Lure of the Caribbean and the Bahamas

I am obviously not inspired to write at all. Never mind that we have travelled at the meantime and have done quite a few things noteworthy, where useful information can and should be posted (in keeping up with this blog's theme and purpose).

The only reason I'm at this is the song I have been reintroduced to by....surprise, surprise, my son. Kokomo by the beach boys:

has recaptured the essence of being where I am for the moment and I'm not talking about Nicaragua but my proximity to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.... those small, beautiful islands with soft, white sand and clear blue water. I'm thinking cruise (the ship not the actor, please)....again. The hopeless romantic in me makes me want to play the song over and over until my ears (or my neighbors') ache.

Imagine this:

Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, Montego baby why dont we go
Jamaica

Off the Florida Keys
Theres a place called Kokomo
Thats where you wanna go to get away from it all

Bodies in the sand
Tropical drink melting in your hand
Well be falling in love
To the rhythm of a steel drum band
Down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
To Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, Montego baby why dont we go

Ooo I wanna take you down to Kokomo
Well get there fast
And then well take it slow
Thats where we wanna go
Way down to Kokomo

To martinique, that monserrat mystique

Well put out to sea
And well perfect our chemistry
By and by well defy a little bit of gravity

Afternoon delight
Cocktails and moonlit nights
That dreamy look in your eye
Give me a tropical contact high
Way down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
To Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, Montego baby why dont we go

Ooo I wanna take you down to Kokomo
Well get there fast
And then well take it slow
Thats where we wanna go
Way down to Kokomo

Port au prince I wanna catch a glimpse

Everybody knows
A little place like Kokomo
Now if you wanna go
And get away from it all
Go down to Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
To Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, Montego baby why dont we go

Ooo I wanna take you down to Kokomo
Well get there fast
And then well take it slow
Thats where we wanna go
Way down to Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
To Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key largo, Montego baby why dont we go

Ooo I wanna take you down to Kokomo

The rhythm, as bouyant as floating on salt water....and I'm just a plane ride away!

There's got to be a reason why I'm here.

Summer 2008 Vacation - 7-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise (Halfmoon Cay; Fun days at Sea and Formal Nights demystified)

Halfmoon Cay, Bahamas

Perhaps the most beautiful beach we've seen by far and coming from beach bums like us, that should amount to something. We have been to many reputed to be beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia, the East Coast of Africa, some in Central and South America and none has so far surpassed the beauty of Halfmoon Cay on the Bahamas.

Pristine white sand may not even be enough to describe it! Have you ever tried frolicking in milk powder? That's the closest I can describe the sand on Halfmoon Cay...as fine, as white and as soft. The calm Turquoise water is a surprise to find salty as you are tricked into thinking that you have jumped into a pool with sandy bottom.

So clear and blue is the sea that seagulls flying over the water reflect its color in their underbelly and wings. have you ever seen Turquoise-bellied seagulls before? You will in Halfmoon Cay.

I'm not sure what time we arrived on Halfmoon Cay but since it's a tender port (where people are brought to the island on tenders because the harbor is too shallow to dock the ship), I imagined different horror scenarios of accomplishing this for no less than 2,000 people.

This cruise ship never ceased to amaze me (as I'm sure other cruise lines too have this down to a science) in its procedures to embark and debark passengers. Cruisers were 'herded' as another first time cruiser would like to call it) to the tender at different times depending on ones preference. The tender started picking people up as early as between 8 and 9 am but we chose to debark after 9 to not rush through breakfast. By this time we did not experience any congestion at all anymore.

Since Halmoon Cay is a privately owned island (Holland America Lines) and within US territory there was no need for passports only the sail and sign card (or sign and sail ???). An announcement is made to which part or lounge of the boat one has to proceed when ready to await tender tickets (stickers you put on your clothing that indicates the number of the tender to board). When the tender number is called, you proceed to the bottom of the ship on 0 level where the exit ramp is, replete with x-ray machines and computers where one dips his card to sign off the ship, and people queue to be transferred to tenders (that went back and forth until 11 am, I think). It took no more than 10 mins to reach the beach.

We only had until 3:30 pm on the beach because Liberty was scheduled to sailaway at 4:00 pm (if I remember correctly). No, they don't leave you behind but they strongly suggest that you be onboard the ship half an hour (latest) before sailaway for everyone's convenience. This ship has been very prompt from what I have seen.

Amazingly, some onboard program and buffet were also brought ashore. There were games, contests and tours (if you care to purchase them from Carnival). We did not take any of Carnival's shore excursions as we thought them overpriced and was just used to exploring on our own, besides, I spent hours researching the ports of call that we felt confident to do it on our own and some that was offered, we've already done on other outings.

After seeing the beach, we were glad we did not book any shore excursions...we just wanted to enjoy the pristine setting. Don't think that the beach is boring either because fish abound on shallow water. V joined most of the beach program like the limbo rock and name that tune contest while T, M and myself just soaked up the sun (like we haven't had enough of it) and enjoyed the buffet when we felt like it.

What we lacked of sleep from the day before, we more than made up for on the beach. Before we knew it, it was embarkation time but then we've just had enough of the sun and were ready to go back to the ship. A similar procedure of waiting for an available tender (this time without the tender stickers - first-come first-serve) and once on the ship dipping your sail and sign card to sign in and having your beach bags go through the x-ray machine. Easy.

