Greetings from Barbados!
After my third transatlantic crossing since joining on the 18th December 2009 it did not take much coaxing to get me down the gangway today! After a busy morning with 75 new crew joining and other ship's business it was time to grab a taxi and get to Champers Restaurant for lunch and enjoy a beautiful setting! I have never lost my desire to get a 'run ashore' if the job permits - I do believe it is healthy as you get a break and then when you come back on board you can share the tales with your ship mates and fellow passengers. You are also in a better position to make recommendation for the next time. As you will know from previous blog postings Barbados is a particular favourite for me.
There were five ships in port today - ARCADIA sits proudly on the prime berth in Bridgetown Barbados.
It must be because we have the Commodore of the P & O Cruises Fleet on board Arcadia.
Our Port Presenter for this 2010 Round World Cruise is Cherilyn May. Cherry and I have not sailed before but we are getting on like a house on fire - Cherry is great fun and we laugh a lot!
I asked Cherry to write a few lines on Barbados so here they are......................
What does the Port Presenter recommend when she's in Barbados?
Her favourite tour, which combines a catamaran cruise and snorkeling with wild turtles. How many other places do you get the opportunity to swim with such rare and magical creatures?
Throw in spectacular views of the coastline whilst the wind kisses your face and your boat cuts through a sparkling sea, all topped off with a truly scrumptious Caribbean buffet lunch, and you have the makings of an unforgettable outing.
A tour overflowing with moments of pure joy and sheer indulgence, it's also party time on board, for this is the Caribbean remember and your journey home will incorporate reggae music, non-stop rum punch and dancing around the decks.
Final recommendation? Don't forget your underwater cameras if you want photos of turtles like this one. Enjoy!
Many thanks for that recommendation Cherry. Our Shore Excursions Team were kept busy today with 10 Excursions running throughout the day. So much choice in Barbados.
A table by the water at Champers Restaurant is a nice alternative for the less active!
There is always a lot of hustle and bustle at the Cruise Ship Terminal.
A table by the water at Champers Restaurant is a nice alternative for the less active!
There is always a lot of hustle and bustle at the Cruise Ship Terminal.
See how close we were berthed to the Terminal.
I am sure many of you will have been here on your cruise calling at Bridgetown. This is the 'gateway' to the Island - everyone from the Cruise Ships have to pass through this door. There are lots of good shops in the Terminal.
Commodore Steve Burgoine and Retired Commodore John King on Arcadia's Bridge for departure.
What is going on with that Gangway? Time to get going and get that gangway up!
Staff Captain Ashley Cook pictured with our local Pilot - Alfred Cumberbatch -Berthing Master.
Ocean Village our sister company was doing a turnaround today in Barbados. This ship was Arcadia 3. I worked on board during the Belfast Refit at Harland and Wolf when the ship changed it's name from Star Princess to Arcadia. In November of this year this ship will leave for P&O Australia. After completing a refit she will sail as the Pacific Pearl. Her maiden cruise as Pacific Pearl will be in December 2010 from Sydney, Australia.
I am sure many of you will have been here on your cruise calling at Bridgetown. This is the 'gateway' to the Island - everyone from the Cruise Ships have to pass through this door. There are lots of good shops in the Terminal.
Commodore Steve Burgoine and Retired Commodore John King on Arcadia's Bridge for departure.
Arcadia's Staff Captain Ashley Cook preparing for departure on the Bridge.
What is going on with that Gangway? Time to get going and get that gangway up!
Staff Captain Ashley Cook pictured with our local Pilot - Alfred Cumberbatch -Berthing Master. As I have to go the Bridge to sign off for departure - confirming that all passengers and crew have been accounted for; I get to meet the pilots and get see all the goings on at departure.
Ocean Village our sister company was doing a turnaround today in Barbados. This ship was Arcadia 3. I worked on board during the Belfast Refit at Harland and Wolf when the ship changed it's name from Star Princess to Arcadia. In November of this year this ship will leave for P&O Australia. After completing a refit she will sail as the Pacific Pearl. Her maiden cruise as Pacific Pearl will be in December 2010 from Sydney, Australia.Best wishes to Hotel Director Michael Lobban and the Ship's Company of Ocean Village.
