TravelwithMitsugirly RC Jewel: Barbados

MITSUGIRLY has a JEWEL of a time on my 1st RC cruise in years!

Day 6: Barbados

Day 5 on the ship: A day in Barbados.

This will be our second time in Barbados, so it is a repeat for us, which is perfectly fine.

Got up from the alarm going off at .....yep, 6:30am. Hey at least there's some consistency in this cruise and I never have to reset the alarm time daily.

I figured I would start to pack our beach bags since I hadn't done it the night before due to extra fatigue, shortness of breath from so much walking, numbness of fingers from typing my homework up, headache from my sinuses and gulping water all day and yes, it was a really good day!

But back to packing. I knew we were going to a place where we were going to be able to swim with the turtles, so snorkeling stuff in the bag first, then the beach towe.......ls? Wait, those nice and neatly folded beach towels the room steward had for us are OUR WET ONES FROM YESTERDAY!! What the heck! Why would you bother to fold those? He tricked me. I'm a little salty about that now. That now means I have to lug around wet towels with me up to breakfast. Yuck.

So remember the fruit and cheese plate we received on day one of the cruise? Well, we had been nibbling off of it nightly, but the small table they had it on was also the table they put our ice bucket on and cups and anything else they could throw on there. The plate was constantly sticking out. I kept taking it off of there and putting it on the couch and the room steward would put it back. This morning, I would run into it and take a chunk of skin out of my leg (I know you are wondering how does she get cut on a plate....it's a square plate). Ouch!

Sakari and I headed up to the buffet to get me some caffeine and like always, the doors were closed. I'm getting really tired of the buffet doors being closed and it's the ONLY place on the ship that you can get pop from the pop machine and bars aren't open yet. This is ridiculous! I had to go around to the glass doors and weasel my way in and endure all the dirty looks I got from those inside preparing for breakfast. The solution would be to move the pop station OUTSIDE of the buffet which is only open during certain hours!!!

The hubs was finally up when we returned and getting dressed.

We headed back up to the pool deck to get some fresh towels. I guess I would rather carry dry fresh towels around with me at breakfast than wet heavy towels.

Towel station opens up at 7am. Only it was 7:20am and no attendant available. Huh? I ask someone near by working on the pool deck and they said "I think he went on break". Wait what????? The first thing out of my mouth was what came to my brain, which was "It's 7:20am! They open at 7am! He needs a break 20 minutes after opening?!?! Seriously???" I guess he didn't like that reply and he walked away. I couldn't believe it. Especially on a port day. I just don't like this towel exchange thing they got going on.

We headed on into the buffet with my heavy wet towels. The hubby waited quite some time on the kind of omelette he liked to come out and I settled on what they had out already.

I also decided to try some french toast...but the bread was to hard to eat. Hmm, first complaint of food on RC. I tend to think it might have just been a fluke that day or the piece I grabbed. Mt Bacon was good like always. But I just wasn't satisfied this morning for some reason. Maybe I needed something sweet instead.

Sweetness and fruit hit the spot!

P&O cruises was already in port and we were docking. The towel guy was there now and we were able to get fresh towels. I bit my tongue about his break 20 minutes after he opened because my belly was full and I wasn't hangry anymore.

Back to the room to grab our things and change and we were off the ship a few minutes after 8am.

Game plan for the day.

Last time we were here, we went to The Boatyard for the day. Their admission (I think it was $20) included your chairs, umbrella, a drink, and a boat ride out to swim with the turtles. It also included their water trampoline and a ride back to the port! Great deal and beautiful place!

But, this time I decided I wanted something different. Gotta experience everything right? After checking multiple places, I decided to head to Pirates Cove. It's right down the street from The Boatyard and closer to the port. It didn't include the snorkeling out to the turtles in the price, but you could add it on to the price.

There wasn't a entrance fee, but if you wanted a beach chair and umbrella, it was $8/pp. There was free wifi.

