NEW LIVE - Marina, Feb 1 to Feb 8 - Not sldispatcher/David (Too bad - Ha!)

[funredhead]

OP- just curios if you are still stopping in Harvest Caye, Belize tomorrow 2/5?

 

The last 2 NCL ships scheduled to port there were cancelled due to an "obstruction" and your ship is the next scheduled vessel.

 

Thanks for your insight. Enjoy your vacation!

[What A Market]

Funredhead

Yes, we are scheduled to arrive in Harvest Caye tomorrow at 10:00AM. No announcement to the contrary.

 

 

 

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[funredhead]

I will be very interested to hear your report on Harvest Caye. Thank you so much!

[What A Market]

Great day in Roatan. Great weather -- not to hot, not too humid. Did a snorkeling excursion thru the ship, using up some ship board credit. More on that later.

 

Here is a couple of photos from the Captain's party the other evening. One shot is the stage in Horizons with one of the entertainers in the foreground. Second shot is the string quartet shot from the purple Casino bar.

 

 

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[easyboy]

Second shot is the string quartet shot from the purple Casino bar.

Would you happen to know how the quartet is called? They seem familiar. Thanks.

[redwinger]

Seems that "obstructions" holding back NCL ships and their subsequent cancellations may have been the channel depth shallowing up on approaching the pier. This morning upon entering the approach to the pier the Marina stirred up a lot of mud in the channel. Not saying we were stuck in the mud but the wind and shallow channel seemed to affect our approach. All well now as we are docked and secure, the rain has stopped and no snow or ice or freezing temps to contend with. Another beautiful day on a fantastic ship. This must be paradise.

[What A Market]

String quartet is called Ginger. Interesting name. One the girls is a redhead. Ha!

 

As redwinger reports, we are docked at Harvest Caye. Storm clouds seem to be lifting, but plenty more still surrounding us. No worries -- I'm in my usual perch drinking my macchiatos. Number three down. Probably one more to go. :)

 

 

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[What A Market]

Here is a photo of Massimo, who is in charge of Barristas in the morning. Always nice to have an Italian taking care of the espressos!

 

 

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[What A Market]

Oh yeah, Super Bowl is being shown in Horizons and the Marina Lounge. Also being shown in everyone's stateroom.

 

 

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[ORV]

Seems that "obstructions" holding back NCL ships and their subsequent cancellations may have been the channel depth shallowing up on approaching the pier. This morning upon entering the approach to the pier the Marina stirred up a lot of mud in the channel. Not saying we were stuck in the mud but the wind and shallow channel seemed to affect our approach. All well now as we are docked and secure, the rain has stopped and no snow or ice or freezing temps to contend with. Another beautiful day on a fantastic ship. This must be paradise.

 

There was one port we were at in early Jan on Marina, I can't remember which, that I could have sworn we were stuck in the mud on the way in. There was a tug boat pushing on the side of the ship, and we were spinning around slowly. There was a lot of mud being churned up. After a little bit the ship straightened up, the tug back off and we continued to the dock.

 

I've never seen anything quite like that before. If I hadn't of had a view out the port window in Terrace at breakfast I'd never have known it. I can't remember seeing a tug push on the ship like that before. Pilot boats guiding us yes, a tug pushing on us no.

[RJB]

Oh yeah, Super Bowl is being shown in Horizons and the Marina Lounge. Also being shown in everyone's stateroom.

 

 

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That is very nice to read. Usually Oceania does not have these events on T.V. Good for them and us.

[jr8934]

Enjoying following your thread. We leave March 21st and this is getting me ready!

[What A Market]

Still completely overcast here on Harvest Caye, but we got ashore around 11:00AM when the rain let up. We're back on the ship now at 1:00PM. I guess I would say an overcast, cool day on Harvest Caye is a bust. This "island" is clearly designed to be a beach/pool experience. My only real disappointment was that the zip line course was closed due to high wind.

 

This man-made experience is certainly well done and still looks brand new, having only opened this past November. Standard shops selling presumably local good. Duty free shop for liquor. Also a specialty chocolate shop. With the "little" Marina at the dock, combined with the poor weather, the island looked like a ghost town. I can only imagine what the place must look like when one of NCL's monster ships disgorges its thousands of passenger. That said, NCL probably planned the island for just such an onslaught.

