The Prides final two cruises in Pictures

[Emperor Norton]

I should have used a helmet or body mounted Go-Pro and kept my hands busy keeping me on the banana.

 

Oops, after a header I'm in the drink.

 

This banana seems to have lost some people

 

Laugh it up photographer in the boat

 

They stayed on

 

Back on the platform out of the drink (more importantly out of the sun!)

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Another banana boat about to go out

 

Earlier in the cruise I'd met some nice people who always went with the Big Boy.

 

It was then of course Nelson o'clock

 

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After a brief recovery from my ejection it was dinner time.

 

 

Extra foie pour moi s'il vous plait

 

Steak Diane, done tableside. This time around there wasn't any wonky pre-cooking.

 

 

 

They left out the conspiracy theory behind one of the below mentioned pirates

[Emperor Norton]

The next stop was Basseterre St. Kitts.

 

While the eggs Benedict was ok (inconsistent Hollandaise and I think it would've killed them to learn how to properly toast things) I found that they were very good at making an omelette.

 

Had I decided to wander on my own I think I would've just gone from rum hut to rum hut sampling the product. The port was sadly surrounded by shops owned by Carnival and RCCI.

 

I ended up taking a bus/train tour around the island. Sadly there were no stops planned for any of the plywood bars we passed.

 

If you do take the train I have a few suggestions. 1. Sit up top and 2. Do everything you can to avoid being in the first car after the engine. The engine can be very loud (especially with the horn) and stinks.

 

All aboard!

 

The little (noisy, smelly) engine that could.

 

It was intersting to note that the biggest investment came from the Chinese (both PRC and ROC). While the ROC was working on improving agriculture the PRC was providing schools.

 

 

Edited April 23, 2014 by Emperor Norton

[Emperor Norton]

 

Whenever we went by a school the children would either mob the gate or windows to wave to us.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2014 by Emperor Norton

[Emperor Norton]

It was one of those tours where the houses of all the important people on the island were carefully pointed out.

 

Unlike the wine train in Napa, locals seemed to enjoy seeing the train go by.

 

 

 

 

The top of the car. We had rum punch, pina coladas, and water available. Every now and then a local singing group would come up and sing.

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A tower from a (sugar cane) processor

 

The remains of the windmill for that processor

 

 

The train brought us to the trainyard/site of future economic development. You too can buy your citizenship (I think it was 'only' ~ $50k USD). This was right next to the airport.

 

Part of the new construction

 

 

[Emperor Norton]

There was a minor oops at the end of the train ride. Our bus wouldn't be back for another oh 20-30+ minutes. No problem, well just hang out in the shade. Oh there wasn't much of that either. On these benches, well there really wasn't any seating. So we did what any logical tourists would do: hijacked the next bus that dropped off passengers.

 

Right by the airport:

 

We were dropped off near the ship so we had to navigate through the Carnival/RCCI owned shops.

 

Tempting but after viewing their bar they didn't seem to have much more on offer than Nelson, and he said today drinks were on the house so that made skipping here a no brainer.

 

The colorful entrance/exit to the port

 

French invasion

 

 

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Someone in this picture isn't 21. They came up to the bar and said "Im 18, whats the drinking age?" Needless to say at that point there was no hope of beer.

 

It was around this time that I was made. Someone guessed who I was on cruise critic. For the rest of the cruise and the one after I was either: 1.that guy that writes on CC, 2. That guy that works for CC, 3. That guy thats like a secret shopper for cruises. Ah well.

 

 

"...it's like raaaain on your sailaway..."

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It was just a quick microburst

 

 

Goodbye big French ship!

 

 

Edited April 23, 2014 by Emperor Norton

[Emperor Norton]

Dinner tonight might have been the chefs menu.

 

 

Foie gras...

 

Big Boy makes an appearance for Nicole

 

Our chocolate 'surprise'

 

[Mr Luxury]

Thanks Baychilla

Great photos

[Emperor Norton]

This is a brief interlude to mention:

1. The maple syrup on Seabourn this time was Aunt Jemima Original which contains 0% maple syrup. BOO.

 

2. There was a senior staff member who couldn't remember his pleases and thank yous. He'd order with "ill have" or "give me" no please, no thank you. Had I been one of the guests that person had dined with I would've asked for homey the clowns bean filled whack-bonk.

 

The chef AFAIK didn't offer a shopping tour for any port in the Caribbean. So while the passengers on Epicurean night had to make do with stuff that was already on board the staff were treated to a very nice wine and cheese party as Karl Eckl while in full uniform was able to go ashore and secure some awesome cheeses for the crew to try. Pity Karl didn't drag the chef along. I don't think the chef should have the option to skip this tour, it reeked of ignorance and a touch of something Id rather not mention.

 

While on St. Barts we had to moor a bit further out due to a yacht race. Thankfully unlike the Americas cup these were actual yacts.

[Emperor Norton]

St. Barts was our next port of call. It was a bonus port as we would be anchored in the middle of a yacht race.

 

 

I believe there were some shops on the island

 

As I wanted to watch the race from the Pride I just wandered around their downtown area (a somewhat less upscale French Rodeo drive). Aside from rental cars it seemed rental quads were also popular, though in this traffic I would've rather had a bike.

 

 

 

Can anyone help with this? Why would gloves not be allowed?

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The series:

 

The stage awaiting a band and/or the winners

 

 

 

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Back to the Pride in time to watch a new film "Dances with tenders"

 

Captain on deck with a camera - it must be near the race start time

 

Or perhaps just dessert time

 

Possibly beer o'clock

 

 

Racers on the horizon

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It would appear the best views were from the Verandah

 

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The official sponsor of Karl -

 

 

 

 

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Sometimes I had to wonder about the lines the captains selected

 

 

 

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Next stop Prickly Pear, BVI where we encounter real free-loading pirates.:mad:

[Emperor Norton]

Prickly Pear had two issues. One was a passenger that wasn't giving equal access to photograph/video the caviar in the surf (youll see him in my video) the other were a number of people who were very obviously not from Seabourn that showed up to eat and drink the food and beverages the passengers had paid for. Perhaps in the future Seabourn could hire some kind of security to keep the freed loaders out?

 

Other than that it was a nice time to either relax on the beach, enjoy the water toys one last time or go for a swim.

 

The first free loaders on their way over.

 

The actual name of the establishment that was used.

 

Inside the covered bar

 

[Emperor Norton]

heres a direct link to the video

 

Magdalena and Debbie holding the board awaiting the delivery of caviar and champagne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 24, 2014 by Emperor Norton

[Emperor Norton]

 

 

 

 

The crowd starts to disperse

 

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From the caviar frenzy to the food line

 

 

 

 

Edited April 24, 2014 by Emperor Norton