Morning Tim & Wendy:
Hope all is well! Just got back from dropping Holly off at work and thought I would drop you a line on how and what we did on the trip as I finally got my pictures downloaded yesterday . The weather here is snowing and looks like we are in for a good dumping...
The trip was fantastic as we had said before, we weren't too sure on how we would be on a larger boat with so many people but we found it to be more then adequate and did not fine it crowed what so ever. I know I have said before that I never wanted to sail with that many people but I must say I didn't find it any different, the boat did have a bit of movement but it never bothered me at all although we didn't have any real rough sea's.
The layout of the boat gave you that open feeling and it seemed like you could wonder around for hours without getting bored or lost for that matter. The atrium was neat and the dining facilities were spacious although the Lido buffet was a little cramped at times depending on when you were there but we never had a problem finding a table to sit at once you had filled up your plate. The lounges were large and the theaters were more then adequate to always find a seat, the only crowed time was the day at seas when you wanted to find a lounger to sun in but you always found something. The only drawback would be the lower promenade deck as they didn't have any loungers on the deck as the deck was fairly narrow but they had the wood benches all along or you could just hang on the rail, we would always do our walk about when we were sailing away 3 laps was equal to a mile so it was a good hike around the boat. Getting on and off the boat in port was never a problem never a line up (bring booze back on was never a problem) and the disembarkation was really easy as they offered the walkoff with your own bags.
Dinner was always good, a couple of iffy nights on the menu but you always found something to chow down on, I think they had lamb on the menu at least four times. Our waiters were great Dennis and Henzel nothing fizzed on them and they were good and professional they always had us fed and out of the dining room within an hour and twenty minutes. Dennis's father was a head waiter on the boat so there was a bit of kidding always going on and our head waiter Rafel was a 6'2" 280 lbs Mexican (he was big guy for a waiter also the biggest mexican I've seen) but he was funny and chatty was a joy to have him at the table each night for laughs. The entertainment was probably the best overall we have ever seen on our trips, the boats singers and dancers put on 4 different shows which were excellent. Tony B (Vocalist) and Dan Horn (ventriloquist) we have seen them before I'm pretty sure they performed on the last Sun Princess cruise we were all on but they were just as good in fact Tony B will be in Toronto in October playing at Stage West in October. The juggler Rick Novell, comedian Cary Long and Al Katz, vocalist Sonia Selbie (we talked to her on a number of occasions, very interesting career she has had, British, starting at the age of 3) Illusionist Alexander all had excellent performances. Maurizio (vocalist, piano) played each night, he started in the Promenade Lounge but because of the number of people watching him they had to move him to the Atrium so that everyone could watch and listen to him. He even did a performance in the main theater the one night and he filled the place.
Formal Nights John and Cheryl (above) Chris and Deb (next) Barry and Holly (below)
The rooms were small but different layout that gave it a roomy effect, fridge in each room, washroom small with shower, not as many shelves but overall it was comfy. Great location of the room as one floor up to the Lido, three floors up to the Sun deck, 6 down to the dining room and theaters. The elevators were probably the worst very slow and always tied up and you never knew what day it was, we definitly missed the mats that Holland America have telling you the day of the week. They had 4 pools, hot tubs, sauna and even steam rooms which were neat as I had never been in one before. They had a jumbo screen where they had movies on each night under the stars. They had the loungers with pads, a blanket, pillow and would serve you popcorn as long as you stayed awake.
Sunburnt!
The ports were great as we always did something:
Aruba we went to Eagle Beach, loungers, umbrellas with lots of shade if you wanted it. Best part was the ride there, walked past the usual taxis and found Senior' Manuel (not sure of his real name), he had an old school bus, windows all knocked out, plywood covering the holes in the floor, towels from the different ships covering the ripped seats, all painted up in different pascal colours, spanish music whalling away, painted footprints on the inside ceiling of the bus along with different memorabilia from his past and on the top of the bus a 12 foot painted paper mache Iguana. What a hoot!!! we all boarded and when he tried to start it, nothing, with screw driver in hand out of the bus he went to jump it, taking off in a cloud of black smoke with the horn going, playing the mexican hat dance song all the way to the beach. we laughed all the way there, will definitely find him the next time to take a longer run before hitting the beach.
Aruba - Senior Manuel's Bus (Virginia in the foreground)
David and Reenie on Manuel's bus
Curacao we headed down to Mambo Beach where we swam, snorkled and walked down to the sea aquarium where you could watch the dolphins and sea lions from outside there compounds. Holly had a great back massage on the beach then back into town for a walk about in the town center.
Curacao - at the beach, sea aquarium and the pontoon bridge
Grenada - Sea and Grand Princess boats
Trinidad got cancelled due to a dock strike or something but they took us to Grenada where we took the water taxis over to Grand Anse Beach. They are always bugging you here but its all fun swam and walked the beach.
Grand Anse Beach
Barbados we just walked towards town as there was a number of shops in the "Artist Village" just down from the port entrance. We ended up downtown but turned around and headed back wandering through the fish market (Thank God I had a cold at the time) Heather had to make a run for it! lots of different fish.
Formal Nights John and Cheryl (above) Chris and Deb (next) Barry and Holly (below)
The rooms were small but different layout that gave it a roomy effect, fridge in each room, washroom small with shower, not as many shelves but overall it was comfy. Great location of the room as one floor up to the Lido, three floors up to the Sun deck, 6 down to the dining room and theaters. The elevators were probably the worst very slow and always tied up and you never knew what day it was, we definitly missed the mats that Holland America have telling you the day of the week. They had 4 pools, hot tubs, sauna and even steam rooms which were neat as I had never been in one before. They had a jumbo screen where they had movies on each night under the stars. They had the loungers with pads, a blanket, pillow and would serve you popcorn as long as you stayed awake.