You could take a ride out to the turtles AND to some shipwreck as well for an additional $20.

They had a package for $30 for all the above and included a drink.

After looking at pictures online and following them on their social media site, I decided this would be our place! I had informed Kia of the place and she said her and the kids would be joining us. Yippee! She had previously tried out The Boatyard as well.

I don't remember any of these paintings last time. Either they were new or we didn't "park" here.

Into the winding building of shops we went. Like last time, not many were open in the morning.

We finally made it out the doors. Whew

We ask for a cab to Pirates Cove and they put us in a mini van with several other people and off we went. They price was $5/pp and when I ask about the price for children, his reply was "It's still $5 for everyone because if I was to get in a wreck, it would only cover her if she paid the full price" SAY WHAT? First off, that's a load of crap. A child paying full price has nothing to do with you having an accident and insurance paying. Second of all...did you just mention the possibility of getting in an accident? While I know this is always a possibility, way to make one of your customers feel extra worried!!! Just do us all a favor and just say it's the same price for everyone and leave it at that. The only reason I ask was because kids were cheaper last time we were here.

We pulled out at 8:39am and we were winding around in town and they stopped to let some people off at The Boatyard. Wait, Pirates Cove is closer than the Boatyard! What's going on? Did the driver not hear me? I yelled up "hey, we are going to Pirates Cove" but didn't get a reply.

He drove some more and let everyone else off at Harbour Lights. I once again yelled up to let him know where we were going and he finally acknowledged and said "you're next". Well of course we are because we are the only one's left in the taxi.

We arrived at 8:50am. So even though it wasn't a long ride (11 minutes stopping 3 different places), it was still weird that we was the closest to the port and we were last to be dropped off. Maybe it has something to do with the way the roads are designed? Either way, I didn't mind. I was just worried he hadn't heard where we were going.

We have arrived.

Huge building inside with a restaurant and plenty of places to eat at.

Then they had this neat pirate ship. My how Sakari has grown up. Remember a few years ago she wouldn't even go to "Pirate night" at the kids club on NCL because she was afraid she would be killed by pirates because she was a mermaid? Now she is hopping on Pirate ships like it's nothing.

We headed out the door and onto the beach.

They had huts everywhere. Some bars, some dining and so on. Nicely set up outside I thought. There's a lot of room at this place. Plenty of seats for lounging and eating. Sun or shade. Whatever you wanted.

We picked a spot in the front row of course. We tried to spread out some because we knew that Kia and the kids would be coming soon.

So far I'm liking this place. It's beautiful and they are a bit spread out. No chairs sitting on top of each other and plenty of room to walk between them.

I also like it when we get actual palapas instead of flimsy umbrellas.

I loved the front row of the beach...a line of palm trees.

The guy kept talking about how full the place was going to get and how many people would be doing the snorkeling tour and so on...but yet...

We were the only one's there that day that got these. I have no idea why but I was thinking that maybe he found out I was a celebrity on cruise critic. LMAO...since this is a running joke on here...I just had to throw that in the review.

I took a few more pictures of our surroundings since it was so beautiful.

Well....it was a few minutes until 10 and he said he really couldn't wait any longer. We started to gather our things and then Kia appeared....WHEW! Here I thought she had stood me up. LOL

He went to go grab her and lure her away from a lady that had stopped her by the building. He rushed her over to us, like the celebrity that she is, and told us to grab what we needed and head to the boat (after collecting her money of course).

When we ask about our belongings, he told us to just leave them there and take what we thought was valuable. Um...weird. At least at The Boardyard they collect your things and put them up so that no one could get them.

We headed out to the boat. You had to go out in the water while they tried to stabilize it long enough for the wave to go out, come in, go out, INCOMING....move back and try to get on quickly before it goes back out. Whew wee wowzers. It was like a game of dodge ball only I think I was tagged out a few times.

Sakari thought it was a lot of fun too and at this point she was already soaked.

