Ahoy again Mates!
After our epic World Cruise last spring, would you believe we are back on the Island Princess again? This time for a Circle Cruise of the Caribbean. Since our prior cruise itinerary was interrupted by the Houtis in the Red Sea, our cruise credit enabled us to book this one at no cost.
Sunday, Dec 22, 2024
For us, the beauty of Embarking in Ft. Lauderdale avoids any flights and is just over a 3.5 hour drive from our home in Sarasota. With light traffic across Alligator Alley we were in Lauderdale by 11.30 am, dropped off our bags and headed for the nearby Parking Lot that was nearly full.
The ship had a delayed arrival and we learned that Customs was severely understaffed causing a delay in disembarkation of over 2 hours! We stood in a HUGE line to embark from 11:50 to 2:00 pm until check in. This is the longest boarding delay we have ever had, but spirits were high.
Once checked-in, we proceeded directly to our room to drop off roll-aboards. Instead of the usual stateroom we chose a suite this time. The amount of space and comfort in addition to the perks, like a stocked mini bar, fresh fruit and bottle of Champagne made us forget about the wait.
After settling in, we made a reservation at a Specialty Restaurant, the Crown Grille, which is complimentary on first night for suite guests . I think I like this! While enjoying an adult beverage we heard the horn of The Sun Princess playing the “Love Boat” theme when leaving Port Everglades. The horn can be heard from two miles away!
Just about then the luggage arrived and we enjoyed the first wonderful thing about cruising . . .you only unpack ONCE!!
We prepared for dinner at the Crown Grill and, as expected, it exceeded our expectations.
12/23/24 At Sea, 72°, sunny 3-4’ sea
Finally at sea, we enjoyed breakfast at a Specialty Restaurant, Sabatini’s which is another perk offered with our stateroom. I could get used to this, no sharp elbows at the Horizon Court Buffett!
After a Cappuccino at the Good Spirts Lounge we attended and Enrichment Lecture on St Maarten. We have been there several times over the years and we looked forward to visiting again.
The wind started to pick up to 30 knots in the afternoon which got the ship rolling with more movement than any day on world cruise. Undaunted, we were seated at the Reserve Section of the Main Dining Room and enjoyed an excellent dinner and even better service.
12/24/14, At Sea, 78°, mostly cloudy wind 29 mph, sea 8- 10’ sea
We had a firm grip on the handrails as we headed for breakfast at Sabatini’s. We then meandered around the ship enjoying the fact that most passengers were laying low.
We attended another enrichment lecture and then popped into Good Spirits for a coffee. I went back to the room to do a little pre-Christmas trading and prepared for a little early celebrating.
12/25/24, Christmas Day, St Maarten, sunny 82°
We arrived at St. Maarten at 8 AM with fabulous weather after traveling 1,075 nautical miles.
Sint Maarten, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is a country on the southern part of a Caribbean island shared with Saint Martin, a French overseas collectivity. Its natural features span lagoons, beaches and salt pans. The capital, Philipsburg, has cobblestone streets and colorful, colonial-style buildings lining its Front Street shopping area. The port is a popular cruise-ship stop.
After breakfast we walked to the downtown area about 25 minutes distant. We visited both the front and back streets and spent some time to savor the sights.
While strolling I couldn’t help but see a Blanton’s Shop that sold nothing but Blanton’s. I was told it’s quite hard to find at home, so I had to buy it. While I was shopping, why not pick up a few Montecristos to enjoy with my new friend, Michael, at the Churchill Lounge.
On our walk, back to the ship along the main road, I noted some unusual flowers. As we approached the dock, it appeared that even more ships were moored.
Back on the ship we grabbed a beer and pizza as we watched Chiefs vs Steelers on the Lido Deck Giant Screen.
After relaxation back in our suite, we prepared for dinner at The Reserve.
We opted for a Traditional Turkey Dinner followed by a wonderful dessert.
12/26/24, St. Kitts, 80°, partly cloudy
We arrived at St. Kitts at 7:30 am with the promise of a great day. We were going to meet David and Pattie of Monahans, Texas for Lunch. We met the Mayor and his lovely wife on the World Cruise and he was often the center of attention with his larger than life personality. They were on the Enchanted Princess and happened to be in St. Kitts as well.
St. Kitts is the larger of the 2 Caribbean islands that comprise the nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It’s known for rain-forested mountains and beaches of white, gray, and black sands. On its southwestern coast is the capital, Basseterre, and Georgian buildings from the colonial era.
