Just Cruises Plus

New York is a great place to visit any time of year, but given the lovely fall weather we have been experiencing, now is a wonderful time to go.  Whether you are visiting for the day, or staying a few days pre or post cruise, here are some suggestions for things to do that are either free or low cost.

Places to Walk/Run

Walk, run, bike or just relax on the Esplanade

Along the Hudson River on the West Side — You can start as far south as Battery Park, near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. In some parts it is referred to as the “Esplanade”.   Great for people and dog watching and scenery keeps changing — along the way, you may come across a playground, a park, or an outdoor concert.  We will sometimes take our bicycles onto the Staten Island Ferry (Staten Island Parking is just $7.00 for the day and the ferry to Manhattan is free) and then bike along the path that has been created on the West Side.

High Line  — this is a raised historic park built along an old retired freight line.  Some of the tracks were still left in tact.  Sculptures and other exhibits vary and typically are worked into the perennial gardens along the pathway.   Many events are held here, including an occasional movie under the stars.  Even without the sculptures or events, the architecture, street scenes, murals and billboards are sure to generate great topics of conversation.

Billboard, viewed from the High Line.

Flowers in the park.

Other Things to Do

South Street Seaport

South Street Seaport – Very cool tall ships and other vessels.

Times Square — Look up and see that you are surrounded by lights and glitter!

The Apple Store (near Central Park) —  fun to visit, even if you go just to look at the unique entrance.  There are other Apple Stores in Soho and Grand Central Station.

FAO Schwartz — A toy store, great for window shopping (around the corner from the Apple Store).

Top of the Rock and Tour of  NBC Studios — If you spend money on a tour, the tour of Rockefeller Center and NBC Studios is one worth considering and it is under $25 a person.

Contest Photo 9/7/12 - Independence Square in St. Kitts.

This week, there were very few attempts to guess the location of our contest photo (shown to the right). Congratulations to Ronald & Robyn Powers of Brooklyn, NY, who were randomly selected from those who responded correctly. 

 The photo  was taken on St. Kitts, a West Indian island which borders both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.  It is considered part of the Leeward Islands along with such islands as Saba, Sint Martin, the Virigin Islands and it’s sister island,  Nevis.  

St. Kitts is located about 1,300 southeast of Miami.  It is one of the lesser known cruise ports, so it is a special treat when it is on ship’s itinerary.  It’s cruise port is located in it’s capital city, Basseterre.  While many original buildings have been destroyed by hurricanes, fires and earthquakes, the surviving colonial and Georgian architecture gives bustling Basseterre a unique look. The town’s hub is the Circus, a square styled afterLondon’sPiccadilly Circus, with a clock tower in the center. Art galleries, music and bookstores, Internet cafes, boutiques and craft shops make it a fun place to explore.  Independence Square, encircled by stately Georgian manors was where Basseterre’s slave market was held.

The island’s lush geography lends itself to eco-tourism, starting with the dense tropical rainforests that surround dormant volcano, Mount Liamuiga.  Colorful birds, butterflies and mokeys reside here.

Scenic Railway offers unique views of the island.

While in St. Kitts, we took a ride on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, which enabled us to get to know the island quickly and experience some unique views.  The double-decker railcars follow the old sugar cane train tracks, offering views of the Caribbean Sea, mountains and neighboring island.  And if you’re lucky, you will be serenaded by some of the local children.  The remaining photos are a sampling of what we saw while on this train.

View of the volcanic peaks.

View of the Caribbean Sea.

View of Saba Island.

View of two friends relaxing in the grass.

We suspected last week’s photo contest might be a tough one, so we were not too surprised that there were fewer than 10 responses. Of those responses, just one was correct.

Historic Historic village of Leland, Michigan. Contest Photo 8/17/12.

Congratulations to Rocky Cestroni of Huntingdon Valley who correctly guessed that the photo was taken in historic Leland, Michigan.

The construction of a dam and sawmill on the river ramped up the influx of settlers in the mid 1800s. The settlers built wooden docks, which allowed steamers and schooners to transport new settlers and supplies.  Fisherman built wooden shacks where they processed their catch and serviced their fleet.

Up to eight powered tugs once sailed out of “Fishtown,” as the buildings came to be known. Fishtown is now home to a working fishery and a thriving charter fishing business. The riverfront is lined by a boardwalk and quaint shacks that have been converted into tourist shops.

Sidewalk flowers.

Taste-ful shops and art galleries.

We had 35 responses to our “mystery bridge” photo contest.  More than half gave the correct response:  Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland.  Other good tries:  Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (Virgina), the 7-mile Bridge (Florida Keys), Delaware Memorial Bridge (NJ-Delaware).

The $25 gift card goes to Peggy Widmer of Wadsworth, Ohio whose name was randomly selected from the correct responses.

