Blog 178 Day 12. In the Port of Bridgetown, Barbados.

In the U.K. it’s midday. Here it is 8 am. The sun is shining and it’s warm already outside. It never really cools down, not even during the night.

We arrived at Bridgetown, Barbados while I was still asleep. We have been allowed off the ship since 06.45 hrs the ungodly hour that Captain Sharples decided to wake up the entire ship to announce that we were free to disembark. I had already been awakened by a nearby telly, not stupidly noisy, but just enough to deter further sleep!

*Barbados in relation to nearby islands*

In port today were Royal Caribbean JEWEL of the SEAS and Marella’s EXPLORER 2. I would have the opportunity to photograph these later in the day and after dark.

*Marella’s EXPLORER 2 from the port stern of Deck 9. Bridgetown, Barbados 15/1/26*

*Royal Caribbean’s JEWEL of the SEAS, seen through the Lido’s floor to ceiling windows. 15/1/26*

I was assured by the people who attended to my back misfortune, that now, with time and care, the pain and discomfort would subside. They seem to be right. I enjoyed what felt like a lengthy period in the Hydro Pool, the water jets pummelling my sore areas.

I then had a brief lunch before making my way to the tours terminal behind the (what I would call) the harbour arcade, a kind of well established covered market, which I have explored on previous trips to Barbados, the first of which was during the maiden voyage of Queen Mary 2 in 2004. This was a brief visit before lunch just to look around.

After something to eat, I took what belongings I might need for the Sunset Cruise I was determined to enjoy.

There, I handed in my ticket and boarded a bus which would take us to where we board the catamaran for what was promoted as a Sunset Cruise. This could have been fabulous. But today, Helios was shy and hid behind a convenient cloud, still leaving the darkening sky in surreal shades of pale blue, pink, grey orange and yellow.

*A similar catamaran came into view, ventured close enough for us to exchange joyous noisy greetings. Disco music encouraged dancing and partying on both vessels.*

It was completely dark by the time we were birthed at where we came from.

Sail away time from Bridgetown was at the unusually late hour of 9 pm giving a rare opportunity for photographing Queen Victoria and Discovery 2 at night.