Note:  Any pictures on the left can be clicked to see larger versions.  The pictures on the right can't be seen any larger.
Also the blog looks quite different in Windows Internet Explorer.  I made it in Mozilla Firefox and it looks better.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

We stayed in a hotel in Richmond before leaving on a very early flight to Ft. Lauderdale. Bill drove me to Richmond after spending a great day in Vancouver walking around Stanley Park.

Monday, March 7^th, 2011

We left very early to the airport by 5:00 am and on to Houston 3650 km away.  We waited 3 1/2 hours (late flight) and left for Fort Lauderdale (1787 km) away.  We arrived at 7:30 pm and were off to bed early. 

Tuesday, March 8^th, 2011

Pat and Ron in Ft. Lauderdale

After breakfast, we took the shuttle to the Cruise Terminal and headed through security.   We arrived on the ms Noordam around 1:30.  We had lunch in the Lido and wandered around the ship exploring what the ms Noordam had to offer.   The ship was built in 2006 and has a gross tonnage of 82,318 tons.  There were approximately 1,918 passengers and 800 crew members on board.  There were 300 Dutch, 437 Canadians and the rest from the US and other countries.  Most of the officers were from Holland.  Amenities on board:   fitness centres, spa, movie theater, casino, show theatre, 2 pools, atrium, restaurants,  piano bar, strings bar, dancing lounge, disco, dining room, Crow’s nest, and culinary arts centre.  There was never a dull moment, with many activities running daily.  I’ll talk more about those later.

Later that day we had a fire drill where everyone reported to the muster stations. I’ve come to the conclusion that the mandatory muster station drills are in the same boat as the seat-belt drills on airplanes. Nobody’s listening, in part because most of the people have heard it all before, and know, or at least think they know what to do in an emergency.  On the Noordam, we didn’t have to put on life jackets which were more reasonable.  After the drill, the Lido deck had a sail away party with the HalCats playing and singing.  They were an excellent band, with a very outstanding singer, Vivienne.

Wednesday and Thursday, March 9^th and 10^th,  2011

We were at sea.  The second evening was formal.  It was very interesting to see everyone dressed up for dinner.

Friday, March 11^th, 2011

Port of Call: Philipsburg, St. Maarten

 

View of St. Maarten from the shuttle boat

After breakfast everyone made way to the gangway and off to see the sights of St. Maarten. We took a short water taxi from the dock.  The island of Saint Maarten (Dutch)/Saint Martin (French) is the smallest land mass in the world to be shared by two different nations in a spirit of neighborly cooperation and mutual friendship for almost 350 years.  



Pat and Captain Morgan

Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch St. Maarten, fills a narrow stretch of land between Great Bay and the Great Salt Pond. Founded in 1763 by John Philips, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy, it soon became a bustling center of international trade. Today it is as bustling as ever, with lively shopping streets, cafes, and hotels. We found many examples of traditional West Indian architecture, including characteristic pastel-coloured houses with second-story verandas looking out over the street.  Front Street’s most prominent landmark is the Courthouse, built in 1793.  We didn’t see either of the two historic forts up close, but you could partially see Fort Amsterdam from the ship.

Pat and I just toured the Dutch town and found that prices were very reasonable compared to some of the other islands. With beautiful beach views and quaint shops, it was a pleasure to traipse around. Pat went back early to the ship and I stayed on the crystal blue beach with new found Dutch friends, Derek and Hans. (Father and son).  As it happened, other Dutch people joined us during the cruise and we became a 10-party group.  It was very enjoyable.

The Old Courthouse

One of the quaint colourful shops

Truly Paradise

Sail away 4:00

Saturday, March 12,2011

Port of call:  Castries, St. Lucia

St. Lucia is one of the most lush and most colourful of the Caribbean Islands.  Much of the land is blanketed with thick tropical rain forest, and its mountainous terrain completes the picture of a beautiful tropical paradise.  The island’s twin landmark mountains, Petit Piton and Gros Piton, rise to about 762 metres.

Long before Europeans claimed the island of St. Lucia, the Arawak Indian tribe was living off the land as well as many others in the West Indies/Caribbean. The capital city of St. Lucia, Castries was officially founded in 1650 by the French. The name "Castries" did not come about until 1750 to honor the French Navy Minister, the Marquis de Castries; before that it was called "Carenage" meaning "safe anchorage." 

