November Cruise

Just got back from a cruise. This time for 11 days instead of the usual week. The extra days were great.

The Celebrity Equinox is the most beautiful ship I’ve been on. Very modern / contemporary sleek design.

The clientele was upscale – due to the Celebrity line (and cost) and the fact it was a longer trip. I’d rather travel with these older but active people any day over the “whoo hoo” crowd.

Most of the on board entertainment was sophisticated adult fare – string quartets, jazz combos, big band, piano soloist, etc.

Stops were US Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Martin and Barbados.

Overall I liked St. Kitts the best. First time there. It reminded me of Bermuda – but Bermuda of the 1960’s before it became fully developed. Very British, prosperous and not developed – yet.

It’s starting to happen. Their first resort, a Marriott has just opened. There are beautiful beaches on the southeast peninsula which has become accessible by construction of a paved road in the past 4 years. The beach bars there are still rustic – similar to Costa Maya. But that won’t last long. Oh yeah, before the beach we went to an old British fort on top of a mountain at the edge of the ocean. Very nice visit.

Had the most fun on St. Maarten. I’ve been there several times. Always gone to Orient Beach - which I think is the most beautiful beach I’ve been too.

This time we headed over to a little beach near the airport. The end of the runway is literally at the beach. There’s the beach and the sand goes right up to a tiny 2 lane road, then the airport fence and then the runway lights and runway. The planes land and take off right over you.

Dominica (which I’d been to about 15 years ago) is volcanic with high peaks and is mostly rain forest. It has 365 waterfalls and most of the island is preserved as a National Park. But – it’s desperately poor.

We took a cruise line tour and saw a couple of waterfalls and then on to the “resort” beach with volcanic black sand. The fact that this was the “safe resort area” said it all. It’s a row of slum houses / stores / bars on the beach. And I don’t mean US slum – I mean 3rd world slum.

But, the drinks were good, the beach pretty, and it was a nice place to hang out once the beggars and dope dealers finally grew tired of pestering us.

In Barbados we went to a public beach instead of a hotel / resort beach. It’s a National Park beach which the locals use. I like going to local places to get a chance to see the real island / country (albeit brief) rather than always going to the resorts where you’re insulated from real life.

The USVI were the same ol same ol. Been there a dozen times. This time I walked around town sightseeing, bought a dress shirt and spent the rest of the afternoon back on the ship.

Photos are found by following my links to the right.

Or just click here.

Glad to be home. On the down side – while I was gone a pipe burst on the hot tub. I drained the remaining water out of it and will check out the problem later this week.

It’s cold. Unseasonably cold. Forecast to get down to the teens at least 3 nights this week and even colder next week. Yikes!

And that is why one goes on a cruise ship vacation.