Review: Carnival liberty – september 20, 2015 – southern itinerary out of san juan,

[pghsteelerfan]

The speed boat ride over to Soufriere continued...

 

 

 

 

 

I thought this was really cool

 

And this is Spencer, driving the boat and his daughter, Shequana, to his left

[pghsteelerfan]

The speed boat ride over to Soufriere continued...

 

 

 

St. Lucia's famed Pitons

 

 

 

Heading into Soufriere, St. Lucia

[pghsteelerfan]

The speed boat ride over to Soufriere continued...

 

 

 

 

It took about a half hour to 45 minutes to get to Soufriere and we were there and off the speedboat. We’d be getting off the boat here and it’s the reverse procedure from getting in. You will be asked to hand your beach bag to one of them, you’ll be helped out, and you get your beach bag and shoes back. Spencer did make a point to tell us right before docking at the little pier at the beach in Soufriere that there would probably be boys (school boys) hanging around and told us to ignore them and not to accept anything they give you. I couldn’t hear the rest, but another passenger told us it was because these boys are supposed to be in school, but they are skipping school looking for handouts from tourists. We saw some others later at the beach that had little things made out of local leaves that had been handmade, so I’m guessing that’s what the kids “give” to passengers, but that’s just a guess. Anyway, we were off the speedboat by 9:15am.

 

 

Once we were all out of the boat, we made our way over to an area where we’d divide the group into two groups and get into two vans. Once everyone was there, Shequana let us know that the vans would be there in about five to ten minutes, so if anyone needed to make a restroom break, now would be a good time. Several of us used the restrooms and then I walked down the parking lot a little because there was a great view of Petit Piton (the smaller of the two) and got a few pictures. Two other gals walked down for pictures as well. At this spot, there was a small opening in the trees with a great view of Petit Piton and a small beach. There was one person down on that beach, a local man who may have been fishing. The pictures came out great and with the man being in them, gave the pictures some size perspective. I had to edit him out, but only because his bathing suit wasn’t exactly up the whole way and a little too much was showing. Not a “full moon”, but “half”. I could not see this in the camera’s review display but did notice when viewing the pictures on the compute’s screen. Oopsie!!!

 

Changed my mind here. There is a man on the beach here that I edited out because...well, see the text above. Since these can't be enlarged, this should be harmless.

 

 

Pictures after "editing"

 

[pghsteelerfan]

While down there, one gal was laughing and taking pictures of a small fishing boat on a trailer behind a small building, with “Equal Rights” on it. I’m guessing that is what the boat was named. I also got a picture.

 

 

We went back to where our group was when we noticed the vans were pulling up. On this tour, beverages are provided: bottled water, coke, diet coke, Piton Beer, and Spencer’s Rum Punch, so they had coolers in the vans. I didn’t look, but I think those coolers just had water, coke and diet coke. Most of us wanted the water but there was plenty. There would be beer and rum punch at the beach.

 

 

We got back in our group and waited for the other van to load first. Once they loaded, the other pulled up and we all got in. Spencer’s brother, Small, was the driver of our van. The van was air conditioned and there was enough room for everyone to fit comfortably. I rode up front with Small and Shequana and we headed out. A few minutes later, Shequana asked Small to stop the van. We were right in the middle of town (Soufriere) and Shequana got out and went over and bough a large bunch of bananas. These aren’t just ordinary bananas, they are freshly picked, ripened bananas and passed the bag around the van and told each of us to take one. This was the best banana I have ever eaten. Bananas that we get in local stores here are picked before they are ripe and shipped, so they are usually ripe or close to it when purchased. But these bananas are ripened when they are picked fresh, so that may be why it was the best banana I’ve ever had. Not a big difference in taste, but definitely a difference.

