Let Sleeping Dogs Lie in the Sand: Magic Southern Caribbean 9/20-9/27

[Poolrat]

A couple of very nice tours. Sorry the Barbados one stunk.
You really filled up your days in port. Great pictures and overall a wonderful cruise.

 

[eandesmom]

Oh my word, you've got your whole trip updated! I'll try to catch up

After finishing lunch, I wandered down to the chocolate shop and bought some Grenada chocolate bars.
Roostah and I!



After finishing at the Falls, we drove the short way back down to the dock. I was really worried about such a long tour but it was really interesting. After hearing some other experiences, I really think Roostah made all the difference.

Sounds like a really good day all around, love the picture of you and Rooster and mmmmmn Palo! Bummer about the not offering another dessert, a little surprising.

Thursday, September 25

I was looking forward to Barbados. I had a former coworker that was from Barbados and he always talked about how beautiful it was. I had tours booked for today. The first was a tour of the Agapey chocolate factory that I had heard about from someone on my cruise FB page. The second tour was in the afternoon to go see the monkeys.

I signed up for the chocolate tour online but found that I had the last spot. My friends Deb and her daughter Kayla wanted to go to so I emailed Agapey and they said they reserved a couple of slots just for cases like mine so we were all able to go! The tour cost $18pp. The factory is within walking distance of the pier in the industrial area. We were able to find it without much issue although there are no street signs in the area!

I was not able to take pictures here. The chocolate factory is a very small factory run by a gentleman from Canada who no longer wanted to work for someone else and wanted to live in paradise. So he gave up his chemical engineering job and moved to Barbados! He uses cocoa beans and sugar from Grenada and makes his artisan chocolate. He showed us all the equipment he uses from the roaster to the grinders and mixers. He explained the chocolate making process. We tasted each ingredient and then tasted each kind of chocolate he produces. The whole process was fascinating and you could really taste each individual ingredient. When the tour was over, we were able to purchases chocolate bars to take home. I have a stash that I am currently hoarding! It pairs quite well with red wine.

Your poor day went really downhill after the chocolate tour, the monkey tour sounded absolutely nightmarish and then to end with bad brulee? UGH! You need a Barbados do over.

Glad the chocolate was good, it's fun to have those things last a little while when you can as reminders. Jeff kept trying to steal MY chocolate bar that you gave us. YUM!

I think I skipped out of dinner early to go play bingo. (I might have my days mixed up! Cynthia, correct me if I'm wrong!) On my way, I ran into Cynthia and Jeff and we chatted for a bit. They were headed to change and to go to Palo. I missed bingo and as Cynthia was leaving my tablemates showed up with 4 Grand Marnier souffles! The server brought more tonight! I wasn't hungry to we went up to the pool deck and found our other tablemate in the hottub and gave them to her. She ate one of them while in the hot tub! After that I headed to my cabin for the night.

Souffle in the hot tub??? Ok that's a little weird.

Nope, that's right. We had our Palo dinner on Barbados night. I'd wanted it for the at sea day but couldn't get it and figured the night before the Gros Piton hike wasn't ideal and that I might not be able to walk after that hike (which yeah, heels would NOT have worked that night lol) so Barbados night it was!

I am sorry you missed Bingo but happy we at least ran into you for a little bit. I can't believe how little we saw you. BOO!

Friday, September 26
St Kitts

We were scheduled to arrive in St Kitts until around lunchtime. It was a rainy day and I was glad I had another massage booked at the spa. The massage was wonderful and just what I needed after a long week of go, go, go!

After lunch I met my tour group for the Caribbean Cooks tour. I can't find the official description now but basically we were taken to a plantation house where a chef would demonstrate how to make a variety of local dishes and then we would all get to eat! We loaded up on small busses and headed to a restored plantation house. On the way we passed 3 medical schools and a vet school. Apparently these schools are the crux of the St Kitts economy!

