Saga Pearl II Captain's blog

After a busy day at sea yesterday we arrived in the beautiful port of Santiago De Cuba at 08:00am. The deep landlocked bay forms a natural harbour and the city itself is a major export centre for copper, iron and agricultural products from the surrounding region.

Our first excursion today was the Santiago de Cuba City Tour leaving at 08:30am, a 4 ½ tour that covers some of the most interesting landmarks of cultural Santiago De Cuba. The city centre is rich in history and is home to numerous museums, churches and a magnificent cathedral. The tour includes a visit to Morro Castle, a 17th century fort constructed on a cliff top by the entrance to the bay as a deterrent to pirates.

Then comes a chance to delve into the Emilio Bacardi Moreau Museum; the first to be established in the city depicting the history of Cuba as well as a showcase for Cuban art. The tour continues to the Santa Ifegnia cemetery before arriving at the attractive Cespedes park in the heart of the city, where Santiago’s majestic cathedral overlooks the town square. Free time is also available to stroll around the town centre and even purchase an authentic Cuban cigar and delicious local rum.

The second of our excursions to leave today was the Cuban beach tour. This is an excellent tour and a fantastic way to unwind on such a typically beautiful Cuban beach. The tour leaves at 08:45am and is 6 hours long. Starting off with a scenic panoramic drive to the east of Cuba towards the Casonal Beach, on arrival passengers are greeted with music and dancing from the locals with a complimentary cocktail. Passengers are given the chance to unwind and relax with full use of the facilities on offer at the beach and nearby hotel.

Lunch is also provided on the beach as a BBQ or in the hotel’s Italian restaurant. Special mention must go to the food, which is of an exceptionally high standard. Leaving the hotel at around 3:30pm passengers head back to the ship feeling pleasantly refreshed following a day’s relaxation.

The evening’s entertainment on board the ship today was the Gail Davies production company and their show Sail Away. Also playing in the Shackelton’s Bar was the New Finale Duo for late night cabaret and cocktails to dance the night away.

This morning we arrived at the berth in Cienfuegos in Cuba around 9am.It had been an interesting arrival, as we had to weave our way up quite a narrow river, with small fishing boats, many made of polystyrene, not bothering to get out the way, despite repeated blowing of the ships whistle. But we made it through, without too many heartstopping moments. I was constantly shadowing the pilot and checking the position on the charts, hands on the engine throttles, adjusting descreetly in order to make sharp turns. When it looked as though we were going to run over a shallow patch, I questioned the pilot with some urgency, only to be told, don't worry, it has been dredged. They just forgot to tell the Hydrographic office!

As soon as we had the gangway down and the ship was cleared by the local authorities, we had our first excursion for the day departing at 9.15am - this was the sights of Cienfuegos tour. This excursion started by taking our passengers on a transfer to the city centre where they began a city walking tour. Along the way was a chance to take a look at the elaborate facade of the Terry Theatre before venturing inside. The Italianate theatre was the creation of architect Lino Sanchez Marmol and was built in 1889 by Thomas terry’s family as a tribute to him after his death and his statue stands in the lobby.

After leaving the theatre was a chance to continue on to Parque Jose Marti which is overlooked by the impressive cathedral, then after a stroll along the colourful and charismatic boulevard passengers re-joined the coach for a drive along the promenade via Punta Gorda where a complimentary cocktail at the exquisite Valle Palace was awaiting them before returning back to the ship.

Our second excursion this morning, which departed 15 minutes, was a trip to Trinidad. This fantastic 6 ½ hour tour gave our passengers the best way to take in all the sights that Trinidad has to offer. Trinidad is one of the colonial jewels of Cuba and was founded by Conquistador diego Valazquez in 1514. With its romantic atmosphere, slavery past, unique architecture, narrow cobblestoned streets and it’s magnificent location between the high mountains of the escambray Range and the Caribbean sea, it all comes together to make Trinidad totally unique.

The drive to Trinidad took about 75 minutes and upon arrival passengers headed straight for the gorgeous Plaza Mayor. Here began a short walking tour visiting the Romantic Museum with its collection of porcelain, glass paintings and decorative furniture. A Cuban cocktail was then waiting to be served at the Canchanchara Bar which was very delightful indeed.

Afterwards there was some free time to visit the handicraft market, to browse and barter with the locals for a chance to bring home some colourful souvenirs. Lunch was then provided and it was very traditional which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. After lunch there was a visit to the pottery house where a demonstration was made to everyone. The end of the tour was a drive to a lookout point in the Valle de San Luis to capture on camera the views over the surrounding countryside before making a return back to the ship.

A classical concert from the Covent Garden String consort was held at 5.30pm on our back deck by the outdoor swimming pool. This included a pieces by Kreisler, Debusy and Gershwin. This concert was superb and was a fantastic way to end such a beautiful day in the port of Cienfuegos listening to classical masterpieces as the sun was going down for the evening. Shortly after we set sail for a day a sea.

The evening’s entertainment was spent with the very talented Dave Kristian for a night of comedy and lots of laughter from the passengers in the crowd. Also playing in the Shackeltons Bar was the New Finale Duo for cabaret and Cocktails.

After spending a wonderful evening in beautiful Havana we prepared ourselves for another busy day.

