3/4/23
Flight from Birmingham
Lovely start in Bottega Prosecco bar for eggs and fizz. 8 hour flight on Dreamliner, straight off plane onto coach on the tarmac and whisked away to the ship. Very slick passport check and boarding. Arvia has same layout as Iona so felt at home straight away. We had beer and pina colada’s at the infinity pool to watch the sunset. Followed by a bite to eat at the quays and coffee in Costa before an early night as Barbados is 4 hours ahead, so we were very tired. Top tip would be pack a change of clothes in your hand luggage as our cases didn’t arrive for a couple of hours and we were desperate for a shower and freshen up.
4/3/23
Barbados
We woke up early due to time difference. Early breakfast in the buffet before it got too busy, then a walk around the top deck to explore the areas we had missed the day before. We got off ship and strolled into Bridgetown. Brown’s beach is beautiful and we found a very authentic beach shack, Doris’ bar to sample Banks beer. Think plastic chairs and a shed! After a beer or two we strolled back to the ship, which was much harder than strolling down to the beach as it had by that stage in the day got very hot. Once on the ship we grabbed a sun lounger and jumped in the infinity pool to cool off. There was also a swim up bar which we enjoyed. After an afternoon of swimming, sunbathing and reading we went to our to our room to get ready for dinner.
6.15pm Olive Grove lovely Mediterranean style food washed down with wine.
8.30pm The Flyrights in the theatre. We have seen this trio many times onboard and they didn’t disappoint. Leon, Leroy and Reece were very entertaining.
After the theatre we went to the Crow’s Nest for the sail away from Barbados, enjoyed with a complimentary glass of champagne.
5/3/23
Sea day.
Breakfast in the main dining room today. We planned to book into the retreat for the day, but it was fully booked until next cruise! No idea it would be that popular as there is a considerable extra charge. As to be expected on a sea day the decks were rammed, but we were happy to sit in the shade and read as we had enough sun the previous day. At noon we went to the cinema and watched the new Jurassic World Domination film, which we enjoyed with a cold beer. Chilling was the order of the day. We had dinner at the 6th Street Diner, a fun American themed restaurant. Nik had a good steak, but my veggie option was a bit bland and the key lime pie far too big. In the sky dome we went to see a Pink tribute who bizarrely didn’t sing many pink songs! Nightcap of an expresso martini in the Crow’s Nest.
6/3/23
Tortola, British Virgin Isles.
We decided after a buffet breakfast to go up on deck and make use of the quieter port day facilities. We enjoyed a soak in the infinity hot tub before relaxing on a sunbed. Around lunch time there was a typical Caribbean downpour. Once it brightened up we headed ashore to Road Town, Tortola. There was a lovely port area with shops and bars and more importantly great Wi-Fi. Most of Road Town was shut due to a public holiday, but we managed to find a nice island bar. We had a couple of beers with some fellow cruisers. Two of The Flyrights, Leon and Leroy were also there, so I went full fan girl and got my picture with them. Back aboard we had a little nap before our evening meal in the MDR Meridian. We then went to the 710 club, a jazz club. It’s a very intimate venue with a band consisting of a pianist, drummer and guitarist playing a set organiser by the musical director Gary Barlow. Nik and I were of course saying: Jazz…… Nice’, like John Thompson from the fast show.
7/3/23
At sea.
Leisurely breakfast in the MDR, before relaxing on deck with a book.. We had a long lunch in the Glass House with a flight of wine. Time for a nap before getting our glad rags on for Black tie night.
Dinner was in The Lime Light club with Celena Cherry of The Honeyz. Food was lovely, but her performance was slightly low key.
Final performance of The Flyrights for this cruise and they didn’t disappoint. Amazing high energy show which had us all up singing and dancing for a bit of ‘Audience participation’ which must be said in your best Jamaican accent.
8/3/23
La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Awoke to a lovely view of a very lush and green island. In our quest to make use of all the facilities onboard, we visited the laundry before breakfast. All done by the time we had eaten. Morning on deck making the most of the hot tubs, pools and sun beds. Stroll around sugar breeze cruise terminal and a stop for a cold beer in the sunshine. Our evening meal was a very exclusive (just 6 guests) wine paring experience in the Glass House Cellar Door. We wouldn’t have known about it if we hadn’t asked the waiter yesterday if they still did as it as it wasn’t advertised anywhere. Fabulous experience chatting to our fellow guests, with a 4 course meal, each course paired with a different wine. Afterwards we went to the Club House and watched Pulse the resident band with a G&T nightcap.
9/3/23
Sea Day.
After breakfast in the MDR we went on deck to relax and read. I took advantage of the spa deal of the day and had a hot stones massage and facial which was blissful. Nik went to the cinema. In the evening we went to Green & co, the plant based restaurant onboard, the food was divine. After a walk around deck to cool off and help digest our food we went to watch The Headliners theatre group, what we saw was excellent, although we both nodded off!
