Cruise Review - Port of Call - St Maarten

The second port of call on the Celebrity Summit 7 night Southern Caribbean cruise was St. Maarten (Dutch side)/St. Martin (French side). Up to this point I did not have any trouble with seasickness on the cruise and hadn't even busted out the Bio Band. Yet the night cruising from St. Thomas to St. Maarten was pretty rocky and we both had trouble sleeping. So we got up ordered tea and coffee and sat out on the deck as we travelled toward our second port of call.

Sunrise in the Caribbean.

Another cruise ship in the distance.

Tea and coffee on the deck.

Arriving in Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

Leaving the boat.

Water taxi stand.

The activity for the day was parasailing. We booked on our own with a company called Size Matters. They were running late that day so we walked around the beach/shopping area and stumbled upon the cutest little restaurant you ever did see.

I did find this sign to be a bit misleading. I was expecting a Heineken Breakfast as is eggs poached in Heineken, biscuits made from Heineken dough, or bacon fried in Heineken. Maybe I need to go back to Amsterdam to get that?

The view from Heineken Breakfast.

Finally the parasailing time came. There were 7 of us in all. We dropped our bags in the Size Matters office. Jumped into a speed boat and hit the water. Or actually the water hit us. The sea was rough that day and we all held on for dear life as we Crockett and Tubbs it out to sea. We finally slowed down to get harnessed in and to receive instructions. By this time I was regretting the fact that we were going parasailing and the terror in my heart was churning. Oh - and we went first b/c we went the highest - 800ft.

Once harnessed we once again get some speed going and head for the angry sea. At this time we are instructed to climb on the back of the boat where there is a take off and landing area. We are now hooked to the parachute and the rope is let go and we climb, climb, climb. Did I mention it was 800 ft into the air? No? Well it was.

Climbing to a comfortable cruising altitude.

Taking off.

Dear God please don't let that rope break!

The view from the top.

I don't even know how hubby got these pictures. The wind was so fierce that we were being shook around, up, down. left, right then back up, down etc. And of course I forgot to wear my seasickness band!

The decent was absolutely amazing. It got quiet, gentle and serene. That part I would do all over again.

At first we were loving it then we were hating it. I think the elements were too rough and the crew did say that if it had been any more windy that day they would have had to cancel. Yet, he told us this after the fact.

After parasailing we had planned to take a cab over to the French side, but we were so air/sea sick that we headed back to the ship. We didn't even want to take the water taxi back to the ship b/c we were afraid of how the boat would make us feel!

As I told hubby -'Glad I did it but never again.' And he agreed!

Heading back to the ship.

Cruise Review - Port of Call - St. Thomas, USVI

St. Thomas was the first port of call on the Celebrity Summit 7 night Southern Caribbean cruise. Since the Jet Lagged Vagabond is lucky to have a friend who vacations in St. Thomas regularly we did not buy any shore excursions through the cruise line and ventured out on our own with a list of recommendations from a semi-local.

View of the port from our deck. We woke up and there it was. A very smooth docking.

The view of the ship from 'downtown' Charlotte Amelia. I will tell you I did not like the way we were transported to downtown. Once we left the ship we maneuvered through the duty free shopping center to the 'taxi stand'. Several people were standing around trying to look official asking if we needed a taxi. When we replied 'yes' they pushed us into an already extremely long line of people as confused as we were as to how we are all going to share a taxi. Then something looking like a hybrid open air school bus slapped onto the back of a beater pick up truck pulled up in front of us. Herded like cattle they crammed as many people on as possible and then we sat there and sat there. Then we moved onto the main street and then we pulled over. The driver got out and began to ask for the required $4 dollars per person. Once we finally made it into town these so called taxi's roamed the streets and called out to you 'ship, ship' letting you know that they were ready to take you back to the ship and collect another $4.

Oh well, the view of the ocean helped ease our troubles.

