second half of the Holland and America cruise

Oosterdam  Monday 7^th December

Leave fort Lauderdale after a day spent lazing about waiting about in queues to get through immigration, then using the free Wifi in the deportation terminal to catch up on all the hundreds of emails that had accumulated in the IN BOX. Most of which were rubbish, but the odd interesting note from friends bringing me up to speed with what is happening in the UK. Our old house in Carlisle had been flooded out along with lots of other homes near to the River Eden, and last night they reported the finding of a body near Kendal. Lots of the old bridges had been washed away. Really shocking scenes of devastation, especially when you hear how much money had been spent on flood defences since the last flood.

Fasting , so it was fruit for lunch and salmon and salad for tea. Early bed enable me to finish my book.

 

Tuesday 8^th December at sea again. Gala evening.

 

Up early, and we were invited to an Indonesian lunch. In the 2^nd floor dining room. Must say it was rather good. Staff were dressed in traditional Indonesian attire, and the food was excellent. The champagne wasn’t too bad either. Walked a little afterwards, read and slept, as one does after too much alcohol. It was gala night, but after the last two  none events we decided to go to the Lido instead. More informal, but the freshly cooked best ends were excellent, served with grilled asparagus and strawberries to follow. Magnificent. Then it was the movie, Far from the Madding crowd with the appropriate accompaniment of freshly baked popcorn. Great evening and then bed. Clocks put forward.

 

Wednesday 9^th December at sea again

Light breakfast of juice, muesli and dried fruit, followed by onion bagel topped with cream cheese and smoked salmon with the odd caper, washed down with a couple of cups of strong coffee.

Then it was earphones in and three miles around the deck in under 40 minutes. Not bad for an old codger.

Up to the Lido for lunch, fish and chips, followed by Dahl, then ice cream and a tart, before heading to the cinema. “A Royal Night Out” the two princesses on VE day. Then into the 10pm show, a pianist who was rather good, but l was starting to fall asleep. Not used to these late nights anymore. Or is it that we are just knackered due to sleep deprivation.  Relaxation and oblivion. 

Friday 11^th December Castries, St Lucia

Collected a muffing and doughnut along with a big flask of coffee and headed down to give Judith her morning starter for ten.

Walked, then proper breakfast after which we walked into St Lucia. It was hot, the sun was burning down, but the occasional shower kept it manageable. Found a local hairdressers at the back of the market and had my hair clipped for $20. The board had said 15 st Lucian dollars, but so what. He had made a good job.

  

Eventually headed back to laze on the deck and read, along with a book and fresh lemonade to quench the thirst. Fresh avocado wrap with tuna, bacon and jalapenos. Brilliant for a change.

More reading until we slip our moorings and head out to sea, passing round the island as we go and picking up one of the tours along the opposite side of the island. This is done whilst gently sipping my grey goose vodka martini. This is the expensive vodka produced in cognac France.

 

Saturday 12^th December Bridgetown Barbados

Arrived late into port, the Regent Seven Seas, P&O Azure and a Windjammer where already tied up. We had a bad night’s sleep, due to the elephants walking above us until 12.30am. At the same time we had a fragrance coming through the aircon. Perhaps they were trying to remove the smell of old cigarettes.

Walked, had breakfast and then showered, by which time the ship had docked. Walked the half mile along the quay past all the ships to the terminal Managed to pick up my email and get an upgrade on the QM2, due to the drop in price compared to the price we had originally paid. We had been told about the process from the Holland and America forward booking guide. Should have done this with NCL cruise, but we just dint realise you could. No money back, but often upgrades or credits.

Walked into the town and chatted to some of the locals purchased some small pieces of local art from one of the street traders, then it was back to boat to find we had a message waiting from the Guest Relations.

Popped down but she was off duty until 6pm. So had lunch, then went into the movies to watch the new Man from Uncle.

Then coffee and outside to soak up the sun and read, followed by happy hour and before we knew it, the ship was heading out to sea.

Dinner in the Lido, and sit outside amongst the stars to eat.

