Venture to the Caribbean with Bill & Mary Ann on the Nieuw Statendam & Nieuw Amsterdam 12-18-21 to 4-26-22

[WCB]

Report #31   Bridgetown, Barbados   Monday - January 17, 2022   Showers, cloudy, sun -  80 degrees Part #1 Of 3..............80  Pictures

 

Barbados is one island that we have visited numerous times over the years.  And we have fond memories of the various tours we had taken…..some more than once.  Barbados is a lime stone and coral based island, with Bridgetown the capital.  This island is 21 miles long and 14 miles wide with 280,000 people living mostly in the Bridgetown area.  The interior is still full of sugarcane plantations.

 

Upon arrival to the port, it was raining and heavily overcast.  An occasional rainbow appeared, and we figured it would rain all day.  The Viking Sea, the Tui Mein Schiff 2, and the schooner Alexander von Humboldt 2 were already docked.  Offshore, was another ship that we would identify later as Cunard’s Queen Victoria.  She had no  passengers we were told.  Don’t know the story there, but we are sure there is one.

 

Nice resorts, hotels, and golf courses can be found, and the watersports are excellent.  Barbados is the most British of the islands in the Caribbean.  It is not unusual that the folks attend an Anglican church in the morning, have tea in the afternoon, then watch a cricket match while sipping a Pimm’s cup or rum and coke. 

 

Deep sea fishing can produce dorado, kingfish, snapper, flying fish, and shellfish.  It is then cooked with west Indian spices and condiments.  Banks beer and Mt. Gay rum are made here.  Mt. Gay is the world’s oldest distillery dating back to 1703.  For 300 years, British sailors were given 2 oz. of rum as a daily health ration.  Who knew that?

 

Tours here include scenic drives, turtle snorkel/beach, a rum tasting train, beach break, Harrison Caves, Mt. Gay Distillery, a green monkey sanctuary, and finally the Atlantis submarine.   The prices ranged from $40 to $120. 

 

One tour that was not offered was a drive to the Sunbury Plantation for a special lunch.  Years ago, we did that with our group of travelers and our host.  It was a farewell lunch, since it was at the end of a world cruise.  When half of the group went back to  the ship, the other half of us stayed, lingering over conversation and never-ending wine and spirits.  Our host asked the owners to bring out all of their liquor, and he would pay extra for it.   Well, neither of us recall the ride back to the ship.  All we do remember was that it was one heck of a farewell.

 

So when it was announced that we would not be able to leave the port today, but only take certain taxis to approved areas, we were disappointed.  While doing emailing at the Front Desk area, we had a conversation with the guest relations manager.  She told us that sometime around 10am, that restriction had been lifted for independent guests, and we were free to go into town.  As far as we know, this was not publicly announced.  To tell the truth, we had planned on challenging this anyway….all they could do is send us back on the ship.

 

Once off at the gangway, we saw a shuttle that was taking people to the terminal.  No way did we wish to cram into a small shuttle or van.  So they motioned us to the wall catwalk, where we could head towards the terminal and stay out of the traffic.  It was a bit of a walk, because the ship had the last spot and the furthest away.  And being that the N. Statendam was the largest of the ships in port today, we figured that was why we got the last spot.

 

Entering the mini-mall, we had to stop and use Purell, while our temperatures were taken automatically.  Guess we passed, since no alarms went off.  The first thing we noticed was that about half of the shops were closed.  Few passengers were in there, so we assume many of them had taken tours.  There was an info kiosk with a nice map, so we picked one up.  Out the back door, many tours were filling buses and vans.  Then we ran the gauntlet of taxi drivers offering us rides to wherever we wished.  We wished to walk, and they were quick to  leave us alone.  

 

Eventually, we came across the fish market, where we love to stop and see what the catch of the day happens to be.  Many of the vendors were busy dicing and fileting fish of all sorts.  But first before entering the open-air facility, we had to stop and be Purelled and temps checked again.  Good to go, we took photos then went back out.  Just about the same time we were leaving, another couple passed by the local checkers (perhaps police).  Since this couple were not wearing their masks, they got yelled at to put them on.  Then they had to do the Purell and temp check. We could tell they were annoyed, but some folks just don’t get it.  We did notice that every local person wore a mask.  Every establishment said no mask?  No entry.  In fact, just this morning, Jonah handed us a pack of six KN95 masks, so we can change them every 3 to 4 days, like the crew does.