The first excursion out this morning was the Old Timer City tour leaving the ship at 08:45am.  Setting off from the cruise terminal in a 1950’s classic car, passengers had the chance to discover the vibrant city of Havana in comfort style driving along Port Avenue before arriving at the National De Cuba Hotel. From the gardens, passengers could enjoy the breathtaking views of the bay and also take a look into the hall of fame where there were some important personalities who have stayed in this emblematic hotel.

They continued along the “Malecon” promenade and 5th avenue before driving through Miramar, a residential area where passengers found some beautiful buildings, hotels and residents. Finishing up this wonderful tour was a visit to the House of Habano to enjoy a complimentary cocktail and a chance to purchase some special hand-rolled cigars.

Our second excursion leaving the ship today was the Hemmingway Havana tour leaving at 09:15am. This was a fantastic opportunity to take a look into the life of Ernest Hemingway who spent much of his later life in Cuba and wrote some of his most important work here, including 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' and 'The Old Man and The Sea'.

This tour took you firstly to La Viga Farm, Hemmingway’s home and now a museum where you can have a look inside through the big open windows. Also there was a fantastic opportunity to see Hemmingway’s yacht El Pilar which he used during the marlin fishing community where Hemmingway  moored his yacht and was the inspiration for his novel The Old Man and the Sea. A complimentary welcome cocktail was then available in La Terrazas de Cojimar restaurant before driving through to Old Havana. This was one of Hemmingway’s old haunts. A nice gentle walk through the city to Ambos Mundo Hotel and the famous bar of La Bodeguita del Medio, which were both frequently visited by Hemmingway, was a nice way to end the tour before returning back to the ship.

I had a special visit today - I was going to go with some passengers and some of our officers to see the Celia Sanchez, Special School. This was to be our Grand Voyage Charity, and we wanted to see the school for ourselves. It was situated in a very pleasant part of town, and although basic and quite old, there was certainly care and attention for the children.

We were first introduced to the Minister of Education for Havana, and then introduced to the Dean, teachers and the doctor. The school cares for those with Asthma and Diabetes and is a residential school, with the children returning to their families at weekends.We were given a briefing by the staff through our translator, then we were introduced to the children. They read out English/Spanish translation to welcome us, and then sang for us, and then presented us with handmade crafts.

I told them that I would take my gift back and give to it to my son and tell him about them all. We were then shown around the school, and just before we came to leave, I was stopped by one of the children. They had obviously gone away after seeing us and wrote about 20 little cards to give to my son, “as a bond between Cuban Children and my son”. This was very touching and I look forward to telling him about my visit when he grows up.

Sailaway time this evening was just after 10:30pm and we were very fortunate enough to have the “barrio Chillin” our local show for the evening to join us on board. The show was a mixture of Cuban music and Latin jazz. The evening went down extremely well and all the passengers thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

After a relaxing day at sea, Saga Pearl II arrived at Havana, Cuba at 7am.

We made our approach at 6.30am towards the pilot station. For me there was a great sense of excitement. Having been fortunate in sailing all over the World and to the extremites North and South, the only place I haven’t visited is Cuba, a place I really wanted to see. I had no idea what to expect.

It was a beautiful morning as we picked up the pilot, exchanged pleasantries and shared information of the arrival procedures,and we started our approach. The sun was just rising as we passed the very picturesque harbour entrance with fortresses lining both sides of the entrance. The massive Cuban flag was being raised as the sun cam up.

Our berth was the cruise terminal, a very nice and clean and modern terminal and we were soon sliding into position to be made fast. The authorities were all waiting with dogs at the ready and i thought, here we go, a very long winded clearance procedure. But as I looked down, they all smiled, waved and started taking pictures. A good start I thought. And when Alison the Chief purser called up soon after to say the ship was clear, I thought, this is a good positive signal to how the day is going to go.             

Havana is situated on the north western coast of Cuba. The city surrounds the bay of Havana in all directions. Although the bay is small it’s one of the safest harbours in the world.

The first excursion to leave the ship today was the “Highlights of Havana”,  an enlightening tour of the delightful city of Havana. Our guests had the chance to visit the Plaza de Armas Square, home to the city museum and also Cathedral Square where they had a chance to admire the beautiful cathedral with its baroque double towers.  Also on the sightseeing agenda was a chance to visit the military fortress for a brief photograph stop. After admiring the colonial architecture of old Havana, there was a visit to Revolution square where the memorial of Jose Marti stands the champion of independence. To finish this remarkable tour there was a visit to the “cafe Taberna” restaurant that was established in 1772 the first cafe in the city for a complimentary cocktail.

When all had settled down, Bob Kelso the Chief Engineer and myself ventured ashore. Once outside we were accosted politely by “Angelo”, the driver of a horse and carriage. So we bartered for a few moments and agreed a price. We wanted to see the real Cuba behind the scenes, so he took as all through the backstreets, with old 1950/60 vintage cars, derelict houses, with families still living in them. It looked quite a downbeat area, but everyone was going about their business, smiling.

Then we came out into the main city square, saw the Museum of the Revolution, stopped at the Cuban Cigar factory to buy a few rather nice cigars, and watched them being made, and then onwards again into the carriage. Angelo pointed out where his wife lived, and then proceeded to tell us that he didn’t live there but with his mother as it was simpler! Not sure what he meant by that. It was a great way to see Havana, in the open air, sun shining,but you were all too aware of the vulnerability of the carriage against heavy-duty, articulated lorries. At one stage , a large articulated tanker nearly mowed us down, but for the skilful driving of our guide and saviour!

