July 2019 – Page 2 – Quest for 243

July 22, 2019

St. Lucia: Snorkeling in the Pitons Management Area World Heritage Site During Last Caribbean Stop

I’m on my way across the Atlantic Ocean for the next six days after the sixth and final Caribbean island port of call today on my 17-night cruise, where I snorkeled in St. Lucia’s Pitons Management Area World Heritage Site on an absolutely spectacular day.

Costa Pacifica sailed away from Castries at 5:10 p.m. We visited six Caribbean islands after leaving La Romana, Dominican Republic. As the sun set at 6:16 and St. Lucia faded out of view, that was our last sighting of land for the next week as we voyage more than 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Tenerife Island, Canary Islands, Spain.

Costa Cruises, Guadeloupe

July 19, 2019

Guadeloupe: Lackluster Snorkeling in the
Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve

I took a boat ride off the west coast to the Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve, supposedly one of the island’s top sights, but I found the snorkeling unexciting. It’s my first visit to this Caribbean state of France.

We were given a brief 20 minutes to snorkel. Unfortunately the gear they gave me was really crappy. The snorkel didn’t attach to the mask, and the mask leaked water. Makes it hard to snorkel if you don’t have the right equipment. I didn’t have space in my luggage to pack my own snorkel gear for this trip unfortunately.

Costa Cruises, Martinique

July 18, 2019

Martinique: Watching Rum Being Made &
Visiting the Former Capital Destroyed by Lava

I toured a rum distillery and the island’s former capital, wiped out during a devastating 1902 volcanic eruption, during my first visit to this overseas state of France.

Martinique, population 396,000, is the fourth port of call on my 17-night Caribbean and trans-Atlantic cruise. It’s my first time here. One would think I could count this as a new territory visited, but no – Martinique is a state of France (like Hawaii is of the USA).

Antigua & Barbuda, Costa Cruises

July 16, 2019

Antigua: A 3-Hour Island Tour &
First Cruise Day with No Problems

I took a three-hour excursion to southern Antigua Island today, enjoying the beautiful sunshine on this unusually dry Caribbean island. Adding to my delight, this fourth day of my cruise is the first day in which I didn’t encounter any terrible customer-service issues aboard Costa Pacifica.

Got up at 7:55 a.m. Went up to the breakfast buffet on Deck 9, then prepared for today’s shore excursion: “Discovering the Beauty of Antigua.” This is, I believe, my third visit to the dual-island Caribbean nation of Antigua & Barbuda, population 94,000. And this is the third port of call on my 17-night Caribbean and trans-Atlantic cruise.

Costa Cruises, Cranky Nomad, St. Kitts & Nevis

St. Kitts: A Delightful Tour of the Island But a
Poor Guide & Continual Appalling Service Aboard

Thanks for a fantastic afternoon and a beautiful sunset St. Kitts! I went on a four-hour sightseeing tour around the island today. Unfortunately the guide wasn’t that great, and I continue to experience abysmal customer service aboard Costa Pacifica on the third day of my cruise.

Got up at 11:27 a.m. aboard Costa Pacifica as we sailed from Catalina Island, Dominican Republic, to Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis. I’ve had horrible customer-service experiences thus far on my 17-night Caribbean and trans-Atlantic cruise, and now more fails: There was no cruise newsletter in my mail slot; had to retrieve one from reception. Then when I obtained one, the meeting times and places for excursions weren’t listed. (Not shown on my ticket either.)

I visited the tour desk, only to find it was closed. Bumped into a ship’s officer in the hallway, who rallied to get me the vital info. I’m in total disbelief at how awful this cruise has been thus far. A new low for sure.

Costa Cruises, Cranky Nomad, Dominican Republic

July 15, 2019

Catalina Island, DR: A Lovely Afternoon at the
Beach But Dreadful Service Continues on Board

I swam, walked a nature trail, and enjoyed some sunny beach time this afternoon at the first port of call on my 17-night Caribbean and trans-Atlantic voyage. It was good medicine for the numerous headaches I’m dealing with aboard Costa Pacific, where the facilities and customer service have been abysmal.

Got up about 12:30 a.m. aboard Costa Pacifica in the Port of La Romana, Dominican Republic. I had arrived on board yesterday afternoon after a horrendous boarding experience, and my luggage hadn’t been delivered when I went to bed about 9 p.m. Opened my door to get my suitcase – but it’s not there!

Picked up the phone to call reception. The telephone in my cabin doesn’t work! It’s one fail after another so far for Costa Pacifica. What a nightmare!

Costa Cruises, Cranky Nomad, Dominican Republic

July 14, 2019

Horrendous Experience Boarding Costa
Pacifica in La Romana, Dominican Republic

I’m aboard Costa Pacifica for a 17-night Caribbean and trans-Atlantic cruise, but what an absolute nightmare start to this 80-day global-nomad stretch that will take me across the ocean to Europe and West Africa.

Arrived at the Port of La Romana at 11 a.m. after flying into Santo Domingo (SDQ) from Orlando (MCO), shocked to find an empty pier and only 25 other passengers waiting in the terminal. Turns out the ship wasn’t scheduled to arrive until 1:30 p.m.

Staff at the open-air terminal – with no food, water, or WiFi – informed me check-in wouldn’t start until 5 p.m., 3½ hours after the ship arrives. WTF?! Who comes up with this insanity?! I couldn’t be any more infuriated. The one time I show up early and it’s a total debacle!

Aviation, Costa Cruises, Dominican Republic

Flying MCO-SDQ on a JetBlue Airbus A321;
Van Shuttle to Port La Romana, DR

I flew from Orlando (MCO) to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, (SDQ) early this morning, then took a van shuttle a little more than an hour to the Port of La Romana, where I’ll be boarding Costa Pacifica for a 17-night Caribbean and trans-Atlantic cruise to Barcelona, Spain.

Van left SDQ at 9:50 and we drove eastbound on Dominican Republic 3, arriving at 11:01 a.m. To my shock, there is no cruiseship here!

Quest for 243

Month: July 2019