 

Eventually, we found our way to downtown and walked the Careenage, a narrow bay where old schooners used to be scraped of their barnacles and re-painted.  Now it is a spot for pleasure boats and water taxis.  We did notice a sign that stated this was the place that slaves were bought and sold.  Quite sobering.

 

As we worked our way into town, it was like walking into a beehive.  Locals were out and about doing their shopping.  Traffic was heavy on the narrow streets as well.  We had hoped to locate a fabric store where we purchased two pieces of fabric for blouses years ago.  Do you think we could find it?  Not a chance as all of the streets looked the same, and we did not remember the name of the shop.  Of course, there is a chance it is not here anymore.  Maybe next time we come here, we will research its location online.  Good time to head back, because it began to rain.

 

Glad we brought the umbrellas, we did not need them for long.  The cloud passed over, and the sun eventually came out full bore.  On the way back, we wandered into Pelican Centre, which was mostly closed.  There may have been six shops opened at the most.  Coming back through the security gates, we had to put our stuff through xray.  Then it was a long walk through the terminal and back to the ship.  It took us three hours for the round trip.

 

Our sodas never tasted so good once we were home.  By 2pm, we went to the Dutch Café for our usual lunch there. We added Heineken beers as well. This venue has caught on because it was full of people. 

 

Due to the fact we were late in docking, the ship’s time here was extended to 5pm.  That gave us time to work on photos, and relax on the veranda.  By then, it had gotten so hot, you could have cooked bacon on the deck.  Taking some closer photos of the ship outside the harbor, we could read the name clearly.  It certainly was the Queen Victoria. 

 

Dinner was good tonight.  So far, we are seeing some repeats on the menu, but there is always something we like.  Tonight they had prime rib as well as meatballs and spaghetti, two of our favorites.  All three of us had the beef with baked potatoes.  There was a new appetizer with rice balls mixed with cheese, then breaded and fried.  It was served on a bed of Bolognese sauce, and was simply delicious. Could have doubled it and made it a main.  Both of us had the baked Alaska, and Barb enjoyed her favorite butter pecan ice cream.   It seemed so strange to be walking out of the dining room with just a scattering of folks still eating at 9:30pm.  Of course, this is anytime dining, and most passengers opt for the earlier dinner time these days.

 

Tomorrow’s port will be Grenada, supposedly with the same restrictions as today.  We shall see…………

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

[dchip]

Hi Bill and Mary Ann,

Lovely rainbow photos in Barbados. We are enjoying your travels so much. 
The rice and cheese balls are called Arancini. They are a staple of Sicilian cuisine. My Nonna made the best! 😍

Cheers, Denise and Howie, too

[cruzingnut]

4 hours ago, WCB said:

Report #31   Bridgetown, Barbados   Monday - January 17, 2022   Showers, cloudy, sun -  80 degrees Part #1 Of 3..............80  Pictures

 

Upon arrival to the port, it was raining and heavily overcast.  An occasional rainbow appeared, and we figured it would rain all day.  The Viking Sea, the Tui Mein Schiff 2, and the schooner Alexander von Humboldt 2 were already docked.  Offshore, was another ship that we would identify later as Cunard’s Queen Victoria.  She had no  passengers we were told.  Don’t know the story there, but we are sure there is one.

 

 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

The Queen Victoria is being used as a "hospital" ship.  I've seen her buzzing around the Caribbean meeting up with other ships to offload sick crew (and possibly passengers). 

 

Stay well!

Linda

[bob12]

11 hours ago, WCB said:

Report #31   Bridgetown, Barbados   Monday - January 17, 2022   Showers, cloudy, sun -  80 degrees Part #1 Of 3..............80  Pictures

 

Barbados is one island that we have visited numerous times over the years.  And we have fond memories of the various tours we had taken…..some more than once.  Barbados is a lime stone and coral based island, with Bridgetown the capital.  This island is 21 miles long and 14 miles wide with 280,000 people living mostly in the Bridgetown area.  The interior is still full of sugarcane plantations.

 

Upon arrival to the port, it was raining and heavily overcast.  An occasional rainbow appeared, and we figured it would rain all day.  The Viking Sea, the Tui Mein Schiff 2, and the schooner Alexander von Humboldt 2 were already docked.  Offshore, was another ship that we would identify later as Cunard’s Queen Victoria.  She had no  passengers we were told.  Don’t know the story there, but we are sure there is one.

 

Nice resorts, hotels, and golf courses can be found, and the watersports are excellent.  Barbados is the most British of the islands in the Caribbean.  It is not unusual that the folks attend an Anglican church in the morning, have tea in the afternoon, then watch a cricket match while sipping a Pimm’s cup or rum and coke. 