 

We proceeded on through Soufriere and then stared going up some steep and winding roads once we were outside of town. The scenery is gorgeous along the way. Our first stop was at “Sulphur Springs”, which is where Soufriere Volcano, or the “drive-in” volcano, is located, along with the mud baths. When we booked our tour, we were asked which we’d like to do. The mud baths sound fun, but we wanted to see the volcano. Shequana asked all of us on the van which we wanted and even if we signed up for one of the other, we could change our minds. Everyone in our van opted for the volcano, so that’s where we went. We got out of the van and followed Shequana to the tour guide that does the guided tour of the volcano, then followed her. It was about 9:40am.

 

We were able to view the crater behind a wooden fence and our guide told us about the crater, and the surrounding area. There was a set of stairs to get up to one point but I forget at which point. The man who had some mobility issues was able to do it, but he took it slow. They told everyone else not in their group to go ahead of them, but they did make it to the top. There were between 10 and 15 steps, but I wasn’t counting. The volcano itself is dormant. The crater itself just looks like excavated land, but there is steam that comes out and a boiling stream that runs through it. The spots where the boiling water are look like dark brown mud. You can’t see the “boiling” in the pictures, but trust me, you can see it when you’re looking at it in person. On the way back down our guide was pointing out local vegetation. One was bamboo, and she pointed out a new shoot that was, I’m pretty sure she said, just a few days old. It can grow up to two feet per day. It was about three feet high and looked like an asparagus shoot. The other was a cashew tree, which was labeled along the wooden walkway. She explained the growth stages and how it’s harvested. We had a few more minutes to look around and get pictures and when we were all finished, we thanked our tour guide and walked back to where the van was parked. It was around 10:10 when we pulled out and continued on our way.

 

 

 

Pictures of the Sulfur Springs/Soufriere Volcano, aka the "Drive in Volcano"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little creek on the other side of the viewing platform

 

 

 

 

Bamboo plants above the little creek on the other side of the viewing platform

 

 

 

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Sulfur Springs/Soufriere Volcano, aka the "Drive in Volcano" continued...

 

Baby bamboo shoot that we were told was only a few days old (it's about 3 feet high)

 

 

See the road? This is why it's called a "Drive in Volcano" since this whole area is the volcano's caldera

 

 

 

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Sulfur Springs/Soufriere Volcano, aka the "Drive in Volcano" continued...

 

 

 

Beautiful mountain on the opposite side of the road from from the volcano

 

Viewing platform for the volcano (the tree in the picture is a Cashew Tree)

 

 

One more of the volcano

 

I know I have a lot of volcano pictures, but it's not every day I get to see an actual volcano

 

 

[deladane]

Yay!!!! So happy I found your review!! I got a nail in my tire and I'm stuck for 2 hours waiting for them to look at it so at least now I will have some entertainment :) can't wait to read about your cruise (I'll post again when I finish it!)

[pghsteelerfan]

Our next stop was about five minutes away. This was a beautiful spot overlooking Petit Piton. We had about five to 10 minutes here to get pictures. This is where many of us were taking turns getting pictures so both in a couple or all in a party could be included in the same picture. Everyone was returning the favors, so this worked out perfectly. The view itself was beautiful. After we got our pictures, we got back in the van. It was a very sunny, clear, and hot day, so the air conditioning felt good. What also sounded good was getting wet. Shequana was happy to let us know that our next stop would be Toraille Waterfall and Gardens.

 

Pictures from the overlook

 

 

 

 

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Yay!!!! So happy I found your review!! I got a nail in my tire and I'm stuck for 2 hours waiting for them to look at it so at least now I will have some entertainment :) can't wait to read about your cruise (I'll post again when I finish it!)

 

Hey there!!! So sorry about the nail in your tire. I had that happen a while back while visiting family in PA, luckily the tire just needed patched. Still a bummer though. So happy you found the review! At least now you have something to pass time with while waiting for your tire to be fixed. :)

 

Oh, hope you don't mind me recommending your Victory and Valor reviews. I really do enjoy yours. :)

[pghsteelerfan]

This is a picture I either got from the overlook or from the van as we were heading back down the mountains on our way to Toraille Waterfall

 

We arrived at Toraille Waterfall and Gardens about 10 minutes after leaving the overlook. Here we had the option of walking in to the pool of water under the waterfall and could walk under the waterfall if we wanted to. Several in our group did it, I was one. I had my bathing suit on under my clothes for today’s tour and we had the beach towels from Liberty with us. DH opted out but told me he did stick his feet in the water. I actually enjoyed it. The water was cold, but not a shocking, take your breath away cold, it felt good and refreshing.

