Just boarded the Wind Surf in St Maarten

[maureencruiser]

Here I am on the tour, posing politely. That doesn't happen often, as you will see. The lady who took this picture looks like Rue McClanahan. On the land behind me is Eric Clapton's 18 million dollar home. I know it cost 18M because the tour guide mentioned it several times. ;)

 

 

I have to go easy on the guide, though. She had a rough crowd to deal with. One man asked her if the people in Antigua have jobs and if people lived there when the island was first inhabited. :D

 

Here is a nice picture of the harbor, or harbour , if you prefer. I'm from Boston, so I call it a haabaaah.

 

 

Here's me, acting a fool with a cactus.

 

 

And, a picture of part of Antigua that looks like an alligator, with what I believe are our masts sticking up behind it.

 

[maureencruiser]

Our tour ended in Nelson's Dockyard, where I found my yacht, The Lady M, II. I had her built after the original Lady M hit an iceberg in the haabaaah.

 

 

I don't know where Jaluit is, but, apparently, they will worship me like a Goddess if I ever go there. :D

 

The tour guide here told us about the Atlantic Challenge, where every December, people row from the Canary Islands to Antigua! :eek: Some people even do it solo. This past year, there were 2 teams that were all women. One of them , Row Like a Girl, came in second place overall! Great work, ladies. I'm gonna learn more about this when I get home, it sounds wonderful. Maybe, I'll even put together a team. Cathy, are you in?

 

Here's what the boats look like.

 

 

And, the front.

 

 

A man passed me carrying something that looked very important, I wonder what it is?

 

[maureencruiser]

Our tour included a drink of rum punch at one of the bars, the guide said it was made from 151 proof rum. That's 75% alcohol, for those of you struggling with math. I'm assuming it's Bacardi 151, but, she didn't specifically say.

 

 

Here I am, slugging it down. Wait, what, you're not supposed to drink it like a shot? Oops! Here you will also notice a sunburn starting to form on my face and chest. I assumed the tour would be ride around in the bus for half an hour, get out for 5 minutes, back in the bus for another 1/2 hour. Instead, there was a lot of standing on cliffs while we were told about the history of Antigua and Eric Clapton's 18M dollar house. I suppose it was the tour guide's revenge for us asking silly questions.

 

 

After drinking that, I staggered out looking for the bus. I thought this building was the bus and tried to go in there. I love these carvings, but, they look very expensive, so I kept looking for the bus.

 

 

So, that was my tour of Antigua, now back to my usual eating and drinking my way through the Caribbean (and it shows!)

[Tiki_Man]

Maureen, so happy for you. You seem to be having a blast. This will make the 3.5 weeks go by much faster until we are onboard WindSurf.

 

Cheers (and keep the pics coming)

 

Mark

[ROCKSMIX]

It's too bad I lost the other post, I was hilarious in it! :eek: I'm going to bed now, tomorrow is Antigua and I'm doing some kind of tour, have to meet early. I did post in the now lost at sea post that I started this thread as a just checking in thread, but, it seems it has turned into a live review! :D:D

 

Thanks for all of the beautiful pictures of your meal. I love food pictures and I am guilty of posting the same. Have a wonderful trip. I''ll be watching for more news from you. I'm on a 10 day count down to Papeete on the Windsprit!!

[ROCKSMIX]

It's too bad I lost the other post, I was hilarious in it! :eek: I'm going to bed now, tomorrow is Antigua and I'm doing some kind of tour, have to meet early. I did post in the now lost at sea post that I started this thread as a just checking in thread, but, it seems it has turned into a live review! :D:D

 

Thanks for all of the beautiful pictures of your meal. I love food pictures and I am guilty of posting the same. Have a wonderful trip. I''ll be watching for more news from you. I'm on a 10 day count down to Papeete on the Windsprit!!

[CathyK2]

Maureen, I am enjoying all of your antics of your travels. You certainly keep an exciting life. The pictures are great and help with amazing visuals of all you are doing and seeing.

 

Gotta love those rum punches that go with some of the tours. Very pretty harbor picture too. You talk about being from Boston. I'm up in New Hampshire, but had seen that it said you were from Virginia, so was surprised with the Boston comments.

 

And yes, the dolphin pics...that had to be so much fun. I've always loved seeing dolphins when they are around the ships.

 

Hoping you will be able to get a picture of tonights menu in the main dining. <hint, hint>

[CathyK2]

Maureen, Since this your first time on Windstar but you too have been on the larger main stream cruise lines....how do you feel the motion on this ship is by comparison?

[Rhody1445]

Maureen - thanks so much for All the great commentary and photos - the dolphin is great and I am hoping to see them on our cruise - and the "vessel" they row from the Canary Islands - hoping there was a bathroom in the front? Not sure I could make it without one! Looks like you are having a great time especially with that rum punch! Keep enjoying! I am starting to get really excited for our first Windstar experience - you look beautiful as the king of the world and the Antigua tourist !

