St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, our 2nd port of call

I can't believe it but reports say that we will be the only ship in port on Friday, March 12th! If true, what an unbelievable bit of good luck this would be! St. Thomas is renowned for its beautiful white beaches, sailing, diving, fishing... and of course shopping. Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the U.S.V.I. as well as the "shopping hub of the Caribbean" and is quite busy. If you want to sample a more laid back island, head over to St. John.

I think we will be docking at Havensight. Taxis will be readily available, as it's about a 45 minute walk to Charlotte Amalie. Yacht Haven Grand is a nice marina area near Havensight (between Havensight and Charlotte Amalie) with shopping, restaurants, and bars. Stop in at Wikked, or Fat Turtle for a Bushwacker or BBC. You can download a St. Thomas coupon book for discounts at jewelery stores, Wikked, and Fat Turtle.

Hungry? In Charlotte Amalie, how about a waterfront lunch at The Greenhouse? A nice tour option is the Blackbeard's Tour. This tour includes several restored 19th century homes, a small rum factory, an amber museum, and the watchtower. The property also has the largest collection of pirate statues in the world. If you're interested in history/antiques, you should definitely take the tour to see how the merchant class lived during those times. There are also 3 pools on the property that you can use at your leisure.

First Port of Call: San Juan, Puerto Rico

On March 11th, we arrive in San Juan, "the most vibrant city in the Caribbean", according to the New York Times. Fortunately, only one other ship, The Independence of the Seas, will be in port with us. Lots of activities and excursions are available here from ziplining to river trekking, waterfall climbing, and kayaking to salsa dancing and shopping for local art. Two old forts are nearby and worth a "look see". El Morro is a great fortress and has belonged to all five centuries of the city's past and present. San Cristobal Fort is a World Heritage site and is impressive from the dungeons to the spires. El Yunque, the only rainforest designated as a U.S. National Forest, is located about an hour south of San Juan.

San Juan is walkable, but it can be hot and the hills are steep. There's a free trolley that will take you around Old San Juan and to the forts. You can pick it up across from the information booth, between cruise piers three and four.

To start the day off, how about mallorca (little sweet & savory pastries) and cafe con leche at La Bombonera? In business since 1902, this is a must do. Then how about a pina colada or the local beer, Medallia, at Barrachina? For lunch be sure to try mofongo, a must-try for first-time visitors who want to sample the local fare. Essentially, mofongo is a mashed mound of plantains into which a combination of seafood, meat, or vegetables is added. It can be served as a side dish or a main course accompanied typically by beans and rice. Check out Restaurant Raices for lunch. .
Wanna do some Latin dancing? How about salsa lessons? Head to the Latin Roots... free lessons at 11 am! .

Food on Mercury

Reviews are mostly good to excellent, but I just say that I have never been disappointed in the quality or quantity of food offered on a cruise! There is an "Always Available" menu selection for dinner in the main dining room: Appetizers include Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Escargot a la Bourguignonne, Celebrity Antipasti Platter. Soups and Salads: Baked French Onion Soup, Creamy Lobster Bisque, Caprese Salad, Classic Caesar Salad. Entrees: Broiled Atlantic Salmon, Herb Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled New York Sirloin Steak. Sides: Baby Peas, Steamed Green Beans, Broccoli, Rice Pilaf, Mashed Potatoes, or Loaded Baked Potato. Desserts: New York Cheesecake, Apple Pie A la Mode, Creme Brulee.

Any of the above would make me smile (with the exception of escargot!)

The Cova Cafe is a wonderful spot for morning pastries (no charge) and specialty coffees (surcharge)... the almond croissants get rave reviews!

The Manhattan Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and does not disappoint. As stated above, an always available selection is on the dinner menu. Breakfast & lunch are open seating. Dinner is traditional main or late or "Select" (which is anytime).

As for the buffets, the stir fry gets good reviews at the lunch buffet and the Waffle and Eggs stations (benedict, omelettes, made to order) are also popular. For more casual dining, check out Playa Grille where you will find yummy french fries and burgers. Nearby is the Pizza and Pasta Bar (try the calzone)! I don't think we will go hungry!

Thoughts on Our Upcoming Cruise

It's been cold here in North Carolina & I can't wait for our cruise to depart the beautiful city of Charleston, SC on March 8th (incidentally the day before my birthday)... what a way to celebrate, huh? We have a group of 28 Cattail Cruisers on this cruise... there were 32, but some had to cancel. Nonetheless, our group of 28 will rock the boat. Ken & I are hosting a wine & cheese party for the group on Feb. 21st in our home. I am hoping that my Celebrity DSM comes across with some door prizes and such! & Of course, we will have an onboard party as well... and perhaps other events if the group is interested.

As I said before, Ken & I are staying at the French Quarter Inn in Charleston the night of March 7th and plan to have dinner at one of Charleston's wonderful low country restaurants that evening. If any of you will be in Charleston that evening and want to join us for dinner, let me know & I will make reservations accordingly.