For such a busy tour that they couldn't wait, there really wasn't many. We made up 6 of the 10ish people or so.

Then off we went...after having us switch around our seating choices to level things out on a pontoon boat. Really? Who you calling overweight? I worked hard on this cruise body!

Well this was a neat contraption with slides and trampolines on different angles. I'm sure I'd break something on it.

We arrived to our destination 5 minutes later and there were tons of boats already there.

Once we anchored they said ok, everyone off. Everyone kinda looked at each other like...um...equipment???? He kept saying "gear up, everyone should be ready". I finally said "how can everyone gear up and get ready if you haven't even gave any equipment out to anyone yet?" Others didn't have any, I had mine, Sakari was wearing her regular goggles, but hubby only had a mask without a snorkel and needed a snorkel to use. Kia and family had theirs, but others still needed some. I found the guy to be quite rude actually.

Sakari geared up in full mermaid form and at some point he threw her overboard.

There she goes...first one in of course. It was nice of him to ask if she could actually swim or need a life jacket...or anything (sarcasm because he didn't). I guess you just assume that mermaids are able to swim...in the ocean...that's wavy...and very deep.

I went in and it was pretty darn wavy to me and for some reason I was struggling a little. I remembered...oh, I don't have flippers on. I should probably get a snorkeling vest. I'm still tired from the day before.

I seriously HATE these things. You would think people would wise up and get the real life jackets and then you could wear them around your waist or noodles or something (I did see others from different tours with the noodles-they were on the smart tour) that doesn't pull and tug at your "parts" that you are constantly fighting with the straps.

I managed to get back to the boat, climb back up, then get a snorkel vest on. Then off me and the hubby went. Sakari was long gone in the sea of people by the turtles. I did not like this at all. Not knowing where she was at and I think this was the first time we ever snorkeled in the ocean, without her having a life vest on, and not being in my sight (all 3 things combined). I was honestly a little freaked out and was looking for her.

I looked down and immediately saw this...

Can you tell what it is? The water was pretty deep in the area we anchored in. Much deeper than the last time we were here. Of course all the other boats that were already here where over in the "circle" of boats in the better area where all the turtles were.

This might help a little...it's a zoomed picture. It's a terrible picture. I took some very crappy pictures that day. I have no idea what was going on with my camera. Maybe it was just too deep for me to get any good pictures. This is why I don't like to go snorkeling from a boat. Things are just too far down to obtain a decent and clear picture.

IT'S A FLYING GURNARD!! Another first for me!! I was so excited and hoped to see one of these one day. Every time I catch a glance of a lizard fish, I always think it might be a gurnard and never is.

So, about gurnards: They have fins that spread out like a wing. It helps scare off predators and they also use them to "walk" on the ocean floor and poke around the sand looking for food. It was so cool to watch.

I'm still moving right along, trying to get to where my daughter might be in the sea of arms and legs and I spotted a stingray.

Ok...but where's the turtles???

So, I finally spot Sakari in the sea of people...she was over close to Kia and the kids...thank goodness. I felt so much better that she wasn't out there alone.

So...what kind of pictures does a mermaid get? Well I'll show you her pictures of her gurnard. As a matter of fact, I should probably just let her take over my picture portion of the review after seeing my pictures versus her pictures that day.

Can you tell how much closer she is to it?

Yea...what about this one? She was diving down to get closer and better pictures. Meanwhile...I'm stuck with a darn life jacket on the surface like a little kid.

Then all of a sudden I hear the guy from the boat yelling "Come on! Times up! Everyone back on the boat!"

Wait what?!? Are you serious? I just made it out here. I yelled back "Are you kidding me? I haven't even seen a turtle yet!" So the next smartarse comment that came from him was "Well maybe you should stop looking at the sky and look in the water where the turtles actually are". Oh W-O-W! He just hit my trigger button...from there on out he was on my shizzle list. How rude!

I absolutely refused to come here and not see a turtle! I did not pay to get out in the water, not see a turtle and him yell to come back in a smartarse way. No way, no how.