The day was still really rainy and dreary. I'm sure the view would have been incredible on a nice day. We toured the house before going out to the kitchen where the demo was held.

I can't find my recipes right now but we had a jerked pork, rice and peas, green banana salad, creole fish, and some plantains. It was all very good. We had a coconut bread pudding for dessert which was amazing!

After we finished lunch we headed back to the ship. The tour was a nice change of pace from the other tours I did over the week. The only issues was that it was 3pm or so by the time we ate so I wasn't hungry for dinner.

That does sound nice! It was a dreary day for sure, I don't feel like I got a feel for the island at all. Jeff didn't care for it but I don't think that's fair, I enjoyed what I saw, which admittedly wasn't much. It's hard, you have a few hours in port and between the excursion you choose (or not) and the weather, it makes or breaks that experience and colors the impression of the port and the island.

By this point, I was over the souffles. It was really nice of the server but I was done!

That's a LOT of souffles. I didn't eat a single one (or see a single one lol).

After dinner we went to see Dreams which always makes me cry. After the show, we went and played Magic Quest which was hysterical. After Magic Quest was over I went back to the cabin and then decided to go see Guardians of the Galaxy. Cynthia said she and Jeff were planning on seeing it so I figured it was my last chance to catch up. I didn't see Cynthia and Jeff but I enjoyed the movie. Believe it or not, it was my first movie in 7 cruises! As I headed back to my cabin, I saw the rehearsals for the storytelling at the Pumpkin Tree for the next Halloween cruise. Staff was starting to decorate for Halloween as well. I went to bed sad that it was the final night of the cruise.

We did see it but we actually ended up catching the afternoon one that day. With the weather the way it was, we only spent 1-2 hours in port and then went to the movie. It's funny, we usually see at least 2 movies on our cruises and the times and movies just didn't match up for us this time. I admit, I liked this movie a lot more than I thought I would, it was surprisingly funny!

Saturday, September 27
San Juan to Home

I woke up early so I could meet my friends for the saddest last breakfast. Since we had early dining (another reason never to eat early!) we had to be a breakfast at like 6:30. Breakfast wasn't as terrible as I remember on cruises past and it was nice to see everyone one last time. We cleared out and hung out waiting to get off the ship. I had a later flight but had DCL transfer booked to the airport. My friends were getting a dayroom at the San Juan airport hotel. We got off the ship at about 9ish (they were really trying to get everyone off as soon as possible!). I took a bus to the airport and was able to check my bags at SW. I still had about 3.5 hours to my flight so I called my friends and were able to go crash in their dayroom. It was a comfortable place to hang out and had free internet! I said my goodbyes when it was time to head to the gate. It was so nice to see old friends and make new ones as well.

Yay for coming home to good news about your dog and a surprise visit with the parents but ugh for the delay. Glad you had a place to crash in the in between time, that is not an airport one wants to spend the day at for sure.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I apologize for my delay in posting the next update...Life just got in the way...Hopefully I can get a few more updates in and get this report wrapped up so I can go back to catching up on everyone else's reports.

Sounds like you need to get your priorities straight!

Nice one!

Cocoa drying in the sun. The trays are mounted on steel tracks so the trays can be rolled inside when it rains.

Mmmm...forbidden chocolate...

After we got everyone rounded up, we drove out to the Grand Etang lake which is an extinct volcano crater. I didn't find it that fascinating. It's a pond.

Yeah, that does look underwhelming. Especially after having already seen the volcanic crater earlier.

Bread

That's not bread. Those are lightsabers.

I will say it now. This was the worst tour I have ever been on. It was terrible!

Best part of the tour? Two turtles making sweet, sweet love.

I've witnessed this particular phenomenon twice in zoos when visiting the giant tortoise exhibits. When I come back, I want to come back as a tortoise.

I did not care for the lobster. It was really tough. The creme brulee was one of the nastiest things I have ever put in my mouth. It was truly awful.

