Three days before Christmas and we’re getting warmer as we near the equator and call on Bridgetown, Barbados. And who do you think comes aboard the MV Explorer to greet us? It’s the world famous Royal Barbados Police Band. Along with them we have Trevor Marshall, history lecturer from Barbados Community College, who not only shares his knowledge with us but also treats us to a clever and slightly ribald calypso tune. The band then serenaded us with Christmas music island style. It was a real crowd pleaser.


                             The Royal Barbados Police band performs aboard the MV Explorer

As if that was not enough of a greeting we found brightly costumed cultural performers awaiting us on the pier. Lovely ladies twirled their traditional Barbadian costumes, sequined stilt dancers glistened in the morning sunlight and a tiny band delighted guests as they debarked for the day.


                                                       Traditional Barbadian Costume




                                                     He's completely off the ground!


                                                           Colorful Carnivale Costumes

I chose a travel poster kind of day; I went to the beach. Almost any beach will do in Barbados; they’re all good. It was everything a travel ad might promise: sugary white sand, stunning blue waters and beautiful people. For a break from the sun there’s nothing like trying out the local food and beverage at a seaside café. I enjoyed flying-fish fingers and a Mount Gay rum, the amber colored nectar made here in sugar cane central.


                                 Accra Beach on Barbados... This could be where they take all     
                                   those Caribbean beach photos you see in travel magazines

One of my longtime clients informed me that he and his wife took themselves to the opposite end of the island by local bus! They said the cost was about $3.60 for the both of them roundtrip! Now that’s an intrepid traveler. For the majority of us who preferred a more structured look around there were field programs that included visits to a traditional Great House, an Exotic Garden, and Wildlife center.

Dinner aboard that evening was offered both in the Aquamarine Dining Room where the seating is open and out by the pool where we had a great barbeque. It’s so nice that casual attire is accepted in all venues for dinner especially after busy days in port.


                                                The Barbados House of Parliament

It was a perfectly temperate evening on deck and the smell of the grilling foods while the sky presented its sunset slideshow of colors made for a tantalizing combination. We feasted on marinated pork loin that melted in your mouth, grilled fresh tuna steak and chicken breasts. There was a Caesar salad station, a make your own potato skins bar featuring the chef’s homemade duck chili and a sundae table. I couldn’t even bear to look at the late night snack at 10pm after all that.

To top off the evening Judy Lunn entertained us with her wonderful vocals and guitar. I say it like I’m surprised because I was. You see Judy is also one of our IT experts aboard. That means she is one of the ladies who assists us on the computers. She and Rita Enders are so helpful when it comes to anything internet-related. They also gave a "Circles of Interest" session featuring how to organize, transfer, edit and email photos. So you see, in the spirit of Semester At Sea where it seems everyone is multi-talented, Judy was also wearing several hats. And may I say that this hat she wears as an entertainer fits her to a tee. When she sang the song “Calypso” about the Cousteau vessel she could have been singing about the MV Explorer. It seemed to move the audience and they all sang along.


                                    The MV Explorer gets some TLC and fresh paint in port

We’re getting closer to our feature destination, the Amazon River, and I can feel the excitement building amongst the guests. Stay with us as we take the ultimate field trip aboard the MV Explorer!