Celebrity Cruise - St. Thomas & St. Kitts with Kids - Rainforest Tour, South Fryer Beach, Butterfly Farm

Day 5 – St. Thomas

We had been to St. Thomas many times before and we had done much of what there was to do so we contemplated staying on the ship but at the end decided to take a tour of the island and visit the Butterfly Farm. In the past we had usually left Victor with in-laws onboard or just taken him to a beach but he was now ready to explore with us. We booked a 4-hour tour of the island in an air-conditioned van (most tours there are done in the open-air trucks that I prefer but it was a very hot day). We had previously docked in the new port a bit outside of town but this time we were docked right in downtown, very close to the stores and the gondola ride up the hill.

After we left the port we drove up on the narrow, winding roads (somewhat scary actually because you barely avoid the other cars coming down the road) up to the highest point on the island which is a great overlook point and the home of the best Daiquiri. On the way we stopped and “Nelson’s Chair” (not much left except a view) and a couple of other spots for photo ops and when we got to the top we were left to wander for about 30 minutes. 

There is a big souvenir store at the top and a huge terrace from which you can see the blue water and the other nearby islands. Then, we were taken back to downtown while the driver gave us a bit of history of the island. There is definitely a lot of poverty on St. Thomas and a lot of houses that have suffered hurricane damage and were never fixed. But at the same time there are a lot of pretty colorful buildings and the downtown area is buzzing with activity. I am not one to shop for diamonds or perfumes but there is a whole street with such vendors for those you wanted to buy duty-free. I’m not really convinced you get a better deal and I’ve discovered that most times alcohol is actually cheaper onboard but I guess it’s the excitement of bargaining that brings a lot of cruise passengers to the stores.

After the tour we visited the Butterfly Farm which was right across the street from the ship. While the farm is not the largest in the Caribbean and none of the butterflies are native to the island it was still a unique experience. Victor loved smearing his hands with banana juice and having the butterflies land on his hands. 

There is actually a pretty amazing parrot show while you wait where the birds do some amazing things – ride roller-skates, talk and ride bikes. This was definitely a highlight of the trip for the kids.

In the afternoon we decided to try Emerald Bay beach and just relax. We had previously been to Coki Beach (nice clean beach but a bit out of the way) and Megan’s Bay (to me it was a bit overrated and there was only one restaurant on the entire beach). Emerald Bay was OK and there were some facilities but I have to be honest that I do not think that St. Thomas has the best beaches in the Caribbean.

I think you just have to discover ones that work for your family so we will keep trying. But so far the beaches that we have been to have been very quiet, no umbrellas or chairs and few restaurants. So if you are looking for an “authentic” unexplored beaches you may love it but I like my beaches a bit more active.

Day 6 – St. Kitts

This was our first time there and boy, do we want to return for more!

 I had booked a private rainforest tour through Poinciana Tours and David, the owner, was amazing! We were his only clients that day and although the ship has booked him to take care of a large group on a ship tour, he assigned one of his helpers, Tristan, to work with just the 4 of us so we get an amazing private treatment. We saw so much more than the poor folks on the ship tour which were in a group of 50 or so.

David picked us p from the port and drove us to a place near his house which is just down the street from the famous Batic Factory. Even is you have no interest in Batic this place has such amazing grounds and such lush landscaping that it is a must-see. While we were there we had a taste of the rainforest climate when the sky opened up and poured down on us for about 15 minutes followed by the most amazing rainbow.

From the Batic Factory, Tristan took us on a great tour of the rainforest. He had grown in this area and knew everything and truly gave us a picture of life on the island. He also pointed a lot of plants that the locals use as medicine. Victor was most fascinated by a large plant that would hide its leaves if you touch them – that was like a magic in his eyes, as well as the natural leaf “tattoo” that Tristan painted on his hand. 

We saw huge drum trees, crossed creeks and  were able to swing on a vine several times (yes, I am no Tarzan and almost dropped myself in an attempt to look gracious) but at the end it was an unforgettable experience. Victor did amazingly well and did not complain once from the walking. After the hike we were taken to David’s front yard and served local fruit (bananas, coconut, mango) as well as home-made banana bread.

We had arranged for David to take us to a beach for the afternoon and he took us to the best beach on this whole cruise -- South Fryers Bay. Situated right where the Pacific meets the Caribbean sea, it is not a large beach but was just perfect.

 Lovely, silky smooth black sand, super calm water and the best fish tacos. There is also a wooden platform tied in the middle of the water so we all swam there and laid out in the sun for a bit. We truly did not want to leave and promised ourselves we will be back soon.

