St. Lucia

We dock early (8 am) and I am sure many people on board are happy that they can go ashore.

Although once again the weather looks a little unpredictable.  Now as you all know I am a glass half full kind of girl and I prefer to look at the blue skies, instead of the grey skies in the distance.  Sure we will get hit with rain but hey this rain will be warm and I am not at work!

We stepped off the ship around 11 am and walked through the port area to the ferry dock (go to the left) that takes you right down town.  The cost is $3 one way or $5 return, per person.  It is a short ride and they drop you right beside the other pier in the heart of down town Castries,  St. Lucia.

The downtown is bustling with locals out for their lunch breaks and workers rushing around.

I have always enjoyed being a part of the “real” city.  Where we stand out as some of the only tourists around.  We weave our way around the streets, popping our heads in stores and saying hello to passersbys. 

We once again brought our Canadian temporary tattoos and we hand out around 50 of them to the local kids.  Some kids are excited and want to put it on right away, others are hesitant and not sure what they are.  But all are polite and thankful, even if Mom or Dad has to remind them to say Thank You.  Kids are the same all over the world.

As we were strolling a passing shower hits, and it hits hard with winds taking the rain sideways.  We take shelter under the awning of a store.  The store workers are trying to cover up their tables on the sidewalk.  As they struggle to try to move a small table with stuff Bernie grabs one end and helps her move it into the store.

After about five minutes the rain has passed and we ask for a recommended local restaurant.  We are directed to Carro’s two blocks away.

It is a small little establishment with maybe six tables and a counter to order your food.  A chalk board identifies the specials.

I order the baked chicken and Bernie gets the fish with salad.  We also add a drink and we are surprised that the entire meal only cost $20 US.   Note prices were in Eastern Caribbean dollar, but they converted to US (of course not the best exchange rate but beats getting EC).

After lunch we wander back towards the large open air market and look at the numerous stalls with for sale items. 

market

Again the skies open and we take shelter till it stops a few minutes later.

Here is the view of the ship from the market when the rains hit! 

We walk back to the ship from here – about a 15 minute easy/flat walk. 

Once back at the port we walk around the shops and stop at a bar that is offering some rum with a little bit of punch!  Boy were they strong and a good deal – 2 for $8.  Free wifi allows us to update our phones, download podcasts, and connect with family and friends. 

I am thankful for this as I have an aunt back in Quebec who has been unwell and we are quite worried about her.  You are in our thoughts Aunt Ginette.

Back on board, Bernie is feeling little pain and heads back to the cabin to crash.  I head upstairs and run into Margaret and we sit and enjoy scones for her, and a cupcake for me.

I love these impromptu meetings and chats with fellow passengers.

For dinner tonight we meet up with Michael, his Mom Margaret and niece Jennifer.  The theme tonight is Greek night and they are also hosting the Crab Shack.  Again if you like crab you really need to sign up for the crab shack.  Amazing deal and so much food!

After dinner we wander around handing out some Valentine treats we have. The crew are away from home and missing loved ones and if we can make their days a bit brighter we are happy to. 

They are decorating for Valentine’s Day (which is tomorrow) and looks lovely.  I will get some pictures and post later when I get fast internet.

It has also been decided that the Love Boat Disco Deck Party is moving inside to the Atrium.  The winds and incumbent weather makes it unsuitable to have the party on the open deck. 

We take seats in Vines and watch the action.  I even got up to dance to a song.  Big mistake as ankle swelled up very quickly after that jumping around.  Silly me!  Well it has only been a month since the cast came off.

The Cruise staff really get things hopping!  They danced non stop from beginning to end! 

The music kept the Atrium pumping and people danced in all areas creating a party atmosphere.  Sure it is not the open deck but it was a good time! 

Matt O the Cruise Director got really involved too.  He was even leading the Congo Line and many of the dances.  

Passengers Love HIM!  And so do I.

We are in bed just before midnight.  Tomorrow is Barbados. 

