Views of Tortola

Yesterday we were in Road Town Tortola BVI. The ship docked at 8AM. We had no plans to get off the ship. We'd create our own sea day. But first a little breakfast at Spa Cafe. While Angie worked, I went to the fitness center for elliptical and weights. It was very quiet and peaceful. I got back to the room and cleaned up. Angie still.hadore.work so I headed up to the Retreat Pool to get some chairs. Even though many guests were off the ship, there weren't too many chairs available. Or at least many of them were taken up by towels and phantoms!! Since the number of towels far exceeded the number of people in the pool, hot tubs or ones that could reasonably fit in the restroom. I did manage to find a good spot and camped out. 

 Angie joined me about 11AM, just in time for lunch. We again ordered from the snack menu this time trying the shrimp cocktail and Turkey BLT wrap. Both very good. It was a very warm day in the 90's so it was time to cook off.om the pool. The pool is a decent size although surprisingly the posted sign said the maximum occupancy was five people!! After cooling off it was back to our chairs. About 4PM we headed back to the cabin to get ready for our afternoon and evening activities.  

At 5PK we attended the Music and Mixology event. We have attended this on other ships. One of the flair bartenders makes three cocktails and the band has a complimentary song. This event was a bit different. The four piece band (including vocals) would start with one instrument and then add another as the ingredient was added. So the song was built along with the cocktail. And Kadik the bartender from the Martini Bar showed his skills!!

Dinner was at Le Voyage which is the Daniel Boulud signature restaurant. The menu is based on his travels around the world and given a French twist. We started with a spicy tuna amuse bouche. Followed by tuna crrudo with fennel, capers and olives. The tuna was amazing. The capers were a bit too large so unless you cut them, your "perfect bite" would be too briny. Still a well composed dish.

Next was Tamarind and Peanut encrusted prawns. A great spicy sauce with well cooked shrimp. But again with the tails!! Made it difficult and awkward to eat. The next dish was my favorite!! It was a Moqueca from Brazil. I had never heard of such a dish in the short time we spent in Brazil last year. It had a beautifully poached Halibut filter along with shrimp and squid. And the sauce!! It was a succulent coconut broth along with some thinly sliced sweet and spicy peppers. And the cashew rice added the right texture!! I loved the way they served the rice on the side so you could add just the right amount. And the shrimp was perfectly cooked. And guess what? No tail!! So they do know how to remove a shrimp tail on this ship.  

Next was a beef duo of super tender short rib on one side and a perfectly medium rare tenderloin on the other. The most interesting part of the dish was the small "blocks" of salsify. This is a root vegetable that has a savory taste when cooked. And here it was layered and then compressed. Very inventive l!!  

Desserts were a Raspberry Pavlova and a Cafe Cardomon. Both really excellent. The Pavlova had pillowy amounts of raspberry flavored meringue along with a rich raspberry sorbet. And of course whipped cream. We haven't been ordering dessert so I am glad I waited it out for this one. Overall a really excellent meal. I could have that Moqueca again and again.  

After dinner we headed to Eden o Deck 5:Aft to listen to a very talented piano entertainer. He played "Fly Me To The Moon", our wedding song. Then it was time to check out a rocking pool deck party. The cruise director really got the crowd going!!

 It was about 11:30 and we headed back to the cabin.  

Today we're in St Kitts with no plans to get off the ship. Angie is having a well-deserved two hour massage. I'm back at the Retreat Pool which is much quieter today.