Windward Islands and Spanish New World

Those of you who follow my adventures on my blog or Facebook know what this picture means. Yes, I’m preparing to blow this popsicle stand!

It’s hard to complain about winter in Ottawa this year, as most conversations so far have centred around how terrible it would be if the world famous Rideau Canal skating rink didn’t open again this year. We only received (a minor amount of) snow this week after a mild fall and winter so far. However, it doesn’t mean that I’m any less anxious to be preparing to be elsewhere next week.

Last fall, I was about the same amount of time out from a planned cruise to Italy (Rome, Sicily and the Amalfi Coast) and Malta, when I injured myself and was not able to take the trip. It wasn’t serious and I have healed completely, but there was no way my body was going to put up with the flights and tromping all over the various ports so I sadly had to cancel. As a result, I feel like I should wrap myself in N95 masks and cotton balls so as to actually make it on this cruise! 

My first trip with Windstar was just before the pandemic, on the Wind Spirit, one of the smaller sailing class ships in their fleet, in the south Pacific. I took my second cruise with them in the Caribbean last February, and I loved it so much that I’m going back, on the same ship, the Star Pride, but on a different route this time. The Star Pride, a super yacht class, carries a maximum of 312 guests which means guests are spoiled with remarkable service, and no waiting for anything and her small size allows her to get into smaller harbours and narrow waterways. And the food….

As the title “Windward Islands and New Spanish World” suggests we will be hitting a few of the southern most Windward Islands and then heading across the north of South America and Panama, through the Panama Canal to Panama City. I’ve been to a couple of the islands before, but many, many years ago. I’m excited for the warm air and waters, snorkelling, and exploring new places, especially Cartagena. 

I’ll try to keep up my blog as best I can. I am overnighting in Toronto on the 18th to avoid a middle of the night wake up call for the Ottawa to Toronto flight and going a day early in case of cancellations etc. The cruise heads out from Bridgetown, Barbados on the 20th.