We met David and Pattie at the pier end and the Port shops were loud with local music. We sought shelter along with a drink and snack at the air conditioned restaurant above the food court.
Fri, 12/27/24 Martinique 80°, mostly sunny, arrive 8am
Martinique is a rugged Caribbean island that’s part of the Lesser Antilles. An overseas region of France, its culture reflects a distinctive blend of French and West Indian influences. Its largest town, Fort-de-France, features steep hills, narrow streets and La Savane, a garden bordered by shops and cafes.
We had a relaxing start to our day with a leisurely breakfast and some relaxation before leaving the ship at noon and taking the short walk to Fort du France. We walked directly to the Cathedral Saint Louis for some photos of the exterior and interior.
The Cathedral was built in the late 19th-century in the Romanesque Revival style and serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Fort-de-France.
We then negotiated the narrow streets with lots of vendors, restaurants and cafes.
As we ambled along the streets and narrow sidewalks we noticed some funky odors and unusual retail displays on our way to the covered marché (market).
12/28/24, Barbados, 80° mostly sunny
Only 130 nautical miles from Martinique, we arrived at the Barbados dock at 7:45 am
Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island and an independent British Commonwealth nation. Bridgetown, the capital, is a cruise-ship port with colonial buildings and Nidhe Israel, a synagogue founded in 1654. Around the island are beaches, botanical gardens, the Harrison’s Cave formation, and 17th-century plantation houses like St. Nicholas Abbey.
We walked the 3/4 miles to cruise terminal and joined the Andromeda Botanical Tour 8:30 am.
In our mini bus, we drove through town one hour to the Northeast Coast known for its lovely surf , but dangerous currents. The island is verdant, but the buildings were mostly in poor repair.
We made a planned stop at Bathsheba Beach on the east coast of Barbados. It’s known for its striking rock formations, surfing, dramatic coastline and being a great spot for a picnic.
We strolled the beach, trying to imagine throngs of surfers competing during season. I guess success is defined as not suffering a traumatic brain injury on a rock.
We made our way to one of the most colorful spots on the island at the Andromeda Botanical Garden which is nestled on a cliff overlooking the coast. The six acre garden featured over 600 species of exotic plants.
We ambled through the garden at a slow pace due to some steep inclines and slippery footing. On more than one occasion, we were disoriented and stumbled into other guests who looked just as confused. The staff making the directional signs must have been DEI hires.
In any case we were treated to the awesome beauty and variety of the exotic plants.
Back on the ship it was time off to The Salty Dog for a burger, beer and nap, in that order.
Rested, we indulged in a wonderful dinner and then off to Explorer’s Lounge for Music Trivia a game where Robin excels!
12/29/24, Grenada, 82° sunny
At 7:30 am, we arrived at St. George’s, one of the most picturesque ports in the Caribbean. It has changed little since I first visited there on a Cunard Cruise in 1984!
Grenada is a Caribbean country comprising a main island, also called Grenada, and smaller surrounding islands. The “Spice Isle,” is hilly and home to numerous nutmeg plantations. It’s also the site of the capital, St. George’s, whose colorful homes, Georgian buildings and early-18th-century Fort George overlook narrow Carenage Harbour. To the south is Grand Anse Beach, with resorts and bars.
We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at Sabatini’s and then took the short walk to town, being Sunday, most shops were closed.
As we navigated the steep streets and alleyways trying not to get gobbled up by the drainage ditches and grates, we chatted with a few of the friendly locals.
Back on board, I headed to the internet cafe to work on issues with the website designer and website host. These people live in another world.
Dec 30, 2024, Trinidad 80°, hazy sun and smoke
Trinidad and Tobago is a dual-island Caribbean nation near Venezuela, with distinctive Creole traditions and cuisines. Trinidad’s capital, Port of Spain, hosts a boisterous carnival featuring calypso and soca music. The smaller island of Tobago is known for its beaches and the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, which shelters hummingbirds.
We arrived at Trinidad only 115 nautical miles from Grenada at 7:30 am, but were informed that we were not cleared to disembark due to local conditions. Subsequently, the ship shared an announcement from the Trinidad authorities.
The Trinidad Government issued a state of emergency 11 hrs ago due to crime. Many cancelled their tours. We are awaiting word from the Captain for our tour of the island, beach, and botanical garden.
