Cruise. 4 Caribbean Islands. January, 2019

There’s nothing quite like escaping to the Caribbean in the middle of winter. Just a 4.5-hour flight from Toronto, and we traded -20°C for +30°C. Blue skies, bright sunshine, and turquoise waters...

Our cruise ship was waiting for us in Puerto Rico, where we set off on an unforgettable journey through four Caribbean islands

Puerto Rico and Our Cruise Ship 

Let me show you what our cruise ship looked like inside 

And here we are 

Some of us were relaxing, while others headed straight for the casino 

The upper deck was home to the pools and entertainment 

Whirlpools 

This attraction is called the FlowRider 

One evening, we watched a beautiful parade featuring DreamWorks characters 

It is impossible to show or even see everything that the ship has to offer. But the main goal of our journey was still to discover new islands, enjoy the warm sunshine, and swim in the waters of the Caribbean Sea...

To make the most of our time, we usually woke up early, had breakfast, and set off for new adventures. Then, after returning to our cabin in the evening, we happily looked forward to seeing the new towel masterpiece created by our Russian-speaking cabin attendant, Valentina

Now I will take you through the islands one by one and share our experiences. This time, I will also include prices, since I know many of my friends are planning a similar cruise, and this information may be useful to them.

Curaçao

A small island in the southern Caribbean Sea, located not far from Venezuela. It is part of the Dutch Antilles. In 2010, the island gained independence and became a country. The capital is Willemstad. The inner city and harbour of Willemstad are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We leave the ship and walk towards the city centre, where we spend some time exploring. The first thing that catches our attention is the colourful Dutch-style houses

Сувенирные магазины и знаменитый апельсиновый ликер Кюрасао 

Hooray! Hooray! We are going to the beach soon!

After walking around the city centre for a while, we take a taxi ($6 per person each way) and head to the beach. We chose Mambo Beach. It is a beautiful, well-developed beach with many shops and bars, inflatable water slides, and breakwaters (beach entrance: $3.50, lounge chair: $4, Wi-Fi available)

The water was clean, crystal clear, and turquoise blue — just like everywhere else in this region

There was a pool nearby and an inflatable water park for children. We relaxed on the beach practically the whole day, but it was time to get ready to head back to the ship

And here is the first show. Every evening, there were different shows on the ship. They were all of a very high standard, and we happily attended them in the main theatre 

At night, the ship sails to the next island...

Aruba

The second island from the group of Dutch Antilles islands. It is even smaller than Curaçao in size. The population is only about 105,000 people)) Aruba is a popular and not inexpensive destination for Canadian tourists. It is considered an island with consistently excellent weather, little rain, and one that is rarely affected by hurricanes. Do I even need to mention the crystal-clear turquoise sea?))

We leave the port and take a free tram that takes us through the centre of Oranjestad, most likely with the purpose of introducing visitors to the numerous shops and souvenir stores

Then we take a local bus and head to the beach ($5 per person round trip). Eagle Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Along the beach, there were many options to choose from — more secluded spots or more developed areas. We decided to stay closer to civilization, near a beach bar (beach entrance was free, lounge chair $15, Wi-Fi available).

In the coral reefs, my husband went on a little photo hunt for crabs.

Across from the beach was a row of resorts. We visited one of them — a 3.5-star resort. To get to the beach, guests had to cross the road. Of course, I would have preferred a resort located right on the beach

On the way back, we bought some souvenirs and got ready for dinner. Dinner, just like breakfast and lunch, could be enjoyed either at the buffet or in one of the restaurants. We usually chose the buffet to save time.

This is what some of the dinner options at the buffet looked like

A few times, we did go out for dinner at one of the restaurants 

The kids visited the pizzeria many times.

One evening, we skipped the evening show and instead settled into one of the cafés to play our favourite game, Dixit. We ended up coming back to this café many more times, usually for a cup of coffee with cheesecake

Saint Kitts

Saint Kitts is part of the small country of Saint Kitts and Nevis, located in the Caribbean Sea and consisting of two small islands. It is notable because anyone can obtain citizenship there by investing approximately $300,000. The island’s population is mainly descendants of former slaves. The island is located on the slopes of a volcano, making it mountainous and covered with tropical forests.

This time, we decided to hire a tour guide. Thankfully, with the internet, you can book an excursion without purchasing it through the cruise ship and paying extra. Our local guide took us around the city, introducing us to its history and architecture. We saw fishermen with fresh fish caught in their nets. We also visited a small but very beautiful botanical garden. One of the trees there is 400 years old!

We stopped by a little shop where women were making batik by hand. Then we found ourselves in a real jungle! By the way, the jungles in those places are considered quite safe. Mongooses have eaten all the snakes, and apparently there are no spiders there either. At least, that’s what we believed)) It was an incredibly impressive experience

We were already missing the beach, and our driver took us to a great place — Shipwreck Beach (free beach access and free lounge chairs). Monkeys were running along the beach. And the water — I never get tired of repeating this — was blue and crystal clear

We also saw black sand for the first time (thanks to the volcano). We relaxed for a while, but it was time to return to the ship. On the way back, we captured this incredible view. In the distance, you can see the hills of the neighbouring islands

We are back at the port. And here is our ship, waiting for us next to another cruise ship from a different company. In the evening, we enjoyed an ice show. It was an unforgettable experience

Some of us were even able to do a little ice skating the next day. And in the evening, we had a feast on the balcony with cheeses, fruits, and champagne

Saint Thomas

The last island of our cruise. A beautiful island with a hilly landscape and winding roads. We didn’t want to spend time exploring the island, so we decided to simply enjoy a day at the beach. We took a taxi bus. By the way, on this island, taxi fares are set by the government, so bargaining is not an option))) ($10 one way, beach entrance $5).

Magens Bay Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. In reality — it is truly a magical place

Time to build sandcastles — and not only sandcastles 

The sign at the bar informs visitors that there is no Wi-Fi and suggests talking to each other instead — which is exactly what we do)) 

Our beach day is coming to an end. We drive up along steep mountain roads to capture the breathtaking views. And there is our ship, waiting for us. At the port, we are welcomed with music, dancing, and a lizard

In the evening, we enjoyed an extraordinary musical show — Once Upon a Time, based on the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, but presented in a modern style