So after that scare, we asked to be taken to an authentic bar, where we said our goodbyes to Angelo, a character in himself. In the bar there was a live band playing Cuban music, and sitting with a nice frosted beer, listening to the music, feeling very contented, I have to say, I had one of those moments - “This is the Life!” Once revived, we proceeded back to the ship and reality.

This evening’s tour was a once in a lifetime experience to visit “Tropicana”, the most famous and important party venue in Havana. A dazzling performance with a variety of cabaret and dance act, displaying magnificent array of costumes. All this was enjoyed in an open air venue with complimentary rum punch.

The Saga Pearl II Orchestra kept our guests entertained onboard this evening with sounds from “The Big Bands” in the Discovery Lounge, where our Cruise Staff and gentlemen hosts were up on the floor for a dance or two. In Shackleton’s Bar those that had were recovering from a long day had a nightcap before retiring for the evening ready for another day to explore Havana, a city rich in culture and full of excitement and intrest.

This morning we arrived in Freeport, Bahamas, a cosmopolitan fast-paced city, which did not exist until financer Wallace Groves was granted an area of swamp and scrubland in 1955. It was on this land he built bars, restaurants, casinos and shops.  With all Freeport has to offer it is no wonder it is thriving with tourism. Beyond the city, the island offers much more with idyllic views of natural Caribbean beauty, beaches with white sand and a tranquil sea with array of tropical colours.

It was no surprise our guests were keen to get out and explore all Freeport had to offer. All of the excursions offered today were shorter in duration with the longest tour being four hours long. This gave our guests a chance to take advantage of the complimentary shuttle which stopped in Port Lucaya, a port with a magnificent stretch of white sandy beaches, hotels and restaurants.

Most our guests chose to go out on one of the three excursions being offered in the morning. “ A Sea Safari and Snorkelling tour “ was amongst the magnificent tours being offered today. A trip out on a catamaran, with the opportunity to snorkel amongst an abundance if marine life including colourful corals formation and exotic fish.

Lucyan National Park and Cave tour took our guests through the city of Freeport onto Lucayan National Park, to the other, natural side to Bahamas.  Within this park is the entrance to one of the largest underwater cave system in the world, a truly awe inspiring experience.

A more educational tour a number of our guests embarked on was “Aspect of Bahama” with a deeper insight to the history of Bahama including a visit to the home of the legendary jazz musician, Count Basie. This tour also revealed the beauty and vibrance of this tropical island.

Having explored and discovered Freeport, guests arrived back to the ship having had a wonderful day, hungry and ready for yet another scrumptious dinner onboard.

Our main showtime entertainment brought to the stage an extra – special showcase of folkloric music and dance, with a local show of singers and dancers an absolutely spectacular display of local culture.

Our next destination St Vincent, has some family connection for me. My great grandfather on my mother's side was the Curator of the Botanical Gardens here in the early 1900s for about 25 years. So I always remember as a child, seeing black and white photographs of this garden, and a few years ago on a previous visit I went up to see the gardens and this house is still standing, be it a little run down.So I feel a certain connection with the island.

We approached the berth at 7am having picked up the pilot a mile off the berth itself. I remember coming here many years ago on Saga Rose and the procedure for entering port is you “clear away” the anchors, so they are ready to open the brake and drop them in an emergency. Well, as we were approaching years ago, a huge squall came through and started pushing us towards the pier so I ordered the anchors to be dropped and nothing happened! Luckily when I ran full astern on the engines we cleared the pier but I was amazed the anchors of 7 tons were stuck in the pipe. So ever since then, whatever ship I am on, I always have the anchors walked a little out of the pipes and readied for letting go, just to make sure they drop!

Today proved exciting as squalls came through and the wind whipped up in all directions and made berthing interesting. One minute we were getting blown on to the quay so I had the engines and bowthruster fighting this and then the next we were getting blown away from the quay. But this ships manoeuverability proved its worth and we were soon alongside.

Today we had just the two excursions arranged for our passengers. The first excursion was the Discover St Vincent tour. The excursion began with a drive past Kingstown’s colonial modern architecture. A visit to Fort Charlotte, a former British garrison was the first stop of the day. The second stop today was to the oldest botanical gardens in the western hemisphere. Continuing, the tour then took our passengers through the Mesopotamia Valley. After enjoying a rum punch or two the tour headed back to the ship.

The second excursion to depart the ship this morning was the Beautiful Bequia tour. This highly recommended excursion began with an hour-long cruise by Catamaran to the lush green island of Bequia, the largest of the Grenadines. After having some free time to explore the island, the passengers embarked the catamaran once more to sail to Princess Margaret Beach where a buffet lunch was served. There was then some free time for the passengers to explore once more or even indulge in some snorkelling.

Sadly the day ended with torrential rain, be it a warm shower. There has been an unusual weather system over the islands at present, bringing unseasonal weather, so hopefully we will lose this soon.

We slipped away under a calm dark night, and set sail for Fort De France, Martinique.

This evening’s entertainment started at 6pm, with a classical concert by The Covent Garden String Quartet. This was followed at 9.30pm with another spectacular show “Big Top”, from the Gail Davies Production Company.

