Noggins

That's odd, I didn't see your response there when I posted mine little later. Looks like our thinking was very similar.

What fortunate lives we live to experience this. (And we don't even have to ask for the champers - it just arrives.....)

Tendering means you're in a less mainstream destination. Usually. And I like that. The downside of swinging at anchor is that you are constantly chasing the shade. On balance I'll take the computer deciding when the thrusters need to cut in. To be honest I was more surprised that they used the anchor as I suspect the ship is entirely capable of maintaining a set position without any anchor.

Soufreire, small town in the shadow of the Pitons. We had the tenders in use again. It's not a bad service operated but they haven't quite mastered the knack of having one departing the ship whilst the other departs the dock. As is often the case the helmsmen give the impression of having their very first day at the controls - but perhaps these bathtub shaped vessels are tricky to manoeuvre. Obviously they're shiny and new. And maybe the designers had flipped through a Riva brochure when they settled on the interior looks? 😎 The town was a sleepy little place caught in a bit of a time warp with probably insufficient share of the tourist dollar. Fine for those of us walking round taking photos but maybe not so fine if the vagaries of life's lottery required you to scrape a living there. Those that took tours will have different tales to tell.

I fully expected a shady table with a view like this to be 'reserved for influencers / instergrammers' only. As I've no idea what either of those things even are I would have been ineligible. Such a setting justified a little bit of over indulgence (imho)

🧐

Good morning from St Lucia. How about this for a view from your terrace / balcony / thingy...

Last night part 2. We have only ever eaten in a ships 'buffet' on a cruise when said space converts into a different concept in the evening (eg Silversea or old Crystal). We just aren't buffet people. But due to the unchanging menus we felt we had to give it a go. The first surprise was to see just how busy it was - there's quite a 'buffet' crowd on here, all of whom could, I'm sure, have been accommodated in the restaurants. It takes a while to visit all the stations and we were satisfied that there were plenty of good looking options for us. We found a good table outside, out of the breeze and decided sushi would be our starter. We were told they would make us fresh items and they were soon delivered to us. It was then that our lack of attention to detail dealt us a blow. You can see that we've spent quite a while on various things (and I've been careful to avoid disclosing our drink count...🥂). Factor in our desire to limit the gap between end of dinner and start of the late show and I think you can see where this is heading.... Yes, as we are eating our sushi our waiter came out to say ' if you want anything else from the buffet this evening please go now as it is closing '!! So our leisurely dinner plan turned into a rushed one with, eventually, cold food and melted ice cream. But absolutely only ourselves to blame. If I were to suggest any changes I would add 30 minutes to the opening hours, add table lights (they are all over the ship) and dim the main lights for the evening. Perhaps also introduce table cloths - as you can see we didn't even have a place mat. Then the show, which was the best attended show we've been to. I think there are a lot of us here of the Carol King generation. Same band, same Lydia but a very well executed show. If Lydia, heaven forbid, ever had a sore throat you feel entertainment might grind to a halt! (The comedian's second shot overlapped timing wise so we'll need others to report whether that was a success - or not)

If you are expecting a groundhog day of repeats tonight then you're going to be surprised - we were.... The first two 'surprises' related to last night. Firstly, as we walked through Crema (coffee bar) we glanced down into the once again full Atrium bar. Then we noticed waiter service being offered in Crema. Now there's an idea! But we had already decided on the lounge on 11. Two others were there enjoying Justine playing the piano. Why are these forward facing lounges always dead in the evenings?! The second surprise occured on our way to the lounge. We bumped into Michael. Before I finished my sentence 'about last night ' he said 'i know what you're going to say' And he did and he agreed it was unacceptable and promised it would not happen again on this ship. And I'm happy to take him at his word. On our way to dinner we passed through the conservatory pool area where the film (second ever, apparently) was in progress. Business was thin but the neat thing was that the cordless 'silent disco' headsets were in use. Great idea. I think that will have to do for tonight. Dinner and tonight's show comment and photos to follow in the morning. 💤😴

I'm not sure how to take that.... I am a Geoffrey Palmer fan but more Butterflies oriented (for reasons that maybe obvious....). I daresay the tarts back then were of the 'Bartons the Baker' variant rather than the genuine Belem variety we enjoyed today.

