St. Thomas

Yesterday Captain Nash did inform us that we would be arriving late into St. Thomas due to the winds.  Better to get here safely than to put the ship at risk.  So we are now scheduled to arrive at 9:30 instead of 8.  But we are extending our stay here until 7 pm instead of 6 pm.

When we wake at 8 Bernie heads up for some breakfast and he returns saying it is very busy up there.  The crowds are antsy to get off the ship.  

Sadly people get mad that the elevators are busy, but the age on this cruise is older (although there are a lot of younger people too) and most take the elevators so it is just something you have to deal with.  And of course at the prime times, like when shows get out, as soon as we arrive in port they are all very busy.  

My advice is just wait patiently.  Another tip is head to the aft elevators and head down to deck 7 from there walk midship or forward then down to the gangway if you can physically manage it.  Also elevator etiquette is required.  Make room for others to get on by moving back in the elevator and also let people out before barging in.

The Olympics are happening on this voyage.  Matt our Cruise Director is keeping us up to date with the medal count and some highlights during the Wake Show.  Also the LCD screens at the elevator banks is updated two times a day with the medal counts by country.  Thanks we all really appreciate this!

We get off around 10:30 am and board a open air taxi to head to Sapphire Beach.  The cost is $10 per person and took about a half hour (we did make a few stops first for others).

I last visited this beach maybe 20 years ago and I wanted Bernie to try a new beach.  

Damage from Hurricane - half the church is gone

Boy driving around the island you see how much damage has happened on the island.  FEMA has a base here and have taken over a few open spaces, including a baseball field to hold debris.  At one spot we saw around 500 fridges that have been collected.  FEMA also has a ship at Crown Bay docked to handle the workers as there just are not enough hotels open yet.

In fact Princess would often brings new crew on in St. Thomas but since the hurricane and the lack of hotels this has not happened this season.

Sapphire Beach is not busy, but more people arrive as the day continues.

Lounge chairs are $9 each and there is a bar, restaurant, water sports rental, restrooms, and even showers.  
There are numerous trees that can provide shade if necessary.

Also there is a taxi stand with a taxi right there to take you back to the ship when necessary.

The winds are still high and it shows in the water. 

Snorkeling is not possible today due to the high winds, visibility would be minimal.

We enjoyed the water and the waves.

We had drinks and lunch here and all was very good.

We left around 2:30 and the taxi ride was direct and much shorter.

Back on board we keep on our suits and head up to the Retreat Pool for some more sun.  

I end up falling asleep up there! Oh it was so nice – windy too.

We are now back in the cabin and we have a half hour before sail away.  

Dinner tonight is the Crown Grill with Roy and Sandra.  Can’t wait to spend some quality time with them.  Good friends like them are extra special.

St. Thomas and Most Travelled Guest Party

We awake and again we are already docked.  We are at Havensight and shockingly we are the only one here.  There is a RCL ship at Crown Bay so that makes a total of two ships in port.  I don't think I have ever seen it so quiet here.

I don't recall this before but there is a spot for independent tour pick up spot at Havensight

But it is Easter Sunday and so many things that normally would be open are not open because of the holiday.  However everything at Havensight is open due to a ship being in port.

It is a bit overcast and a few showers pass but nothing that is horrible in fact it is quite refreshing.

One thing we have both commented on is that we thought the weather would of been much hotter than when we normally travel in January/February but nope it is very similar.  Winds, high humidity, high temps (high 20s) and overcast.  Very similar to what we are use to.

Seas have been very calm, but Captain does announce that we will get a bit rougher weather tonight.  He did announce at the Captian Circle Party the other night that the Atlantic crossing's weather could encounter some bumps as they are tracking a storm.

Princess has put right on the front page of the Patter information about Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral at 10 am in English and 12:30 in Spanish.

For us we are really enjoying the ship and we don't get off again. We are staying on board the ship for the entire trip.  We have never done this before but we feel this is right for us this time. And we are LOVING it.

We both change into our bathing suits and head down to the Enclave for some pampering.  We spend about an hour and in the entire time there was only one other couple in there.  So nice.

I shower and dress for the day and it starts with a latte and writing and reading in Vines. 

