Antigua Port Lecture

Are you or someone you know sailing into Antigua on a cruise?  Check out my Port Lecture that I presented in February 2019 as Destination Expert on Royal Princess.

Antigua

We meet up with Meghan and head ashore together.  As is common in the Caribbean a rain shower has passed and now that it has stopped it is incredibly muggy.

We head to Exotic Antigua store to check out the Tommy Bahamas shirts.  However, when we get there it is very busy. Bernie picks out two shirts he tries them on and decides to buy them.  I took at two blouses to try on, a black one and a white one.  The staff said you can try on the black one but not the white one.  Fine then I don’t want to even think of buying without trying.  They said it was because they did not want to get it dirty. 

So Bernie tried to pay for them, and while standing at the cashier Bernie finally gave up as so many people were in the line and then he kept getting pushed back when others went ahead.  So not a great experience and I probably would not go back into Exotic Antigua.

We grabbed a bite to eat and a cold drink and enjoyed the scenery.

Dylan and Ben along with Laverne were heading to C & C’s winebar and we were told to join them so we went to meet them.  We ordered another bottle of wine to enjoy.

We got the bill and I as shocked to see that it said $100 for the wine.  OMG, Meghan offered to charge it and then when we commented how high it was, Ben said “it is in Eastern Caribbean dollar” oh phew!  Ended up it was only $36 ish American.  Okay I can accept that.

Ben wanted ice cream and we decided to indulge too.  Yummy! 

I returned to the ship and Bernie stayed with Meghan for another drink. 

Even though my foot is healing it does swell up if I walk a lot.  So I thought it would be smart to return and ice my ankle. 

Celebrity Reflection is right next to us.  I see a group of people heading to the bow of the ship for some event. 

They are checking people in there and giving them a drink.  Since I have never been on Celebrity I am not sure what it is about but hopefully one of you can help me answer this question.

Later we are in the International Café and run into Paula and Min and Meghan is there too so we all sit and chat and wow an hour has passed!

January 22, 2016 - Antigua

We wake to the arrival in St. John’s.  The dock is on the starboard side of the ship and we are docked at the Nevis Street Pier.  The pier is not longer than the ship so the only gangways are forward and midship.  However this did not stop people complaining that they should have a gangway at the aft too - I said to them if they did you would be stepping off the ship into deep water.  That stopped them.

A lovely breakfast was enjoyed and we are not in a big rush to get off, in fact we are being rather lazy and don’t even head ashore about around 9:30 ish.  

You know for the longest time Antiqua was not an island we really cared for.  We seem to have nothing but issues every time we came here.  Issues with tour companies.  One time a friend of ours on a tour had a medical emergency that ended up being a heart attack and we felt the provider of the tour did not take it seriously enough and get us back to the ship.  Other times we have found the taxi drivers to be so aggressive that we have just turned around and walked right back on the ship.  So anyways I will say the island is beautiful and the people are lovely and it is worth pushing forward and exploring.

Thankfully this happened for us a few years ago when we did the Segway tour, which is a blast by the way.  We found a lovely beach, well actually a few lovely beaches.  So for us we like to go to Runway Beach or Fort James Beach, but one time we need to head to Dickerson Beach.  

Today we get off and force our way thru the throngs of taxi drivers aggressively trying to get business.  We have learned that for us we prefer to walk two blocks up Nevis Street to Valley Road and find a taxi driver there.  This is what we did today and found Johnson who took us to Fort James Beach.  Taxis are regulated here and you need to confirm the price beforehand - for us it was $6 each and we had him drop us off in front of Candyland or Limez Beach Bar.

Right away we noticed that the water was rough.  Seems to be happening a lot this voyage.  Aruba the beach at De Palm was rough, Grand Turk it was rough and again today it is rough.  The woman at the bar said that it has been like this for two weeks now.  We find a quiet spot down the beach and lay out on our blanket and head into the water but it is rough and the undertow is strong so be careful.  

A few hours later Bernie heads down to Limez Beach Bar to get two rum punches and when he comes back he tells me Louise and Brian are down there.  So we pack up and join them.  They came here by taxi too but they hired a guy right near the pier who charged them $7 each.  More on this taxi driver later.