As we approached this low-lying island, it looked like paradise again. Golden sands, beach huts and gorgeous waters. Out from nowhere is this large cruise pier. So as we started our approached, I set myself on the starboard bridge wing ready to manoeuvre into position. As we were making the final adjustments , there was a loud explosion from ashore and this acrid black smoke started billowing from the Islands Power Station. It was pretty spectacular I have to say and the fire brigade was on hand swiftly.

However shortly after we get a call from the agent to tell us that there may be “some” disruption to some electrics on the island. I have to say looking at the size of the fire, I think the Agent was a little optimistic with the use of the “some” word. When I walked ashore later, it was difficult to try and pick out some jewellery for my wife in the darkness, so I had to refrain from this - well, that's my excuse anyway!

With the immense popularity of our excursions today we had several different departure times for each one. The first of our excursions was the Historical Highlights tour. The excursion started with a short journey to Glenn Johnson commemorative capsule to learn about the historic “splash down” of his Mercury spacecraft from 1962. With various stops including St Thomas Parish Church, Breezy Bay, Duke Street, Turks & Caicos National Museum and lastly the Salt House, this was a fantastic way to see this beautiful island and its fascinating history in only a few hours.

The second organised excursion was the Island Sights tour. This was a 2 ¾ hour excursion that headed north to the historic Methodist Church and to the Salt House to learn about Grand Turk’s “salt-raking” past. En route to Front Street our passengers were able to sit back, relax and enjoy a scenic drive along Historic Duke Street. During a stroll through the Grand Turk Arboretum, our passengers had the opportunity to learn about the characteristics of the pants and their medical uses. During the tour the passengers headed to South Creek to board a pontoon boat where a local guide was introducing everyone to the different types of mangroves and the various birds of the island. After the mangrove exploration the tour then headed back to the Saga Pearl II.

Today’s third excursion was something a little bit different, and in many ways very special. This excursion was the Gibbs Cay & Stingray Encounter! After a 15-minute motor boat transfer to the unspoilt, uninhabited island of Gibbs Cay, the passengers were each issued snorkel equipment. After free time to explore and get up close and personal with the beautifully colourful fish, local guides then assisted our passengers whilst swimming with the stingrays. After a few photos holding and kissing the stingrays, our passengers then boarded the motor boats for the return journey back to the ship.

On sailing, we were again dwarfed by one of the larger ships, in fact when looking from ashore we looked a bit like its tender boat, it was massive. I watched all their passengers coming back somewhat merry from all the rum that had been consumed.

On sailing, I again asked the Doctor to stand proud on the bow, and pipe us away. All the passengers on the larger ship were so delighted and taken in by this they all applauded and waved us goodbye, and as usual we gave our three-blast salute on the whistle. Now this particular company alongside us don't usually respond for some reason when we have sounded farewell, but to my surprise, we got a lovely send of as they blew their horn in response. It has restored my faith in man!

It was a great way to sail away. Pressure was on me a little as I reckoned 3,500 passengers were watching me manoeuvre the ship. Luckily there were no faults so it went well.

Tonight’s evening entertainment started at 9pm with a quiz, hosted by two of our passengers! The night continued in our Discovery Lounge with a Magical Musical evening with Violinist Greg Scott.

I  was up early this morning, as we approached the BVI’s (British Virgin Islands). We had to navigate through the Round Rock Passage, between Round Rock island and Ginger Island. To me this felt like coming home. When I came here on Saga Rose, I used to walk from the ship into the marina which was only ahead of the ship, and dream about one day sailing here.

Then one day, I decided that it was time so I looked round a charter yacht, took the details and soon after, Jenny and I hired a yacht here for 10 days. It was the most fantastic holiday I have had. The sailing was superb, a fresh trade wind breeze and calm in the evenings. Clear seas to scuba dive in and swim, and good food and drink. So I always think back to my time here sailing all around the waters and islands. The weather was very good, bright sunshine and clear blue skies. We duly picked up our pilot just before the berth, a familiar face, and proceeded to Roadtown cruise berth. A very staright forward run in, and we were soon alongside.

The first of our excursions this morning was the North Shore and Pusser’s Landing. This excursion was certainly a feast for the eyes! On boarding an open air safari bus, the tour then ascended Fort Hill to scenic Belle Vue, with a stop at Mountain View to admire the wonderful scenery. Descending Windy Hill to the North Shore, the tour continued through the fishing villages of Carrot Bay and Cappoon’s Bay, our passengers arrived at Pusser’s Landing.

Our second excursion, Island Highlights, was a tour that combined relaxation and breathtaking scenery. With a splendid open air safari bus ride up to Sky World, where the passengers admired the impeccable views of the British Virgin Islands. The tour then continued down to the white sandy beach where the passengers had the opportunity to take a dip in the crystal clear waters or simply sit back, relax and enjoy a local rum punch.

The only afternoon tour today was the fun and exciting four-wheel drive safari. Taking our passengers off the beaten track; the route they took revealed the natural beauty of the island and the unspoilt flora and fauna. With various photo stops and a complimentary drink, again this was a fantastic way to see the island in a more unconventional way!

Unfortunately, I didn’t get ashore today as I was busy with various tasks, one being our inaugural visit plaque presentation to the port. When the Chairman of the Tourist board heard I had been here a fw times and even sailed these water by yacht, he made a speech and welcomed me “Home” which I thought felt special.

