--- CRUISE 2004 - Costa Atlantica ---
Cruise the Eastern Caribbean - February 22 - 29, 2004
This cruise was arranged by The Plantation of Leesburg Activities Office and Small World Tours. There were 228 other Plantation people on the cruise with us. In the early morning of Sunday, Small World Tour Motor Coaches ( 5 of them) arrived at preplanned places here in The Plantation and drove us all down to the Ft. Lauderdale Costa cruise terminal. That's how it all began.
Sunday February 22, 2004 - Departure Day
Up and at’em at 4 AM. Linda completed all the final preparations and we headed for the bus at The Tara at 6 AM. Got aboard the bus and off we went. Departed right on schedule - 6:45 AM. The sun came up to a foggy morning, but our driver, Lawrence, did a great job of getting us down the road.
A quick trip to Ft. Lauderdale, arriving at the pier at 11. Kind of confusing getting through all the stuff needed to get aboard the ship - but we made it. The rooms weren't ready, so we headed up to deck 9 (The Botticelli Buffet) and wandered around until the cafeteria style food line opened. We had something to eat and then came to our room - 6245. It was ready and we started moving in.
Linda started unpacking while I read through all the literature. We R&R’d, including a little nap. I woke up to find Linda missing. She had tip-toed out to go to a Welcome Party on Deck 9, poolside. Soon it was time to go to our muster stations for the abandon ship drill. It went off pretty well with all the instructions given in 5 languages. Next, we headed up topside to help the Captain maneuver us out of the basin and into the open sea. We watched as the Miami Skyline fade in the distance. Great job, great weather and a great day.
Our first dinner was at 6 and very good. Our table of eight is all Plantation people, Jackie and Neil, Shirley and Peter, Lyn and Bill. Our waiter is Wawan (Indonesia) and the assistant is Agus (From Jakarta, Indonesia). A great dinner and back to the room for a few minutes.
Met with Jackie and Neil and wandered around the shops for a while, then off we went to the Caruso Theater for The Welcome Show. A good blend of dancers, singing and a juggling act. We were all pretty worn out by the end and went straight back to our respective rooms.
Monday February 23, 2004, At Sea
We were both up and at'em pretty early. I went up and explored the upper decks and such until 7. The sun came up to a calm sea. Got coffee and brought some down to Linda. We had our coffee and then went back up and walked Deck 10, 11 and 12. Beautiful morning.
We had breakfast with Jackie and Neil in the Tiziano Restaurant. We were guided to a table, it's open seating, and had a very nice breakfast.
This is a day at sea as we make our way from Ft. Lauderdale to San Juan at 25 MPH. The sea is calm and the sky is blue.
We started exploring the ship starting with a walk on the Promenade Deck. We ran into Ilene and Casey and chatted for a while. We split up only to have Casey track us down a few minutes later. They saw a posting about a Bocce tournament on Deck 10 at 10:30 and we made an agreement to meet there
.
I retired to 6245 to sit on the balcony and read and Linda went off to line dance and stuff. At 10:30 we all met and found no sign of Bocce courts. Soon we saw a Bocce Court being assembled on Deck 9. Down we went, but we found that this was a Private Bocce Tournament, not for us to use. We split up again.
Lunch, in The Tiziano Dining Room, with Jackie and Neil at 12:30. Linda changed into her bathing suit and headed up to get some sun. I stayed in the cabin to read and snooze. Quiet afternoon for me, Linda sunned for a while, came back and changed and back to Deck 9 for more Line Dancing.
Captain’s Night, a Formal Night tonight. We got our act together and dressed for the evening. Met with Jackie and Neil and headed down to The Caruso Theater for the Captain's Party. We had our photos taken with the Captain and then had a couple if free drinks. He welcomed us aboard, introduced his Sr. Staff and then it was time to head all the way aft for dinner. Dinner was excellent again.
We finished dinner about 8 then went back to the room for a few minutes. We wandered around for a while and then into The Caruso Theater for the show. It was great. A man named Pressley, who was a lead singer for The Platters, did many wonderful Platters songs and others. The Caruso Theater was packed.
