Here We Go

Jan 5

Our friends took us to the airport for the early departure, and our flight was uneventful.  A minibus took us to the very lovely Miami Biltmore Hotel, all included in our voyage.  The weather was in the mid-60s, but apparently, the hotel has no heating system due to its very warm climate.

[Click on the photos to make them larger]

Jan 6

The next morning, four buses took us to the cruise terminal.  At check-in, the process was very slow as they verified that each person had all the required visas for our long voyage.  A good time to mingle with the other world travelers in line.  We boarded the ship about 3:30pm, just in time to get a bite to eat at the pool bar.

We spent the next hour trying to fit the large amount of luggage into the modest closet and drawers.  We visited the artist loft, and I fought the crowd to sign up for all eight art classes, while Merry just picked two.  The classes are only on seadays, and competition was fierce to get on the list before they filled up. 

At six pm, the ship slipped away from the dock and headed out to the Atlantic in the warm breeze.  

A little more unpacking and out to dinner in the main dining room, choosing a sharing table, and we had five very interesting guests join us.  Very pleasant.     

We caught the comedy show in the theater, and it was very enjoyable.  Then back home [to our state room], for a well-earned rest.  Tonight was the first of many time changes during our voyage.  One hour forward to sync up with the time zone in St Barts.

Jan 7

Today is a seaday.   A light breakfast at the buffet and then more unpacking.  We attended a lecture about St. Barts, Dominica, and the local wildlife.  Most interesting, followed by trivia, groups of 8.  We didn't win any of the prizes, but we made more friends.  A second lecture about health and wellness, and more information about the Barts and the Dominica.

At 5.30pm, we attended Captain's night, with free cocktails and met the officers.  We sat with a new couple near the entrance and started seeing friends from previous cruises as they came in.   We topped the day off by having dinner with a couple we knew from a previous cruise and the evening show, a Motown tribute group.  A bit loud but mostly well-known songs.

Jan 8

A second seaday:  See the days activities.

I took a class on AI, a port talk on Barbados, and the history of time while Merry went to the needlepoint workshop, meeting for a light lunch.  In the afternoon, we had a healthy-eating class, and I attended art class and attempted to draw Abraham Lincoln.

We shared dinner with a couple who live in French-speaking Montreal, Canada.  The Husband was born in France, and we had a very interesting conversation.  We topped the evening with a show, the comedian again.  Excellent!!

Jan 9

We arrived at the harbor of St. Barts [Saint Barthelemy] towards the south end of the Caribbean Island chain.  This is a small island, about 8 square miles, owned by France and with a Swiss and French flavor.  It is considered the playground of the rich and famous, where many famous people have a second [or third] sprawling home, being able to move around the island almost anonymously, fitting in with the other wealthy residents and tourists.

It is very expensive to own property and to maintain and supply.  The weather is glorious with over 300 sunny days a year, very little rain, and endless secluded beaches.  Just to see the mega-million-dollar private yachts tells it all.  Today was quite warm and humid.

Because it only has a tiny port, our ship anchored in the bay, and we took the tender [several of the nicer ships' lifeboats] into Gustavia, the main city on the island.  We spent just three hours walking around the harbor and the very expensive shops. 

We looked in an estate agent's window, and small apartments rent for 10,000 to 15,000 Euros per week.  The prices in the shops were also out of sight!!!!!

As we headed back to the tender terminal, we saw a mega yacht being prepared to cast off, so we sat and watched the three crew members make the preparations.  At one point the large back end opened, and the crew retreated a large jet ski and out and into the water.  It was moored next to the 35-foot runabout, which appeared to travel together.  We expected the owner to appear any minute and head out, but we needed to head back to the ship before they arrived.  The reminder is left to the imagination.

We caught the tender back to the ship just in time to catch the end of the lunch serving.  We went to a new restaurant for us, Aquamar Kitchen, which only serves healthy food.  We were pleasantly impressed and will become a favorite spot for lunch and maybe breakfast.

We finished the day by attending Trivia, dinner with old travel friends Liz, one of the restraunt men, another old friend, Ila and Joe, Liz's husband; and then the late-night show a tribute to Motown.

Jan 10

We awoke in the port of Roseau, the capital of Dominica, which gained independence from the UK in 1978 and is now its own [developing] country, not to be confused with the island 'Dominican Republic'.  In contrast to St Barts, Dominica is much larger.  It is known as the “nature state”, with its nine active volcanoes, rugged mountains, rainforests, 365 rivers, and numerous waterfalls.

 

We took a taxi for the short 10-minute ride to the city center.  Clearly, a poor country with poor infrastructure and even poorer citizens.  We walked through the outdoor markets and into the poorly stocked shops.  The weather was stiflingly hot and humid as we neared the equator.  The prices were high, and there was little incentive to stay long.  

The towering mountains make the weather very wet, unlike the arid St. Barts.

We took a taxi back to the ship, mostly to cool off, and then had a light lunch.  We rested in the afternoon.

The sail out was a lovely sight.

We attended trivia, ending in second place, and then went on to dinner.  We had a reservation at the specialty restaurant, Red Ginger, which serves Asian food.  We shared a table with Beth and Bruce from Florida, whom we got to know and with whom we shared many stories.  We ended the day with a show called "The Anchor Inn" set in an English pub, but I am not sure I remember all that singing in my pub days.  A lovely day.

Check back weekly for the next chapters.