So...this was not the best day of the cruise, I take it.

On my way, I ran into Cynthia and Jeff and we chatted for a bit.

MORE SOUFFLES!

After Magic Quest was over I went back to the cabin and then decided to go see Guardians of the Galaxy. Cynthia said she and Jeff were planning on seeing it so I figured it was my last chance to catch up. I didn't see Cynthia and Jeff but I enjoyed the movie. Believe it or not, it was my first movie in 7 cruises!

You picked a fun one, though.

The vet told me that the pathology report came back and the tumor was low grade and that the surgery was all my dog needed! It was awesome news to come home too!

 

[pkondz]

I apologize for my delay in posting the next update...Life just got in the way...Hopefully I can get a few more updates in and get this report wrapped up so I can go back to catching up on everyone else's reports.

Holy smokes, lady!
When you update... you UPDATE!

I was really excited about Grenada...I knew very little about the island except that there was an invasion by the US at one time.

I remember that.
I remember thinking at the time that it was hardly a fair fight.

I agree with Mary Ellen. Beautiful!

Not far from St George's, we passed the area where the US forces landed on the island (where the rusty boat is anchored).

Interesting. That seems far inland.

Roostah told us that the people of Grenada were very grateful for the invasion as it saved the island from Communism.

This is not a dig, because I really am wondering.
I wonder if he says that to American tourists but something else to non-US tourists?
Irrespective of how (if at all) they really feel about it.

Unlike many of the other Caribbean islands, the government took over the large plantations and then sold the land to the residents...most of whom were former workers/slaves on the plantations.

Interesting. Took over from the British, I presume.

He told us that none of the fruit or spices were native to the Caribbean...they were brought in from Asia after the American Revolution. After the Revolution, Britain blocked the islands from trading with American and the plantation owners needed a food source for their slaves. They ended up importing all the plants in and now they grow in abundance.

Really?? Wow, that's really interesting.
You look around and just assume that it's all been there since forever.

So much nutmeg. So beautiful. It brings a tear to your eye.

Well, it did for that one guy on the right, anyway.

In this modern age, it was shocking to see that all the sorting and grading is done by hand.

I was struck by that too.
But I guess, there, manual labor is still cheaper than automating it.

In Grenada, you can freely pick fruit on anyone's tree

Makes you wonder if you pick from someone's tree, if the owner can freely beat the snot of you if he catches you!

We arrived at the River Antoine Rum Distillery which was built in 1785.

Those vats look pretty nasty.
I thought, "Ugh. Not too sanitary. Might be full of bacteria. You'd need something to disinfect it. Maybe, like alcoh.... oh."

After we got everyone rounded up, we drove out to the Grand Etang lake which is an extinct volcano crater. I didn't find it that fascinating. It's a pond.

I think I felt (lesser scale) like you did.
When I read the description, I was like, "Oh boy! An extinct volcano crater! That'll be cool to see!"

Meh.

We stopped at a little roadside shopping area where the vendors tried to sell us stuff. There were supposed to be monkeys in the area but we never saw any.

Well, the description said "possibly see" the monkeys, so I guess you'd have to give 'em a pass on that one.

Hey! It's you! With apparently great taste in automobiles.

Our last stop was Annandale Falls. Its pretty and there are locals that will jump from the top of the falls for a small token.

Probably do it for free, too.
But hey, if someone's willing to pay... why not!

This is the lemon sorbet palette cleanser.

One of my all time faves.
I might've needed extra cleansing.

After dinner was over, I think I rolled back to my room to pass out from my food coma!

I emailed Agapey and they said they reserved a couple of slots just for cases like mine so we were all able to go! The tour cost $18pp.

That's great! And $18 doesn't sound too bad.
How do you feel about that price?

The chocolate factory is a very small factory run by a gentleman from Canada

Yay us!

who no longer wanted to work for someone else and wanted to live in paradise. So he gave up his chemical engineering job and moved to Barbados!