To bed about 10 - turned the clocks ahead.
Tuesday February 24, 2004, San Juan
We both woke about 6 and got up and at’em. Up to deck 9 for coffee and to see the sunrise. Then, down to breakfast with Jackie and Neil at 7:30. We’ve adopted an Assistant Waiter from the Philippines - Jerry. Nice kid with a continuous smile. He heads home after this trip. We had every breakfast and lunch in The Tiziano Dining Room and he took care of us at every one of these meals. We had a leisurely breakfast. Back to the room.
I finished my first book, "Before I say Good-bye" by Mary Higgins Clark and started D-Day by Stephen E. Ambrose. Linda was off to the Casino. I wandered around a little and found Linda on Deck 9 waiting for the Dance Lessons to start.
We arrived in San Juan right on schedule (4 PM). Neil and I assisted in the docking. We puttered around and then got ready to disembark. We walked up towards Old San Juan and about when we got there, Linda and I turned around and left Jackie and Neil on their own. Back to the ship about 5:15.
We made it to The Tiziano Dining Room for dinner - only Shirley and Bill joined us. A very nice dinner with a lot of time to chat with Agos and Wawan. We finished early, compared to the last few evenings, and went to 6245 and then to The Caruso Theater. A calypso show was already in progress - four people playing steel drums - they were excellent!! They played everything from Calypso, polkas, classical numbers, and even Glenn Miller.
Back to the room, some TV, reading and to bed.
Wednesday February 25, 2004, St. Thomas
I was up at 5:30 and headed up to deck 9. We were off the coast of St. Thomas and the sky was brightening. I had some coffee and then got two more and headed back to 6245 to wake Linda at 6:30. We got our act together and headed down to the Tiziano Dining Room for breakfast. Next - up on deck to watch the tender operation in progress. There are three ships tied up at the dock and two of us anchored out. We are moored in the harbor, the other is anchored outside.
We went down to the Caruso Theater at 9:15 to get numbers for boarding the tender to shore. They tendered us to downtown Charlotte Amalie. So - we walked back towards the pier to take the tram up to Paradise Point. It's only a 20 minute walk. We took the tram to the top. Beautiful views and a nice Gift Shop, Parrot Show, and a Bar. We sat and had a drink overlooking Charlotte Amalie Harbor and then went back down. We voted and took a cab back to town. Neil and I left Linda and Jackie to shop downtown and we went back to the ship.
The girls got back to the ship at 1 and we went down to The Tiziano Dining Room for lunch. Another great meal. We keep looking at the photos that have been taken by the ship’s photographers and haven’t found one we like yet. Back to 6245.
Linda and I took a little nap and then went up to deck 10 to watch us leave St. Thomas. Out at 5:30 and on the way to Santo Domingo. To dinner. it was Italian Night. The wait staff sang a little and we formed a line winding throughout The Tiziano Dining Room. Some waiters did a dance on the edge of the second level. Very nice. A great meal and time.
We went to the Casino and gave them a little $$. Next - to The Caruso Theater to prepare for the show. "Italy Night." A pretty good Production Show. Lots of singing and dancing - all very good with lots of energy. I headed for 6245, Linda, Jackie and Neil stayed to watch "Bertie Higgins Band of Pirates." Neil lasted a while and then went to their room. Linda and Jackie persevered and then did the midnight buffet. It was spread out in the kitchen.
Thursday February 26, 2004, Catalina Island and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
I was up at 5:30, tiptoed out of the room and then headed up to Deck 9. Coffee and a little reading - brought two coffees to the room and woke Linda at 6:30. We enjoyed our coffee as the Atlantica moored off Catalina Island. We soon headed down for breakfast. We puttered around while they tendered those headed out on tours. We went to the disembarkation point and tendered to the beach on Catalina Island about 9:50.
We got some nice lounges in the shade, took a quick swim and generally hung around. Jackie and Neil and I read while Linda sunbathed. Soon they had a buffet going and we were ready to eat again. Nice meal. By now, the beach was crowded and we took another swim and headed back to the ship.
