We awoke to beautiful weather and we hit the gym before grabbing breakfast. As we finished we were cleared to go ashore.
I headed out before Janice thinking we would buy tickets to the hop on hop off bus. Sadly the company has contracted with the cruise line and the only way to buy a ticket was through the ship’s excursion department which meant the price was double the normal Ho Ho bus fare and in protest I said no.
I found that on the boardwalk we could rent bikes and we could do a tour on our own. This is the experience that Janice thought I was trying to kill her. It wall all steep uphill from the port to the citadel. Janice chose a comfort bike which only had 9 gears while I had 24. We rode around the citadel and then out to Fairlawn cemetery which contains the largest number from the titanic. They are in a special section shaped like a ship and the largest headstone was for the priest. Many only have numbers and some it appears had names added later.
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We then rode back and walked the boardwalk before visiting two local craft breweries and returning to the ship. We had seen the museum and visited the citadel last time and this was the perfect activity and exercise for the day.
Our clocks went back another hour last night as we return to EDT. I must say it is really nice to gain an hour very few days! Yesterday our captain provided an update on Dorian and cut our port time by one hour with the plan to proceed to the safety of Boston Harbor at full speed, arriving at 2 AM but not allowing disembarkation until the planned 7AM. We expect some rougher seas tonight but nothing to be concerned with.
We awoke to us arriving in the harbor and a spectacular sunrise. We both went to the gym before cleaning up. Because this was our first stop in the US we had to clear immigration and not knowing when we would be called we ate in the Lido. (something we both dislike.) Many passengers were acting like they hadn’t eaten in weeks. . .
Around 9 AM I got impatient and we headed to the location for immigration and were quickly checked and then headed to get a tender. Our mariner status allows us to forgo getting a tender ticket and allows us to get on the next tender. That still took 20 + minutes and we had to endure complaints about how horrible the ship was and how it was falling apart. One guy we heard complain so many times that we knew his story and could catch the growing story with each retelling. He claimed to have sewage backing up in bathtub. HAL ships have a vacuum system for toilets that is independent of gray water, much like campers. . .
After a quick ride downtown we walked to the sandbar across the bay since it was low tide.
We then walked throughout the downtown area enjoying the sites. We spent some time scoping out the best lobster and craft brew and we chose wisely. It was probably the best lobster I have ever eaten and it didn’t have any filler.
We took a leisurely walk back to the tender location and returned to the ship before heading to the thermal suite. While riding back we were notified we could check in for our flight home. Janice planned to begin packing so even though I am ready to be home, I hide from that scene.
The day began as usual with coffee and time in the gym. While we were enjoying breakfast we were cleared to go ashore.
In the time since our last visit 5 years ago, there has been a great boardwalk built that is about 1.5 miles long. Here is a view of the ship from the end of the boardwalk.
took us from the historic district we toured last time to a more hip and bustling part of town.
We spent several hours walking around and touring the shops before enjoying some local beer and mussels before returning to the ship.
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It is a great town, but there isn’t much too it and most excursions require an hour drive to and from. Shortly after we returned to the ship a hard rain set in and we were glad to have returned and not gotten wet.
We spent time in the thermal suite before heading to dinner.
Today I awoke at 5 after turning our clocks forward ½ hour. I worked on some photos and notes and we hit the gym at 6:00 AM. There was a new staff person opening up and she began by opening the shades over the bridge. In a matter of minutes a person appeared to have her close the shades as it was impacting the bridge and its view in the still dark sea. (the person didn’t have a bridge epaulet so I am not sure what department he was summoned from.)
As we approached the harbor at 7 AM I noticed that we were beginning to turn and quickly realized we were doing 360 degree turns. I thought we might be waiting for the pilot to arrive and board. It was overcast and there was some wind. We returned to our cabin and got ready for the day ashore and got our laundry ready for the room steward to pick up. Just as we were getting ready to head to breakfast the captain announced that there was sustained winds of 25 knots and expected wind in the afternoon of 40 knots and that tendering would not be safe so we would not be stopping. St. Pierre is a French province and a commercial port. Being an island they didn’t have enough buses to ferry passengers out of the port and to provide buses for the ship’s excursions so the plan had been to dock but then use the ship’s tender’s to deliver us downtown. Without the stop we began the very slow journey to Sydney as there were no alternate stops available.
As the day progressed rain and wind did arrive and we entered fog with the requisite fog horn blast every 2 minutes. The crew worked to add activities and shops and casino staff seemed quite happy to have time to make their profits. (Neither can be open unless we are in international waters) At lunch there was a 2 hour happy hour special which seemed to cheer the passengers and keep the bar staff busy. We read and watched movies as the outside decks were not pleasant. The Lido pool was covered but the pool was drained and maintenance to the tile was being performed.
We headed to dinner at 6 and half way through we emerged through the fog and by 9 PM the skies were clear and we could see a little bit of the sunset. The clocks were once again turned back an hour so we are now only 1 hour ahead of home.
