Carnival Victory Review - New Years Cruise 2013

[Cruzayear]

[quote name='SooNet']---- Part 8

After sail away we headed to the Lido deck to see what was happening at the sail away party. Wow can these people dance! Wish I had the moves like some of these people. There was a Latin/Caribbean vibe to the whole thing and people were dancing Salsa style. I also learned about a new dance move The Waffle and video taped it as well. I hope I can transfer some of the videos to this review as well as we did get some good footage]


The dance is called the "wobble" lol! I am so enjoying your review.

[SooNet]

[quote name='t1adams']Very nice review! Very detailed. Will be on the Valor late March, same itinerary. Can't wait to see more tomorrow! :D[/QUOTE]

Thank you, I am having fun reliving it as I write!

[SooNet]

[quote name='Cruzayear']

The dance is called the "wobble" lol! I am so enjoying your review.[/QUOTE]

Oh my goodness. I did find that out when I got home but forgot to fix my blog! :o It was a lot of fun to watch and a fairly easy dance too!

[lcgvol]

[quote name='Cruzayear'][quote name='SooNet']---- Part 8

After sail away we headed to the Lido deck to see what was happening at the sail away party. Wow can these people dance! Wish I had the moves like some of these people. There was a Latin/Caribbean vibe to the whole thing and people were dancing Salsa style. I also learned about a new dance move The Waffle and video taped it as well. I hope I can transfer some of the videos to this review as well as we did get some good footage]


The dance is called the "wobble" lol! I am so enjoying your review.[/quote]


Thanks for clearing this up. I was planning to look up The Waffle on Youtube before the cruise. I already know the Wobble.

[SooNet]

Day 7 – St. Lucia – January 4, 2013

Today we are visiting St. Lucia. I was up early enough to watch as our ship entered the harbor. Beautiful country.

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2qRzBc5FFbY/UQRb-7Fu0kI/AAAAAAAAGHI/EGDtdI2dqkI/s400/IMG_0324.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hoDCDLXeJ7A/UQBHiHVUEHI/AAAAAAAAFMk/QHiZtadcI5E/s400/IMG_0329.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xqmPvvf_260/UQBHX_N8rQI/AAAAAAAAFMc/wZOBlk4uNwQ/s400/IMG_0331.JPG[/IMG]

So our plan for today is to go on a tour with Cosol Tours. I had arranged this back in October/November when we were first planning this cruise. We prearranged continental breakfast with room service to arrive between 6:30 and 7:00. It arrived at exactly 6:30. Our tour was to meet up at 8:20 at the pier. We ate breakfast and got ready for the day and we were at the meeting point just after 8:00 – we thought we were the early birds but there were several people there ahead of us. At exactly 8:20 they started breaking up the group of people into vans of 10. We were the second group to leave and our tour guide for the day was Yellow Bird.

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 2


Off we went to visit St. Lucia. This day had many stopping points planned and we would be back to the ship just before it was to leave for the day. Our first photo stop today was just on top of a hill with a view to the harbor where our ship was docked. Yellow Bird showed us a plant at this point where if it was touched or the wind or rain was too strong it would hide.

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ERrdLP_ASWw/UQReChEh0YI/AAAAAAAAGHs/AoHKUDRenXc/s400/IMG_0336.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QqySBLXZgRU/UQBHNBoBi-I/AAAAAAAAFMU/J99wT1XKqsk/s400/IMG_0339.JPG[/IMG]

Just a quick view of the beginnings of the roads we will encounter throughout the day - this is one of the many hairpin turns we will encounter.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QT9tWz62H5E/UQBJyrEcHyI/AAAAAAAAFPU/Ue2nPjJS6Gc/s400/IMG_0341.JPG[/IMG]

We then drove by the Governor Generals Mansion. From what I understand St. Lucia’s governor general is a single woman. The stark contrast in quality of living was very apparent here. Outside the gates of the mansion there were houses that were crumbling down.

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-83bfrh2YrF0/UQBIewKS_6I/AAAAAAAAFOM/E5o4f0NzxzE/s400/IMG_0344.JPG[/IMG]

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 3



Although we were informed that the cattle, horses, goats and chickens are owned it is not apparent who owns them or where they actually live. They are allowed to roam freely here on the island.