We generally relaxed all afternoon. I read more of D-Day, took a little nap and we prepared to go to a cocktail party for "The Plantation Passengers." There are 230 of us. The party was held in the Coral Lounge and was very nice - free drinks - and some photos.
To dinner. Another nice meal as we pulled into the pier at La Romana, Santo Domingo. Good meal and then we took a short walk off the ship. There is nothing to see without taking a taxi or bus somewhere - so we went right back aboard the ship and went to The Caruso Theater to watch the show. It was a pianist and violinist playing classical music. It was good - but putting me to sleep - so we didn’t stay very long.
We went back to 6245 for the evening. Watched TV for a awhile (Survivor) and to sleep.
Friday, February 27, 2004, At Sea
Up and at’em early - to Deck 9 for some coffee and reading D-Day. It was still dark (sunrise 7 AM). Down with coffee to wake Linda at 6:30. Watched the sun come up and then headed for breakfast down in The Tiziano Dining Room. I had a quiet morning out on the balcony reading. Linda went off line dancing.
Neil and I went to disembarkation lecture at 11:30 and then we all went to lunch about 12:15 (after we tracked down Jackie). Nice lunch.
I continued my relaxation on the balcony and Linda went off here and there. She spent a lot of time at the pool learning various kinds of line dancing. Then – she was in a contest – and won! The prize was a Costa back pack. She was part of the Mexican Team, wearing a Sombrero. They had to listen to verbal directions and follow them – kind of like Simon Says. She outlasted everyone else.
The weather has been terrific up until this afternoon. It has turned cloudy, cool and windy.
Soon it was time for dinner. Everyone was there except Bill, he came down with a cold and stayed in their room.
The show tonight was another huge production extravaganza with lots of dancing, singing and special effects. The theater seats about 1000 on several levels. It has entrances from decks 2, 3, and 4. It is very comfortable and has a good view of the stage from most everywhere.
Saturday, February 7, 2004, -- Nassau, Bahamas
Up and at’em at 6. To deck 9 to get coffee for us and we puttered around and woke up. Still windy and the temp is 67. We went to breakfast with Jackie and Neil and said good-bye to Jerry - the waiter that has taken care of us all week at breakfast and lunch.
Back to the room and then I headed down to the bow on deck 3 and read until 12. Then it was time for lunch.
We arrived in Nassau while we were having lunch. We headed off the ship immediately and caught a water taxi to Paradise Island. It was then a short walk to Atlantis. We wandered through there for quite a while. I'm sure we didn't see much of the place - it is huge and spectacular. But - we wandered back to the dock. As we were waiting for the water taxi, it started to shower and then rain hard. It only lasted a few minutes. We had to wait a while as they figured out which boat was going to take us back - but soon we were off.
Next - we wandered through Bay street up to the Straw Market and back to the ship.
Tonight is Toga Night on the ship - but we took a vote and none of the 4 of us are planning to wear one. The ship has supplied us with sheets to create the Toga’s - but we’ve decided to pass.
Soon – back to The Tiziano Dining Room for our last supper. Another great one and we said good-bye to Wawan and Agos – the dinner wait staff for us all week. We headed back to the room. Linda completed the packing and we put our bags out in the hall for pick-up. Linda stayed awake and alert until it was time to go to the Talent Show at 10:30.
Sunday, February 29, 2004, -- Back Home
I was up shortly after 4. We were in Ft. Lauderdale and moving slowly up to the dock. I went up to deck 9 for some coffee and reading. Back, with coffee, to the room to wake Linda at 5:30. We enjoyed our coffee and then went to breakfast with Jackie and Neil at 6:30.
Soon it was time to leave our room and go to The Caruso Theater to wait for our color (blue, 5th) to be called to disembark. Not a bad wait – they called us at 8:50 and we were off. Found our luggage and a porter in short order. He got us out and to the bus in no time.
Soon, everyone was aboard the bus and we were off about 9:50. Four hours later and we were home again. Duncan was glad to see us. Mary and Bob have done a great job of house-sitting.
--- The End - of another great cruise ---