We spend the next few hours laying in the sun, wading in the water and getting a great meal at the bar.  Louise and Brian head up to the fort that is right there to check it out.

this is the beach we went to as we sail out of the harbour

Around 2:30 their taxi driver comes back for them.  They had arranged for their driver to come back for 3.  We decide then to join them in the ride back but this driver is wanting to charge us a lot more than what we paid to get here.  We decide to just get the bar to call a taxi (which we have always done) but their driver is arguing with them that they wanted him to come back and when we inform him that he charged them too much and now you want us four to pay the same price - no way.  We all go into the bar to wait for our driver and one of the workers at the bar tells this taxi driver to just leave, and after a while he does.

Our called taxi driver arrives and we all get in and I guess the worker at the bar explained what had happened with the other taxi and our current driver explains that the other driver was an airport taxi driver and he isn’t even allowed to pick up cruise passengers and he should charge the fixed rate.  That we should of taken a pic of his license plate and reported him.  That unfortunately they give the taxi association a bad name.  Anyways the ride back with this nice driver was so great that we tipped him very well.

It isn’t so much that we don’t want to pay we just don’t want to be taken advantage of.

Back on board we need to wash… and this is when I really enjoy my bathtub.  I soak the sand away and when the water drains I can almost build a small sandcastle - sorry Sonny our cabin steward for the mess.

There is a MSC ship and a Disney ship in and we sail first so we are up on deck and getting drinks at the Sea View Bar - definitely try a strawberry margarita! 

The battle of the horns starts and the waving begins as we say goodbye to Antigua.  It is sort of sad as we don’t know when or if we will be back here.  Other years we usually know we will be back but as it stands now I don’t anticipate and cruises to the Caribbean with our low Canadian Dollar.

After a short 45 minute nap we dress in shorts and t shirts and decide to dine up in Horizon Court tonight.  The theme is a Brazilian Buffet - and it certainly did not disappoint.  

Tons of roasted meats and seafood.  My favorite was the chicken wrapped in bacon.  They also had some great salads and soups too.  They also served lamb, beef, sausage, fish well you name it.  A meal like this at home would cost at minimum $30.

We head down to Promenade deck but it is a zoo!  The show Hawley Magic has just let out and it is hard to move.  The demographics for this second leg have gotten much older and it is impacting things like the elevators and everything early.  By 9:30 it is quiet on board.  There are still some younger people but I am guessing less than a 100 people are under 30.  With most being between 65 - 80 but they still seem to be having a great time and heck I can’t keep up with some of them.

There is quite a bit going on tonight.  We catch the Variety Entertainers Duo Ronin again (they were on the last few days of the last leg) and tonight it is a different show than what we saw last leg.  It is also Country Western Night so there is Music Quiz, and line dancing.  

The brand new Hollywood Screen Test is happening too which is new and uses the technology of the green screen in Princess Live.  We did not go so I can’t report too much about it but maybe I can find out more thru the tv on demand.

Antigua – February 13, 2015

We dock early (8 am) and I must be getting use to the docking feel cause I sleep right thru the thrusters pushing the ship against the dock.  But I wake in time to hear the announcement that we have received clearance to go ashore. 

Remember that even though we dock at 8 am the ship still needs to get clearance from the authorities before allowing people to go ashore.  Similar to when you arrive in a foreign country via a plane.  You need to clear customs for that country.  Now for most of these Caribbean ports clearance is quick and easy, but some people have been upset when they can’t get off right away.

I take my time getting ready, our plans are not till later.  In fact not until 10:30.  So I shower and lather on the sunscreen and bathing suit and all the gear that we need for a day at the beach.

We meet up with our friend Federico and we walk off and grab a taxi outside the pier area.  We are heading back to Fort James Beach and we specifically ask for Candy Land Restaurant cause the beach is right across from it.  The bar and facilities we use are those of Beach Bar Limerz. 

But as soon as the taxi pulls up in front of the restaurant we are shocked to see water on the road.  The waves are crashing high!  So high that they are taking parts of the beach.  Needless to say there were no lounge chairs on the beach where we laid out a few weeks ago.  So we take higher ground and sit in some chairs under an umbrella. 

Federico and Bernie head into the water but they are cautious, these are strong waves and a big undertow.  They don’t go in far but even these guys are falling.  I laugh my head off watching them. 