Yellow Bird pointed out one of the local secondary schools on the way to our next stop. It was quite a nice school with all of the classrooms contained within open walkways.

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IgFhS4sUPEU/UQBG4u0nh2I/AAAAAAAAFME/rEydM0bGiTM/s400/IMG_0350.JPG[/IMG]

Our next stop was at a banana plantation where Yellow Bird picked up some ripe bananas for us to try. He also brought along some extras in case we wanted more. At the time I did not know that he also brought them along for other reasons.

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dHHLCPqw9BM/UQBGvCwZUDI/AAAAAAAAFL8/yOj3vi3A9ZQ/s320/IMG_0355.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-90T4texDfgY/UQBGlnttvqI/AAAAAAAAFLs/pUGN4qnHpms/s320/IMG_0361.JPG[/IMG]

We got a demonstration of how the bananas start and produce the bananas and how each plant will only produce bananas once – they are self propagating plants and will continue to sprout up new seedlings all around the original plant. Each of the maturing bananas will have a blue bag placed over the bunches of bananas to protect them from insects and rain. These bags do allow the plant to breathe as well.

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-65ZaTDl--Qc/UQRSxLs7fXI/AAAAAAAAGGU/_qfQBZz41wQ/s400/IMG_0358.jpg[/IMG]

After we were finished our bananas Yellow Bird told us to throw the peels in a bag and he would feed them to the goats as we went along. We got to see many other fruit trees along the way. We were told that they grow 30 types of produce on the island. Yellow Bird rhymed off a whole list but I cannot remember them all.

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 4


Yellow Bird pointed out a house that was built on stilts high up on the mountain – would not want to be the neighbors below them!

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-euJdOIyVzdU/UQBJqNC3THI/AAAAAAAAFPM/OG2sZEM7eo4/s400/IMG_0365.JPG[/IMG]

We saw mangoes and tamarind and other local fruits.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aYSR1mYXrZs/UQBNbev5a_I/AAAAAAAAFQA/LLsam4XRNzg/s400/IMG_0366.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I8ujEpuYX5Q/UQBNn5F4BbI/AAAAAAAAFQI/FLlxWPNOL8E/s400/IMG_0367.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dwBluzHrAyY/UQBNOFfpzyI/AAAAAAAAFP4/N6ofizK78pA/s400/IMG_0372.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c3rKczDN6v4/UQBN0J4WlDI/AAAAAAAAFQU/y9RiVWR3YoY/s400/IMG_0363.JPG[/IMG]

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 5

We then drove through a small fishing village. We were told that this area was very poor and during the rainy season it easily flooded and left the people in jeopardy.

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vfsrXctwLCM/UQBOvBQ0BUI/AAAAAAAAFQs/jFwjUc6S_OQ/s400/IMG_0370.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gj3OpcmbhOw/UQBOn2WflOI/AAAAAAAAFQk/8fg7Qs65QXA/s400/IMG_0369.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ckfUi7zRZ6I/UQBGgIZTSqI/AAAAAAAAFLk/XqAJMDZ1Gls/s400/IMG_0378.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aScV4seq4q8/UQBGTJIUDJI/AAAAAAAAFLc/nBY8Uz47N3A/s400/IMG_0380.JPG[/IMG]

We stopped by a small property so that we could see this beautiful white flower. Yellow Bird told us that it would change colors and we would see it again at the end of our tour.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gaHGVueDqOY/UQBJ74RPs-I/AAAAAAAAFPc/MsWT7PboFG8/s400/IMG_0383.JPG[/IMG]

---- Continued Edited January 26, 2013 by SooNet

[SooNet]

---- Part 6

Then we had a stop by the side of the road where a man had a boa constrictor and he would take donations to pose with it. One couple on our bus got off to try this. Yellow Bird was there to help so they knew how to hold it and he also provided them with hand sanitizer when they were done.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-upmmKPQI8dI/UQBIp5IjWtI/AAAAAAAAFOU/95HUiwRmezg/s400/IMG_0384.JPG[/IMG]

Our next stop was just before the next fishing village and we got a great view of the ocean from here. We also made a quick stop by the side of the road and Yellow Bird and I handed out some of our extra bananas to the small children that were there. He also had to give one of the children a quick lesson in sharing as I accidentally gave one of the boys two bananas thinking he would automatically share with the other children. Nope he was keeping it for himself. After Yellow Bird’s lecture he finally gave it up.

