Good day one and all.  This is my last blog for this trip.  It is Monday and I am at sea heading to Florida.  I will disembark tomorrow and spend the day at the Riverside Hotel before flying home Wednesday.  I am due in Newark around 8:40pm.  I intend to spend Tuesday with Karen and Bob Kelly, friends who live on the west coast of Florida and are coming to see me in Ft. Lauderdale.  This will be a great way to end a fantastic vacation.

Yesterday, I was on Grand Turk.  The island is a flat sandy cay and only 7 miles long and 1 mile wide at its greatest width.  It struked me as a replica of LBI, except the entire island is sandy with beautiful beaches and crystal clear water.  There are a couple islands that make up Turk and Caicos with a total population of 4000 residents. Small to say the least, rustic, welcoming and a beautiful place to veg out, snorkel, swim, rest, read and love the sun.  There are a few hotels, but not very large.  I have a fear someone will come along and build a comfortable resort and then the tourist gang will be there.  There is a beautiful port for docking.  At the end of the pier is a beautiful gathering of great shops.  The area is new well  designed and comfortably laid out.  There is also the largest Margaritaville there, complete with a beautiful pool on the edge of the Caribbean.  It is magnificent with palms swaying gently in the breeze.  While small, with no mountains to conquer, it was a great place to visit and a nice place to relax.  I had a rum drink that was tasty at Jimmy Buffet's, please don't ask what was in it.  All I know is that it was great.

Today will be spent packing, paying my bill, packing and relaxing.  This has been a great experience and I would do it again.  The ship is small and comfortable.  The suite is fantastic and the service outstanding.  I breakfast on the veranda, again, it is a little warm, but the breeze was comforting.  This is the good life.  I am thrilled, happy and fortunate to be able to enjoy it.   Remind me of this when I start complaining.

Take care.  I'll see some of you in a few days.  Bon Voyage ! ! !

       Love,
              Bill 

Good morning one and all.  I am alive and well.  I got called up in life on board and did not take time to write.  Sorry.

I celebrated Mass on the first at 10am.  I then listened to a speaker, whom I have gotten know.  He lives in Jersey City and is a Broadway producer.  Very interesting person and good speaker.  The latest presentation was on Bob Fosse, informative,and enjoyable.  I spent the rest of the day relaxing, we were at sea for the day.  A great day to loll around and that is what I did.

Yesterday we were in Tortola, one of the British Virgin Islands.  I went ashore and took a tour of the island.  The island is very mountainous and extremely scenic.  The tour took three hours.   Had some time to visit a beach and put my feet in the water.  Beautiful beach, very much like Magens Bay on St. Thomas.  As we toured we could see a number of islands including St. Thomas, St. John, Virgin Gorda and lots of little islands including those own by individuals - nice life.  We left Tortola at 6pm and began our trip to Dominican Republic.  We are due to arrive at Samana at 12 noon, and are scheduled to depart at 6pm.  I intend to disembark and take a "walk about."

I may have not told you about my New Year's dinner.  I began with a cold lobster tail, champagne sorbet, Dover sole, and a plate of chocolate goodies.  I also had a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - absolutely delicious.  I actually felt like royalty engaged in a state meal

Enjoy your weekend.  It is difficult to believe that this adventure is drawing to a close.  But as I firmly live and believe, I take one moment at a time.  Yesterday is history and tomorrow may not happen as one may dream.  Do not rehearse life, live it to the fullest now.  It is the only moment we have.

    Love,
          Bill

Happy New Year's Eve

I did a blog and lost it.  Dropped anchor at Bequia one of the Grenadines.  Nine miles from  St. Vincent.  There are about 100 islands in his chain, most are uninhabited. Took the tender ashore and found a diver who showed me around the island in an hour.  Island is only 7 miles long with 6000 people living here.  KI had the driver drop me off at the Bequia Beach Hotel.  It is a resort right on the water.  Beautiful spot,  I found a padded lounge, walked the beach, had a brief nap and watched people - some unfortunately forgot to look in the mirror before they ventured out.

I then had lunch at their beach restaurant and then at the bar a pina colada.  Everything was great and the setting spectacular.  My driver returned at 2pm and brought me to the pier for the tender.

Tonight being the evening it is, everyone thing is formal with a special dinner.  I can not image what is up.  Every meal has been great.  At 11:15pm there is a party planned to ring in the New Year.  The party will be on the outside main deck.  I may be asleep by then.  New Year's celebrations have never been my favorite "thing."