 

Walkway through the gardens to Toraille Waterfall

 

 

 

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Touraille Waterfall and Gardens continued...

 

 

 

My turn (had to borrow one of DH's pictures)

 

I’d have spent more time, but didn’t want to be the waterfall hog, so after walking under the fall, I headed back out and got dried off. I got pictures of the waterfall and surrounding area and then we were free to go over to some vendors that were set up just outside the entrance.

 

 

 

The vendor tables that were set up near the parking area of Touraille Waterfall and gardens

 

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Our friends “J” and “K” from “that other” roll-call had also been on Valor in 2013. They told us about some spiced rum they’d purchased at the Marigot overlook on their cruise. It was called “Island ******”. This is edited but the word blocked out isn't one of the George Carlin "seven swear words you can't use on TV". It's something that normally comes in a "little blue pill". It is made by adding spices (cinnamon sticks, cloves, bay leaves???), which you can actually see in the bottle, then pouring rum in and letting it set. They said it was very good and they were planning on buying some. We had no plans to buy any liquor from any of the islands due to the hassle of having to turn it in once getting back on Liberty and not being able to get it until the morning of debarkation when we’d have to go to pick it up where they keep all purchased liquor, wherever on the ship that was. There was also the weight issues with luggage we were trying to avoid.

 

One of the vendors here had it and had samples for us to try. I wanted to at least try it and I did. It WAS good. It was rum, but was very tasty. I love my Captain, but this was a different taste but just as good. I had to buy some. There were two sizes, a larger on in a nice bottle that I’d loved to have had but the weight. There was a smaller size in a 16 oz. plastic bottle with a sealed lid for $10.00. I decided to get that one. They also had some samples of the Banana Ketchup that I’ve read about in other reviews. I tried and liked that too, it was very good, so I bought a bottle. Banana Ketchup doesn’t sound very appealing, but at least give it a try if you get the opportunity. I think I paid $5.00 for it.

 

 

The spiced rum, or "Island ******" (I attempted smuggling this, so the label is a little messed up)

 

The other side of the bottle...you can see the actual spices in it

 

The bottle of Banana Ketchup - this is also very good

 

We had about a half hour total at Toraille Waterfall and Garden (and the vendors), then it was time to get into the van for our next stop, which was a stop at a banana farm. Here were told how bananas are grown and harvested.

 

The banana farm

 

 

We spent about five minutes here and were on to our next stop, which was back to Soufriere where we’d get back in the speedboat and go directly from there to Jalousie Beach.

 

Edited November 10, 2015 by pghsteelerfan

[pghsteelerfan]

We were in the boat and on our way by 11:15am. Jalousie Beach is a quick trip out and around Petit Piton to Jalousie Beach. There are “no wake” zones, so the speed was kept down. We arrived at Jalousie Beach and off the boat by 11:25am. We would have two and a half hours to spend here.

 

Leaving Soufriere and headed to Jalousie Beach

 

 

Jalousie Beach

 

We went over to find loungers. The section of the beach with the “free” loungers is on the far right if you are on the beach and looking out to the water. The far right is also were the snorkeling area is. The section of beach beyond the little pier over to the left (if looking out to the ocean) is the Sugar Beach Resort. Celebrities have stayed here, including one very famous actor who renewed his vows here a couple of weeks before our first time there in 2013, inviting many famous celebrity friends along. So this isn’t your typical beach resort. I don’t know the cost to stay here. They have cushy, padded loungers in the resort section. Those are not for us to use, unless we wanted to spend $50.00 each. We were also free to put our towels in the sand over there as well. Some in our group opted to but we took the free loungers.