From what I understand although the banana plantation is close by car these children do not have bananas available to them. Either they are not able to drive there or they don’t have the money to buy them etc. It seems that each family has to be fully self-sufficient as much as possible as it is very expensive for them to live here. They will try and grow as much of their own supplies as they can. This is probably also why we see so many goats, chickens and cows roaming around.

Our next stop was in the next fishing village where there is a small bakery. Yellow Bird ordered his bread for the end of the day and some cheese. He also had to give a local lady a New Year’s hug. Her little grand daughter went into the bakery after Yellow Bird for her banana. It was very heart warming to see Yellow Bird take care of his neighbors.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cjXPtAsudzw/UQBIx34LleI/AAAAAAAAFOc/PBGeSyX1ML8/s400/IMG_0394.JPG[/IMG]

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 7

The next stop was for food! The views of the fishing village from this stop were amazing. We were able to try many of the local foods here. We had banana fritters, deep fried chicken, deep fried fish, with banana ketchup and other sauces. There were mangos, bananas, passion fruit, sugar cane, tamarind balls, guava cheese (more like jelly), fried coconut and the list goes on. The drinks were free flowing as well, they had Piton beer, Rum punch, water and soft drinks.

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5mmc1uXk8oE/UQBR_3VMg-I/AAAAAAAAFRY/WSpvb7GxLTY/s400/IMG_0402.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mUgadnL9On4/UQBSHJ-vDHI/AAAAAAAAFRg/IOiSF4qUMow/s400/IMG_0398.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UKIFJ7ip4AU/UQBSNrBMbyI/AAAAAAAAFRo/-4yrWCcOU7k/s400/IMG_2135.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HWCxtTSpP34/UQBRxLdVhBI/AAAAAAAAFRI/SFijrB53cUM/s400/IMG_0403.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FxukaQlxq0o/UQBI6b99zgI/AAAAAAAAFOk/bD3VKvJl5go/s400/IMG_0405.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_ZJKqK0AOQo/UQBJHGgIbXI/AAAAAAAAFOs/T5JmXDgOsBs/s400/IMG_0407.JPG[/IMG]


---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 8


When we were finished our snack we were on our way. Yellow Bird stopped at the top of a ridge and told us a story of a family that he knew that lived on this ridge, during one of the hurricanes to hit the island part of the mountain above their house collapsed and rolled down the hill and took away the house. The entire family was lost and they only ever recovered 2 of the 5 bodies. Yellow Bird knew this family well and he said that he used to stop at their home as they were artisans and produced beautiful carvings. So although they were prepared for hurricanes by living high in the mountains they would never have known how precarious their home was when it came to the mountain collapsing.

Our next stop was a lookout point for the Pitons. I should note here that at every stop we made along the way there were vendors trying to sell something. They never were overly pushy and I feel we should have bought something, as this is how they supplement their income. There is no social assistance in St. Lucia and no social housing – it is take care of yourself here because no one else is going to take care of you. Yellow Bird did tell us that there are some charities but I am sure there is not enough.

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pNdyHNmaSv4/UQBJM3pKY9I/AAAAAAAAFO0/R2DnuTBYTMo/s400/IMG_0414.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-29LuJ2nWgVc/UQBJVNlc6EI/AAAAAAAAFO8/VuKwG1DxT0c/s400/IMG_0416.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xWDM1k2Mors/UQRamy1-ijI/AAAAAAAAGGs/jc02ZNy0WS8/s400/IMG_0425.JPG[/IMG]

This viewpoint also allows you a view of the volcano. Every once in a while you will see a puff of smoke coming from the volcano. St. Lucia is the only island that can boast of having a drive thru volcano. Yellow Bird also showed us a Cashew seedpod. The cashew is found in the top half of the pod. They roast this to remove the nut. The oil from the roasting process is quite toxic.