It has been a lovely day!

St. Lucia

We dock early at 8 am.  Our room service arrives just prior to 7 am and we dress for our tour and meet up with the others in Vines.

Cosol Tours is amazing, we toured with them a few years ago and thought why not try them again after so many years.  Cosol was there to meet us and we were divided up into vans.  Our vans had all our friends.

Our driver is Everett and he gets us on our way maneuvering around the city of Castries.

We stop numerous times at look outs, scenic spots, and even a banana plantation where we get to enjoy a banana and Everett explains about the growing cycle of the bananas.  And check out this huge snail.

We stop at a spot for food.  All food from St. Lucia.  So many different items including meats, fish, vegetables and fruits.  Also drinks are handed out all throughout the tour.

The next area we head to is the volcano where we are taken on a bit of guided tour.  Oh you are lucky you can’t smell it.

Now we are on a boat to the beach at the base of the Pitons.  The water is lovely ( a little cool ) but still lovely.  We did encounter a short shower but it passed quickly.

More drinks!  

We stop at a beautiful waterfall.  Entrance is included and you can go in if you wish but we don't want to get wet.

we stop for warm bread and cheese

Then we are on our way back to the ship. 

Even our great guide Everett stopped at the Rum distillery where we bought some rum to take home.

The entire tour was over 6 hours and the price was $75 per person.  I can highly recommend CosolTours.  The biggest negative is that the whole group travels together (but in different vans) so when you all come together, like for lunch, or drinks, at the waterfall you have to deal with all the vans and the people from our large group, which was around 60 people. 

Once back on board we lay down and Bam we are fast asleep.  We wake when there is a knock at the door at 5 and then we realize we are back to sleep and wake up at 7 pm when the phone rings.  Guess we needed it.

We dress for the evening and meet up with Dylan and Ben and his friends for drinks.

Afterwards we all agree Alfredos is in order.  This time I ordered a pasta starter of zucchini wrapped around spaghetti. This is the first time we have ordered pasta and it was very good.  The pizza was very good too – I had La Romana minus the ham.  And of course some Sangria.

St. Lucia January 23

It is overcast out there and looks like some showers are in the forecast.  As we are pulling into the harbour I can see a small ship over at Queen Elizabeth Dock.  We are docking at Pointe Seraphine and when we are tied up at 8 am I see a Silverseas ship pulling in in front of us.  It is just blows me away how these ships can maneuver in and out of the ports so seamlessly. 

The skies have opened and the rain is coming down, but it doesn’t last long and boy is it humid then.  We need to figure out if we should lug an umbrella or not, a light jacket or not.  In the end we opt for a baseball cap and it works just fine, it would have been way too warm for a jacket.

There are numerous shops at Pointe Seraphine ship dock, pretty much all you need is here.  I am learning a lot more about the shopping hosts’ job on board.  They are there at the stores ashore that are recommended to help you make an informed decision.  They will work with you and the shop owners to ensure you get the best price and exactly what you want.  Shopping at the recommended stores gives you piece of mind that you will not be taken.  And trust me the stories we have heard of people buying something they thought was the stone they wanted but was a fake happens and really once you are home what recourse do you have?

Today we are meeting up with an old friend Valerie who we know from Vancouver.  We haven’t seen here in over ten years.  She is working a contract job here on St. Lucia and is renting a condo in the Rodney Bay area.  We arranged to meet up with her around 9 am at the port gate.

Val greets us and her friend has driven her here and takes us to the airport area where we catch the local bus (cause her friend is a helicopter pilot and has to go take a group up this morning).  We take the bus $1 US or $2.50 Eastern Caribbean Dollar.  Buses here are mini vans that fill up and when you want a stop you just call it out to the driver and he pulls over.  They are very frequent and just ask if you are not sure.

If you are wanting to take the bus to Rodney Bay just walk out of the port area down the street to John Compton Hwy and turn right at the gas station and the bus is right there.  You pay once you get off. 

