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Published: March 31st 2018
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It's not the alarm that awakens us at 7. It's the whirring of motors and clanging of metal against metal that brings us out of an otherwise restful night's sleep. Just below our window sits a 50' commercial vessel, bobbing up and down, with a small crane swinging about. Several workmen are moving some materials on or off the ship through the access door on Deck A, two levels down. Now the alarm clock sounds and, while the commotion below is over, there is no return to "dreamland" so we're up. Our ship is scheduled to moor off Half Moon Cay at 8am where we have reserved another clam shell, the same thing we had last week. Since we're free to come and go to the island at any time between 8-4pm, we take our time at breakfast, letting those in a hurry to go ashore do so.
At around 10 we board the ferry for the island. At this port it's not necessary to use the life boat tenders aboard the ship. The island, owned by Carnival Corporation, has their own passenger ferries stationed at the island. These boats have a capacity of several hundred people making for a
more rapid exchange of passengers coming and going from the island. Loading the boat takes awhile to get that many people on board but the trip itself is no more than 15 minutes.
We arrive on the island 10:30 and head straight to the water sports hut where we are issued our clam shell. This time there is no hike to find one as its right next to the sports hut. Mom won't go in the ocean. She still remembers last time. Why do we come to the beautiful Caribbean Ocean, just to sit and watch the waves ripple across the soft, fine sand? Whatever. I go in at least to my knees. She's not budging out of her nest. I walk over to the bar and get a Coke and water. Then back to our nest for a nap. It's a pleasant 76F, warmer than our visit last week. Finally, around 1pm, I gather our belongings, make one uneventful pass through the vendor area and proceed to the tender loading dock.
The trip back is an enjoyable but short ride. We stop by our room to drop off the beach towels and then up to the Lido
pool area for a snack. Mom makes up a vegetable dish with meat and tomato sauce. I had a slice of vegetarian pizza and lemonade. Then Karen wanted to check out the Greenhouse Spa Retreat for two. $400/couple for the duration of the cruise. While I know she wants to enroll, I don't simply because I feel that I won't have enough free time to make it worthwhile. Akin to a Turkish bath, it offers a variety of dry heat, steam and aromatherapy filled vapors along with de-stressing heated ceramic lounges. Under protest, we get the couples package. While I enjoy all that they offer, I don't want to go to all the trouble of dressing, undressing and trying to make time when possible. She's not listening.
With that out of the way, we head back to the room, stopping at the service desk to get an unused excursion credited. After a shower and change of clothes, we venture up one deck to the dining room. We are seated with two other couples, one from Preston, Arizona and the other I can't remember. We have a nice talk. Neither have been on Holland America before and Karen is only
too happy to fill them in on all the particulars. You know the stories. We have a nice meal and afterward, visit the Exploration Lounge to write the blog, stopping briefly to admire the thermal spa on the way. She can't wait until tomorrow.
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