St. Thomas February 19, 2014

Our first port and we are docked at Crown Bay and it looks like it will be a lovely day.  We can see a Celebrity and a Carnival Ship docked at Havensight.  Today is a beach day and our plans are Water Island and Honeymoon Bay Beach.

Breakfast is in the dining room and we sit with our friends B/C and sadly service once again was lacking.  Food would be served but no spoon for the oatmeal, asked for two pancakes got one, he brought two more and then only after we had started eating he brought the whipped butter for the pancakes.  Coffee cards were not returned and only half way thru the meal did Craig remember and asked for them back.

View from Water Island to Crown Bay

Although we are still glad we don’t have to cook and clean so really no major complaint but I am concerned about the ship’s running of the dining room and now really see how lucky we have been on other ships.

Back to the cabin to change into bathing suits, lather on the sun screen (we are wearing 60 SPF – nothing worse than ruining a vacation with a sun burn).  The Water Taxi is at 10 and we are there just prior and looks like we are the only ones from our ship on the Taxi.  There is one couple from the Celebrity ship.  Cost is still $5 per person each way.

When we arrive at the beach we rent two chairs from Heidi ($5 each plus a $5 deposit).  I really like the availability of the chair rentals now.  The beach is changing, I can see that the bar at the far end is now owned by a new guy and they are nice lounge chairs and music/food and even shuttle service to the ferry is included in the costs for the day.  But we don’t need all that and we are happy just relaxing the day away. 

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As the day progresses we see so many tours using this beach for a drop off for a while.  In the end there was a catamaran, two pirate ships, one large catamaran and Kon Tiki party boat.  This cause the beach to swell with people and all of our sudden our tranquil beach with about 50 people tripled.  We have never seen it so busy, now I know it could be worse, it could be crazy busy like Magen’s Bay or Coki Beach but we are just not use to this.  I am not sure if this is now a normal thing for so many tours to come in here but if it is I may have to rethink visiting Water Island.  But it still was a lovely day here and just what we needed.

I should add for lunch Bernie and I shared the blackened catfish sandwich with salad.  Bernie had two beers ($4 each, and I had water $1 each) sorry can’t recall the price of the sandwich but make sure to visit Heidi’s Honeymoon Barbecue.

We caught the 2:30 ferry back and I am glad we did cause while we were on the taxi a cloud came over and the skies opened up and it poured….. ahh the Caribbean.  We waited it out a bit till it died down and then made our way back to the ship.   

Dec. 15, 2011 - St. Thomas

We are back in St. Thomas, we are a little late docking but really who counts 10 minutes as late but I am surprised because it seems that every port we have docked early, but today we are a little later than normal.  Bernie heads off to get the latte (my last punch on my coffee card) and his tea.  We are not in any rush as the water taxi doesn’t leave until 10:30. 

Honeymoon Bay as we pass it first thing in the morning while we head toward Crown Bay

We get off around 9:40 and walk towards the marina and take a seat at the outdoor restaurant where we enjoy a mango smoothie.  The restaurant is right at Crown Bay Marina right where you catch the water taxi - note there is also a small grocery store where you can pick up soda or beer for your trip over.  Oh my goodness we are the only people (other than the post delivery person) on the water taxi.  That is a first!  We buy return tickets ($10 each - $5 each for one way) and when we get to Honeymoon bay there are less than six people there. 

ship decorated at the marina for Christmas

the water taxi schedule

such yummy mango smoothies

We are in heaven!  I float while Bernie swims, we tan, we walk, we enjoy a beverage and we are so happy. 

 

One of the tours from the ship arrives around noon.  The tour from the ship is the Catamaran tour and they spend about 1.5 hours at honeymoon bay beach for swimming and lunch and they paid $119 each!  I think we will stick with our $10 each trip.  After the group leaves we get something to eat from Heidi’s barbecue.  I have a drink and hotdog and Bernie has a soda and chicken Caesar wrap, both were so yummy.  We catch the 3:30 ferry back and head back on board. 

the ship's tour coming in

waiting for the ferry

waiting for the ferry

I am now enjoying a drink on the balcony as we sail away from St. Thomas.  Tonight is the Chef’s Dinner theme menu, we are planning on heading to the dining room for dinner.  Tonight’s entertainment is hypnotist Fernandes, who we have seen numerous times, comedy with Jay Moore and later tonight is the London Pub Night with the Cruise staff with the infamous “If I Was Not Upon the Sea”.  Also the Liar’s club is going on too.  Not sure what we will attend as of yet.

 

First stop is Vines, I have a white wine fight and Bernie enjoys a glass of wine and we get some sushi.  A few people we know are there and we chat and catch up before heading to the dining room for around 7:45.  

Joyce, Bernie and I

Like I had mentioned tonight is the Chef’s Dinner I start the meal with the goat cheese soufflé, then the French Onion Soup, then I chose the fried chicken off the regular menu tonight, which I have to say was just okay, I have had it much better.  You could tell the meal had been sitting and the chicken was not crispy.  For dessert I opted for the cheese with a cup of mint tea.

We get out of dinner too late to catch the Liar’s club so we wander a bit and chat with passengers and crew and head to Explorer’s Lounge to catch Jay Moore the comedian.  I am sure we have seen him before but he does have some new jokes and he is funny but for us I would rate him so so and wouldn’t probably see his show again. 

 

It is just after 11 and with no nap for me I am beat!