alone at a table in Vines, the wine bar on Deck 5 in the Piazza, reading a book about Lady Almina, the real-life countess of Highclere Castle, where Downton Abbey is set, felt decadent in a different way. I have a feeling that the plane ride home is the last time for quite a while (7 months?) that I'll have time to sit, guilt-free, and read. Going home for us is like starting a new contract for the crew:  several months of lots of work and long hours. Oh well...we've heard the song, and it will be time to pay the piper.

We both attended the 10am Backstage Tour in the Princess Theater. Sure, we've seen it a few times this winter, but never with the new cast, and Company Performance Manager Astrid has been replaced by Igor and Kyle by Stephen and...well, it's probably best that this is our last cruise. I'll never learn all these new names again. 

Interestingly, one of the six seamstresses from costume maker Sylvia's of Hollywood remains on board, fine tuning the costume fittings for the new cast. I can't imagine what it was like when there were six seamstresses and billows of costumes in that tiny dressing room, because with just one sewing machine in there it's still quite tight. 

One of the two staircases for tonight's production show What a Swell Party waiting in the wings:

After the Backstage Tour, I returned to the cabin just to "rest" for a few minutes...and woke up hungry five hours later at 4pm. I'm certain the stress and uncertainty of last cruise caught up with me, because, as you know, I am not a napper. But when it's a five hour long sleep, I'm not certain I can even call it a nap. G came and went, attending this cruise's Cruise Critic Meet and Greet and then going to Pub Lunch in the Wheelhouse Bar with a two Cruise Critic couples and then playing elevator roulette...while I slept on and on. 

About 4pm I awoke and was headed up to the buffet for a snack when I ran into G. He joined me, and, while we ate, I begged off formal night tonight. I am weary of dressing up, and so we plan to have a light dinner in the buffet and then watch the movie Last Vegas on the big screen (MUTS). It's sea day relaxation at its best. 

I keep forgetting to post this photo, taken from the Emerald Princess when we were in Fort Lauderdale two days ago. 

This little tugboat was pulling a small yacht, and I thought it was the cutest thing. When I told G I thought it belonged in a story book, he said that it looked like it should be able to talk. Exactly. :-)

Day 141: Princess Cays

We have noticed that we both seem to be approaching this last cruise of the winter with increased intensity. I think, for the first time all winter, we're cruising like most 10-day cruisers cruise, making the most of every...everything, 'cause it's the last everything of the winter.

It's fun!

Case in point:  I had blueberry pancakes for breakfast, generally a splurge. Then we didn't dawdle packing for a beach day, and were on the second tender to Princess Cays (and thank God we made it in to Princess Cays today!!). Even there, we wasted no time, and I was snorkeling almost immediately, when the water was calm and clear as glass, while G encouraged the fish with brioche tossed from the feeding pavilion. 

Sargent major fish:

Yellow fin snappers:

Cruise friend Chrysalis provided the name of bluehead wrasse for this, one of my favorites:

After lunch of primarily grilled chicken breasts tipped in that wonderful Princess balsamic vinaigrette, G asked fruit and ice carver Jefferson if he would cut up one pineapple for us, and what a gorgeous plate of fruit it made!

 

I'm tempted to have that photo printed and eat it when I'm fruit deprived, three or so weeks after we return home. ;-)

G was also busy feeding the sandpipers.

But, mostly, we relaxed and enjoyed these views:

It was perhaps the best Princess Cays day of the winter, warm but not hot, breezy but not windy and oh-so-sunny. When I tell you we were on the second-last tender back to the ship, I guess you can tell we had one heck of a day. 

Once on the ship, we showered and dressed for dinner (since it was already so late in the afternoon) and then sat on the Promenade Deck watching as we cruised by Little San Salvador Island, where Half Moon Cay is located, and then San Salvador Island. It's especially interesting to cruise this time of year; with sunset occurring well after 7pm, there is so much more to see.

We hastened to Dinner with Darko shortly after 5pm (we. were. starved.), then took tonight's bottle of champagne out to the Terrace Deck to watch a sunset that was really so much more beautiful than it appears in these photos, and ended in the second green flash of the winter. 

G looked at me and asked, "Are you glad we've stayed on for one last cruise?"

Oh, yeah. 

Life is good. 

:-)