Day 1: March 22, Sunday Flight & Hotel Stay
We are up early, showered, dressed, loaded our luggage into the car, and headed to the Huntsville International Airport. We arrived a little early due to a shortage of TSA agents.
We didn't have a problem. We meet up with fellow travelers Shelia, Mickey, David, and Cindy.
We boarded Delta Airlines flight 3009 to Atlanta, GA, around 6:30 A.M. We got to Atlanta about 30 minutes early, but had to sit on the plane while it unloaded passengers.
We unlocked the plane and went to our next gate. We had to take the Metro to Gate F. Once we reached the gate area, I went in search of something to eat. I stopped at Atlanta Bread Company, where I bought a Chicken Salad Sandwich cut in half, a bag of chips, and a Diet Coke, which Hubby and I shared.
At 10:05, we boarded Delta Airlines flight 1990, seats 25E and 25F, from Atlanta, GA to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
We were served cookies, chips, and Coke. This flight took about 2 1/2 hours. We watched our flight on-screen. We arrived in the Dominican Republic, disembarked, and went through customs.
We said goodbye to our friends, who are staying at a different hotel. We looked for our ride and finally found it. We met a couple from Hartselle, AL, on the ride to the hotel.
We arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn, room 418, La Romana, Dominican Republic, where we stayed one night.
We checked in, took our luggage to our room 418, then went to dinner.
We ordered Caesar salad, cheeseburger, fries, and two waters.
After dinner, we strolled outside to watch the sunset.
3546 Airport 11:08 A.M.
3549-3561 Punta Cana Airport 2:14-2:43 PM Terminal B
3562 Hampton Garden Inn Punta Cana Room 418 @ 4:57 P.M.
3563-3565 Walking outside
3566-3567 Dinner @5:30 PM
3568-3605 Walking around the hotel and sunset 6:09–6:57 P.M.
Day 2: Mar 23, Monday, Traveling to Port and boarding the ship
Breakfast at the hotel, where we ate from the buffet. I got sausage, egg, fruit, cheese, and juice.
We went back to our room until around 9 A.M., when the NCL Rep would be downstairs to take us to our ride.
Hubby stayed in the room while I walked around the hotel and down to the ocean.
We loaded onto the van that took us to the port where the ship was docked.
We had to fill out immigration papers and then go through immigration.
We got our key cards and loaded onto the ship. Room 9039 Muster Station K
We were hungry by this time, so we went to the ship's buffet. We looked for somewhere to sit, finally finding seating outside near the swimming pool.
We watched the ship leave port, and all the workers on the island were standing on the pier waving goodbye.
I took a long nap and got up around 8 P.M., and we went to dinner in the Palace Dining Room.
3606 Breakfast @6:57 AM
3607-3620 outside hotel 8:25-8:41
3621-3640 Traving to Ship @10:57-11:16 A.M.
3641-3651 Port @11:20-12:06 P.M.
3652 Lunch @ 12:34 P.M. Watermelon, fish, cake, and Ice cream.
3558-3661 Dinner @ 8 P.M. Caesar Salad, Fish, Crème Brûlée
Day 3: Mar 24, Oranjestad, Aruba (Sunset Cruise) 1–10:30 P.M.
Breakfast in the Crossing Dining Room. I ordered an omelet with sausage and French Toast. We ate with our friends Shelia, Mickey, Cindy, and David.
We ate lunch in the Crossing Dining Room. I ordered a hamburger, fries, and a chocolate cake.
When we docked, around 1 P.M., our friends went to the beach, but we decided to walk around in Aruba.
We took everything with us because we are taking a sunset cruise from 4:30- 7:30 P.M.
After our cruise, we returned to the ship, showered, and dressed for our specialty dinner at Cagney's.
I ordered shrimp skewers, creamed potatoes, salad, and Raspberry Crème Brûlée.
3662 Sunrise @6:27 AM
3663 Replicia Ship @7:23
3664-3665 Breakfast at Crossings
3666 Walking outside on the ship
3666-3670 Lunch 1212:47–1:05 P.M.rossings
3671 Tickets (Excursion)
3672-3676 Sunse Cruise 5:37–6:52 P.M.
3677-3695 Sunset Cruise Aruba Meet on the pier ashore, next to the ship
Day 4: Mar 25, Wednesday, Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles8–5 P.M.M
Breakfast Crossing Parfi, Patries, Scrambled egg, and sausage.
Lunch: 5 O'clock Somewhere Curacao
Dinner: Crossings Fish Hoki, Green beans, Potatoes
We slept late and did not leave the ship until 10 A.M.
We ate breakfast in Crossings, then returned to our cabin to collect our belongings and proceeded to the port.
We walked along the beachfront, stopping at Diamonds International to pick up two free bracelets and charms. We stopped at what was left of the historic RIF FORT, built in 1828 to protect the entrance to St. Anna Bay and the outer part of Otrobanda.
We walked across the bridge and stopped at the Maritime History Museum. We walked back to the ship, stopping at 5 O'Clock Somewhere for lunch. We ordered 3 soft chicken tacos, chips, salsa, and drinks.