Fun Days at Sea and Formal Nights

What spending the whole day on the ship is called when the next port takes more than 24 hours to reach. We had 2 in total the whole 7 days. This particular 'at sea' day was also the first formal night on the ship. Wearing formal clothes on formal nights (2 on a 7-day cruise and 1 with less days) is not obligatory but when dining in assigned dining rooms, it is highly suggested to do so (as you probably would be the only one NOT dressed up). Experienced cruisers take this seriously, most women wear gowns; teen-agers, pretty dresses; coat and tie; and some die-hards, tuxedo or (formal) military uniforms. I think it adds fun and variety to the activity, kind of reminds you of cruising of yore (search the net and you will even find 'cruise fashion' during the 20s and 30s). If you want to pack light, there's also a shop on the ship where you can rent a tux, jacket, tie, etc. I'm not sure what they have for women but I suppose there is some.

To be sure, I just brought with me 2 wrinkle-free long dresses that did not take much space in my luggage when rolled up. Since T came directly from work related travel , he already had his suit with him while V only had to bring a couple of long sleeved shirts and a tie. K, T's 16 yo niece from Denmark on the other hand only had to wear dresses she would normally wear to a disco back home. No fuss.

Formal nights also mean personal appearances of the Captain and his crew and a song (song and dance) number by the waiters in the dining room during dinner (chuckle). It was cute. In the midst of all that work, how the h*ll they find time to practice is a mystery.

Don't worry being at sea for the whole day as the Cruise director (Karl with a K) and his crew made sure that no one is bored....soooo many activities to choose from! Sure, most of them are silly but on a 'fun cruise, silly is the way to go. There were some activities where you might shake your head but you have the option whether to join them or not. Most of the time you thank the high heavens for the people who were game to be silly (I think they've psyched themselves prior to boarding) ... it is fun to watch them. Inhibitions and expectations are not things you take on board a 'fun' cruise. So, what can one do on a fun day at sea:

Explore some more or just relax and soak up the sun (or watch a movie under the stars) on Lido deck:

Play an outdoor game (there's also the arcade and casino, auction and wine tasting, etc):


Watch something (or someone)- Ice carving and if you're in to hair, the Hairy chest competition, food and dessert exhibition, karaoke competition or someone getting married (sigh) etc:

Hang-out with new found friends:

Exercise, de-toxify, enjoy the sunset or take a (much needed) romantic sunset tour of the deck:

And of course, eat, eat and eat again:

Last but not least, this is a good time to check out Harry's, an exclusive reservations only restaurant where one can have a 4-course gourmet meal of prime meat and lobsters, etc for only $30 per person. A meal that can easily cost twice as much in reputable restaurants on land.

Summer 2008 Vacation - 7-day Eastern Caribbean Cruise (On board Liberty)

The rest of the day was spent exploring the ship until it was time to check out the rooms. We ordered 2 adjoining staterooms but unfortunately did not manage to get them with balconies (again, due to late booking - they were all booked when we took the plunge). On the other hand, I felt better knowing that on V's first cruise, there's absolutely nowhere he could fall out from.

By 6:00 pm we have already received all of our luggages and was therefore ready to explore more freely (there are 11 floors to explore according to the elevators). 11 floors of stern, aft and mid-ship! From research - mostly from the Cruise Critic site and it's forums - holds a wealth of information to would be cruisers - I found out that there are 2 dining schedules (if you prefer the a la carte setting rather than the buffet), the early and late dinner seatings. I chose the late dinner seating at 8:00 pm over the 6:00 pm seating (this has to be done upon booking, otherwise you will be assigned randomly to whatever time is still available), this way we won't have to rush back from ports of call, shower and change in a hurry to be on time for dinner (we obviously preferred a la carte for dinner), besides the other buffets serve food almost the whole day, so we didn't feel like we missed out on anything. I think those with small children preferred early seating and some even just opted the whole week for the buffet even if you automatically get dining seats assigned upon booking. It's really up to you whether you want to use it or not but at least you have the option.

day 1 of dinner, we met our waiter and assistant waiter (Marius and Iwayan, respectively from Blugaria and Indonesia) who were assigned to us for the whole duration of the cruise (that includes our room steward (Francisco, from somewhere in Africa...you kind of get to know them). Personalized service, I guess.

We also have opted to use the Silver dining room (there's also the Gold dining room for staterooms within mid-ship to the stern while the Silver dining room is for staterooms within the other half of the mid-ship towards the aft) for breakfast over the buffet (we're not very good queuers specially in the morning) and there met our waiter, Roderick and waitress, Catherine who happen to be Filipinos - half of the crew is from Asia. They were so much fun (really nice to start the day with) that we decided to take breakfast everyday in the dining room and hope that we get the tables they serve. Breakfast in the dining room is on a first-come first-serve basis, so there were no guarantees, but thanks to Rodante (also a Filipino crew), the assistant Maitre'd for the Silver dining room, we managed to secure tables in their area every morning thereafter.

After dinner we proceeded to the Venetian Palace to watch a live show ala broadway (they have this everynight with different themes) fronted by a stand-up comedy act and after to the Promenade (5th floor mid-ship, if I remember correctly) where the Gloves bar, Piano Man bar, Sushi bar (only serving Sushi from 5-8 pm), Casino (Czar's Palace), Promenade bar, Video Arcade, Hot & Cool Disco (adults only and checks your ID) and Karaoke bar are. Soooo many things to do and places to explore on the ship alone. On other floors were also the Cabinet (a jazz bar), Victoria Lounge (where a live-band plays oldies - 60s and 70s music - also a Filipino band), the Spa (I think they're open until 10 pm) and of course, there's always the Lido deck on the 9th where Emile's (buffet), the fish and chips and sandwich area and 24-hour Pizza counter (can also be ordered from room service at absolutely anytime), if you still care for some more food (uggghh, too much food!!!) are and on 5th, the duty-free shops.

Having finally settled and lulled by the waves, we went to an amazingly comfortable bed at 2 in the morning to be ready for our first port of call for the following day, Half-moon Cay, Bahamas.