It is hard to believe this will be 2015.  I will celebrate my 50th anniversary.  Where has the time gone?  It has flown.  I was to thank family, friends and the many people I have worked with and served.These have been exciting days for me.  I must thank the Lord for His constant presence and His many graces.  It has been his constant help that walked me through trying times and so many joyful times.  Thank you one and all for your love and care.

Have a great New Year.
 
             Love,
                   Bill

Happy New Year ! ! !

What a day yesterday was !  St. Lucia is very mountainous and beautiful.  I have driven in the Swiss alps, I felt I was visiting them again.  The mountains are no where as high, but the twists an curves are the same.  There is very little straight road.  Sharp curve after sharp curve either going up or down.  I started on this adventure around 9:30am and got back to the ship at 4:30.  There is very little of the island I did not see. The pitons, the water falls, the sulphur baths, the Jade Mt. Resort, various beaches, great views and on and on.  Full day, only complicated by the fact that the ship Aida was in port with 2000 Germans on board, guess what 8 of them traveled with me on the tour.  Fortunately they were multi lingual and could converse in English, but their side conversation was German.

When I got back on board and settled I called my butler, Arni for a reservation at the Grill.  I went for dinner by the pool and had a great experience.  Once seated the wine arrives, then a menu.  The selection is  simple, beef, fish, chicken.  The reason for the  simplicity is that you cook your own choice.  Fantastic experience, start with salad, then comes a platter with baked potato, veges on a skew, and in the center of the platter is this large rock which is very hot and sitting on the rock is my filet mignon.  You cook each piece to your liking.  The meat was spectacular to taste and it was so much fun cooking each piece.  The rock is very hot and it keeps the meat hot.  It was a great treat, I will do this again.  The setting is picturesque six tables at one end of the pool,on the upper deck, overlooking the pool are tables as well.  Candles are everywhere, artificially lighted, but beautiful.  It was a great time.   I then wandered to the outlook lounge for a night cap.  The perfect ending to a full day.

Today, we are in Barbados, Bridgetown to be exact.  I have been here a couple of times, so I am staying on board and will relax.  We will be in town to 11pm.  It is a full day of sight seeing and beaching.  There is plenty for one to do on the ship, not the least being the pool and all that food and liquid refreshment.  I still find it hard to believe that as soon as you stop, sit and relax there is someone to take a drink order and I do not have to sign for it.  I wonder how large the wine cellar is on board, it flows like water.   As I have said before, this is one of the best travel experience I have had this year.  For me every trip is a blast and this measures up among the best.

      Love,

          Bill

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !

Yesterday we were in St. Maarten.  I took a 3 hour tour of the island.  It was scenic, I could see in the distance Saba, St. Kitts, and Nevis.  I have been to Kitts and Nevis.  I know Saba has a medical school there, because I know a doctor from there.  After the tour I came back to the ship and took a nap.  While we were in St Maarten we were surrounded by ships.  There was the Wind Surf a ship with five masts. looked like fun, but not very stable.  Behind the Silver Spirit was a black hulled yacht; I was told it sold for  $199million.  There are 22 staff on board, what a ship.  It gleamed in the sun.

The water began to act up, so we left port at 7:30pm in stead of 11pm.  There were a few guests in town so we pulled out to the harbor and left a tender to bring them on board.  The ship and lines were pulling and the captain was concerned for the safety of those who still needed to board.

Today we are in Antiqua.  I got off this morning and wandered through the colorful and i mean colorful shops at the end of the pier.  There was an extensive number of shops.  Parked next to us was the  Ventura a P&O cruise line.  It is gigantic; I was told it holds close to 5K passengers.  A little much for me.  I am truly spoiled by this experience on the Silver Spirit.  I can not get over the size of my suite.  I even have a walk in closet with a dresser in the closet with soft close draws.

Today is Sunday and I am saying Mass at 5pm.  Everyone is due back on ship at 4:30 with a departure at 5pm.  It is another gorgeous day with a temperature of 82.  Could not ask for better weather. Tomorrow we are in St. Lucia.  I am getting confused as to where I am.   The islands tend to blend in together.  Today we were greeted by a steel band.  They were nice and loud.  My suite was on the side of the band and they were about 50 feet on the pier from my room.  Nice welcome, but at 8 in the morning.   Right now there is a gentleman playing a wooden drum up the pier, but I can hear every beat.  Aren't I blessed ! ! !

Time for me to get ready for Mass.  I'll be in touch.  Take care.

       Love,
              Bill