Hubby bought 3 shirts for $20.
We returned to the ship and went to our room, which had not been cleaned, so we went to deck 11, poolside, so I could write in my journal.
Hubby ordered a margarita, Angry Orchard, and Pinacola.
We ate dinner around 6 with our friends, then went to see a show around 7:30 with Juggler Dave Rave.
We went to Effie's store for a talk and charm.
3701-3704 View from room @8:26 AM
3705-3706 Breakfast 9:17 A.M.
3707-3752 Port at 10:18 A.M.
3753-3814 Maritime History Museum @11:19 AM
3815-3847 Walking back to the ship 11:48 A.M.
3839 Lunch at 5 O'clock Somewhere
3848-3849 Ice Cream Rocky Road & Drinks @2:34 PM
3850-3855 Tickets Room @3:52
3856-3857 Dinner
Day 5, Mar 26, Thursday, Kralendijk, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles 6–1 P.M.
Breakfast Buffet level 11, Juice, French toast, Sausage, and Peaches
Lunch: Crossings Shrimp Fritters, Fish Tacos, Raspberry Custard
Dinner: Palace, Bresheta, Shrimp Dinner, Carrot Cake
We were on the bus by 8:30 for our excursion, ion first stopping at the Salt Flats.
Our guide was Sylvia, and our bus driver was Andy.
We saw the town beaches, two museums, a couple of restrooms, and a Diet Coke (12:3.0). We had a great time. I talked to a woman from Canada and told her I had done some genealogy on my family line. That grandmother was Canadian. She said her family was from Europe and her mother was Russian. She said her brothers were born in Canada and had no memory of the old country or relatives living there.
Excursion: Highlights & Culture Explore Meet on the pier ashore next to the ship at 8:45 A.M.
After dinner, we went to the theater to watch Showdown.
3858-3879 sunrise @6:37-6:46 A.M.
3880 copy of Effie @7:30
3881-3913 Riding through Bonaire @9:36 AM
3914 Sea Shells @9:23 AM
3915-3950 Riding through Bonaire @ 9:36
3951-3954 First Stop @10:33 AM
3955-3963 Flemingo Sanctuary @10:46 AM
3964-3965 Tourist Tree @10:54
3966-3975 Traveling Bonaire @10:57
3976-3981 Washington Slagbaai National Park & Museum @11:00 AM
3982 -3992 Museum Locat Shop @11:35 AM
3993-3996 Sea Shells & Birds Chart @12:01
3997-4002 Lunch @12:48 PM
4003 Walking @ 2:47PM
4005-4008 Sunset @ 66:29 P.M.4009-4012 Dinner @ Palace with friends
4013-4014 Group Photo
4015 Showdown @ 8:30 PM
Day 6: Mar 27, Friday, Saint Lucia Volcanic mud bath 22–8 P.M.Breakfast: Parfai Sausage, open-face smoked salmon on cream cheese bagel.
Lunch: Tuna sandwich with fries with friends
Dinner: Meal on Shore
Excursion: Volcantic Mud Bath Experience, meet at Stardust Theater, Deck 6 & 7 Aft meet at 2 P.M.
We departed at 2:30 in a van for two hours, going around very curvy roads up and down hills.
Arriving at a quaint area filled with sulfur hot water and volcanic ash. We were there for a short time. The showers barely worked, so most of the ash stayed on our clothes and our bodies.
We stopped for a buffet-style meal, which was included. The restaurant was located on a mountain overlooking the town and the water below, with beautiful views.
After dinner, we began our journey back to the ship. The sun was setting, and it was dark by the time we reached the ship. It was getting close to time for the ship to depart when we finally boarded the ship.
We ate breakfast at 8:30 A.M. with friends. We went to the Effie store for charms.
We watched the cruise director's chief and a member of the audience decorate a three-layer chocolate cake with Cool Whip icing, then top it with cherries.
@11:30, we went to an excursion gathering where we met our cruise, next team at the Spinner Launch deck 11 FWD.
At 9:30 P.M., we went to the Palace Theatre to watch Showdown, where American Idols meet Motown X Factor, and the audience chose the winner.
4016-4017 Breakfast @9:02 AM with friends
4018-4021 Cake Decorating @10:43 AM
4022 Lunch Salmon sandwich with fries
4023-4177 St Lucia @2:46 Riding the van
4125 Dinner @5:41 St Luica
4179-4180 Pier @7:27 PM
4181 -4190 Leaving the Port @7:50 PM
Day 7: Mar 28, Saint Kit9–6 P.M.
Basseterre, Saint Kitts, Nevis 9–6 P.M.
Day 7: Mar 28, Saturday: Saint Kitts 9-6
Breakfast: Ham & Cheese Omelet, French toast, cranberry juice
Lunch: Coke, chips, muffin, coconut candy
Dinner: Cagney's Shrimp Skewers, creamed potatoes, mushrooms, lobster tail, and dessert was Raspberry Crème Brûlée.
