A collection of cruise blog entries across all cruises on the CruiseReport website.

Rickee Richardson 11/23/16 Rickee Richardson 11/23/16

Day 8 - Bonaire

We get off Star Pride to explore Kralendijk, Bonaire, on our own.

This morning, Star Pride is docked at Kralendijk (prononced "crawl en dike"), Bonaire. This is our first visit to Bonaire, so we wanted to get off the ship and do some exploring on our own.

As one might deduce from the name "Kralendijk", Bonaire is a Dutch island. As such, it is very clean and very safe for tourists. After disembarking the ship, we walk down a pier to the security gate exit into the city.

*About to exit the security gate at the pier*

After you exit the security gate, if you walk to the right, you will find the post office, a bank and a nice tourist information center. Walk to the left, and you will be headed past restaurants and shops and will eventually arrive at a nice public beach. However, if other ships are in port, this beach can get crowded pretty quickly. A better, albeit more costly option, is to take a taxi (about $5 for two people) to Spice Beach. Spice Beach is a private beach that charges a nominal entrance fee, but that fee is applied to any food purchases at the restaurant there.

Bonaire is one of the world's top diving and snorkeling destinations. So, if you are SCUBA certified, or just want to float on top of the water, this is the place to book your water excursion. Windstar offers a variety of snorkeling and SCUBA tours here.

If you are looking for souvenirs (as we always are), there is a small shopping mall just down the street from where the ship docks, right on the waterfront. We found a beautiful shop, "MG Bonaire", that had everything we were looking for at reasonable prices. Another plus is that the US Dollar is the official currency here, so when you pay with dollars, you will get dollars back in change!

*A great place to find souvenirs just a short walk from the ship*

There is a nice wide sidewalk that runs along the waterfront, all the way to the public beach. There are lots of benches along the way where you can stop and take a short break if necessary and just admire the beauty of the ocean. We enjoyed taking a stroll along the waterfront, stopping periodically to look at some colorful fish through the crystal clear water.

*Star Pride docked in Kralendijk, Bonaire*

This evening, we walked around the outer decks of Star Pride at sunset to get some photos. It was a perfect Caribbean sunset after a brief rain shower cooled things off.

We end up at the Star Bar, as most guests do at sunset. This is the best place to be on Star Pride at sunset to meet for cocktails and conversation.

The Star Bar at sunset

We decided to skip dinner this evening. We have been enjoying ourselves a little too much at the dinner table! The food is good and we have little self-control. Another walk around the deck to burn off a few calories is in order.

Deck 8 after a brief shower

Tomorrow, Star Pride will dock in Curacao.

Rickee Richardson 11/22/16 Rickee Richardson 11/22/16

Day 7 - At Sea

We spend a relaxing day at sea aboard Star Pride.

Today, Star Pride is sailing the calm waters of the Caribbean toward the island of Bonaire. This is our only day at sea on this cruise, so we are going to take full advantage of it!

*With a balcony cabin, you can enjoy the ocean breezes without leaving your room*

I tried to get into the 9:00am Galley Tour this morning, but so many people showed up that I decided to skip it and let the other guests enjoy the show. Chef Stany said that the galley can only handle 15 guests per tour, and there were more than 25 who showed up. He scheduled a second tour for 1:00pm for those who missed the morning tour. Instead, Rickee and I decided to attend a towel folding demonstration conducted by the ship's housekeeping staff in the Lounge on Deck 5.

*Room stewardess shows how to create a towel animal*

Each room steward(ess) took a turn at showing how to create a cute animal from nothing more than a hand towel and washcloth. Guests got to join in the fun as we tried to replicate the process.

Our room steward, Anto, helps Rickee create a polar bear

Everybody had great fun learning how to turn towels into the friendly animals that greet us each evening when we return to our suites.

*Rickee created her own menagerie of towel animals*

Almost immediately after the towel folding demo, the galley staff begin setting up the Lounge for a cooking demonstration by Executive Chef Stany. The chef began the demo by showing how to prepare Chicken Tikka using a marinade made with yogurt and spices. Everyone in attendance had an opportunity to taste the chef's Chicken Tikka. Next, Chef Stany showed how to make Butter Chicken, a popular Indian dish with Chicken Tikka in a rich, tomato-based gravy.

