Morning broke as we made our way up a very smooth Sir Francis Drake Channel to Roadtown, Tortola. After anchoring in a corner of the harbor we headed to breakfast in the Office for our usual fare. FT and I then grabbed a cab to the beach (Brewers Bay). The beach was beautiful, with a wonderful beach bar (Nicole's Beach Bar) with clean restrooms. The only problem was that the beach was on the north shore and the swells prevented snorkeling and it rained. But we got off the ship!
I had purchased lots of streamers, gag gifts and flamingos to decorate our cabin. Poor DJ’s DH knew both sets of surprises and somehow was able to keep it all straight. Independently each party gave DJ’s DH items which he then packaged into one box for shipment to the port agent in SJU. DJ’s DH and FT had made arrangements to have the items transferred to the ship and stored for us until our arrival.
I have learned that while FT and I were ashore CAD Mary joined DJ on the Bali Bed to review plans for the surprises we had planned for FT starting with some decorations (think streamers and such) in her room which would be added to each day. Plans were made to place the flamingoes on the beach the day of Champagne and Caviar Splash and for FT to be one of the first ones to wet land on the beach.
While we were ashore Capt T had made a Zodiac trip to find us a place to anchor and use the water sports platform. He found a calm anchorage off Peter for water sports (no jet skis because of the BVI regulations) and dinner. After the last tender returned from Roadtown around 2:30 p.m., we picked up the anchors and had a lovely motor sail over to Peter. After the anchors were securely dug in, the Marina Platform was lowered and people had a chance to participate in water sports from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Folks were allowed to swim off the Marina Platform from 5 to 5:30 p.m. just enough time for a refreshing dip before heading to dress for cocktails poolside.
There was a rather large group traveling together (about 28) while we were a core group of six (who would expand to 10 or more on any given night).
Now I like to have a good time just as much as the next person. I must say that I was somewhat disappointed that there was a subset of that group (probably 15 to 20), who totally disregarded the published dress code on the three nights when cocktails were served poolside.
This was the first time in our four SD cruises that I saw blatant disregard for the dress code.
Now some may think that this is a petty issue but when this group blocked access to the bar for other guests and the waiters and as well as access to the hors d’oeuvres well then we have a bit of an issue.
It was somewhat annoying to me and others with whom I spoke to see these folks splashing in the hot tub in their bathing suits while the rest of us were dressed for dinner and trying to enjoy the ambiance that the staff was trying create by serving cocktails poolside. Not to mention the bottleneck that occurred.
The staff did all that they could to work around and diffuse any potential conflict, however, they too were also greatly inconvenienced. As a matter of fact, the HM and CAD both advised that they each approached the group about the situation.
SD’s dress code is very casual but I really think that these folks were disrespectful to their fellow passengers as well as the crew and staff. I later learned that we weren’t the only people who mentioned the situation to the HM and CAD. There really wasn’t anything the staff or crew could do in this situation except smile and provide excellent service.
The only reason I mention this is that there is always a huge debate on Cruise Critic in general about dress code.
Did this ruin our evenings… heck no… but listening to our good friend FT complain about how irritating it was to get dripped and splashed on as you were trying to get a cocktail wasn’t much fun either.
I do encourage future cruisers, regardless of whatever line you sail, to be courteous to your fellow passengers and the ship’s staff and follow the dress code just as you would at a fine restaurant or resort on land.
With that out of my system I will continue with the review…
I had purchased lots of streamers, gag gifts and flamingos to decorate our cabin. Poor DJ’s DH knew both sets of surprises and somehow was able to keep it all straight. Independently each party gave DJ’s DH items which he then packaged into one box for shipment to the port agent in SJU. DJ’s DH and FT had made arrangements to have the items transferred to the ship and stored for us until our arrival.
While we were ashore Capt T had made a Zodiac trip to find us a place to anchor and use the water sports platform. He found a calm anchorage off Peter for water sports (no jet skis because of the BVI regulations) and dinner. After the last tender returned from Roadtown around 2:30 p.m., we picked up the anchors and had a lovely motor sail over to Peter. After the anchors were securely dug in, the Marina Platform was lowered and people had a chance to participate in water sports from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Folks were allowed to swim off the Marina Platform from 5 to 5:30 p.m. just enough time for a refreshing dip before heading to dress for cocktails poolside.
WARNING … DRESS CODE RANT: (Courtesy of DisneyJen unedited . . .thanks DJ)
Each day on the itinerary there is a sentence that states “DRESS CODE FOR THIS EVENING IS ‘YACHT CASUAL’ AFTER 18:30.”There was a rather large group traveling together (about 28) while we were a core group of six (who would expand to 10 or more on any given night).
Now I like to have a good time just as much as the next person. I must say that I was somewhat disappointed that there was a subset of that group (probably 15 to 20), who totally disregarded the published dress code on the three nights when cocktails were served poolside.
This was the first time in our four SD cruises that I saw blatant disregard for the dress code.
Now some may think that this is a petty issue but when this group blocked access to the bar for other guests and the waiters and as well as access to the hors d’oeuvres well then we have a bit of an issue.
It was somewhat annoying to me and others with whom I spoke to see these folks splashing in the hot tub in their bathing suits while the rest of us were dressed for dinner and trying to enjoy the ambiance that the staff was trying create by serving cocktails poolside. Not to mention the bottleneck that occurred.
The staff did all that they could to work around and diffuse any potential conflict, however, they too were also greatly inconvenienced. As a matter of fact, the HM and CAD both advised that they each approached the group about the situation.
SD’s dress code is very casual but I really think that these folks were disrespectful to their fellow passengers as well as the crew and staff. I later learned that we weren’t the only people who mentioned the situation to the HM and CAD. There really wasn’t anything the staff or crew could do in this situation except smile and provide excellent service.
The only reason I mention this is that there is always a huge debate on Cruise Critic in general about dress code.
Did this ruin our evenings… heck no… but listening to our good friend FT complain about how irritating it was to get dripped and splashed on as you were trying to get a cocktail wasn’t much fun either.
I do encourage future cruisers, regardless of whatever line you sail, to be courteous to your fellow passengers and the ship’s staff and follow the dress code just as you would at a fine restaurant or resort on land.
With that out of my system I will continue with the review…
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