Fitness in the Caribbean
It has been a great year for working onboard cruise ships and it is not over yet. I have sailed all around the Mediterranean this
Spring and
Summer and now the winter months are here I am heading off to the Caribbean.
I have not sailed on this ship for two years so it is nice to be on her once more. I love these smaller ships. They are cosy, classic and classy vessels with lots of small venues and comfortable public areas. With less passengers there is so much attention to detail and a fantastic service provided. I enjoy working for this company as I know the passengers and crew and it always feels like coming home.
I embarked on the ship after 1pm and my cabin was ready as soon as I was onboard. I am so lucky to have a passenger cabin with a balcony. There is plenty of room in these cabins for all my fitness equipment as well as the dresses, handbags and shoes I bring with me. This ship continues a true cruising lifestyle with smart/casual and formal nights. This means there are nights when you can really dress up and enjoy cocktail parties prior to dining. Once unpacked and the passenger emergency drill had been completed, I am then invited to an Entertainments meeting where we are introduced to the Cruise staff and the other entertainers that are onboard for the cruise.
This is a great way to start a cruise. You can meet up with staff and crew that you have worked with before and that is always a blessing on the first night of sailing.
Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions, the cruise itinerary was altered slightly but the passengers were informed by the Captains announcement prior to departure. The crew work so hard to make the changes in the itinerary run as smoothly as possible. At sea, life is not predictable and things do change. It is something that you accept because everything is done with the passengers and the crews welfare as top priority.
The first night was a little 'rock and roll' on the ocean waves. Although I have been at sea for almost 20 years I still have to dose up with seasickness pills. There is nothing worse than being sea sick and I will avoid this as much as possible.
The First day was a little bumpy but safe enough to teach classes. The chairs are all set up for me and ready for the passengers. The class was quieter than normal due to the weather but I was pleased with those that turned up. I was unable to 'walk a mile around the decks' , my first morning activity as the decks were closed and again in the afternoon they were closed due to the weather conditions. My Yin Yoga class was a little later than the normal schedule I have onboard, so I was concerned that no one would turn up. This was not the case as the class was full with no room to spare within 5 minutes of the class start time.
The sea became calmer as we headed towards the Caribbean and the passengers began to feel more confident on their feet. My classes, especially the seated exercise class continued to increase in numbers and the venue was full by 9.30am.
The Transatlantic crossings are around 6 to 7 days and these are the days of activities for the passengers. There is plenty to do to stay occupied whether it's arts and crafts, line dancing or choir practice....there is never a boring moment during the crossing. I felt such happiness as the passengers continued to join in my classes. I had to ask my Agent to send me some more resistance bands and Pilates balls because the classes continued to expand. I was teaching an array of chair classes from cardio and strength to circuit training and yoga. Each day was a different style of class to keep the passengers interested. I was equally pleased with the afternoon Yin yoga class as the passengers found this meditative practice beneficial for their wellbeing whilst onboard. It gives me a feeling of gratitude that I can help passengers through difficult times whilst introducing new routines and exercise classes.
As the cruise continued, the sea seemed to become a little calmer and the wind a little gentler. These are the things we cannot control, the sea and the weather conditions.
Onboard Evening Entertainment
One of the nicest things about working onboard a cruise ship as a freelance instructor is that I can enjoy all the entertainment with the passengers. Sometimes it feels as though I am out every night in a friendly and sociable environment, even though it's a 'school day' the following day. You are actively encouraged to do so and it is a way of supporting your colleagues. The entertainment is so varied and there are several shows and performances every evening.
There was a fantastic classic rock band onboard at the beginning of the cruise and they certainly 'rocked' the Playhouse Theatre down. They played some prime tunes such as 'Rockin all over the World' and 'Alright Now'. The show was enjoyed by all who attended.
There are times, especially on a port day when I prefer to just watch the classical musicians in the Atrium. I can enjoy a glass of wine and listen to these very talented entertainers. I also meet with passengers I would not normally see in the activities I teach or lead. This can make a very nice evening for me, enjoying good company and listening to music I probably do not have a chance to do when I am at home. There is a completely different ambience in the Atrium compared to 'show time' in the Playhouse Theatre and something quite delightful about dressing up to enjoy a classical performance.
Heatwave, the 1970's band performed their greatest hits in the Playhouse theatre. Songs such as "Boogie Nights", "Always and Forever", "The Groove Line" and "Mind Blowing Decisions". The sound was incredible and their voices were amazing. The passengers were singing along to all the tunes and the band were full of energy, fun and rhythm. The band were also very sociable around the ship. I often saw them enjoying lunch and dinner with passengers as well as joining the passengers at tea time and being deep in conversation. I know this means a lot to the passengers when the entertainers make time to be friendly and sociable.
Highlights of the Cruise
Santiago De Compostela
This was the biggest surprise of the cruise as the port of Vigo was an unintended visit. Due to adverse weather conditions, the Azores were aborted and Vigo was our stop off port, prior to sailing across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.
I was so pleased to be the escort on the 'Santiago On Your Own' tour. This tour takes you to Santiago de Compostela from the port and a guide walks you from the coach station to the Cathedral Square. From then on you are on your own, map in hand, to explore the beautiful cobbled and narrow streets and find ancient buildings, picturesque and beautiful squares with delightful and charming cafes. There is a good amount of time for you to stop for coffee and cake or maybe some tapas and wine.
Vigo is in the region of Galicia and known for its rugged Atlantic coastline, green landscape and Celtic culture. Galicia is about its extraordinary fish dishes and the Celts lifestyle and not the expected bull fighting and Salsa dancing related to the Spanish way of life. In fact as you enter Cathedral Square you are greeted by the sound of bagpipes much to the surprise of visiting tourists.