I had been telling the passengers that this was one of my favourite destinations. I even encouraged Graeme, the Chief officer, to go and look at the yachts as he wants to holiday here as well, so he was hooked!

When it came time to sail, we were preparing our departure procedures. We were joined in the port by one of the very large Costa cruise ships that overshadowed us and basically blocked the sun. But you know what they say , small is beautiful.

Our ships Doctor Mike Higgs, plays the bagpipes and asked if he could be of service so I asked him to stand on the bow and play us out. As we slipped astern he played a rendition of “The Skye Boat Song” with all our passengers and the passengers from the Costa ship all applauding, even the Captain of the ship, so it was a great way to sail.

Tonight’s entertainment was an evening with our resident female vocalist from the Gail Davies Production Company, Miss Lisa Collier. The evening was continued out on our Sundowner Deck, with a tropical-themed party.

I had decided to arrive an hour earlier as I was aware of another cruise ship coming to the port and wanted the best position. However as we approached the anchorage, I was dismayed to see so many “Superyachts”. They were in an abundance and I should have known really as this is a millionaire's paradise island.

There were some stunning yachts that looked very nice and shiny! With all the toys you could want, helicopters, speedboats, jet skis and even one had a 70-foot sailing yacht in their davits.Thisyacht, Le Grand Bleu, was previosuly owned by Roman Abramovich, the Chealsea boss. A friend of mine used to be Master on her so I can talk with some conviction as to the toys onboard.Sadly, we had to anchor quite far out, and even tucking into the coast, we were still hampered by swell. So I decided to heave up the anchor and manoeuvre the ship all day in the same position in order to get the tender boats away safely.

Today’s shore excursions were the Yellow Submarine Tour, St Barts Highlights and St Barts Underwater Secrets. Due to the high number of passengers wishing to experience the Yellow Submarine tour, we had three departures spaced out throughout the day.

The popular Yellow Submarine Tour was a fantastic way for our passengers to explore the underwater majesty of the Caribbean – without getting wet! On embarking the semi-submersible craft, the passengers then descended into the tunnel-like hull in front of the observation windows. Passing the wreck of an island freighter and the south-eastern edge of St Barts Marine Park, before arriving at a group of three tiny rock islands, our passengers were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of numerous sharks and an abundance of beautiful sealife.  This was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

We just had the one departure for St Barts Highlights today, a delightful tour which offered an insight into its character and charms in only an hour. Passing the airport, the popular beach of St Jean, Grand Fond and Toiny – in the north east of the island – the tour passed the house that used to belong to the dancer Rudolph Nureyev. With other fascinating sights to see, our passengers thoroughly enjoyed what the Island had to offer.

The third excursion today was St Barts Underwater Secrets. After embarking a catamaran, the passengers sailed to the excellent snorkelling spot of Les Petites Saints, a small rock south-west of Gustavia. After an hours’ snorkelling, and a return trip back to Gustavia, the passengers then made their way back to Saga Pearl II.

Having spent the day on my feet in the sun, I have to say Iwas looking forward to the end of the operation so I could rest my weary bones. But I was very pleased that we had managed to operate the tenders in such choppy conditions. Again another success for the crew who worked hard to get the job done, and Roy Gandy, the Security officer did a marvellous job in running the gangway.

This evening’s entertainment started at 6pm, with another dazzling performance from the Covent Garden String Consort. This was followed at 9.30pm with Cabaret Showtime, presenting the fantastic vocals of Rob Linacre.

The island of Nevis is like a paradise island - lush, golden sands and beautiful weather. The only down side is the fact that they have no berth and we have to tender. It can get quite choppy in the afternoon breeze but all we do is swing the ship around to make a shelter in order to effect a safe operation. When anchoring also, we have to anchor quite a distance offshore as the shallows do not permit us getting closer. We anchored in about 16 metres of water, which ensured that if we were to swing right round 360 degrees, the ship would remain in an acceptable depth.

This morning, we had two tours departing the ship, the first being at 8.30am. The first tour, Discover Nevis, started with a drive through the charming capital of Charlestown. The first stop on this tour today was at the museum of Nevis’ history, which is dedicated to Nevis’ greatest hero, Horatio Nelson. With visits to old Manor Estate and the historic Golden Rock plantation and the ruins of Cottle Church, this was a fantastic way to see parts of the beautiful Island before heading to the beach for a short period of relaxation.

Our second tour this morning, which departed at 8.45am, was the Nevis Highlights Excursion. This tour included visits to two small museums, Hamilton House and the museum of Nevis’ history. Also stopping at the Fig Tree Church, where Lord Horatio Nelson and Fannie Nisbet were married, which was another great highlight of this excursion. Before heading back to the Saga Pearl II, the tour group enjoyed a moment at the wonderful Botanical Gardens.

After a good day and successful operation carried out by the tender crews, we picked up the anchor and headed north.

This evenings’ Cabaret Showtime was a performance from talented violinist Greg Scott. This was followed by ‘Cabaret and Cocktails’ from our resident New Finale Duo.

Dominica always strikes me as a very lush island, with the mountains and terrain covered in fresh green foliage. The pier is a very small one, only enough to take about 60 metres of the ship. The rest of the ship overhangs on either end and the lines are run, via a small mooring boat to dolphins. These are concrete pillars with a bollard on the top and a ladder so a person can climb from a boat, up the pillar to a platform and put a mooring rope on the bollard. Its a cheap way of mooring ships without having to build a huge quay. So, we were all fast alongside for 7.30am.

