A seven day cruise trip with the new Royal Princess. Just like to experience the new ship, so we booked this trip. The trip just one day after we completed Canada & Colonial America trip. We stayed one night in Hollywood. Hollywood is in the south of Fort Lauderdale. Last year, we stayed one night in Fort Lauderdale. There is no public transportation, so we have to eat in the hotel. This time, I am getting smarter and booked a hotel in Hollywood downtown. From user comments, hotel is near public bus and close to all restaurants. It is convenient, from Everglade Port to the hotel by taxi is only about $21. The hotel is Ramada Hollywood downtown.
We unloaded our luggage at hotel storage first, then walk to bus stop. When we were waiting for the bus, I found a car stopped there so I went there to ask for schedule or direction. It turned out the car sits the supervisor of the bus company. She told me senior fare is 85 cents and the schedule. We dropped $2 for both us, no change back. The distance to Hollandale Beach Walmart is not as described by Google 19 stops. The distance is short. We started our Walmart trip. US price is always cheaper than in Canada, same Walmart Dr. Scholl shoes is $5 cheaper. On the way back, I asked driver where should I wait for the bus, she just asked me to get in because bus will drive around and get back on the other side and back to Hollywood. I believe next time in Fort Lauderdale when I need to stay as pre or after cruise trip. Why I say that? If flight with connection(s), luggage missing or weather delay may give headache to the trip so better to get there one day ahead. If airfare for after cruise day is too high why not fly next morning with cheaper fare, if cheaper fare flight is very late, e.g. 9:30 PM, why not stay one night and fly next morning.
Princess Cays
Date: November 11, 2013
Princess Cays is an exclusive port of call and private beach on the southern portion of the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The port is shallow so Royal Princess can only anchored in the deeper sea, tender service for us to get to shore. There are 2 beaches for us to use. Thousands of beach chairs, tents and cover picnic area. Fruits, water and BBQ are served there. Everyone can rent water sports equipment with cruise card.
This is our 2nd time visit to this Princess own private beach. Lunch time, there are at least 4 lines for us to pick up food and drink. I noticed there is a permanent commercial dish washer for the kitchen staff to clean cook wares. We all use paper dishes and plastic cup, fork and knife. It is a day for us to enjoy warm and crystal clear Caribbean ocean water.
Sunrise
Royal Princess's Unique Sea Walk
Just over the pool, higher platform has water show in the evening.
Private Balcony
St Thomas
Date: November 13, 2013
Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands, it is part of United States but with driving on the left hand side, just like in Britain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Most cars on the road are American built with driver seat on the front left. Local drivers did not have problem to drive American cars on Britain road. There are traffic lights than some countries like to use circles.
From dock to downtown - there are taxis. About $5 per person to get on modified small truck taxi. It can take 12 to 15 people. We walked back the distance is very short.
St Thomas is very clean. There are stores from watches to diamonds. We first hit a flee market type market. When I saw counterfeit bags, iif you purchase high end stuff you better make sure they are real. Liquor is affordable. A small bottle rum is $4 for local brand. Imported vodka, gin etc are still cheaper. We just walked in downtown area for a few hours to complete our visit to this famous Virgin Islands.
Philipsburg, St Maarten (St Martin)
Date: November 14, 2013
Saint Maarten is Dutch and Saint Martin is English. This place is part of Netherlands. Virtually, all people here can speak good English. From port to downtown: walk, taxi or sea taxi. Taxi is $5 one way and sea taxi is $7 one way. We used more popular sea taxi. There is French past, but I did not visit there.
Beach in downtown is beautiful. You have to rent chair, umbrella and probably paid water to rinse your body. It is so different from Princess Cays you paid nothing to lie down, swim, shower and use bathroom.
On this island, driving is normal - on the right hand side.
It is like St Thomas, many stores for watch, diamond, etc. Also, there is a large flee market with non-reasonable price. There is one McDonald and 2 Casinos in downtown. After seeing St Thomas, here is just one place like St Thomas. People come here for shopping. Clothes price is much higher than in The States. Liquor price is lower than Canada for sure. When I am sitting in the cold Toronto and look at Caribbean pictures, I should not complain about hot weather when I was there. I shall visit again.