This private yacht was berthed beside us today - no name......very powerful engines, rumour has it that they tried to get it to do 60 knots on the sea trials. Spot the underwater lights - now I would like some of those please.
If anyone knows more about this Yacht perhaps you would let me know.
Our Staff Electro Technical Officer Paul Hibbert and myself on the forward deck catching up on the news of the day. Great camaraderie on board ship with your ship mates.
We have a day at sea tomorrow and then our next port is Aruba in the Dutch Antilles - another beauty spot. Not long now until we transit the Panama Canal and once we are in the pacific Ocean you know that you are well on the way on our Round World Cruise.
This private yacht was berthed beside us today - no name......very powerful engines, rumour has it that they tried to get it to do 60 knots on the sea trials. Spot the underwater lights - now I would like some of those please.
If anyone knows more about this Yacht perhaps you would let me know.
Our Staff Electro Technical Officer Paul Hibbert and myself on the forward deck catching up on the news of the day. Great camaraderie on board ship with your ship mates.We have a day at sea tomorrow and then our next port is Aruba in the Dutch Antilles - another beauty spot. Not long now until we transit the Panama Canal and once we are in the pacific Ocean you know that you are well on the way on our Round World Cruise.
What a great day.
Best wishes for now,
James.
It is the eye that makes the horizon
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posts
27 comments:
James,
The yacht you show is in one of the current super yacht magazines. Designed by Starck or Lord Foster if i remember correctly.
Oh James, I have withdrawal symptoms!
Xmas 08 we did the catamaran and turtle excursion. I hadn't mastered the art of snorkelling at this point - only did that this year (Lol) and now wish to do that tour again. Maybe next Xmas. I mean just look how wonderful it is from the pictures. It is just like that. The beautiful blue sea, lovely and clear! Oh how I wish I was there - it snowed again yesterday James. But we didn't get stranded in Bristol ;-o) The trip home along the M4 was very odd - in and out of areas with considerable amounts of snow and then some with none!
I always like to do a bit of retail therapy in that terminal ;-)
You must tell me more about this Champers Restaurant. Although Tom always plays golf at Sandy Lane in Barabdos. We've met him there for lunch a couple of times, but my young niece (12) gets very restless!!! So my sister in law and I always find it much easier to go to the boatyard.
Briefly met Cherry on the 10th Jan. She's Natalie's next door neighbour onboard! Got the impression from my brief meeting with her that she is a lovely lady with a bubbly personality.
Spoke to Natalie yesterday. She was looking forward to meeting her friend off Ocean Village.
That yatch looks very inviting (if a little odd at the front - looks like a submarine at the front)! I suspect it has to be owned by someone with a couple of quid in the bank - Lol ;-o)
Anyway, looking forward to a blog from Aruba. I'm enjoying this world cruise.
Elaine (aurorabore)
Hi James,
It was lovely to see John King he was at sea when i was he was a Captain then, I last saw him on the Victoria or Sea Princess as it was then back in about 1984/1985.How long is Commodore King on for?
The Ocean village is coming to Australia, but she will be known as Pacific Pearl.
Barbados was always a great run ashore for everybody, i remember you have to be careful of the sea urchins, many a crew member got a spike in the foot, most painful.
Looking forward to more updates to come.
Regards Geoff Witts Perth
I'm intrigued now James by the yatch. It's an odd looking yatch isn't it so you'd think it would be easy to find, but I haven't found anything yet.
Let's hope some of the other bloggers have an idea what it is!
Elaine
This is the futuristic superyacht set to sink Roman Abramovich's claims to rule the high seas among Russian oligarchs.
Owned by a fellow billionaire from the former Soviet Union, the £200million stealth ship has taken to the water for the first time.
And the first voyage Andrey Melnichenko took in it was to Norway to take delivery of three Claude Monet paintings.
Enlarge Andrey Melnichenko's new superyacht
Supersize me: Andrey Melnichenko's new superyacht positively dwarfs a speedboat, lower left
The 400ft long superyacht is said to have its own discotheque featuring a glass roof which is situated directly under the swimming pool.
There is a large 'owners' suite' as well as six luxury cabins for up to 14 guests and enough room for a staggering 42 crew members.
Other details of the interior have been kept strictly secret by its German boat builders Blohm and Voss along with its renowned designer Philippe Stark.