RCI Enchantment of the Seas -, Nassau, Zoo and back

Day 5

Today we were supposed to be on the RCI private island Coco Beach. However, when we woke up we found a note from the Captain that the seas were far too rough and we would not be able to tender to the island so we were going to stay an extra day in Nassau. The weather was sunny and warmer than the day before so after a group discussion we decided to all go to the Zoo. The zoo is about a 15 minute drive or a very long walk from the ship and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

Lots of the animals were roaming free (flamingoes, monkeys, peacocks), they offered a lot of feeding opportunities and it was a great way for the kids to experience a lot of exotic animals up close.

We strolled around for quite a while and even got a peacock to open his full tale for us (or for the female bird nearby, but we took full advantage of the photo opp).

Victor and I went into the large parakeet enclosure during feeding time but we did not realize that as soon as the people walk in parakeets come from everywhere and climb on your head, shoulders, hair and pretty much everywhere on you. After my initial screams and victor hiding under my shirt we ended up having a good time though.

 

After the Zoo we walked over to the beach area, only about a 10 min walk, and found several cute local restaurants where we had a nice lunch and some of us even tried conch. The service was typical Caribbean (slow) but the fish and the other seafood was fresh and we enjoyed being outside even though the temperatures were still not that warm.

On the way back we walked through the Nassau downtown area and got some duty free goodies but overall there was not much to see here. It is still a very poor island with lots of visible hurricane damages. Everything looks run down and small and there are a ton of locals just milling about on the main street so we quickly made our purchases and got back on the ship.

On most cruises that we have been to mid afternoon is my favorite time of the day. A coffee and a pastry at the onboard coffee shop is always a favorite family experience. However, on the Enchantment, the coffee shop is small, the area around it is dark and there are no pastries, just tired-looking oatmeal cookies and a few types of muffins. I was definitely missing the lovely desserts on Celebrity’s Café il Bacio.

 Day 6 and 7

The cruises ends with two days at sea while we make our way back to Baltimore. The first day is actually warm and sunny and for the only time on this cruise the outdoor pool is open and buzzing. The water in the pool is warm and everyone is playing outside and happy to get some sun. However, the seas are rough and the ship is rocking and rolling and some people from our group suffer the consequences. The three of us are doing good so we fully enjoy the warm day.

 That night we send the kids to the club despite some protests and save our seats for Quest – the adult scavenger hunt game which I totally enjoy watching. For those who have not played it, you are hunting for things like ladies underwear, a pair of thongs, a guy with lipstick on and things like that. It is hilarious to watch and is exactly what we need considering the other entertainment onboard has been geared mostly to the older crowd.

The next day is our last one and, as we are already past the Carolinas, the weather is back to being cold. We play some trivia, get some drinks in the atrium, watch the Love & Marriage show (where the oldest couple, in the 70s probably, have absolutely no shame and share some hilarious stories like the time the woman handcuffed the guy to their bed and accidentally lost the keys) and then go back to our cabins to pack and say our goodbyes.

All in all, this cruise was a good way to spend time with our friends and get to hang our with people we don’t see as often as we want. But unfortunately I have to say that we will not be returning to the Enchantment of the Seas and probably Royal

RCI Enchantment Cruise - Cape Canaveral, Camp Holly Airpboat Ride, Atlantis, Bahamas

Day 3

First day in port – Cape Canaveral, FL. We have been to Orlando and Disney multiple times before so we’ve decided to go on an airboat ride. As soon as we dock I call around to a few airboat places and while most of them are all booked I finally reach Camp Holley and they tell me they are pretty open and leave as soon as a boat fills up.

Our plan is to rent a car so that we can be free to roam. About an hour later we have our car, which appears to be a refurbished police car with a bench seat in the front (as opposed to two separate seats). A quick check on my phone and I discover that kids can ride on the front seat in FL so Victor is super excited when we tell him he can sit in between us on the front seat.

We arrive at Camp Holley after about 30 minutes and check in. As we wait for a few more guests to fill the boat we chat with the owners, hard-core alligator chaser straight out of the Discovery channel special. They tell us stories of how as teenagers they used to hide in the trees and shoot at alligators in the swamp. They treat us with some boiled peanuts (which taste much better than they sound) and very soon we board one of the airboats and get a set of large headphones to clock the sound of the motor.

The boat moves slowly at first and then quickly picks up speed and we are flying through the swamp. The weather is perfect and even though I hate roller coasters I love the swift motion of the boat. Victor is wedged between Chris and I and I can tell he is loving every minute. We quickly slow down and pull next to a small alligator lounging in the mud.

