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NORDIC PRINCE FEB 1987 |
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February 1987 was the year I was bitten by the cruising bug. And bitten I was! My late husband and I were trying to decide what to do for our 25th Anniversary. We wanted to take a trip to some romantic locale. Then we hit on the bright idea; why not enjoy getting there as much as being there. And so my first cruise was planned. At that time RCI offered and 8 night cruise for the price of 7 on the Nordic Prince with an overnight stay in St. Thomas. I wish that the cruise line would bring back the idea of an overnighter like that. Really gives you a better chance to see a particular island and partake of its' many delights. Being able to rent a Samauri to tour the island was great. It's interesting to note that although you hear constant horn beeping, it is not in anger or frustration, but in courtesy. It is customary to toot when approaching the hairpin turns in order to warn oncoming traffic, or to signal a driver backing out of a driveway that the way is clear. Can you imagine that happening in most US cities? |
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Our itinerary was Nassau, San Juan and two days in St. Thomas. |
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We found Nassau really interesting. Maybe it was our tour guide that made it so. Along with two other couples from the ship, we booked a minibus on the dock. We saw the high end and the low end of the island. Our guide was very knowledgeable and wanted us to get a complete view of his homeland. I think this is often a better deal than booking a shore excursion through the cruise line. We actually spent more time touring than if we had taken an excursion from the cruise line. I am one of those people who like to read about a place that I plan to visit. That was I have a good idea of what to see and don't spend half of my time either wandering aimlessly or frantically trying to read a guidebook to decide where to go next. Also, it helps when taking any kind of tour. when the guide asks for questions, you are not so busy trying to digest everything he has just said that you cannot think to well. Did you know that Nassau was a haven for pirates? |
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San Juan is a very interesting city,especially if you have a good guide and we did. We hooked up with one of the couples from the Nassau tour and again booked our own tour at the dock. What can one say about new S.J. Lots of graffiti, and some new homes and some old homes and of course some beautiful hotels. Old SJ is a delight. I love the narrow streets and the surprises that pop up now and again. Just when you think the street can't get any smaller of noiser, you turn the corner and come into a lovely plaza with a bubbling fountain. El Morro is a must see!! It is a massive edifice and when you think that it was built with only manpower it boggles the mind. |
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St. Thomas is my most favorite place in the Caribbean. There is just something about that island. Maybe it is the fact that it was my primary destination when this cruise was planned. My husband had been to San Juan and St. Thomas when he was a Marine stationed aboard a Navy ship. I had been hearing about St. Thomas for over 25 yrs. He had infused me with it's beauty and charm long before I had ever seen it, so it seems natural that I fell in love with the island. |
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The Nordic Prince was a rather small ship, although at the time it looked huge to me. That was before the megaships that ply the waters these days. We booked an inside cabin and were upgraded to an outside. The outside cabins provide a wake-up for those who want to get up with the sun (that's me). No alarm clock needed. If you want to sleep late, take an inside, or bring along a sleep mask. The smaller ship was rather nice. We got to see the same people more often than one might on a megaship. The service, public rooms, food, and entertainment were superb. Do you know that it only takes about 60 seconds to get used to someone pulling out your chair and placing your napkin in your lap. As far as table mates and dining room staff, this was the best so far. Our waiter Romeo was a pure delight, Antonio the asst. waither ran a close second, and the head waiter, Eron the only one that gave our table and all of his other tables so much attention. If you want to try new and different foods, this is the best time and place. Don't like what you ordered? No problem, mon, just order something else. Show me a restaurant on land where you can do that. |
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The cruise staff really made the trip for me. They were everywhere and so accessible. I talked to several of them at various locations on board. We even ran into some of the staff ashore and they were most helpful. |
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NORDIC PRINCE DEC 1990 |
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Coincidentially, my second cruise in 1990 was also aboard the Nordic Prince. My pen pal from MN and her husband had cruised on RCI before on a 7 night sailing. They were as bitten by the bug as I was. We all agreed that we wanted more, so we decided on a 10 day Southern Caribbean itinerary. Lo and behold, it was the Nordic Prince again. My pen pal and I began writing to each other in 1953 after sending in 50 cents and a coupon from the old "Weekly Reader" that most school children received. What a perfect setting for a first meeting. Needless to say, we had a ball together and were the talk of the ship. All of the same great fun and food, only more days to enjoy it all. |
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The Southern itinerary, St. Thomas, Antigua, Martinique, Barbados, and St. Martin, gives real variety and a taste of different cultures. |
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I especially loved the view of Nelson's Dockyard from Shirley Heights. It is one of the photos I used for my collage of travel photos on my office wall. You haven't lived until you have visited the Caribbean during the Christmas Season. It is so weird to see Santa Claus in the store windows while you wipe the sweat from your brow!!! And have you ever heard 'Silent Night' with a reggae beat? Wild. |
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Actually, all of the islands on this cruise were very nice. The beaches are great as are most of the beaches in the Caribbean. Some of us living in the northern or even slightly northern latitudes go a little whacko when we see palm trees and hear the famous 'No problem, mon'. I guess a steady diet of it would become commonplace, like the sayingI saw on a Tshirt worn by a transplant from the US --- Just another sh---y day in Paradise. |
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