Last night we moved the clocks back ½ hour to match St. John’s which doesn’t honor the “hour” time zones. I rose at 5 AM and brought coffee back to the cabin and then woke Janice up at 5:30 so we could hit the gym when it opened at 6 AM. We headed to breakfast at 7:30 and at 8 AM 6 guests were called to meet with Canadian immigration officials in person. Not sure if they failed to fill out the form or if the records review revealed something like a DUI. DUI/OVI is considered a felony and one would likely be denied entry into Canada.
At 8:10 we headed out onto the deck and watched those setting up for our arrival and shortly there after we were cleared to go ashore. One of the fun things was that there were to Newfoundland (dogs) waiting to greet us. They were more than a little excited by each other and the passengers.
At 8:45 our private guide arrived at 9 we left with 20 others for a 3 hour tour. We began by driving to the cape to the easterly most point in North America and were able to see the gun batteries from WWII and the original and new lighthouse. Off the coast locals were fishing for cod.
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We then drove to a small harbor where commercial cod fishermen dock and sell their fish. In 1992 the cod numbers were significantly diminished by illegal fishing by other countries within the 200 mile limit of Canada’s borders and a 10 year ban was instituted. 45,000 fishermen had to find a new way to make a living and today’s fishery isn’t back to the pre-1992 levels.
We then headed through St. John’s to signal hill where a lookout would alert the companies in the harbor whose ships were coming in. It too served as a defense during WWII. Earlier in the summer a variety of whales are often seen from this point.
We then headed into St John’s to view the colorful homes. Janice and I tried to visit a few local microbreweries but most were close for Labour Day. Dildo Brewing was closed as well as another one.
We had lunch at Mill street Brewing and then went to a pub to try the Quidi Vidi beer made with water from an iceberg.
We then walked back to the ship arriving just after 2 PM. Janice filled out new Canadian immigration forms for Sydney and we headed to the thermal suite. I then grabbed a cigar on the back deck and began to write this blog.
Tonight we have dinner in the Pinnacle and it is Rudi’s Sol de Mer. A night to feast on fresh seafood.
Given that there is no real sightseeing and most of the days have been spent relaxing and watching the water, I am combining these three days into one post.
Our first day, Friday August 30th we began by sleeping in. After breakfast in the dining room we spent time walking around the deck. We both noticed that the odor from the sod up by the bow for the service dogs is getting more than a little noxious. There are 4 service dogs and one entertainment dog on board the ship on the crossing. I spent some time in the later morning updating pictures and blogging and Janice attended a lecture on two of our upcoming ports
We met for a final lunch in the Pinnacle which included a fish sandwich for Janice and a petite tenderloin with blue cheese for me. We had both ordered the tomato lemongrass soup as a starter and it was delicious. We had also ordered crab cakes and bruschetta before the main. As we finished our soup we heard the guest seated behind me complain that the soup was too spicy and her mouth was burning. The stewards had already been running for this and that for the table such as table salt not in a grinder. The steward then offered to get her something else and she asked for the crab cakes which he immediately presented to her. We sat and waited and waited for the next course. Janice was served her bruschetta and I waited longer. I had guessed that my crab cakes were quickly given the more challenging guest and this was confirmed 10 minutes later when new crab cakes emerged from the kitchen. They are usually one of my favorites but the HAL recipe was not being followed and the interior was drowned in mayo. I mentioned it to the manager on the way out and encouraged him to sample one as one couldn’t taste the crab over the mayo which was really only intended to be a binder.
The afternoon was spent walking and reading and watching the ocean go by. We spent a little time in the thermal suite before getting ready for dinner. At 5:30 we headed to the dining room and were seated by the aft window and had a great meal with great service.
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We finished the day with a port and chocolate experience. Port seemed appropriate just having come from Portugal
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On Saturday we turned our clocks back another hour as we made our way across the Atlantic. We began the day in the gym watching the sun rise with a little rocking and rolling to waves. The seas have been really quite good for the open Atlantic but one could definitely feel it this morning.
Saturday we had an invitation to a reception for HAL mariners and our invitation was special because we were being “inducted” into a special club for those who have spent so many nights aboard a HAL ship. We were honored for 100 nights with these medallions
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We then had lunch with other mariners. There was one passenger who is in the President’s club with over 1900 days on board.
After a fun afternoon we had the Italian Cellar Master’s dinner
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I missed taking a picture of the tenderloin. It was 5 courses with 5 paired wines. All small servings and all fantastic
After we headed to bed.
It was another night with gaining an hour of sleep as we travel west. We got up early and headed to the gym before walking and going to breakfast. After breakfast Janice read while I attended coffee with the marine biologist lecturer online. Janice attended a cooking class and we met for lunch. This ship has a fantastic pizza place on the back deck but is was closed the first three days. It finally opened but only for 11:30 -2:00 On other ships it was open until 11 PM. Had a great pizza that was similar to our pizza oven at home before heading to a port lecture and a virtual bridge experience with the captain.
We met back in our stateroom at 4 to prepare for Sip and Savor and the 2nd Gala Evening. While getting ready we witnessed spray indicative of a terminal dive by whales and Janice headed outside with her camera to see what she could capture. Dinner tonight will include a surf and turf option. I go for the turf and Janice longs for the surf. We shared a delightful table and headed to bed early as we have a full day in port Monday.
kevinmaxey 