Sunburnt!
The ports were great as we always did something:Aruba we went to Eagle Beach, loungers, umbrellas with lots of shade if you wanted it. Best part was the ride there, walked past the usual taxis and found Senior' Manuel (not sure of his real name), he had an old school bus, windows all knocked out, plywood covering the holes in the floor, towels from the different ships covering the ripped seats, all painted up in different pascal colours, spanish music whalling away, painted footprints on the inside ceiling of the bus along with different memorabilia from his past and on the top of the bus a 12 foot painted paper mache Iguana. What a hoot!!! we all boarded and when he tried to start it, nothing, with screw driver in hand out of the bus he went to jump it, taking off in a cloud of black smoke with the horn going, playing the mexican hat dance song all the way to the beach. we laughed all the way there, will definitely find him the next time to take a longer run before hitting the beach.
Aruba - Senior Manuel's Bus (Virginia in the foreground)
Curacao we headed down to Mambo Beach where we swam, snorkled and walked down to the sea aquarium where you could watch the dolphins and sea lions from outside there compounds. Holly had a great back massage on the beach then back into town for a walk about in the town center.
Curacao - at the beach, sea aquarium and the pontoon bridge
Grenada - Sea and Grand Princess boatsTrinidad got cancelled due to a dock strike or something but they took us to Grenada where we took the water taxis over to Grand Anse Beach. They are always bugging you here but its all fun swam and walked the beach.
Grand Anse Beach
Barbados we just walked towards town as there was a number of shops in the "Artist Village" just down from the port entrance. We ended up downtown but turned around and headed back wandering through the fish market (Thank God I had a cold at the time) Heather had to make a run for it! lots of different fish.
File photo of Curtis Miller see archives Dec 2006 - Sun Princess
As I had said before we did bump into Curtis and hashed over the trip of a life time on his "Bus", he's probably still laughing unfortunately I hadn't taken the camera so I didn't get a picture of him. We will definitely look him up the next time we are there also looked for Anderson from the fall but didn't see him.
St. Kitts - a couple of shots from the lookout and the beach
St. Kitts we headed down to Raggae Beach which is right across from Nevis only 2 miles away. Spent most of the day just swimming but it did cloud up which was a relief to all as the sun was really hot. Had a great drive down and back as there is a lookout with great views, then just wandered the shops at the pier but it did pour rain just after we arrived back from the beach.
St. Vincent we took a tour over to the Botanical Gardens and up to Fort Charlotte which was great. Both places had some interesting things and amazing views. Ended up back in town wandering the downtown back to the ship, its not a wealthy Island and being a Saturday everyone was shopping at there markets so it was busy.
St. Vincent - views from Fort Charlotte of Kingstown, the boat and a flower called the Bottle Brush plant at the Botanical Garden
St. Thomas a couple of shots out on Water Island - picture of David he's getting to look more like Gabby Hayes everyday
As I had said before we did bump into Curtis and hashed over the trip of a life time on his "Bus", he's probably still laughing unfortunately I hadn't taken the camera so I didn't get a picture of him. We will definitely look him up the next time we are there also looked for Anderson from the fall but didn't see him.
St. Kitts - a couple of shots from the lookout and the beach
St. Kitts we headed down to Raggae Beach which is right across from Nevis only 2 miles away. Spent most of the day just swimming but it did cloud up which was a relief to all as the sun was really hot. Had a great drive down and back as there is a lookout with great views, then just wandered the shops at the pier but it did pour rain just after we arrived back from the beach.
St. Vincent we took a tour over to the Botanical Gardens and up to Fort Charlotte which was great. Both places had some interesting things and amazing views. Ended up back in town wandering the downtown back to the ship, its not a wealthy Island and being a Saturday everyone was shopping at there markets so it was busy.
St. Vincent - views from Fort Charlotte of Kingstown, the boat and a flower called the Bottle Brush plant at the Botanical Garden
St. Thomas a couple of shots out on Water Island - picture of David he's getting to look more like Gabby Hayes everydaySt. Thomas we headed over to "OUR" private beach on Water Island, Heidi still selling beer and hamburgs, had about 1 1/2 hr of sun before it started raining but headed back to the boat hitting the stores at the pier.
Water Island Ferry, St Thomas V.I.
La Romano we grab a cab and took a tour of town then out to Casa du Campo Resort which is gated community, then to Altos de Chevon a recreated 15th century spanish village then to the La Marina where we wondered amongst the boats (WOW).
La Romana, Dominican Republic
La Chevon River and Altos de Chevon
La Romana - at the La Marina just a few of the small ones.
Grand Turk ended up being cancelled as the winds were to high to dock, ended up cloudy and rainy all day.
Water Island Ferry, St Thomas V.I.
La Romano we grab a cab and took a tour of town then out to Casa du Campo Resort which is gated community, then to Altos de Chevon a recreated 15th century spanish village then to the La Marina where we wondered amongst the boats (WOW).
La Romana, Dominican Republic
La Chevon River and Altos de Chevon
La Romana - at the La Marina just a few of the small ones.
Grand Turk ended up being cancelled as the winds were to high to dock, ended up cloudy and rainy all day.
The flights down and back were great so overall we had a great time with lots of laughs the only thing was we missed having both of you with us sharing in the laughs but we did keep you in mind each day.
I'm sending you some different pictures of the trip, the only thing is our computer only allows me to send three at at time without bogging it down. Hopefully I haven't bored you and sorry for being so long winded, its almost taken me 3 hours to do this with all my tea breaks etc. but can't do too much as we now have almost 4 inches on the ground.
Take Care and we will talk to you soon;
Barry
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