Cruising Talk - View Single Post - Braemar - 28/3-14/4/2007 Caribbean/Eastbound Transatlantic Cruise

Ally · 04-14-2007, 04:02 PM

March 30th - Montego Bay, Jamaica

Awoke to another very hot and humid day in Montego Bay. Went to the buffet for breakfast and had a wander around the decks. Booked a spa treatment for Sunday and will be out and about in the Sierra Maestra mountains on Cuba tomorrow. Today is a rest day, doing nothing and recharging after yesterday.

I discovered a Jamaican stowaway on a lounger this morning, a huge moth, it allowed me to get right up close to it so I took a photo of it...huge great creature with black, grey and orange wing markings, wingspan of around 5".

We all did the muster drill at 1630 and then had a wonderful sailaway party at 1700. Now whoever says that the Caribbean is a calm sea destination should be on Braemar at this moment.....

We left Montego Bay a little under an hour ago and we have 4m/12ft seas and a strong headwind. However, despite her lack of size and bulk, Braemar is coping extremely well in the fairly heavy seas. There are a few passengers who aren't handling it quite so well......just wait til we hit mid Atlantic in a few days time....

My table for evening meal is the Hotel Manager, Leo Hubsch's table which should be an experience no doubt.

I am sat here at the desk in my cabin, waves breaking not too far below my portholes and the bridgecam on the telly. I have ordered some soft drinks, orange juice and Pepsi for consumption in the cabin, you can also order wine, beer and spirits along with ciggies and cigars too. Room service provide tea and coffee 24hrs a day and there is an extensive menu available too that is available up til around 2300 every night. Those wanting late night snacks can get them at Palms Buffet til 0030.

We are due to arrive in Cuba at around 0700 tomorrow, whilst there I will ask the immigration people about US passport holders on an Olsen ship regarding whether they can get off on Cuba for sightseeing or not.

So far the ship and her crew have exceeded expectations, most know me by name and always greet with a smile and hello....something you rarely get on the megaships. Something else those of you who go on Carnival, RCI, Princess will miss when travelling on an Olsen ship...there are very very few announcements on the PA system...the ship is very peaceful, very relaxing....

Freedom of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas were with us for a short time yesterday...the PA systems booming out across the bay constantly...definately not my cup of tea...nor is the Freedom class or Voyager class...too big and brash...no style or character.

I will be having a quiet evening in the Coral Lounge where the bar staff know what I drink and have it ready before I even find somewhere to sit....THAT is small ship service....

March 31st - Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Anyone who says the Caribbean is nice and calm seas hasn't been tween Montego Bay to Cuba. Last night was awful weather and the first time I have ever been seasick...felt terrible as we arrived in Santiago de Cuba so cancelled my planned shorex up the mountains. Thankfully Braemar is not running full, so I was able to move from my forward outside cabin on deck 3 to a twin outside on deck 2. So today I had a few wanders around on deck, took a few photos of the dock area and basically been resting. I might manage to go to evening meal tonight...I haven't managed it so far this cruise.

The new cabin is a nice midships one, so shouldn't get so severely affected by rough seas and its on a lower deck too.

Cuba has been a lovely island, very friendly. We had an alpha call yesterday while in Montego Bay and today we had a medevac, a gentleman was transferred to a Santiago hospital for surgery this morning and his wife has been put up at a local hotel and they will fly home when appropriate to do so. So far there has been no word on his condition and he is quite elderly. Olsen's have been very good and have sorted everything out and assisted with getting the wife to and from hospital and dealing with all the arrangements too.

The captain has arranged to leave Cuba later than originally planned, we now sail at 2200 for a full seaday before reaching Nassau on Monday.

**UPDATE** The information that I was able to get was that no US passport holders can visit Cuban soil...there are no provisions for 'humanitarian' visits either, so anyone with a US passport will need to contact their local consul and request further information there. Those with US passports can, however, remain onboard ship during Cuban visits.

