Homeward Bound

It was a bumpy night as the Captain had warned us in his departure speech from Ponta Delgada, but the seas have calmed down a lot today and the sun came out in earnest by 10am. I played shuffleboard this am and pm, then popped my head into the Chocoholics Buffet which was in the Conservatory.

 

In between it was quite hot enough to sunbathe, although the water in the pool is splashing out over onto the decks. I have been surprised that, however much the ship was rocking and rolling at various points in the cruise, all pools and Jacuzzis have remained open. Just two more days to go, although some people have washed all their clothes and some have even packed!!

At around 6pm, the Captain came over the tannoy to say that in about half an hour we would be passing Azura on her way to the Caribbean. I dashed back to my cabin to get my camera and then up on the forward observation deck to watch. 

The Captain and First Officer put out the Golden Cockerel on the bridge wing (it belongs to Oriana as the fastest ship in the fleet) and sounded our horns as we passed – nothing back at all from Azura though – miserable lot! Won a little in the casino and then went to dinner. I have had the offer of two other tables to change to but our waiters and wine waiter are so lovely I will stick with it till the end. By the time I went to bed the ship was moving quite a bit at the moment, which was making my knees ache. We are running ahead of a big storm coming in so the Captain asked us to think of the people joining Oriana on Wednesday as they may have to sail out into the brunt of it.

Day 20 – Bay of Biscay

We are now just entering the BoB. It has been raining overnight so no shuffleboard or quoits this am. Although it isn’t cold (18C), it is damp outside and the ship is pitching with the occasional roll, so most people are inside (wind force 6). The shop has a 50% off all clothes sale, so that is very busy, otherwise pax are sitting in bars or in the cinema which is showing the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel today. I have packed one holdall but will leave everything else until tomorrow afternoon. It seems as if I have been on board for ever in some ways, and ending all too soon in others. Think I will have lunch in the MDR today as it will not be easy carrying a tray up top. In fact at breakfast there was a steward coming round with a trolley to serve teas and coffees at the table. It’s now looking very different outside from a week ago when we were in Barbados! Even so, all the pools are still open – it must be like being in a washing machine. The noon announcement is just on the tannoy – we have 662 miles left to sail to Southampton.

Day 21

The crossing was not bad as we are well ahead of the big storm. The sun has come out again so I was able to play shuffleboard in the morning and afternoon, although if it had been wet we were all going to meet for coffee in the Conservatory. I packed on and off all day and put my cases out just before going in to dinner. I really dslike the final day as I feel as if I am in limbo. I can't just relax and enjoy it as there is packing and final errands to do like returning library books and picking up photos.

All in all, I have thoroughly enjoyed this cruise. I love Oriana and am really loking forward to being back on board at Christmas. The Caribbean I must say is not my favourite part of the world becuase I enjoy architecture and history and for me there didn't seem to be enough to see, but I also love birds and wildlife and in that it excelled. Will I go back?  Yes - if the right deal comes along at the right time. I would like to see the Eastern islands like Aruba and Curacao.

Final stop - the Azores

We were not due to arrive until lunchtime and the weather was cloudy and cool so I went to the Travelling Alone meet and then wandered round the shops etc. before going up to the observation deck to watch our arrival. It was very windy but slowly San Miguel – the largest island in the Azores – appeared through the mist.

 

We were originally due to call here on the way to the Caribbean, when we would have had a full day, but as it was we only had the afternoon and early evening. I had booked a half day excursion with the intention of exploring on my own in the afternoon, but of course the tours were rescheduled for the afternoon. Sadly the low cloud meant that our views of the Fire Lake and Mountain were totally obscured, but we had a walk around Ribeira Grande which was a very interesting little town, ending up at a shop that sold local liqueurs – with free samples!

We then drove to a pineapple plantation – in actual fact more like a Ppneapple nursery, as they were growing in glasshouses – more pineapple liqueur!

As we returned through Ponta Delgada, it looked a very nice town, although friends who walked ashore on their own said they were constantly accosted for money, which put them off somewhat.

We were due to leave at 7 but, with 2 pilots on board, were delayed half an hour for some reason. It was the most beautiful sunset though so I stayed on deck until we sailed. 

 

Oriana - A run of sea days

We are back crossing the Atlantic - this time heading east. t has been a very lazy day. I still woke early so got up at 7.30 and had breakfast in the Conservatory and then found a steamer chair on the prom deck and lazed in the sun for a couple of hours. Because there were a couple of very short showers and a lovely breeze, it was very comfortable out on deck, unlike the previous week. I then went in to browse the sales tables and have lunch in the Peninsular Restaurant. The clocks are going back an hour at lunchtimes so all too soon it was 2.45 and I had missed the afternoon shuffleboard!  I decided to go back to my cabin and have a nap before going to the individual quiz – 16/20. Then it was time to get ready for the formal evening and the Peninsular Party. So – a lovely lazy day, although the sea has been a little bumpy today. It is forecast to be a little worse tonight but then not too bad to the Azores. 