We get off at Rodney Bay shopping mall where we walk to Val’s apartment and meet her roommate.  We catch up with her for a few hours and then we decide to walk down to Reduit Beach to the resort that she can use as part of her apartment.  I have seen this place before on line  It is the Bay Gardens Resort.  They allow you to get day passes and use their facilities too.  It is lovely.  We walk along Reduit Beach all the way to Mama’s bar at the far end.  Note along the way there were many people there to rent you chairs and umbrellas. 

Once at Mama’s bar we get some cold drinks and I have to say the rum she serve was out of this world.  She also has great food too.  I go in the water here and meet a lovely little lady by the name of Lucia who has just moved here and is excited about starting grade 4 here on Monday.  She is a real spitfire and has lots of questions for me about living in Canada.

prices to enter the park

A friend of Val’s Simon picks us up and takes us to Pigeon Island  which is a 40 acre islet now a nature park with a thousand years of history.  There is a museum an interpretive Center. The cost to enter the park is $7.  We climb to the look out of the old fort, well worth it and beautiful scenery. 

Back down we stop and enjoy a meal at the restaurant called Jambe de Bois right there.  Mango Daiquiris were to die for and Bernie enjoyed the local Piton beer.  We order a Roti and a calamari to start.   Boy was it good!  And the view from here is priceless.

We walk along the northern tip of the island right past the Sandals Resort.  A guy was driving by and stopped - he works for the National Reserve and offers us a ride at least back to Rodney Bay.  We get in and Val chats with him and they know similar people - he saw us at the restaurant too.  People are so nice here. 

Back at Rodney we say goodbye to Val and we get on the bus to head back towards the ship.  The ride is not that long - maybe 15 minutes and we are the only tourists in the bus.

As soon as you pass the airport you are not too far from the pier and in fact you will see the ships before you have to get off. 

if you walk out of the pier and follow the road you will see this gas station on your right - turn left

There will be a bus stop right there - wait for a bus to come along

 We walk thru Diamonds International and Martin and Sanja and working hard helping passengers get what they need. 

I should add that during the day we experienced intermittent showers and high and I mean HIGH humidity - my hair paid the price.  But it was great.

Back on board and after a long shower we are relaxing in the cabin.

Just before sailaway the Captain comes on in the cabin and we already know something is up.  At first we think it might be because of Intestinal Virus but no it is a warning about the Zika virus which is transmitted by mosquitos.  Barbados - our next port has had the virus transmitted there so they are warning us.  Captain Oliver does confirm that this virus really is only of concerns to women who are pregnant and those wanting to get pregnant and should be of no issue to others. 

We are not sure what our plans tonight are going to be.  We are really enjoying relaxing evenings and I have a feeling tonight will be the same. 

They are doing a Mongolian BBQ Dinner in Horizon Court so I really want to go up there.  We have plans to meet up with Michael tonight up there and have dinner together. 

Oh forgot to mention that when we got back to the cabin the invite for the Most Travelled Luncheon was in our mail box - I guess we cleared the standby.  The lunch will be held the last sea day in Sabatinis.

The other things happening tonight are:  Liberty String Quartet in Atrium, Silent Art Auction, Tropical Rum Tasting & Raffle, LGBT Get Together, Sweet Soul Music Show in Princess Theater 6:45 and 8:15, Perry Grant in Crooners, Ant Man the Movie in Vista lounge.

They were going to hold the Love Boat Disco Deck Party along with the Night Sky Lounge tonight but there has been a change of plans due to the weather forecast calling for showers and will be rescheduled for another night.

St. Lucia (aka sea day) – February 12, 2015

After such an amazing dinner last night with great friends and well a bit too much food and wine we wake with a bit of a thick head and still a full tummy. 

We are not sure what to do today.  One thing about St. Lucia is it is hilly and roads are up and down and up and down.  The last time we did a tour here I got car sick.  I have been a lot better lately and normally I take something but today with all of the stuff in my tummy from last night I am taking no chances.   

