Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Anguilla to Tortola

 

                            TORTOLA

is the largest and most populated island of the British Virgin Islands (a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean)

the previous night's PowerPoint slide

sunrise as the ship nears Tortola

Daily Update
  • Weather: sunny, low 80s, no rain, sunny all day
Zodiac's on board
some sort of windsock being raised


  • Before we head ashore, we have a tete-a-tete with James, the hotel manager. He's been on vacation, just back two days ago. Basically, we get the universal buck-passing: WindStar Miami is way short to staff and for months has not fixed the data loss of missing bookings, leading to difference between what the  customers have received on their confirmations (or, in some cases, not received) and what info  the  ship has on hand on its computer system. On top of that, he relates that very few people have signed up for excursions...except the example he  gives we know to be untrue since we and MB&RF had signed up to the same excursions! James says that they are nearly full to capacity and this specific cruise had fewer pre-bookings of any cruise he can remember
Magnet moves from inside room to outside
pool where THB tested his snorkel equipment; salt water
Zodiac in action
one of two elevator's out of service. DB and THB heard that a  recent cruise both were out...definitely making the ship non-ADA compliant (that if there hasn't been a  recall of all ADA rule's in the last few days)

Repaired tender...are we on the maiden post-repair voyage?
  • On shore,  freelancer Orlando arranges our day: he  will taxi us and anther couple we just met on the tender to Smuggler's Cove (arranging different pick-up times): $40/pp round-trip. He takes VISA, payment on return to Soper's Hole. He coordinates our lunch at the beach bar. He gives us much local info (not a DJT fan!). Delightful guy, we add a gratuity of $15USD. 
Soper's Hole
Smuggler's Cove
  • Snorkel update: THB and DB walk down the beach aways and set up a spot in  the shade, only to realize THB's  snorkel has been sliced nearly in half. Our best guess is that happened either yesterday at end of the snorkeling  or this morning before leaving  when the fins were put into the mesh bag on top of the snorkels. What to do: THB takes the first shift, DB the second. Water is lovely, clear and mostly devoid of fish. 
Do NOT tell Dr Dixit
  • Lunch at the beach bar: share bbq ribs and chicken and a Painkiller cocktail -  dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and cream of coconut, total $35USD. It's Tuesday, a methotrexate day, so THB only has a few sips. We share a table with  a couple from London visiting one of their three sons who has a villa just up from this lovely beach
Orlando makes this a special day, LOVELY!!!
  • Back  on board, clean-up and then attempt to rest-up in the room when our eyes go blurry from the heavy shellac smell. There's no hope: THB asks the maintenance guys if they can open the portholes...nope, that is the carpenter's job (nothing has changed since the 1700s and the era of wooden sailing ships). THB then asks to have this note put in the suggestion box: NO PAINTING ON OR NEAR THE BRIDGE!

sign of the times: this leads to a downstairs room on the private tender shuttle...not meant for the downstairs occupants? for the staff?

Dinner excellent, mussels with truffle frites for THB, salads for both THB and DB, shared chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream on the side.

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