 

Deep sea fishing can produce dorado, kingfish, snapper, flying fish, and shellfish.  It is then cooked with west Indian spices and condiments.  Banks beer and Mt. Gay rum are made here.  Mt. Gay is the world’s oldest distillery dating back to 1703.  For 300 years, British sailors were given 2 oz. of rum as a daily health ration.  Who knew that?

 

Tours here include scenic drives, turtle snorkel/beach, a rum tasting train, beach break, Harrison Caves, Mt. Gay Distillery, a green monkey sanctuary, and finally the Atlantis submarine.   The prices ranged from $40 to $120. 

 

One tour that was not offered was a drive to the Sunbury Plantation for a special lunch.  Years ago, we did that with our group of travelers and our host.  It was a farewell lunch, since it was at the end of a world cruise.  When half of the group went back to  the ship, the other half of us stayed, lingering over conversation and never-ending wine and spirits.  Our host asked the owners to bring out all of their liquor, and he would pay extra for it.   Well, neither of us recall the ride back to the ship.  All we do remember was that it was one heck of a farewell.

 

So when it was announced that we would not be able to leave the port today, but only take certain taxis to approved areas, we were disappointed.  While doing emailing at the Front Desk area, we had a conversation with the guest relations manager.  She told us that sometime around 10am, that restriction had been lifted for independent guests, and we were free to go into town.  As far as we know, this was not publicly announced.  To tell the truth, we had planned on challenging this anyway….all they could do is send us back on the ship.

 

Once off at the gangway, we saw a shuttle that was taking people to the terminal.  No way did we wish to cram into a small shuttle or van.  So they motioned us to the wall catwalk, where we could head towards the terminal and stay out of the traffic.  It was a bit of a walk, because the ship had the last spot and the furthest away.  And being that the N. Statendam was the largest of the ships in port today, we figured that was why we got the last spot.

 

Entering the mini-mall, we had to stop and use Purell, while our temperatures were taken automatically.  Guess we passed, since no alarms went off.  The first thing we noticed was that about half of the shops were closed.  Few passengers were in there, so we assume many of them had taken tours.  There was an info kiosk with a nice map, so we picked one up.  Out the back door, many tours were filling buses and vans.  Then we ran the gauntlet of taxi drivers offering us rides to wherever we wished.  We wished to walk, and they were quick to  leave us alone.  

 

Eventually, we came across the fish market, where we love to stop and see what the catch of the day happens to be.  Many of the vendors were busy dicing and fileting fish of all sorts.  But first before entering the open-air facility, we had to stop and be Purelled and temps checked again.  Good to go, we took photos then went back out.  Just about the same time we were leaving, another couple passed by the local checkers (perhaps police).  Since this couple were not wearing their masks, they got yelled at to put them on.  Then they had to do the Purell and temp check. We could tell they were annoyed, but some folks just don’t get it.  We did notice that every local person wore a mask.  Every establishment said no mask?  No entry.  In fact, just this morning, Jonah handed us a pack of six KN95 masks, so we can change them every 3 to 4 days, like the crew does.

 

Eventually, we found our way to downtown and walked the Careenage, a narrow bay where old schooners used to be scraped of their barnacles and re-painted.  Now it is a spot for pleasure boats and water taxis.  We did notice a sign that stated this was the place that slaves were bought and sold.  Quite sobering.

 

As we worked our way into town, it was like walking into a beehive.  Locals were out and about doing their shopping.  Traffic was heavy on the narrow streets as well.  We had hoped to locate a fabric store where we purchased two pieces of fabric for blouses years ago.  Do you think we could find it?  Not a chance as all of the streets looked the same, and we did not remember the name of the shop.  Of course, there is a chance it is not here anymore.  Maybe next time we come here, we will research its location online.  Good time to head back, because it began to rain.

 

Glad we brought the umbrellas, we did not need them for long.  The cloud passed over, and the sun eventually came out full bore.  On the way back, we wandered into Pelican Centre, which was mostly closed.  There may have been six shops opened at the most.  Coming back through the security gates, we had to put our stuff through xray.  Then it was a long walk through the terminal and back to the ship.  It took us three hours for the round trip.

 

Our sodas never tasted so good once we were home.  By 2pm, we went to the Dutch Café for our usual lunch there. We added Heineken beers as well. This venue has caught on because it was full of people. 

 

Due to the fact we were late in docking, the ship’s time here was extended to 5pm.  That gave us time to work on photos, and relax on the veranda.  By then, it had gotten so hot, you could have cooked bacon on the deck.  Taking some closer photos of the ship outside the harbor, we could read the name clearly.  It certainly was the Queen Victoria. 

