Bermuda NCL Spirit Notes
Monday, May 18th
Monday was our only real "scheduled" day. Bob had a golf game and I was meeting someone in Hamilton at 12:30. The alarm went off at 6:00am, and our wake-up call we'd called in for rang us at 6:30am. So we were up. Bob ran up to get the buffet right when it opened at 7am, and then was back down to gather me up. Our plan had been to get a 15-trip pass for all of us to share on our various trips back and forth. We walked easily off the ship - no lines at all - and went out into the quiet morning. It was quite comfortable temperature, not chilly as I thought. We walked over to the ferry stand, by the gazebo next to the visitor's center. However, the visitor's center was closed! There were 2 or 3 men waiting to commute into Hamilton for work and they said it wouldn't open until 8am. How was Bob going to buy a ticket for the 7:30 ferry? One of the guys offered to give him one of his tickets (it's $4, so a reasonable amount) but when the ferry showed up the operator said Bob could just buy his pass when he got to Hamilton. There were only maybe 6 people total that got on the ferry, although maybe 20 got off, all looking like they were coming in to work in the Dockyards area for the day. The ferry was a high speed catamaran style.
The ferry operation is VERY quick. It shows up, loads up people, and leaves right away. I waved as Bob headed out to his golf game. Then I walked back to the ship and went back to sleep, setting an alarm for 10am. It's just as well I did - at 10am all sorts of announcements began saying the ship was going to do crew testing of emergency procedures. There were the "7 short one long" evacuation signal and other things. I took a shower and got ready to leave about 10:30 - but they were testing the water-tight doors :) So I was sealed in to my hallway segment. I'm sure I could have gotten out if I wanted, but I waited the few minutes for them to finish the test then continued forward to the gangway. Very easy off. There was a HUGE line at the ferry and bus area - there was now a second ship at the dock so there were hordes of people about. I had planned to get on a ferry between 11 and 12 so I wasn't too worried. It was only 10:45. I went over to the ATM to the right of the visitor center to get some money. They were out of service! Now I was a little worried. I went to the visitors center (which takes only cash) and asked for the nearest ATM besides that one. They pointed to a low shopping mall across the little inlet. I walked around to the mall, which had some nice shops, and got out $30. Note that ATMs dispense Bermudian money, as you might expect. They even have a notice that comes up that you have to OK. I stopped in one of the little shops to get a hat, because I'd forgotten both of my hats on the ship. I always do that, and burn very easily!
I got back to the visitor's center and they said I'd missed the 11am ferry and would have to wait for the noon one. I was disappointed because I was supposed to meet the person at 12:15 in Hamilton and the ferry ride was a half hour long one. I paid for my two tokens - $4 each - which are quarter sized gold coins. Then I took a ferry schedule and went to sit at the gazebo. It turns out they were mistaken - the previous ferry to Hamilton had been at 10:30 and there was coming at 11:30. So I only had to wait a short while. I read on my Kindle a bit and there was hardly anyone there with me, unlike the 10:30 crowd. However, somehow when the ferry began to pull up people materialized and filled in the entire "line area" so I was back at the end of the metal gateway. The ferry docked, people disembarked and they let us on. People who had one day passes got them punched with today's date. For my token, they sent me onto the ferry and I dropped it into a grey box. Bob's ferry had been high speed, but mine was a slow type one. I got a seat inside where it was shady and soon the ferry was on its way. It was a lovely, peaceful ride.
The ferry lands right by the Bank of Bermuda, on Front Street. I had been asked to meet my Chaine de Rotisseurs contact further to the right, by the Butterfield Bank and a large flag pole. I walked along the water, very lovely, and got there right on time. A short while later Josee showed up. She has lived on the island for 20 years with her husband and 2 children, originally from Montreal. We walked down the street about 10 more minutes to get to Harbourfront, a lovely restaurant right on the harbour with an Asian flair. I loved the menu, it had wonderful items on it. I got the "shiro" - a multi-layered sashimi creation with tuna, yellowtail and other fish, as well as red miso soup and seaweed salad. I had some Champagne with it. Josee and I had a wonderful discussion about what it is like to live on Bermuda, her fun safari in Africa, and many other topics. Our table was right on the water and I could watch fish swim by as I ate, the boats bobbing nearby, the clouds drifting across the sky. The weather was gorgeous and only a few tables were occupied. Josee said that while this restaurant could be quiet by day, it was completely packed at night and reservations were nearly impossible.
We finished our meal about 3 and headed back towards the ferries. Once we had parted ways, I checked in on the ferry schedule. The next one out was at 4pm. I walked across the street to a book store and got a baby animals book for Liam, and talked with the shop clerk about snorkeling. She explained that the lumpy creature I had seen yesterday was a "sea slug" also known as a "sea cucumber" and if I lifted it out of the water it would squirt water. I never even considered touching it, never mind taking it out of the water! Then I went back across the street to a little gift shop on the opposite site of the building as the ferry office. I got 10 post cards there, including 5 which showed the "Bermuda Long-Tail" - a long-tailed white bird we'd been seeing fly around the ship area. Then I headed back towards the ferry area.
