Trips

Tues., 2/25/14 – Willemstad, Curaçao
After a day at sea, during which Gale attended two culinary arts presentations that were both about Caribbean cuisine, (too much butter, brown sugar, rum, and coconut to become part of her cooking repertoire), we docked at Willemstad, Curaçao. The morning looked like rain again but it just remained mostly cloudy and turned out to be very pleasant for our morning excursion to Blue Bay Beach. We rode a blue painted school bus with no windows – really “open air” – as our guide pointed out structures and described some history and government and education on the island.

At the beach, which is a private resort area, we had the use of lounge chairs, showers, and bathrooms. The beach was not soft sand so we were glad we had water shoes and kept them on even in the water. We snorkeled using our own equipment and enjoyed colorful fish around the rocks to the left of the swimming area. It was protected and only about 10 feet deep. We walked a little, relaxed, and Gale went in the water again and showered the salt and sand off before we got back on the bus. Marge enjoyed reading while sitting in the shade of palm trees. It was not real hot and sitting under the coconut palms was pleasant.

Flag of Curaçao

Blue Bay Beach

After lunch on the ship we walked into town past the Rif Fort, which is now a hotel and commercial area, across the famous Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge to Punda where the Governor’s Palace and Fort Amsterdam are. We got a souvenir spoon in a shop but walked on by the expensive diamond, watch, and clothing stores. We found the fishermen’s area (the fish were all sold by this time) and the veggie street market and strolled through many kiosks selling native goods.

Willemstad waterfront

A market!

Bringing goods to the market

We walked back across the pontoon bridge just before it swung open for a coast guard ship to enter the protected harbor. The bridge rotated up stream 90°. While the bridge is open, two free ferryboats take people across. The bridge was interesting and unique.

Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge beginning to open

Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge - halfway open

Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge - nearly open

Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge - open at last

Naval ship passing through

Wed., 2/26/14 – Oranjestad, Aruba
We were docked in Oranjestad, Aruba until 1:30 PM. We spent the morning walking along the seaside and through town. We had been here on our Panama Canal cruise and just decided to enjoy the pleasant day around town.

Flag of Aruba

Lots of iguanas

Pretty little fellow

Thurs., 2/27/14 – At Sea

        This morning Gale learned how the Ryndam makes sticky buns. They are rich but yummy. Later I listened to an hour lecture on the four voyages of Christopher Columbus. Then we finally went to High Tea in the main dining room and drank tea and ate little sandwiches, scones with jelly, and desserts.

Fri., 2/28/14 – Georgetown, Grand Cayman
            This morning we anchored in the harbor at Georgetown, Grand Cayman. We had a long wait for the tenders to get organized, but got to shore at 9:10 AM. The tenders hold 150 people if used in an emergency and 90 passengers on normal shuttles when the ship is anchored at a destination. However, given the percentage of overweight, obese people on this cruise, the first 70 passengers did not fit on the seats in the first tender so following groups only contained 60 passengers. This was a good indication of the type of people on this cruise!
            At the pier we were formed up into a line by twos and paraded like school kids across the street to our 24-passenger mini-bus. After a short ride we boarded our catamaran docked in a canal and began our Reef and Rays excursion. We were taken out to a large sand bar to see, pet, and hold wild stingrays. Our guide was very good at explaining what to do, and not to do. We stood in chest deep water on a perfect white sand bottom and the rays came to us. They swam around us, between our legs, and bumped into us. The underside of their wings is soft and smooth like silk and that was where we were to pet them. Some of the females were four to five feet across and several of them were pregnant. They give birth twice a year to two to five four inch babies. The males are only 12 to 18 inches wide. It is a female run society. We had our picture taken with one of the large females that one of the guides was holding. Playing with the stingrays was a highlight of the cruise! The air was 85°, the water was 82° and aquamarine and turquoise. It was a perfect day for this excursion!
            We got back on board and moved about ½ mile and went snorkeling inside the coral reef. We were warned that the dark water signified the deep cliff that dropped to 6 or 7,000 feet. We stayed in about 10 feet of water! The reef is alive with brain and fan coral and many other shapes. We saw a variety of colorful fish and had a good time just floating and enjoying the view below us.

Flag of Grand Cayman

At Sting Ray City

At 1 PM we were back in town and shopped to find a spoon with a stingray on it and then got back to the ship in time for lunch (of course).

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