I also get to say goodbye to Michael's wife and kids who fly out from St Thomas today. I am so glad we got to meet them and get to know them.  We hope that they will come to Vancouver soon and we promise to look them up when we visit Britain.

I forgot to add that last night before dinner in Sabatinis I was able to sit down with Franklin and I showed him how to play the Rummy block game.  He was quite good at it and with some practice he may even be able to beat me.  So practice up Franklin!

I wander around the ship taking obscure pictures for my game I am playing on my Facebook page (Cruising Princess Cruiseline with Vickie) by posting a pic of something and having others try and figure out where this is on the Royal Princess.

Back in the cabin we watch the movie Lion in the cabin.  We both really enjoyed it and totally understand why it was nominated so much at the Oscars.

For sailaway I head out onto the balcony and chat with my neighbour while sipping wine and enjoying a stunning sailaway.  St. Thomas is perfect for a great sail away and drinks on the balcony.  Ironically the balcony for mini suites has a footstool but there is no room to put that stool out without taking up all the space.

Tonight is the Most Travelled Guest Party (yes it is now called Guest Party instead of Passenger Party or at least here it is called that).  It is a cocktail party in Club 6 that starts at 7:30.  We arrive and pose for pictures with Captain Nash and it is lovely as we know almost all the officers. 

I take a seat and Ben and Dylan join us.  The food here is outstanding, what a difference from the Ruby and the four appetizers they offered.  Here there is a whole table for sushi, then another for cold appetizers, then a table of hot finger foods, and then another for dessert. 

There is so much food that we just skip dinner and enjoy the party.

For those interested, this trip we are #10 and #11 Most Travelled Guests.

After the party the four of us head down to Vines where we enjoy wine and time just flies.  Up to Crooners to enjoy the piano player Ray Coussins and all is right with the world.

goofing around in Crooners by taking a picture of us in the mirror above

We love getting to spend so much time with Dylan and Ben again and we reflect on our Peruvian trip and future trips back (something is in the works).

We are back in the cabin around midnight and Bernie is asleep before I am even in bed.

Another great day on the Royal Princess.

St. Thomas

This is our third visit here this cruise and the first time at Havensight.  Many people prefer Havensight because of all the stores in the port, but since I am not a huge shopper and definitely like to get away from the stores at the port I prefer a quieter Crown Bay and the option of going to Water Island.  But that is not an option today, plus we really don’t need any more sun as we are still suffering from our sunburns.

We head to breakfast where I have the most delicious waffles with sausage and orange juice and we try to figure out what we want to do.  We get as far as heading down to the International Café for coffee.  Now this is cruising!

We watch the crew muster for their Assessment Party Drill – where most crew have to participate in.  Always interesting to be on board when they do this drill and see what happens.

We chat with Meldon for quite a while, he is the bar supervisor down in the Coffee Bar, such a dear and so helpful to all passengers even the ones we personally would strangle, but somehow he as well as all the staff here have the patience of saints!

Havensight

 We decide to head off the ship and walk to town, it is very hot out and the Disney Fascination is right beside us, lots of kids on that ship.  I love kids but don’t know about sailing with a whole bunch of them, but would certainly recommend it to families.

We walk thru the Yacht club along the water to town and with five ships in port it is crazy.  Once downtown it is hard to even walk on the sidewalk cause of the crowds, plus there are so many people trying to talk you into going into their store and people stop and look.  I felt bad as I walked into one woman who stopped suddenly and boy did she get mad at me.  I had it at that point and we walked towards the waterfront.

We decided to stop and get something cold to drink, raspberry lemonade did the trick and we got a light meal of appetizers at the Green House overlooking the beautiful harbour.  The place was packed soon after we arrived.  The food was great and I can highly recommend their bang bang shrimp but because it was so busy service was very poor.

the view from our table

Walking back to the ship we take pictures, admire the scenery and comment on the traffic.  Somehow it just doesn’t compare to Bonaire or St. Lucia or Dominica.

Back on board around 1:30 and our usual haunt is calling.  We get a cup of tea and Bernie gets a sweet to enjoy with his tea before returning to the cabin so I can write yesterday’s blog and neither of us can stay awake.  What is going on? 