But it is rumoured to have a helicopter hangar, as well as two 30ft speed boats kept in hatches on both sides of the hull.
Mr Melnichenko's boat is 23ft longer than the 377ft Pelorus, the largest of four superyachts owned by Chelsea FC boss Abramovich.
He bought the boat from a Saudi businessman in 2003 before giving it an extensive face-lift.
However fellow Russian Mr Melnichenko is believed to have topped this with his new cruiser, simply called 'A'.
Enlarge Andrei Melnichenko's superyacht, named A
Maiden voyage: The vessel is named simply A, after Melnichenko's model wife Aleksandra
Andrey and Aleksandra Melnichenko
Loaded: Andrey Melnichenko, 35, and wife Aleksandra Melnichenko
The 36-year-old is worth £4.6 billion and named the spectacular yacht after his model wife Aleksandra, 31.
Yacht 'A', known as Project Sigma during construction, docked in Kristiansand, Norway, last week to collect the Monet paintings.
Each work of art was placed in its own crate surrounded by dozens of security guards before being loaded on-board.
Roman Abramovich on his yacht Pelorus
Sinking feeling: Roman Abramovich on his own megaboat, Pelorus
It came days after one of Monet's famous Water Lilies paintings "Le bassin aux nympheas' sold at Christies auction house in London for 41 million pounds.
Mr Melnichenko is currently 172nd on the Forbes rich list after making his wealth from the banking and energy industries.
He was a founder of worldwide MDM Bank and went on to become its president from 1997 to 2001.
The billionaire has also invested in a number of Russian industrial businesses including Siberian coal company SUEK and mineral company Eurochem.
His futuristic yacht is registered in Bermuda, weighs a whopping 5,900 tons and can travel at speeds of up to 27 miles per hour.
Shipmakers Blohm and Voss constructed the battleship Bismarck, the pride of the Nazi fleet in World War Two.
The world's largest superyacht - at 452ft long - is owned by Larry Ellison, a sailing enthusiast and founder of Oracle Software.
Carol & John Porter
Wow, that is a fantastic story!
Nice boat though, wonder where the mother ship is.
Great blog James, super photo's and writing, it is a great voyage. Pity that the ships tracker on the website cannot keep up with you as it is still showing Arcadia being of the coast of Africa !!!! Nearly a week since the ship moved !!!
Regards,
Derek.
Love the blog - thank you! We have friends on Arcadia going all the way! Keeps us in touch. We are off today to join Oceana in Acupulco! How exciting! Look forward to catching up on our return!
Superyacht: Andrey Melnichenko's battleship heads to sea
The superyacht built by Melnichenko and his wife Aleksandra
Superyacht: Andrey Melnichenko's battleship heads to sea - Times ...
For an alpha male, it is an ideal statement of one-upmanship. ... For an alpha male, it is an ideal statement of one-upmanship. A Russian billionaire has christened his futuristic ...
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4364047.ece
Hi James,
So glad that you had prime position in Barbados.When we were there we had to have a shuttle bus from Arcadia to the terminal.Fantastic yacht, and what a super report about her by Carol & John Porter.Enjoy your sea day, andlook forward to your next blog.
Norma & Peris
Carol and John,
Thank you for your message. We are missing you this year. Fond memories of our Grand Voyage 2009.
Hope you are both well and it is great to know you are keeping an eye on us.
James.
Melnichenkos yacht isn't the biggest. Abramovich's new Eclispe will have that distinction.
Great blogs as always James. Nearest thing to being on the trip itself. Keep up the good work.
Barbados - a wonderful island though busier than many. It was lovely to see Ocean Village(Arcadia 3) there. She was the first P&O ship we cruised on and a lovely ship we thought.
As for the yacht, you should see some of those we see when visiting our son in Nassau. The harbour at Paradise Island has yachts so big - some with 4 and 5 decks - they could almost be cruise ships.
Aruba is an island I am very fond of - very American I always feel despite the Dutch influence. Then the Canal - oh how we loved that transit in April on Coral Princess - our best cruise ever I think.
Gill
Hi James, Do you know if "The Champers" used to be called "The Carambola" years ago. It looks mighty like the classy place we visited when in Barbados in 19???.