We started an island tour, through the city of Castries.  Most of the buildings are fairly new, Castries having been destroyed several times by fire during its history, most recently in 1948. Traveling through the rain forest was quite exciting.  The fertile, volcanic soil of the island yields an enormous supply of produce, and the island is one of the leading banana exporters in the Caribbean, with six different varieties available.  One tour stop was at a banana plantation.  We were shown how the slaves who farmed the bananas and cocoa lived.  We travelled through many small villages and towns showing wonderful vistas and landscapes.



 
One fabulous stop was at the St Lucia volcano, also called the “St Lucia sulphur springs.”  The St Lucia Volcano is recognized to be the only drive-in volcano in the world. Despite not having any reported eruptions in the volcano for over 200 years, the Suphur Springs still has signs of boiling mud, with steam and water visibly appearing, but it is generally considered to be dormant. The smell of suphur was very strong in the air.  The tour guide said it would clean our sinuses. It sure did.

Back in the bus, we headed to Soufriere, where we would board the ship.  We saw many views of the two pitons.  Unfortunately we had some rain, which was the only rain on our cruise. 

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Port of Call:  Bridgetown, Barbados



The Bearded Fig Tree

The Portuguese phrase ‘os Barbados’ means ‘the beards’ and is likely a reference to dangling roots that hang from the island’s native Bearded Fig Tree.  The name was adopted and anglicized when British explorers arrived and took possession of the territory nearly a century later.  The year was 1625, Captain Henry Powell was the commander, and two years later, Barbados became one of Britain’s first overseas possessions. 

Heliconia or "Giant Lobster Claws"

The first settlers imported tobacco and cotton from neighbouring islands, but local conditions did not favour the crops, so sugar cane was chosen as an alternative. We saw plantations of both sugar cane and tobacco.  

Sugar Cane Fields

 

Many colonial sites with graceful architecture are highlighted in the tour we took.  Fortifications had to be installed against would-be Spanish, French and Dutch invaders.  Pirates also threatened the region.  Some of the old forts remain, but there are other fine antiques on the island as well.

Alexandra Palm Tree

One stop was at a wonderful Orchid World.   The many varieties of orchids were amazing.  Orchid World, located on a six acre former chicken/pig farm, is surrounded by sugar cane in the heart of the Barbadian countryside. With an elevation of 245 metres a number of vantage points allowed us to take in the views. The location is ideal for growing and displaying the more than 20,000 Orchids.

We then stopped at the oldest church on the island.  St. James Parish Church stands on the oldest parcel of consecrated land on the island, commonly referred to as "God's Acre." 

The first settlers landed on February 17, 1626 at Holetown not far from the church. The settlement there expanded rapidly. It became necessary to erect a place of worship and in 1628 the settlers constructed a wooden building on this site.  This wooden building was replaced by the current coral stone structure which was started in 1680 and completed in 1683, and which is still substantially in use today. The nave roof was raised on new pillars and arches a hundred years ago.



Many of the original settlers and many eminent Barbadians were laid to rest in the Church and the churchyard. Indeed, a walk through the churchyard and Church examining the grave stones, vaults and memorial plaques, is like a journey into the history of Barbados.

Next we toured the Sunbury Plantation House, a Sugar Estate Great House over 300 years old. It was built around 1660 by Matthew Chapman, an Irish/English planter, one of the first settlers on the island. He was related to the Earl of Carlisle and through this association, was granted lands in Barbados. The name Chapman appears in the first map of the island in 1638.  The estate then comprised of 413 acres with 224 slave apprentices after the abolition of slavery. After many owners, the site is now a national heritage site and museum filled with many artifacts and antiques.

The museum at Sunbury Plantation House

Monday, March 14, 2011

Port of Call:  Fort de France, Martinique

The  town of Saint-Pierre was founded in 1635.  In 1638 a small fort was erected on the shore.  Floods, cyclones, fires, yellow fever, and earthquakes plagued the town over the years.  In 1902 Saint-Pierre was wiped out by the eruption of Mont-Pelé and Fort-de-France became the new center of trade.

Fort de France

Fort-de-France, is a chic, modern city of 150,000 people - the largest metropolis in the French West Indies. But the old quarter is compact and with its narrow streets, wrought-iron balconies and shuttered doors still has a “end of the century”  flavour.  Fish, spices, fruit and vegetable markets fill the streets.  Fort Lewis (previously named Fort Royal and Fort Edward) still stands today.