Sunday 13^th December Fort-de-France, Martinique

Early arrival into Martinique and we head into a French enclave. Its Sunday so everything is closed, with the exception of a few tents near the dock selling souvenirs. As you walk through the mishmash of buildings, some new, (those are the public or should l say communes) and old wooden houses you smell a mixture of French cooking and open sewers. The people seem very friendly , but unlike the French half of St Martin, there wasn’t any Gendarme presence. Quite surprised. But they may be having their Sunday lunch.

Walked up the hill through the shanty town to the church on to[ of the hill. Must be a route for the thieves as torn handbags and purses littered the steps on the way up. Halfway up we passed a unsavoury male smoking and swigging beer, but he was harmless.

From our advantage point we could see over the town and harbour including the old fort which now formed part of the French naval base.

Back on board to eat more and just relax on our new balcony, drinking my dirty vodka martini, whilst Judith sipped her chilled white wine.

We sailed along the island and the countryside looks magnificent. Mountains are coated in greenery, a thick canopy that covers all except the top of the most recent volcano.

Monday 14^th December Basseterre, St Kitts

We had been to St Kitts on many occasions, but the shops that re actually on the port seem to have been enlarged and added to which is fortunate, because other than the beeches an diving there isn’t a great deal more to see. We had driven up to the fort previously, and around the island, but it is spartan. The young are into drugs and shooting each other, according to the local policeman who warns tourist away from certain parts of the town.

Nevertheless, it was still pleasant walking round the immediate square at the centre, with its markets and street stalls selling vegetables and fruit to the locals.

Tuesday 15^th December St Thomas

You can immediately recognise the Americanness of the island, totally commercialised to home into

the tourist market. We were moored out of town, so we had to walk the 2 miles into town.

The place is a shopping haven, with every conceivable jewellers shop known to man, camera shops

and duty free emporiums. In truth even though its duty free, the

prices are not good when it comes to such things as perfume, cigarettes and alcohol. Hey take

advantage of the five cruise ships in port and their influx of 20 to 25 thousand passengers.

It was far too hot and busy to walk around the sites, especially the old houses and rum distillery up the hill, so we headed back to the ship. Internet was non-existent, although the telephone system was  American T&T, but it didn’t seem to connect with my phone.

Checked out the dinner menu, because that determines whether or not we go into the main restaurant. Realistically, there isn’t anything that stands out to be so special to warrant wasting your time in the dining room. If it where special, it may be worth the time out of our busy schedule.

The food is often far better in the Lido self-service restaurant. They cook most items to order, and you can pick and choose your vegetables and make up any type of salad you wish for.

Often we will have a small piece of fresh fish, blackened grouper, sautéed snapper or grilled salmon with some char grilled asparagus. Followed by a slice of pork with luscious crackling. We have as much or little as we want. The speed that we spend dining is down to us, and not to the vagaries of the restaurant staff and kitchen. Especially if you are seated in the free seating restaurant. It’s very hit and miss. You sit there waiting for attention, then you get the menu. You then wait for the order to be taken, even though most of the time you know exactly what you want prior to seating.

It’s just so drawn out, and the atmosphere and quality of food & service is not special, a real bun fight. It’s a pity. Saying that, whenever we get put into the reserved seating section in the upper restaurant, it is totally different. The staff have time to lavish attention on you and they make you feel special. And if you work the system, you can have dishes that that meet your individual requirements. Often we have chosen two starters and a main course, or a main course of scallops as a starter and specified the vegetables or type of salad and it has not been a problem.

 

Wednesday 16^th December at sea and a Gala Night

Find that we prefer to eat from the lido buffet, as its quicker and also the food is cooked fresh to order

Thursday 17^th December Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Spent the day relaxing, the beach was not worth visiting again as we had already spent a day on it during our previous visit

Friday 18^th December Fort Lauderdale arrive at 7am and transfer to Miami and Celebrity 

Quite a smooth disembarkation until we came to the immigration officials. They were on a go slow, only two people to check through 2500 people. So much so, by the time we came out of the cruise terminal it was necessary to het a taxi all the way to Miami port. $75, but we had agreed a set rate of 70 and gave him $10 tip.