The sun was already high in the sky and the temperature 25 degrees centigrade, so a good day was going to be had.

We had four excursions today and these really were four fantastic excursions. The first being an Indian River Boat Tour. This four-hour tour took our passengers up the western coast of the island to embark on wooden row boats for a guided tour of the Indian River. Due to the river bed being lined with Amazonian trees and mangroves, this makes it a haven for exotic birds and various wildlife.  The passengers then enjoyed a walk through the rainforest before sampling a complimentary drink server from a ‘Jungle Bar’. After rejoining the river boats, they then headed back to the ship.

Our second excursion today was a ‘Pools and Falls’ tour. This five-hour tour was an unforgettable experience. A brief visit to the Botanical Gardens was a great way to start the day. The tour then headed inland to the village of Trafalgar, for a unique view of the spectacular falls.  After a stop at the Mountain View Restaurant for a complimentary drink, the excursion then carried on towards the Trois Pitons National Park. Here at the National park the guide then took our passengers on a 15-minute hike through the rainforest to the 40-foot cascading falls that fill the Emerald Pool. It was simply stunning!

For our third shore excursion a number of our passengers chose the more relaxing way of seeing this beautiful mountainous island, Best of Dominica. This three-hour excursion took our passengers through the forest and plantations of Dominica’s Layou Valley, Morne Bruce, for a panoramic view of the city of Roseau, Warner Valley, to the fishing village of Mahaut and the Canefield Sugar Cane Estate. During the tour the passengers got to enjoy the local rum punch whilst watching a colourful folklore performance.

The Rainforest Aerial Tram Tour was our fourth excursion today. This 3 ½ hour tour started with a scenic drive up to the village of Laudat, which is located at a height of around 2,000 feet above sea level. Once the coach arrived at the site our passengers embarked onto the Aerial Trams for a ride into the Morne Trois Piton Rainforest. Whilst slowly gliding through the rainforest, the guide was explaining about all the various wildlife, flora and fauna, and the history of the island. A 90-minute round trip into the rainforest and the Aerial Trams reached the lower station of the site and shortly after our passengers were en route back to Saga Pearl II.

It was our Senior Cadet, Heidi's 21st birthday today so a surprise party was held for her on the bridge, by all her colleagues and a nice present of jewellery was purchased by all.As you can see by the size of the cake, it took some time to consume!

Also in port was one of the windstar ships and as she sailed away into the sunset she made a nice picture which I have attached.

I allowed Khris, our Staff Captain to drive the ship away tonight for training purposes and he did this well.

Being Valentine’s Day we had a fantastic evening of entertainment in store for tonight. “Bop at the Valentine’s Hop” was the performance put together by our resident Gail Davies Production Company and Cruise Department. With singing and dancing themed from the 50’s, our passengers had a memorable evening dancing the night away.

This morning on approach to the port the sun was blazing in the sky - a good omen for the rest of the day. The pilot boarded us and I tried to show my skills in talking French but only managed to offer him a coffee with sugar and milk!

It was a straightforward run into the port, with not much happening really. So we slid into the cruise terminal to the sound of a woman singing local songs.

Once the ship was clear, we had three shore excursions today, the first being Saint Pierre and Botanical Gardens. After a short but picturesque journey to Balata Church, the excursion headed to the Botanical Gardens of Balata. The garden is home to a wide variety of plants and flowers that have been collected over a period of 20 years. The tour then continued onto Saint-Pierre, which is famously known for the volcanic eruption in 1902 killing 30,000 inhabitants. After exploring the ruins of the town and a brief visit to the museum the excursion made its way back to Saga Pearl II.

Our second excursion today, Maison du Bele and Rum, was a four-hour tour. This was a fantastic excursion for our passengers that were interested in the dances and music that had been handed down from Martinique’s African and European past. Our passengers were given an insight into the history of the families and characters that are featured in the story of the dances. They also had the chance to try out a few of the steps themselves. The final stop on this tour was to the rum distillery and after learning about the cultivation and processing of the sugar cane; the passengers had the chance to indulge in some delicious rum punch.

The final tour today was a full-day Island Tour. With seven hours to really get to see what the beautiful island of Martinique has to offer, this was a fantastic and interesting excursion. Throughout the day the tour stopped at various destinations, such as the island's capital, Fort-de-France, the rum distillery, Saint-Pierre to explore the towns ruins and also a stop at Morne Rouge for a taste of the local cuisine.

Tonight’s entertainment started at 9.30pm with a show presented by International Saxophonist Sarah Chandler, ‘Sax to the Max’. The evening continued in our Shackleton’s bar with the New Finale Duo.

We slid away from the berth at 10.30pm. We slid aft and then turned the ship around within the dark harbour. We have officers either end of the ship to let me know distances and clearing, but also our electronic chart sytem is excellent in showing you exactly where the ship is in relation to any danger so it is like your eyes in the dark, looking down at a plan view of the situation.

Once clear of the port, we headed for the beautiful island of Dominica.

After sailing from Barbados, I took the ship north of St Vincent and down the west side, in order to shelter from the swell from the Atlantic.

We were slow steaming to Grenada, to make a timed arrival on Friday morning. However as we were making good time, I asked the Company if I could spend a little extra and take the ship into Grenada the night before to give passengers more time and the chance to enjoy an evening on the island, and as usual they agreed.