04-14-2007, 04:02 PM	#2
Ally CT Guru Join Date: Jun 2006 Fav. Cruise Line: Costa Cruises Posts: 74,169 My Reviews: 13 My Photos: 1,260 Status: Offline	March 30th - Montego Bay, Jamaica Awoke to another very hot and humid day in Montego Bay. Went to the buffet for breakfast and had a wander around the decks. Booked a spa treatment for Sunday and will be out and about in the Sierra Maestra mountains on Cuba tomorrow. Today is a rest day, doing nothing and recharging after yesterday. I discovered a Jamaican stowaway on a lounger this morning, a huge moth, it allowed me to get right up close to it so I took a photo of it...huge great creature with black, grey and orange wing markings, wingspan of around 5". We all did the muster drill at 1630 and then had a wonderful sailaway party at 1700. Now whoever says that the Caribbean is a calm sea destination should be on Braemar at this moment..... We left Montego Bay a little under an hour ago and we have 4m/12ft seas and a strong headwind. However, despite her lack of size and bulk, Braemar is coping extremely well in the fairly heavy seas. There are a few passengers who aren't handling it quite so well......just wait til we hit mid Atlantic in a few days time.... My table for evening meal is the Hotel Manager, Leo Hubsch's table which should be an experience no doubt. I am sat here at the desk in my cabin, waves breaking not too far below my portholes and the bridgecam on the telly. I have ordered some soft drinks, orange juice and Pepsi for consumption in the cabin, you can also order wine, beer and spirits along with ciggies and cigars too. Room service provide tea and coffee 24hrs a day and there is an extensive menu available too that is available up til around 2300 every night. Those wanting late night snacks can get them at Palms Buffet til 0030. We are due to arrive in Cuba at around 0700 tomorrow, whilst there I will ask the immigration people about US passport holders on an Olsen ship regarding whether they can get off on Cuba for sightseeing or not. So far the ship and her crew have exceeded expectations, most know me by name and always greet with a smile and hello....something you rarely get on the megaships. Something else those of you who go on Carnival, RCI, Princess will miss when travelling on an Olsen ship...there are very very few announcements on the PA system...the ship is very peaceful, very relaxing.... Freedom of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas were with us for a short time yesterday...the PA systems booming out across the bay constantly...definately not my cup of tea...nor is the Freedom class or Voyager class...too big and brash...no style or character. I will be having a quiet evening in the Coral Lounge where the bar staff know what I drink and have it ready before I even find somewhere to sit....THAT is small ship service.... March 31st - Santiago de Cuba, Cuba Anyone who says the Caribbean is nice and calm seas hasn't been tween Montego Bay to Cuba. Last night was awful weather and the first time I have ever been seasick...felt terrible as we arrived in Santiago de Cuba so cancelled my planned shorex up the mountains. Thankfully Braemar is not running full, so I was able to move from my forward outside cabin on deck 3 to a twin outside on deck 2. So today I had a few wanders around on deck, took a few photos of the dock area and basically been resting. I might manage to go to evening meal tonight...I haven't managed it so far this cruise. The new cabin is a nice midships one, so shouldn't get so severely affected by rough seas and its on a lower deck too. Cuba has been a lovely island, very friendly. We had an alpha call yesterday while in Montego Bay and today we had a medevac, a gentleman was transferred to a Santiago hospital for surgery this morning and his wife has been put up at a local hotel and they will fly home when appropriate to do so. So far there has been no word on his condition and he is quite elderly. Olsen's have been very good and have sorted everything out and assisted with getting the wife to and from hospital and dealing with all the arrangements too. The captain has arranged to leave Cuba later than originally planned, we now sail at 2200 for a full seaday before reaching Nassau on Monday. UPDATE The information that I was able to get was that no US passport holders can visit Cuban soil...there are no provisions for 'humanitarian' visits either, so anyone with a US passport will need to contact their local consul and request further information there. Those with US passports can, however, remain onboard ship during Cuban visits.