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XfHJWuMOknA/UQBIKbzzHlI/AAAAAAAAFN0/bKk0kt8wecU/s400/IMG_2141.JPG[/IMG]

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 9

We drove down to the fishing village to catch a water taxi to Jalousie beach located between the Pitons.

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--E8XGDSr7Gw/UQBIFpC5mHI/AAAAAAAAFNk/1L85reacdRI/s400/IMG_2145.JPG[/IMG]

Now for anyone reading this at this point if you are unable to climb down into a moving boat or you have back problems then this is not the tour for you. The water taxi to the beach is at break neck speeds and quite bumpy but in all the scariest part is getting in and out of the boats at the docks.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UqKmLjhrIEI/UQBIC2h3XGI/AAAAAAAAFNc/k1GiiZgvVig/s400/IMG_2146.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NQQYxQWM4fE/UQBA2zV_DwI/AAAAAAAAFGc/nvxIXqnR20w/s400/IMG_0428.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YT_mATrlri0/UQBBIKMvMJI/AAAAAAAAFGs/-uuqQVKmHBg/s400/IMG_0431.JPG[/IMG]

So we get to the beach and Yellow Bird explained to us that although beaches in St. Lucia are public, the access to this beach is now only by water taxi as the resort that is located at this beach has restricted access to the only road into the beach to hotel guests. Also, we were able to use some of the chairs on the beach but not all and we had to be careful where we put our towels. Now this is where there is some excitement for me during this stay. The two young girls that were on the tour with us decided to start bickering with each other. I don’t know if they were sisters or friends but I am guessing it was at this point in their trip that they were starting to get tired of each other! Oh and now it was starting to rain as well.

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S6KZ6eqoR_c/UQBH97K9V5I/AAAAAAAAFNU/nbTKE3xFZ3g/s400/IMG_2153.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C3Hqxyhtt10/UQBH6X9NFFI/AAAAAAAAFNM/dLkDZ2jzRdc/s400/IMG_2154.JPG[/IMG]


DH and I got our stuff together and decided to head over to the area where the chairs were and under some trees to get out of the rain. DH spotted some chairs that were up on a ledge and out of the rain so we headed for them. As we got there this nasty woman tells us that she has already taken all of these chairs and several others and she was just waiting for the rest of her family to come and join her. I don’t see anything on the chairs or around them and I am right beside them where she is on the ground below them. I decide that I am going to sit there despite her protest. DH on the other hand is totally embarrassed and leaves. I tell her I am just going to sit there for the time being and she nicely offers me the chairs in front of her that are now fully in the rain! When all of her family arrives she nicely tells me I can leave now as they are all there. I have a nice polite chat with her and tell her off in somewhat of nice words especially considering her grandson is within earshot and I don't want to embarrass her in front of him. I did end up leaving but the nerve of some people.

Not long after my encounter with that woman it is time for us to leave. It is pouring rain at this time and I am hoping that it at least stops while we boat back across as that would make it very cold. We lucked out it stopped just in time for our boat to leave. So we make the tricky journey back into the boat and then cross the water to the water taxi stand and then make the incredibly tricky trip out of the boat again.

---- Continued Edited January 26, 2013 by SooNet

[SooNet]

---- Part 10

Back to our van and we are on our way – next stop the volcano. Yellow Bird asked if any of us wanted to do the mud baths at the volcano. We had one woman on our tour want to do it, then her husband said he wanted to and the next thing you know all of us are deciding to do the mud baths. Yellow Bird arrived at the baths and then started to get upset with some of the independent drivers there. He told us that they are not supposed to and block the road and that the drivers in his tour are taught how to properly access this point. Finally we get out and down to the baths. So you make your way through the hot bath and then up to the rocky area to get the volcanic mud to smear all over yourself. Then back down to the bath to rinse it off and then to the shower to have the final clean up. Now this stuff stinks and the bath is really hot but it feels good.

