Day 2 - Meeting the msy Wind Surf

So, Sunday in Bridgetown and thankfully we were only staying 5 minutes from the pier as there was an International Marathon underway across the island. Traffic was a bit tied up but nothing like being in Toronto during a marathon!

Once we arrived at the pier we were surprised to find that the msy Wind Surf and RCI Adventure of the Seas were the only ships in port and the cruise ship terminal was fairly quiet. The terminal has a small shopping area with duty-free shops and souvenirs. We decided to check-in with Windstar and then head back to the shops as we were going to be in port until midnight.

When we approached the check-in area the Windstar rep asked us if we knew our cabin number, gave us a tag for our luggage and sent us off to security. Wow! What a difference sailing with a small ship cruise line. No line ups. No paperwork. What a breeze. After going through security we stood in line waiting for the van to transfer us around the pier to the Wind Surf. Unfortunately we couldn't see the Wind Surf as security was right next to the pier where the RCI Adventure of the Seas was docked. We watched the steady stream of passengers returning from a day of shopping instead. And it was a steady stream. I think more passengers walked past us in just 10 minutes than there were all together on the Wind Surf!

After just a few minutes we had a van load of Windstar passengers and a van ready to take us around the pier. Upon arrival at the ship we were welcomed on board and sent up a deck to the Lounge, where the staff was waiting our arrival with a photographer and a cocktail!

We checked in without ever needing our tickets, so all the drama of electronic documents is really unnecessary. We NEVER showed our printed e-ticket, not once. After handing over our passports and posing for our ID photos we were shown to our cabin.

What a surprise. Glen and I had been kidding around about the expected size of our cabin after some very interesting experiences in New York City. But, to the contrary, the cabin was quite spacious - with room for everything we'd brought, and then some. It was beautifully appointed with a newly renovated bathroom, flat screen TV, iPod docking station and DVD player.

We unpacked and did a quick tour of the ship to get our bearings then headed back to the Terminal to do some shopping. I was on a hunt for a new sunhat and some new flip flops. I didn't expect to find much at the port other than some souvenirs for the kids, but I did manage to find the MOST comfortable pair of flip flops ever! It was like walking on pillows! With the happiness every woman gets from a brand new pair of shoes, we headed back to the ship for Teatime.

Every afternoon, the Compass Rose Bar served Tea. Very civilized. So, Glen and I sat out in the baking hot Barbados sun, reading our books, enjoying tea and sandwiches. What a lovely way to start our holiday!


At 5:30 pm we had the compulsory lifeboat drill and I couldn't resist taking a photo of Glen in his life jacket! After we were all accounted for and briefed on the safety protocols, it was back to the bar to watch the sunset and a cold beer.

Day 1 - Barbados

We arrived in Bridgetown after a fairly uneventful flight from Toronto. One tip though, Westjet uses Bell Satellite TV onboard their planes, which doesn't work once you leave the "Bell" region. So, it was a VERY long flight with no tv to distract us for about 4 hours of the 5 hour flight! But, I kept myself busy knitting a summer tank top and was able to finish two thirds of the whole thing in 4 hours.

We arrived in Bridgetown at about 4:00pm and was pleased to find a Hilton Needhams Point rep waiting outside the Arrivals terminal. I had not booked a transfer to the Hilton as we figured it would be just as easy to grab a taxi, but the rep had our name on her list and a taxi was waiting to take us straight to the hotel!

Once at the hotel we were given a fantastic room with an oceanview balcony. Delightful but loud. The surf in Barbados is VERY noisy. We had just enough time to check out the property and clean up for our dinner at The Cliff Restaurant.

The Cliff is a local and tourist favorite. My husband and I had dinner there 7 years ago on our last visit to Barbados and it hasn't changed a bit. In a good way. The food is phenomenal. Exquisite. The service is impeccable. The view is breathtaking. I think it is my most favorite restaurant of all time. It's not cheap, but worth every penny. I suggest a dinner at The Cliff for anyone visiting Barbados. It's a really memorable, fantastic time.

A few other tips - the cabs/taxis are NOT metered in Barbados. It seemed like every trip, whether 10 minutes away or 30 minutes away was $20US per ride. This was a bit confusing when going from the Hotel to the Pier to meet the Windsurf which was only 5 minutes away from the hotel. We managed to negotiate down to $15US once we realized all the other taxis dispatching their riders were charging $15US. The ride all the way up the South Coast from Needham's Point was over 20 minutes and still only $20US. The ride to the airport is $22US-I guess to cover the cost of hauling your luggage? And the exchange rate is $1US to $2BBD which is a very easy conversion. And they ALWAYS give you change in BBD so make sure you take lots of small US bills or you'd get stuck with lots of BBD at the end of your trip.

Next time: Meeting the Wind Surf for the first time.

Inaugural Post

So, finally, Cruisenet has started a blog... and not a moment too soon! Chelsea has just returned from her first Windstar cruise aboard the msy Wind Surf. She has plenty of photos and insights to share from this amazing experience. Over the next few days/weeks she's going to write about the cruise and ports and even share some photos. We'd love to hear your comments and feedback on our posts and even suggestions for future posts! Muriel has such a wealth of travel experience and insights to share, we're not really sure where to start, so your ideas are more than welcome.