27-03-2018, 11:45 AM
1271
Re: Bob's Bits.
The pilot of the Boeing 787 managed to find a piece of runway flat enough and long enough on the small island of Barbados to put us down safely....Just a mention about the Boeing 787 or 'Dreamliner' as it is called....
Depending on the model it can deliver between 242 - 335 passengers at a speed of almost six hundred miles per hour for a range of 10,000 miles ish. You may have just heard that a Dreamliner has just made a non-stop flight from Perth in Australia to London in seventeen hours. If you have been impressed by its performance you can pick one up for a snip at 239 million US Dollars......
....The engines were manufactured by Rolls Royce...
...And just look at their size...... It was just getting dark as we departed the airport. Security seemed non-existent, but the sound of steel bands were echoing around the great warehouse used to process passengers for embarkation on the ship, and all around were flasks of Tea, Coffee and drinking water. My first impressions were of a very happy and friendly people, some officials were even swinging and dancing to the music...Not something I've noticed at Manchester Airport recently.....
The heat was incredible, and after such a long journey was beginning to wear me down, but as we stepped out on to the quayside and my first view of this mighty ship made me realise that although I've been on a couple of cruises previously, the first sight of the ship never stops the butterflies and hairs on the back of my neck from rising. I can't imagine how my daughter is feeling on her first cruise....
The insides of the ship aren't too shabby either, this is the cabin where I'll be spending the next two weeks....
...Pity about the internet though.....I guess I'll have to muddle through....
28-03-2018, 06:18 AM
1276
Re: Bob's Bits.
What a lovely series of photos! I first went to Barbados as a young girl, and the development there now is stunning an now confirmed by your aerial shot. It's become so - urban!I am sure you were all excited to see your ship in port as you made your descent and the steel drums with the lighting of early evening must have put you in the right Caribbean mood for what could have been a cattle call embarkation. That's a nice cabin too; isn't it remarkable how well thought out every space is? They seem to think of everything and despite the limited space, it all seems to work somehow.
I know it takes a while to upload, describe, and post your photos, but it is purely enjoyable to take these little vicarious adventures with you and the rest of the Fox leash - plus one.
28-03-2018, 04:41 PM
1278
Re: Bob's Bits.
Thanks Surfermom, it's nice to be appreciated, and I do believe there are many who look in to Bob's Bits but don't comment, well that's fine, everybody is welcome to spend time on my bits.... I enjoy doing these 'write ups' because just for a moment I'm back on board the ship or lazing on a beach, and to be honest, I just enjoy writing on the forum, it encourages me to get out and do something interesting (I hope you find it so)....The ships are certainly well designed Surfermom, with everything you could ever want, especially the cabins. Although I could never cruise in an inside cabin...
..I'd rather spend a week in Skegness!....Well....perhaps not Skegness, but you get the idea.....Hello Sweetie Pie...
...The food in the restaurant?......Absolutely scrumptious.....We ate in there every night being served by the amazing Jubi and Bryan, nothing was too much trouble for them, and they even served second helpings if someone really liked a particular dish....Since I came home half a stone heavier though, but I'm beginning to wonder if it was a favour after all. We certainly had no reason to eat anywhere else. And what a wonderful experience to 'dress for dinner'....I could get used to that.....
28-03-2018, 04:46 PM
1279
Re: Bob's Bits.
With no time to unpack we collapsed into bed on the first night. We couldn't waste a day while docked in Bridgetown, so after a breakfast that would take three days to digest, and still not unpacked, I foraged around in my case and found my snorkel and swimming costume.....We left the ship and marvelled at the size.....
And in 30 degrees C of heat we went looking for a beach....
Several people had the same idea, so we followed them. I walked for a while with a fella from Sweden, and in broken English we discussed engineering (we both had been one before retiring) and the EU. He thought we were very brave to go up against the mighty EU, and were admired by many other countries in Europe. We eventually parted company and found a beautiful sheltered spot on a white sandy beach.
After trying out the snorkel, posing for photographs and just worshiping the sun, we decided to make our way back to the ship for a late lunch. There were places to eat on the beach, but I've never been a fan of the smell of cooking, and I don't like to take chances with me food....I managed to take this shot of the family before we left. That's Mrs Fox on the left, Little Fox in the middle, and her intended on the right...
I did find time to unpack upon our return to the ship, and after dressing for dinner we went topside to watch the bonds severed that held this mighty ship and she sailed off into the night and on to our next destination while we slept.....
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