I noticed a catamaran style ferry slightly to the left of the main ferry office (left when facing the water) and went over to ask where it was going. They asked what ship I was on, and when I said the NCL spirit they said that is right where it was going to! I asked if they took tokens and they said they did. So those ferries at the "main ferry office" are not the only ones you have to take. So I got out 15 minutes earlier - this one left at 3:45 - and the inside was MUCH nicer than the other ferry, with plush seats and tables and such. Soon they had taken off and were zooming their way back to dockyards.
When I had gotten on the ferry (and when Bob had gotten on his) we got on by the gazebo by the visitor's center, near the "town" area. This boat docked right NEXT to the Spirit. If you are facing the customs building with the ship behind it, the docking area for this ferry was behind you and to the left. It was literally only a few steps to the customs building, very convenient. Then a few more steps to go through the check-in on the ship and get back to my cabin. It was about 4:30 now. Bob was in there, back from his golf game. He'd eaten a huge lunch up in the buffet area and was now conked out on the bed. According to our white board Bill, Sarah and Liam were off playing at the beach. I curled up and took a nap with Bob until just after 6pm.
Bob got up to check the dining menu to see where we should eat tonight. He called down that the Windows menu looked good, so after talking with Bill and Sarah we decided to eat there about 7:30. Liam was still asleep. We showered, dressed and it was more like 7:45 that we were ready. We'd called to ask about reservations and was told we didn't need any tonight. We showed up at the restaurant, got seats, and a short while later Liam helped a wine glass spill so we had to switch tables :) They were nice enough to bring us another glass! Liam was a little rowdy - he hadn't quite gotten his full nap in - so we took turns taking him out for a run around the lobby while the rest of us ate. I had the Vietnamese egg rolls which were nice but very "fat" and not-high cylinders, meaning when you tried to pick one up to eat it all the innards fell out fairly easily. You had to pour the dipping sauce onto the roll and then eat it whole with a fork. The egg drop soup was pretty good. All four of us had the prime rib which came with an onion ring and a nicely mashed potato in its skin. It was good. Bob had the coconut cream pie and said it was good and light, with a delicate flavor of coconut that wasn't overpowering. He commented that the orange sherbert had bits of ice in it, i.e. might have been melted and refrozen at some point.
One of the times I took Liam out to run around - which he did quite happily and gleefully - another set of parents coming out commented how happy he was and wished thier own 14 month old could be that happy. I commented that the reason I was out in the hallway with him was that he wasn't happy in the restaurant :) They said the ship should offer some sort of babysitting - even just for an hour - so parents could get a meal in. I agreed that it would be a really nice idea. Liam was quite fine and happy when he could explore the ship - he was only cranky when stuffed into a high chair and made to sit still for 2 hours straight.
Bill brought Liam back to the room before dessert so they very nicely packed up Bill's chocolate dessert, a container of Jello for Liam and even an extra serving of baby shrimp which Liam loved, for a snack for later. After Bob, Sarah and I finished our desserts, we headed down to the room. I changed quickly out of my formal dress into sweats and a tshirt and took my iPod, the baby animals book and my laptop over into Bill and Sarah's room. They went off to galavant while Liam and I listened to Disney music and read the story. It wasn't very long before Liam was out like a light and I was able to catch up on my travelogue notes. Of course I am completely dying for in-room internet access right now!! It would be so nice to be able to check mail and do other work while the baby snoozes, but nooooooo, I have to wait until I can get up into a common room area. It figures.
Bob had a long day, between waking up at 6am and golfing all day, so my guess is he is asleep in the other room too.
Thoughts for Monday. Going into Hamilton so easily on the ferry was quite nice. This is much better than our Majesty trip a few years ago when we docked in St Georges and it would have cost $50 each way plus an hour of time to get into Hamilton. The ferry makes it super easy to zip over and zip back again. The restaurant was delicious, I would go back there in a heartbeat. I was disappointed to get back to a napping Bob, I was all psyched to go snorkeling again, but I know he had a long morning with golfing. Hopefully we can do some snorkeling tomorrow, our final day.
Bill was talking about seeing several man of war (poisonous jellyfish) in the water - I guess it's their "season" right now - so on the other hand maybe it's good that I didn't risk getting stung. Even though I've been careful about putting on sun tan lotion I still managed to burn little spots on my big toes, and my cheeks. Sarah's whole back is burnt. Luckily Liam is tanning gently and they slather him with lotion. They said he was afraid of the water at first today but then loved it.
The staff is really friendly and loves my origami. I get requests for items whereever we go. I will have to make up a bunch of items during any quiet times, to be able to have them in my purse at the ready.
12:11am - Bill and Sarah just popped back in, they had a lovely time walking around the island and checking out things after dark. The weather is still gorgeous and they didn't have any problems at all in terms of feeling unsafe. Liam is still sound asleep so I told them to go ahead and explore the ship a bit if they wanted, that I'd finish up with my note taking. Bob and I have no real plans for tomorrow and I figure he's sound asleep.
NCL Spirit Photos from Monday - 122 in total
NCL Spirit Photos - no captions, all on one page
NCL Spirit Photos - from Bob's camera - no captions, all on one page
Bermuda NCL Spirit Travelogue