Caribbean Archives - Woman on Her Way

Day 5: St. Kitts

St Kitts and Nevis are volcanic islands in the West Indies that constitute one country: the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The west side borders the Caribbean Sea and the east coast faces the Atlantic. About 98% of the residents are literate and the residents call themselves Kittitians.

As we arrived Basseterre, there was a rainbow arching the sea and the black rocks and black sand that characterize this volcanic island. There is a scenic railroad ride that interested us because it would give us an opportunity to see the entire country. This one-of-a-kind narrow gauge railroad was built almost a century ago to deliver sugar cane from the fields to the sugar mills in the capital, Basseterre. It would have been fun riding in the open-air double-deck railcars through the rainforests and through the small villages and farms. Once again, Dennis was not up to the trip. There is a lot to do in St. Kitts and we hope to return to this beautiful island.

Once a week when in port, the ship trains the crew. We watched from our deck as the crew attempted to rescue the dummy or learned how to manipulate the lifeboats. It is a relief to know that everyone undergoes this training.

Our next two days are sea, so there will be little to report. Thank you for following us on this relaxing and restorative cruise.

Day 2: Curacao

When we awoke, the ship was docked in Willemstad, Curacao. Since both mom and Dennis have colds, we did not plan any excursion. While Dennis slept, mom and I sat in the Jacuzzi and enjoyed the Caribbean sunshine. Because Dennis and I have been working indoors for the last year, neither of us are tanned and must take precautions not to burn. Fortunately, our balcony is on the shady side of the ship and we can sit there and relax without worry.

In the afternoon, Dennis and I went to explore the UNESCO World Heritage city that reminded us of Copenhagen. We sat at a sidewalk cafe, sipped on Mohitos, and used the internet.

Dennis enjoying a Mojito in Willemstad, Curacao

In town, there is a pontoon bridge that connects the two sides of the city. A warning sounds when the bridge is about to open to let the boats through. You should have seen the tourists scurry to be on the pontoon when it slides open.

The evening entertainment was “The Barricade Boys.” This world leading super-group’s rendition of Queen”s “Bohemian Rhapsody” received a standing ovation.

Everyone is finally starting to relax, though mom and Dennis continue to cough.

Day 1 (actually Day 4): Aruba

I was very anxious as we boarded the plane for Aruba. Once out of customs, we took a taxi to the port. As we saw the ship in the distance, I pinched myself to be sure that this was finally happening. As I looked around Oranjestad, the capital of this tiny Dutch island, I could see Dutch-gabled architecture painted in tropical pastels.

At the ship, the crew was anticipating our arrival. A person from reception greeted us at the gang-plank and escorted us to reception. We were surprised to find out that we were upgraded to a room with a balcony.

After settling in, we unpacked and went for dinner. We toasted our arrival with Pain Killers. Dennis returned to the room to finish unpacking while mom and I went to see the presentation of “What the world needs now,” a musical production showcasing the music of Burt Bacharach.

We were all exhausted from the tension of the last few days and were in bed by 9:30 pm.

Friday, December 10: Nassau, Bahamas

Thursday, December 9: Day at sea

This morning’s server did bring me a bran muffin, but not toasted. As the Rolling Stones said, “You can’t always get what you want.”

We attended the luncheon dinner theater Presumed Innocent, an improv comedy show about a murder aboard the ship. This was a lot of fun and the audience participation is what made it so.

We were able to reschedule the show we missed the night before. Contrary to the one we say in April, this Legends performance featured Steven Tyler, Katy Perry, and Elvis. This high-energy show kept the audience hopping and clapping to the music. I commend the impersonators; not only did they sound like the originals, but looked and moved like them as well.

I finished reading Nada, A historical thriller by Arthur J. Penn. I learned a lot about Fascism in Italy and Spain, something I knew very little about. This is a good read, which I recommend.