 

Day 15 at sea

There is a little movement in the ship today and after a lovely sunny start – a few clouds have put paid to quoits and shuffleboard. I did the individual theme quiz (fashion) but lost on the tiebreak. I was later commiserated with as a man had seen the winner consulting with her husband but if it is that important for her to win then good luck to her.

Window cleaning on prom deck

The rest of the day has been extremely lazy. I was able to eat lunch outside, in a sheltered area around the Riviera Pool, then just reading etc until the Individual quiz at 5.30 – only 15 right today! It is casual tonight so will start to get ready soon.

Day 16 – at sea

It has been a lovely day. After the rain and choppy seas of yesterday, today has been blue skies and hot sun again, although there has been a strong (warm) wind across the open decks. I played shuffleboard this morning, but didn’t get far, then had lunch and went to watch the Oriana Regatta. Three men had made boats from salvaged materials around the ship.

 

I am not sure which one won though as I then went to play shuffleboard again this afternoon – and WON! I was partnered up with John and the whole final was very close indeed. It went to a tiebreak where each of us had one push. It was still a draw after the two men played, then the other woman got a 7 so it was all down to the final shot – mine! No pressure then !!  I managed an 8!

It is our penultimate formal night tonight so am in the cabin getting ready. The sun is just setting over our stern. It can stay like this till we get home please.

 Day 17 at sea

It is Friday 12 October and today was the Oriana Uncovered event, or rather The 175 Factor as it called this year. I was signing books on a table in the Deck 5 Atrium as part of this. It is quite amazing what some people expect you to know though! Still – a goodly number sold and some nice chats with other passengers. I managed to get the captain, purser and PSM to sign my personal copy of the book. The weather so far today has been cloudy and cool – well 72 degrees, which sure feels cool after the last week – so lots of people were indoors. Fortunately the sun is now coming out so I will probably go to shuffleboard this pm.  After shuffleboard I sunbathed on the stern deck for a couple of hours before going into the individual quiz. Then it was time to get ready for dinner (Smart). Three of us went to the Headliners show which was excellent – then bed.

October 8 - Barbados

We arrived at 6am so I was not up to see the sail in, but we appear to be in what is also a container dock,  although there is room for 6 cruise ships here.

 

I hadn’t booked a tour as I was being met by Cecil Ince, Chairman of Foster & Ince, the Port Agents in Barbados for all cruise ships. Cecil met me on the quayside at 9.30 and we walked to the terminal to discuss plans for the day. He then took me to his beautiful silver Bentley and we drove to their head office to meet his son Martin. We sat in the boardroom with coffee, surrounded by the plaques cruise ships had given them, and discussed their work and what they offer to shipping. After half an hour I was very priviliged to be given a tour of Bridgetown in the Bentley. It was very interesting driving through the city and seeing the old and new, where development was taking place etc.

 

We went to the Garrison, now a UNESCO world heritage site and then back to the ship since Martin had suggested I try one of their tours and the only afternoon one was the Huntes Gardens and Orchid World – the latter owned by FICS. I enjoyed the tour very much, especially seeing the interior of Barbados, which in places looked very English!

 

We got back to the ship at 4.30 - time for me to grab a toasted sandwich and head up for the sailaway. After watching from just above the bridge wing, I joined the Great British Sailaway at the stern. Once again the skies were stunning as the sun set.

 

Then there was just time to wash and change, go the jewellery event with free champagne and then to the Theatre Royal to watch Bill Tidy. I had planned to go to the Farewell to the Caribbean Deck Party but due to the somewhat bouncy seas we are experiencing, it was moved to the Pacific Lounge and when I popped my head in, was empty so decided to go the bed. Am really looking forward to a lie in tomorrow and the next four days at sea!

Sunday 7 October - St Lucia

I rose at 6.30am so I could watch us sail into St Lucia. The sea was dead calm and there were tiny splashes of white in the sails of yachts in the distance. We entered the harbour and swung 180 degrees to berth close to the airport. It is currently 80 degrees and forecast to reach 90 degrees later.  Phew! I am booked on the Aerial Tram excursion with optional walk through the rainforest after. 

 

Today I have had one of the most magical moments ever! We’ll start with the first.  The tour up to the Sky Rides was through lush countryside awash with fruit – coconut palms, guava, mango and papaya trees, Golden apple and sour orange. At the base we boarded open gondolas holding 8 people and a naturalist guide.