After that we see various birds and a few other smaller alligators before stopping a few feet away from a large one half submerged in the water.

On the way back we zoom through the swamp and back in the car we all agree that this was definitely a one of a kind experience.

 

After a quick lunch we decide to drive to Orlando and visit Victor’s favorite mini-gold course, the Winter-Summerland in Disney World. The course is separated in two sections, each incorporating many of the favorite Disney characters and Christmas favorites are playing throughout the course. At each hole there is a “magic trick” when your ball gets in – a fridge door opens, a snowman sprays you with water and even Santa makes an appearance. The course is not easy but is do-able for kids 5+ and have a great time playing it a few times. Even though we have played it so many times before it’s still a family favorite.

It is getting dark when we are done and we make a quick stop at Joe’s Crab Shack for dinner. Joes’ is located right next to the entrance for downtown Disney, had a lovely playground connected to the restaurant and a lovely outdoor seating area. It is a bit chilly outside but after some Alaskan crabs, lobsters and fish sticks we all call it a day. The drive back to Cape Canaveral is uneventful; we return our rental and get back on the ship at 9:30 pm, 30 minutes before the ship’s departure.

Day 4 – Nassau, Bahamas

We sleep in late today and when we wake up we see the ship trying to enter the port. The winds are so strong that each time the captain makes an approach he has to turn back. Finally after about 30 minutes of trying wen enter the harbor and we all get dressed to go outside.

We are meeting the rest of our group to go to Atlantis and stroll around as we expect it will be too chilly for the beach. The minute I walk out of the ship I realize that it must be 50 degrees outside. The winds are strong and chilly and all of the locals are saying this is by far the coldest day of the year. Great! I quickly turn around and go back to the cabin to get our warmest clothes and even put on my leather boots.

We take a cab to Atlantis, the sprawling resort that we have seen on TV but  never actually been to. It boasts something like 15 different resorts within it, a water park, many pools, lazy rivers, and a famous acquarium. We get inside only to realize that as guests we are not allowed to go pretty much anywhere without paying a fee. The acquarium costs $30+ per person (we have several large acquariums in the DC area so it’s not worth the money), it’s too cold for any of the water adventures (and a daily pass for the water park costs $100 per person), and the casino is not kid-friendly at all. Even some of the restaurants are off-limits unless you are staying at the resort.

We walk around the inside a bit but everyone is quickly bored. In all honesty, Atlantis is like a cheaper version of a Vegas hotel and unfortunately fails to impress me. Back to the ship we just found a cozy lounge and let the kids play while the adults had some strong warm-up drinks.

That night there was a disco party taking over the atrium of the ship and that was probably the highlight of the night entertainment on this cruise. Everyone, kids and adults, loved dancing to the oldies and some of us even got a little crazy but a good time was had by all.

RCI Enchantment of the Seas - New Year's Cruise from Baltimore

I have to admit that Royal Caribbean has never been my favorite cruise line but we found ourselves with no plans for New Years and I was able to find a great fare on a cruise out of Baltimore so off we go. After I booked our cabin many of our friends decided to join us too and then some friends of friends and pretty soon we had a group of almost 25 going on the cruise. The more the merrier 

We drive to the port on a sunny warm day and are able to quickly check in and get onboard around noon. The port of Baltimore is very easy to navigate and the check-in process if fast and efficient. The rooms are not ready yet so we beeline to the Windjammer Café (aka buffet) and magically find an empty table by the window. The buffet is already overcrowded and pretty soon there is no place to sit. We grab a snack and decide to go register the kids in the kids club.

In our group of 25 we have 7 kids aged 3 to 9 so making sure the kids are having a good time will be very important for everyone’s enjoyment.

I’m surprised to find the kids’ club in a somewhat bare room connected to another larger room in the back. No bright colors, no computers or Wii stations, no little funky chairs and climbing walls. We sign up all the kids, get the bands and by that time the cabins are ready. We have an oceanview cabin on Deck 3 which can be characterized as “nothing special”. We usually sail in balcony cabins but since this is a winter sailing out of Baltimore we were not going to be able to spend much time outside anyway so we decided against it. The décor of the room is a bit drab, it’s definitely an older ship, but there is enough space for our luggage and it’s clean. We move the two beds to one side and lower the mattress from the bunk to the floor so that Victor can sleep there. We call our room attendant but he is nowhere to be found, hmm…

The afternoon is spent exploring the ship which looks fine despite being about 15 years old. The public spaces have definitely been kept up and we like the somewhat intimate atmosphere onboard (the ship only holds about 1200 passengers compared to 3000-4000 that most of the newer ships hold) and we are quickly able to meet up with the rest of our group in the main atrium area.

