DAY 65---PHILIPSBURG, ST MAARTEN

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Our position today is at the dock in Philipsburg on the island of St Maarten.  Partly cloudy today but still lots of sun.  Temperature is 82 degrees this afternoon.  At 3pm there are rain showers offshore now.

ST MAARTEN BACKGROUND INFO: 

        St Maarten is part of the Leeward islands in the northeast Caribbean Sea.  The island is divided about 60/40 by the countries of France and the Netherlands.  The larger part is French but the population is basically equal and total population of the island is 78,000.  We will be docking in Philipsburg which is on the Dutch side.  The island lies in the hurricane zone and in 2017 hurricane Emma caused significant damage to the tune of $3 billion.

        Tourism is the island’s main industry with around 1 million visitors annually.  85% of the workforce works in tourism.  The US dollar is accepted in most stores on the island.

LAST NIGHT:

Dinner in Prime 7.  Marcia had arranged for Richard (left) and Harvey to join the three of us.  They are from New York City.  Richard is a plastic surgeon and Harvey is an ophthalmologist.  They were great fun.

                                             Interesting choice of art behind our table?????

                              Rebecca and I had the crab cake as an appetizer.  Very yummy.

                 We also had filets.  10 ounces is too big.  Baked potato and creamed spinach.

   Of course Rebecca did not have a dessert as usual so they brought her this.  "Have Something".

                                                        My usual popcorn sundae.

                                      David Meyer's show was really unique and very good.

                                                     He played this instrument.

                                    His wife, Dawn, provided some colorful artistic dancing.

The laser lights made music when he touched them.  Very unusual and not sure how it was done but very good show.

So we have seen the shows of all three new entertainers who got on board recently.  All three are great.

TODAY:

Tug awaiting to help us with docking.  Tugs always nearby in case the ship loses power during docking.

                                                  In the distance is a tug pulling a barge.

Turns out the barge is actually a fuel bunkering barge and will be refueling the ship across from us.

             Captain is using the bow and stern thrusters to maneuver for docking at the pier.

                                                           Tug monitoring our docking.

On the pier next to ours today is this Azamara "Quest".  Built in 2000 for Renaissance Cruise Line which is no more.  Transferred to Azamara in 2007.  690 passenger capacity with 408 crew members.  So about the same size as the Mariner.

Another incredible yacht here today.  It is the "Amevi".  262 feet long with 8 VIP staterooms and a crew of 22.  You can own this super yacht for $122 million but will cost you another $10 million per year to operate it.  It is not available for charter.  The owner is a billionaire from India.

At the pier beside us is this Club Med 2 ship.  Launched in 1996 her passenger capacity is 386 with a crew of 214.  She is a 5 masted computer controlled schooner but can also be powered by 4 diesel motors powering 2 electric generators for cruising also.

Setting up our gangway this morning.

                                                    The cruise terminal ahead of us.

                                                        A couple views of the island.

        No touring for me again today.  Been here, done that!  It's nice and cool here on board.  Yes, more treadmill time for us this morning.  Sure is nice to basically have the gym to ourselves.  This morning I sent my black sports coat to be dry cleaned.  Somehow made a mess.

        We plan having cocktails and then dinner for two later in Compass Rose.  We are really looking forward to Rachel Tyler's second show tonight in the theater at 9:15.  Her first show was great.  

        We will be sailing again this evening at 7pm and will have a day at sea tomorrow enroute to the Dominican Republic.