Wow.
Colour me envious.

I grabbed some chicken fingers and went down to meet my tour group for the Monkey tour.

It looked like it was going to rain so Disney handed out brand new ponchos to everyone on the tour.

Free ponchos?
Free?

Disney.

Gave out free ponchos.

FREE????

I will say it now. This was the worst tour I have ever been on. It was terrible!

Oh, too bad. It sounded like it was going to be good.

We headed out to big busses and drove up to this overlook/tourist trap where we were given a soda, water, or rum punch.

The view was ok but we stayed here for over an hour and there was nothing to do.

Yeah. Take me here. Let me take a picture or two... then let's go.
Pretty much doesn't take an hour to do.

She started pushing us towards the reptile house even though we heard that the monkey feeding was taking place elsewhere. She got really mad when we wouldn't follow her through the reptile house.

Pushing?

I push back.

Best part of the tour? Two turtles making sweet, sweet love.

And slow. Don't forget slow.

We finally found the monkeys hanging around the food. They would go run over grab the food and then jump back in the trees above your head. It was really hard to get around as the food was in one location and all the turtles, deer, birds, and monkeys were trying to get it as well as all the people on the tour as well as a million little kids. It was hard to get around on the slippery bricks while avoiding stepping in poop or getting trampled by other people.

Um.... yuck.

Feeding trough

Whoa. I've never seen so many tortoises at once.

The guide spent the whole time talking about Rhianna and Oprah.

Well of course! That's what Barbados is all about!

Someone asked about gay marriage in Barbados and the the guide almost blew a gasket. Apparently she is not for it.

Apparently!

Lobster Tail

OMG!!! Sebastian!!!


Nooooooooooooo........

(Seriously though. That is one huge lobster tail! Too bad it was tough.
Maybe that's why it was tough.)

The creme brulee was one of the nastiest things I have ever put in my mouth. It was truly awful.

Oh, shoot.
That bites. (no pun intended... well maybe a little)
Creme brulee is one of the best things in the world... or I suppose I should say, it can be.

The chef was an expat from the UK that has lived in Nevis for 25 years. She was about to retire from the cooking demos. Some of her sauces were sold in the gift shop.

Buy any?

We were warned not to touch the worm as it was poisonous.

Yeah.... I'm not needing any warning.
No way I'm touching that!!

I went back to the cabin and started the sad process of packing up.

Boooo!

Beef Wellington with the Wellington removed

So...... beef, then.

Mine is the 3rd from the Left.

very nice. a budding Da Vinci.

After dinner we went to see Dreams which always makes me cry.

What is that?

After the show, we went and played Magic Quest which was hysterical.

What's that, too?

After Magic Quest was over I went back to the cabin and then decided to go see Guardians of the Galaxy.

Haven't seen it, heard it was good.
What did you think?

I woke up early so I could meet my friends for the saddest last breakfast.

We got off the ship at about 9ish (they were really trying to get everyone off as soon as possible!).

Welcome home!.... Now get out.

The vet told me that the pathology report came back and the tumor was low grade and that the surgery was all my dog needed! It was awesome news to come home too!

Great news!

After lunch, we drove Estes Park where my parents were staying in their new to them 5th wheel camper. I got the grand tour and we caught up.

<snicker> "grand tour".

When I got closer to town I saw tons of cars parked on the side of the road. A pair of bear cubs were playing on the river bank! Sadly, I couldn't get a picture but it was the first wild bears I have seen in Colorado!

I remember when I was about 8, my parents took us to Yellowstone.
Not too far outside the park, we saw a bear on the side of the road.
I just assumed that they were all over the west/mid-west.

My dog was very happy to see me!

And vice versa I'm sure!
Thanks for the updates and the whole TR!