[#55worktoplay]

[quote

 

 

After drinking that, I staggered out looking for the bus. I thought this building was the bus and tried to go in there. I love these carvings, but, they look very expensive, so I kept looking for the bus.

!)

 

We haven't heard from Maureen since yesterday. I hope she is just too busy having a great time!

[Redtravel]

I like Windsurf. I enjoyed sailing on it in the Caribbean and am looking forward to my next cruise in the Baltics. Since food is a major attraction, I enjoyed your photos. I know from past experience that the food will be excellent.

[CathyK2]

[quote

 

 

After drinking that, I staggered out looking for the bus. I thought this building was the bus and tried to go in there. I love these carvings, but, they look very expensive, so I kept looking for the bus.

!)

 

We haven't heard from Maureen since yesterday. I hope she is just too busy having a great time!

 

Yes, I have been wondering the same thing. Hope those Rum punches weren't TOOO strong for her. But yes, hoping she is just having a fantastic time and keeping too busy, but I also wondered if the internet could be really flaky since I know I've been to so many areas that you just can't seem to get a decent connection. In any case, we do miss you, Maureen!

 

I head out for St. Maarten by way of Boston and waking up at 3:30 am tomorrow morning. Just thinking about that leaves me tired, but it will be so nice being in St. Maarten/Martin for a couple nights before we board on Saturday. I'll still try to log in here with my phone to see if you have any more updates, but most of all, I hope things are going so well on your cruise.

[#55worktoplay]

I sure hope it is that Or she is just having such a great time she hasn't had the time to come back and report.

 

Enjoy your time Maureen!

 

Cathy you also have a fantastic trip, I envy you both. I have another another month before I head to Miami and cannot wait as it is still miserable winter here!

 

Thanks

[Suzjoh]

We got off on 02/13. We have friends who have been on board for 6 weeks. Have a great time and savor it! Don't miss prickly pear beach party!

[maureencruiser]

I head out for St. Maarten by way of Boston and waking up at 3:30 am tomorrow morning. Just thinking about that leaves me tired, but it will be so nice being in St. Maarten/Martin for a couple nights before we board on Saturday.

 

Cathy, I am so sorry I haven't been back to post more. It is a combination of drinking too much wine at dinner and coming back to my room in no shape to get on the internet and today, when I planned to spend hours, the internet kept cutting out. I was spending over an hour trying to load photos and then they were cutting out and I was losing them. Everyone who spent time in SXM prior to the cruise was eaten alive by mosquitoes. Do yourself a favor and apply repellent, especially to your feet. Some nights, i couldn't sleep because my feet itched so bad. It seems to be over now. Have a great cruise! If you eat in Amphora, ask for Russ's station, tell him Mo sent you! He is part of the Deck BBQ dancing and is going to host the crew show tonight, not sure if he'll be hosting next week.

 

Enjoy your time Maureen!

 

Thanks, 55! I'm having a great time, was at the Soggy Dollar Bar today and now, we are in Virgin Gorda, we have the crew show at 10pm, just 45 minutes from now and then the beach BBQ tomorrow.

[maureencruiser]

Oh, sure! NOW, it lets me download photos. Here is sunset last night.

 

 

 

Right after I took this photo, a whale breached right in front of the boat.

 

And, here is me, happy as a clam.

 

[JimAOk1945]

I'm following along. My wife and I are researching the possibility of doing a Windstar cruise in the future.

 

Question: Did you feel a lot of motion compared to your mainstream cruises?

[#55worktoplay]

You go girl! I'm so happy for you, it really does sound like you are having a blast.

 

Thanks for checking in.

[Tiki_Man]

Go Mo.... you have the entire CC internet waiting for your next post - you go girl, have fun and enjoy every moment.

 

Cheers

 

Tiki

[maureencruiser]

I'm following along. My wife and I are researching the possibility of doing a Windstar cruise in the future.

 

Question: Did you feel a lot of motion compared to your mainstream cruises?

 

Thanks for reminding me, someone asked this earlier and the internet wouldn't let me answer. I don't feel any more motion than on a regular ship. The ship looks more "shippy" than these newer ships, the doors, etc, but, the motion is the exact same, some gentle rocking some nights at bedtime, which I love.

 

Cathy and anyone else, don't miss the crew show, it was a lot of fun. Let's just say you gotta watch out for the quiet ones...:eek:

[ROCKSMIX]

I am happy to see you could post again, and not carried out to sea somehow. I am counting down for the Windspirit/Tahiti cruise departing March 11th. Your stories let me live a preview of my future days at sea. I am bringing bug repellant!!!!

[texasstar]

Rocksmix,

Please post a review when you return. The latest review is from Oct. We head to Tahiti in May, and are anxiously awaiting reviews! Thanks

[Keith1010]

I continue to enjoying following along.

 

Keith

[ROCKSMIX]

I will absolutely do a review. One week from tomorrow I'll be on the Wind Spirit having a cocktail and some snacks. Flying from California one day early.

[Keith1010]

So happy to know you will be doing a review and how nice that you will be on the wind.

 

Keith