If this is Wednesday, it must be Jamaica…

We had a 10:00 arrival at Falmouth, Jamaica so that meant that about 6,000 people slept in after the previous night's festivities. At least if you wanted to go for breakfast anywhere it sure seemed that way. We had thought about checking out the dining room around 9:00, but there was quite a line-up. We are one deck above the Windjammer Café, so we could already hear the noise from the elevator lobby, so we didn't even try there. Ultimately, we ended up in the Concierge Lounge where, although the breakfast menu is small, the food is all excellent. And since only suite guests can get access, it isn't very busy.


Once we arrived in Falmouth, we stayed out of the way of the thundering herds racing to get off on tours and shopping expeditions. Since we were in Ocho Rios in January we didn't have any reason – or particular desire – to go again now. We had planned to just get off the ship and look around the port facility since it only opened in March. This is what we found:

So after sticking our noses into a couple of shops and seeing that the prices are just as inflated as anywhere else in the Caribbean, we headed back on board with the aim of lounging in the Solarium. The only problem we found with the Solarium is that there is very little shade where the lounges are. With the unrelenting Caribbean sun beating down and no wind because we weren't moving, the floor got so hot that we couldn't walk without shoes on, even between the pool and the lounges. Anybody for a hot-stone foot treatment? Absolutely free!!

Of course, no cruise on the larger ships is complete without at least one dip in the hot tubs that stick out over the side of the ship. Those things are huge! And they've got an infinity edge, too. Unlike that hotel Bruce stayed at in Shanghai with the infinity pool at the edge of the 58th floor rooftop, when you're on a ship there's no real perspective on just how high above the water you are, even when you're in port. Those hot tubs are on Deck 15, which would put them at least 150 feet above the sea, but there's no sensation of that height anywhere.

We had a quick lunch in the Solarium Bistro – the same room that is converted into the Samba Grill at night – and decided that the best place to relax out of the sun is actually on our 'terrace'. On the way, we wandered across the pool deck and out to the sports deck area. The kid's pool area is a good size, with pools for all ages, and even though there were quite a few children there, it didn't seem overly noisy. Farther along was the entrance to the Zip Lining, the Mini-Golf course on the other side of the Boardwalk overlook, and all the way aft is where the Flowriders are set up. We sat and watched kids and adults 'surfing' for a while. Of course, the kids were much better at it than the grown-ups; but as Larry says, 'Where there's no sense, there's no feeling. And no fear either…'

Dinner last night was at Izumi, the Japanese inspired Asian restaurant. The food and the service were every bit as good as at Silk Road, and that's saying something. Fresh-made sushi, sashimi and rolls; and we had hot rock (cook your own) fish and seafood. An excellent meal.

Our show reservation last night was in the Comedy Club. There are two stand-up comics in the show, Kivi Rogers and Bruce Gold, and both of them were quite funny. It also proved once again that comedians can be very entertaining without swearing! The venue is for adults only and some of the material is suggestive, but they both kept everyone laughing without resorting to four-letter words.

Thursday is a sea day. We'll have to see where on the ship we end up. We have a dinner reservation at Giovanni's Table, so we apparently should go easy on the food for breakfast and lunch…