*Chef Stany prepares the marinade for his Chicken Tikka*

After Chef Stany's cooking demonstration, two of the Sous Chefs showed their amazing skill at carving fruit and vegetables. One chef turned a pineapple and canteloupe into a friendly owl in less than three minutes.

*Chef Loi shows how to create an owl from a pineapple*

After the excellent cooking and carving demos, it was time for lunch. Even with a full ship (day at sea), we were able to find a nice table for two outside at Veranda. Our favorite part of the Veranda buffet is the variety of fresh salads, and of course, the amazing bread. The bread on this ship is dangerously good. Prepare to gain weight.

I attended the port talk for Kralendijk, Bonaire, (tomorrow's port-of-call) in the Lounge where, beforehand, we were treated to the musical talents of Mistura Fina.

*Mistura Fina performs in the Lounge on Deck 5*

Gonzalo, the ship's Voyage Leader, conducts a Port Talk each day in the lounge to discuss the next day's activities. We find the talks to be an invaluable resource for guests who are deciding what to do in port the following day. A slide show gives pertinent information such as local cuisine, currency, tourism information centers, local attractions, transportation services (taxis) etc.

*Slide show provides valuable local port information*

We were invited to have dinner this evening with the ship's Hotel Manager, Savvas Marotos. As requested, we met him and the group of invited guests at the bottom of the stairs outside of Amphora Restaurant. A large table for eight had been reserved for us. We enjoyed sharing cruise stories with the other guests at the table, as well as with our host. For dinner this evening, I ordered the Curry Duo, a combination of Chicken Tikka, Curry Shrimp, Jasmine rice and Naan bread. It was delicious.

Rickee ordered the less exotic, but no less delicious, Lobster and Beef combo.

After dinner, we were all invited back to The Lounge for the Crew Show. We have attended quite a few crew shows over the years, but this one was probably the most energetic. There are some crew members with real talent! Everyone had a great time and a lot of laughs.

It has been another incredible day aboard Star Pride. Tomorrow, the ship will be docked in Kralendijk, Bonaire.

Rickee Richardson 11/21/16 Rickee Richardson 11/21/16

Day 6 - Mayreau

We spend a glorious day at the beach on Mayreau.

Nothing symbolizes a Caribbean vacation like a day at the beach. Windstar has taken the day at the beach to a whole new level with its signature Beach BBQ Party on Mayreau, a tiny island in the Grenadines.

We took a ship's tender to the island and were greeted with a cool, refreshing punch drink when we disembarked the tender.

*Rum punch is served to arriving guests*

As soon as we hit the beach, we found a couple of open loungers (there were plenty available) then headed straight for the kayaks. Star Pride crew members have brought all of the water toys over from the ship for guests to enjoy from the beach.

We each put on a life jacket and a crew member helped us get the kayak into the water and handed us the paddles. The waters are very calm close to the shore. However, the crew member warned me not to take my camera just in case we "tip over". So, no photos of the actual kayaking. We paddled around the area, staying within 300 yards of the shore, for about 30 minutes. When we returned the kayak, Rickee decided she wanted to try out the paddleboard.

*Rickee tries the paddleboard for the first time*

After Rickee's paddleboarding adventure, it was time to check out the Beach BBQ. The crew has set up a massive buffet with burgers, hot dogs, Jerk chicken, fish burritos, a variety of salads, delicious shrimp mac & cheese, and more.

*Crew keep the jerk chicken warm under the foil*

Rickee and I filled our plates and found a table in the shade to enjoy our lunch. We have been to dozens of beach BBQs over the years with a variety of cruise lines. I must say, I think the facilities at Mayreau are some of the nicest we have seen. And, the Beach BBQ was very well executed. The surfboard cookies were a cute touch.

After lunch, we just laid around on the beach, Rickee in the sun and me in the shade. An occasional dip in the ocean to cool off is in order.

Our social media logo traced in the sand

We get back on board Star Pride around 3:30pm and get cleaned up for the rest of the afternoon and evening. As the Caribbean sun begins to set, we step out on our balcony to shoot some photos.

*An “ussie” taken on our step-out balcony at sunset*

Tonight, we go back to dinner at Amphora Restaurant and get a great table for two at the back of the dining room. We enjoyed another amazing meal with a huge slab of perfectly cooked Prime Rib.

