Bermuda and West Indies 2022

   Today, in Toronto, the temperature was 13°C and sunny with thin streaky clouds. We got up and checked out of the Sheraton hotel, checked in at WestJet, went through security and found a Tim Hortons for breakfast.  Security was a breeze at 8 a.m. Since our boarding passes were issued yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, we checked the departure board for our gate. There is a Fionn McCool’s restaurant on the WestJet side.     The flight was on time. There were plenty of taxis at the airport and we were home by 3 p.m. It was an uneventful day and we were glad to be back home.  

      As the sun rose, the ship was entering the final approach to Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale. We ate breakfast is the main dining room which opened at 6:30 a.m. There were about 50 people at tables by 6:45 a.m. It is a calmer place than the Deck 14 Oceanview Café buffet for breakfast any day and especially on disembarking day. Guests were asked to vacate their staterooms by 8 a.m. today.     Location 26°05.59N     80°06.81W   We were already waiting in the Elite and up departure area when the ship was cleared by Customs by 7:45 a.m. and passengers started leaving according to their assigned numbers. We had number 17 for the 8:30 a.m.  shuttle to the airport. The Elite and up status passengers in their departure lounge get a few minutes advance notice of the assigned number being called prior to the general announcement. Getting off the ship and finding our luggage went quickly.  The luggage was loaded on the bus and it w...

  We woke up to a thin overcast sky and a temperature of 27°C, the southern Bahamas islands could be seen on the horizon. The ship was scheduled to dock at noon. Before breakfast, we walked on the outside deck on Deck 5 accumulating just over 6,000 steps.  We were only the second couple at the Tuscan Grill for breakfast. We checked with Darryl, the Captain’s Club representative about tomorrow, when this will be the place for Elite status and up to wait for leaving the ship. We are assigned luggage tag 17 for an approximate 8:30 departure.  Last evening along with the luggage tags, there was a schedule of when the different numbers were to be called and where people were to wait. Other shuttle passengers are to meet in the Silhouette dining room Deck 4 Port side to wait. People who made private arrangements or have cars parked in the parking garage are waiting in the Equinox Theatre, if not Elite status or higher.  We then went to Café al Bacio for...

    Today was the final Sea Day of the cruise which visits Nassau, Bahamas tomorrow.   Today we walked on Deck 5 for half an hour, with cappuccinos from Café al Bacio, before going inside to the Tuscan Grill for breakfast which was a Bellini and a fruit & berry plate. There were some clouds and the temperature was 27°C. At breakfast Darryl, the Captain’s Club representative, informed us that there were close to 500 Elite guests, 97 Elite Plus guests and 12 Zenith level passengers on board. We also found out that there are COVID quarantine areas on Deck 3 Forward of Guest Services and Deck 6 Aft, if necessary. There are some passengers in quarantine now but all with mild symptoms. Face masks are required when in the Equinox Theatre, Celebrity Central Theatre or the Casino. There has to be 1% of passengers with COVID before the Captain makes any announcement about cases aboard. This morning’s location was 21°51.04 N and  69°29.13W     We re...

 Today we arrived at the Road Town cruise port in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, before 7 a.m. Already in port was the Norwegian Breakaway, which holds almost 4,000 passengers at full capacity compared to Equinox’s 2,850.  There were a few clouds, a gentle breeze and 26°C. Location was 18°25.26N; 64°36.65W. There is a location clothing company named Latitude 18. Before breakfast we walked up on Deck 14 for 45 minutes. Arnie joined us for the last 30 minutes before we went to breakfast in the Tuscan Grill. There were less than a dozen guests there when we finished.   Today’s excursion was “Town and Country Drive” to see the island driving on the twisty hilly narrow main road in a minibus that could hold 24. We were in the first group of seven or eight and were led to a true air conditioned vehicle, the only one.  We were in the same group as Arnie and Sue. There were a few pauses along the way to photograph the views of the Road Bay. The nautical term...

     Today we arrived in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten and were cleared to leave the ship by 8 a.m. There were a few clouds, temperature was 28°C and windy. Our docked location is 18°00.73N and 63°02.72W. We had breakfast in the dining room. As we watched the harbour, we noticed that a bunker barge was being guided to our ship by a tugboat to refuel the ship. On our way off the ship, while Larry got bottled water at Café Al Bacio, I stopped at the Captain’s Club desk to inquire about the Depart Questionnaire requiring Internet to link to. All I needed to do was give our stateroom number and the time we would need to leave the ship. We need to be at the airport by 11:30 and the last group off the ship is at 9:15 a.m. so we will be leaving then. We have purchased shuttle tickets to the airport. I am not confident in how organized the departure day will be. Internet connection is still frustrating, I can sometimes view Facebook and even make an entry, however, I cannot get the e...