Excursion: Rail and Sail meet at the pier @10:15 AM.
We ate breakfast in Crossings Restaurant: ham and cheese omelet, two sausage links, French Toast, and cranberry juice.
We got off the ship around 9:30 A.M. and walked around the town area.
We waited for our group and the excursion rail and sail. We were on Van #7, driver Devin.
Devin took us to the train station, met us at the end of the ride, and took us to the boat.
Our guide on the train ride was Jackie, and our server was Camille. Camille served us drinks and a sweet snack.
We had a couple of young men perform for each car at least two times during the ride.
The boat ride took us back to our ship.
We were served sodas, chips, and a muffin (banana bread) on the boat.
We disembarked from the boat ride and walked through the shops, where Hubby stopped to buy three Island shirts for $20.
We walked through the guarded area, where we had to show our ID and ship card.
We showered and rested before dinner.
We ate dinner at Cagney's with our friends.
After dinner, we went to the Palace Theatre to see Women of Rock: Music from Women of Rock Legends while gaining insight into life on the road.
4191-4197 Breakfast @ 8:26 A.M.
4198-4199 St Kitts on ship @8:54 AM
4200-4212 off Ship at St Kitts @ 9:09–9:43 A.M.
4213-4214 Excursion @ 10:23 A.M.
4215-4234 Train Ride @ 10:26–12:46 P.M.
4235-4241 Boat Ride @ 1:08–2:42 P.M.
4242-4246 Dinner @6:06-7:09 P.M.
4247-4264 Meet the Crew @ 8:18–8:21 P.M.
4265 Group Photo
Day 8: Mar 29, Sunday: 7–2:30 P.M. Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Breakfast: Parfi, Sausage, French Toast
Lunch: Shrimp Fritters, Ice Cream
Dinner: Crossings Lobster Tail, Creamed Potatoes, Shrimp, Chocolate Melt Cake with ice cream.
with friends
We did not book an excursion; we just got off the boat and walked around.
Most everything in town was closed because it was Sunday.
We met a woman (Kitti) selling seats on a Taxi 613 Truck for $20 per person for two hours.
So we hopped on for an exciting ride up the mountain.
We stopped at several overlooks of the city and the Virgin Islands.
We stopped for a restroom break and snacks at Stoutt's Lookout 000 Bar & Restaurant.
Every time we went around a curvy road where the driver couldn't see oncoming traffic, she tooted her horn. This was being courteous.
We stopped for a selfie in front of the Colorful Tortola sign with our ship in the background.
We stopped at the British Virgin Island Callwood Rum Distillery for a rum tasting.
We passed several buildings, Spice BVI Trading Historic Social Inn, Pusser's to-go Pizza, chicken and wings, Police Headquarters, Sabals Law, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, & Tortola elements Island Sign.
We passed CG Insurance, Latitude 18, Prime Restaurant, Red Cross Shop, and Althea.
Scatliff Primary School, House of Assembly, a Cemetery, Cane Garden Bay Methodist Church.
We passed the Royal Shop, Burgers and Creeps, Goodfellows, Hers & Mine, and arrived back at port, where we boarded our boat.
Music was playing, and a limb stick was raised or lowered as we walked to the ship.
It was still daylight as we left port. I stood outside watching the island disappear out of sight.
I bought shorts and a top at one of the shops and spent $63.50
We ate dinner in Crossing Restaurant with our friends. After dinner, we went to the theatre to watch several crew members perform, all of whom were from the Philippines. Some sang, danced, or juggled.
We returned to our cabin, packed our luggage, and set it outside our room for pickup.
4267-4271 View of British Virgin Islands from the ship @7:57 AM
4272 Breakfast @ 9:04 AM
4273-4274 Virgin Islands @9:45 AM
4275-4399 Bus Tour @10:26-12:48 P.M.
4400 Receipts
4401-4453 Walking on deck five as we were leaving port 2:13–2:43 P.M.
4456-4460 Dinner
Talent Show @ *;30 PM Stardust Theatre
Day 9: Monday, Mar 30: Dock and Travel home
Breakfast in Crossing Restaurant with friends. French toast, sausage, and a Diet Coke.
Lunch: Carl JR's airport cheeseburger and Coke $18.75.
Dinner: Blue Moon Brewhouse, Atlanta Airport, Turkey Club Sandwich, two Cokes, fries, $26.41.
Went to breakfast with friends. We went through immigration, got our luggage loaded onto the bus, and headed to the airport. We stopped for a restroom break and bought a Coke for $1.
Loaded back onto the bus and headed to the airport. We were dropped off and headed through customs.
We were stopped and had to fill out more paperwork. I finished mine and went through customs, but Hubby had to fill out more paperwork. He finally got through.
We settled in long enough to have lunch before flying to Atlanta.
I didn't take any photos.
SDQ SANTO DOMINGO DL1803 AT 1:42 SEAT 23 A& B TO ATLANTA, GA
ATL TO HSV ON DL3065 AT 8:38 P.M. SEATS 23 A & B.
We arrived home around 10 P.M.