It has been another amazing day aboard Star Pride.

Tomorrow is our first, and only, day at sea on this cruise.

Rickee Richardson 11/20/16 Rickee Richardson 11/20/16

Day 5 - Tobago

Today, Star Pride is anchored off the coast of Tobago. We spend four hours in our suite listening to my laptop, but why?

This morning, Star Pride is anchored in Man-O-War Bay, Tobago. It is very warm and sunny today, much like the rest of the cruise has been so far.

I think it is safe to say that this particular itinerary is very appealing to the snorkeling and SCUBA crowd. We can overhear many of the guests telling stories of their snorkeling adventures. In our attempt to engage in water sports, we visited the ship's Marina in hopes of doing some kayaking around the ship. The main Marina was closed, but a smaller platform was open on the port side of the ship.

The marina attendant mentioned that the current was a little strong today for kayaking and that we might be better off waiting until tomorrow. We decided to wait. Rickee has been talking about trying out the paddleboard. I will have the video camera at the ready should she take the leap.

We decided to make our way back up to the pool deck where we found a couple of open loungers to enjoy the warm morning sun (or shade, in my case). Our loungers were on the port side of the pool deck, where smoking is allowed. A lit cigar soon sent us seeking refuge in another location. Instead of going to lunch in Veranda today, we thought we would try out the ship's room service. Rickee found some sandwiches in the Yacht Club (Deck 8) to her liking, along with some deliciously cute strawberry cupcakes.

*Strawberry cupcakes from the Yacht Club*

I placed an order with Room Service for a cheeseburger and fries. Now, you may ask why we would want to stay in our suite for lunch today. I will give you a hint: it is Sunday. Still can't figure it out? Another hint, we are from Dallas. Seriously, you don't get it? The Cowboys are playing today! I was able to figure out a way to listen to the game live over my laptop using the ship's Internet. Now, why they did not have the game on the ship's TV, I cannot tell you. They seem to figure out how to get that European soccer on the TV. Seriously, who watches that? I may have to talk with the Captain about getting the Cowboy came on Thanksgiving day.

Nevertheless, my burger arrived hot and delicious. They actually have a very good burger and fries here. I enjoyed my burger while we listened to our Cowboys defeat the Baltimore Ravens. Now THAT's how you spend a Sunday on a cruise ship!

After the game, we started getting ready for the Yacht Club Reception (repeater's party) to be held in Compass Rose. We arrived right on time at 6:00pm. Glasses of wine and champagne were waiting our arrival, along with 60 other loyal Windstar guests.

*Wine and champagne await Yacht Club Members*

Rickee quickly selected a glass of champagne and I was able to order a Crown Royal at the bar. A waitress came by with a tray of hors d'oeuvres.

The Captain, Hotel Manager, Chief of Housekeeping, Guest Services Manager and Gonzalo (Voyage Leader) were all on hand to greet and visit with guests. Entertainment was provided by Mistura Fina. The cocktail party is Windstar's way of thanking their loyal repeat guests. It was a very nicely-done repeater's party. After the party, we walked down to Deck 2 where we visited Amphora Restaurant for the first time this cruise. We were pleasantly surprised to find the venue to look completely renovated. We were quickly seated at a table for two and the Maitre 'd noticed that Rickee was wearing black slacks. He replaced her white napkin with a black one to match! I don’t think that I have ever seen that attention to detail before.

For dinner this evening, I ordered the crab cake starter and Rickee had the French Onion Soup. Both were very good. In fact, my crab cake was much better than the one I had last week at Pinnacle Grill on Holland America!

For a main course, I ordered the Osso Bucco and Rickee had the Asian Sesame Crusted Tuna with Soy-Lime Reduction. My Osso Bucco was very good, but Rickee's tuna stole the show. The tuna was covered with black and white sesame seeds, perfectly seared Medium Rare and served atop creamy Wasabi mashed potatoes. It was the standout dish of the night!

*Sesame-crusted seared tuna in soy-lime reduction*

Our first visit to Amphora certainly won't be our last. So far, we have been very impressed with the food quality on this cruise. It has far exceeded our expectations.