In one of the parks was a statue of Victor Schoelcher who was active in the abolition of slavery in the French colonies. He donated over 10,000 books to Martinique and requested a public library be established.

The large library is named after him.

Although quite charming, we found the city very expensive, with purchases in Euros.  We also found the shop keepers were quite indifferent . Sadly this was not a favourite port.

 








Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Port of Call:  Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

During his voyages of discovery in 1493, Columbus logged landing on St. Croix, but probably sighted both St. Thomas and St. John.  Gold was in Mexico and Peru, so the Spaniards did not stay long.  St. Thomas was ruled at various times by local French, Dutch and English forces searching for new territory and commercial opportunities. The Danes held on to these islands until the 20^th century when the United States recognized the strategic advantage of a Caribbean military base after the Panama Canal opened. The sale was made in 1917 for 25 million dollars. This is nearly three hundred dollars an acre, one of America’s most expensive purchases.  The three islands make up the USVI (United States Virgin Islands).



Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the USVI,  is one of the most popular cruise ports in the Caribbean. Charlotte Amalie (named for a Danish Queen) is where the ships dock and the white and pastel houses are heavily sprinkled against a background of emerald hills. Colorful sloops dock along the waterfront, and a few steps back, down alleyways lined with old Danish warehouse buildings, is a world-famous shopping center.

Pat and I took a water ferry across to St. John.  We toured the old town with many shops, restaurants, and hotels.  Two thirds of St. John is a U.S. National Park.  We took an open truck-taxi to Trunk Bay one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been at.  With its white flour-like sand and warm blue-green water, it was truly paradise.  

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

At sea again.   There were so many activities happening daily.  You could have daily quizzes, fitness classes, travel guide lectures, cooking classes, bridge, pool games, computer instruction to name a few.  The staff was outstanding., treating us like Kings and Queens.  The daily shows were excellent, with dancers, singers, Broadway extravaganzas, jugglers, comedians and everything to keep you totally entertained.  Of course the food was in abundance along with special parties.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Port of Call:  Half Moon Cay (pronounced Key), Bahamas

The original inhabitants of the Caribbean Islands were the Arawak Indians, who lived a peaceful existence of farmers until the Carib Indians came along in the early 15^th century.  The Caribs were known cannibals who hailed from South America.  Just prior to the age of discovery, the Caribs swept up through the Caribbean chain island by island in their dugout canoes. 



Seventeen miles from the nearest neighbor, Half Moon Cay (Little San Salvador Island) in the Bahamas is considered by many to be the most beautiful of the cruise lines’ private islands. Fifteen  kilometres of beach stretch along the vibrant blue waters in a crescent shape. Coconut palms dot the landscape. This is truly a nature preserve as Holland America takes great strides to maintain the ecosystem of this pristine island. In fact, only 45 acres of the 2,500 acre island have been developed. All parts of the island are accessible by a tram and hard-surfaced walkways connect each area.

The day went quickly with swimming, walking, eating and of course visiting the bars.  We knew we would be back on Saturday, eagerly awaiting another visit.

Friday, March 18^th, 2011

We had to disembark and go through customs even though we were heading out for 10 more days.  Pat and I walked around a bit and found an internet café to send home some updates.  We were soon on board ready for a return to Half Moon Cay.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

One more glorious day at the beach at Half Moon Cay

Sunday, March 20, 2011 

Port of Call:  Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

Grand Turk is the capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands archipelago and is located 925 kilometres southeast of Miami, Florida, and 48 kilometres south of the Bahamas.  Columbus was said to have discovered the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1492, but some still argue that Ponce de Leon arrived first.  The late 17th century saw the arrival of settlers from Bermuda, who established a booming salt trade on Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos.  Turks and Caicos became a British overseas territory in 1973.

Donkeys, horses and cattle were the main means of transportation for the salt industry, and these animals are seen still wondering the streets and countryside of Grand Turk.  A lighthouse and the remains of a United States Navy Base are located on the northeast point of the island.  

 
Cockburn Town is the centerpiece of the island with several historical buildings and an unforgettable rustic charm.   It is also the seat of Government for the TCI. Here, we found many Bermudian and Colonial-style buildings.  The Turks & Caicos National Museum’s displays span the whole of human history in the Turks and Caicos, from Indian occupations starting at 700 AD right up to modern times with the arrival of John Glenn after his historic three-orbit space flight in 1962.  The recovered artifacts of the "Molasses Reef Wreck" (1513), the oldest known European shipwreck in the New World, are also housed there.