Now the main area is a duty free shopping nightmare of store keepers yelling to you 'you haven't been in my shop yet!'. Like that is going to make me buy something in your shop. The main shopping drag if full of stores with watches, diamonds, perfume, sunglasses, liquor etc. I'm not really a shopper (who can afford diamonds?) so I went looking for local culture and flavor.

I was surprised to lean that Camille Pissarro was born in St. Thomas. And there is even a local art gallery in his name crammed in between all the stores selling their finest diamonds.

Beginning the trend of the day the gallery was closed. Oh, and wouldn't an art gallery have a better sign? It looks a little unloved.

This was actually a nice and cool shopping arcade. We did find an antique store that had vintage black and white post cards of the Caribbean. That I can afford.

Sadly this sign is really all there is to show you the island was once Danish. And really the only thing to show that the island was also once British is they still drive on the left side of the road.

We ran into this guy and his friends off the main shopping drag.

Our friend told us to take the 99 steps to all the local attractions.

Sign telling you what there is to do.

Another sign telling you that all there is to do is closed!

Closed - darn. I think I would have really enjoyed that!

Black Beard's Castle - closed for a tour/excursion through the cruise ship - D'oh!!!!

Oh well - the gate was open and I got some pictures.

So really we had no choice but to sit in this cute little bar and have some drinks! See it all worked out in the end.

Cruise Review - Celebrity Summit

The Celebrity Summit departed San Juan for a seven night cruise of the Southern Caribbean.

The San Juan cruise terminal. Check in was easy even though confusing. There wasn't any direction as what to do and the only signs prompting direction was the one above.

The first glimpse of the Summit.

Welcome information and gifts in our room.

Sky Suite - deck 6 - aft.

Lots of space in the closet!

Nice deck as well!

Sport Court.

Jogging track.

Deck 10 - two outdoor pools, hot tubs, and indoor mineral pool.

Words - the library.

Waterfall Cafe - the buffet.

Back deck bar - it had a nice calm and cool vibe.

The bridge cam on the TV.

Cruise Countdown - Ports of Call

Three days to go!!

Here is a list of our ports of call and what adventures to partake in each:

Day One: Depart San Juan, Puerto Rico. Will have about three days total to explore San Juan pre and post cruise.

Day Two: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas - The Jet Lagged Vagabond is very luck to have a friend that vacations here. Taking friends suggestions of what sights to see.

Day Three: Philipsburg, St. Maarten/St. Martin - the day begins with a parasailing adventure (a Love Boat Moment) and then a trip to the French side of the island to see if it is really French.

Day Four: St. Johns, Antigua - a zip line tour and then lunch in the port.

Day Five: Castries, St. Lucia - a boat tour to the Pitons with snorkel and beach time.

Day Six: Bridgetown, Barbados - swimming with the turtles and exploring this once British island (do you think I can get a Wills & Kate Royal Wedding souvenir here?!?!).

Day Seven: At sea and at the spa.

Day Eight: Back to San Juan.

I'm exhausted just reading this. Perhaps I have planned too much????


P.S. Happy 80th Birthday to the ultimate (space) traveler - William Shatner aka James T. Kirk!

Cruise Countdown! 4 Days and Counting!

It's almost time for the Jet Lagged Vagabond's First Cruise!

The following tasks have been completed:

1. Have checked in online for cruise.
2. Non-polyester cruise wear has been purchased.
3. Fake tan has been liberally applied (daily for several weeks yet still looking pasty).
4. Guide book containing ports of call has been bought and studied.
5. Excursions booked (hoping they are not cheese filled booze cruises/tours - keep fingers crossed).
6. Ridiculously overpriced spa treatment booked.
7. Sea sick bands ordered and already on my wrist.
8. Have thought long and hard about which Love Boat Moments I would like to recreate (note: will NOT be recreating any Titanic 'King of the World Moments').


Tomorrow I will update you on the ports of call and let you know if the sea sick band is really working! Bon Voyageeeeee as Bugs Bunny says!