Southern Caribbean Celebrity Summit Cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico
November 22 - December 3, 2018
with Francine & Alain
Day 1: Thursday, November 22
Depart Ottawa at "way too friggin' early am" with the temperature feeling like -25 C
(with windchill).
We were to fly Ottawa - Detroit - Atlanta - San Juan, but in Detroit we were fortunate to receive an offer we could not refuse. The flight for US Thanksgiving was over-booked, so they offered us $500 US each to fly via NYC to San Juan instead of via Atlanta and since we only ended up arriving 30 minutes later than originally scheduled, we said "hell ya, sign us up". We only paid a little over $300 Cdn. each for the flights, so we actually made money! Sweet! On top of the $500 US each, they also gave us a food voucher for $15 US each, so we had lunch on Delta Airlines before boarding our flight to NYC. Good way to start the trip!
🤑
While in Detroit we went to the "Freedom Lounge" which is a free lounge for military members and their families. They provide food, drink and comfy seating for active and retired military including those from other allied countries. While there Craig was taken out to breakfast with a retired US veteran - along with other serving members in the lounge at the time! How wonderful that they respect and appreciate their military members so much. It's a refreshing attitude that I wish Canadians adopted.
We arrived about 11 pm in San Juan. Via a very rickety and bumpy old van, we went straight to the hotel beside the cruise port then hit the sack.
(with windchill).
 |
| brrr..... ❄❅❆ |
We were to fly Ottawa - Detroit - Atlanta - San Juan, but in Detroit we were fortunate to receive an offer we could not refuse. The flight for US Thanksgiving was over-booked, so they offered us $500 US each to fly via NYC to San Juan instead of via Atlanta and since we only ended up arriving 30 minutes later than originally scheduled, we said "hell ya, sign us up". We only paid a little over $300 Cdn. each for the flights, so we actually made money! Sweet! On top of the $500 US each, they also gave us a food voucher for $15 US each, so we had lunch on Delta Airlines before boarding our flight to NYC. Good way to start the trip!
🤑
While in Detroit we went to the "Freedom Lounge" which is a free lounge for military members and their families. They provide food, drink and comfy seating for active and retired military including those from other allied countries. While there Craig was taken out to breakfast with a retired US veteran - along with other serving members in the lounge at the time! How wonderful that they respect and appreciate their military members so much. It's a refreshing attitude that I wish Canadians adopted.
We arrived about 11 pm in San Juan. Via a very rickety and bumpy old van, we went straight to the hotel beside the cruise port then hit the sack.
San Juan is one of the largest islands in the Eastern Caribbean. It is blessed with lush green mountains, underground caves, balmy waters, white-sandy beaches and delicious rum as well as a 500-year-old walled city with gorgeous, colourful architecture. We waited until after the cruise to explore Old Town.
Day 2: Friday, November 23
San Juan, PR
It was over a 50 degree temperature difference for us, so we needed to acclimate. We walked around the hotel area, but there really wasn't much to see, so we headed back to the hotel to enjoy lounging by the pool and later hit The Olive Garden.
It was over a 50 degree temperature difference for us, so we needed to acclimate. We walked around the hotel area, but there really wasn't much to see, so we headed back to the hotel to enjoy lounging by the pool and later hit The Olive Garden.
 |
| Our Celebrity Summit cruise ship awaits us! This is the view of it in port taken from our hotel room. It was a great hotel to stay in (Hyatt House) before the cruise departure. |
 |
| Francine & Alain enjoying our breakfast area at San Juan hotel |
 |
| Having a little fun as we walk around our hotel area. There wasn't a whole lot around, but we always have fun and we put a few steps on my daily step count! |
 |
| Kitty chilling in the heat (for you Aunt Judy 😻) |
 |
| Enjoying the pool, playing catch and soaking up the sun! Well, they were, I was sitting on a lounge chair in the shade! 🌞 |
 |
| We love these two goofballs! |
Day 3: Saturday, November 24
After our breakfast we spent some more time by the pool and then headed off to our ship which
departed San Juan, PR @ 8:30 pm.
