Itinerary: Eastern and Western Caribbeann for two weeks...to start with.
First stop: Half Moon Cay with a claim to fame of beach and swimming. We visited - and left - the anchorage, as winds packed 40 knots and waves were high enough to bounce a tender around like a papercup asea. Word from the bridge had it, that even the local people who man the tourist shops and conduct the 'adventure events' could not get to Half Moon Cay Island, as the surf was too high to apprach the island by inter island skiff.
Onto the next port of call - St. Thomas on the US Virgin Islands.
My stateroom perches on one of the highest decks of the ship, inside. Quite pleasant and very quiet, but so small, that instead of a loveseat, a small straight-back chair provides 'comfortable' seating. But, one spends almost none but sleeping time in it. The ship is large, walking three times around the promenade deck adds up to a mile long trek. Inside - the distance between the main dining room and the show theatre covers 1/4 mile - hiker's paradise.
Not only length but height of the ship are impressive. There are so many 'upper decks' open to the sun, rain and sky with expansive ocean vistas, that on can find blessed solitude. The upper 'uppers' sport no bars, ergo very few if any passengers - almost close to heaven.
A litte lower, but still open to the sky are the 'retreat cabanas', elegantly furnished safari tents with their own upholstered lounges, private bar and fresh fruit, and individually adorned with artistic decorations. One can rent those - at 75 dollars US extra per day. Hmmm - I'll take a lounge somewhere else.
The ship is loaded for Santa: Christmas trees, garlands, wreaths (on every stateroom door as well), carved nutcrackers, gingerbread houses, flower arrangements etc etc. Not too much jingle bell music, though, which is comforting.
Being Christmas, many families are crowded into cabins optimally occupied by one or two people, but - extra family members and kids top up the available berth space at a lower cost, or even gratis. There is a notable absence of infirm and elderly guests, which usually make up the major complement on cruises of long duration.
Christmas Day will be in Nassau...how will the shopaholics survive???