*About to enjoy a great dinner at Amphora*

Tomorrow, Star Pride will be in Mayreau for the signature Beach BBQ.

Rickee Richardson 11/19/16 Rickee Richardson 11/19/16

Day 4 - St. George's, Grenada

We go kayaking in clear-bottom kayaks and enjoy an amazing deck BBQ.

This morning, Star Pride is docked in St. George's, Grenada.

*Star Pride docked in St. George’s, Grenada*

We have been here at least twice before on other cruises, so we already have the souvenirs. Therefore, shopping is not the priority today. This morning, we have booked a Clear-Bottom Kayak excursion through the ship's Shore Excursion Desk.

Tickets for Clear-Bottom Kayaking excursion booked on Star Pride | Windstar Star Pride | CruiseReport

But, before we head off on our excursion, my day begins at around 5:30 am with a couple of hours of sifting through the previous day's photos, uploading to Instagram, writing a blog, etc., etc. I have found the perfect spot on board Star Pride to get this done each morning. The Yacht Club on Deck 8 forward is quiet, has good lighting, and is very comfortable. Also, the WiFi connection is good here! As you can see in the photo below, I bring everything I need: my own coffee (Einstein's Winter Blend Coffee), a French press, my Atkin's protein bar and my MacBook Pro!

After my blogging duties are complete, for the morning at least, I meet up with Rickee for our 8:30 am excursion. We meet in the Lounge on Deck 5 where Gonzalo divides up the groups according to the excursions selected. Complimentary beach towels and bottled water are available for guests.

After disembarking the vessel, we walk through the cruise terminal gates and meet "Daddy Pops", our minivan driver for today.

After we all climb aboard the minivan, Daddy Pops drives us to the other side of the island where we will begin our kayaking excursion. Along the way, we pass by dozens of local merchants selling fruits and vegetables along the side of the road. We also pass the city's fish market.

Soon, we arrive at the beach location for our excursion. Fortunately, the water looks pretty calm today. After meeting our guides for the day, we put on life vests and board the two-person, clear-bottom kayaks. We paddle and follow our guide along the designated route.

*Paddling our way along the coast of Grenada*

Whenever we go kayaking, I always sit in the back so that I can shoot video or take photos of Rickee from behind. Plus, I can stop paddling and let her do all the work without her knowing it!

*Rickee does the paddling on the outbound trip*

We paddled for what seemed like three miles, but was probably closer to a mile, when the guides began to point and direct us to hidden treasures under the water. About 20 feet below the surface, in several locations, are dozens of buried statues. The artist, British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, created the statues using concrete and fiberglass and had them placed on the ocean floor, creating an “Underwater Sculpture Park.” This makes this area a popular dive/snorkel spot. I was able to get my GoPro underwater to get a few photos.

*A ring of statues standing tall on the ocean floor*

There are a dozen or more statues or sculptures placed randomly throughout the area. Some are groups of statues (like the one shown above) and others are individuals in a variety of poses. After spending about 45 minutes looking through the clear bottom kayaks at the statues, we started the long trek back to our starting point.

Paddling back to our starting point was more strenuous than paddling out. Perhaps a slight current was working against us. Needless to say, our arms and shoulders were burning by the time we got back. Windstar warns that this excursion is moderate to strenuous, but we would have to say it is more on the strenuous side of the equation. When we got back to the starting point, we were greeted with delicious rum punch (or beer, for those who preferred).

Daddy Pops picked us up around 11:30 and we were back on board Star Pride in time for lunch at Veranda. Today, they had some delicious Korean BBQ pork on the buffet. Rickee opted for the hot dog from the á la carte menu.

After lunch, we spent most of the afternoon in the sun on Deck 8. And today, there's a LOT of sun. Actually, Rickee spends time in the sun, and I spend time under the umbrella.

By late afternoon, the ship's crew was working hard to convert Decks 7 and 8 into a venue for tonight's signature Deck BBQ. Tables and chairs replace the sun loungers.

Just as the sun was beginning to set, guests started to arrive for the Deck BBQ. We found a nice little table for two on Deck 8 overlooking the ocean. We were even able to snap some sunset photos.

The weather is perfect tonight for a BBQ on deck. The galley brigade has prepared every dish imaginable for the event. Grilled steak, lamb, lobster, a roasted whole pig, and a gigantic paella pan filled with rice and seafood.