10/3/23
St Maarten
Awoke to a beautiful view of this half Dutch, half French island. We were moored in the Dutch capital of Phillipsburg. After a morning on deck in the pool and hot tub we headed into St Maarten. The water taxi is just $7 return and has cold beer for just $2. St Maarten in my favourite port so far, really pretty with good shopping and beach bars. Stopped at a little water side bar, which had vibes of Catherine’s bar in death in paradise. Nik had local beer and I had rum punch whilst nibbling on the most delicious calamari. We then strolled the quaint little side streets and did a little shopping. Final beer at a beach shack which had a massive model car racing track in the back. The water taxi back to the ship was very lively with much singing and dancing from the crew.
Dinner tonight at Sindhu, probably the only restaurant we won’t revisit, food was very bland. Neil Lockwood of ELO in the theatre, actually exceeded my expectations, a very talented musician who sang all the old ELO favourites. First night that the sea crossing was a bit rocky, but nothing major, these large ships are so stable.
11/3/23
Antigua.
Spent the morning on deck, which was a little busier than normal port days as it was a change over day with guests leaving and arriving on board. We went ashore into St Johns the capital of Antigua, but not much to see, quite a rundown city. However, we found the Hemingway Café which was a gem in an old colonial building and had a bit of lunch on the veranda. Back on the ship I did some laundry before heading back on deck to enjoy the sunset.
Dinner was in the Keel and Cow, which was excellent. We then went to the 710 club to watch Maddison A perform an acoustic set on her guitar, she was a fabulous singer.
12/3/23
Relaxing day at Sea.
After breakfast and a chill out on deck, I did a fitsteps class to try and burn off some of the excess calories. As I’d broken a nail I popped to the spa for a quick repair. The rest of the day consisted of bar hopping and lying on deck. In the evening it was our final celebration night, so we got our glad rags on and headed for The Glass House for pre dinner drinks. We had a marvellous dinner at The Olive Grove before turning in for an early night. Doing nothing is exhausting!
13/3/23
St Kitts and Nevis
Big 60 for me today. Cup of tea on the balcony whilst I opened all my cards.. Not a bad place to turn 60, especially as I was greeted by lovely flowers delivered to the to the room. After a soak in the hot tub and prosecco, we went ashore. Basseterre the capital of St Kitts is very quaint and has a resident dolphin in the harbour. After a stroll I had a few Blue dolphin cocktails which tasted exactly like Blue WKD and Nik had a few beers. Back to the cabin for a snooze before The Limelight club. In the Limelight we watched a fabulous drag act La Voix, who certainly knew how to work the crowd. Great end to a perfect day.
14/3/23
Martinique
After our customary hot tub and sunbathe on a port day, we made our way into Martinique. A stunning port with a very European feel due to the French influence. After a stroll we found a little bar in a square and enjoyed a few beers with some fellow passengers. Our entertainment was watching people trying to negotiate the complexities of the automatic self cleaning toilet. Back to the ship for a siesta before a performance by Heather Small of M People, she was fabulous. She certainly lives up to her name, she is tiny with a power house of a voice. Dinner was at the 6th Street Diner which was much better this time. I had monkey bread and nut roast, Nik had prawn cocktail and BBQ Turkey.
15/3/23
St Lucia
Lovely island, last came here 10 years ago to celebrate my 50th birthday. Stroll around Castries which doesn’t really demonstrate the beauty of this island. Couple of beers at a water front shack before heading back to the ship for brunch at 6th Street Diner. Drinks in the Glass House, followed by dinner in Green and Co. Best food on the ship, we had a sharing platter of tostadas to start and then sushi (vegan for me), the desserts looked like a piece of art. Night cap in The Crow’s Nest before bed.
16/3/23
Sea day
Naming ceremony. We arrived at Hayward’s beach around 7am. The naming ceremony is not as exciting as we thought as we can’t leave the ship for the beach party, instead it is live streamed throughout the ship. Unfortunately we were not lucky enough to win tickets for the special show in the sky dome, but that is only a live stream too with a complimentary glass of fizz and canapés, so not too disappointed. However, we made the most of it with rum punch, cheese, charcuterie and biscuits on the balcony, we could hear all the action as our cabin overlooked the beach. Ollie Murs and Nicole Scherzinger performed. Packing our bags to fly home tomorrow before our last dinner onboard. We watched Leanne Jarvis in The Club House who was a The Voice finalist and excellent, great to see Heather Small in the audience supporting her, she was also the first up to dance. Dinner in the Olive Grove followed by Neil Lockwood in the theatre.
17/3/23
Last day - Barbados
Not flying until late afternoon so plenty of time to enjoy the facilities onboard. We spent the morning sunbathing and swimming before changing for our flight home. To keep cool we went to the cinema and watched Mrs Harris goes to Paris, which was very good, if a little cheesy! Lunch in the Quays, lovely big Yorkshire pudding filled with all the trimmings. Final bottle of wine in The Glass House to say goodbye to the wonderful Vinay, best waiter onboard. Transfer to airport just as slick as arrival, our luggage got taken last night and we won’t see it again until Birmingham. All in all a fabulous relaxing cruise. When can we do it all again?
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