So when we wake to the sounds of the announcement that we are clear to go ashore around 7:15 Bernie dresses and heads downstairs to get our coffees.  There is no need for food.

The ship is quiet except there is the crew emergency drill happening.  This is an exercise that Princess takes seriously.  All crew need to participate (except for a few that are exempt to deal with passengers).  The drill is a mock fire in the laundry today and lifeboats are ready and fire crew are in place.  After the drill the crew meet to have a debrief.  So if you are on board while these drills are happening just be aware that there will be announcements for the crew only.  You will see crew walking around with their life jackets and you may have a bit longer wait for services.

Finally there is a speed Sudoku Challenge which is really the only thing I am good at.  So I go and there are only four of us participating.  But I am proud to say I won.  Prizes for everyone – everyone got a mini key chain flash light and I also got a water bottle.  So far I have four new water bottles. 

I meet up with Bernie on the outside Promenade Deck where we read for a while and watch the goings and comings in St. Lucia.  We have decided to stay on board.

We finally are getting some pangs of hunger at 1 pm.  We decide to just head up to the Horizon Court for a bite.  I love this buffet, I know I am repeating myself but the selection is phenomenal.  Always easy to find a place to sit too.  I think the only downfall would be someone with mobility issues (although they have crew that can help you) cause the food is really spread out and you spend time checking out what is available first and then going to the areas and food you want.

In the Pastry Shop today they have a chocolate fondue going with fruit and cream puffs and cake for dipping.  Wow… I am happy!

The ship is quiet, all aboard is 3:30 today.  We need a nap and after that restful nap we watch the movie “The Hundred Foot Journey”.  Which we loved.  While sipping some wine and enjoying the chocolate bon bons that were delivered to the cabin. 

Valentine’s Day is coming up and the ship is offering lots of treats to show your love.  Chocolates and flowers are selling fast and furious in the Celebrations Store on deck 5.  They have the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast.  Also we saw them advertising two glasses of Mimosas along with four special chocolate covered strawberries.  Of course the jewelry stores are a great option.  For us I got my lovely charm.  We don’t really care for the official Valentine’s Day celebration, we show our love every day.  This cruise is our present to each other. 

We do have a lot of treats for the crew to celebrate though on that day. We will hand them out that day.

Tonight we are dressed early and head down to Vines where Frankie and Ryan (and Allen is there too) welcome us.  We are happy to see Jennifer is back on her feet after a few days off dealing with an injury.  We take a seat and I order one of the bottles of wine from the Super Tuscan Wine Tasting, while Bernie finishes off the bottle we ordered the other day.  One thing this voyage we have really tried lots of new wines.

Dinner is back in the dining room tonight and we are welcomed by Daniel and Inna with big hugs.  It has been three days since we have dined here and they missed us too. 

Tonight I start with a Carpaccio of beef and then the black bean soup then the fish for my entrée.  We share the Norman Love special dessert of white chocolate cheesecake.  We enjoy a bottle of Spellbound and again we chat about the day. 

We also chat about next year in January and where we want to travel to.  Bernie turns 60 next January and this calls for something special.  I tell him to pick something special and the options are huge.  But he has always wanted to go to Peru and visit Machu Picchu and many other areas.  I tell him we should do it while we can.  We discuss the idea of it and when we get home we will research more.  Sure we will miss cruising but there will always be a cruise on the horizon.

After dinner we wander around a bit checking things out.  But tonight we are excited to see the Tenors of Rock who are performing at 10:15.  We heard great things about them on the first leg (but we didn’t see them) so tonight it is a must.  We get seats right up front and the place is busy but there are still seats available.  I think the name is scaring some people off.

But oh my God… these guys are so amazing!  Their repertoire is full circle, from Les Miserables, to the Beattles, Kiss, Aerosmith to the Rolling Stones and so much more.  We are both singing and dancing in our seats.  I love it.  It is nice to have a musical presentation that makes me think of my college years!  Now I wish they were performing again cause I would love to see it again.

