NorfolkSailor
December 23rd, 2004, 03:32 PM
...Virginia to the Southern Caribbean 30 November 2004 through 11 December 2004 - Part 3
What a beautiful island! Half Moon Cay is looming large as we make approach to anchorage for a day of fun in the sun. The seas were calmer but the excitement of scuba diving in the Bahamas made it hard for me to sleep. Up with room service coffee for two, we made our preps for going ashore. I went down to get tender passes for 5 and returned to reconnect with the rest of the group for breakfast. Denny was up even earlier than I and informed me he had 5 “3” passes (mine were “5”s) so I retuned my passes to the card room as a side trip on the way up to the Lido for breakfast. The group was packed for the beach and snorkeling and I had my scuba gear ready so we had only to wait for the call. At around 1030 the ship was ready to tender passengers ashore and the first set of numbers called was 1 through 3 so we headed down to B Deck as the last few clouds were chased from azure skies. It’s already in the mid-70’s and the waves and breezes and mild.
I’m not sure what I expected from reviewing maps of HMC but the reality was even better than I had hoped! The tender ride is about 5 minutes and bears to the right from the anchorage into a channel that curves around to the left and into a small dock area. The scuba boat is at the pier next to the tender mooring as is tow boat for parasailing (something I think I’ll sign up for next time – looked like loads of fun!). Passing the end of the dock and proceeding up a slight incline takes us to the main plaza with restrooms, bar, overlook areas and the small chapel just beyond. To the left of the entrance from the boat docks is the access to the beach (over a bridge on the dune) and the water toys shop where we were able to redeem our ticket for a clamshell. We picked a spot right about 1/3 of the way down the beach (to the right from the toys shack) and near the beach bar – a good choice for later when the heat made cool libations all the more welcome). Remembering a note I’d read, I had Jill and Judith put the back of one of the lounge chairs beneath the edge of the back of the clamshell to allow the breeze to pass through. Terry and Denny set up shop in the clamshell just beyond and we were soon enjoying the mild surf and smooth white-sand access to the island’s swimming cove. I was disappointed at the lack of coral and sea life in the bay but quickly forgot this (minor) lack as we reveled in some of the best ocean swimming any of us had ever enjoyed (and three of us live within 20 miles of the Virginia Beach oceanfront).
As the rest of the group were heading further down the beach and a bit inland to access the barbeque, I grabbed my gear and headed back over to the docks to board the scuba boat. There were only about 5 of us signed up for this one-tank dive and the crew consisted of the captain and a mate. I paired up with Mitch, whose CW does not dive (mine does, but didn’t want to dive this time out) and we settled in for the ride out to the reef. The trip was only about 15 minutes and took us out from and up to the right of the cove facing the anchorage. We passed in front of the Maasdam (and I got a couple of great shots of the ship) on our way to the mooring buoy. Soon we were dressed and splashing into the water. Visibility was good but there was still a bit of silt stirred up – I assume from the storms of the previous few months. Diving in warm water is wonderful and even when the scenery is not so unique there’s always something to see and the simple enjoyment of diving is a great joy for those of us addicted to the sport.
All too soon, the gauge was showing 300psi and I headed back to the surface. Over the next few minutes we all sorted ourselves out and re-boarded the boat for our return to the HMC dock. We started at 1:40 and the time is now 2:50 – we will be back a few minutes after 3 (and just miss the last boat out for the parasailing – hence, the reason I will sign up next time). After shifting out of scuba rash guard and back into shorts, I headed down to the beach to see how the rest of the folks had faired. All were content and indicated they enjoyed the offerings from the beach buffet lunch – nothing fancy but good beach food (and no effort on their part – heaven). Around 4 pm we packed up the area and headed back once again to the tender dock for our trip back to the ship. I was REALLY looking forward to dinner that evening as I’d skipped lunch in favor of my diving and was serenading the others with the grumbles from my now-empty stomach…
Like the days before and those to follow, dinner was very good and perfectly orchestrated. I had read many times about less than wonderful experience at dinner and was waiting for the “other shoe to drop” – it never did. That night was casual and I was happy to relax after a busy day – that sun sure can take it out of you…
An after-dinner drink in the Explorer’s lounge was the perfect preamble to a show that evening. The entertainment in the Rembrandt was a magician – quite good – and our view in the balcony was better than I had thought prior to the cruise (due to the risers at the back – a nice feature.) As seemed to be the case each night, the early show was very well attended with few empty seats to be found. After a busy day and full evening, we were all ready to retire to our cabins and I was sure I would sleep better that nigh. I drifted off to a good night’s sleep with thoughts of sub-tropical rainforest and unspoiled beauty that I had heard awaited us in Dominica – and the diving and new sites to follow in the days ahead…
Next - The luck of the draw and the great variety of Caribbean Island life
What a beautiful island! Half Moon Cay is looming large as we make approach to anchorage for a day of fun in the sun. The seas were calmer but the excitement of scuba diving in the Bahamas made it hard for me to sleep. Up with room service coffee for two, we made our preps for going ashore. I went down to get tender passes for 5 and returned to reconnect with the rest of the group for breakfast. Denny was up even earlier than I and informed me he had 5 “3” passes (mine were “5”s) so I retuned my passes to the card room as a side trip on the way up to the Lido for breakfast. The group was packed for the beach and snorkeling and I had my scuba gear ready so we had only to wait for the call. At around 1030 the ship was ready to tender passengers ashore and the first set of numbers called was 1 through 3 so we headed down to B Deck as the last few clouds were chased from azure skies. It’s already in the mid-70’s and the waves and breezes and mild.