Tomorrow's programme.... and in other news that I couldn't mention until I'd had my fill and didn't face a wave of competition - there were custard tarts in Crema! (anyone who knows me knows I have particular weakness for a custard tart.) These were 👍💪 Normal service took place on deck 14 at sunset and there's a rumour that supplies of Mercier champagne are now under pressure. I gather there are plentiful supplies of lemonade being prepared for the next cruise. (and before you get all angsty please remember I'm British and have a particular tongue-in-cheek approach sometimes....🙄) An evening awaits. Let's hope it is full of +++'s....

We got to the botanical gardens not so much by summoning our wherewithal as by summoning a taxi. The gardens are wonderfully tranquil, shady and taking full advantage of their hillside location. useful to be able to check you've not been left behind.. . The town has a certain charm.

You're fine - but I feel short changed now. OK if I pop round for breakfast tomorrow?

Exceptionally quiet at Emporium breakfast today. (well, at the time we got there - either the trips left early or we missed a cracking late night party?). There were plenty of shady tables. There are also some unusual seating options - this one for groups, others just for two It's not usual to have shakshouka on the menu so it had to be tried. (Not sure I'll get this offered regularly at home..) Guadalupe has probably the best botanical garden in the Caribbean so we might make a return visit there if we can summon the wherewithal. 💪

A evening of hits and misses. The Atrium Bar really is a mess and just not acceptable. If you manage to snag one of the handful of seats you are looked after. If not then expect to wait 10/15 minutes standing at the bar and then be prepared to have to take your drink off to the closed Crema to use the seating there. Where is management? Why has this not been fixed? Roving bar staff upstairs at Crema would help for a start. Dinner at a quiet Fil Rouge was fine and with the help of our waiter we managed to cobble together a vegetarian meal that was slightly different to last time. The repetitive menus are beginning to take their toll. Service was very good but I was left wondering what was the role of 3/4 dark suited gentlemen who looked like security and who stand around chatting to each other with occasional surly interaction with the staff. They never seem to approach guests nor, seemingly, even glance in their direction. Pictured is the most successful / important course and a nice Cabernet Sauvignon that is not on the included list - a list which increasingly I think can only be used as a guide. Then the show - the dancers. Well, there were about 20 in the audience - illustrating the difficult job the ship has in producing a varied, quality entertainment programme that guests want to support. The show started well enough, slightly odd, but there was no doubting the dance quality. But then we were treated to images of ritual slaughter of a bull (don't let anyone tell you it is 'bull fighting'). It is 2024 for heaven's sake and this is not acceptable in this sort of environment. We walked out in (somewhat ineffectual) protest - leaving 18 in the audience. Onwards to Guadalupe. (I don't usually spare the time to review what I've written but I have tonight and am left wondering where the 'hits' are hiding amongst all those misses / rants!)

It's no good, I've read this three times and still don't get the punch line.... (But I do agree)

Two surprises in tomorrow's programme. Firstly the big screen at the conservatory pool is going to be used for something other than displaying the brand name. I think I remember someone suggesting it should be used for movie screening. Hopefully there will be enough seats. (There will be with that choice of movie! 🤔) Secondly the comedian is being given a second chance after all. Did he make a special pleading or was there a hidden clause in the contract...?

