Friday, 29 March 2024
Enroute to Jost Van Dyke, British West Indies
Enroute to Jost Van Dyke, British West Indies
We are enjoying our second very-smooth sea day since leaving Miami. We have had a chance to explore the Sirena--it doesn't take long given her size. But it's large enough to easily find spaces that are quiet and empty. The ship was refitted in 2019 and everything is elegantly redesigned in blues and grays (matching my wardrobe, of course). Yesterday we sailed eastward past the big islands of Cuba and Hispaniola--visible to our south in the far distance. Today we head southeast to our first port, Jost Van Dyke, where we anchor tomorrow morning. But first LFLatSea returns to yesterday,
Thursday, 28 March 2024
At Sea on Board ms Sirena
After a restful night's sleep we head for the Grand Dining Room, in retrospect not a good idea for the first full day of the cruise. The food--eggs Benedict and assorted fruits and other sides--is hot and tasty, but the service is very slow. We enjoy a table for two beside a large window and relax looking at the calm seas and the occasional ship in the far distance. Rather than waiting in the Dining Room for second cups of coffee, we move on to the Barista Bar, just a few steps away, for hot lattes and ship-baked cookies.
With temperatures in the 70's and relatively low humidity, the remainder of the morning is perfect for sitting by the pool for the hour before heading up to the Terrace Cafe, where a large and varied buffet is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We aren't very hungry after our big breakfast, so we settle for a couple of slices of thin-cut pizza.
There are three guest speakers on this cruise, presenting a variety of topics. We miss the morning lecture by UK travel photographer Benedict Brain (sic), but we do attend an afternoon talk by Katrina Gulliver, PhD: "Old Age Piracy and New Age Treasure Hunters." The third speaker will make her first appearance on Friday.
Before getting ready for dinner in the Terrace Cafe, I wander around the various decks taking photographs. At tonight's dinner the highlights are as many grilled lobster tails as you can eat and pate en croute. Of course, a multitude of other main courses, sides, salads, sushi, and desserts is available. Diners can enjoy their repasts either at indoor tables or on the large outdoor terrace (hence the name of the venue).
We are looking forward to the Captain's Cocktail Celebration, with free drinks, at 6pm this evening. I will report on that, as well as our day in port in the next blog.
__03.jpg)