So we arrived at the pilot station at 6:00pm and proceeded to berth, stern in to the new cruise piers. We have been able to make good use of our new port gangway door which we had changed in Hamburg, before Christmas. This gives us the option of two gangways to choose from depending on the height of the quay, and this new one is level with many quaysides so is helpful to our passengers.

Through the night sadly, the rain was torrential, but warm however, but a pretty wet night. However the next day, the rain as always has a nice cooling and refreshing effect on the day.

The sun was shining as this morning we had 4 shore excursions departing from the ship. The first being Mountain Rainforest and Grand Etang. After leaving the pier at around 8:45am, the tour headed towards the small but beautiful fishing town, Gouyave.

En route to Gouyave, the tour passed through a number of small villages abundant with vegetation. The first stop on this tour was to the Dougaldston Spice Estate. At this historic landmark our passengers were given a demonstration on how the cocoa is dried and utilised. Continuing through verdant plantations of cocoa, nutmeg, banana and various spices, the tour arrived at Grand Etang Lake.

This extinct volcano crater is a shear 1,900 feet above sea level. After enjoying a complimentary local rum punch, the passengers embarked the bus and headed to Fort Frederick, which was started by the French in 1779 and finished by the English in 1783. Another brief coach journey and the tour arrived back at the Saga Pearl II.

Our second shore excursion was the Island Highlights tour. This 7 hour excursion gave our passengers a real insight into everything that Grenada has to offer. Beginning at St George’s pier, the tour passed through Grenada’s capital, passing through the villages of Grand Mal and happy hill before arriving at Beausejour Bay.

This excursion also visited Dougaldston Spice Estate. This excursion also stopped at Grenada fishing village of Gouyave, Victoria and St Patricks. After a stop at the oldest functioning water wheel, the tour then headed back to the pier.

Our third excursion today departed at 9:15am. This was the sunnyside Gardens excursion which began with a scenic route towards the classical, colonial Sunnyside Gardens. Surround by 150 year old mahogany trees is a house built in the 1920’s. In the gardens there was a beautiful rainforest area, fishpond, citrus plants, spices, fruits and flowering trees.

Our final excursion today was the Highlights of St George’s. This tour began with a drive through the city streets to the Fort Frederick, famous for its panoramic views. After a drive through various destinations in St Georges, such as the university, we passed the airport and Quarantine Point, the tour then returned to the ship.

This evening I held my welcome party to those who were sailing on the whole voyage, and also to those who joined us in Barbados. It was again a pleasure to welcome so many of our loyal friends that I know and reacquaint ourselves and catch up with news. It was also my chance to say hello to all and all to say hello to each other as we continue sailing as one big family.

This evening’s entertainment was Cabaret Showtime with international vocalist, Rob Linacre. Covering ballads from West End shows, Motown and Swing this was definitely a show not to be missed.

Hello everybody, it’s me again, returned from a very enjoyable leave and Christmas with my wife Jenny and son Scott.

I flew out to Barbados yesterday and the airline lost my bags!!. However the journey was a little less stressful from when I got off Saga pearl II in Casablanca on 23rd December. The time when we had all the bad snow in the UK. Flew to Charles De Gaulle airport, my plane was delayed so missed the connection in CDG, all flights were then subsequently cancelled so had to spend the night in the airport.

To be fair, Saga did wonders and made arrangements to put me in a Hotel but as my Airline had arranged a flight a few hours later, I took the option, to “Camp” out in the terminal. It was like being a kid again. They gave us Foam mattresses, Blankets, food, water and toiletries so I have to say it was quite exciting. Luckily I had company as Sam, one of our entertainers, was travelling home as well.

The snow really was bad and one of the roofs of the terminal collapsed with the weight of it but luckily not ours.

Anyway Ginette, our Britannia Club executive, happened to be our duty officer that night and I had to call her at 3:00am to rearrange my plans as everything was closed. And she did a superb job. And like the miracle of Christmas, she managed to get us home on the 24th, despite all the odds, and I am eternally grateful as I was able to share my sons first Christmas.

So this was a nice contrast, flying into 29 degrees, and I eventually found my bags!

I was on the quayside as the ship was docking and it is always enjoyable coming back onboard seeing all your colleagues again. David Warden and I handed over, as we both know the ship, it is straight forward and soon I had my feet under the table.

Today our shore excursions team organised two tours for our full day stop in Bridgetown, Barbados. The first being Harrison’s Cave. This fantastic 2 ½ hour excursion took our passengers to this magnificent natural phenomenon, which is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking and spectacular natural attractions in the entire Caribbean.

Created over hundreds of thousands of years, the cave has only been accessible to the public for 15 years. After descending onto the valley floor our passengers were then shown a short video on the formation of Barbados. On boarding the electric tram the tour then continues further into the cave whilst the guide is giving a running commentary of the history.

Viewing the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, bubbling streams, tumbling cascades, plunging waterfalls and the emerald pools through this mile long cave, this excursion was simply a treat for the eyes!

Our second excursion today was a Sugar Trail tour. Beginning with a scenic drive to the North of the island, the tour took a visit St Nicolas Abbey, a 1660 historical landmark which was never actually an Abbey, but a sugar plantation.