 

[franandaj]

Holy updates! Sorry that you had your worst tour ever, but I'm glad one of them turned out to be the best tour of the cruise. Personally this itinerary doesn't appeal to me as much as others. So many port days and so little days at sea.

It sounds like a lot of the food you had on the ship was hit or miss. I can see where you woukd have been "over" the Grand Marnier souffles. The first time its kind of cute but over and over it does get old.

Early dining would drive me crazy if I had to be in the dining room that early on disembarkation day. I barely made it to breakfast on time on our last cruise and we had late dining.

Nice that your friends let you hang out until your plane left. Boo to no down times day but great that you had time with your parents. And the best news that your furbaby is all in the clear!

Thanks for taking us along on your trip!

 

[KatMark]

I am too far behind to comment on everything (or remember), but here is what I do want to comment on.

The chocolate tour sounds nice.

Your first tour guide sounds awesome.

I'm sorry Barbados was such a bust for you. I personally would have hit the tour guide in the head if she had mentioned Oprah Winfrey more than once as I can't stand the woman.

Nice surprise from your folks (despite not being able to get done what you wanted to do).

And so happy on the puppy news.

 

[KatMark]

A day early, but I wanted to thank you for everything and wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

​

 

[PrincessInOz]

It's Thursday here.

So....Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[podsnel]

Hey Jill! Here I am, waaaaay late and catching up! Glad you have such good things about the food tour in San Juan- I want to do that too when we are there next November. Did the same segway tour you did when we were there on RCCL Explorer of the seas- great way to see the fort and the city!

Love your doggie too.

 

[jedijill]

Hey Jill! Here I am, waaaaay late and catching up! Glad you have such good things about the food tour in San Juan- I want to do that too when we are there next November. Did the same segway tour you did when we were there on RCCL Explorer of the seas- great way to see the fort and the city!

Love your doggie too.

Hey there! Better late than never. You need to do the food tour...you would really like it!

Thanks!..she's a good doggy.

Jill in CO

 

[podsnel]

I have been eyeing up the bio bay, too. It really looks so cool!

I can't believe the service you had at your Palo brunch! I am so glad you said something. That just should not be.

I love that you got soooo many Gran Marnier soufflés-

Antigua and St Lucia look beautiful- I can't wait to see for myself! We also go to Barbados- I will know NOT to do that tour. UGH! I can't believe the tour guide yelled at you! That is NUTS! I think we are going to go snorkeling with the turtles there- I actually am probably most excited for Barbados, so I hope our day there goes better than yours.

St Kitts is really nice- we went for a week many many years ago. They have a drink there (if you ever get back) called Ting with a Sting- it is Ting soda and CSR, which is Cane Spirit Rothschild- it is a clear liquor distilled from sugar cane, and it is only there. Good stuff- very refreshing beverage!

Thanks Jill!

 

[jedijill]

I have been eyeing up the bio bay, too. It really looks so cool!

You must do the Bio Bay tour if you have time and the moon is right. It is absolutely amazing!!!!!

I can't believe the service you had at your Palo brunch! I am so glad you said something. That just should not be.

I had never seen anything like it. Dinner was much better.

I love that you got soooo many Gran Marnier soufflés-

I was pretty much over them by the last night!

Antigua and St Lucia look beautiful- I can't wait to see for myself! We also go to Barbados- I will know NOT to do that tour. UGH! I can't believe the tour guide yelled at you! That is NUTS! I think we are going to go snorkeling with the turtles there- I actually am probably most excited for Barbados, so I hope our day there goes better than yours.

Yeah, I struck out on the monkey tour. Hopefully DCL vets their tour operators a little better by the time you sail. I want to go back to Barbados...I know I didn't see the best of the island.

St Kitts is really nice- we went for a week many many years ago. They have a drink there (if you ever get back) called Ting with a Sting- it is Ting soda and CSR, which is Cane Spirit Rothschild- it is a clear liquor distilled from sugar cane, and it is only there. Good stuff- very refreshing
beverage!