 

The loungers seem to have taken a beating since we were there last. This has nothing to do with any tour operator that takes you here, this is just the section of beach with free use of loungers for outside tour groups who share the resort with the resort guests during the day. There is plenty of shade as the loungers are under palapas and there are also a lot of shade trees in that section. Even before our first time there in 2013, we’d seen complaints about this section of beach, but we don’t mind. My thoughts? Take a look around you, look at your surroundings. A beautiful, scenic beach between St. Lucia’s famed pitons. How many people actually get to come here? None of our friends have been here. We are in paradise and we’re here to enjoy it. It can’t get much better than this, so no complaints from me.

 

Above the loungers in the free section is a little building where a local vendor sets up. She will not bother you. If you are interested in what she has, you just walk back and check out what she has. There are bathrooms behind the building where the vendor is. Over on the other side of the pier is the resort area. The smaller building right at the end of the pier are where you can rent snorkel gear and canoes. There is a bar next to it. Then the main area of the beach were the loungers and palapas are located and beyond that, the resort buildings/rooms.

 

They were starting to set up the lunch for Spencer’s tours that were there (those on our tour, the "Land, Sea, and Beach Adventure" and also those on the "Jalousie Beach Break". Those on the "Jalousie Beach Break" arrived sometime between 9:30 and 10am. We were told that lunch would be ready in about 15 minutes, so I went around and got a few pictures first.

 

Jalousie Beach pictures

 

 

 

These are the buildings where you can rent water toys and snorkel gear, if it's not provided on your tour. I don't know if this is also where you'd pay the $50.00 to rent the resort's fancy loungers or not, but I'm sure someone here would know for sure. The bar it to the right

[pghsteelerfan]

Jalousie Beach pictures continued...

 

 

 

This is a view back to the side were our loungers were, under the trees and palapas

 

 

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Jalousie Beach pictures continued...

 

 

The pier at Jalousie Beach where tour groups get off and on their boats

When I got back to our loungers, I noticed DH talking to someone. I couldn’t tell who it was from where I was, still a distance away, but I was just hoping it wasn’t someone else recognizing him from the “Hairy chest” contest on Liberty the other day. But as I got closer I could tell who it was, “L’s” DH. And then I saw “L” and the rest of their family. “M” and her group were also here, but decided to put their towels in the sand. Their tour group had just arrived. A few minutes later “J” stopped by. They were also here and had been snorkeling and said it was great today and that they’d already seen a lot and were going back in.

We visited with “L” and family until most of our group had already gotten lunch, then went up and didn’t even have to wait. There was plenty left, so we could have had seconds if we wanted to. My plate was already filled. Sometimes lunch is served on the beach and sometimes at a restaurant. When at the restaurant, I don’t know if it’s the restaurant food or not. Both times now, it’s been on the beach for us. I don’t know whether the size of the groups has anything to do with where the lunch is at the beach or restaurant, but today it was at the beach.

The lunch served at the beach is a local Creole lunch that is homemade. They have it set up buffet style. I enjoyed it so much the last time that I wanted to make sure I was hungry for today, thus the light breakfast this morning. They have jerk chicken, lentils (types of beans) in a sauce, pasta in a sauce, rice, garden salad, green banana salad, and taro root. I enjoyed all of it. The green banana salad may not sound very appetizing, but give it a chance, it’s good. It looks and tastes very similar to potato salad, a little different but not a bad way. The taro root is also good and similar to a potato in texture and even taste. Ever eating a chunk of lightly cooked potato before they are mashed for mashed potatoes? That’s how I can best describe it. I really liked it and even DH liked all that was served. The last time I didn’t even think to, but this time I remembered to. A picture of my plate, food porn. Again, unlimited beverages are also included.

 

This is my plate with the lunch that was served. The BBQ jerk chicken is in the center of the plate; the rest I'll describe, clockwise, from the top: Green banana salad; garden salad; rice; lentils (types of beans - very good); pasta in a sauce; and the grey piece in the top left is Taro Root (tasted similar to a potato)

 

Ah, this is the life!!!

