Dave’s Live from Maasdam 14-day Southern Caribbean, March 13-27, 2015

[RetiredMustang]

Wednesday, March 18, St. Lucia

 

As I write, we are turning in the Castries harbor, preparing to back into a berth on the Carenage side, instead of Pointe Seraphine. The approach to Castries was as beautiful as ever, although it is a bit cloudy over the harbor, so no bright sunlight just now.

 

I hope it will burn off as the sun rises higher, and we have good weather for our aerial tram excursion later this morning.

 

Here are links to today’s On Location and the Explorer St. Lucia pages:

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/520/18Mar15_Program_1.JPG

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/520/18Mar15_Program_2.JPG

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/520/St_Lucia_1.JPG

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/520/St_Lucia_2.JPG

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

[Alcarondas]

I'm greatly enjoying your updates - the pictures and text really bring the experience home. And since I'd rather be cruising than at home, it's the next best thing. :)

 

St. Patrick's Day on board looks like fun! I was on Maasdam (or was it Veendam?) for Halloween once, and the dining room crew went all-out. The food selections for that night were the standard fare, but there was a special menu with... shall we say, "colorful" descriptions of the food; soup described as "Witch's Cauldron" or something, that sort of thing.

[Susie51]

I love your review style and great photos. Looking forward to more. I hope the sun comes out for your aerial shore ex.

[RetiredMustang]

Wednesday, March 18, St. Lucia (Cont.)

 

While we were waiting for our shore excursion, I took some shots from/around the ship:

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Castries%20La%20Carenage%20early%20morning_zpsubydgl84.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Costa%20Fortuna%20at%20Pointe%20Seraphine_zpsozdr75ng.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Catries%20Inner%20Harbor_zpsjhc15meq.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Maasdam%20Seaview%20pool%20inport%20Castries_zpsn5smknw9.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Lido%20pool%20in%20port%20Castries_zpsi6eithex.jpg

 

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

[RetiredMustang]

Wednesday, March 18, St. Lucia (Cont.)

 

We went ashore shortly after 9 and boarded a bust that took us to the Rainforest Sanctuary, site of the aerial tram and zip lines. We drove for about a half hour, out past the airport and then up winding roads to Babonneau, where we crested a ridge and drove down the valley and part way up Mont Le Saucier (Sausage Mountain).

 

We broke into groups of 8, each group matched with a tour guide. We walked a short way to the tram, and saw that the tram cars had four double seats and a single seat at the back for the guide:

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Aerial%20tram%20car_zpsgkquu9bt.jpg

 

 

We boarded the tram car and set off, slowly climbing the side of the mountain, stopping occasionally so following cars could be loaded. We saw cars coming above us on the return run:

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Passing%20return%20tram%20car_zpswyfayhbc.jpg

 

 

We saw a few birds, such as ruby-throated hummingbirds and bananaquits. But, we also a good deal of plants:

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Helliconia%20in%20bloom_zpsbeidwrar.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Understory%20plants_zpsjtmaxyqp.jpg

 

 

More in the next post,

Dave

[RetiredMustang]

Wednesday, March 18, St. Lucia (Cont.)

 

It was a quiet and peaceful trip up through the rain forest, rising from the understory to the crown. Quiet, that is, until the zip-liners started going down. We saw a lot of trees and tree ferns:

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Rain%20forest%20trees_zpsd2ixktmb.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/CLiming%20a%20tree_zpscerxypzs.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Tree%20ferns_zpslwo4ixqr.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Tree%20fern_zpsuhuo3od4.jpg

 

 

More in the next post,

Dave

[RetiredMustang]

Wednesday, March 18, St. Lucia (Cont.)