 |
| View of San Juan as we enjoy a relaxing moment on the ship before it heads out to sea. |
Day 4: Sunday, November 25
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
 |
| My handsome fella. 💖 |
 |
| A refreshing swim in the warm Caribbean Sea |
St. Croix is known for the powdery white beaches, clear blue waters, shipwreck diving, coral-reef snorkeling and sea turtles. The Captain Morgan rum distillery is also located here.
 |
| The main foyer on ship (decorated for Christmas) as we head off to dinner |
Day 5: Monday, November 26
Philipsburg, St. Maarten 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
 |
| We arrived on a beautiful day on the Dutch side of the island and thoroughly enjoyed our island tour with Milaneus (aka "The Mailman"). He was very entertaining and informative. |
 |
| We had to try some of his rum punch made from his homemade moonshine! It was surprisingly good! No, really! We may have lost some brain cells and vision though. |
 |
| We drove around a lot of the island stopping here and there for some nice photo opportunities. |
 |
| Alain holding an iguana (the iguana really didn't enjoy being held so much and anyone who held him had to hold on fairly firmly or risk being badly scratched). Alain did a fine job. I laughed at this being called an "iguana farm" because it was just a guy on the side of the road with a bunch of iguanas. They are illegal to eat on the island with heavy fines if one is caught. |
 |
| This is a handsome fella! Nice pose! |
 |
| Hiking up to Fort Louis in Margot on the French side provided beautiful views |
 |
| Our guide told us it was 75 steps... it was more like 193 plus ramps. Temperature was up there around 30 C with the sun beating down on us... wore the boys out |
 |
| Cubby hole shot... more to come for your viewing pleasure! You're welcome! 🤣 |
 |
| I THINK this is his Captain Morgan pose |
 |
| We hiked up fairly slowly and a bus load of school children ran up and descended upon us on the top. Craig made the most of it by getting them all to wave and they gladly obliged. |
 |
| So glad we did the hike... gorgeous views! |
 |
| Afterwards we headed to Maho Beach. I was a little disappointed that we had missed the large planes landing/taking off because it meant we didn't get the "full experience". Apparently if you stand a little to the right of this picture (up on the little beach a bit) you could actually be blown backwards into the water by the power of the jets when a plane takes off. Not that I wanted THAT to happen, but it wasn't quite the same experience with the little jet planes. The beach and a lot of the town were devastated by hurricane Irma in September, 2017, but they are slowly rebuilding. |
 |
| These internet photos (above and below) are more what I was expecting. 😞 |
In the 17th Century, Dutch and French soldiers decided to share this little island and today it remains happily split between France (Saint Martin - North side) and the Netherlands (Sint Maarten, South side). Its famous for the above Maho Beach next to the airport.Not a lot of room for large planes to land and take off.
Day 6: Tuesday, November 27
Roseau, Dominica 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Roseau is a tiny island of high mountains and unusual beaches. You can explore volcanoes, rain forests and a reef that bubbles.
 |
| We're ready for our "Roseau Valley Treasures" tour which begins with snorkeling at Soufriere where there are bubbles coming up like an aquarium. The devastation was significant from hurricanes here also and although the reef is no longer the same, it was still a beautiful spot to snorkel. |
 | |
| The road to our snorkel spot was a little rough and potentially dangerous. In St. Maarten they even stopped us at a spot where a bus load of tourists were killed by a huge boulder. In my head I was thinking "Maybe we shouldn't be stopping here if this is where all those tourists were killed"? They've since barricaded the mountain in that spot so it can't happen again (supposedly). |
 |
| I don't really like diving under the water anymore, so it's the headless snorkeler photo! |
 |
| Alain enjoying snorkeling for the first time |
 |
| The 4 happy snorkelers... the water was so warm! |
 |
| Craig diving to get close to the source of the bubbles. It was hard to see in our underwater camera, so hard to tell if he was even in the shot! |
 |
| Action shot... |
 |
| Craig was better at taking the underwater photos |
 |
| You may not be able to tell, but that's a picture I took from inside the van of the huge drop off to the road below. Not a whole lot in the way of safety precautions here! |
 |
| Dominica's cricket only MUCH larger as you can tell by the size of the hand next to it |
 |
| Our awesome guide holding the "stick bugs" |
 |
| Of course the boys had to hold it too! |
 |
| Alain posing at Trafalgar Falls |
 |
| Ok, so we bought this new underwater camera, but apparently it's not good at taking pictures above water sadly. This gives you an idea of what the Titou Gorge was like though. |
 |
| The water was much colder than the ocean! |
 |
| Alain inside the gorge. It looks like he has blonde hair for some reason! Eminem Alain! lol |
 |
| Me being pulled across the rapids inside the gorge to go into the little cave where the water fall was crashing down |
 |
| You so strong baby! |
 |
| The water was quite powerful! |
 |
| The spice shop in the back of a very grungy bar in Roseau |
 |
| This is the grungy bar that has the spice shop in the back. No, it's not an abandoned building. People were having lunch in there. |
 |
| A lovely rainbow as we sailed away from Roseau |
 |
| The twins! You need to grow a beard though Alain! |
Day 7: Wednesday, November 28
Bridgetown, Barbados 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Bridgetown is home to 80 pristine beaches and is great for water sports
We didn't do too much in Barbados nor did we take many photos. We took a shuttle into town, shopped around a bit and came back to the ship. Last time we were here on a ship we did Snuba.
