WELCOME TO TORTOLA, B.V.I.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sunny, Warm, 90 F

Tuesday, February 10, 2009, we docked at the Havensight Pier area, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Island. The weather was warm and sunny. We definitely like the Havensight area better than the Crown Bay Harbor. We got off the ship about 9 a.m. and took a 20-person taxi to the downtown area-$4/per person, about 15 minutes. One can walk, but the traffic is bad. It did not take me long to purchase the watch I had wanted since we were here in January. This day there were at least three ships in port and the shops were much busier. We like the downtown area—we are very familiar with it and know the streets and stores.

I bought some sand toys for both B1 and B2 at Del Sol, which means they change colors in the sun. Tim is still doing watch research.

By 1 p.m. we returned to the Havensight area and it started pouring down rain. We went to Yacht Haven Grande, a newer shopping area near Havensight, upscale, “premier” shops, just to look around, but quickly returned to Havensight and then the ship.

One of the activities on the ship is a Murder Mystery. People signed up on the first day and at dinner we noticed about 20 people pondering over their notes and tablemates. It looks like fun!

The “South Beach Rave” production was the feature in the Stardust Theatre. I again emphasize the quality of the shows. It turns out that there are 20 professional dancers, and it seems several are trained in ballet. Each production has a ballet number in it—so well executed to popular music.

After the show, we headed to the Spinnaker Lounge for the Late Night Adult Comedy with Dave Heenan. His humor is self-deprecating. He is 5’4”, with a little weight, so much of his humor focuses on that and his life in NYC. I think my favorite part is that whenever he mentions his alleged ex-wife, he pffts into the mike (like he is spitting). His show ended about 12:15 a.m.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
We arrived in Roadtown, Tortola at 7:30 a.m. Tim and got off the ship about 9 a.m. with sunny weather and temperatures in the high 80s. We were docked next to the Norwegian Gem, the Dawn’s sister ship.

Tortola (10 square miles) has a population of about 16,000 and most people live in Roadtown. The vendors in the market were not aggressive at all, in fact, quite the opposite. Tim and I walked to the town, a short distance and went to the Sunny Caribbee Spice Company and purchased a few things: sea salt/spices in a grinder for R family, B family, and others we are visiting in Florida and Georgia. I got some spice for friend M.

Since it was true Caribbean weather, we returned to the pool on the ship for some more sun and fun!! I finished Michael Crichton’s Timeline (which was a very good adventure tale and full of his research about the late 14th century in France).


We played Trivia in the Pearly King’s Pub (feels just like I would imagine an English Pub) and then met Nicholas Christopher Wright, the Housekeeping Executive, for dinner in the Venetian Dining Room. We had entered our names in a raffle to dine with a ship’s officer. We enjoyed this opportunity to hear about how “Chris” started working for NCL (his friend in San Andres Island off Colombia signed him up for an interview about 16 years ago) and how he worked at many different jobs on cruise jobs before he finally became an executive. His Romanian wife also works on the ship.

During dinner the Captain announced on the P.A. that a situation had developed and a passenger had to be airlifted to a hospital. A helicopter was on its way and passengers had to avoid Decks 12, 13, and 14 and use no flash photography to distract the pilot. We finished dinner (prime rib) and went to the Promenade Deck—there were high winds and the helicopter had to make three passes before it could land on the ship. We were aft when the helicopter made its final approach. This was very dramatic, with the size of the aircraft (U.S. Coast Guard) and the whir of the rotor blades. We were only five decks away from the landing and saw the helicopter very close. What a delicate procedure—coordinating the cruise ship with a helicopter’s landing. The captain had more control of the ship while its engines were on than if the ship was “stopped.” (this is what Tim told me when I asked why they did not just stop the ship. The entire procedure lasted an hour. Then the helicopter flew off to San Juan, which we could see while all this was going on.

Note: Botox treatments are offered in the spa—the procedure is done by a physician—treatments start at $300.

We checked out where our cabin is for our November 1 cruise—it is about 20 steps from the Internet Café, 20 steps from the elevators midship. This ship does not have as many elevators as the Liberty, but yet we have not had long to wait.

Culinary Delight of the Day:
Tuesday—Pot du chocolat in the buffet, bread pudding (Oceana’s bread pudding in New Orleans is still better), artichoke hors d’oeuvres in the Aqua Dining Room, roast turkey and dressing (with raisins), and a wonderful strawberry soufflé.
Wednesday—I just discovered the cheeseburgers and fries in the Blue Lagoon. They are close to the Margaritaville burgers! Braised stone fruit compote (cherries, peach, apricot, plum) and prime rib at dinner

TK’s Takes: He liked the watches in St. Thomas, but could not justify the money. The Sunny Caribbee Spice Company store was interesting in Tortola. He liked that the Norwegian Gem was parked right across from the Dawn at the dock in Tortola. The Gem left the port at 1 p.m. and a Costa ship pulled right in. He also commented that the Dawn’s main pool could be bigger.

A Note our Dear Granddaughters, B and B: Tuesday’s towel animal was a bunny rabbit. Maybe I should buy the book and we can all learn to make towel animals! Wednesday’s towel animal was a dragonfly. B1 and B2 would both love the buffet for children in the Venetian Dining Room

A Note to Friend M: Why don’t you look into cruising with us in November on the Dawn as a treat for your retirement? This is a very nice ship and the itinerary is great! And, you could buy the watch you have always wanted in St. Thomas!