After leaving the theater we head into Club 6 Disco for buy one get one free (our first time getting a bogo special) and we sit and enjoy the tunes that DJ Shea is turning and we chat with two of the dancers (Bernie is happy) but they are lovely ladies, one from Australia and one from Britain. 

Back in the room around midnight – and surprisingly there were still quite a few people out and about the ship.

Added Notes:

It was Brazilian Dinner in Horizon Court.  Ye Olde Pub Night has two shows 7:15 and 9:30.  There was a Blackjack Tournament for $20 entry.  New Deal is playing 50s early in the evening and then their second set is Beatles vs Stones music.  We are really loving all the music on board.  Drink of the day was the Loco Coco which is Coconut Rum, Premium Pina Colada Mix.

St. Lucia January 22, 2015 – Day

Bernie is awake early, he has had a rough night.  Bernie’s right eye is really bothering him, he isn’t sure why, it is puffy and swollen.  So as we pull into St. Lucia at the “good” pier.  What I mean by good pier is that it has all the main shops (you know the standard ones, Diamonds International, Del Sol, etc).  There are quite a few ships in port with us, four ships are in port and a MSC ship is just outside the harbour having to tender people in.

The Medical Clinic opens at 8 am (located on deck four midship) and Bernie heads down to see Dr. Dylan Belton.  He is seen right away and after an examination Dr. Belton determines that Bernie scratched his cornea.  Some drops are prescribed and he has been given a patch for the eye for the next few hours so that the eye can absorb the topical ointment. 

He returns to the room and he is tired.  We originally had planned to go to Pigeon Island and the beach but I think this will change.  Bernie is tired and probably the beach isn’t the best idea. 

We head down to the International Café and Bernie has a nice cup of tea (great tea pots) and I have a cappuccino.    Bernie says he is going to head back to the cabin and sleep and I decide to just wander the ship and take pictures and enjoy the quiet on board.

The ship does feel deserted, especially inside.  This is a great time to wander and get indoor shots of the ship for my facebook fan page (Cruising Princess Cruiseline withVickie).

I sit outside of Princess Live in those large chairs, which I love cause you can really have some quiet time with minimal distraction.  I turn the chair to face the window and do some Sudoku.  I am getting hungry but I don’t want to eat too much cause tonight is the Chef’s Table.

I head up to the Horizon Court and Horizon Bistro, make sure to check out both areas cause they do offer different items in each.  I just get a sandwich and two cookies and sit and enjoy the view.

Bernie is still sleeping so I wander out to the open deck and meet up with friends Lynne and Jim in some nice chairs facing the port but when the MUTS starts up with a concert and it is hard to hear.  So I am heading to a quiet area and run into Sandra and Roy and they are in the full sun and boy is it hot!  At least 30!  We are doing the Chef’s Table with them.  After chatting with them for an hour I am getting way too much sun and I don’t have sunscreen on so I better head in.

It is 2:30 and I am tired now too – so Bernie heads out and I crawl into bed and sleep for two hours.

I wake rested and excited about the meal/experience tonight.  It is still HOT HOT HOT out and I am already a little red so I am staying inside.  I do wash a few items.  

Yeah I know I have laundry service with our elite benefits but experience has taught me that it is sometimes better to wash items by hand.  Or at least items that you don’t want to risk getting damaged. 

I did get to watch a nice movie today too called Chef.  I love this tv system, it is huge and I can easily pause a movie and come back to it when I am ready.

We are just pulling away from the pier right now.  The Captain has just come on in all the cabins to announce we are about to leave and where we are heading.  Tomorrow we are in Barbados bright and early.  Did you know that the Royal Princess is the largest vessel to call in St. Lucia, in fact yesterday in Antigua we are also the largest ship to call there too. 