We didn't do too much in Barbados nor did we take many photos. We took a shuttle into town, shopped around a bit and came back to the ship. Last time we were here on a ship we did Snuba.
Day 8: Thursday, November 29
St. George's, Grenada 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
St. George's is considered one of the the most picturesque ports in the Caribbean. Lush vegetation, mountainous terrain and colorful colonial architecture make up the landscape. The aroma is intoxicating with a leading source of spice trees including nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and cocoa. Grenada is known as the "Spice Island" for good reason.
St. George's is considered one of the the most picturesque ports in the Caribbean. Lush vegetation, mountainous terrain and colorful colonial architecture make up the landscape. The aroma is intoxicating with a leading source of spice trees including nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and cocoa. Grenada is known as the "Spice Island" for good reason.
 |
| Another large ship was in port with us |
 |
| 1st stop - the Concord Waterfall where they had divers. It was lovely, but after Hawaii, this waterfall was kinda small (I'm so bloody spoiled) |
 |
| Us with our guide... Denis? |
 |
| There goes one of the divers. I think he does that all day long for the tourists - for money of course |
 |
| To the diver I said "I don't know where to put my hand" and he says "you can touch me, it's ok"! So what do I do? Looks like I held on to his butt! lol |
 |
| I believe this is called the Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station |
 |
| Nutmeg seed |
 |
| Fishermen along the route |
formerly a rum factory built by French monks in 1774. The Jouvay brand of chocolate is produced here.
 |
| They didn't waste the cocoa shells. It makes unique mulch! |
 |
| Inside the cocoa bean pod... isn't it gross? It's very slimy also. Good thing for curious people who got past the way it looks in order for us humans to enjoy chocolate today! |
 |
| "Try it" she said... so Alain put one of those slimy things in his mouth! He said it didn't taste too bad |
 |
| Cool shot of a worker through the ancient chocolate factory walls. |
 |
| Roasting the beans |
 |
| Does not look so sanitary or appetizing... after seeing this Craig didn't want to buy the chocolate! |
 |
| This was a short pit-stop so Craig & our guide could have a beer at a little roadside pub. |
 |
| So I took some pictures and climbed a tree! |
 |
| Enjoying their beer |
 |
| Told ya it was a little pub! |
 |
| The beautiful, lush vegetation at Grenada's River Antoine Rum Distillery (which has been in operation since 1785 and they still make it in the same way they did back then!). You feel like you've been transported back to the colonial era. 80 people are employed here and it looks like hard work. |
 |
| The stinky sugar cane used to make rum. This factory (Rivers Rum on the label) is called an organic, old-fashioned rum manufacturing estate and it definitely is that! |
 |
| These aren't ruins, it is the still-functioning wheel used in the rum making process. Believe it or not! |
 |
| The sugar cane husks going up for processing |
 |
| Another step in the process... I kid you not. It's basically like a functioning museum. |
 |
| This is the rum in vats... it reminds me of the sludge in the foot bath of an ionic foot cleanse! |
 |
| "Stick your finger in there and try it" the guide says... so Craig did!! Gross! 🙀 Good thing we have Alain & Craig around to try these things! |
 |
| Again, this is a full-functioning, legitimate rum factory. Definitely very unique to see! |
 |
| The finished product, the rum... since it's considered combustible is illegal to bring on a plane (70 proof I believe he said) and the other I think is 69 proof so it is legal and tourists will buy it. The one on the far right is a punch, which is the only one I wanted to try. |
