The fifth of January is also `Twelfth Night’ so it’s essential that later today I finish the deprogramming of our Christmas lights, wouldn’t do to have them turn on again next Saturday. Already done all the other days, so at least won’t be embarrassed tomorrow!
A ridiculously early start, we’re on the hotel’s shuttle bus by 05:30 and it’s packed with people and luggage, fortunately American Airlines is the first drop so we’re soon checked in at the once again ghost-town terminal, a bit slower through security than yesterday, and curiously I’m granted TSA Precheck status yet Hubby isn’t, there’s no explaining this. A couple of years ago in San Diego it was the other way round, again for no reason that we can work out. Rather than split up I go with Hubby through the normal route, but because of my enhanced status they say I can keep my boots on - weird!
The lounge has a fabulous breakfast spread, we could have filled up for the day ahead, but instead go for a modest snack, I’m having avocado on toast for the first time ever, then smoked salmon, trimmed with scallions and sour-cream then a bit of blue cheese and cranberry cheese to finish. Meanwhile I break the juice machine - the handle fell off - and whilst making the coffee break the coffee machine too. The staff are a little bit incompetent but extremely tolerant and whilst I can instantly see what’s wrong with the coffee machine they don’t get it - the milk pipe was kinked and kept stalling it’s delivery. Although tempting, it’s not my place to fix it, so I went to another station to get my mocha.
With an hour to kill, I did some more programming for a special consent question we need on our box-office, tested it and finally ticked-off that item on my job list - hurrah!
We wander down towards the gate, arriving just a minute before boarding so once again we’re straight on, this time settling for just OJ as it’s so early. This 757 appears to be new - you’d be forgiven for thinking unfinished too, since the holes where TVs should be look a bit curious. On further inspection, they have obviously decided most people have their own iPads these days (yes I know other devices exist, but really, why would you?) so the holes are actually resizable iPad holders - the in-flight is delivered via Wi-Fi and then leveraged by the American Airlines app you’ve already got on your device. In principle it’s a great idea, on this flight it didn’t work, but nice try American - you’ve saved a fortune, your shareholders (nope) will be extremely pleased! Our delightful stewardess couldn’t explain it, but she suggested I check with customer services at JFK - probably won’t! I did email them though so let’s see what the answer is. Internet is $17 for the journey but it’s free to access aa.com.
The captain was extremely detailed in his opening chat, and after the usual stuff explained that with extremely unstable weather ahead the seatbelt signs are staying on. That’s all well and good, but after an hour my bladder was not amused! Eventually, over an hour into the flight, the turbulence subsided and the poor stewardesses could stop telling people off for being naughty - and no I didn’t joint the anarchists!
Breakfast was of course rather delayed but worth the wait - piping hot cheese omelette and a lovely sausage spiced with cumin I’m guessing. The bread basket was unsurprisingly American, so bagels or biscuits. I won’t ever thank you for a bagel, or indeed a pretzel, so had the biscuits which reminded me of my first ever home economics lesson with Miss Simpson, when we were supposed to make either cheese scones or fruit scones, but because I forgot to put in either ingredients ended up with the officially most boring plain scones ever - aka the American biscuit!
Sint Maarten airport was rather busy, we sit out on the apron for a good while to allow other craft room to manoeuvre before we finally take our stand. It’s all relative of course, it’s a tiny place and the single luggage belt puts everything into perspective - it will happen when it does, don’t worry until then!
We queue for a taxi, bemused when a classic passion-wagon arrives, room enough for a whole hen party, certainly enough for us two plus a local who gets a free ride to Phillipsburg - we don’t mind. The journey is slow and challenging but our driver is animated in his comments and keeps us amused as we traverse the 12 km from airport to cruise port.
Embarkation is quick and simple, there’s little infrastructure here so the registration is in the ship’s lounge so it’s only a few minutes from boarding to getting to our cabin on deck eight. No bags have arrived, which is not such a shock since we’re so quick. We head off to the grill and enjoy our first burger and then return to meet with our stewardess. Soon after our bags arrive and we unpack and set up our cabin to our likeing.
With an hour’s or more to spare, we head back into town and wander along the boardwalk and the central shopping area for a couple of miles, before heading back in time to join into the mandatory life-boat drill. A lovely chat with an elegant retired Washingtonian who now lives in France is a pleasant diversion, she sounds like fun.
Dressed for dinner we take aperitifs at the Grill Bar, noting there’s no chance we’d get served at the Earth and Ocean grill, a new venture for Seabourn in place of the old patio grill.
Because we can, we stop at the TK Grill to check availability, and to our surprise we recognise not only the Indian waiter who’s professionalism we enjoyed last cruise, but also the Polish MD of the Grill who also remembered us from the Summer and is most accommodating tonight. Our two servers were both South Africans, we have great conversations and they are impressed that we know both their home towns.
We had an excellent dinner of clam chowder and crab cake followed by lobster Thermidor and Dover sole - all beautifully prepared and presented. Finishing with a shared coconut cake, TK excelled tonight.
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