Cruise Diva's CRUISE
DIARY
~ SEADREAM II ~
Caribbean Yachting
Adventure
Monday—Sint
Maarten
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|
Beachfront—Philipsburg,
Sint Maarten |
Did you think I spelled that incorrectly? Our
scheduled port was to be Marigot, Saint Martin, the principal town on
the French "side" of the island. Unfortunately, wind and
high seas conspired against SeaDream II and tendering ashore there proved to
be dangerous. Captain Erik Anderssen informed us of his decision to
move to Philipsburg where we could safely dock on the Dutch
"side" in Sint Maarten.
After breakfast we anchored in the
Philipsburg harbor awaiting line handlers to dock and were chagrined
by a downpour. Thankfully, it was a brief Caribbean shower and the sun
was shining by the time we set out for Front Street to browse the
shops and discover a new beachfront "mall" complex, complete
with beach bar and loungers on a pristine sandy beach.
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|
Topside
Restaurant Buffet |
Back aboard SeaDream II we savored an
enjoyable lunch al fresco in the Topside Restaurant, selecting
salads from the buffet and entrees from the grill. Waiters are on hand
to carry our plates from the buffet to a table with a view and take
our main course orders. Complimentary wines are poured freely and
dessert selections from the buffet are tantalizing.
He said: It's
nap time.
She said:
A Sun Bed is the ideal spot to relax and read.
Pairs of Sun Beds and Dream Beds on
Deck 6 are semi-screened for privacy.
The Captain's
Welcoming Reception & Dinner
Captain Anderssen hosted his
reception in the Main Salon and introduced his officers and staff
while guests nibbled on caviar and canapés and waiters circulated
with champagne. Making dreams come true, our cruise is served by 92
staff members representing 20 nationalities, outnumbering 71
passengers from six nations.
He said:
The entire staffs seems to know our name.
She said:
That's a hallmark of SeaDream's personalized service.
The one similarity between our yacht
and a traditional cruise ship was the menu for the Captain's Dinner...
Escargots "Bourguignonne" and Grilled Lobster Tail.
He said:
I keep a list of wines we enjoy on my computer and appreciate the
consideration of our sommelier who saves the labels for me.
She said:
Our dinner was so delicious... for dessert I prefer something light
and every evening I can order sorbet.
SeaDream II's itinerary lists port
arrivals and departures simply as 'morning' and 'evening' and Captain
Anderssen has flexibility in regard to actual times. This proved most
welcome to a large family on our cruise whose luggage was delayed.
They were quite relieved that we remained in Sint Maarten until 10pm
to await it's delivery from the airport.
Tuesday—Antigua
 |
|
At
least 100 passengers wait to reboard Serenade
of the Seas & Norwegian Dawn. |
 |
|
Even
though SeaDream II is docked alongside Norwegian Sky, there is
no line to re-enter the quay. SIZE matters. |
As we docked in Antigua, we noted not
one large cruise ship (as in Sint Maarten), but THREE. Proving that
size matters, lines stretched for blocks at the pier where Serenade of
the Seas and Norwegian Dawn were docked. On the other hand, SeaDream
II guests encountered no queue even though we were docked alongside
Norwegian Sky.
Antigua's neighboring island
Montserrat suffered nature's devastation when 3300 foot Soufrierre
Hills Volcano erupted in 1995. Molten lava flowed down the
mountainside at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, destroying
everything in its path. Still active, the mountain spews ash and mud,
continuing to make much of the formerly lush island
uninhabitable.
Mel looked forward to the helicopter
tour offered by SeaDream II to see Montserrat from the air.
Unfortunately, it was cancelled due to lack of participation. With
three large ships in port, it wasn't possible to book the tour
independently. Fortunately, the SeaDream activities staff managed to
negotiate spots on a helicopter for guests who were anxious to take
the tour. Mel was elated and set off for the flight while I claimed a
shaded Dream Bed (and promptly nodded off).
Mel and the other guests from
SeaDream II who viewed Montserrat returned elated by their adventure,
yet saddened by what they saw.
 |
|
Montserrat,
devastated when 3300 foot Soufrierre Hills Volcano erupted in
1995. |
That they were able to take the tour
was entirely due to the diligence of SeaDream II's staff.
He said:
It was the opportunity of a lifetime.
She said:
I didn't think Mel's mood would improve after being unable to make a
phone call to check his office messages during the morning in Antigua.
It was impossible because of the toll-free number to AT&T. Thank
you, SeaDream!
While our three cruise ship neighbors
sailed in late-afternoon, we remained docked until 10pm. A gorgeous
sunset set the mood for 'Starlight Dinner,' elegantly served outside
in the Topside Restaurant.
She said:
Pinch me, I must be dreaming.
Cruise Line Profile - SeaDream
Yacht Club
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© M. D. Coffman
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