 |
| The look on Francine's face says it all! lol And she likes strong liquor! Our guide had a little man-crush on Craig I think! lol |
 |
| Lovely! |
 |
| Grand Etang Cater Lake up high in the mountains of the Grand Etang rainforest. Apparently you can do some amazing hikes through here. |
 |
| Gorgeous rainbow Eucalyptus tree on the side of the road as we came down from the mountains. |
 |
| The lovely lady who was willing to bargain with Craig for some vanilla |
 |
| Cool sunset photo |
 |
| Feeling hungry after a fantastic day touring Grenada (pronounced like "grenade-ah", not gren-ah-da"). On cruise ships its all about mealtime! |
 |
| Our awesome waiter Elvis, from India |
 |
| Alain is really groovin' at the silent disco party! |
 |
| We are both dancing, but to two different songs on our headphones. I find it funny when you take your headphones off and everyone is dancing and singing terribly to their different songs. |
Day 9: Friday, November 30
day at sea
I think very few pictures were taken on this day. We were just relaxing
Day 10: Saturday, December 1
6:00 am arrival back in San Juan
 |
| Our hotel Casablanca in Old Town San Juan. It comes highly rated online, but it was not great in our opinion. Room was very basic and the "bathtub" thingies on the roof weren't working. It's all about the location. It's perfect for Old Town and it worked for us for 2 nights. |
 |
| Don't know if you can tell from this picture, but the benches are cats. Another photo for you Aunt Judy! :) |
 |
| Puerto Rican Gods statue in front of Castillo San Felipe del Morro. |
It became part of a large US Army post called Fort Brooke. Now it is a main tourist attraction and has been a National Park since 1961.
 |
| Alain standing guard |
 |
| Cool tunnel. There are several tunnels in this fortress that were wisely used to thwart the enemy. |
 |
| This fort area is a photographer's paradise. Gorgeous shots everywhere you look |
 |
| I was slightly concerned this sentry box was going to fall off the side of the castle into the ocean while I was in it, so I stood outside it for the picture! |
 |
| I'm surprised there isn't more barriers to stop people like us from going close to the edge where we could fall to our deaths. |
 |
| Interesting cemetery |
 |
| After walking around the fort in the heat, this margarita was very refreshing along with some great nachos at "Aureola Mexican Cantina"! |
 |
| The colourful architecture of Old San Juan |
 |
| Cheers! |
 |
| Enjoying some authentic Puerto Rican food (can't remember the name of the restaurant) |
Day 11: Sunday, December 2
Explore Old San Juan some more for our last day of vacation. We decided to visit the other fort and then hit the beach.
Old San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico and the historic colonial section of the city.
Again with the "fall-to-your-death-ledges"
Another fantastic vacation with our good friends Francine & Alain. Thanks guys for being you!
💗
Old San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico and the historic colonial section of the city.
 |
| I love this photo. Thanks Alain! Beautiful scenery here for sure |
 |
| Francine & Alain in jail |
 |
| Love the tunnels! |
 | |
| Craig "sit on the other ledge Alain"! Alain "Nooo, I am NOT going to sit on the ledge". |
 |
| Cool shot Craig! |
 |
| Alain with his new friends |
 |
| A bit of a different "cubby hole" shot |
 |
| Craig was the first one in to swim at this rocky beach that was thankfully protected from the surf by a natural barrier |
 |
| It's not easy to stand in the ocean! |
 |
| Alain's fanning services: 1 dollar |
 |
| Great pizza at Pirilo Pizza Rustica... just a short walk from the hotel |
 |
| At the airport on the way home it was time to throw out the Wizard cards that were well used on this vacation and sticking together from the humidity |
💗
