Jan 29 – we docked in the port town of Pointe-à-Pitre Guadeloupe. This island is still a department of France, is almost exclusively French speaking (wish I was more fluent) and is known for GREAT WHITE SHARKS 🦈
When we planned out this cruise last summer, diving with sharks was on the menu for Guadeloupe. It wasn’t until recently that Paul and I found out the french government had banned the activity, in the spirit of conservation. Given the opportunity, would you get into a cage to see a great white 🤩?
Started the day off casually, ate breakfast with the group. No set-in-stone-plans, Janet and I started googling…. learned there are two main islands we could explore, Grande Terre and Basse Terre. Like two boobies 🤭 the port was right in between. Saw a picture of some magnificent, picturesque cliffs on the north side of Grande Terre, we made the plan to hire a cab and check em out! Most of our crew (who really seemed to like booze and beaches) hopped a ride to a local beach – for some booze and sun – and we broke off into the town of Pointe-à-Pitre.
Ugly place, very broken and beaten up. Locals were kind enough though, had trouble finding an English speaking taxi driver so we decided to proceed on foot and hit up the shopping. The weather was unfavourable for an excursion as well, we planned on getting back on board early. Lots of good deals to be had for sure, found some places where the locals shopped, momma found a dress and some sandals for 💶 19. Walked past some schools, hearing children laugh and play was kinda nice… actually looking back now, the little French port town did have some charm 🙂
Late afternoon we found our path back on board. Fun fact, if you walk downhill in these skinny-street ports of call (where you can’t see shit) you eventually hit the Sea – where the 🚢 is. I got my trunks on and went up to Richard’s Rooftop with Gil, Paul and Dave. The 4 of us sat in the hot tub as it rained 🌧️ we were joined by a father and son from California. Talked about good bbq spots in the states, bitched about Justin Trudeau and put back a couple Heineken Silvers. Showered up and off to dinner.
Janet and I ate dinner that night on board at the “Test Kitchen”. Now this was a controversial decision because the rest of our crew (the ones that really liked booze 🍹 and beaches ☀️) thought it was too fancy-schmancy. Janet and I weren’t passing up the opportunity to try a 1 Michelin ⭐️ unique dining experience – we broke off and went just the two of us. Everyone else went and had to cook their own shrimps and squid or something…
We got dressed for dinner – like the good rockstars we are we put on our best concert shirts for this evening. I tossed on my 2016 Desert Trip festival shirt and Janet put on some Eras Tour shirt…
Our dining experience was unique, it was a set menu. You didn’t get to choose – other than the entrée. I had the venison, Janet had the beef. Servers were fantastic as we went through the courses, didn’t eat too much, best desert we had on board as well. Janet even proclaimed her tenderloin was the best she’s ever had! Test kitchen was so good we cancelled our second dinner at the steak house and decided we were coming back, you can’t get this experience in Winnipeg. Halfway through the voyage the “Test Kitchen” changes the menu to “Menu B” we wouldn’t be served the same 6 courses. Get to try 6 new ones 😍
Met the team for a fun show after dinner, the best show of the Voyage. It was called “Dual Reality”. The show was acrobatic, had 10 performers, half wearing red and half wearing blue. The storyline was that of Capulet and Montague – Romeo and Juliet. It was truly mesmerizing, an unbelievable performance performed on a floating vessel. 10/10 performances by every cast member. The show lasted about an hour, we pushed ourselves onto the main stage of the red room afterwards so we could get a group photo.
Not much to do after that, went for a couple roulette spins, about an hour at the blackjack table then back to the Stateroom. We were rocked to sleep by the seas in our Sweet Aft Suite 😴
Seas the day 