Wednesday – 4 December 2013 – Nassau, Bahamas
Years ago I would fly my small plane to various islands in the Bahamas archipelago: Grand Bahama Island twice, one each Great Harbour Quay, Great Exuma, and Eleuthera, and three times to Long Island where the Stella Maris resort had a particular appeal. Never did I ever consider visiting Nassau with its crowds, super touristic hotels, and especially the huge crowds of cruise ship passengers who throng into the small capital of the country each day year round. The closest I'd come was to contact their authorities to activate instrument flight plans when required to return to the USA.
Silver Spirit arrived at a leisurely 9 am through a quite pretty entrance channel to this long avoided destination to the sight of three large cruise ships already berthed at "Cruise Ship Terminal", actually another excuse for expensive diamond and cheap souvenir shops. We got a glimpse of an old lighthouse and the iconic Atlantis Resort. (Call now for a $100 per stay resort credit.) The Norwegian Sky was docked across the pier from us. The passengers in the tiny veranda cabins appeared to be thrilled with our arrival. One couple, who we dubbed "The Grumps" for some reason, stood transfixed for over an hour before slamming the door as they retired to their cabin to sulk. Maybe it was our toasting them with Champagne from our capacious veranda in front of our three room suite.
As is usually the case, however, Barbara and I found that this port as many others in the over visited "Eastern Caribbean" cruise itinerary ports has some charm if one merely ventures a couple of blocks beyond the cruise terminal and slick shopping street. We wondered to a nearby fort where Barbara determined the ballistic azimuth and elevation needed to attack a Royal Caribbean cruise ship also docked in the port.
We sailed out as night fell to a lovely conjunction of a new crescent moon and Venus. Could have been a worse day.
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