Friday, December 10: Nassau, capital and largest city of the Bahamas

We docked at noon and took off for another snorkeling adventure, the Seashore Sail and Snorkel, that promised visiting two reefs and unlimited rum punch on the return trip. Even though we only went to one reef and had inferior drinks, it was a wonderful excursion. The moment I put my face mask into the water, I was in a colorful undersea world surrounded by a school of Sergeant Majors and other tropical sea life. There were cyan-colored fish with golden-yellow spines, stained-glass looking aquatic animals, blue tangs, huge angel fish, tube worms, fan coral, brain coral, and a coral that look like giant cauldrons. At the reef, there are poisonous or toxic marine life, and we saw the stinging wasp, the Touch-Me-Not Sponge, branching coral, bearded fireworm, and black urchins.

The water was choppy, but we floated easily with the life vests. We were glad we took our personal snorkeling gear with us. The float tubes on the snorkel prevented saltwater from getting into our mouths; those using the gear provided by the crew found it more difficult to peer into the underwater world. After an hour, I was shivering and glad to board the catamaran.

After dinner, we packed our bags and I won our tie-breaking Scrabble game. After a week at sea, both of us look forward to returning home, eager to start writing and preparing presentations.

Wednesday, December 8: St. Thomas

Wake-up call at 6 A.M. At breakfast I asked for a bran muffin. Our server asked why I would order that. Apparently she dislikes these so much that she does not serve them; instead, she brought be a pastry basket, which I did not want.

By 8:15 we were cued up on the pier in St. Thomas for the Champagne Catamaran Sail and Snorkel to St. John. Even though it was raining, the trip was not canceled. The all-female crew on the Adventuress was strictly business as we set sail. They explained how to use the on-board toilet: “If it doesn’t go through your system, if won’t go through ours.” Once everyone was geared up and trained, we jumped into the blue-green water to see sea turtles, sergeant majors, gar, other tropical fish, sea urchins and a little coral. Dennis and I agree that the fish are more plentiful and varied in Cozumel, Mexico. I think the waters are warmer there too.

On our return trip, the crew served cheese, fruit, and French bread and drinks. They made a great rum punch with pineapple, orange, and guava juices. There were also beer and champagne for those who preferred. With the music cranked up, the booze, the sun, and the sails billowing, it was a short, but happy, ride back to port. To date, this has been the highlight of our week as sea.

Tuesday, December 7: St. Maarten

Shortly before 7 A.M. the change in the engine’s drone as it entered Marigot Bay awakened me. An hour later the St. Maarten officials cleared the ship, and the crew lowered the gangplank for passengers to disembark in Philipsburg, the capital of St. Maarten.

After smearing ourselves with sunscreen and eating Eggs Benedict for breakfast, we were ready to spend the morning in ashore. We walked the boardwalk (Front Street) to the end, skipping the $7.00 round-trip fee for the water taxi. We were looking for an internet cafe, but most restaurants and bars were either unopened or without WIFI. Paralleling the boardwalk is Back Street, shopping Mecca for most passengers who are looking for good deals on luxury items, such as watches, jewelry, linen, and Belgium chocolates. Among these high-end establishments, typical tropical souvenir sellers barked their goods. We passed the courthouse topped with a pineapple, a symbol of welcome for the city’s visitors.

At last, we spotted a McDonald’s displaying a huge Free WIFI sign. I searched for a table near an electrical outlet while Dennis ordered an OJ for me and Coke for him. In no time at all, we had a five-bar wireless connection, but we never managed to connect to the internet. We, and many other Epic passengers, left disappointed. Since the stores on Cannegieter (the street behind Back Street) catered to locals, we took an alley connecting the streets and found a small restaurant with WIFI. I sipped a mango smoothie while Dennis sampled the local beer, Caribe, which is served with lime.

We returned to the ship to change clothes, slobber on more sunscreen, and grab our tickets for the Historical Philipsburg by Bike excursion. After getting fitted with helmets and bike, the tour leaders led us around us around the bay, up a steep but short incline to the old Fort Amsterdam, build in 1631. When the tour stopped for a drink, I tried the Presidente, the other local beer. Since I don’t normally drink alcohol when biking, Dennis finished the drink for me. At one point, I car squeezed me so much that the passenger door hit my handlebars; I backed off and stayed up, but maybe I would not have kept my balance had I finished that beer.

