St. Kitts – Monday

I wish I could start this day with something exciting! Something memorable!  Something you would tell your friend!  But I can not!

After a very early night last night and a good sleep I wake still feeling the effects of those rum punches.  We pull into port and we are right across from the P & O Ventura ship which the exact same ship as ours.  It is pretty cool to look at the same ship but with a few little differences.  We notice immediately that they allow smoking on their balconies and there are a lot smoking out there.

We see that they have the same horrible hard plastic flooring on their balconies as we do but it is green in color.  Their deck furniture is similar to the deck furniture they are replacing on most Princess ships.  Up on the top decks it appears like they have the same covered area at the front where the Sanctuary is on our ship but it seems to be just regular chairs and open to everyone.  They do not have MUTS, is instead a covered pool area like the Grand/Star/Golden has. 

We got so much sun yesterday that my back is in pain (where I obviously did not put enough sun screen on) and the last thing we want to do today is go to a beach and get more sun.  We know the port area here like the back of our hand and since neither of us wants to shop, and we have done numerous tours of the island we decide to stay on board.

We lounge out by the pool in the covered areas (and good thing as some light Caribbean showers do pass us) and watch the cruise staff set up the strings for the Island Deck Party happening latter.

Our afternoon was so boring, but just what we needed.  A bite in the Horizon Court and then back to the cabin and a nap.  I swear if we get any more relaxed they will be throwing dirt on us.  When we wake we wander down to the coffee bar for some tea and chat with the staff there.  Kateryna, Bethoven, Meldon and Ryan take such good care of us.

All aboard is 5:30 and the Ventura is leaving its’ berth and we have dueling horns!  I captured it up on video but will have to wait till I get home to put it up on this blog because I need faster internet to do that.  It was really neat waving goodbye to everyone on board and the crew from each ship waved huge hand signs and Ciao signs.  One of the better sail away we have ever had.

We decided to invite some friends over for sail away and we get some finger food, pizza and we raise our glasses to a great cruise.

Around 8:30 we wander around and catch some of the entertainment happening on board.  Lots going on tonight.  We catch Lubo and Lucy in the Atrium (he does a balancing act).  We catch the comedian Rodney in Explorers, well we only caught a bit of his show as it was too full to find a seat and we arrived late so we stood at the back and watched for about 15 minutes.  Leeshe is doing a line dancing classes that covers the steps to tonight’s dance party.  It is being held kind of late and she covers it very quickly before we all rush upstairs to take part in the Island Deck Party.  It is a good time, but not many people are here, maybe a couple hundred but that is it.  Again once the flash mob is done and the group dance is done the lead singer from Accent takes over and the energy level dies, especially when he does the Congo line, you see a mass exodus of people from the dance floor.  I wish Lee and Frenchie had more involvement in the party, I missed their energy here.

We look at each other and say “well, another great day”.

The key to cruising is to do what you want and not to feel guilty about doing nothing and that is just what we did today!

St. Kitts

Rough night – I am up at 4 am and my allergies are bothering me.  This usually happens at least one time during every vacation.  With all the different foods and drink it is bound to happen.  I head up on deck around 5:45 and can see St. Kitts in the distance and Nevis to the right of it.  So pretty!

I head towards the Horizon Court and it is so civil at this hour and I grab a bagel and some fruit and then head down to the International Café for my latte and a chat with Beverly.  I am so tired though and around 7:30 I head back to the cabin and Bernie is up and we switch places as I crawl into bed and he heads out.

And this is how our day starts out and we know today is going to be relaxing day. 

After sleeping till around 10 am we both decide we should dress and head ashore and hit the gangplank around 11 and we decide to just wander around a bit.

I love the character of these old run down buildings and I must of taken 100 shots of different ones

We have been here numerous times, we have toured the island extensively four times.  We have climbed the volcano, we have visited beaches twice now.  Every time we are here it rains, but guess what it doesn’t rain today but we don’t feel like heading out to a beach today. 

We wander around but we get this feeling here today that they are annoyed with the tourists, most don’t chat with us and even when we approach stalls they don’t say anything to us.  Guess we are just use to constant “check out my store” etc.  The city streets are busy and this too is odd for us as we have been docking here on Sundays the last few times and most shops are closed. 

I do check with a taxi driver about how much the fare is to South Friar’s Beach and I am quoted $16 per taxi, so it is $4 a person one way if you get four, $8 if it is two.  Sounds fair, and the same price as we were quoted last year when we went to there. 