The Captain’s announcement at 9:30 AM calmly let us know that we will be another half an hour before we get permission for us to disembark. However, We turned in our tour tickets and decided to stay on board and enjoy the safety of the ship.
We enjoyed our day onboard without the worry of being shot. I was in Trinidad about 15 years ago to deliver a 44′ Moody sailboat to Ft Lauderdale, it was sketchy even then.
Dec 31, 2024, at Sea, 79° partly sunny 1-3’ sea
Day 10 of the Cruise had us heading back to Florida by way of Curacao and Aruba.
We have much to look forward to in 2025. We have booked a Celebration with friends on January 20th!
1/1/25, Curacao, 84°, sunny
We arrived at Willemstad, Curacao at 8:00 am after steaming some 465 nautical miles. Again we lingered over breakfast and then walked to the town, still colorful, clean and orderly.
Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island, is known for its beaches tucked into coves and its expansive coral reefs rich with marine life. The capital, Willemstad, seems a cozy Dutch haven with its neat row houses. While those gabled and tiled roofs illustrate the island’s heritage, the bright, pastel houses speak pure Caribbean. The floating Queen Emma Bridge is a unique pontoon bridge across St. Anna Bay .
The walk to town takes you to the Renaissance Mall and Rif Fort. Today, the fort houses multiple eateries and shops. We climbed the fort’s stairs for a commodore’s eye-view.
We walked well over 2 miles on our amble around town and made it back to our suite to enjoy lunch, peace and quiet.
1/2/25, Aruba, mostly sunny 81°, Windy
Just 75 nautical miles northwest of Curacao we arrived at Aruba arrive before 7am .
Aruba was part of the former Netherlands Antilles until its independence in 1986. Dutch influence still lingers on this balmy Caribbean island. It is only 15 miles north of the Venezuelan coast and 75 nautical miles northwest of Curaçao. Aruba is a contrast: the island’s arid interior is dotted with cactus and windswept divi-divi trees while secluded coves and sandy beaches make up its coast.
We’ve visited Aruba several times and we elected to kick back at the Lotus Pool and spend quiet time in our room. I was able to trade a few options and organize some photos.
We checked the Princess Patter so we knew we had a full night of entertainment coming up. First, Richie Minnervini, comedian had us rolling, then a Silent Disco was planned.
A silent disco is an event where people dance to music on the wireless headphones supplied. Three separate music channels are broadcast with the signal being picked up by wireless headphones worn by the guests.
So you can dance to either Rock, Country or Tekno . . . everyone does their own thing. Those without the headphones hear no music as they watch gyrating bodies dancing in silence. It’s a riot!
1/3/25, at Sea 81°, Wind 23 kts ENE, speed 18 knots, sea 4-6’
Ahhhh, another two days as we steam toward Florida through the Caribbean Sea. As we approach Haiti, know that it is a Caribbean country that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic to its east. Though it’s still recovering from a 2010 earthquake, many of Haiti’s landmarks dating to the early 19th century remain intact. Attempts at revitalizing the country have been a failure.
The Windward Passage is a strait in the Caribbean Sea, between the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola. The strait specifically lies between the easternmost region of Cuba and the northwest of Haiti. 80 km wide, the Windward Passage has a threshold depth of 1,700 m.
We spend the day preparing to get ready. . . ready to disembark. It was time to organize and prepare luggage tags and to pack. There was time to laze about on the balcony in sun, between hesitant spurts of pre-packing .
We enjoyed the offerings of the dining room and entertainment as we sailed on.
1/4/25, at Sea along the north coast of Cuba, 73°, partly sunny, 3-4’ sea
A leisurely breakfast at Good Spirits, consisting only of Cappuccino and Chocolate Croissants kept me sustained until lunch in the Dining Room.
At dinner, we bid farewell to our excellent waitstaff in the Main Dining Room and expressed our appreciation with hand-written notes and generous tips. They all deserve recognition for their professional, courteous service. They make the voyage the spectacular experience that it is.
1/5/25, Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale Florida, 62° Sunny
We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale at 6:45 am, had breakfast at Sabatini’s at 7:00 and watched the sunrise from our table. After one last visit to our suite, we walked off the ship with the first group at 7:45 am, collected our luggage and with a friendly porter, zoomed through customs and to our SUV in the nearby garage. Easy-Peasy!
Another fabulous Holiday Cruise sailing a total 3,450 nautical miles over 14 days; as always, Robin and I are looking forward to our next trip. We fit them in between medical appointments!