As for the yacht, well fantasmagorical, I think.
Swim with the turtles? Yes I'd like to do that. I have swum with the sting rays, lovely.
Snow came back yesterday, but is gone again today, your pictures warmed me up!!
Regards to all Judith
We spent a month in Barbados last February and got married whilst out there. A gift from one of the locals we met over there was a fully paid for dinner at Champers and it was absolutely fantastic. We had a lovely table overlooking the beach etc, great food, wine & service. I would definetely reccommend it!
Wonderful Blog again James and Great pictures. I hope you are being commended for your work with this James. It's the best form of "marketing" I have seen from P&O! I wonder will you be "meeting" with Ventura while she is in the Carribean?
Stuart
Been following the link to the super yacht that you were parked next to in Barbados.
Wouldn't life be just hunky dory if you could go around the world at your leisure in something like that? Even a massive lottery win wouldn't get us on of those.
;-o(
Hi Elaine,
Who knows if they are as humble and happy as us poor peasants though?
Would rather go on a P&O Cruise any day!
We have quite a few of those big private ships stay here each year and stay for a few months, most are wealthy Arabics that have apartments in Surfers,[Qld. Australia], and don't stay on their ships, the crew have the ship all to themselves. We deal with a lot of them in our business, some even have a few wives and kids travelling with them.
They never seem to be happy to me, I am still to work out if they can actually smile.
As I said, would rather go on a P&O Cruise any day!
Cheers!
Hello James,
what an interesting blog! I've loved ships since travelling form Trinidad to Southhampton in 1967!
Now, I'm wondering if you could help me with some questions. I'm a novelist an dhave some historical seafaring questions I'm sure you know the answers to, concerning travel from England to Bombay in 1925.
If you care to help, please contact me through my blog!
All the best,
Sharon
Anonymous
I'm more than happy with my life. You only have to look at things like Haiti and realise just how lucky you are and we have nothing to grumble about.
Not sure I'd want to share my loved one with several wives - not sure he'd be able to cope with all that nagging!
OH made a great joke just after our renewal of vows! He said he's been digging a tunnel for the past 30 years to his escape but he's only got a teaspoon. He loves me really :-o)
Looking forward to James's next instalment. Oh I wish I was onboard. Only been home 12 days and I feel like I've been home for ages! And with nothing booked until December, I need something to keep me going!
Elaine (aurorabore) :-)
Hi Elaine,
The tunnel joke made me have a good laugh over my early morning coffee.
My husband says similar things.
It is good to have several holidays booked, it really does keep you going.
Only 36 sleeps till we go!
Anon
Bet your so excited. What are you doing? Cruise, land based hol??
Elaine (aurorabore) :-)
Hi Elaine,
Cruise for 62 nights then land/fly/land based then home. 3 months in total.
Hi James. If you see Beckie Emberton today (23rd Jan) please wish her a Happy Birthday from me (her Mum).....I am an avid follower of your blog as Beckie is not the best correspodant!!! (although she has text me today to say that she did scuba dive with the turtles in barbados and hated every minute of it!!!) You wished her Happy Birthday for me last year and she loved it!!!....Best wishes to all currently enjoying the World cruise....Julianne
Hi James, Grey Nomads tuning in for your blog. Cannot believe it is almost a year since we set sail with you from Brisbane. What a great time we all had.
You seem to be all settling into the World Cruise and about to tackle the Panama - what a great day that is. Enjoy and our kindest regards to you.
Christine and Julian West
Gday James,
Well not long now until Australia Day.We have had Prince William Down Under, he first went to NSW, then on to VIC, He had huge gatherings wherever he went.He also went to the Australian open Tennis.I think the Royals are always good for business.
Just Checked the Aurora webcam and she is in Dubai berthed behind the QE2, with a big space in between.
Hi Abi,
I wont be having Lamb on the 26th but will be having a nice T-Bone,cooked on the Barbie,with maybe one or two cold refreshments.
Regards to all on the Arcadia.
Geoff Witts Perth
James,
You'll have to move to Ventura for underwater lights. I think she's got them. I'm sure they were on when divers went down to inspect if she'd got stuck on a sandbank off Catalina Island last March. She hadn't and they were turned off just before we left.
Keep up the good work.
Post a Comment