We are greeted in Barbados with another perfect Southern Caribbean day. The skies are blue with a few whispy clouds, moving rapidly, carried by the easterly trade winds. We are at the far end of a commercial pier. No walking from here, too dangerous. You must take the free shuttle to the entrance.
The pier next to us is a busy container facility. There are thousands of containers along with many stacks of precast concrete pilings, and hundreds of new vehicles. Several lifts are scurrrying about moving containers to and from awaiting trucks. I was aware of various sized containers, and specialized containers for liguids. This is the first time I have seen containers without sides. Very obvious when you think about it, the precast concrete slabs are too heavy to be loaded into the end of a container. One worker rides his bike continuosly from one office to another. I assume moving physical paperwork.
We share the port today with the Cruise ship Mein Schiff 5, and the Holland America Koningsdam, both of which are conducting life boat drills. Dozens of little orange bubbles scurrying about in no organized pattern. A small container ship patiently awaits just offshore for these intruding cruise ships to leave his dock.
Several crew members spend all day doing routine maintenance around the ship. Today several are working on deck 12 forward hiding any rust spots. Another team is replacing loose or cracked tiles in the Concierge Lounge and the Vortex lounge. Wallpaper is being hung in the Vortex also. Fixing rust spots is no longer chip and paint, but just slap on another coat to cover it up.
I stay on the ship today. Most of the passengers are gone, and it is pretty quiet. A few enjoy the pool, more, relaxing and reading a book at thier favorite quiet spot.
T Mobile is my cell phone provider. One of the benefits is that I have free text and data service in over a 100 countries worldwide. Well, yesterday I learned Grenada isn't one of them, so I have more than the usual amount of emails to contend with this morning. It is still better than using Royal's internet.
There is just nothing of interest on the menu, I have JJ call and cancel my reservation for tonight in the dining room. My first venture to the Windjammer. Baked chicken and a loaded baked potato. Cherries jubilee and bananna foster are the specials for dessert. I pass.
Ronn Lucas is our headliner for entertainment. He does a good show after which I head to the Schooner bar to listen to Chester. The lounge is full, and after a wait I finally snag a seat at the bar, and order my usual glass of ice water. The one drink that is chemical and sugar free, as well as being free except for a tip.
Our next port of Antigua is about 300 miles away, and we will cruise at over 20 knots to pick up our pilot at 9:00 AM.
The seas are about 6 feet, with little motion to the ship.
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