World Cruise 2025 – A FEW DAYS IN THE CARIBBEAN

Land ahoy! As we woke on the 13th January we were just approaching Barbados! The sun was shining and it was already 26 degrees. On our way to breakfast we popped out onto the promenade deck to check it out.

The pool area was empty as people were heading out for the day.
Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados and is a cruise ship port. It has lovely beaches and that’s where we were heading.

We walked from the ship and through town to the beach. We looked inside the Bethel Methodist Church. Light and airy, just right for this weather.

The beach was just what we needed after our days at sea. The warm blue water so inviting. We really enjoyed a swim but mainly just standing and chatting. It was so good!

Once back on ship Andy decided to get off the ship for some sunset photographs.

That evening we went to the Crows Nest Bar after dinner to listen to Steve Kingsbury, a very talented pianist onboard at the moment.

We have a new Captain onboard to cover for holidays. Captain Yuliyan Kostov.
He is a very competent Captain, having almost 30 years seagoing experience with various companies and ships.

The next day was to be a day at sea. Sailing in the Caribbean Sea made it a very warm, smooth and relaxing experience.
At 11am I joined in the walking mission of the cruise. The Teenage Cancer Trust Trek the Deck. We walked 9 laps of the ship, 3 miles in total to raise money for this fantastic charity. Well done everyone.

Arriving at Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island the following day was very picturesque. Willemstad is the capital and its centre is on the UNESCO world heritage list. The pastel coloured colonial architecture is so pretty.

We opted for a mini tour of the island that then they dropped us off at Mambo Beach for an hour at the end, returning to take us back to the ship.

We saw The Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge. This is made up of 16 pontoons that swing open for boats to pass through the canal. It is for pedestrians only.

We passed the Floating Market where boats from Venezuela bring fresh fruit and vegetables to sell.

We called at the Curaçao Liqueur Distillery. The history was very interesting and the tasting was an experience! Definitely not my cup of tea!

We saw lovely colonial houses along the way. One was called the Wedding Cake House by locals. Even small cottages were painted in such pretty colours.

Our visit to Mambo beach was a perfect final stop. It was busy but the water was beautifully warm and welcoming. Returning to the ship, postcards to write and a pink gin spritz to sip. What could be better? I tell myself every day how lucky we are to experience this adventure.