TWO WEEK CRUISE – 2014
Western Caribbean then Eastern Caribbean
Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Key West, Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay
The weather was terrific, 82 to 86 degrees every day with sun every day.
Day 1 – Saturday, March 15, 2014 – Englewood and Ft. Lauderdale
getting ready for our trip, packing the suitcase!
I drove to Englewood, Florida to visit and go out to eat with Dan and Missy. Seated next to the water was perfect and enjoyed our time with them catching up on things, during an excellent lunch of melt in your mouth Grouper Rubin dinner at a local restaurant.
Continuing on to Fort Lauderdale (it was Spring Break time), we stayed the night at Rodeway Inn & Suites (954-792-8181). It is just on the west end of the bridge before going over to the island where the cruise ship port is. The “Stay, Park and Cruise” package that they have is great! They even had breakfast and a lift over to the port and back when we got home on the 30th. The night’s stay was noisy due to the AC running, but heck, the room was essentially free as we were going to park there for 15 days – the port cost for parking was that expensive!
Day 2 – Sunday, March 16 – Ft. Lauderdale and at sea.
A full serve yourself breakfast and out to the very busy hotel front. People and luggage were scattered everywhere waiting to be called to their shuttle to get to the correct Ship! We got to the Eurodam in time to meet Andrea on the gangway.
When Andrea was finished photographing on the gangway (above), we met in the Lido, an almost unimaginable vast array of meats, sushi, salads, vegetables and desserts, for lunch on the ship at noon. Our first of MANY great meals on the Eurodam. At 3:15 we did the lifeboat drill – always exciting. People packed on the decks, underneath lifeboats of which they are still wondering how 100 people could actually fit in there :).
Unpacking was fun and then off to eat and then to the night’s entertainment. We were off on our cruise. The ship sailed through the night but we slept well, rocked to sleep.
Our cabin was on the 4th deck, food on the Lido was on the 9th deck. We did not use the elevator, five flights of stairs kept us busy! Dining was however was on Deck 2, so we only had one flight to get there, That night we met the most interesting couple, he was a wood turner of custom Pool Cues!
Day 3 – Monday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day – at sea
Half Moon Cay. The ship arrived at the island first thing in the morning but the wind was too strong to anchor, tender boats were bobbing like toys, so we waved goodbye. Breakfast with Andrea on the Lido Deck. Thus, we had a sea day on the way to Jamaica.
Cuba………………………………………….. took photos of Cuba on the way by!
Checked out several of the venues: the Cafe’s, Bars, and the Casino. Stuffing ourselves at the Lido again and Afternoon Tea at 3pm, consisting of luscious little desserts of lemon meringue cakes, pink cakes of strawberry mousse, scones, chocolates, etc.!
Dinning that night was most elegant, waited upon by attentive waiters that soon became our friends. Two of the photographers played about the dining room, catching a photo of me and a St. Patties Day figure, then went on to the next victim.
9:45 in the Crow’s nest, a very stately library, game room, bar, coffeehouse of huge windows spanning the very front of the boat and down both sides of the room. Then went down to see the Recycled Percussion show at the beautiful main stage. These guys were quite energetic!
We kept up the five flights of stair climbing all day!
Day 4 – Tuesday, March 18 – at sea
Up and breakfast, then Kitchen Tour.
We then went to the Queen’s Lounge to Dance With The Stars, we danced the Cha Cha, a lot of fun.
We were invited to see the ships bridge!!!!!!!!!! What a treat!
Looking down through the glass floor on the ends of the bridge……………..
…..the EASY button!
I got to sit in the CAPTAIN’s chair!
Looking out over the ocean.
at one of the many computer screens. This ship works all by itself, except for docking! We went on the private tour of the bridge as Andrea snagged us a tour with the crew to see the huge bridge! I asked about the reason we failed to stop at Half Moon Cay – “the winds were so strong that the anchor would not have held” was the answer. We discussed the grounding of the ship Concordia – “that ship had drifted to shore, not motored there, the captain of that ship should be going to jail for thirty years for his actions” was the response.
Kitchen tour
Off to play golf!
Lunch at 11:30 was a Collectors Voyage Lunch, then at 3PM the Royal Dutch Tea! Evening meal was formal with new friends, then down to the night’s entertainment: Tableaux.
Again we kept up the five flights of stair climbing all day!
Day 5 – Wednesday, March 19 – Jamaica
We exited the ship in Jamaica!!
PROSPECT PLANTATION, CAMEL SAFARI and DUNN’S RIVER FALLS!!!
The tour of Prospect Plantation included a stop at the main house. In front of the house is a mahogany tree planted by Winston Churchill!
I asked the security guard if we could find a branch that I could use to make a pen out of. We looked around and did not find any. So, the security guard climbed up on the wagon and broke off a branch! He then sat down on the ground and trimmed off the small twigs with his knife for me. I now can make a pen from the tree! Below is me holding the branch
and below is the resultant pen!
Now the Jamaican started up the tree, placing his feet perfectly in front of him, upon the tree’s trunk and braced his hands upon the other side, making a V to increase the force of his feet on the tree. Immediately he shimmied up the tall Coconut Palm tree with agile speed.
CAMEL SAFARI!!
Next we went to where they kept camels! The guide told us that there used to be camels in Jamaica 200 years ago but they had died out.
The guide said that he went to the airplane to accept the 20 camels that they had shipped over a few years ago.
The baby (below, lower camel) wanted in on everything!
Me taking pictures with my phone.
Dunn’s River Falls
We went down to the ocean, then we started up the falls.
My left foot went down into a 3 foot deep hole and I skinned my right knee, but continued.
Back to the ship for a shower and a great meal, dancing and entertainment – a magician!
We only did three flights of stair climbing this day, too tired after such an active day!