St Kitts & Nevis

11 November, 2024

Welcome to Saint "Me!"

This morning we docked in Basseterre, St Kitts. (pronounced "bass-tear" – as in the fish and a droplet that runs down your cheek) I've enjoyed making bad jokes about the "misspelling" of the island name (I told them there was only ONE "t!") and, of course, I've been roasted over the "Saint" designation.

Other than a misprint on our excursion tickets (the meeting point was not the pink building, as indicated) and rather warm temperatures,  the beginning of the tour was reasonably well organized and managed. A bit more shade would have been nice, as well as a more complete understanding of what was to follow, but overall it was one of the smoother transitions we've experienced. We were divided among a fleet of mini-buses for the drive to the boarding area for the Scenic Railway Tour.

Our driver kept us entertained and informed with a steady dialogue covering the history of the island and the transition from sugar plantations to tourism and education, as well as the current state of affairs. This small island-nation boasts a pair of Medical Schools as well as a Veterinary School, a university, and a technical college. One end of the island is home to several resorts with familiar names while the opposite end remains largely untouched and covered with derelict sugar cane fields. Goats, sheep, donkeys, and chickens roam freely, helping to keep vegetation manicured and bugs nearly non-existent.

We arrived at the La Valée Transfer Station, at the distant end of the railroad route and enjoyed a patch of shade while we waited for the train to arrive and unload the outbound passengers. Everyone got a spritz of hand sanitizer as we boarded the train, and most of us made our way to the upper level by way of stairs reminiscent of what you would find on a double-decker bus in London. The seating was ample and nicely padded, and thanks to the high angle of the sun the shade was more than sufficient. As the train began to move we all wondered if we were on a scenic train or a scenic boat, and perhaps some motion-sickness medication may be in order.

As the train swayed from left to right the narration began, some of which was barely intelligible due to
static in the speaker system. At first I thought the swaying might dampen out as our forward momentum built, but that was not the case. Everyone was fairly amazed that the train remained upright, especially as we crossed several bridges that were no wider than the track gauge. 

The staff on the train was excellent, keeping us supplied with beverages and small snacks throughout the journey. Communication could be challenging at times, due to the clanking of the running gear and the volume of the narration, but they kept things running smoothly on board, even if the undercarriage was a bit rough. We wound through the countryside, around the western end of the island and the northern coast, with Mount Liamuiga peeking in and out of cloud cover as we circled. On the north side of the island we crossed Hermitage Bridge and then passed several natural bat caves surrounding the quarry, but didn't see any bats due to the time of day.  

We continued along, through Canada, to the Needsmust Train Station, where we disembarked and re-boarded our buses, just a few minutes before the announced "All Aboard" time of 5:30. The beauty of being on a cruise-sponsored excursion (especially with 100 of your friends) is that the ship won't depart without you.  Everyone unloaded from the busses, where we discovered Luis from the Shore Excursion Team waiting for us, communicating updates back to the ship via radio. We were treated to a beautiful sunset as we hurried back to the ship. Everyone was quickly swiped-in with their seapass cards, and the ship pulled away from the pier as the last of the guests were cleared through security. I haven't been one of the "last on" a cruise in a long time, and this was the first time I've ever been on an excursion that was late to return.

This evening we had reservations in Wonderland - of Alice in Wonderland theming, so we were able to take our time getting ready for dinner. If you enjoy inventive presentations and interesting food combinations and preparations, we highly suggest a visit to Wonderland when you're on a ship that features this venue. The menu items are whimsical in both name and presentation, and nearly everything on the menu falls in to the category of "I'd eat this until I made myself sick."

From the playful cocktails to the full-production hidden desert revealed beneath a globe of chocolate that melts away under a stream of hot caramel, the staff injects fun and enthusiasm into a tasty dining experience.

The Captain informed us that there were several ships due to dock in San Juan tomorrow morning, so in order to improve our chances of claiming a premium mooring he plans to make good speed overnight.