From what we could see, the BBQ was a huge hit with every guest. And, everything was very well prepared and delicious. Rickee especially liked the shrimp cocktail.

After dinner, Windstar invited a local group of entertainers on board to perform steel drum music. It was a fun and festive evening filled with good food and good entertainment.

Tomorrow, Star Pride will be anchored off the coast of Tobago.

Rickee Richardson 11/18/16 Rickee Richardson 11/18/16

Day 3 - Bequia

We make our first-ever visit to the island of Bequia.

When we wake up this morning, Star Pride is already preparing to anchor off the coast of Bequia. Pronounced "bek-way", Bequia is the second largest island in the Grenadines at 7 square miles. It is part of the country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and is approximately 15 kilometers from the nation's capital, Kingstown, on the main island, Saint Vincent.

We spent the morning on Deck 8 soaking up some sun (or shade, in my case). There are lots of empty loungers and umbrellas with many guests off the ship on excursions.

At 12:30, we make our way down to Deck 7 aft for lunch at Veranda. We find a nice table for two outside.

The salad bar offers a colorful selection of salads, including a Greek Salad and Tuna Salad, both of which were delicious.

*Colorful and tasty salads offered at Veranda*

In addition to a selection of hot dishes on the buffet, there is an a' la carte menu on each table. I ordered the Lamb Tikka Masala burger, and it was juicy and delicious. It was served with an order of hot and crispy French fries. Beef burgers, chicken sandwiches and hot dogs are available every day at Veranda.

I somehow found room for dessert, something I rarely order. But, the chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate chip cookie were calling my name.

Later this afternoon, we decided to hop on one of the ship's tenders for a ride over to the island of Bequia and the town of Port Elizabeth.

We step off the tender at a pier that is right in the middle of town. We are on the hunt for souvenirs and postcards, but there are not a lot of souvenir shops.

The main street in Port Elizabeth runs right along the shoreline and the town looks much like many other small Caribbean towns. There are local artisans selling their wares on card tables set up along the street. Facing the shore are many colorful shops and restaurants, but no souvenir shops.

There is really not a lot to see in Port Elizabeth, at least not when you visit on a cruise ship. Guests would probably be better off taking one of the ship's excursions here. A quick walk through town is always something we like to do. We did find a small shop selling mostly clothing that did have a few souvenirs. We were able to obtain a refrigerator magnet and a Christmas ornament for our collection.

*Local clothing store with a few souvenirs*

Walking down the street a couple of blocks brought us to the Bequia Tourism Association where we were able to purchase postcards and postage. I doubt that this is an "official" government tourism office; nevertheless, they had what we needed and even mailed our postcards for us.

Of course, just across the street, had we taken the time to look, is the local Post Office, so we could probably have bought postcards there as well.

We probably stayed in town less than 45 minutes before we caught the tender back to Star Pride. One nice feature of a Windstar cruise is the continual tender operations. It seems that there is always a tender available when you need one. The sun is beginning to set as we approach Star Pride in the harbor.

*The sun is setting on Star Pride as we return*

When we re-board Star Pride, I head to the Compass Rose to work on my blog and Rickee heads to the Lounge to hear Gonzalo do a port talk on St. George's, Grenada.

*Gonzalo conducts port talk in The Lounge*

Tomorrow, we will be docked in Grenada where we will be doing a Glass-Bottom Kayak tour!

Rickee Richardson 11/17/16 Rickee Richardson 11/17/16

Day 2 - St. Lucia

Star Pride visits St. Lucia and we take an island Segway Tour.

By the time we woke up this morning, Star Pride was anchored off the coast of Pigeon Island National Park in St. Lucia. A buffet breakfast is already being served (7 am) in Veranda which is where I decide to have my morning coffee and do my daily blog.

*Pigeon Island National Park, St. Lucia*

The breakfast buffet has every item you could possibly want for a morning meal. Waiters circulate through the dining area (inside and outside) with pots of hot coffee. This is a great location if you want to enjoy breakfast 'al fresco' on the outer deck. Even though the WiFi signal is good in Veranda, with the morning sun it is a little too bright for me to use this location to create the daily blog. I have another spot in mind to try tomorrow.

