We woke around 06.00, I could sense the ship slowing down, it was just getting light and we could see a few rocks poking out of the water, too small to be called real islands. We went up for 1st breakfast, by leaning over the side at the back of the boat you could see Mayreau ahead with another bigger island just off our starboard beam, not sure what that one was. Mayreau is part of St Vincent and the Grenadines, its a private island and only has 300 people living there. Its only 1.5 square miles. Electricity is provided by a central generator installed in 2002, before that nothing.
Because its such a small place there is nowhere for the ship to dock so we stopped off shore. The crew launched 2 of the lifeboats to act as tenders to run a shuttle service from the ship to a small jetty. Everything was super organised, the first tender took gear to set up a gazebo, drinking station and security plus stock for a bar. After that it was passengers who had booked one of the excursions, then passengers who had paid full fare but by about 10.30 it was anybody who wanted to go ashore.
Because you have to be able to get into and out of the tender unaided that meant anyone with mobility issues couldn't go. We went ashore about 11.00. Some of the locals had set up to sell t-shirts and the like.
There is a lovely broad sweeping beach and there were tons of sun beds but mostly occupied, presumably the cruise companies who stop here have paid for them plus the toilet facilities.
We headed up Station Hill where most of the people live, there are a few small shops and surprisingly or not a few restaurants and bars. Most of the bars were playing Christmas songs, it felt quite odd. We bypassed them and made for the summit, only a 15 minute walk but quite steep, there are 2 churches at the top and from behind the small Catholic church a view out to the Tobago Cays. We headed back down the hill and stopped in a bar for a couple of beers. Fiona used the wifi and caught up with her email and stuff but I hadn't taken my iPad or phone with me. Everywhere here takes US dollars, I'd brought about $250 which we had left over from previous holidays and which I'd never changed back.
We then sat on the beach for a couple of hours although Fiona did have a swim. There was a steel band playing in the background, all quite jolly, especially Jingle Bells. We were back onboard just in time to catch the last of lunch at just before 15.00, I had some salad but Fiona decided to wait until they brought out the afternoon tea which they did at just after 15.00. I felt I'd had enough sun so whilst Fiona went back up top I went for a snooze in the air conditioned cabin.
In the event I just read my book for an hour and then went to the gym for an hour. Stopped off on my way back to pick up some ice for our evening gin and tonic. By now it was 17.15 and the last tender from the island was just pulling up to the ship, they had already stowed the other one, they had the second all hoisted up and stowed away in about 15 minutes. Practice makes perfect. In fact the whole organisation on board has so far been very good.
Then it was time to get ready for dinner, we stopped on the way to put a load of washing in a machine in the small but well equipped launderette which is on our deck towards the front. By the time we had finished dinner the washing was done so we stuck what needed to be dried into the tumble dryer. Its really handy having a (free) launderette available, saves a lot of hassle.
2025-02-08