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tmK_AryXTmo/UQBBo2TifhI/AAAAAAAAFHM/HIbc0mNOjRc/s400/IMG_0436.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-6RZU3bYvim8/UQBB1nVX8WI/AAAAAAAAFHU/JlnpgY8tbbc/s400/IMG_0437.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lokHjV-uVoM/UQBE5EySBVI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/bO-jjkNB1vY/s400/IMG_0439.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fcbB8aVlYqg/UQBCZxRVf_I/AAAAAAAAFHs/4UBQcZrn06k/s400/IMG_0442.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eAlgNf8zpAQ/UQBCjJeh0EI/AAAAAAAAFH0/bJxBhtuusyE/s400/IMG_0443.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HZR2p3cakcc/UQBCC1Qs_TI/AAAAAAAAFHc/SIa82okoEEI/s400/IMG_0438.JPG[/IMG]

I would have been happy just hanging out in the bath but I was told I had to go up to get the good mud. I made my way up without falling and was holding on to plants to keep my balance – however on the way back to the bath I almost lost my balance and I scraped my arm against the rocks. Now its really stinging and it doesn’t appear to be bleeding but it also has this gross dirty black volcanic mud in it. I am worried of getting some strange disease at this point. Yellow Bird got quite panicked when he saw me falling. We are so used to being completely coddled in North America. There were few handrails, guard rails any where in this country. It’s at this point that I decide I should go back through the bath and head to the showers to clean off this muck and see how badly injured I am. Not bad just a scrape. When I had a chance I did put some disinfectant hand rinse on the wound. For future reference for anyone considering doing this activity – bring an old bathing suit as took us several washes both on the ship and at home to get rid of the smell.

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 11

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ChtDeRRdX4I/UQBCw5TZBNI/AAAAAAAAFH8/UE3SlFegJ6s/s400/IMG_0444.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZSDkgPHYVb8/UQBIWP2PSWI/AAAAAAAAFOE/lvoa6f27wqc/s400/IMG_2155.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wHZu8WpbKh0/UQRazBDME0I/AAAAAAAAGG0/uScQjXj0Qvc/s400/IMG_0451.JPG[[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wY4upyyV_Ko/UQRbDMKtaYI/AAAAAAAAGG8/hg6vkCL_6Rk/s400/IMG_0452.JPG[/IMG]

Next stop now that everyone in the van is all smelly, was at a local waterfall and botanical garden. I chose not to go in the waterfall after what had happened at the volcano bath but DH went in. He said it was cold but he seemed to enjoy it.

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rXzpCe5HVEU/UQBFV2j2jHI/AAAAAAAAFKM/-ELG6jT58u4/s320/IMG_0466.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZFPZ8wuGqiI/UQBFNywyEeI/AAAAAAAAFKE/Inez8q_YWs8/s320/IMG_0459.JPG[/IMG]

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 12

We reached the midpoint of our tour and were now making our way back to the ship. We stopped in the little fishing village where we had ordered our bread earlier in the day and picked up our bread and cheese. There were a lot more people out and about this afternoon. Yellow Bird handed us our bread and cheese and let me tell you it was the most delicious snack I have ever had in my life. The bread was warm and the cheese just melted into it. It was shaped like a cone and we were able to hold it like a handle to eat it. We had some leftovers but it seemed everyone was full at this point.

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q88_Va683gk/UQBEPLaHsuI/AAAAAAAAFJM/Wk3PwI63iWw/s400/IMG_0476.JPG[/IMG]

We headed on our way and stopped at the house where we had seen the white flower earlier today. It was now pink. From what we were told these flowers last only one day. They open in the morning white and change colors during the day until the evening when they die.

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YKunI4-ndow/UQBJfqQVHKI/AAAAAAAAFPE/I-DIgb0orHI/s400/IMG_0477.JPG[/IMG]

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 13


We headed to the lookout point for Marigot Bay – the bay where Dr. Doolittle was filmed. I have no idea if I have seen this movie or not but will have to watch it now so I can say I’ve been there! They had some local rum on sale there and some rum tasting. Yellow Bird gave away some samples and it was quite tasty. I noticed that Yellow Bird gave the remaining bread and cheese that we had to a young girl that lived here. Again this really warmed my heart to see.