 

Dinner was good tonight.  So far, we are seeing some repeats on the menu, but there is always something we like.  Tonight they had prime rib as well as meatballs and spaghetti, two of our favorites.  All three of us had the beef with baked potatoes.  There was a new appetizer with rice balls mixed with cheese, then breaded and fried.  It was served on a bed of Bolognese sauce, and was simply delicious. Could have doubled it and made it a main.  Both of us had the baked Alaska, and Barb enjoyed her favorite butter pecan ice cream.   It seemed so strange to be walking out of the dining room with just a scattering of folks still eating at 9:30pm.  Of course, this is anytime dining, and most passengers opt for the earlier dinner time these days.

 

Tomorrow’s port will be Grenada, supposedly with the same restrictions as today.  We shall see…………

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

Don't know if this is what you are looking for but we found  a couple of fabric shops on the street a block north of Woolworths.  We always look for a Woolworths when traveling -  long gone from North America but still to be found in out of the way places.  Enjoy the nostalgia.

 

[elmsliebev]

ooh, love Arancini. 

I follow your posts with interest on your blog, but can't seem to comment there now. It sounds like you're having a wonderful trip. We are hoping to get to Alaska & then through the Panama Canal in July/August, so I must check out your old blogs for tips! Stay safe. 

[WCB]

Report #32   Saint George's, Grenada   Tuesday - January 18, 2022   Sunny & warm   83 degrees..... Part #1 Of 2............74 Pictures

 

Well, we knew the day would come that one of these islands was going to impose and enforce restrictions regarding going ashore.  Today’s port of Saint George’s, Grenada was the one.  The notice in the When & Where stated that unless you had an HAL tour or used a government-approved taxi, we would not be allowed to go anywhere.  This was also the same message we had yesterday, but later in the morning, it had changed, and independent folks could go for a walk.  We had hoped this would be the case here as well.

 

Grenada is a small island with 120 square miles of lush rain forest.  It is 21 miles long and 12 miles wide.  It is often called the Spice Island, since their main export is nutmeg.  These trees are grown in the mountains, as well as cinnamon, mace, bay leaves, cloves, turmeric, and ginger.  Having been here once many years ago, we purchased little woven baskets filled with samples of all of these spices.  Growing conditions are perfect, since this island sits 12 degrees above the Equator.  No wonder the heat from the sun was so intense here.

 

Two other islands – Carriacou and Petite Martinique also belong to this island group.  The population is 90,000.  On September 7, 2004, Hurricane Ivan caused extensive damage to these islands, wiping out most of the nutmeg trees.  The capital of Saint George’s had much damage, taking it years to recover.  The National Cricket Stadium had just been completed, but was destroyed.  The Chinese government came to the rescue and helped to restore the complex in time for the World Cup Cricket competition in 2007.

 

There were a few tours here which included water sports, island drive, best of Grenada, river tubing, and highlights.  The prices ranged from $50 to $130. 

 

Now, here’s the thing…..we were not allowed past the guards after weaving through the terminal shops.  The only way out was to hire a taxi driver, or pay an escort to walk us through town.  Neither option was acceptable to us.  And from what we saw, it was not working for the other passengers either.  We don’t get it, when any of us are allowed to go all over the island, taxi or not, the virus would still be spread or picked up by locals.  It should be all or nothing.  So it boils down to money and the local taxi union, which we have witnessed in many other places around the world.  We have seen barricades thrown in front of the mini vans as they tried to leave the port in Vanuatu. In essence, we were being held like captives unless we did it their way.  So, we turned around and headed back to the ship with all the rest of the grumpy guests.  Lucky we have such a nice ship to spend the rest of the day onboard.  We had gotten a notice from HAL this morning that this port will be substituted once again on a future sailing.  Perhaps by then, the restrictions will be lifted.

 

Back on the ship, we ran into Barb on our deck in the elevator lobby.  While we were chatting with another couple, we spotted a hazmat team of four crew members coming down the hallway with two guests, luggage in tow, heading towards the aft section.  The carpets and walls were being heavily sprayed as they passed by.  Oh no…..it must be Covid, and they were going into quarantine.  We discovered that area a few days ago while we were attempting to go to the aft elevator using deck five.  The fire door was closed with a note saying crew only.  So we assumed that was the Covid area for passengers.  It would be confirmed later by asking our waiters.