The Grand Turk Cruise Center is a world-class, beach front cruise facility nestled among nearly 14 acres of landscaped grounds.  The cruise center is also home to the Caribbean’s largest Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville bar, restaurant, and retail shop. Unfortunately the cost of a brew at this very famous named bar, is exorbitant, and because of the name, people go in droves and and pay those prices.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Port of call:  Samaná, Dominican Republic

Described by Christopher Columbus as “the fairest land on the face of the earth,” the Samana Peninsula is considered by Dominicans and visitors alike as the prettiest part of the island of Hispaniola. It is the jewel in the crown of Republica Dominicana.  

We took a tour to discover this island.  We visited a small whale museum, travelled through the very poor countryside to a view of the Bay of Samana and the Atlantic Ocean, then stopped at Las Terrenas for a short visit.  The countryside was beautifully covered with lush vegetation, but the houses were poorly constructed and the roads littered with refuse.  This was an excellent adventure in a third world country, showing it as a rustic, rural and developing nation.    The island was teeming with motor bikes and motorcycles, some carrying up to four people on them clearly showing that with gasoline prices and the poverty, it was a cheap way of getting around.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Day at Sea

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Port of Call:  Kralendijk, Bonaire

This is the “B” in the leeward Netherlands Antilles group known as the ABC islands.  It is about 80 kilometers north of Venezuela.  A tiny, rather arid place, the island is favoured among recreational scuba divers.  This is not surprising when you realize that Bonaire’s entire ocean boundary is a protected marine park.  

The earliest settlers produced salt, an essential commodity in the days before refrigeration. The island is also known for its native flamingo population.  The most evident manifestation of the island’s ethnic blend is Papiamento, the local Creole.  The official language though is Dutch.

I did a snorkeling adventure at one of the many beautiful beaches.  It was truly magnificent, with an abundance of coral and schools of many fish species.  My underwater throw-away camera captured some great shots.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Port of Call:  Willemstad, Curaçao

Curaçao is one of the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean. It is located 64 kilometres off the coast of Venezuela, 67 kilometres east of Aruba, and 48 kilometres west of Bonaire.  Curaçao is the largest of the five islands and the government of the Netherlands Antilles is located here. The local language is Papiamentu (or Papiamento), the official language is Dutch, and English and Spanish are widely spoken. Curaçao is an island with many small and beautiful beaches surrounded by clear and refreshing water.

Curaçao was discovered in 1499 by Alonso de Ojeda, a lieutenant of Christopher Columbus. The Spanish settled the island in the early 1500's. In 1634 the Dutch took possession of Curaçao and founded a Dutch settlement. Until the early 19th century, both the English and the French tried to take Curaçao. In 1800 Curaçao came under a British Protectorate returning to the Dutch in 1802. The British captured the island again in 1807 and it returned to the Dutch in 1815. 

Curaçao is the home of many lizards, iguanas and tropical birds. Wild goats can be found everywhere, out on the street and in peoples' neighborhoods. Since Curaçao is comparably dry, many cactus trees in all shapes and sizes are growing here next to Aloe plants and rough bushes. Curaçao is sometimes called Cactus Country. Curaçao is also famous for its Divi-Divi tree, the one that always grows in the direction of the wind. Curaçao has been built by a volcano, and the highest point is Mount Christoffel  which is about 300 meters high. 

Willemstad, the administrative capital of the Netherlands Antilles, lies on the southern coast overlooking the St. Anna Bay and is fabled for its Dutch colonial architecture: the many gabled houses in beautiful pastel colors. Legend has it that one of the early Dutch governors outlawed white for painting buildings since the glare from the sun was giving him headaches, and ever since, the tradition has continued.

The famed Curaçao liqueur, made from the peels of the bitter Laraha orange, is produced at Senior Curaçao Liqueur Distillery which dates to the 1800s.  It was a very interesting tour and we got to test four Curaçao liqueurs.

Most of the fortresses that ring the harbor were erected in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to fight off attacks from pirates as well as the English and French navies. Now many of them, with their sweeping, panoramic views, have been opened up as restaurants and cocktail terraces. 