One of the funniest things today was as we walked past Independence Square Park and notice this guy who has set up huge speakers blaring music and beside him a single slot machine.  I can’t help taking a picture it is just too funny and so out of place.

We stop by a bakery and pick up a small meal of two pasties filled with chicken and a coconut macaroon and walk back to the square where we enjoy our little meal.

there is a shuttle on the pier to assist those with mobility issues -  something I don't recall on previous cruises

Still not feeling 100% so I opt to head back on board and are on around 2 pm where I head up top to get some sun and grabbed a strawberry milkshake.  Since I don’t have the ultimate soda package which includes milkshake I have to pay for it but it is only $3.75 which is a lot cheaper than the ones on Oasis.  It is very good and I check out the island and take a few pics around the ship for my fan page.

I decide to head back to Leesh’s class for line dancing this afternoon.  The class is all about tonight’s Island Deck Party.  I did this class last cruise and want to do it again to master those steps.  I see Ian from the photo dept.  He is there, apparently he is hoping to move to the Cruise staff next contract so he is going to learn the moves so he can participate.  He tries very hard and by the end of it he is well, how to say politely a white guy with no rhythm but he is trying so hard and I am sure after a few cruises he will have it down pat.

Tonight we want to head up to Skywalkers as tonight is Japanese Slipper and sushi and we run into Sue and Mike and then a little bit later Cathy and Bill show up and we reflect on the day.  Anthony the server takes care of us so well, actually all the staff up there are amazing and it is a joy to head up there and catch up with them.

Alice joins us for dinner and we are happy to see it is Italian night, which we missed last voyage as we dined in Sabatinis.  I start with a wonderful blueberry soup and then a salad and for my entrée the chicken dish and it was very good.  No dessert, I couldn’t even finish my meal tonight and I feel a little rough and out of it, might be all the drugs I have taken for my allergies. 

But I promised Leesh I would attend the deck party so we change and head up and we both are not into it tonight so as soon as the dance happens I participate and then we head to bed and I crash.

It may not have been a productive day but it was a relaxing day and really that is what cruising is all about doing what you want to do.  I love this and I am rested and so glad we get many more of these days.

Monday Night

I did attend the line dancing class that was taught by Leesh, she was so patient and helpful and made it fun.  For those that attend the Island Deck Party there is a segment that is choreographed and this is the section they are teaching us.  Jeannie told me she was going so I thought heck why not, and even more exercise today.

After the class I wander around and end up in the coffee bar for an iced vanilla latte and while there a few people come by and we catch up.  Just like at home and our local coffee bar.

We attend the Captain Circle Party in the Club Fusion which really is probably the worst location to hold it but they are limited to locations.  I much prefer the Vista Lounge type location but this ship doesn’t have that type of lounge.  The Club Fusion just doesn’t hold enough people and it is very dis jointed and views are blocked.  The place is packed and I wonder how the later party went.  The Captain was not here tonight but it was attended by the Staff Captain Jon Paule Bryant who is from Britain but now lives in Maple Ridge just down the road from us.  I know that the Captain did attend the second party.  Three bottles of champagne were drawn but we were not so lucky.  

We make our rounds around and stop in to Facets to see group there and then over to say hi to the crew at the Coffee Bar then Alice wants to go to the casino for a bit and we are not bringing her any luck so we head out to Adagio bar to attend the Food Trivia and we didn’t do too bad but did not win.

Alice and I make reservations at Sabatinis for the next night and then we head down to the dining room for dinner.  Elda and Nathanlian are waiting for us.  The night was full of laughs and great food.  I started with the shrimp cocktail then the salad, then the Tilapia that Elda recommended.

Back to the cabin to change into more comfortable clothes and stuff that we don’t mind getting sweaty in.  We make up two drinks and take them up on deck.  There are quite a few people but everyone is sitting and no one is dancing.  We stand and start dancing in place and soon others come up to the dance floor and soon lots of people are here dancing.  Jeff and Jane from my fan page are up here shaking their groove thing too.

The flash mob comes out and then that is my queue and well I think I did pretty good and thankfully I have two more Island Deck Parties to attend to practice.

We are back in the cabin around midnight and we peel off the clothes and throw them in the laundry bag.  What a great day, lots of exercise and lots of laughs!  Perfect!