 

Here’s another strange thing….all aboard was 3:30pm, however, no one would be allowed to leave the ship after 2pm.  Those on tours could come back after 2pm.  Since we were on the wrong side to watch the pier activity, we went up to the jogging deck to watch the gangway pulled in.  Four officers were standing there waiting for more guests.  Eventually, they arrived but not until 4pm.  They must have been on an HAL tour, or they would have been left behind. 

 

We are now headed northwest to Saint Kitts, another new island for us.  Hope we are not turned away again.

 

We had tried to get reservations for the three of us in Tamarind this evening, but were told there was only one space left.  What?  We are still trying to figure that out.  So we made it for tomorrow at 8pm. 

 

Tonight’s dinner was good with the best tomato/bell pepper bisque.  Each of us ordered a different entrée – one lasagna, alternate chicken (very moist and tasty), and pot roast with mashed taters, as Barb always says.  So far, we have been happy with the daily choices.

 

By the way, the Pinnacle Grill has been opened on sea days for lunch from 12 to 1pm, but always closed on port days.  And the photo ops are everywhere, every day, and every night.  To be truthful, at times they can be a bit over-the-top with pushing their services.  We prefer to seek them out instead.

 

One other small thing we found out was concerning the Jacuzzi on deck five forward.  It is reserved for the staff, not the guests, which we figured.  More than likely it would be used when the ship is docked, or else they might be blown overboard.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

[drk]

1 hour ago, WCB said:

Report #32   Saint George's, Grenada   Tuesday - January 18, 2022   Sunny & warm   83 degrees..... Part #1 Of 2............74 Pictures

 

Well, we knew the day would come that one of these islands was going to impose and enforce restrictions regarding going ashore.  Today’s port of Saint George’s, Grenada was the one.  The notice in the When & Where stated that unless you had an HAL tour or used a government-approved taxi, we would not be allowed to go anywhere.  This was also the same message we had yesterday, but later in the morning, it had changed, and independent folks could go for a walk.  We had hoped this would be the case here as well.

 

Grenada is a small island with 120 square miles of lush rain forest.  It is 21 miles long and 12 miles wide.  It is often called the Spice Island, since their main export is nutmeg.  These trees are grown in the mountains, as well as cinnamon, mace, bay leaves, cloves, turmeric, and ginger.  Having been here once many years ago, we purchased little woven baskets filled with samples of all of these spices.  Growing conditions are perfect, since this island sits 12 degrees above the Equator.  No wonder the heat from the sun was so intense here.

 

Two other islands – Carriacou and Petite Martinique also belong to this island group.  The population is 90,000.  On September 7, 2004, Hurricane Ivan caused extensive damage to these islands, wiping out most of the nutmeg trees.  The capital of Saint George’s had much damage, taking it years to recover.  The National Cricket Stadium had just been completed, but was destroyed.  The Chinese government came to the rescue and helped to restore the complex in time for the World Cup Cricket competition in 2007.

 

There were a few tours here which included water sports, island drive, best of Grenada, river tubing, and highlights.  The prices ranged from $50 to $130. 

 

Now, here’s the thing…..we were not allowed past the guards after weaving through the terminal shops.  The only way out was to hire a taxi driver, or pay an escort to walk us through town.  Neither option was acceptable to us.  And from what we saw, it was not working for the other passengers either.  We don’t get it, when any of us are allowed to go all over the island, taxi or not, the virus would still be spread or picked up by locals.  It should be all or nothing.  So it boils down to money and the local taxi union, which we have witnessed in many other places around the world.  We have seen barricades thrown in front of the mini vans as they tried to leave the port in Vanuatu. In essence, we were being held like captives unless we did it their way.  So, we turned around and headed back to the ship with all the rest of the grumpy guests.  Lucky we have such a nice ship to spend the rest of the day onboard.  We had gotten a notice from HAL this morning that this port will be substituted once again on a future sailing.  Perhaps by then, the restrictions will be lifted.

 

Back on the ship, we ran into Barb on our deck in the elevator lobby.  While we were chatting with another couple, we spotted a hazmat team of four crew members coming down the hallway with two guests, luggage in tow, heading towards the aft section.  The carpets and walls were being heavily sprayed as they passed by.  Oh no…..it must be Covid, and they were going into quarantine.  We discovered that area a few days ago while we were attempting to go to the aft elevator using deck five.  The fire door was closed with a note saying crew only.  So we assumed that was the Covid area for passengers.  It would be confirmed later by asking our waiters.

