When we got up we decided to have a day in the port of St Vincent instead of a beach day to get a taste of local life. We disembarked about 10am and headed off to the information bureau to arm David with a map - which always makes him happy and in control. We thought we would have a walk to the Botanic Gardens and told it would take about half an hour. The lady told us to look out for the local ambassadors wearing orange T-shirts who would help with directions. David's a Blackpool FC fan so felt quite at home with the Tangerine Army!
We didn't have any preconceptions of the port and found once you left the port gates it was alive with the bustle and noise of locals going around their business on a Friday morning. The road was edged with market holders selling fruit and veg and locals were stocking up. Shops mainly included supermarkets and hardware stores.
We walked for a while and received several directions from our tangerine ambassadors. After about 20 mins we spoke to a young girl who told us we could keep to the main road or go up "the Lonely Road" which would be more direct but it was very quiet. I asked if the lonely road was safe and she answered that she couldn't say whether it was or not! Anyway we saw several cruise guests taking the route so thought we would risk it. I had my bodyguard with me and apart from a small rucksack, had no jewellery or expensive cameras on show.
The road was quiet and a little rough but in the daytime felt safe enough and we were fine.
We reached the Botanic Gardens after about 40 minutes. We paid our $2 pp entrance fee but chose not to pay an additional $4 pp for an escorted tour. The Gardens were nice and they also housed several parrots who, if you are lucky would say hello. I didn't have any response when I said hello to them but once I said Ola they responded with an Ola Ola.
We walked back to town down the main road and stepped into a couple of churches. On the way David, who was walking behind me on the narrow footpath, said the locals were friendly as a lady has said Hiya to him - i told him that I thought she was a very "friendly" lady and she may have been looking for business! I've warned him about ladies like that before but he is convinced they are just being nice.
We spotted a bar down a little alley and popped in for some light refreshments. Local beer was $3 a bottle and the wifi was good. The bar was called Vee Jays and was a good spot to spend an hour texting our adult children and phoning our parents.
We headed back to the ship and went into three supermarkets for bottles of tonic but they only stocked Waitrose Tonic and it didn't look cheap but managed to get a couple of small bottles in the port shop.
Back on board just before 3pm and raced up to Horizons for a buffet lunch before spending an hour in the Lido deck sunbathing.
Just as the Sailaway was due to start the heavens opened and a heavy shower sent guests undercover. The party carried on anyway and I have to say the entertainments team do their best to get the party going.
We decided we'd take cheese and biscuits back to the cabin but had to wait until 6.15pm for the Horizon to open. You pay a nominal charge for cheese and biscuits on room service which we are used to getting free on Cunard, it's not much but we are happy to walk to the buffet for it.
Went to the Crystal room for a quick dance before dinner. The whole evening was hosted by the dance couple Andy and Victoria but as the band were not playing the room remained fairly quiet all evening.
The Crystal room is a lovely room and a decent sized dance floor. The waiters are very friendly and we particularly like Karan who remembers our names, favourite drinks and we no longer need to show our cards as he remembers our cabin number - a nice touch and lovely guy.
Dinner was quieter tonight just 2 couples - the foursome from Wolverhampton went to Sindou (Indian Restaurant) tonight so shall look forward to a report tomorrow (they were also planning an early call to the Glass House to keep them going).
For such a big Ship the entertainment selections are, in our opinion, a bit limited. We love dancing so always have that as a back up and the Crystal room is very good. However we would like to mix it up a bit with some live entertainment. In second sitting we don't have a chance getting a seat in the Live Lounge so have missed out on Take That Tribute band and Michael Buble tribute, both of which were apparently very good. If they had been in the Theatre we would have gone along. We've been to one of the cast shows in the Theatre and they were good but all a bit too hyper for our liking - a common trend with all the cruises we've been on.
We enjoyed the Four Tunes but didn't go to the ventriloquist, pianist or magician. The magician/comedian did a late night adults only show in the Live Lounge at 11.45 pm on one evening which we went to but didn't get a seat.
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