The little dance floor and bar in the atrium will quickly become our group’s meeting place for the rest of the cruise and I think at the end we all liked how easy it was to find each other on any given day. After the initial hustle and bustle it is time for dinner and since it’s New Year’s Eve everyone is dressed nicely.

We have a table for 8 with some of our friends and our two waiters (both from Turkey) are some of the best I have seen on any ship. They provide constant entertainment for the kids and are always prepared for anything we need. The dinner, while not spectacular, is OK and everyone is wearing festive hats, tiaras and noise-makers. We were told earlier that there will be a kids party in the kids club that night so after dinner all the kids are sent to the club while the adults split into several groups around the ship.

There are several bars and lounges on the Enchantment and all of them are filling up in anticipation of the New Year countdown. The Piano Bar is more subdues, with lots of wood paneling and darker colors and is usually the most quiet of all and not suitable for young kids. At the very back of the ship is a spacious bar which is where all the trivia games and large parties like the Captain’s reception are held. It is a nice space to get a drink and also to let the kids run around in between activities. The Bolero is the nicest lounge as far as décor does and I think it was designed as a Latin/salsa lounge.

Unfortunately, it is Super bowl season so each night this is where they show all the games and the bar becomes more of a rowdy sports bar than a place to dance and relax. The Sky bar is located at the very top of the ship and has the best views onboard. It hosts different functions during the day and late at night turns into a dance club for 18+ (meaning no kids). However, every day at 5 pm they host a Children’s Disco which turns out to be perfect for our kids. They play all the latest Top 40 music, serve cocktails for kids and adults, and don’t mind if the kids go a bit crazy running around. Also, the only other customers at that time are other parents so this becomes our regular “Happy hour” place on each sea day. We also discover an amazing evergreen band that plays most of the time in the atrium and realize they have a devout although small following of a few couples who relentlessly dance each time the band plays (and they play almost all the time).

At 11:30pm the crowd in the Atrium is huge, there is no place to even stand and the noise level is crazy. We decide to get our kids from the club so we can all greet the New Year together and while we expect to find them in the middle of their own party with new friends, find a rather gloomy boring atmosphere in the kids club where all the kids sit on the floor sort of doing nothing. This is a first for us as always Victor loves all the activities in the kids club so we’re glad we picked him up early. We lose our friends in the crowd and then it’s time for the countdown, Happy New Year, hugs and kisses and after that we are off to bed and on to the new year hoping that it will be a good and healthy one.

Day 2

The next day is a sea day and usually one of our favorite days onboard as we get acclimated to the ship and life onboard. We have a bit of a shaky start as we almost miss breakfast. Surprisingly , the buffet is only open until 10 am and after a late night last night we are not in a rush to get up. The buffet is very crowded, as would be the case the entire cruise, the food is nothing special and after that first morning we start to take some fruit and bagels and eat in our cabin.

The weather is chilly but calm and we make an attempt to take all the kids to the indoor pool. There, we encounter another road block as it turns out the pool in only open for kids during special times (a few hours a day) and since it’s too cold to use the outside pool we resort to just finding a quiet lounge and letting the kids run around and play. When we finally get to indoor pool we are told we cannot fit our large group in the hot tub as there can only be 8 people in the hot tub at a time. We have never heard that before on a cruise as abandon hopes of using the indoor pool again, too much of a hassle.

Lunch is another hassle as the ship is not for to accommodate so many people eating at one time and the long line for lunch in the dining room weaves through the hallways. The nice thing is that once we are finally inside we can use the salad bar instead of waiting to be served and the salad bar offers a pretty wide variety of salad including steak, shrimp, lots of veggies, cheeses and exotic greens. This would be our lunch for the rest of the cruise as the buffet does not offer anything of interest for either breakfast or lunch. For the rest of the day we relax, hang out in the various lounges, play some trivia games and let the kids hang out together. There is not a whole lot as far as entertainment during the day goes especially for the younger crowd (the older folks end up playing bridge in one of the lounges for most of the cruise) so we make our own entertainment.

Dinner is delicious and the servers do a good job again. At 7pm we send the kids to the kids club but only so we can finish dinner in peace. For the first time on a cruise Victor does not get excited about the club and actually asks us not to go. Every time we visit the kids appear bored and it’s overcrowded, seems that the counselors just gave up and they huddle by the door checking kids in and our without actually making sure the kids are having fun. Most of the evening we just send the lids to the club for an hour or two in the evening while we have dinner and then pick them up to go to a show and then bed. So far this is definitely my least favorite cruise ship so thank god for all of our friends being here so at least we are in good company.