 

Just after the turnaround, we broke out into open air. It was a bit misty, but the views were still great:

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/View%20from%20top%201_zpsliyxrfvl.jpg

 

 

We reached bottom and had the option of taking a 20-minute guided walk through the understory to see and hear more about the forest. We had done the walk before and decided to wait at the café/gift shop at the bottom, where we were offered complimentary juice. The café also sold soft drinks and beer, so we opted for a couple of bottles of cold Piton, the local lager. The service area also had restrooms. Here are photos of the café/gift shop:

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Hummingbird%20Cafe%20exterior_zpse3llwbhg.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Hummingbird%20Cafe%20bar%20area_zpsbq3bdkuw.jpg

 

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a485/retiredmustang1/Maasdam%202015/Gift%20shop_zpsp6makbvf.jpg

 

 

We had done this excursion several years ago and enjoyed it a lot, so we decided to do it again. The air was not as clear this time and we could not see Martinique to the north was we did last time, but we enjoyed the quiet, relaxing trip through the forest.

 

More later,

Dave

[cruz chic]

Love St. Lucia. Thx for the update.

[Folk Singer]

Thanks Dave,

 

The photos are great. All we see right now is another foot of snow here in Nova Scotia. Wish we were there with you.

 

Don

[Tripper10]

Thanks for the updates.

[aliaschief]

Dave, I always enjoy your live reports and I have to admit you are getting us pumped up for our upcoming cruise.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[Mtn2Sea]

Thanks for the update. St. Lucia is such a beautiful island!

[RetiredMustang]

Wednesday, March 18, St. Lucia (Cont.)

 

We cast off from Castries about 6:45 and have now set sail for Barbados. About 3 p.m., when we were all aboard except for the shore excursion people who were due to be picked up in Soufriere, the Captain announced that we were not going to leave then because of a leak in something to do with the exhaust from one of the engines, and that repairs would take an hour or so.

 

At about 4, he announced that the repairs would take some time more, and that he had decided to have the excursions bring the people back to the ship in Castries rather than leave them waiting for us in Soufriere. He said he expected everyone back aboard by 6:30 and would sail soon after, and that the delay would not affect our arrival in Barbados. He reopened the gangway for anyone who wanted to go back ashore in Castries, with an all-aboard of 6:30.

 

A short time ago, he announced that repairs were completed, everyone was aboard and that we were about to cast off and sail toward Barbados. We left about 15 minutes later.

 

We had just finished dinner when he made that last announcement. Here is tonight’s dinner menu:

 

Starters * Soups * Salads

- Melange of Tropical Fruit – cilantro balsamic maple reduction

- Orange-Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail – orange-coriander ailoi

- Spinach and Feta Tart – egg custard, spinach, feta, flaky pastry shell

- Cream of Five Onions Soup – Spanish, Vidalia, red and white onions, vegetable stock, cream, white wine, scallions

- Cheese and Tortellini Soup – tomato, zucchini, celery, carrot, Parmesan cheese

- French Onion Soup “Les Halles” – Gruyere cheese crouton

- Chilled Guava and Passion Fruit Soup – almond macaroon

- Autumn Greens – arugula, frisee, tamari-roasted walnuts, apples, dried cherries, Stilton cheese, apple-balsamic vinaigrette

- Classic Caesar Salad – Parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, anchovies

 

Mains

- Orecchiette with Crab – onion, garlic, tomato, white wine, extra-virgin olive oil, crisp pancetta, arugula

- Chicken, Papaya and Avocado Salad – lime juice, walnut oil vinaigrette, watercress, walnuts

- Spiced Shrimp and Cheesy Grits – broccoli rabe, roasted tomato concasse

- Grilled Salmon with Ginger-Cilantro Pesto – basmati rice, Swiss chard, garlic cherry tomatoes

- Cracked Pepper Tenderloin with Grilled Shrimp – sautéed spinach, green beans, caramelized pineapple, balsamic reduction

- Broiled New York Strip Loin – cauliflower gratin, green peppercorn sauce

- Veal Chop with Creamy Porcini Sauce – herb-sauteed vegetables, German-style spaetzle

- Maple-Lacquered Duck Breast – corn-cranberry pudding, candied figs, braised Swiss chard, cider-vinegar sauce

- Oven-Roasted Chicken – quinoa pilaf, herb-roasted vegetables, jus

- Oven-Baked Eggplant Parmigiana – Provolone cheese, spaghetti, marinara sauce, fried basil

 

I had the shrimp cocktail and DW had the autumn greens salad. For main dish, we both went with the veal chop and spaetzle. It was quite good, and reminded us of similar dishes we had in southern Germany.

