Shaw-Vallance Family Holidays

Monday, March 25, 2013

Day 2 Caribbean Cruise March 25th 2013 - Princess Cays on Eleuthera Island

We set out from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, nto the North West Providence channel, then to the northern tip of Eleuthera Island, to a 40-acre resort located at Eleuthera Point. Why is this important? I didn't know this at the time, but when I later found out that many of my father Terry's maternal relatives who came from the Bahamas were born and lived on this island (click here for details).

A few folks live on this part of the island and sell wares on the beach, the secluded resort itself is uninhabited. Motorized lifeboats, which can carry up to 150 passengers at a time, shuttle visitors on and off the 40-acre beach front resort, as well as all food, beverages and other supplies. There, passengers are able to walk the beach, kayak or try sail boating.

Our stateroom deck

Lifeboat shuttle about to come up alongside the ship

Hopefully this will never have to be used. It's the equivalent of the "black box" found on commercial aircraft. Stored in an open area on deck, it would be easily accessible to divers if, God forbid, the unit was under water.

Chilling on deck before leaving for the island

Waiting for the shuttle lifeboat, for our return back to the ship

Nearby, another boat, used to carry supplies. The crew is moving gear off the truck onto the boat

David, a medic on the boat. The ship has four ICU wards and seven qualified medics.

Dinner, and the end of a full and relaxing day

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Day 1 Caribbean Cruise March 24th 2013 - Leaving Fort Lauderdale Port Everglades

Well we're on our way. Wendy, Hilary, Naomi and I arrived in Fort Lauderdale late on Saturday night. It had been a long trip from Vancouver, with the added pleasure of a three hour layover in Phoenix, a three hour time difference in Florida compared to the West Coast, and a mixup with our taxi driver on arrival who deposited us at the wrong hotel. By the time we settled in, it was past 11 PM EST, too late for dinner, but by then we were too tired for it anyway. Oh well, these things happen.

The next day, Sunday, was much better. We had a great breakfast and found our way to the cruise ship in the early afternoon.

The Ruby Princess is truly a beautiful ship... and now that we're finally on board, our holiday has officially begun.