So I am off to get ready for the Chef’s Table.  I am bringing my camera and will post a whole report later about it.  

To read about our experience at the Chef's Table click here 

Dec. 12, 2011 - St. Lucia

We are pulling in, and oh wow we are facing the pier, this is the first time we dock with the Starboard side on the pier side.  It is HOT, MUGGY, this is the Caribbean after all.  We are not in any rush to get off, the ship is doing their emergency drill and so there is announcements and alarms.  Funny how so many passengers are confused about this drill even though the Captain comes on and tells everyone this is for crew only.

We decide to head to the beach, to the one that Bernie found last February.  It is called Malabar beach and it is within walking distance and close to the airport.  We pack up our gear, slather on the sunscreen then head out. 

 

when you come to the runway turn right

at the end of the runway - cool to watch the planes land and take off from here

walk thru the cemetary

To get to this beach you walk out of the pier area to the main road.  There is a Texaco gas station turn left here.  Continue walking till you come to the airport runway and turn right and basically walk around the runway.  We continued walking past the Rendezvous resort to the left and went to the cemetery and walked thru it to the beach.  We found a very secluded spot and laid our towels down and then went into the water.  No one was around us at all!  There are no places to rent chairs or umbrellas, no one selling stuff, no restaurants, nothing!  I am sure if you wanted we could of gone to the resort and eaten and drank there but we didn’t.  We brought some beer from the corner store and enjoyed that then carried our garbage away.  In total the walk took about a half hour but be prepared it is very hot, I am sure a taxi wouldn’t be too much money either.

On our walk back we went a different way thru a residential area, smelled something darn good, so we looked up and it was a small bakery.  We got some coconut muffins and a juice and sat on the steps and enjoyed.  Many locals walked by and we said hi and chatted with a few.

 

When we got back to the pier we walked around the stores at the pier and sat under a tree and enjoyed Piton beer (2 beers for $3).  The tree was full of hummingbirds and was quite entertaining to watch.  We went and checked out the new store Carialoha which is a store that sells all bamboo products, it is one of the ship’s recommended stores.  Bernie bought a lovely polo shirt and t-shirt.  They are so soft and comfortable.  I bought a lovely casual dress from a different store.

 

Wow a Diamonds International -been looking for one in every port

get our Piton beer

Bernie gave the people working at the store Canadian pencils - here one is modeling it

We are back on board the ship around 2 pm, my throat is killing me – even hard to swallow.  After a small meal in Horizon Court I get some salt packets and head back to the room and gargle with salt water and take a nap.   I wake just before 5 pm, we are suppose to be all on board by 5:30 and I can hear quite a few people partying in the bar at the pier, as they stagger back on board right on time.  But they are not lifting the gangway, and around 5:50 a tour arrives with around 75 people.

 

the drunks heading back to the ship, they were so loud the whole Starboard side was out to welcome them back

Around 7:30 we head down to Vines for a glass of wine (well ended up two) with some sushi while we listened to the Dixie Land Jazz band in the Atrium.  Al meets up with us and we head to Michelangeo for dinner around 8 pm.  The whole entrance looks like a parking lot for scooters, with many parked near the Christmas tree, looks like all I want for Christmas is a scooter/walker. 

We have a lovely meal and we share a bottle of champagne while we eat surf and turf and finished off with a mango crème brule.  We head up to the stores to say hi to our friends up there and now Antoine from South Africa is showing us this watch he is thinking about buying, go ahead we say, you should reward yourself.  We should get a job in the shops! 

 

Beatlemaniacs are playing again but it is a different impersonators so we thought lets go and check them out.  We sit near the back, big mistake, as last sailing we sat right in the middle and everyone around us was in to it.  This time I swear no one around us was clapping, singing or dancing in their seats.  I wanted to shake them to see if they were awake.  How can you sleep thru this?  The group was great, audience, not so much.

We hit the hay around midnight and sleep like babies as we make our way to Barbados.