I return to our suite (308) to finish my work. It is a good time to mention that the WiFi Internet service so far has been pretty good for a cruise ship. The connection seems reliable enough and the speeds are tolerable. So far, I have been able to connect from everywhere on the ship.

At 10:00am, the ship's marina on Deck 3 opens for business. Guests have access to kayaks, paddle boards, water skiing, wakeboards, water mats/trampoline. You can also swim off the watersports platform.

For lunch this afternoon, we decided to try a lighter option in the Yacht Club on Deck 8 forward. The Yacht Club serves light bites from 6am until 5pm each day. In the mornings, you will find a selection of pastries, fruit, yogurt, coffee, orange juice, etc. At lunchtime, a variety of small sandwiches, wraps, cupcakes and cookies are available. Rickee and I had the egg salad pita and Oriental Chicken wrap, both delicious. The peanut butter cookie was my favorite.

After our light lunch, we walked around the outer decks to get a look at Pigeon Island. The sun is shining at the moment, but rain clouds loom in the distance.

*Rickee looks out over the (windy) bow at Pigeon Island*

The ship has been providing tender operations all morning between the ship and Pigeon Island for guests on shore excursions. At 3:00pm, we take one of the ship's tenders to go to Pigeon Island to meet our tour guide from Lucian Style, a local Segway tour provider. We arranged a Sunset Segway Tour with "dinner on the beach" directly through the Lucian Style website weeks before the cruise. As it turns out, Windstar also offers a Segway tour conducted by Lucian Style, so you could also book through the cruise line.

*Chad with Lucian Style greets us on Pigeon Island*

After arriving at Lucian Style's offices in Rodney Bay, we filled out the necessary paperwork, were fitted with safety helmets, and escorted to the practice/training track for Segway orientation.

*Rickee adjusts her helmet in preparation for the Segway tour*

After a brief orientation on the safe operation of the Segway, the group of eight guests were zipping around the test track like seasoned pros. We have ridden Segways in cities all over the world, but this is the first time we have ridden them off-road. The tour took us up and down dirt roads, some muddy from the recent rain, and up some pretty steep inclines. We stopped at several overlooks for photo ops.

*A high-five on our Segways with Star Pride in the background*

By the time we arrived at the beach, it was getting dark. Our guide directed us to have a seat at Marie's, a local open-air beach restaurant. Soon, we were each served a plate of true local Caribbean cuisine. Fresh Blue Marlin, rice, beans, a fish cake and some vinaigrette for the fish. The meal was rustic, to say the least, but everything was delicious. After the meal, our guide led us back to Lucian Style offices. It was the first time we have ever ridden Segways in the dark! But, we never felt as if it were unsafe and there was enough light to see where we were going.

Chad drove us to the Rodney Bay Marina where Windstar was conducting tender operations until 10:30 pm. We said goodbye, promising to visit Lucian Style on a future visit to St. Lucia! We boarded the ship's tender for a night ride back to Star Pride.

*Star Pride at night anchored in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia*

Tomorrow, Star Pride will be anchored off the coast of Bequia, the second largest island in the Grenadines.

Rickee Richardson 11/16/16 Rickee Richardson 11/16/16

Day 1 - Star Pride Embarkation

We fly from Miami to Barbados where we embark Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride.

Our Uber driver picked us up from Trump National Doral right on time for the 20-minute ride to MIA, about seven miles from the hotel. The Uber ride was a new Lincoln MKX and was spotlessly clean. The driver even had bottled water for us. The ride was $18, compared to more than $45 for a taxi. I think we are now Uber fans.

We arrived at MIA in plenty of time to check in and boarded our flight on time. I was next on the list for an upgrade to First Class, but alas, it was not to be. We did, however, enjoy the extra legroom of the exit row in the ancient Boeing 757. It is a good idea for parents to take their children on these planes for a history lesson so they can see the old tube-style TVs still in use hanging from the aircraft ceiling. We landed in Barbados about three hours later, around 2:10pm. After exiting Immigration and Customs, we were greeted by the Windstar Cruises ground transfer representative.

*We wait outside the airport for the transfer bus*

There were six of us in the minivan for the 40-minute ride to the pier. After checking in at the Cruise Terminal, we boarded a port shuttle that took us to the ship. We caught our first glimpse of Star Pride sitting dockside in Barbados.

