Well we have reached the other side of the world. Our last cruise was not full but the guests were very demanding and it felt like having a full ship.
For the last four days of the cruise, it was also excruciatingly hot. The air-conditioning system broke down and was not working at all – welcome to the Caribbean! The office offered each guest on the last cruise $2000 credit towards booking a future cruise. Of course it was being fixed when we got to Barbados, but it would take a few days to get back to normal and the new guests were already sniffing for credit within a few hours of embarking after hearing from friends on the previous cruise and on the internet.
Amazon River
This cruise sees us traveling up the Amazon River – a cruise I have never done so it should be very interesting. We travel to Manaus and then cruise back from Manaus on the next cruise to Barbados.
Brazil has its own set of headaches. Public Health is as strict as the USA and the added advantage of them being able to make their own rules as they go – like Africa! No one really knows what to expect so it will be fun.
The company have also offered Malaria medication to all of the crew due to the area we are traveling in. Doxycycline ring a bell, Mom? Those nice blue and white capsules that made all of us run to a different bathroom in the house… I have decided against taking them and will remain inside and onboard for the next few weeks whilst in Brazil. I might go out on a tour to go Alligator-spotting one night, but I will cover up and smother myself in bug spray if I go.
We have one guest this cruise who eats raw garlic and ginger: breakfast, lunch and dinner! He reeks, so clearly no problem with mozzies for him! I remember him from last year in the Mediterranean so he is not just eating it for the mozzies.
Here’s the cruise map from the Bridge for you to see where we are going. Should be an interesting cruise!
And here’s my itinerary for the next two weeks…
- 11th November: St. George’s, GrenadaPM
- 13th November: Devil’s Island, French GuianaPM
- 15th November: Belém, Brazil
- 16th November: Cruising Breves Narrows
- 17th November: Santarem, Brazil
- 18th November: Boca da Valeria, Brazil
- 19th November: Cruising the Amazon River
- 20th November: Anavilhanas, Brazil
- 20th November: Manaus, Brazil
- 24th November: Anavilhanas, Brazil
Cheers for now,
Steve