 

Here’s another strange thing….all aboard was 3:30pm, however, no one would be allowed to leave the ship after 2pm.  Those on tours could come back after 2pm.  Since we were on the wrong side to watch the pier activity, we went up to the jogging deck to watch the gangway pulled in.  Four officers were standing there waiting for more guests.  Eventually, they arrived but not until 4pm.  They must have been on an HAL tour, or they would have been left behind. 

 

We are now headed northwest to Saint Kitts, another new island for us.  Hope we are not turned away again.

 

We had tried to get reservations for the three of us in Tamarind this evening, but were told there was only one space left.  What?  We are still trying to figure that out.  So we made it for tomorrow at 8pm. 

 

Tonight’s dinner was good with the best tomato/bell pepper bisque.  Each of us ordered a different entrée – one lasagna, alternate chicken (very moist and tasty), and pot roast with mashed taters, as Barb always says.  So far, we have been happy with the daily choices.

 

By the way, the Pinnacle Grill has been opened on sea days for lunch from 12 to 1pm, but always closed on port days.  And the photo ops are everywhere, every day, and every night.  To be truthful, at times they can be a bit over-the-top with pushing their services.  We prefer to seek them out instead.

 

One other small thing we found out was concerning the Jacuzzi on deck five forward.  It is reserved for the staff, not the guests, which we figured.  More than likely it would be used when the ship is docked, or else they might be blown overboard.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

Thanks for your very informative reports.  We will be aboard Sunday for your next leg.  Any word on passenger size next week?

[seaoma]

3 hours ago, WCB said:

Now, here’s the thing…..we were not allowed past the guards after weaving through the terminal shops.  The only way out was to hire a taxi driver, or pay an escort to walk us through town.  Neither option was acceptable to us.  And from what we saw, it was not working for the other passengers either.  We don’t get it, when any of us are allowed to go all over the island, taxi or not, the virus would still be spread or picked up by locals.

 

In 2022 Covid, I believe it's for contact tracing purposes and to limit exposure. They can more easily identify where a cruise passenger has been rather than worrying about all of the shops and restaurants that one could potentially wander into.

Edited January 19, 2022 by seaoma

[ottahand7]

4 hours ago, WCB said:

Well, we knew the day would come that one of these islands was going to impose and enforce restrictions regarding going ashore.  Today’s port of Saint George’s, Grenada was the one.  The notice in the When & Where stated that unless you had an HAL tour or used a government-approved taxi, we would not be allowed to go anywhere.  This was also the same message we had yesterday, but later in the morning, it had changed, and independent folks could go for a walk.  We had hoped this would be the case here as well.

Wow!   We had the Grenadines switched in for Martinique and then yesterday it was switched to Grenada.   We are supposed to be there March 1 and there are no options yet for shore tours.    I guess at this point it is just going to be nice to be in warm weather, great views and eating and drinking well.   🍸

[USN59-79]

I am very much enjoying your report.  Your comment about money and the taxi unions reminds me of a time in Vung Tau, Vietnam, the port for Saigon.  We had hired a van for the day and as we were leaving the guide asked for $40. up front as we left.  I asked why, and he said "We have to pay the taxi mafia."  I remember thinking "So much for your new communist life style."

[madera1]

Thanks again for taking the time to post your current experience.

[WCB]

Report #33   Basseterre, Saint Kitts   Wednesday - January 19, 2022   Mostly sunny & 80 degrees...... Part #1 Of 3..........80 Pictures

 

Today’s port of call was Basseterre, Saint Kitts.  And another new island in the Caribbean for us.  The island is 65 square miles, and the neighboring island of Nevis is 40 square miles.  Nevis is accessible by a ferry from Basseterre, or a water taxi.  These islands were the first permanent English settlement in the Caribbean.

 

The island’s history follows that of most of the Caribbean islands in that Columbus came across this area, which was inhabited by indigenous natives.  Fierce battles between the French and the British ensued, and the Brits won.  And it was the British that imported African slaves to harvest the sugarcane.  What we see today are mountainous rain forests, ruins, and dormant volcanoes.  Even the green vervet monkeys live here, their numbers are reportedly as large as the human population. They were brought here by the French for some unknown reason.  Could not locate the number of citizens that live here today, however.    

 

There is a golf course, horse racing track (Nevis), and a large Marriott Resort.  Many of the old plantation houses were converted to bed and breakfast places, and are located up high in the mountains.  Many of the beaches are dark sand, but they are free to the public.  The most important historical site is Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It is located near the tallest inactive volcano, Mount Liamuiga at 3793 feet high. 

 

One point of interest is the fact that Alexander Hamilton, the First Secretary of State under George Washington, was born in Nevis in 1755.

