Cruise 03/18/2001
Aruba, Curacao and Half moon Cay

Holland America Ms Westerdam departs March 18th 2011
Day 1 Fort Lauderdale.

       Mike got off work at 4:30am Fri. march 18th and slept till 9am. We finished packing and headed to FLL around 9:30am to pick up Katricia's parents from the airport. We got there early and parked at Park n Go's lot till the plane arrived. While we were sitting in the lot Katricia noticed something on the fence. We went over to look and there were wild monkeys. Sorry about the poor photo but they would not let you get close. After we picked Lon and Carol Snook we went back to the parking lot where they off loaded the bags and valet parked the truck. Park n Go kept the keys and tagged them with ship name and date of return. We took the shuttle to the port where our ship awaited. The baggage handlers outside took our bags immediately and we headed inside. When we got to the counter the agent was very nice and friendly. The agent took our photos and handed us our room keys. We gathered our belonging and headed to the ship. When we handed our rooms keys to be scanned into the ship they didn't work! Okay the desk agent was extremely nice but failed to get cards programmed, this totally blows my opinion of her. We headed to the office so we could get our cards programmed. While in line we met Julie the travel desk agent and she was very helpful about what to do at our destination. Julie even agreed our best bet in Curacao was to rent a car as we wanted to snorkel and they did not offer a lot of choices. Now that we have room keys that work we headed to our room and put away our carryon and of course headed for the food. We had a few hours to waste before the ship left port so we decide to eat and walk around to see what there was to do onboard. WOW this ship is small.  The ship left port without incident and we headed off to Half Moon Cay. For dinner we decided to try the "Italian" restaurant onboard the ship. Basically it was a section of casual restraint that the gave a Italian flare and its own menu. The food was okay and the atmosphere was bland. The biggest downfall was the amount of time it took for dinner (2 hours). After dinner we went to the show and then off to bed ready for our day in the Bahamas.

Day 2  Half Moon Cay

        We got up early and had breakfast before most people got up and packed our bags to go ashore. We were able to get on the first Tender to the beach area. Well now we know why the tender was not full, It was overcast and COLD. We grabbed a few chairs and bundled up with our towels and hoped for the shies to clear and warm up. This bit a free time gave me a chance to play with the camera I purchased just for this trip, Olympus waterproof digital camera 8010.  As you can see above the panoramic leaves a lot to be desired but the Photo of Katricia came out awesome. After a couple of hours we gave up on the weather and headed back to the ship for lunch of course. The rest of the day we goofed off ate some more at dinner, watched the show, and met some new friends, we need more photos!
 

Day 3 At Sea

        Well a full day at sea what shall we do? Winds were 43mph and cold. They closed to roof over the pool area to entice people to the pool area. I can some this day up easily Boring. Of course we ate 4 meals and did every activity we could there just wasn't enough on a ship this size filled with antique people walking around. Don't get me wrong I appreciate have an older crowd more then a birthing ship but would like some people our age on board as well. Tonight is also 1 of 2 formal nights on board. We of course dressed up and I had arranged to surprise Katricia with a Happy Anniversary from the crew. After dinner we went to the game show and entered. I did horrible but Katricia actually won the game.