I go beside them to chat, we are only knee high in the water and while talking this wave comes in and crashes and the water flies up and smacks us all in the face.  Oh my we are laughing cause of it, it is like God said, “hey pay attention”.

you can see me n Federico's glasses

Picture Federico took with his Polaroid

We relax under the umbrella, we get a few showers and then the sun comes out, but we are great.  We are sipping our first rum punches (Bernie is smart he sticks to local beer).  It is lovely getting to catch up with Federico away from the ship.

A woman approaches who we met the last time we were here.  She is from Sweeden and is here for a few months to celebrate her retirement.  She recognized us and we are happy she came by.  She sits with us and we catch up.

We all head up to the restaurant/bar to get a meal and a second (then third) drink.  The restaurant is lovely and has wooden tables/chairs and it is all undercover.  The washrooms are clean and they also have free wifi. 

We each order a chicken curry Roti and we share a plate of fries.  Prices are reasonable and the food was good.

When we are ready to go the staff call us a taxi and Kenny (the driver) shows up and we head back to the pier ($4 per person).  Traffic is heavy cause of the rain but it is also a Friday afternoon.

short rain shower when we get back to the pier,
 but they have umbrellas for us if we need them

Once back at the pier we say goodbye to Federico who has desk hours in an hour and he needs to shower and get ready.  We wander over to the shops and peak inside and buy a few little things.  We really haven’t bought much of anything this voyage.

Back on the ship and we go thru the ritual of rinsing bathing suits, hanging them, drying beach ring, showering, moisturizing (that salt/sun is drying), cleaning sand from well everywhere, especially today.

After three rum punches I am in need of a nap desperately!  An hour and a half nap and I feel much better, but gee at my age you think I would know better!  NOT, but I did have fun.

So the day at the beach was not exactly as we had planned but it was better!  One thing we have learned thru all our travels is that things may not always work out the way we had them planned, but they still work out.

Tonight is our Captain Circle party.  There are three parties, tonight there is just one at 7:30 – 8:00 and two more tomorrow.  Of course if you can’t make the one you have been assigned just see the Captain Circle Host to see the dates/hours for another one and if it suits you better.

We take a seat right at the back of the venue.  We prefer to be in the back where we can sit and relax and have our drink and talk without disturbing others.

Captain Oliver is at the door shaking hands with everyone, we welcome him on board.  We get our drinks and enjoy the event.  Federico (Captain Circle Host) starts the evening, I am not sure where the Cruise Director Peter is, normally he does the introduction.  But Federico and Mathew (Future Cruise Consultant) do a great job.  The Captain talks for a bit and he is so funny, very personable too.  See even the Captain makes you feel like you are part of the Princess Family.

We head to the Symphony dining room for dinner.  It is Italian night and we finish off the wine from the other night (Spellbound).  The dining room for second seating is quieter tonight, I think all these port days are catching up with people.

you can find the Hot Latin Nights video here 

After dinner we are up on the top deck to enjoy the Hot Latin Nights.  The deck is all lit up and New Deal is playing.  DJ Shea is also spinning the tunes.  The dance floor is the water fountain stage which needs to be dried continually. 

I really enjoyed the evening.  Having participated in many an Island Deck Party and White Hot Deck Party I enjoy a change.  Bernie and I dance the night away up on deck 17 and don’t head back to the cabin until almost midnight.

We watch the Wake Show and we get a kick out of Toby/Shea and Peter discussing the lips we gave him.  I did video it and will put up here on the blog when I get 
home. You can find the Wake Show Video here.

Antigua January 21, 2015

Oh my…. Why are we docking so early?  I wake to the sound of the announcement that the ship is now cleared and passengers can disembark.  Hmmm what time is it?  Oh 7:45, it feels like I just went to sleep.  Oh yeah I did!  We roll over and go back to sleep for another hour since it isn’t like we need to be anywhere.

When we finally awake we take some time getting ready and waking up and figuring out what we are going to do today.  It looks nice out, a little overcast and a chance of showers, temperature is around 27 so we both decide a nice relaxing the day at the beach will be in order.

We have to get our stuff together, since we didn’t plan on going to the beach originally we wander around the cabin tripping over each other, slathering on sunscreen, finding hats, towels (which are replaced and in the cabin every night), camera, money etc etc.  Okay I think we are ready, but of course as soon as I step outside the cabin I remember something and back track. 