Two hour nap, yup that is what I say…. Boy I feel rested but amazingly I can rest more.  Guess it does the body good.

We are pulling out of the pier, thrusters have to work double time today as we are sandwiched between the Disney Fascination and the Carnival Dream.  We pull out horizontally from the pier then back out of our parallel spot then spin around to head out to the Atlantic.

Have to say sailing away from St. Thomas is one of the prettier spots.

I throw on my bathing suit and decide to head to the Thermal Suite.  It has been a few days since I was last there, mainly because of the effects of Barbados (rum and sun) but I am looking forward to it tonight.  When I arrive up there, there is only one other couple and I relax in the steam room, then I shower then head into the gentle steam room, then shower then head into the steam room and when I come out and am drying myself before heading into the heat room I hear BANG!  Then the man screams, then the woman screams – they are both on the heated loungers and the metal lattice that is attached to the wall has fallen down and hit the man.  He has a small cut above his left eye brow and his leg is smacked pretty good.  I run out to tell one of the spa staff to call for assistance and stay with them till someone arrives.  My heart is pounding!  The screams alone freaked me right out.  I am sure the guy will be totally fine.  At worst he may need a stitch or two and I am sure Princess will take care of his needs. 

Back in the cabin and time to shower and get ready for dinner.  We are dining at Sabatinis tonight at 8 pm with Johan.  I am really looking forward to it, I wasn’t going to eat in the dining room anyways as it is the Chef’s Dinner and it is not one of my favorite menus.  The Café Caribe is offering the rice table theme and we would of dined there if the invite didn’t happen.

Tomorrow we are at sea and then Princess Cays before heading home.  Tonight we received our disembarkation information.  It is sad to see but inevitable.

St. Thomas

February 9th (I think) - Charlotte Amalie

I find it funny because everywhere I go on the ship people keep saying "hey I saw you on the morning show" sometimes they don't even say that they just say "Vickie can I ask you something?" Then I have to wonder, how do I know this person. Funny

We pull into St. Thomas, and we are docking at Havensight. We are disappointed, many are happy though they love all the shopping available at Havensight. We prefer Crown Bay, it is quieter and we wanted to go to Emerald Beach or perhaps back to Water Island.

We took our time getting ready and left the ship after the crowds/tours got off. We hadn't been to Havensight in about 7 years and we noticed that a lot has changed. A lovely Marina has just been added and a walkway all the way into Charlotte Amalie.

First even though you can see major clouds in the distance it is HOT, MUGGY and we are sweating like crazy when we finally get to town (about 20 min walk). And wouldn't you know it, as soon as we arrive in town the clouds open and it POURS. We take cover in a coffee shop and enjoy a cup of tea.

We walk down the main street, and pick up the only thing we came into town to get. Perfume -- yup perfume. Now usually we buy all our perfume at the duty free shop on board because we find the best prices on board. But the ship didn't have the Angel perfume -- actually they have it but I purposely bought the refill bottle to be "green" and have been having trouble getting the perfume that refills! Well we find the perfume and decide why hang out here when we find it too crazy lets head back to the ship and figure out what we will do.

On the walk back we talk about it, should we go to the beach? Bernie has never been to Magen's Bay, but he says he doesn't feel like paying for a taxi to go across the island only to end up on a crowded beach. So we get back to the ship and get lunch in the dining room and then we both change into our bathing suits and venture up to the Sanctuary.

Have I spoken about the Sanctuary? Well it is a lovely Adults Only area that is at the bow of the ship. A nominal fee is charged to enter this area, $10 for half day. The lounge chairs are padded with mattresses that I swear are thicker than the beds. Plush towels are then placed down. A sanctuary steward comes with a cool towel to cool yourself down and a glass of water, either flavoured with cucumber or orange. There is a special menu that you can order from and it is delivered to you for a small charge of $3.

It was a very nice relaxing afternoon and a chance to build our tan and get that much needed afternoon nap.

This is a shot of the new Marina -- lovely boats, and great shops all along the walkway. A shoppers paradise.

Me and James our Cruise Director