The main attraction to Santiago de Compostela is the Cathedral of Saint James. The Cathedral was built over the burial ground and tomb of the apostle St James the Great. The Cathedral is historically a place of Christian pilgrimage and tourists and pilgrims alike come to see the swinging 'Botafumeiro'. This is the largest censer in the world and its swinging motion can reach up to 50mph releasing clouds of incense.
Carlisle Bay Beach Break - Barbados
This was a relaxing day on the white sandy beach of Carlisle Bay with its turquoise waters and palm tree lined beach. The tour started with a drive through the capital of Bridgetown with it's colourful buildings, historic landmarks and Heroes Square. As we arrived into Carlisle Bay and its beautiful beaches, the sun shinning and the sky a vibrant blue, we were welcomed with a rum cocktail and a choice of sunbeds to lounge upon, with an added bonus of an umbrella to protect us from the late morning sun. We had approximately 3 hours here to relax on the beds, swim in the Caribbean Sea or walk for miles along the white sandy shoreline.
Carlisle Bay is a natural harbour on the south west coast of Barbados and known for its calm blue waters, soft white sand and its array of marine life including turtles. There are plenty of water sports here and the sea is full of yachts anchored out at sea. It really is a beautiful place to relax and just watch the world go by.
Tastes of St Lucia
I do love the island of St Lucia. It is a very natural island where all that grows is either eaten or used for medicinal purposes. St Lucians have a life expectancy of around 80 years old and there are many female centenarians, particularly in the rural areas.
I escorted a tour visiting a working fruit farm to taste some of the fresh produce grown here. The farm is about 7 miles from the capital of Castries. Once we arrived we were greeted by the hosts and guided around the farm. Everything is so natural here and we were shown how to pick coconuts from the trees, slice them and drink the milk. We then watched one of the farm hands skilfully cut the bananas from the plant and packaged them ready for collection.
The hosts then treated us to some local fruits and a topple of rum to end a magical day. Our guide was amazing too with lots of information about the island and its history. We stopped at a view point on our return so we could take some photos of the ocean view and our ship docked in the harbour.
Island Tour and Beach Break - British Virgin Islands
What a beautiful scenic, panoramic tour this was. The tour vehicles are very interesting here. They are Safari buses, that are open with fresh air circulating around the bus. There are no windows and the buses are almost like a trolley train, a natural form of air conditioning. We left the port and ascended Fort Hill with panoramic views of the lush vegetation and
ocean vistas along the way.
We passed through several local villages to see the colourful houses. The locals always gave us a wave as we passed by with many singing to us. They seem such a happy nation of laid back, calm folk. As we climbed the roads the views became more impressive, the flora more colourful and the ocean more vibrant. The driver stopped along Ridge Road so that we had a perfect view of our ship docked at the harbour.
Our last stop of the tour was at Cane Garden Bay where a rum punch awaited with a sunbed and umbrella. A full hour or so of swimming in the Caribbean Sea or just relaxing and enjoying the sea views. I did go for a swim here as the sea was quite warm and the waves very gentle. I walked along the beach with the sand between my toes and the gentle sea water rippling against my skin.
Tortola offers the most amazing views and breathtaking scenery from both the coastal roads and the mountainous views. The greenery is in abundance and the sea has such vivid and dazzling blues.
The Best of St Kitts
This really was a 'little gem' of an island with an array of splendour to be seen. Mountainous lush greenery and a chance to see the Caribbean Sea meet the Atlantic Ocean. The sea views here fill your soul with wellness and calm.
The excursion started with a short tour around the Capital of Basseterre, a small little town with an abundance of history and sites. We continued on to Fairview House and Botanical Gardens for some wonderful sea views and tropical flora
Our next visit, Brimstone Hill Fortress, an elevated drive to admire the remains of this magnificent fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of historical and military architectural significance. It's built on a limestone hilltop of some 800 meters above sea level and the views here are magnificent
This was followed by the beautiful and very colourful Romney Manor House and Gardens a former sugar cane plantation. This former residence is now the home of the vibrant artistry of Caribelle Batik. Here we admired the fine and beautifully made Batik clothing and accessories as well as the 8 acres of lush and tropical paradise gardens.
Ponta Delgarda, Azores - Jeep Safari
The weather was quite amazing for a Transatlantic crossing at this time of the year. Each day the sun was shining and the sea was smooth. After 6 days at sea heading back to the UK, it was so pleasing to arrive into Ponta Delgarda, Azores for our final port of call
Again, I am so grateful to be asked to escort our passengers on tour and today I was so lucky to be escorting a Jeep Safari. From the Port of Ponta Delgarda we headed up to the mountains at a height of around 800m above sea level. We had a dual aspect of the Atlantic ocean on one side and a crater lake on the other. The views were spectacular.
We stopped at a pretty little village on the way, where we could visit the local church, a colourful little garden and a small gift shop. We then stopped to see some of the crater lakes on route. This tour was unique and very special. The jeeps can cover so much from elevated off track roads to uneven ground and lake areas, so you can have closer views of some of the best scenery that nature has to offer.
As we departed from the port of Ponta Delgarda there was a deck party with music from the ships musicians and singers. The passengers and crew danced to the music whilst the sunset on the horizon and we sailed into the Atlantic ocean heading home
As always, I enjoy every moment of cruising. There is always something new on the horizon whether it's a beautiful sunset or sunrise, a new port or new tour I have never been on before. It is important to enjoy the things you do and
find happiness throughout your day. Life is short and we need to live it to the fullest in the best way we can.
©HealthyForeverFitnessMotivation
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