Southern Caribbean cruise - Nov. 6 - Nov. 20, 2023

 

2-week Southern Caribbean Cruise

November 6-20, 2023

Ruby Princess

With Francine, Alain, Shawn & Tanya 

"The 6 cruisers"

And we were off again on another fabulous cruise with "the 6 Cruisers". Leaving our homes around 3 am to get to the Ottawa airport was no fun, but when you're on your way somewhere fun, it's all ok. Thankfully it was a direct flight from Ottawa to Fort Lauderdale and all went smoothly

Alain acting fishy @ the Rodeway Inn
Fort Lauderdale

Let the drinking begin...the sign is even telling us to do so! We went back to this restaurant attached to the hotel while a football game was on. What a unique experience watching a game in the US. They're loud and committed to their team - so much so that we were all Philadelphia Eagle fans (so we didn't get beat up...lol)! 📯

The 6 Cruisers on another adventure together

"The 6 Cruisers" sign Shawn & Tanya made up for each of us to attach to our cabin doors - thanks guys! That's awesome!

The cute heart wall by the main pool. Always fun times with these guys!

Alain about to enjoy his surf n'turf meal at the Crown Grill for our 1st specialty dining experience

The crazy sun worshipers ... I was sitting in the shade taking this picture

With our package we each could have two of these babies a day! I think we only managed to have about 4 total between the 6 of us

I enjoyed the lollipops!

November 9th After 2 days at sea we were happy to arrive in St. Kitts for a private island tour. Turns out we've been on this exact tour before, but it was still lovely.

1st stop - Caribelle Batik at Romney Manor

A giant Saman tree approximately 400 years old

The gang - Shawn's hiding

As always, we try to get a cute cat photo for
Aunt Judy😽

Francine is a happy camper to be back at the Batik shop where she bought some beautiful fabric

Craig asked you to point, didn't he Alain?
Shawn & Alain posing for Craig at the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park. The first cannon was mounted on Brimstone Hill in 1690 by the British in an effort to recapture Fort Charles from French occupation trying to gain control of the rich Caribbean sugar islands

After we watched the video about the Fort, the 3 ladies just wandered the grounds while the 3 dudes were up at the fort.

Probably not legal to write, but it's just rock chalk, so I knew the rain would erase it soon enough

The 3 Amigos chillin', enjoying a local beer (except Alain), and enjoying the scenery at Black Rocks.

Apparently we didn't get many pictures on November 10th in Guadeloupe except the pelicans trying to steal fish off the boat

Shawn & Tanya trying to cool down with a local beer with their "matchy matchy" Barbados caps.

On November 11th, the ship celebrated Remembrance Day (Veteran's Day). We listened to an interesting US Veteran speak about WW2

The drunkies giggling as they downed their martinis while the guys were listening to the Veteran's Day speech. They were hilarious that night! The girls...not the Veteran. 

Only sunset photo...normally we were in the dining room when the sun was setting

The cruiser girls in a rare moment where all 3 are in the pool. The "cleavage" shots we attempted didn't turn out as nice as this one. 🩱

Nov. 11th in Martinique and Nov. 12th in Barbados we just walked off the ship and didn't take many pictures

Nov.13th - Grenada

Little did I know that after returning to the ship on this day I would receive the horrific news from my brother that our Dad had passed away. His heart just stopped. I was absolutely devastated upon hearing this very sad news and was unable to join the group for dinner. The next day I tried to compartmentalize and, as much as possible, enjoy the rest of the cruise until I had to go back home and face reality. 

Rest in peace Mom & Dad. 🕊🕊

I love you and miss you both very much. 

Renewing of their vows in Las Vegas for their 50th anniversary

Shopping in Grenada duty free shops

Cheers! 🍻

November 14th - Trinidad and Tobago

We just walked around on our own here.

It seemed odd to have such modern architecture here mixed among the colonial buildings. After walking around town, we enjoyed some awesome Häagen-Dazs ice cream because it was stinkin' hot! 😋

A very interesting tree on our way back to the ship

November 16th - Curaçao 

According to Wiki, it is a Lesser Antilles island in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, about 65 km north of the Venezuela coast. It is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Together with Aruba and Bonaire, it forms the ABC islands. Curacao is only 444 square km and has a population of approx. 160,000. 

Looking down from about the 18th level as we dock in Curaçao

Hello Mr. Iguana! 

Shawn & Tanya stopped for a beer, so the 4 of us just headed back to the ship

It was lovely down by the shore.

The Dutch influence...lol

The back pools on the Ruby Princess ship

Last stop...Aruba November 17th

Tanya gets large boobs and Craig a six-pack! Looking awesome you two!

The unique Casibari Rock formations of Aruba

Interesting area to explore and we were lucky to beat the crowds and pretty much have the area to ourselves since we were on a private tour

I think Craig's poor camera was sweating causing this fuzzy picture

View of Hooiberg Volcano from the Casibari rock formation area

As the sign says, this is the natural bridge of Aruba. It's formed by coral limestone. The one next to it collapsed unfortunately on Sept. 2, 2005.

Craig kept saying "go in further"...ya, no thanks. The last one probably collapsed with a tourist standing on it!

As it was, we were past the signs that said "danger, do not cross"

Don't jump Alain!

Inukshuks by the natural bridge

California Lighthouse in Aruba constructed 1914-1916

Of course, Alain and I had to climb it. It's the tallest structure in Aruba. It's named from a British steamship that sank in 1891
 

The last two days were spent sailing back to Florida and planning for our next adventure!

XO to the 6 Cruisers!