July 20, 2012 Photo Contest - Chesapeake Bay Bridge

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge (commonly known as the Bay Bridge) is a major dual-span bridge which spans the Chesapeake Bay and connects Maryland’s rural eastern shore region with the more urban Western Shore (including Annapolis).  The bridge, originally built as a single span, opened in 1952 and, at tha  time, was the world’s longest continuous over-water steel structure  with a length of 4.3 miles.  The parallel span was added in 1973.  The bridge is officially named the William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge  for the governor of Maryland who initiated its construction.

This bridge is a favorite of ours because when we are driving on it, we are usually on our way to sail on the Chesapeake and when we are under it, we are already enjoying ourselves on a cruise ship or sailboat.

The Breakers - Newport, Rhode Island

Last week’s photo contest must have been a hard one, since we had only 9 responses.  But all were correct!

Congratulations to Ed & Nancy O’Hara of Warminster, PA who were randomly selected to receive a $25 gift card.

Our contest photo was of the Breakers, a magnificent Newport, Rhode Island summer home built by Cornelius Vanderbilt.  We took the photo while cruising on the Enchantment of the Seas.

Our Experience on the Enchantment

We (Rachelle and Wayne) boarded the Enchantment of the Seas in Baltimore on May 31^st.  Since the Enchantment is due for a refurbishment in December, we were afraid that she would be in less than pristine condition.  If you are a “glass is half empty” person, you could find things that were less than perfect, such as dings in doors and rails that needs refinishing.  However, we were pleased with the overall appearance and condition of the ship.

Enchantment’s Centrum, looking up

The crew was magnificent.  They were both efficient and friendly.  We were especially impressed when a waiter from another table (not getting tipped by us) came over to our table to show us some tricks.  In our view, the crew makes or breaks a cruise so we rate this cruise as a rousing success even though as we will see, there were some shortcomings.

A major issue was the lido buffet area for breakfast and lunch.  It is way too small for the number of passengers.  Every day, we found ourselves wandering through the room looking for an empty table.  We think that when Royal Caribbean stretched the ship and added rooms for an additional 300 passengers, they forgot to enlarge the lido area.  Our advice:  Go very early or late to the buffet.  One positive in the buffet was the Asian station which frequently had Indian food.

Overall, the food was good but not great.  Except for the extra cost “Chops”, the beef was fairly tasteless.  Chops, on the other hand offered a very good and well-prepared piece of beef.  We found that the soups and appetizers were very tasty.

Entertainment was typical “cruise ship” with competent dancers and singers.  We had two comedians who had some hilarious moments.  There was also a comic-juggler who we had seen an a prior Celebrity cruise so we assume that a major part of his career is aboard ships.

Approaching our dock in Bermuda, located across from the clocktowers.

The ports included Bermuda, Boston and Newport, Rhode Island.  Bermuda is one of our favorite islands.  However, we were there on a weekend.  With Queen Elizabeth’s diamond Jubilee being celebrated, there was lots happening on Saturday.  However, they take their Sabbath seriously, so most businesses in the main towns were closed on Sunday (although many in the Dockyard were open).  If you are there on a weekend, make Sunday your beach day and Saturday your sightseeing/shopping day.

The Enchantment spent most of a day in Boston.  She docks at a commercial dock about two miles for the main historic area so you will likely take a cab or shuttle from the ship.  The ship offer excursions to Boston’s most famous sites including a terrific trip to Fenway Park.  Our friends went to the “No-Name restaurant at the Boston waterfront and enjoyed Scrod for lunch.  Because we had been to Boston before, we took a walk in South Boston which is becoming regentrified.

We had never been to our final port so we called it Newport.  Alas, we discovered that it is quite old, in fact, it was settled only 20 years after the Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower.  Newport was the summer home to the rich and famous in the “gilded age”. Their magnificent mansions still exist and some can be visited (for a fee).  If you want a “cheap” tour of the mansions, take the local #67 city bus.  You can get on an off as much as you want for 6 bucks (need exact change).  If you have a nice, clear day take the “Cliff Walk”.  The scenery is breathtaking..  Don’t worry, you won’t be in danger of falling off the cliff.

Approaching Newport Harbor

The Enchantment sails from Baltimore on 6 night cruises to Bermuda (until October 26th) and 8 night cruises like the one described until August 23^rd.   She will then have some fall cruises to New England.

Next year, the Grandeur of the Seas will replace the Enchantment in Baltimore.   She is just completing a major makeover which includes new restaurants, an outdoor movie screen, aerial entertainment in the Centrum, flat screen TVs and an ipad in every stateroom.

During the early part of 2013, the Grandeur will be doing a Bahamas-Florida itinerary.  She will be doing 6 and 7 night cruises to Bermuda from May to November 1^st.  She will have some more interesting sailings in November and December with 10 night sailings to the Eastern Caribbean.

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Nassau Horse & Carriage Ride - 5/4/12 Photo Contest

We had 54 responses to our May 4th photo contest but very few correct answers!  This was a tricky one.  We asked you to guess the name of the city in which the horse and carriage photo (shown here) was taken.  We hinted that the city is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular cruise port.  “Nassau” was the correct answer.  The other responses we received were understandable given the hints we provided.  These responses included:  Hamilton, Bermuda; Charleston, SC; Key West, FL and Saint Jean de Luz, France.  