 

Breakfast was at 8am, and when we went to the elevator lobby, we were about to enter one, when we looked up and there was a hazmat person in there.  He motioned to us not to come inside, which of course, we did not.  We have been seeing too much of this recently, and now we are wondering how many cases do we have?  No one will confess to that number.

 

We were late in arriving today at 11am, since we had quite a distance to travel from our last port of Grenada.  We docked at Port Zante at a pier that measured 1434 feet long, big enough to handle the bigger mega-vessels.  We were the only ship in port today.  Port Zante is a 30 acre cruise ship and marina terminal.  There were more shops, restaurants, and bars than we could count.  All the usual suspects were there as far as island souvenirs go.  And there were dozens of taxi drivers vying for our business.  There were even two of them carrying baby monkeys, in diapers no less.  Did we wish our photo taken with them?  No way.  These little guys have sharp teeth, and we don’t trust them.   

 

There were some tours here, but we have to remember to check them out on our interactive TV the day before arrival.  Once the ship is in port, the tours disappear.  If we come back here again, we will do our homework a little better.  We did see a hop on hop off open air trolley, which may have been a ship’s tour.  All we wished to do was explore on our own, and with the help of a map we got in the terminal, we could locate the center of town. 

 

Once out of the nicer Port Zante, it appeared seedy.  Many old and empty buildings were crammed on narrow streets, and trash was everywhere.  Walking on Bay Road took us to the Ferry Terminal, crossing over canals that were dumping who knows what kind of water into the bay.  We did walk into their produce market, but not before we used sanitizer, and had our temps taken on our hands.  That was different.  Most all of their veggies and fruit were sold for the day, so we took some photos and left.  Never did see a fish market. 

 

Backtracking, we located The Circus, which turned out to be a clock tower.  Further over, we  entered their Independence Square, where many locals were having lunch under the mature trees.  We did read that this is the spot where slaves were bought and sold.  Across the street, we saw The Co-Cathedral, which was closed to the public. 

 

Back at the port area, we heard Carnival-style music, and found a group doing a carnival dance.  They were dressed in brightly-colored ribbons and wild headdresses.  One had peacock feathers, reminding us of home. 

 

All in all, the walk took us 1 ½ hours, and we knew that two tall draft beers had our names on them in the Dutch Café.  We added our usual sandwiches and fries also.  Then we spent most of the afternoon relaxing on the veranda or doing photos. 

 

All aboard was 7:30pm.  The reason for a later exit was due to the fact they were bunkering fuel all day.  It was around that  time, that Captain Eric came on the speakers to announce the cancellation of our next port of St. Thomas.  He explained that many more staff and crew, as well as passengers have tested positive of Covid.  We also learned from our travel agent that Crystal had cancelled all of their sailings today.  We figured something was up, since we did not receive our When & Where for tomorrow.  In fact, it never arrived tonight.

 

Dinner was so much fun tonight.  We met Barb in the Tamarind Restaurant, and had a wonderful dinner.  When the Amsterdam had this venue, it was a pop-up in the Pinnacle Grill.  So we think Barb had never tried it.   The appetizers we ordered were tempura shrimp (Barb loved them), noodle soups, and one Thai salad and the rib plate.  Good thing they were conservative in size.  Barb liked the shrimp crackers, but was probably afraid to try the dips.  Two of them are spicy/hot, and the first thing Barb said was where is Heo?  Our tablemate likes the hottest peppers in the world.

 

All of us ordered the wasabi-crusted tenderloin steak, and once again, it was tender as could be.  We all liked the crispy onion rings that come with it.  Desserts were one cheesecake, that does not resemble any cheesecake we know.  We both had the sorbets…very tart and refreshing.  It was 10pm by the time we left.

 

Passing the Rock & Roll stage and the BB King’s Blues stage, we noticed there may be new musicians and singers onboard.  The lounges were full of people for a change.  But then there are only a few days left on this cruise, and most everyone will be going home soon.

 

Actually looking forward to a sea day tomorrow. 

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

 

 

[Sir PMP]

It sounds like that the ship is getting pretty sick..

[GonzoWCS]

Thanks for the very thorough and entertaining Venture!

 

Cheers

[rkacruiser]

7 hours ago, Sir PMP said:

It sounds like that the ship is getting pretty sick..

 

Agree.  Too frequent mentions of crew in hazmat suits.  I give them credit, though.  They and their friend Barb are "troopers".  They are not allowing the darn virus inhibit what they wish to do.  