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cj08BY0HYM4/UQBH1XfFfeI/AAAAAAAAFNE/NL9t7d7cP_k/s400/IMG_2159.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pE9WTKr7p4w/UQBHsV4nCdI/AAAAAAAAFM0/8CecMPWpopA/s400/IMG_2160.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9EmXJLxRdyQ/UQBHyISKRII/AAAAAAAAFM8/oQXZF-CFZGI/s400/IMG_2158.JPG[/IMG]

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iJlRYCAdlAw/UQBFq11LglI/AAAAAAAAFKo/xTphMzUT1qA/s400/IMG_0485.JPG[/IMG]

---- Continued

[jimbri]

Great review!

[SooNet]

---- Part 14

Next stop was a lookout point to see the natural arch that was formed in the ocean. The arch resembled a ladies high heeled shoe. Then finally we headed to the ship.

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y2e0Ujis1fo/UQBErQCOdDI/AAAAAAAAFJk/ZGKA65giIPs/s400/IMG_0486.JPG[/IMG]

What an absolutely incredible day it was. For what we paid for this tour, $65 per person, it was an incredible value. We were able to eat drink and be merry. The buses are in good condition and Yellow Bird was an amazing tour guide knew his stuff about the island and plants. We were gone from 8:30 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon. You get to see a good portion of the island and see how the locals live.

All the while we were driving we saw people cleaning up the ditches on the side of the road and the island looked to be very clean even though it was quite poor. Driving there would be hellish as the roads are very narrow and many hairpin turns but I did feel totally safe with Yellow Bird. I would definitely do this tour again. The island has some beautiful scenery and it is so lush and unspoiled for the most part.

Tonight was the final elegant night so we dressed up in our finest and headed to dinner.

Green Bean and Roma tomatoes tossed with tender greens

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H8CBUrG-zW0/UQBGDUYyLpI/AAAAAAAAFLI/0ibnJm93ouw/s400/IMG_1889.jpg[/IMG]

Chateaubriand with sauce béarnaise

[IMG]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bFV5XvrD2ts/UQBFw0D9WkI/AAAAAAAAFKw/8Ir4joZb21k/s400/IMG_1891.JPG[/IMG]

Roasted half spring chicken with gravy

[IMG]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vhu_p8uRP5Y/UQRgiB65N8I/AAAAAAAAGIE/WOIvdTEv1RI/s400/IMG_2179.JPG[/IMG]

Cherries Jubilee

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ULhtaky61Bk/UQBF3VEK71I/AAAAAAAAFK4/B5dW7uSYDso/s400/IMG_1893.JPG[/IMG]

Fruit Plate

[IMG]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MnXqpSixVrg/UQBF9tZ80JI/AAAAAAAAFLA/wfsHylO_7lw/s400/IMG_1895.JPG[/IMG]

---- Continued

[SooNet]

---- Part 15

After supper we got a couple of photos done. Then we headed back to our room and went to bed. It was an early night tonight as we were both exhausted and we will be having another early morning tomorrow in St. Kitts.

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9-ZkHE3XHKg/UQBGJUwaO5I/AAAAAAAAFLQ/YbhE-VlAi_A/s400/IMG_1897.JPG[/IMG]

[SooNet]

[quote name='jimbri']Great review![/QUOTE]

Thank you! Will probably post the next segment tomorrow.

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report!

[Crusin Karen]

Have thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you for sharing with us! Your day in St. Lucia sounds so exciting, but I am exhausted reading it. :eek: That island is on my bucket list.;)

[SooNet]

[quote name='KirkNC']Thanks for the report![/QUOTE]

Hope you're enjoying it as much as I am writing it.

[quote name='Crusin Karen']Have thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you for sharing with us! Your day in St. Lucia sounds so exciting, but I am exhausted reading it. :eek: That island is on my bucket list.;)[/QUOTE]

I love sharing info on my travels and this is the first time I have done this in depth of a review of a trip. St. Lucia was definitely one of my bucket list islands and I am so glad we were able to scratch that one off, however, I would love to visit it again one day. I have to admit that tour and that day were one of the highlights of the cruise.

[iluvthe-c]

Loving the reivew! We will be on the Valor in a month and in the cabin 7383 which is right across the hall from where you were! We originally booked an inside cabin on deck 1 and for $40, upgraded to deck 7! What a deal. I was not planning on doing any excersions on our trip, but you had me at 'mud bath' at St Lucia! How do I book with Yellow Bird?