We boarded the ship by walking up the gangway. Note: be prepared to carry your own hand luggage up the gangway. Once on board, were were invited to the lounge to complete the check-in process. I am pretty sure we were the last group to board the ship, so check-in went very quickly. After check-in, Gonzalo, our Voyage Leader, gave a presentation on all of the upcoming ports-of-call and the excursions available in each port.

After the port talk, we had just enough time to unpack before sailaway. I was able to snap a photo of the aft section of Star Pride as we sailed away from Barbados. In between the two stacks, you can see Adventure of the Seas being left behind.

*We leave Barbados and Adventure of the Seas behind as we sail away*

During sail away, D'Harmony entertained in the Star Bar as Barbados disappeared in the distance.

After sailaway, we changed clothes in preparation for our 7pm dinner reservation at Candles, Star Pride's indoor/outdoor dining venue. During the day, Candles is Veranda, the ship's buffet breakfast and lunch venue, but in the evenings, it is converted into a romantic bistro. As we enter Candles, we see a display of the meat items available on tonight's menu.

*Selection of steaks and chops offered at Candles*

We were seated outside at a table for two overlooking the stern. Our waiter soon arrived with a beautiful basket of delicious, warm bread and our menus. There are basically three courses served here: a starter, the main course and dessert. Rickee and I both ordered the Shrimp Cocktail Shooter Skewer, which were two skewered shrimp wrapped in Proscuitto ham and sitting in a shot glass filled with a spicy BBQ cocktail sauce. They were very good.

Soon after the skewer plates were cleared away, our main courses arrived. I ordered the 10-ounce Veal Chop and Rickee had the Grilled Sea Bass. My veal chop was cooked perfectly (medium), was juicy and tender. A variety of sauces were offered and I chose the Chimichurri. Rickee's sea bass was cooked perfectly and she really enjoyed it. We also tried a variety of side dishes, all of which were very good. Our favorite was the Creamy Mushrooms and Leeks.

We decided to skip dessert, but the Red Velvet Cake for Two was very tempting. After dinner, we headed back to our suite to complete our unpacking.

Tomorrow, we will be anchored off the coast of St. Lucia and will take the ship's tender into Pigeon Bay.

Rickee Richardson 5/12/16 Rickee Richardson 5/12/16

Day 6 - Cologne, Germany

We visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site and enjoy dinner in Aquavit Terrace.

This morning, Viking Alruna is docked in Cologne, Germany, a city with more than one million inhabitants, and the cultural center of Germany. We have visited Cologne many times, so this morning we decided to skip the included Viking Alruna walking tour of Cologne. Instead, we used the morning to catch up on our blogging duties and prepare for our afternoon optional excursion to the Brühl palaces.

*Viking Alruna docked in Cologne, Germany*

After a delicious casual lunch in Aquavit Terrace, we were fueled up for our afternoon optional excursion to Brühl. We met our local tour guide, Phillip, who escorted our small group to the motorcoach for the 40-minute drive to Brühl.

*Phillip, our local tour guide for the Brühl palaces*

Our first stop was Falkenlust, the favorite hunting lodge of elector and Archbishop of Cologne, Clemens Augustus. The location was selected in accordance with the flight path of the herons, the favorite prey in falconry. At the conclusion of the hunt, the court would meet for dinner and entertainment in the lavishly appointed rooms of this hunting lodge. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to photograph the interior of Falkenlust.

The interior of the lodge is about as ornate and elaborate as you can imagine. After touring the rooms of Falkenlust, we reboarded the coach for the short drive to Augustusburg Palace. In 1725, architect Johann Conrad Schlaun was commissioned by Clemens Augustus to begin the construction of the palace on the ruins of a medieval castle. The palace was completed in 1768, seven years after Clemens Augustus died. UNESCO honored the site by inscribing Augustusburg Palace – together with Falkenlust Palace and their gardens – on the World Heritage List in 1984.