After a guided tour and a film show in the stables to show exactly how the plantation was run in the 1930’s, the tour then continued on to Cherry Tree Hill to reveal some of the original machinery.  En route to the ship the excursion headed to the fishing village of Bathsheba. Again this 3 ¾ hour tour gave a great insight into more of what this beautiful island offers.

This evening we were thrilled to be able to arrange for a local Steel Band to come onboard and play for our passengers. Starting at 8:30pm we set up the Band outside on our Boat Deck and had the pleasure of listening to their fantastic talents for just over an hour.

After we said goodbye to the Steel Band, we slipped away in the dark, quiet night of Barbados, the silence only broken by our resident cricket ,who joined us somewhere in the Amazon, sounding off somewhere on the starboard bridge wing.

The humidity and the sound of a cricket really sets the scene to make you feel that you are in the tropics. Our resident New Final Duo continued playing on the outside deck for our passengers to dance the night away as we set sail for our next port of call, St George’s, Grenada.

With a dramatic change in the appearance of the water from the silty brown to a crystal blue, not a tree to be seen on the horizon and not a cloud in the sky, we were out of the Amazon and on our way to the Caribbean. But, not before a few last calls on the way!

Devil’s Island’s were the first stop, which many of you may associate with the film “Papilllon”, which is based on when the Islands were first used as a French prison for over 100 years. We were to anchor off Ile Royal, the western most island, and closest of the three islands to the coast

As Cadet, I am involved in all anchoring and mooring operations; this provides us with lots of experience and understanding in one of the most important operations onboard. Arriving on the forecastle, donning a hard hat and armed with a radio, I was to help let the anchor go at the correct position on the Captain’s orders. The sun was rising into a clear blue sky and as the temperature rose along with it, a tropical aroma blew over from the rich, green forested Islands.

I do not know if you remember, I mentioned in an earlier blog about Cadets being an important part of the shore side shifts? Well, that was to be my second job of the day. So, as soon as the anchor was paid out and the ship secured in position, I jumped into one of the first tenders and made my way ashore.

After an hour of shore side duty, I managed to get a quick walk into the forest! As I stepped off the quayside there was a short walk around the side of the Island, where towering palm trees lined the water’s edge and with the Saga Pearl II in sight, I followed the long line of passengers along a path which curled its way into a break in the forest (which looked fit to burst with the amount of wildlife and trees covering this small Island!)

As soon as I stepped under the covering of trees, all my senses took off, the air hung humid around me and a tropical sent drifted around in the breeze. The whole forest was alive and the non-stop rustling in the undergrowth and in the tree tops was paused every now and then for a bird, monkey or small rodent to come trundling out of the forest to meet the new urban stranger, worthy of a sniff or two to see if I had brought any food.

The first to greet me was a small monkey, which swung across the path in front of me, then with my eyes wide in awe other animals started to appear. Apparently on examination, I was found to have arrived in their home empty handed and they quickly disappeared as soon as they had arrived, back off into the depths of the forest!

Back onboard, I completed my watch and helped bring the anchor home so that we could depart from these beautiful islands and surrounding waters, which I hear from the other Cadet, are also home to many creatures as he sighted a turtle earlier in the day!

Unfortunately this is my last entry as I finish my tour of duty and head off for a spot of leave back home in Wales. I must be home in time for my son’s wedding on 27th February!

Written by Heidi Clevett

Greetings, this is Heidi again with another report of my first Amazon Adventure experience.

Arriving on the Bridge at 4:00pm, the Captain was engaged in an intricate manoeuvre in and unusually narrow tributary ( Furu Grande )- most of the Amazon River (at least to a young Cadet) was unexpectedly wide, with some parts spanning over six miles! So I, along with the Captain's wife, Doctor and about 100 passengers were all hanging over the handrails with cameras frantically clicking away at the towering green array of plants surrounding us.

We sailed past a logging site, sand pit, football pitch and tiny shacks made into houses dotted at regular intervals in the clearings. Small dug-outs filled to the brim with families came out to see us, the children frantically bailing out the sinking log, held their hands out to us and rubbed their bellies, so the Captain insisted we throw something floatable and nourishing down to them (against the Pilots exclaims that they do the same to every large vessel passing the area). Nevertheless, a large bag of crisps was tossed over the side for the hungry-eyed locals to fight over.

We anchored overnight as we had time well on our side for Macapa in the morning and (as I understand) it would not have been mechanically efficient to run on just one engine at such a low speed.
 
The Bridge was hot and stuffy throughout the night, as an attempt to open the Bridge wing door at dusk brought an influx of new inhabitants in, in the form of mosquitoes, crickets and small-winged bugs, all thirsty for the Officers exposed skin and our lovely tray of tea and sugary cakes on the table. Alas, the door was closed and all bugs extinguished!

Unfortunately, after mooring operations in Macapa, I was unable to get ashore, although I hear from the other Cadets (whom had gone to purchase a Bridge fan) that it was a nice city, substantially less busy than Manaus and they managed to spend a bit of time at ‘the line’, a structure situated on the Equator, where you can have one half of your body in the Northern Hemisphere and half in the Southern Hemisphere!

So, that was the end of our Amazon adventure and as we make our way out to the North Atlantic Ocean, we leave the beautiful Brazilian sunset on the far horizon and wave goodbye to all the sights, smells and sounds of the Amazon!
 
I hope that you have enjoyed my contributions to the Captain’s blog?

Heidi Clevett