 

 

 

 

[pghsteelerfan]

When I finished lunch, I decided to go snorkeling first since the sun was out and although there were others, it wasn’t crowded yet. Before going further, after snorkeling here two years ago and through my experience this year, this is, by far, the best snorkeling I have seen when we’ve snorkeled in coral reef areas. We’ve also snorkeled in St. Thomas (Sapphire Beach); St. John (Trunk Bay); St. Martin (Pinel Island - French); Cozumel; and Cabo San Lucas. Some of the other areas have been are what we’d consider fairly decent, but to us, St. Lucia at Jalousie Beach has been the best. The variety and colors of the fish, even if I don’t know all their names has been the best. I have never seen such colorful coral anywhere else. The clarity of the water has also been good both times we were there. It has been sunny both times, and the water has been calm both times, but more so this time. That may also play a factor.

 

One thing that does play a factor is kicked up sand from the bottom where there are large groups of others snorkeling. Both times we’ve been able to snorkel before it got busier, which is a little later in the afternoon. This time, it was steady. When one group would arrive, another would leave. Maybe the local tour operators have it organized this way to give their groups a better experience, I don’t know. But for us, both times have been great.

 

When you enter the water, it is very rocky right at the shoreline. I used snorkel fins the last time, this time I wore water shoes. I really didn’t notice a difference, but with the water shoes, it was easier getting in and out. Along the right side, it’s mostly rocks and large boulders. This is actually at the base of Petit Piton. Not very pretty to look at, but check out the nooks and crannies for fish and several types of sea urchins. Some of the sea urchins are black with long, pointy spines. The others looked like grey fuzz balls. One of our friends compared them to “Tribbles” from a Star Trek episode. I never watched Star Trek, but if you did, think “tribble”.

 

Some of our friends saw an octopus that day. I didn’t see him but I did look. I don’t know where exactly they saw him, but he was over by the rocks on the right. On some coral, I was finally able to see Christmas Tree worms. I really liked these. At one point, I tried getting a picture of two of them together and got a little close. One disappeared. I didn’t think I was close enough to touch or even knock it down, but it disappeared. A minute later, it was there again. They close up! These little guys are so cool. I saw several more while snorkeling. If you’re looking out toward the ocean, it gets deeper as you head over to the left. The water is a little darker blue here, but this is where you’ll see a lot of basket sponges.

 

I took a lot of snorkeling pictures with my underwater camera, which I made sure was set to the underwater setting. Most of the better pictures are of the corals and Christmas Tree worms, but I did get a few of fish that came out fairly decent. I saw a lot more fish, and as I mentioned earlier, a variety of fish. The problem I have is that fish move around and they can be quick. I try to just float above them, but when I try using the zoom on the camera, I lose track of the fish.

 

Adding the snorkeling pictures, so I'll let those tell the story for a while. There are a lot, but this is only a fraction of what I took. Again, if any of you can identify some of the fish, I'd appreciate it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are Christmas Tree worms - love these little guys

 

 

 

Bright yellow coral that looked like a tennis ball

 

 

 

One of the two main kinds of sea urchins we saw - this is the kind that I was told looked like a "Tribble" from Star Trek (never watched it, so I can't say for sure)

 

 

Edited November 10, 2015 by pghsteelerfan

[NOLALADY]

Hi Karen! Glad you're still enjoying the pictures.

 

On the elegant night we went to, believe it or not, my menu was in Spanish! LOL!!! Hubby let me borrow his and yes, the Spaghetti Carbonara was also offered as an appetizer. This may sound kind of silly, but my craving for the Spaghetti Carbonara is one of the reasons we went to the elegant night this time. :D I had actually been afraid that it was only offered as an appetizer and would have asked if I could have a larger portion or two appetizer portions if that was the case. I was happy to see it was also on the "main" menu. I found out from a few others who love this itinerary and had been on it recently which elegant night it was served (first elegant night for the three I asked), so we went to that one and skipped the other.

 

I totally forgot about them coming around with the extra, fresh grated cheese for the Caesar Salad. Thank you for the tip about Caesar Salad also being at the pizza place. We have never eaten there since we have pizza all the time here and we love Guy's. Blue Iguana was great too, but we have Chipotle's less than two miles from our house and Blue Iguana was very similar to Chipotle.