 

 

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[What A Market]

Jacques was last night. In a word -- fabulous! Each of my courses was well done. Started with the escargot (typical for me here); followed by the pumpkin soup (now served table side from an individual copper pot instead of the former pumpkin gourd -- better this new way as the soup comes out hotter); next course -- the Dover sole, de-boned table side; and finally the lamb filets. Wow, wow and wow all the way around.

 

Ok, so I wasn't done yet. Our server, Anne (from France -- but, of course), "insisted" I try the Crepe Suzette, prepared a la minute. I bit. Glad I did -- a wonderful end to the meal.

 

We had our dinner reservation at 6:30. DW's preference is to start meals a bit on the early side. I let her have her way for this evening. All of our other specialty reservations are or were at 7:30. Here I am at the start of the evening. (You can see Jacques is fairly quiet in the background.) I'm finishing off a couple of glasses of a Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer leftover from Red Ginger the night before. Love this white wine. Bottle is $80 here on the Marina. I think I can purchase this for about $30 in my local Total Wine retailer. I accept a markup of less than three times. I would be thrilled though if it was closer to two times.

 

Also ordered a bottle of Joseph Drouhin Pommard Burgundy for the evening. This may have been closer in price to two times retail, but wasn't "awesome" -- just good. I lean toward bigger reds, but this evening was all about the DW so I went lighter for her. Ah, the sacrifices we men must make for our women. :)

 

 

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[funredhead]

Thank you so much for the info on Harvest Caye. Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

[What A Market]

Here is a map of Harvest Caye. You pick this up at the Information booth close to the entrance. The brown "line" on the left side of the map is the long (surprisingly long) pier that leads to/from ship. Quite the man made structure. Most of it is completely covered all the way to the entrance. There are numerous large golf carts carting people to and from the ship. Nice walk though, particularly with our cool-ish weather though.

 

 

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[What A Market]

Super Bowl party kicking off in Horizons. Three different screens set up for viewing at all angles.

 

 

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[What A Market]

Small-ish ship plus poor-ish weather equals deserted beach area at Harvest Caye. This is around noon.

 

 

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[What A Market]

Pool scene at Harvest Caye. The Marina looming in the background in one photo.

 

 

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[blambition]

Really hoping for great weather tomorrow in Costa Maya, due to a change of itinerary Tropicante will now be open, and several of us from our cruise critic roll call have reservations there!

This is our first time on Oceania and have enjoyed every minute of our trip!!! Sad knowing there's only two more days left, trip going too quickly!

 

 

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[GeorgesGal]

This is our first time on Oceania and have enjoyed every minute of our trip!!! Sad knowing there's only two more days left, trip going too quickly!

 

 

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Which is exactly why we try not to take cruises of less than 14 days!

 

So glad you are enjoying your experience on board O! Our favorite and preferred cruise line, although we also sail on Celebrity and Hal.

[ronrick1943]

Nice report and nice photos, thanks for writing. A agree 7 days just isn't that long of a cruise- you're just getting settled in and it's over. 14 to 16 nights seems just about right to me.

[HeatherInFlorida]

My favorite length is 10 days in the Caribbean. Anything longer feels a little too decadent and a little bit redundant. :D. But we are in a 7 day 2/18. I always thought 7 was way too short, but living in FL with easy access to the port, 7 is an ideal getaway. Doesn't look like Oceania will be doing anymore on this class ship which is very disappointing for me.

[YoHoHo]

Small-ish ship plus poor-ish weather equals deserted beach area at Harvest Caye. This is around noon.

Does look overcast and windy but still lovely.

My concern is shade. Do they have umbrellas available? I am a couple of shades whiter than the sand in your photos and so must be careful in sun.

[What A Market]

Well, I will say that a seven day cruise is perfect for a quick break from work. I also think it is a ok length for a Caribbean cruise. Definitely wouldn't do a European cruise for seven days! That would be too short!

 

 

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