Today I'm reminded why Americans often seem to feel that the Caribbean is boring. I'm sure it's partly the 'backyard' effect but also that several stops are a bit, well, meh. Especially if it's a grey day in Antigua and if you're not a beachy person. But for a Brit the draw is that in March you can swap the warmth that comes from a log fire to warmth that requires shorts. That's what we've come for. And have been perfectly happy having a - mostly - ship day. (We did visit the cathedral and my interest in grass cutting machinery meant my eye was caught where others might not! 😳) But that's not what we're here for! I mentioned our chance conversation last night with the UK head of EJ. An delightful lady and certainly full of passion and belief. The most important thing she said, maybe, was recognition that EJ is, there's no other word for it, on a journey. And the product will evolve further . From a standing start just a few months ago how could this not be the case? Having followed various accounts right from the beginning it is clear the product has evolved a fair bit and my task here is simply to reflect the point they're currently at. Others can tell us later about future changes. They'll be more to say later but it does feel that a fair number of the changes so far bring the product more in line with what 'cruisers' expect / want and I wouldn't be surprised if the 'resort speak' fades a little more. It will be harder to sort some of the hardware mistakes although I understand EJ2 has some issues dealt with. To be clear, I offer the following not as a gleeful moan but as information that could be useful to some Here are the steps from an outside table to reach the buffet / food court. (in fairness staff are quick to carry your plate for you) And here are steps to reach one of the lift lobbies. And out on deck, a hazard for the unwary. Looking like a level service but, oops, it's not.

Back for a 'main dining room ' (Fil Rouge) breakfast. It makes for a calm and relaxed breakfast and is pretty well paced. Of course, the menu is unchanging here too and you'd think a daily special could be managed. (The Yacht Club restaurant does manage a daily pasta special.) But the menu is quite extensive and I had the signature dish - minus the caviar. For those that have learnt the need to have their hollandaise on the side - that seems not to be a necessary precaution here. It was very good. Increasingly we are being greeted by name wherever we go. I'm not sure if it's notoriety or not (!) but it does underline how much effort individuals are putting in to doing their job well.

The first thing to say is that you only have to mention it on CC and it gets sorted .... Do you remember me saying the band could do with some brass? Well, tonight we got brass 🎺. The musical director mainly plays keyboard but tonight he unfurled (possibly not the correct word) his trumpet - and gave it some. I know some people think the entertainment is a bit repetitive and too dependent upon the band and two house artists. But the show (songs from the divas) was very good again - but somehow not quite as good as last night. But that may more to do with my musical taste. What is clear is that the entertainment is a lot better than at start up and I'm sure it will continue to evolve. Dinner was at Sakura but outside on the aft pool deck. A delightful change to dine alfresco whilst still at anchor. We pretty much ate the same as last time and enjoyed it just as much. We also enjoyed conversation across a number of tables - including with EJ's UK lead person who happened to be on the table beside us. It's a very sociable ship and we've been enjoying many conversations with some delightful folk. We've set off again now after a late sailaway. Next stop Antigua. The days are racing by which can only mean one thing..... Adrian

There's no denying we're in a beautiful part of the world with beautiful weather - and on a ship with some amazing outside spaces (with libations to match 🥂....) In fact, it's hard to imagine how things would work on a cold weather cruise especially as so much of the outdoor furniture is absolutely not suited to being left outside in a wet / salty environment 🤔. I realise others have experienced 'cold' on the westbound crossing. Do jump in with any thoughts! Adrian

The pastry department continue to impress - and I keep feeling an obligation to make a daily check that standards are not slipping. Best cup of tea so far today. Water served to us directly from the urn - a problem very simply solved.

Gustavia today (St Barts). A mini version of Monte Carlo dripping with wealth and top notch shopping opportunities. We've been a few times in recent years and so had little on the 'must do' list - other than keep the AMEX firmly under control. It was interesting to see Sea Dream here. Their shore station generously plied our tender crew with cookies - possibly to underline the fact that our shore station had no cookies. I think Sea Dream might have been feeling especially smug because their ship was proudly sporting their devastating (new?) weapon in the fight for market share in the luxury market. (those interested, please form a line)

You absolutely should. My system, perfected over the years, involves balancing excess in the evening with restraint in the morning. And there are wonderful 'restraint' options. But if you want even lighter then the café (Crema) offers options too. eg a mini pain au raisin.