Caribbean Cruise - Coral Princess (again) - Nov. 24/25 - Dec. 8/25

We sailed the Southern Caribbean 

on the Coral Princess 

with Francine, Alain, Jaki & Brian

Map of our route - pic taken off the TV in our room

November 24th - embarkation in Ft. Lauderdale

Craig & Alain...forever

Nov. 25th - day & night @ sea

Celebrating Jaki's birthday (a little late) - you're so cute! 😉We really enjoyed getting to know you on this trip!

Nov. 26th - day & night @ sea

They didn't get too much "football in the pool" because it was normally too busy, but they managed to get some in

Look at that concentration! They have this thing where staff demonstrate how to make drinks and then let a select few passengers to either make them or just drink them. This was an impressive pour and Francine, Jaki & Craig were able to sample his disgusting concoctions

They'll try any free drink! 🍸

Nov. 27th - St. Maarten

We've been to most of the Caribbean islands, so for this trip, we just walked off the ship, wandered around or went to the beach

Craig went into a shop near the port and I said I'd just stay outside. When he came out of the store, he didn't recognize me - thought I was a mannequin! 😄

Craig enjoying a little swim not far from the ship

There wasn't a whole lot of beach in this area - can't say I'd want to sit in a chair here! WAY too cramped and close to the water!

😎

Nov. 28th - St. Kitts

Love this photo! Normally it's ME climbing on things for a picture!

Buds in their matching swim trunks!

Beautiful towel art in the room when we returned to the ship

Nov. 29th - Dominica

Great sign! 

Coconuts in the back of a truck

Bird on the beach. This was definitely NOT the nicest or cleanest beach, so we just walked along it instead of going in the water because raw sewage was flowing into the water from town. 😧

This little kitty is for you Aunt Judy! She was sweet, but didn't look that well looked after 😞

Craig enjoying a cold beer on a hot day (not too far from the ship)

Dominica from the cruise port

Nov. 30th - Martinique

View from the ship of Martinique

Alain always goes along with Craig's requests for photos together!

Just wandering around town

Work it, work it! 🏋

This was a lovely little library in town

We happened upon a boat race about to start, so I stayed for a few pictures

Getting ready to sail...it didn't look easy to stay afloat with these tarp-like sails.

Several boats didn't even get out of the bay before they sunk in the water. Others capsized a little further out

Dec. 1st - Grenada

This is the best shot of the 6 of us and our ship too! Love it! 😍

A man in town told us about a tunnel to go through to bring us to the inner harbour. Didn't realize it was also going to have cars passing through the narrow space! A little dangerous, but worth the effort

This was the inner harbour on the other side of the tunnel - a lovely spot

Little minnows just off shore

We found a great little restaurant on the water to quench our thirst with frozen margaritas!!! I can't remember the name of it, but it was just past the street with the tunnel

They were SO yummy! Wish we could have stayed for several more! 🍹🧉🍹🧉🍹🧉🍹🧉🍹

But the mangos turned my tongue orange though

Dec. 2nd - Trinidad & Tobago

At the previous port, a woman who was from Trinidad warned us "not to trust anyone" when we were here, but they really do it up right at the cruise port! They always welcome us in such a grand way. This time was apparently the first time the Coral Princess ship had been at this port, so they also had free coconut water, snow cones and some local chickpea wrap - we tried them all. Not a fan, but we appreciated the gesture!

Cute coconut water drinks

Love these two nuts!

Welcome party at the port

Jaki (Francine's baby sister) & Brian

Christmas is coming! 🎄

They just had to play a game of connect 4 at this local craft fair

I LOVE steel drum music - and this showed us the different areas to get different sounds. We both tried it out - very cool

Extra dancers for the Coral Princess' inaugural visit to this port 

Craig about to try the chickpea wrap & snow cone 

It was really messy and he wasn't a big fan

Watch your toes Craig! 💥

Dec. 3rd - day & night @ sea

Dec. 4th - Aruba

Double rainbow sighting while we did our laps on deck 7. One morning we were fortunate to see dolphins doing back flips 🐬

We out ran a few rain storms, but really, the weather was awesome on this trip (well, for people who love the heat)

In Aruba we just did a beach day and it was really relaxing and enjoyable. This pelican was not shy to get up close & personal

Good thing he didn't poop on your head! 💩

Alain & Brian playing catch

A fun day for us all!

Brian & Jaki cuddling

Can you tell which one of us sits in the shade while the others bake in the sun? 🌞

The Fantastic Four!

It was a beautiful beach. Not too many people there that day because it was overcast with a few little showers, but hey, we're wet anyway! 💦

Hunks on the beach 

Mr. Pelican posing for a photo

After a day at the beach, the ladies were tuckered out and needed a little power nap

Sailing out of Aruba

The oil rig in the sunset

What happens if a plane takes off just as a cruise ship is sailing by??? It felt like it would crash right into us - had there been one taking off at that time

Enjoying the view on our way to dinner

Cold Supermoon

Dec. 5th - Curacao

Curacao never disappoints with it's colourful architecture. 

So pretty! Great souvenir shopping area. Francine & Jaki did some damage (to their credit cards) here!

Interesting shoes!?!

We happened upon a lovely fruit market

Lots of Christmas decor around town

Craig's new girlfriend

Cool sign in town

Dec. 6th - day & night @ sea

More drink demonstrations and the 3 drunkies managed to get another free drink each! 

Francine learning how to make a (was it mango?) margarita

Craig making a different one and he got right into doing the shaky shaky dance with a LOT of gusto!
"shake it to the left, shake it to the right, shake it to the women that I love the best, shake it!"

Cheers!

More free drinks when we went to the Captain's Circle event (for the 1st time). They gave free drinks and little appetizers! We'll be going back again to these!

The Officers - several from Italy

Dec. 7th - day & night @ sea

Our lovely & efficient head waiter, Sandesh holding a baked Alaska desert

Dec. 8th - Back in Ft. Lauderdale & fly home

Thank you Francine, Alain, Jaki & Brian! It was great sailing with you. WAY too much card playing (lol), but I won Wizard 3 times, so not too shabby (for me)!

Until we meet again! 🚢