 

I never noticed the cheese plate for dessert before, but we really haven't cruised that often. I don't remember seeing it on Glory (2010) or Valor (2013), but that's when we had the old menus. On Liberty in 2014, they were just introducing the "American Menu" and Liberty was one of the "test" ships that had it before "tweaking" the menu and rolling it out fleet wide, but I didn't remember seeing it. I found out about the cheese plate from reviews by others and it was on our menu this time, every night.

 

I really think you'll love St. Lucia - it is just beautiful! Thanks again for the tips! :)

 

I always get the cheese plate as my appetizer! YUMMY :)

[pghsteelerfan]

Jalousie Beach snorkeling continued...

 

 

More Christmas Tree worms (may be the same to previously pictured)

 

 

Very colorful coral

 

This is what a dead sea urchin looks like (poor little guy)

 

More Christmas Tree worms on colorful coral

[pghsteelerfan]

I always get the cheese plate as my appetizer! YUMMY :)

 

It IS yummy!!! I always get the Caesar Salad unless they have that mushroom soup, then I get both. Cheese plate will be my dessert of choice now. Some people say chocolate is their weakness...mine is cheese. :D

[pghsteelerfan]

Jalousie Beach snorkeling continued...

 

This is the area along the base of Petit Piton...it's in these nooks and crannies in the rocks where others have seen octopus and eels. I didn't see any this time around.

 

 

More colorful coral. I'm not sure if the little guys that are mostly red and look like flowers are another type of Christmas Tree worm or something else. I don't know what the little purple guy (on the right) is...sea anemone???

 

Basket sponge. There are a lot of these here and I got a lot of pictures of them the last time we were here

 

This is where it starts to get deeper

 

Thinking Blue Tang???

 

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Jalousie Beach snorkeling continued...

 

I have no idea what kind of fish these guys are

 

Need ID on him too

 

He was beautiful, just don't know what kind of fish he is

 

 

 

More Christmas Tree worms and colorful coral

[pghsteelerfan]

Jalousie Beach snorkeling continued...

 

A close-up of the Christmas Tree worms (red ones at the top, and the white ones)

 

Basket sponge (these are in the deeper area)

 

 

 

These little guys with the long, black spines are the other kinds of sea urchins we saw

 

I tried for what seemed like five minutes trying to get a good picture of this little fish. I don't know what kind he is.

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Jalousie Beach snorkeling continued...

 

Don't know what he is either

I spent about 45 minutes snorkeling and decided I’d go up to the loungers and let DH take a turn. Although everything felt safe, I felt better if we took turns because I had my DSLR. I saved for that, used Christmas money that had been given to me that I’d held onto for years because I wanted to use it toward something special and not frivolous. Some of that money was from my Grandmother and a favorite Great Aunt who are no longer with us. I also had years’ worth of change and I had almost all that I needed. DH told me to get it because even though I’m now a homemaker, in addition to housework, I also try to do things he’d normally do and also fix things that I can. So now that I’m getting used to the DSLR and a little better at it after each major use, it’s not something I want to lose by being careless.

 

Once back at the lounger and DH was snorkeling, I had another Piton beer and kicked back in the lounger for a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After finishing the beer, I took my DSLR and walked around that area to get some pictures. I have pictures from Jalousie Beach from two years ago but I was trying to get some different pictures from what I had before.

 

 

 

Again, letting the pictures take it from here for a while.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's DH snorkeling

 

 

 

This is the snorkeling area over by the rocks at the base of Petit Piton. There is really some cool stuff over here.

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Jalousie Beach (Sugar Beach Resort) continued...

 

 

 

This is the snorkeling area

 

 

Another of the snorkeling/free lounger area

 

The roped off area is the swimming area

 

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Jalousie Beach (Sugar Beach Resort) continued...

 

 

That's the base of Petit Piton

 

You can rent these loungers for $50.00

 

The resort bar. We could go in and purchase drinks, but those were already provided