I’m not sure what I expected from reviewing maps of HMC but the reality was even better than I had hoped! The tender ride is about 5 minutes and bears to the right from the anchorage into a channel that curves around to the left and into a small dock area. The scuba boat is at the pier next to the tender mooring as is tow boat for parasailing (something I think I’ll sign up for next time – looked like loads of fun!). Passing the end of the dock and proceeding up a slight incline takes us to the main plaza with restrooms, bar, overlook areas and the small chapel just beyond. To the left of the entrance from the boat docks is the access to the beach (over a bridge on the dune) and the water toys shop where we were able to redeem our ticket for a clamshell. We picked a spot right about 1/3 of the way down the beach (to the right from the toys shack) and near the beach bar – a good choice for later when the heat made cool libations all the more welcome). Remembering a note I’d read, I had Jill and Judith put the back of one of the lounge chairs beneath the edge of the back of the clamshell to allow the breeze to pass through. Terry and Denny set up shop in the clamshell just beyond and we were soon enjoying the mild surf and smooth white-sand access to the island’s swimming cove. I was disappointed at the lack of coral and sea life in the bay but quickly forgot this (minor) lack as we reveled in some of the best ocean swimming any of us had ever enjoyed (and three of us live within 20 miles of the Virginia Beach oceanfront).
As the rest of the group were heading further down the beach and a bit inland to access the barbeque, I grabbed my gear and headed back over to the docks to board the scuba boat. There were only about 5 of us signed up for this one-tank dive and the crew consisted of the captain and a mate. I paired up with Mitch, whose CW does not dive (mine does, but didn’t want to dive this time out) and we settled in for the ride out to the reef. The trip was only about 15 minutes and took us out from and up to the right of the cove facing the anchorage. We passed in front of the Maasdam (and I got a couple of great shots of the ship) on our way to the mooring buoy. Soon we were dressed and splashing into the water. Visibility was good but there was still a bit of silt stirred up – I assume from the storms of the previous few months. Diving in warm water is wonderful and even when the scenery is not so unique there’s always something to see and the simple enjoyment of diving is a great joy for those of us addicted to the sport.
All too soon, the gauge was showing 300psi and I headed back to the surface. Over the next few minutes we all sorted ourselves out and re-boarded the boat for our return to the HMC dock. We started at 1:40 and the time is now 2:50 – we will be back a few minutes after 3 (and just miss the last boat out for the parasailing – hence, the reason I will sign up next time). After shifting out of scuba rash guard and back into shorts, I headed down to the beach to see how the rest of the folks had faired. All were content and indicated they enjoyed the offerings from the beach buffet lunch – nothing fancy but good beach food (and no effort on their part – heaven). Around 4 pm we packed up the area and headed back once again to the tender dock for our trip back to the ship. I was REALLY looking forward to dinner that evening as I’d skipped lunch in favor of my diving and was serenading the others with the grumbles from my now-empty stomach…
Like the days before and those to follow, dinner was very good and perfectly orchestrated. I had read many times about less than wonderful experience at dinner and was waiting for the “other shoe to drop” – it never did. That night was casual and I was happy to relax after a busy day – that sun sure can take it out of you…
An after-dinner drink in the Explorer’s lounge was the perfect preamble to a show that evening. The entertainment in the Rembrandt was a magician – quite good – and our view in the balcony was better than I had thought prior to the cruise (due to the risers at the back – a nice feature.) As seemed to be the case each night, the early show was very well attended with few empty seats to be found. After a busy day and full evening, we were all ready to retire to our cabins and I was sure I would sleep better that nigh. I drifted off to a good night’s sleep with thoughts of sub-tropical rainforest and unspoiled beauty that I had heard awaited us in Dominica – and the diving and new sites to follow in the days ahead…
Next - The luck of the draw and the great variety of Caribbean Island life