Colin and Cecile Travels

  We arrived this morning in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. After breakfast we headed down to the pier and took a tour of the island in an open air shuttle bus. The view of tortola and the surrounding islands was incredible. We got the official numbers from the Captain last night. There were only 299 people that took this cruise. The capacity of the ship is 930 so we are cruising with less than 1/3 capacity they have a crew and support staff of 458 so staff are tripping over each other to be helpful. Our Viking Cruise Ship (capacity 930 vs  The Azura from P&O capacity 3795) 400 Year old Rum Distillery One of their best Rums "Panty Dropper" Stopped for a Rum Punch at Cane Garden Bay Cane Garden Bay This Island is named Dead Man's Chest Island.   According to an  apocryphal  story (one of doubtful authenticity) , the  pirate   Blackbeard   marooned  his crew on Dead Chest Island as punishment, leaving them with nothing but a  cutlass  and a bottle of  rum  e

After breakfast we headed out on a tour of the El Yuenque Rainforest, the only Tropical Rainforest that is part of the U.S. National Forest System.  The drive is about 1 1/2 hours drive from the port, so the first stop was at a local Bakery for a sample of the local pastry.  Similar Idea to A Cannoli, but with a fila dough pastry and cream cheese inside and a sugary glaze on the outside. Inside Bakery  The Bakery From there we headed up the mountain and into the rainforest. These plants have leaves that are green on the top and silver underneath.  When the winds would pick up the leaves would be flipped over making the mountain toun "White" the ancient natives believed they were about to be visited by their God of Evil Hurican  We stopped along one of the rivers that come down from the rainforest where we stopped to feed the fish. The small river mullet fish were like a swarm of Piranha. A chunk of bread the size of a golf ball would be fully consumed in about 30 seconds to 1

Arrived onboard the ship today. Very smooth operation and they take every precaution they can to prevent anyone getting Covid.  We had to take a test before flying to Puerto Rico, another when we arrived, then one when we boarded the ship.  They have a lab onboard and test every passenger and crew member daily during the trip. They ask that you stay in your cabin until they get the results (only first day onboard), but delivered sandwiches To our room 10 minutes after we arrived.   This is a tracking device that they use for Covid tracking. Everyone on the cruise wears one.  If someone pops positive for Covid the tracker can tell everyone they have been in contact and for how long. Following is a tour of parts of the Ship The Wintergarden where they serve High Tea The Explorers Lounge Cocktails in the Explorers Lounge The Pool The Pool Grill The Sun Deck Retractable glass roof to cover the pool in bad weather Heading up to the Sports Deck Shuffle Board  Nice seating areas o