Cruises BM925/BM926
on the M.S. Braemar
in the Caribbean
(Please scroll down to see the photographs)
| Date: |
Port: |
Flag: |
Escort: |
Comment: |
26
Nov
2009 |
Bridgetown
Barbados |
 |
Highlights |
Museum,
lunch &
gardens |
28
Nov
2009 |
Roseau
Dominica |
 |
Favourites |
Trafalgar falls &
Emerald pool |
29
Nov
2009 |
Road Town
Tortola
BVI |
 |
Sailaway |
Catamaran |
02
Dec
2009 |
Havana
Cuba |
 |
Cigars &
Rum |
Factory &
Distillery |
04
Dec
2009 |
Cozumel
Mexico |
 |
Tulum
Mayan
Ruins |
Clifftop
setting! |
06
Dec
2009 |
Ocho Rios
Jamaica |
 |
Highlights |
Dunn's
river
falls! |
09
Dec
2009 |
Castries
St. Lucia |
 |
North
of the
Island |
Pigeon Island &
Rodney Bay
beach |
| Date: |
Port: |
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Comment: |
10
Dec
2009 |
Bridgetown
Barbados |
|
Scenic &
Beach escape |
Highlands &
Dover beach |
12
Dec
2009 |
St. George's
Grenada |
 |
Adventure
river tubing |
Wet,
wet,
wet! |
14
Dec
2009 |
Willemstad
Curacao |
 |
- |
No tour |
15
Dec
2009 |
Oranjestad
Aruba |
|
Sea &
See
Island Tour |
Semi-
submersible |
17
Dec
2009 |
Road Town
Tortola
BVI |
|
Virgin Gorda |
Just like
the
Seychelles! |
18
Dec
2009 |
Philipsburg
St. Maarten |
|
Hidden
Forest
Hike |
No lunch! |
19
Dec
2009 |
St. Johns
Antigua |
 |
Catamaran
experience |
On board BBQ! |
21
Dec
2009 |
Bridgetown
Barbados |
|
- |
- |
| Date: |
Port: |
Flag: |
Escort: |
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|
Howard, Yvonne & Bill
Maggie & Me
Havana Cathedral, Cuba
Tulum, Mexico
Granite tors on Aruba
The Baths, Virgin Gorda, BVI
The Penha store, Willemstad, Curacao, Netherland Antilles
Here is my cruise report ...
I drove to Brighton and left my car outside Mark's house before taking the train to Gatwick.
We flew out on a packed BA jet but back on a far from full Thomas Cook charter plane.
My first visit to Havana in Cuba included the fascinating cigar factory and rum distillery.
We berthed at the island of Cozumel off Mexico and took the fast ferry to Playa del Carmen.
The Mayan ruins at Tulum had a stupendous setting on the cliff top.
At Ocho Rios on Jamaica I climbed the invigorating Dunn's River Falls.
My first visit to Aruba included the lighthouse, the granite tors, the natural bridge and a cruise in a semi-submersible.
I swam in the sea at Rodney Bay on St. Lucia, Dover beach on Barbados,
the 'Baths' on Virgin Gorda and at a deserted beach on Antigua.
Oh, life's a beach!
The cruise director wrote: "All the hosts were very nice.
Martin & Bill are regulars and I would recommend them any time.
It was nice that they went around the venues looking for places to dance,
rather than all of them sticking to the Neptune (lounge)".
For the record ...
- Food: Very good, but bread & butter pudding every single day?
- Tours: An excellent 13 out of 14 ports. No tour in pretty Curacao.
- Weather: Hot, hot, hot!
- Sailaways: Several.
- Tea dance: Two.
- Masonics: I hosted one and Leo Shaver hosted one.
- Service clubs: My cabin mate Bill hosted these.
- Dinner host: No.
- Line dancing: Yes, morning classes and the Western nights.
- Sequence dancing: Some.
- Ballroom dancing: Lots.
- Western night: Two.
- Tropical night: Two
- British (Red, White & Blue) night: Two.
- Singles party: Two.
- Singles lunch: No.
- Formal nights: Six.
- Cocktail parties: Nine (one clashed with line dancing!)
- Captain: Tom Hansen.
- Cruise Director: Cameron Wilson from Scotland.
- Assistant Cruise Director: Priscilla from Manila.
- Host/ess: Stacey, Jackie, Lauren, Jo-ann.
- Host: Sam Bracking.
- Cabin mate: Bill MacKay.
- Dance couple: Yvonne McGeehan & Howard Gibson.
- Other dance hosts: None.
- Lecturer(s): Richard Thomas (DFID) & Dr Arthur Williamson.
- Musician(s): Chris Watkins (violin), Leo Shavers (trumpet), Jeff Diamond from Las Vegas & Hubert Greaves from Barbados.
- Singer(s): Robert Craig from Wales, Gavin Murray from Scotland & Rey Carinan from the Phillipines.
- Comedian(s): Ron Dale from Scotland & Maxwell Plumm from Wolverhampton in the Cotswolds!
- Doctor: Spanish.
- Cabin: 2031 outside twin.
- Passenger(s): Pam & Pat from Devon, Maggie from Eastbourne.
- Photographs taken: 750.
- Emails back home: 448.
- Google earth: Thought I was in Messina and Palermo on Sicily or Venice, Italy!
- Wi-Fi - Good, free signals in several places:
- The ferry from Cozumel to Playa del Carmen (but not vice versa!).
- The coach park at Ocho Rios cruise terminal.
- The main square in Oranjestad, Aruba.
- The main square in St. John's, Antigua.
- The promenade in Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
- Main street, Road Town, Tortola, BVI.
- The round market in Willemstad, Curacao.
- The LIME (formerly Cable & Wireless) store in Bridgetown, Barbados.