 

 

Here is the dessert menu:

 

Desserts

- Chocolate Cheesecake – Milk chocolate, raspberry sauce

- Tarte Tatin – Caramelized apples, puff pastry crust, vanilla ice cream

- Glazed Pineapple Bavarois – Bavarian cream, pineapple, brown sugar-rum glaze

- Tiramisu no sugar added – Mascarpone cream, coffee and Kahlua-soaked sponge cake

 

Frozen Treats

- Vanilla Ice Cream

- Strawberry Ice Cream

- Passion Fruit Sorbet

- Banana Frozen Yogurt

- No Sugar Added Vanilla Ice Cream

- No Sugar Added Chocolate Ice Cream

- Hot Fudge Sundae – French vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, toasted almonds

 

Available Daily

- Crème Brulee – Creamy, dreamy Grand Marnier-scented custard with a sheer layer of crisply caramelized sugar

- Fruit Crisp of the Day: Rhubarb Crisp – Fresh out of the oven, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

- Sliced Fruit Plate – An assorted selection of fresh fruit

- Cheese Plate – Stilton, Old Amsterdam, Port Salut, Camembert

 

Espresso Drinks

- Espresso - $1.25

- Cappuccino - $1.75

- Extra shot - $0.50

 

Recommended Cordial of the Day: Southern Belle – Grand Marnier & Southern Comfort - $5.95

 

DW went for the Tarte Tatin, while I indulged in a childhood favorite, the hot fudge sundae.

 

More later,

Dave

[cruz chic]

The chocolate cheesecake sounds good. Looks like hal has some new desserts since November. Thx for today's update.

[erewhon]

Thanks for continuing your review, super photos.

[jaspersmycat]

Dave and Kathy,

 

I wish I was in the Ocean Bar having a pre-dinner cocktail with you. You two are the best.

 

I'm following closely because I am doing some of the same ports on my Prinsendam Christmas cruise.

Edited March 19, 2015 by jaspersmycat

[jaspersmycat]

Dave and Kathy,

 

I wish I was in the Ocean Bar having a pre-dinner cocktail with you. You two are the best.

 

I'm following closely because I will be doing some of these ports on my Prinsendam Christmas cruise.

[PathfinderEss]

St Lucia is one of my favorite ports. Thanks again for all the great photo's.

[RetiredMustang]

Thursday, March 19, Barbados

 

As the captain said, we are pulling into Georgetown Barbados on time, and docking at the base of the U-shaped harbor. A P&O ship is pulling in as well.

 

We have booked a ship’s excursion “Five-Star Catamaran & Turtle Encounter”. We did this excursion a few years ago, and enjoyed it very much. We get to swim with the sea turtles, snorkel another site, have a nice sail up the coast and back, and a pretty good lunch. The unknown is how clear or turbid the water will be. We have swum with the turtles with pretty clear water, and some not so clear, but enjoy being in the water with the graceful creatures no matter the conditions – it’s just better when the water is clear.

 

Here are links to today’s On Location, and the Explorer booklet pages on Barbados:

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/520/19Mar15_Program_11.JPG

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/520/19Mar15_Program_2.JPG

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/520/Barbados_1.JPG

 

http://pictures.cruisecritic.com/data/520/Barbados_2.JPG

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

[Stratheden]

Enjoying your reports Dave. Thanks.

 

Good to see that Creme Brulee is back on the everyday menu. :)

[slabeaume]

what!!!!??? You didn't get the rhubarb crisp?

[Folk Singer]

what!!!!??? You didn't get the rhubarb crisp?

 

lol:):)

[Susie51]

I'm glad you had a nice tram ride. Your pictures are quite nice.

[Vict0riann]

Thanks for the menus. I always pick out what I would choose for dinner. Does everyone else?

[woodworker&knitter]

Who is the Beveridge Mgr and Event Mgr on this cruise?