2015 (April 17- May 1) Southern Caribbean Cruise: St. Thomas; St. Barths; St. Lucia; Barbados; Grenada; Bonaire; and Curacoa

 We enjoyed our 2014 Maasdam cruise so much, that when  we received an email with an OBC offer if we booked a future cruise --- we checked the Maasdam itineraries and decided to go back to the Southern Caribbean in 2015---but for 14 nights this time (our longest cruise yet) and with some new (to us) ports of call (Grenada,Bonaire, and Curacao).  We booked a Spa Oceanview since we like being higher on the ship and it was almost affordable.  A couple months after booking our 2015 cruise, they offered a free Beverage Package and a cheaper fare for new bookings.  Since it was well before final payment, I called and got the reduced fare and the Beverage package, but had to give up our "welcome back OBC" which was only $50@.  After that, we waited about 7 months for the cruise to finally get here.  I was surprised the rates never lowered again.  Since we're not big drinkers, I didn't figure we'd get much use out of the Beverage package and would have given it up for a lower fare.  No further reduction came, but it turned out really nice having the Beverage Package.  On board they were charging $44.99/person/day for the package which included up to 15 drinks a day as long as they were under $7@ ---per person!   We did end up using the drink package a lot---a couple beers a day, bottled water, soda, hot chocolate... .

2015 April--The Maasdam (suite A 182) and around the ship:

 

2015-4-20   St. Thomas---8am-6pm:

 

2015-4-21  St. Barths (8-3)  Shell Beach:

 

2015-4-22  St. Lucia---8am-3pm: Pigeon Island

 

2015-4-23  Barbados (8-5): Folkestone

 

2015-4-24  Grenada (8-5): Aquarium beach 

 

2015-4-26   Bonaire (8-5): Eden Beach (Spice Island)

 

2015-4-27  Curacao (8-6) Blue Bay

 

  
We were suppose to have a stop at Half Moon Cay, but the surf was too rough, so we ended up having another sea day.  Although I was disappointed, I was really happy with the way the rest of the cruise went and the beautiful weather we had at all the other ports.  Can't wait until we board another ship for ports unknown!

2015-4-27  Curacao (8-6) Blue Bay

Another new island for us.  I was surprised how modern both Bonaire and Curacao are.  I imagine Aruba would be, too.  They're known as the Netherland's ABC islands.  Definitely see a land trip out to this area in our future. 

 I really had a hard time figuring out where we should go in my research ahead of time---not that it really mattered since we didn't do what I planned at the last 2 islands.  I had read the best snorkeling was quite a distance away so I reserved us a car.  Once we got there, Ken decided he didn't want to drive---especially since it was a holiday there (the King's birthday).  So we walked to the tourist booth and were told Blue Bay is where we wanted to go.   I knew this is where the ship's Beach Express Excursion was going, but didn't have much luck convincing the taxi drivers we should go to Porto Marie or Pirate Bay or Porto Lagun (which was where I wanted us to drive to).  So for $50rt for the 2 of us, we went to Blue Bay.
There were signs saying $8/person entrance, but noone was there collecting money, so we took our stuff to a tree and left it there.  We don't rent chairs because we're usually not out of the water very long.   The cruise ship customers had not arrived yet.

2015-4-26   Bonaire (8-5): Eden Beach (Spice Resort) 

This was our first time to Bonaire and I was probably looking forward to here the most because of it's reputation for diving.  We don't dive, but that usually means snorkeling is very good, too.  We weren't disappointed.

 I had read that the whole island was a Marine Park and that we could walk to nearby hotels where there was good snorkeling.  Again the tourist advisers told us we would be better off going elsewhere.  So we ended up taking a taxi to Spice Resort/Eden Beach.  At least it was only about $5/person@ way.  It's where a lot of the cruise people go since there are lots of chairs and a bar, but the water looked promising.

 There was a rocky ledge by the shoreline, but we used the ladder on the dock for easy entrance and exit.  They even had boats running from here to Klein Island (where snorkeling was suppose to be really good) for $15rt.  I tried to persuade Ken we should go there, but he was content to stay here and even said maybe we'll do a land vacation here sometime.  I hope that happens!

 Looking one way from the dock.

 Looking the other way. 

 Lots and lots of parrotfish

 another kind of eel.

 I was really excited to see Lionfish.  I know they are invasive and will be killed by divers, but I was hoping to see one.

 a large scorpion fish not hiding very well.

 some sort of sea centipede

 the water was so crystal clear!

 an anemone, I presume

 The dark blue is where the bottom dropped off abruptly---not too far from shore.  That was rather spooky.

 another type of grouper

 beginnings of an artificial reef?

 yep, another scrawled filefish

 tons of schooling fish!

 a pelican wondering what we're doing in his territory.

 divers heading into the deep

 this is a restaurant near where we took the above pictures with the many schools of fish and the 2 divers.

 Heading back towards Eden Beach.

large  French Angelfish

 bone fish, I presume?

 Only place we saw Sea Cucumbers.

 The Lionfish still there.

 Harlequin shrimp

 Soldier fish

 under the dock at Eden Beach

 Spotted Drum under the dock.

 large Cowfish under the dock.

 Another new fish to me. 

 This was about the time my camera battery gave out.  I guess I didn't have it fully charged.  Too bad---saw some more really neat stuff by a couple other docks further along the coast and some great coral beds in deeper water.  Definately a great place for snorkelers to go!  This was where we actually spent about 6 hours in the water.

2015-4-24  Grenada (8-5): Aquarium beach 

  Another new port for us.  Again I had researched places to go and saw there was an Underwater Sculpture Park.  But when we got to the port, we were told by the Tourist advisers that it was too far away. 

 So we took their suggestion as to where we should go and ended up at Aquarium Restaurant beach.

The waves were coming in pretty hard and we were doubting our snorkeling would be any good.  But with our fins and experience, we gave it a try.

The waves were really churning up the sand and visibility wasn't too good until we got about this far out.

Then we got to the good stuff.  Like this guy who I saw for the first time in St. Barth's

 There are lots of schools of Blue Tangs throughout the Caribbean

 Here was another large wrasse and lots of fan coral

 a pair of large butterflyfish

 Seemed the farther down the coast we went the better the snorkeling got.  We started by the tall rock near the right of the page.

 Even saw some Flamingo Dancer snails

 and yellow head wrasse

 The coral was healthy and varied.

 more kinds of coral

 even soft coral

 lots of schools of fish like these Jacks.

 Nice beach quite a ways down, too.  I think this is the beach I had thought we were going to, but the taxi driver said it was a much longer walk then to go to the beach by the Aquarium Restaurant.

After about 3 hours of snorkeling we went back to Aquarium.

 We could even see our ship from there.

 The Aquarium Restaurant has quite a view!

 We even decided to try the local brew---which was quite good.

 Then came the walk up the hill to where the taxi driver parked. 

Some views from the taxi on our way back to the ship.

 beautiful little town.

 historic old tunnel

 All too soon we were saying "Good Bye" to Grenada, the Spice Island.