[WCB]

Report #34    Day at Sea   Thursday - January 20, 2022   Sunny and 82 degrees.........Part #1 Of 1........55 Pictures

 

It was a lazy day at sea for us, now that we have bypassed St. Thomas.  The ship seems to be headed north westerly now as we make our way to Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas on Saturday.  The weather has remained sunny and really warm on the port side of the vessel. 

 

We have noticed a subtle difference with breakfast in Club Orange.  The service and food is good as always, but this is an observation concerning the interaction between the guests and the management and waiters.  From day one, it was the norm to have conversations with the staff, especially if they were not too busy.  This is not happening now, and we think we know why.  Maybe we are wrong, but we think the “arm’s length” has something to do with Covid.  We were told that even the department heads stopped having face-to-face meetings.  They are relying on their cell phones for a conference call. 

 

We felt the need to get outside and walk the promenade deck.  One side was pleasant, and the other hot.  On the plus side, there were many boobies hunting down the flying fish.  Always fun to watch. 

 

Lunch was in the Lido, where the salad maker knows exactly what we like.  Hope he is not transferred to a different station, like they are doing with the dining room waiters.  We are not used to that, and not sure we like it.   Instead of splitting a sandwich, we went to deck 10 for a Margherita pizza  or whatever is close to that.  We have only tried the pizza once, and we were disappointed with it.  The second time around, we definitely decided it is not the best we have had.  When we were on the N. Amsterdam last fall, the NY Deli and Pizza was on the  same  level as the Lido.  And their equipment was different, like having a real pizza oven.  Everything about the pizza from the dough to the sauce and toppings were far superior.

 

There was an interesting-looking movie on the TV, but it was not a good one.  With all of the choices they have for the movie library, we sure don’t know where they get some of these.  Guess we should put these thoughts on their survey, or better yet, email them directly from here. 

 

There had to be at least three birthdays around our table tonight.  The waiters outdid themselves singing the traditional song.  We did not see a birthday cake served to the groups.  Maybe they only do that on Grand Voyages. 

 

Barb and I ordered soup….. one potato cheese and one chicken noodle soup from the room service menu.  Fredy, our headwaiter, brought it personally.  Chicken tenders with honey mustard sauce was an entrée for one of us, while the  alternate chicken and a ½ order of ribs was the third one.  All of us were happy to enjoy ice cream for dessert.  The conversation revolved around the upcoming Covid test tomorrow.  And we must admit, we are nervous about it.  Anyone can have it, and not know it.  Oh well, it is what it is.

 

Bill & Mary Ann

 

[The Other Tom]

33 minutes ago, WCB said:

we think the “arm’s length” has something to do with Covid

From your earlier comments about people in hazmat suits, I think you're right.  I hope it's not bad enough that HAL cancels one of your cruises.  Stay safe!

[Suzcruz57]

1 hour ago, The Other Tom said:

From your earlier comments about people in hazmat suits, I think you're right.  I hope it's not bad enough that HAL cancels one of your cruises.  Stay safe!

Good luck tomorrow!

[Virgo61]

Hi Bill and Mary Ann, I've loved reading your posts. If all goes well we board on 2/2, with our close friends. We have a reservation for Tamarind on 2/3 and was wondering if the wasabi crusted beef is really spicy, as some in my party don't like spice. Can you ask them to leave off the wasabi?

[RuthC]

1 hour ago, Virgo61 said:

We have a reservation for Tamarind on 2/3 and was wondering if the wasabi crusted beef is really spicy, as some in my party don't like spice. Can you ask them to leave off the wasabi?

Yes, you can get the filet plain. You still get the onion rings! It is delicious. 

[BellKat]

Would love an update - we are boarding tomorrow.

[NavArch64]

I am concerned that there have not been any posts here for almost 36 hours. I hope that they are OK. 

[sailawaygirl]

we are getting on the NS on Feb 13 and am concerned about the atmosphere that Bill and Mary Ann are seeing. If they cancel a cruise, how much notice do you get? If you get on the ship and test positive for Covid do they move you out of your Neptune suite? do both go if only one is positive? 

 

[0106]

Please read the very informative posts from people who are in quarantine.  You will be moved and you can decide if the person who isn’t positive stays behind or quarantines with you.

[0106]

On 1/21/2022 at 8:58 AM, WCB said:

The conversation revolved around the upcoming Covid test tomorrow.  And we must admit, we are nervous about it. 

Bill & Maryann-

We hope you are well.  Many have been following along and missed your post yesterday.  Please let us know that you (& Barb) are ok.