Aruba and the Panama Canal

Aruba – 26^th April

As we left Barbados late we did not arrive to Aruba until 2.00 o’clock in the afternoon. As we wanted to Skype home we were standing at the gang plank as it was lowered and were one of the first passengers ashore. We went to a local Pizza bar that had free WiFi and Skyped Nicola and Andrew (see photo). After checking out what was happening at home we walked through the town of Oranjestad to the east end of town, where we met our friends the Iguanas (see photo). After wandering along the sea front we retreated to a Starbucks to get a welcome cup of coffee and get back into air conditioning. The temperature here was extremely hot and again humid. We then went our separate ways – Geoffrey to explore the town and Doreen to explore the shops. We did not get back to the ship until gone 6.00pm, which was too late to prepare for our normal 6.30pm dinner, so we decided to book a table and dine in the Orchid Restaurant (which is an Oriental Fusion restaurant). The meal and atmosphere in the restaurant was extremely good and helped us relax after a hectic afternoon ashore.

Transit Panama Canal – 28^th April

After a day at sea we arrived early in the morning to the entrance of the Panama Canal and spent the whole day passing through the Canal, not arriving to the Pacific Ocean until 6.00 in the evening. We spent most of the day sitting on our balcony, trying to spot wildlife along the banks of the canal. Apart from a heavy thunderstorm at 4.00pm, which didn’t seem to clear the air, as it was still extremely hot and humid, we had an extremely good day as the Panama Canal passed by. Here I must say that for the past eight days or so it has just been too hot to even sunbathe, so we spend our time sitting in the shade on our balcony.

Before we could go to bed Doreen had to do her homework in preparation for our Art Class.

The Royal Wedding Day – 29^th April

We were up early at 4.30am to watch live television coverage of the Royal Wedding, which despite the early hour, we thoroughly enjoyed. Didn’t she look beautiful.

Tomorrow we are looking forward to arriving in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

Antigua and St. Maarten

Antigua (21^st April)

Today, after five days at sea, we arrived at our first port of call in the Caribbean. As we had visited Antigua before, we decided not to go on an excursion. Instead we stepped ashore and walked around Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay in St. John’s Harbour, right next to the cruise ship berth, where there were numerous shops selling everything from souvenirs, clothes and, of course, jewellery. Unfortunately, the jewellery shops were the only shops with air conditioning, so needless to say we spent most of our time in them. After a couple of hours window shopping (without making any purchases), we found a bar adjacent to our ship where we met some friends of ours for a beer or two. The weather today was up in the high twenties, and very humid. We went back to the ship for a light lunch, before returning to our bar which had free WiFi to Skype Nicola and Andrew. It was exciting to see our grandson Cian, and of course both of our children on the webcam. We again returned to the ship and changed for a “smart casual” dinner before going on deck for the sail away party.

St. Maarten (22^nd April)

We arrived in the half French and half Dutch port of St. Maarten on Good Friday, where the weather was again very hot and very humid. We went ashore and caught a Taxi Ferry from the ship into Philipsburg, the capital on the Dutch side. Unfortunately for Doreen being Good Friday ALL the shops were SHUT!!! However, after walking around the shopping area we found a very nice beachside bar, where we consoled ourselves with a beer or two. We then returned to the ship via the Taxi Ferry and when Geoffrey felt he could relax (all shops shut), Doreen managed to find three jewelers open in the port area. All in all a very pleasant day followed by a relaxing drink in the Orchid Bar, on board ship, prior to going to dinner.

St Lucia and Barbados

St. Lucia (23^rd April)

Weather again very hot and very humid, but we love St. Lucia. After the obligatory walk around the cruise terminal shops we joined our excursion entitled “Tea on the Morne”. We had a guided tour through the town of Castries before climbing inland to an area called “The Morne”. We visited a local craft centre specializing in the carving of hard woods, such as mahogany, white cedar and many other woods. We met Ludovic the local artist and saw many examples of his work, (mostly well out of our financial range), however just before we were leaving Doreen spotted a carving of a cyclid fish and after bargaining with Ludovic we agreed to buy, providing he signed the work. The rest of the group were less enthusiastic as they were all waiting on the coach ready to leave. After leaving the art studio, we drove around the Morne (this means the Hill of Good Luck), past the Governor General’s residence and on to St. Marks – an old colonial-style home in the hills overlooking the town. Here we retreated to tea, sandwiches and cakes on the verandah. After returning to the port, we joined our friends in a karaoke bar for beer or two or three (no I believe it was five). Great fun.

Barbados (24^th April)

Today we arrived early in Barbados. Bridgetown is the capital, and being Easter Sunday all the shops were closed. However we had previously booked and excursion entitled Orchid World and Sunbury House. After leaving the port in our coach we had an entertaining drive through the island with Fritz, our tour guide telling us this history of the island and included a few anecdotes about his friend Gary Sobers (the cricketer). On arrival at the Orchid World we spent an hour and a half wandering around the garden admiring the many orchids, before relaxing for light refreshments in the garden. On leaving the gardens we drove through the sugar cane plantations and sweet potato fields to Sunbury House Estate, which had an impressive collection of antique furniture. Here we were treated to a cream tea, with sandwiches, and a welcome cup of tea.

Back on board we have been advised that a plane flying out from England with 500 cruise passengers on board has been delayed, therefore we will be staying in Barbados until tomorrow morning before we sail to our next port, Aruba. Tonight we are looking forward to an exciting Tropical themed evening,

Madeira to the Caribbean

After two days at sea, relaxing and unwinding and familiarizing ourselves with the ship, we were invited to the Captains Welcome Cocktail Party, where the Captain introduced himself and his team and pointed out that this unique cruise is the first P & O cruise to Alaska for 40 years.

After a good trip from Southampton, including the Bay of Biscay, (calm), we arrived in Madeira at 12.00 noon, where we went ashore and walked through the town, towards the hotel Porto Santa Maria (where we stayed two years ago) and had afternoon tea in the gardens. We then walked through the Old Town to the Market Square, being quite busy because it was Friday, where we tasted many exotic fruits, prior to buying some to take back to our cabin. Half way to the cruise ship we went into panic mode – we were not quite sure whether we would be allowed to take them on board. We also bought a beautiful bunch of orchids, anthuriums and proteas for the cabin. On the way back to the ship we stopped off in the main square for refreshments and to people watch.

After returning to the ship with all our purchases (which thankfully we were allowed to take on board), we decided to get changed and went into the Old Town to have dinner at one of our favourite Funchal Restaurants (the Portao). The owner made us very welcome and we had an extremely enjoyable meal, with many complimentary glasses of madeira Wine and Brandy following which we caught a taxi back to the ship to enjoy the sail away party on deck.

After leaving Madeira we were faced with five days at sea, so we are glad we have joined the Art class and Craft class. This makes the morning go quicker. Not sure if our painting skills are improving, but at least we are enjoying it.

Needless to say Doreen is enjoying the evening meals, where she can dress up in one of her “many” outfits she has brought with her.

We are now on our third formal evening, which was themed a “Black and White” and included a another Portunus Club cocktail party (free drinks all round), where we joined our friends Tom and Jackie (who we met on our last year’s Caribbean Cruise) and had a good evening.

We have now finished our Atlantic crossing and are looking forward to four hectic days ashore in Antigua/St. Maarten/St. Lucia and Barbados, which we will cover on a future blog.