FINALLY I spotted a few.

So that was the extent of my turtle sightings. Hey, at least I got to see two of them.

Then I heard twice from him "Let's go. If you don't get back on the boat, we'll be leaving without you" and some other rude comments about we'd be left behind and on our own. Like seriously dude...you just did yourself in with that one. I dare you to leave me.

Here's the mermaid in action...

She might as well just become a free diver. Forget scuba diving. I think she enjoys this more. She just amazes me with how long she can hold her breath. She practices all the time.

Sakari's pictures

She was pretty close!

And even closer!

I'm so happy that she got to experience the turtles like this because that's what it's really all about. It's providing her the thrill and experience of doing this and making memories. This is something she'll always remember and even though she's done it before, this experience was a little different I believe because she was free. She was a mermaid. She had no restrictions of life jackets or someone holding her back in a group. She had her fin and could dive down far just like the other guys did from the other excursion boats. She was able to swim alongside the turtles, fish and stingrays. She was part of their world.

So close to her! I tell ya, animals just trust her. I don't know what it is. She can get so close to them and they don't scare off. Pshh, they see me coming and run.

Now I'm going to share the most AMAZING CAPTURE OF THE DAY!!! And done by Sakari!!!!

I know I said it's all about her seeing things and experiencing it but.....I would have loved to have seen this and I'm VERY jealous that I didn't! There, I admitted it. I'm mad she got to see it and I didn't.

Remember how I said she was the first in the water? Well that's when she seen it going by. She got only one picture and she hadn't started diving down yet. She told me she seen it and I wrote it off like it was something else...until I got home and seen the picture! I should know by now not to doubt her...she knows her animals and the difference.

So....drum roll please...

A SPOTTED EAGLE RAY

Now people may get these mixed up with a stingray. They are a little different.

They can weigh about 507 pounds and their "wings" can grow up to 8 feet and overall body with its tail as long as 16 feet. The spotted eagle ray is one of the largest eagle rays (with manta rays growing a little bigger). They have a snout (nose) and use it to look for food buried in the sand. They do have teeth in both their upper and lower jaws. They can also jump.

Unlike Stingrays, who usually bury themselves on the bottom in the sand, the eagle ray is usually swimming around in the open water.

So there you have it and I'm still salty about her getting to see one while I was fumbling with my equipment. Ugh! Maybe some day.

It was somewhat of a struggle to get back to the boat. The water was flowing against us and you sometimes felt like you weren't even moving. The guy kept yelling "come on or we're going to leave you".

We all finally make it back to the boat and he was still making his rude comments and said "What were you doing? Bird watching? You need to stick your head down instead of up". Like seriously dude. I don't stick my head "up" and I'm not a beginner...more like a concerned mother looking for her child while still trying to see what's under the water and not missing anything. Like where were you when we were out there? Safely on a boat with not a care in the world!

We sat down, pulled away and within 2 minutes the boat stopped again. We were already at the shipwreck. Back in we went. This time I was prepared and not wasting time!

I'm going to share all of my pictures first and then Sakari's.

The minute you get in, there were tons of Ballyhoo fish everywhere. I don't think I have ever seen this many in one place before.

I looked up to see Sakari taking the plunge into the water.

The shipwreck.

Kinda creepy and scary looking from above. Fish everywhere, including plenty of ballyhoo

Just look at them! And I spotted some divers too!

Sakari caught up to me and was busy snapping pictures of course. I was so happy that she was having fun and getting pictures. Other than the 5 or so pictures she took in Martinique, she hadn't even used her camera this cruise. I was beginning to wonder if she would. She has her own phone now, so that was what she used most of the time on the ship.

There was a lot of coral all over the ship.

We spotted a rather large trumpet fish.

Of course Sakari was following him to get that "perfect shot". There were a lot of sergeant majors there that day.

Wondering what could be lurking down there...the scary black hole.