That drinks sounds horrible....NOT! Mmmmmm!

Thanks Jill!

Thanks for reading!

Jill in CO

 

[podsnel]

Thanks for reading!

Jill in CO

Sure! Thanks for writing! And I just came to say- we are not going on DCL for that one in November- we are actually on Celebrity.

 

[rentayenta]

I am sooooo sorry I got so behind.


Popcorn crap! Your meals look delicious. I'm sad that lobster was tough, it looks yum! Do you not like the Wellington part of the beef? Ive never had it but it looks a little mushy.

Funny how the servers catch on to something and bring it every night? It's very sweet but I hate not eating/drinking it and wasting it.

Your tours sounded interesting. Six hours does seem like a long time though. I need to venture out.

I find it so interesting from the nutmeg to the rum to the cocoa processing, it looks so primitive though I'm sure it's effiecnt. The good old FDA would shut those places down quick like.

You and Rosstah.

 

[franandaj]

Holy updates! Sorry that you had your worst tour ever, but I'm glad one of them turned out to be the best tour of the cruise. Personally this itinerary doesn't appeal to me as much as others. So many port days and so little days at sea.

It sounds like a lot of the food you had on the ship was hit or miss. I can see where you woukd have been "over" the Grand Marnier souffles. The first time its kind of cute but over and over it does get old.

Early dining would drive me crazy if I had to be in the dining room that early on disembarkation day. I barely made it to breakfast on time on our last cruise and we had late dining.

Nice that your friends let you hang out until your plane left. Boo to no down times day but great that you had time with your parents. And the best news that your furbaby is all in the clear!

Thanks for taking us along on your trip!

 

[MEK]

I hope you pick up where you left off in this TR Jill!!!!!!!

 

[jedijill]

Sure! Thanks for writing! And I just came to say- we are not going on DCL for that one in November- we are actually on Celebrity.

Ooh, Celebrity. You better be writing a report young lady!

Jill in CO

 

[jedijill]

I am sooooo sorry I got so behind.


Popcorn crap! Your meals look delicious. I'm sad that lobster was tough, it looks yum! Do you not like the Wellington part of the beef? Ive never had it but it looks a little mushy.

Funny how the servers catch on to something and bring it every night? It's very sweet but I hate not eating/drinking it and wasting it.

Your tours sounded interesting. Six hours does seem like a long time though. I need to venture out.

I find it so interesting from the nutmeg to the rum to the cocoa processing, it looks so primitive though I'm sure it's effiecnt. The good old FDA would shut those places down quick like.

You and Rosstah.

The Wellington part is mushroom puree around the meat and then wrapped in pastry. I hate mushrooms so I pick it off.

Yep, that nutmeg facility wouldn't work in the US. We get too hung on things. :0

Jill in CO

 

[jedijill]

Holy updates! Sorry that you had your worst tour ever, but I'm glad one of them turned out to be the best tour of the cruise. Personally this itinerary doesn't appeal to me as much as others. So many port days and so little days at sea.

It sounds like a lot of the food you had on the ship was hit or miss. I can see where you woukd have been "over" the Grand Marnier souffles. The first time its kind of cute but over and over it does get old.

Early dining would drive me crazy if I had to be in the dining room that early on disembarkation day. I barely made it to breakfast on time on our last cruise and we had late dining.

Nice that your friends let you hang out until your plane left. Boo to no down times day but great that you had time with your parents. And the best news that your furbaby is all in the clear!

Thanks for taking us along on your trip!

It was a lot of port days. This was a different kind of cruise for sure. The sea day really needed to be in the middle or at the end...or a 10 day cruise with more sea days!

I'm never doing early dining again!

Thanks for joining!

Jill in CO

 

[jedijill]

I hope you pick up where you left off in this TR Jill!!!!!!!

TR is finished...we'll see where the next trip takes me!

Jill in CO