The largest floating pedestrian bridge in the world bloats between the two shopping districts of Punda and Otrobanda, swinging open up to thirty times a day to let in ships to St. Anna Bay.  When the bridge is open a free ferry takes passengers across the channel.  What an amazing city.

Curaçao is the one port we chose not to take a ship’s tour.  Instead, we picked up one after we went ashore, and were definitely not disappointed.  At a third to a quarter of the cost, it might be a lesson for future excursions.  The locals truly try to please, are knowledgeable and charming in their presentation of their history.  This was an amazing island and one I would go back to any time. 

Friday, March 25, 2011
Port of Call:  Oranjestad, Aruba

Located on Aruba's picturesque southern coast, Oranjestad is the historical Dutch capital city.  Here we see tall multicolored houses with combined carved wooden doors, traditional Dutch tiles with airy open galleries and sloping,  Aruban-style roofs. Along the wharf, merchants come to sell fresh fish and produce right off the boats every morning.

Alonzo de Ojeda discovered Aruba in 1499 claiming the island for Spain. However, the Spaniards did not consider the island worth colonizing and left the original Arawak Indian inhabitants to live in virtual peace. The Spaniards’ lack of interest resulted in the island becoming a haven for pirates and buccaneers. In 1634 Dutch war interests then switched to the Caribbean and the Dutch fleet took over the neglected territory with little opposition.

We took a tour of the island with many marvelous adventures to supply our imagination for years.  We toured Willemstad, characterized by pastel-colored gabled buildings and a windmill brought piece by piece from Holland, now used as a restaurant. 



We then boarded a transfer boat that took us to the Seaworld Explorer, waiting near renowned Arashi Reef. The skilled captain and knowledgeable narrator guided the semi-submarine through this wondrous reef filled with beautiful coral formations and hundreds of spectacular tropical fish.  The explorer then took us to the wreck of the Antilla, a German freighter destroyed during World War II.  Measuring 440 feet in length, this is the largest wreck in the Caribbean.

The Historical Museum, the "Rococo Plaza" Museum of Antiquities, first housed in the Fort Zoutman, is the oldest building on Aruba (1796) with the Willem III-Tower having been added in 1868.  On the northern tip of the island is the California Lighthouse set in an area of desolate sand dunes.

The Cunucu is a land of cactus, windswept divi-divi trees, old villages and hamlets, unsignposted dirt roads stretching across the often mysterious landscape.

North from Santa Cruz, turning back towards the coast, the road to Casibari and Ayo passes spectacular boulders, the result of some unexplained geological catastrophe.  For such a relatively flat, sandy island, the presence of the unusual hills and huge monolithic boulders that dot the countryside are truly an enigma. These remarkable geological formations add aesthetics to the landscape as well as provide excellent vantage points from which to better view the island. Casibari Boulders Clusters of huge tonalite boulders sit together in an area just north of Hooiberg. This rock formation, unique to the more typical features of the area, inexplicably rises up from the desert soil to create an unusual setting. Some of the boulders weigh several tons and feature peculiar forms.



One of Aruba's most popular attractions is a bridge formation of coral limestone cut out by years of pounding surf, and is one of the largest rock spans of this type in the world.

What an unbelievable day on Aruba.  I would love to come back to explore much more of the island and stay at some of the fabulous beaches.  This island and Curaçao were my favourite islands.

Saturday, March 26 and Sunday, March 27, 2011

At Sea

Joris and Mike

Two more days at sea.  One formal evening Pat and I had dinner with the other eight friends we met from Holland.  Hans and his father Dirk, Mike, Rolf and mother Monique, Joris, Mariska and mother Danielle. We had a marvelous time, with all of them speaking excellent English.  It makes me feel very bad for my lack of knowledge of other languages. 

Dirk and son Hans

Rolf and Monique

Monday, March 28, 2011

Port of Call:  Fort Lauderdale, Florida

What a marvelous adventure.  We met so many fabulous people that we are even keeping in contact with some of them now.  The islands were food for thought about traveling again to these stunning places.  If you ever think about traveling on a cruise ship, think very seriously and book now, especially the Caribbean Islands!!!!



One thing that we learned on the trip was that locals do not seem to have a clear sense of distance.  We walked at least 20 km on our Fort Lauderdale day as we were looking for the beach.  Everyone we spoke to told us, ‘just 2 miles’…. And needless to say, those miles grew.  All in all it was humorous, and we certainly got our exercise.