Day 4 Aruba

        We got into Aruba a little late around 1pm and because of the winds 40+ we were not able to park at the pier and had to park in the industrial loading area. We had arranged a local woman named Madi to pick us up at port and show us around the island. Madi was right on time and waiting for us with her Jeep Willie. Our first stop was Ayo Rock Formation. After that we stopped at a little grocery store where Madi shopped daily and picked some duct tape (for later), beer, wine, and bread. We then head to the Natural Pool (pictures below), OMG lets just say the path to the pool even horses would say hell no.  We had a great time swimming in this protect body of water until a huge group a people who came by ATV showed up. We sat and watched them for awhile until one lady got thrown out of pool by a rogue wave. Madi ran like the rocks were nothing right out to her and pulled her safety just before another wave washed Madi into the pool completely dressed. I will have to say this is a must see IF you are staying in Aruba for a few days, but if you are in port for just a few hours stick to the beaches there is a lot of travel time and it is rough going. Our fourth stop of the day was an area called three bridges, this is a formation that has three arch over the water with a little beach and a small cave to go into. Madi decided she would show us around and we went down into the cave. Well this is where I fell scraped up my left arm, left thigh and jammed my pinkie on my right hand. We then walked down the shore and saw some blow holes. I was hurting so Madi pulled over to side of road and broke off some aloe to put on my wounds. That stuff burned, but a week later and you can hardly see the cuts. So after our little med stop we went to another secluded beach where all the local hang out because it is shallow, sheltered and the water is warm. This would have been a really nice area if I were still in the mood to swim and the sun wasn't about to set. We all decide we had enough and went back to the ship. I decided I wanted to get on the internet and buy some alcohol so Kate and I went for a walk. it turns out every store closes by 9pm even liquor stores, mind you it is now 8:45pm and everything is closed, ask me why a cruise would have you in port 2 hours after everything is closed is beyond me. Anyhow we found a gas station still open and bought some soda for mixed drinks and went back to the ship. Tried to go to medical but they close at 9pm as well.

Day 5 Curacao

        We got into Curacao early and went to a hotel to find a car rental. We got a car added $20 in fuel and drove to other side of island to go into the caves. This is a pass if you ever come to Curacao waste of money and time. We then headed North, we had to schedule or any place we had to be so we just drove until we realized there is only 3 gas stations on island and none where we are headed. So we turned the car around and head back to the nearest station and added another $20 in fuel. We decided to play it safe from this point and head back to the west side of island and stopped at playa largo. What a beautiful beach!!! I could have spent days at this one location, but instead we only spent an hour then head back to Williamsburg to shop. First thing I found was an internet cafe and we both stopped and caught up on important emails. When I walked out of the store I was approach by a guy wanting to know if I wanted marijuana or cocaine "best on the island", UM NO! from there we walked toward the shopping area but the bridge was gone!! It turns out the walking bridges retract so boats can enter the city (photos below).  We spent the rest of day shopping till we had to be on ship at 5pm. Once onboard I head to medical to have my hand looked at. They took two x-ray images of my pinkie and said it was NOT broken and handed me a tongue depressor to tape it to.

Day 6 At Sea

Yeah another sea day. Not much photo worthy happens on sea days and didn't want to carry anything around. Lon and I did build my ship for the ship building competition, it is amazing what you can do with duct tape. Then we had a Captain lunch party where it was all you can drink champagne. Okay I drank to much and decided it was nap time. Once again we had formal night and this time Lon and Carol celebrate their 40th anniversary.

Day 7 At Sea

Wow really another sea day. Basically all we did was lie around poolside, eat and laugh at people. At 1pm we launched the ship we built and won the ship building competition. Then we ate some more. In the last photo here you will see DJ Brett and DJ Collin without these two the sea days would have been unbearable. Thank you guys.

Day 8 Fort Lauderdale

        No surprises here, we ate breakfast then paid our bill $73, grabbed our bags and walked off the ship. Customs took a whole 30 seconds and we headed outside for the shuttle. Okay the shuttle took 10 minutes but when we got to the lot they had all the vehicles lined up and ready to go. At checkout I had print a coupon for parking $6.99/day and they gave us all a bottle of water for the ride home. took a right out of parking lot and stayed on that road till we hit Fort Myers, gotta love I75/595.

Summary

All in all great trip. Next cruise will be a bigger ship with more destinations and less sea days though. Holland America lived up to its reputation as a luxurious ship full of the walking dead. Half Moon Cay I thought would have been a bore but even with bad weather the beach is amazing and there is plenty to do there. Aruba I have no interest in ever visiting the island itself again, but I would like to sail around it and visit the reef. Curacao was extremely nice with great snorkeling from the beach, I would definitely go back there. Now March 30th and pinkie is still swollen twice normal and have 75% movement hopefully all is good, either way ARUBA left its mark on me.

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