As you can see, part of the shipwreck was in fairly shallow water and then the other end was in a lot deeper water.

Ok, I completely freaked out when I caught a glimpse of 2 fish down in this area. I REALLY tried and tried to get good pictures of them, but this was in the deeper area and I was just too far away. I took A LOT of pictures of them from regular to zoom and they just did not turn out good at all. So...I tried to put them in PS and lighten them and adjust the colors just so you could see them.

Look right above my name stamp. Do you see the black and white polka dot fish? I believe it was a whitespotted filefish. However, they usually have some clear orange in them as well and most pictures I have seen they are not as dark black and bright white as this one. So maybe it was at a different stage in it's life or .....???? I don't know but it was beautiful!!!!

Just a little fyi, they can turn their spots off and on when needed. How cool is that?

Then right along with it was another. This one was also beautiful and the colors were an amazing bluish purple and dark brown. I believe it's called a female brown barred filefish. She is right in the middle of the picture and above the coral.

To the left is a red fish, which is a squirrel fish.

Trying to get another close up of the white spotted filefish, which is located right above my name.

Female brown barred filefish on the left. You can see her yellow fins and yellow eyes better in this one.

My favorite of her. It looks beautiful in this picture and you can actually see her markings.

I have no clue how I ended up with a green picture, but it happens sometimes. My finger must have rotated a button.

Blue tang/surgeonfish

Needlenose fish swimming at the top of the water. Invaded by fish everywhere.

VIDEO...trumpet fish and divers.

Another video of the trumpetfish. These fish are just so cool and look so weird. I swear they remind me of a horse head.

Now at this point, I see Sakari and daddy and they look like they are up to something. He's pointing at the ship. He's pointing at the hole. She's looking at him. She's looking at me. He's motioning her to go. I think I have this sign language figured out and I start panic mode. I start screaming under the water NO! NO! NO! DON'T YOU DARE!!!! She came up to the surface and I told hger don't you dare, under no circumstance was she going in that hole. She said "I'm not mommy. I won't do it". Daddy covering his tracks replied "I just told her to go down there and put the camera in the hole and take pictures." He better hope that's all he was implying with those motions because otherwise Sakari would be less a father. They are both extremist and I'm a worry-wart. The thought of her diving into the hole and something happening with no one around...especially since we had no guides with us because they were leisurely lounging on the boat, and none of us being able to get down there...and...just no!

I just really love this picture for some reason. Her tail was so bright and it almost looked like it was lit up and the ship so dark and dreary looking beneath her.

I was taking a picture of the trumpet fish and along came this absolutely gorgeous purple and orange fish. I have never seen anything colored like this before. It looked like the shape of a parrotfish, but the colors!!! Oh my the colors!!!

Ballyhoo where are yooo. Oh here it is and getting close to me.

Kia and Sakari over yonder conversating about their findings.

Here are the pictures Sakari was able to get with her camera.

Sakari got pretty close to the filefish and the squirrel fish.

And even the trumpet fish. She's an animal whisperer I tell ya.

This was a pretty awesome shot of the female:

Obviously Sakari managed to find that button that turns everything green too. lol

Do you see what she's starring at? It's not the yellow fish, but what's below it. Someone lost their earring. She watches shows online about treasure hunters and all the goodies that can be found on the sea floor. So, she's always on the lookout for odd things that people have lost as well.

It seemed like they allowed us to stay out by the shipwreck a lot longer than they did the turtles. We actually had fun this time around and wasn't rushed to get back on the boat. We were gone for a total of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

When I went to get back onto the boat, I grabbed the handrail to stabilize myself from the water and boat movement and the guy starts giving me directions on how to come up a ladder. I had to laugh and said "I think I know how to climb a ladder" lol. Kia laughed at me.

We returned back to Pirates cove, jumped off the boat and trucked through the water and back to our "Reserved Spots" waiting on us.

The kids decided to play in the sand and build a dungeon and I would decide to walk around and take some more pictures.