Okay now we are ready.  Off to deck four midship to get off, and we see there are three other ships in port with us.  Carnival Breeze, a Seaborn ship (so pretty) and another smaller ship behind Carnival.  But the port doesn’t seem busy, but then again it is 10:15 and many are already off on their tours. 

Of course as soon as we clear the gate we are asked ten times… tour, taxi, beach tour, island tour, but we just need a taxi to head to Fort James Beach.  The cost is $6 each for a total of $12 but we give the guy $15.  He drops us off right near the office for the Segway tour that we did last year (you can read about it here).  

There is a nice bar/restaurant there but it is busy with a ship tour it seems.  So we walk down the beach to the place we were at last year near the Candyland Restaurant. 

We sit in two lounge chairs under an umbrella and the restaurant/bar Beach Limerz is right there.  The staff are very friendly and we soon order two rum punches and POW those are GOOD at $5 each. 

It is overcast, but don’t let that fool you the sun is still strong and we reapply twice and still got sun.  The water was cold, but once I was in it was fine.  I had my float and laid in it for a long time, then back to the lounge chair, then back into the water, then the lounge chair, repeat, repeat.

We head up to the restaurant for some food (oh they have free wifi too).  We get two cans of Coke and two Shark n Bake Sandwiches with fries.  

Now we originally tried this sandwich a long time ago when we first went to Trinidad (Read more about that visit here). and we enjoyed it then so we had it again and it was very good.    The entire meal cost us $30.

After about four hours we got them to call us a taxi (but there were numerous taxis around we could of gotten too) and we headed back to the pier.  We had no interest in any shopping here so we got back on around 3:00.

A quick shower to rinse off all that sand and sunscreen and Bernie is watching a movie, but funny he is watching it with his eyes closed.  Time for a nap I think.

Antigua February 19, 2014

 
We sleep until 8:30, boy I really like this cabin cause you don’t feel the thrusters at all when we are docking like we have experienced at the back of the ship often.

We have been here numerous times and today we have something special planned.  A Segway tour with Segway Antigua.  We easily find Lance at the main gate at the scheduled meeting time and he directs to the taxi driver who shuttles us to the office for Segway Antigua.  We meet up with Juliette and later Elizabeth.

There are 8 of us on this tour, the four of us and two other couples from Sandals Resort.  We all watch a 7 minute video on how to use our Segway and the safety periodical.  Their office has a spot you can leave any items you don’t with wish to transport with you.  We are led outside where we all get fitted with a helmet and elbow pads and then we are assigned our Segway.

Both Lance and Elizabeth take their time showing us how to get on, get off, go forward, sideways, stop and how to use appropriate hand signals.  We spent about fifteen minutes practicing on solid surface then they led us off onto the grass so we could practice there.  I am surprised how easy it is to maneuver and how much fun it is. 

We then all head out single file along the road and up and down and over different types of terrain.  Elizabeth takes numerous photos of us while we are riding and they promise to send them to us via email. 

We make a few stops and as we travel Lance provides commentary about the island.  So it is a nice little tour and it is informative too.  We loved the stop up at Fort James where we all walked around a bit and enjoyed some sugar cane and some fruit kebobs.  The beach here is so stunning!  We definitely would come back to this beach.

Once we are back at the office we are all provided with a beverage of our choice, rum punch for us!  We were suppose to have lunch included but the restaurant is not ready to serve so we ask for a recommendation and  Juliette recommends a local place.  Elizabeth drives us over to Candy Cane restaurant and we sit and enjoy a big bowl of Pepper Pot.  Off to the side we can see they are singing Kareoke and well you know what they say “do as the locals do” so me and Barb decide to sing and surprise our honey.

We sign “Stand By Your Man” and many of the locals sing along with us.  We get a huge round of applause…. Boy they must be hard of hearing!  It was all in fun and we loved it thoroughly.

Elizabeth ends up driving us back to the pier where we decide to get back on, it is 2:00 pm and all aboard is 3:30.  We sit in the International Café and grab an iced coffee and watch a bit of the rehersal by the singers/dancers for their little show in the Piazza later today called “Sail with Princess”.  Looks lovely so we will have to try and see it later.

Tonight I am not sure what we are going to be doing.  We are meeting up with friends for a sail away drink and then who knows. 

Tonigts show is Big Band Night with David and the Crown Princess Orchestra in Explorers Lounge.  Comedy Magic with Trunell Magic in the Princess Theater.  MUTS is showing Premium Rush.