 

We had been pre-warned to wear closed in shoes and I chose trousers and a short-sleeved top as I had lathered myself in Deet. The forest is home to boa constrictors, tarantulas, many birds including parrots and hummingbirds and lots more. We were told the hummingbird favourite colour is red and orange like the flowers on the hibiscus trees. On the way up – just over a mile in length – the tram ran at mid height so we could look at the forest floor, the creeks and trails. At the top it turned round and came back at tree top height and this was when a hummingbird spotted my top which just happened to be green with red and yellow flowers. It was amazing as it hovered about 2 feet in front of me, obviously trying to decide if I was edible. All I could focus on was this tiny vision of blues and greens. So that was my magic moment of the cruise so far and no – I didn’t get a photo as when I moved my hands it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

Spot the hummingbird - I did manage to photograph one here.

It was very hot and humid and the aircon in the cabin was heaven. I went to the forward observation deck for sailaway. The Captain sounded the whistle as we neared 5.30 – to remind people after yesterday to get back he said. There was a rum and karaoke bar in the duty free complex and lots of people were still there at 5.20! 

 

Still everyone was back just on time (including our lost souls from yesterday who arrived in St Lucia this am) and we sailed on time to a beautiful sunset and warm evening. However, on the port side, over the mountains a tropical storm provided some free fireworks and entertainment in the form of thunder and spectacular lightning so I missed the Pitons as they were shrouded in cloud.

 

Saturday 6 October – St Maarten

By the time I woke and got up at 6am, we were berthed alongside. As I went up on deck, the air temp was already in the high 20s and by 8.30am was 30C. We have been the only ship in the Caribbean ports so far but on the horizon, Carnival Victory was sailing in and has berthed alongside us.

 

I got ready for my tour – Island sights and semi-submersible, and was on the dockside at 8am, only to be told I had misread the Horizon and was an hour too early!  I wandered up to the town but everything was still shut and it was so hot I returned to the ship and drank another pint of juice and water! So – off to try again! It was a good tour and worth the money. We drove right round the island, both Dutch and French parts, stopping off at a couple of spectacular view points for photos.

 

Then at Grand Case we boarded our boat. On the way out to the reef we saw Booby birds diving for fish. As we neared, we all filed down into the lower part of the hull and sat in twos with long windows on both sides as we reached the reef. There were shoals of coloured fish, turtles, star fish, beautiful pink translucent jellyfish and everywhere waving fronds of different corals.  A diver went down and held fish food to attract more fish close to us. It was magical.

 

Back on dry land we drove to Marigot (passing three chameleons sitting on a wall)  – the French capital where a Saturday market was in full swing – all manner of local fruits, sugar cane, coconut smoothies etc. as well as clothing.

 

Then back to the port where I pottered round a few of the jewellery shops, but left before temptation got the better of me. By then it was extremely hot and quite humid so lazed on deck the rest of the afternoon. Every single shady corner of the ship was packed while the open decks were empty! We sailed from St Maarten at 4.30, whereas before it had been 5.30. This is why we think we are 4 pax short tonight.  Several announcements were made and the captain waited 20 mins, before I watched the Passenger Services Manager hand their passports to the port agents and we left!  I can only imagine how they are going to feel to see Oriana in the distance. The best time of the day is around 5.30 as first sitting pax head in to change, the sun is setting and the temperature is perfect. There were flying fish near the bow and islands all around us.  

 

Friday 4 October Tortola

We arrived at dawn and once again were the only ship in port. I was on a tour to see the main sights – The Best of Tortola. I boarded the usual Caribbean style bus – open sided, very high steps and bench seats. 

 

We first drove through the town as the children were going to school. Everyone of them looked very smart in their uniforms and most said hello very politely as we waited at one of the three traffic lights on the island. You do NOT want to do this tour if you do not like heights. We drove up what seemed like 1 in 3 roads and round hairpin bends to Great Mountain for stunning views of all the surrounding islands, as well as the ship.

 

Next stop was Cane Garden Bay. Here we were able to walk along the beach, paddle or just sit and absorb the warmth and scenery. There were artists’ workshops and the usual souvenirs as well.  Then up and down some more hair-raising roads, past Carrot Bay etc to the famous Pusser’s Landing and another rum punch!  We had an hour here which I felt was ample. It is very touristy with expensive shops and not a great deal to see or do besides admire the floating real estate! 



Cane Garden Bay

We then drove along the coast road back to Road Town, past the mangroves which are being planted to help stop coastal erosion, especially during hurricanes. Some of us got off the bus at the big market before wandering back to the ship.

Pusser's Landing

The day was a lot less humid than Antigua and there was a welcome breeze.  Tortola appeared to be a more affluent isalnd than Antigua to me. I spent the afternoon dozing in the shade on deck. Sailaway was delightful in the late afternoon sun, and those of us on the Observation deck spotted a turtle swimming close to the ship, as pelicans dived for the fish we disturbed!