Congratulations to Norm Remer of Southampton, PA whose name was name was randomly drawn from the correct respondents. 

Bay Street

Nassau, a usual stop on a Bahamas cruise itinerary (especially on shorter cruises), is both the largest city and the capital of the Bahamas.  Bay Street,  the main street that runs parallel to the waters edge through Nassau, is filled with a mixture of high end jewelry shops and souvenir shops. 

The entrance to the colorful Straw Market is also located along Bay street.  Stop here if you don’t mind crowds and you like to haggle for island nick nacks.  Our appreciation of the brightly painted shops and government buildings and the view of the looming cruiseships docked along the waterfont is unfortunately trumped by our first-hand experience with occaissional rudeness and, on one trip, a “crooked” taxi driver.

Entrance to Straw Market

Cockeyed stop sign with ship in the background

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local craftsman at work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only 4 people correctly named the structure (shown below) featured in our April 22nd photo contest.  It is the Koutoubia.  Congratulations to Mark Shapiro of Mission Viejo, CA, whose name was randomly selected from those who responded correctly.  

Koutoubia Mosque, 4/22/12 Photo Contest

The Koutoubia is the dominating structure in Marrakesh’s Medina (old city) and is the largest mosque in Marrakesh.  Rising 221 feet in the air, the 5 times per day call to prayer can be heard throughout the city.  The Koutoubia’s minaret was completed nearly a thousand years ago in the 12th century.

The best tomato salad in the world is in Quarzazate, a Moroccan town at the edge of the Sahara dessert.  At least, that was our opinion on a visit to Morocco.  An order to get to this amazing salad, we had a hair raising bus ride over the Atlas mountains on a twisting, narrow road sans guard rails. 

Atlas Mountains en route to Quarzazate

Example of Quarzazate Architecture

Our “home base” was Marrakesh, one of the most exotic cities that we’ve visited, particularly the Medina where much haggling goes on in the Djemaa el Fna (Place of the Dead).  The photo of the square was taken from the café where 14 people died in a terrorist attack in 2011. 

View of the outside of the wall of the Medina

Djemaa el Fna viewed from a cafe balcony

In the new part of Marrakesh, we saw well dressed school children plucking oranges from trees as the made their way home.  This contrasted with the Berber markets outside of the city where locals bought and bartered the goods.  The Berbers used donkeys to bring their goods to market.  The only camels we saw were “tourist camels” used to give rides to visitors.

Gathering at the Berber Market

Fruit and vegetables at the Berber Market

Tourist Camels

We can’t say if it’s still there but we had a wonderful dinner cooked in tangines at Mr. Driess’ restaurant in Marrakesh.  Despite Rick’s Café, we think that Marrakesh is a far more interesting Moroccan city than Casablanca.

Congratulations to Alan Heller, of Pikesville, MD, whose name was randomly selected from the 14 who responded
correctly to last week’s Trivia contest question:  What is the link between  between Celebrity’s Millennium and the RMS Titanic?

The link is that Millennium’s specialty restaurant, the Olympic, is named for the Titanic’s sister ship, the RMS Olympic.

In addition, the restaurant’s authentic paneling was obtained from the premier dining room of the RMS Olympic.  Celebrity Cruise Line found the paneling in a private English residence, and purchased it through Sotheby’s.

Painting of RMS Olympic located in the room adjecent to the Olympic's dining area.

View of the magnificent, authentic paneling in Millennium's Olympic Restaurant.

View through the Archway

Congratulations to Pat Horne, of Edison, NJ, whose name was randomly selected from the 21 who responded correctly to our March 9th photo contest question. 

The London Eye, or Millennium Wheel (shown in the contest photo below), was officially called the British Airways London Eye and then the Merlin Entertainments London Eye.  In January of 2011, its new official name became the EDF Energy London Eye^[following a three-year sponsorship deal.   The Eye is located on the south bank of the River Thames in London.

The London Eye, 3/9/12 Photo Contest

View from within the capsule.

Big Ben and Parliament viewed from The Eye

The church  in last week’s contest photo, shown below,  has several name variations:  Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia (Catalan Version), Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia (Spanish Version) and Barcelona Cathedral.  It is also referred to as La Seu.

Barcelona Cathedral, 2/3/12 Photo Contest

It is located in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain.

Congratulations to Elsie and Alan Saylor, of Downingtown,PA, who were randomly drawn from the 12 who gave the correct response to the 2-part contest question.

 The Cathedral, located in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic), is thought to be one of the best examples of medieval architecture in Europe.  Prior to the construction of the cathedral in the 13th century, the site was home to other religious structures  The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Eualia, a young virgin who, according to Catholic tradition, suffered martyrdom during Roman times in the city.    The cathedral has a secluded Gothic cloister where 13 white geese are kept.  The number “13” is apparently explained by the assertion that Eulalia was 13 when she was martyred.

If you visit the church, it’s worth taking the time to visit the roof where you will get a spectacular view of the gothic quarter and Barcelona.