Our guides, Yost from Denmark, and Mike from Canada, informed us about the island’s history and local customs. I particularly liked their concern for our safety and attention to details. I have taken biking excursions in other countries and found this one to have superior bikes and equipment.

Following the day’s activities, we both were too tired for that evening’s entertainment, Legends in Concert. Since we had seen these celebrity impersonators on the transatlantic voyage, we were not too disappointed to forgo the show.

Cruising the Caribbean

Saturday, December 7. At 7:00 A. M O on Saturday, my sister, Doris drove us to the Cruise Connection pick up point (McDonald’s on Cattleman) where we started our Caribbean Cruise. Unaccustomed to rising so early, Dennis was “off” most of the day, unable to sleep on the 4-hour bus ride to the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Epic. Boarding was easy and we soon were in our balcony stateroom. While Dennis napped, I toured the ship, joined in the open-deck festivities, and worked out in the gym, which was empty during the afternoon. That night, we attended the Blue Man Group show. Since we saw this show are the same transatlantic crossing in April, we did not expect to enjoy this presentation as much as we did the first time. What made it different were the kids in the audience, who laughed, giggled, and begged to be chosen for participation in the show. After the show, we had a late-night meal and returned to be rocked by the ship’s gentle sway and the ocean sounds.

Sunday, December 8. This morning, I went to the gym while Dennis slept in. I did about a 15-minute workout with weights followed by enough time on the exercise bike to burn off the caloric equivalent of a slice of bread or a glass of wine. After breakfast, we lounged on deck, then sat in the outdoor jacuzzi, talking with fellow travelers. I marveled at how relaxed I was. One gentleman told us he as about 270 days of cruising, but not all with NCL. Had he been “traveling like a Norwegian” all those days, he would be a gold star member. This title has many perks, including free booze. Guess loyalty to one cruise lines pays off.

Around 4 P.M., the captain announced that the crew had extinguished a fire on the 14^th deck, complimenting their skill and rapid response. He then stated, “You SHOULD NOT, CANNOT, MUST NOT, MAY NOT, WILL NOT, SHALL NOT throw anything off the ship. The fire was caused by a cigarette that was casually thrown off one of the higher decks.” With all the cameras on the ship, I wonder if they caught the person who cautiously tossed his butt overboard and threatened all our lives.

This evening we attended the Cirque de Soleil Dreams and Dinner show. Though the food is mediocre, the performance is outstanding, probably one of the best acts I have seen. Dennis was chosen for audience participation. He had to ring bells with five other guest when the MC pointed at him. Those who know Dennis understand that Dennis has no sense of rhythm, making for a lot of laughs. There is one sexy scene with an acrobat in the bathtub—use your imaginations. One women juggled a cello, a female contortionists did amazing things is a super-sized champagne glass, acrobats, clowns, and muscle-men all worked to delight us. I have no sense of balance, and am amazed at what these people can do on a rocking vessel.

After dinner, I challenged Dennis to a Scrabble game. I won the toss and went first. Unfortunately, the only double value word I could make was the single-letter word “I.” In the end Dennis won, 198 to 194. Since he wanted to relish his win, the rematch will not be until tomorrow.

During the night, we turned our watches forward an hour. I was surprised that we had traveled this far east. The stormy seas kept me awake for most of the night. The boat would crash into a wave with a loud TWANG that reverberated throughout the ship like a frisson running down its spine. Around 7 A.M., the exhaust fan cover fell with a loud metallic clang onto the shower floor. From that point one, I was awake, though I would have liked to sleep more: my body an hour behind. As I age, I am not a flexible to time changes, and probably more rigid in a lot of other ways.

Monday, December 9. Quiet day at sea. Worked out for a while, and then relaxed for the remainder of the day. I finished one mystery thriller (Desecration by J.P. Penn) and started another. I have missed reading for pleasure; there is nothing like escaping to a world created in the author’s mind. Isn’t it strange that I am a nonfiction writer, but enjoy reading fiction the most?

After supper we watched an improv comedy routine that was not very funny. Back in the room, I slaughtered Dennis in a Scrabble rematch. Guess we’ll have to play one more game.