When we approached Augustusburg Palace, the first thought we had was the Palace of Versailles. The exterior is a marvel of 18th century construction, but it is the interior that really makes you wonder how did they do this? And, how could someone ever afford to do it? The intricate plaster work, faux marble, fabric-covered walls and hand-painted ceilings are incredible. It would be difficult to find craftsmen today who could do such work. It was truly impressive. Again, photos are not allowed inside the palace, so you will have to visit on your own when you sail with Viking River Cruises! Equally impressive are the adjacent gardens.

*Rickee admires the palace from the gardens*

The entire tour took about four hours, with about one hour for driving to and from the palaces. Surprisingly, only about 12 guests signed up for the optional tour. I can tell you, it was well worth the extra cost and is a must-see when visiting Cologne.

We were back on board Viking Alruna by 5:15 and had a little time to get ready before Dewi's daily briefing at 6:30pm in the Viking Lounge. At the end of the briefing, most guests exited the lounge for their favorite daily activity: dinner in the Restaurant! Rickee and I decided to have a casual dinner tonight in Aquavit Terrace.

The tables in Aquavit Terrace are located both inside and outside. The weather is perfect so the large folding doors have been opened making our indoor table seem as though we are dining al fresco. Our meal begins with a platter of Norwegian specialties, said to be some of Torstein Hagen's (owner and CEO of Viking Cruises) favorites. All were delicious.

Even though a salad course was offered, we decided to skip right to tonight's main course: a BBQ shredded beef slider and a small rack of BBQ pork ribs. It was as if the chef read my mind! The dinner and service were excellent and we consider Aquavit Terrace to be our new favorite place to enjoy dinner on a Viking Longship.

After dinner, we were treated to an amazing classical music performance by a Carpe Diem, a duo of classical musicians from Cologne. The hour-long performance could be the best entertainment we have ever witnessed on a river cruise.

After the show, it was off to bed. It has been yet another magical day aboard Viking Alruna.

Rickee Richardson 5/11/16 Rickee Richardson 5/11/16

Day 5 - Koblenz, Germany

Scenic Rhine River sailing in the morning, a tour of Marksburg Castle in the afternoon, and a Taste of Germany.

This morning we got to enjoy a few extra hours of sleep as Viking Alruna sailed up the Rhine toward the town of Koblenz. At 8:30, Dewi, the Program Director, began her narration about the Rhine valley, talking about points of interest visible as we slowly sailed toward Koblenz. The weather was perfect for viewing the castles, vineyards and small communities that dot the landscape.

*Castles around every bend in this part of the Rhine river*

By noon, Alruna was docking in Koblenz and soon we were getting ourselves ready for our afternoon tour of Marksburg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site located above the town of Braubach, Germany. The castle is about 12 miles from where Viking Alruna is docked so, once again, we grabbed our QuietVox units and headed for the motorcoaches.

Once we arrived at the castle, we began the arduous walk up the steep driveway leading to the castle entrance. Here, we met our local guide, Mark, who began taking us through various rooms and explaining the castle’s history.

One of the most popular rooms was the armory, where we could see different styles of armor used throughout the centuries. And of course, the torture chamber was another group favorite!

After we returned from the castle, Rickee and I decided to walk into Koblenz and do some sightseeing. We have docked here before, but never seen the city. The walk into town takes about 10 minutes, and it is a pretty easy walk. There were a few shops and cafes open and the town was buzzing with activity. Once again, the weather is perfect, making it hard not to get out and walk.

We get back to Alruna in plenty of time to change for dinner. Tonight's theme is "A Taste of Germany" and chef Mark has prepared a German feast for the Alruna guests. Local musicians are on hand to entertain as we line up at a buffet complete with sausages, meatballs, roast beef, pork knuckle, pork belly, suckling pig, roasted chicken, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and a few dozen other things I have left out. I tried everything but the chicken, and everything was delicious. We have noticed over the years how Viking continues to improve. And, food is certainly one of the most notable improvements.

*Chefs fill plates as we walk through the buffet line*

Guests who were interested were invited to visit the galley to see where all of the food on board is prepared. It is amazing what the galley team can do in such a small workspace! A German accordion player circulated through the restaurant entertaining us with lively music and even got some of us involved in the chicken dance!

Dewi, Evelyn and the rest of the staff were dressed in traditional German outfits and everyone got into the spirit of the evening. It was one of the most enjoyable evenings we have had on a cruise.

Tomorrow, we will be docked in Cologne, Germany.