Our Caribbean cruise to the West Indies was our first experience on the Oceania Cruise line and its new ship “Vista.” The ship was big, shimmering white and built to provide a luxury cruise with top notch cuisine, entertainment and service for its 1,200 passengers.
It would take almost three full days of steaming south to reach our first stop at the island informally known as “St. Barths.” At 6 p.m. that first evening we were on deck 12 in the Horizons Bar enjoying wine as the ship cast off lines and pushed off.
It was thrilling. As the space widened between our moving ship and the pier, a tug finally managed to squeeze into the narrow space and began nudging the Vista out into the channel.
As we picked up speed, the busy port of Miami passed us by. It may have been after hours for most workers but not at this port. Derricks, cranes, and trucks were loading and unloading the hundreds of sea containers that were destined to be delivered either throughout the United States or heading out to sea to ports all over the world. The containers were huge bins in the shape of a train car but they were stacked like Legos, one on top of the other, for as far as one could see.
A four-piece combo and singer were there to entertain us as our ship moved through the water. They specialized in show tunes and Frank Sinatra songs. I felt exhilarated at the sight of such an active port passing by me with so many Americans busy taking care of business.
Or maybe my rush came from the music and wine. Anyway, I was filled with a sense of pride. What a super country this is! How fortunate we all are to live in America and be protected from a growing, totalitarian and overreaching government by our Constitution and Bill of Rights … what so many millions of others in this world do not enjoy and suffer under governments that control every move.
We moved on to the Grand Restaurant on the fifth deck at 6:30 for a private table for two next to the window to enjoy a masterfully prepared gourmet menu and watch the sea pass by. I needed to sit facing in the direction the ship was headed as I felt squeamish when I sat “going backwards.”
Regardless of which way I was facing, in time the rich food, free flow of wine along with the gentle swells of the sea, caused us to return to our cabin early and miss the welcome aboard program at the ship stage on deck five.
There was a bit too much movement for me to feel perfectly comfortable in our ninth deck stateroom. We opened the balcony glass door and sat on the verandah for fresh air and to enjoy the night sea.
I am not that comfortable traveling by sea. Actually, I can’t think of any way I like to travel. I should be grateful I don’t have to travel by camel, horse, covered wagon or worse. Elephant. But I find when at sea, fresh air helps and also keeping an eye on the horizon. Unfortunately, it was dark enough not to see anything except the continuous kick up of sliced waves along the side of our ship brilliantly set aglow from our lights.
A feeling of great aloneness struck me as I stared out at the darkness. Again, that feeling of exhilaration came over me. I like the feeling of being alone in an all too busy world. Being alone at sea under a black sky dotted with stars like millions of bright shiny eyes staring down on me was euphoric.
It was another two more days steaming south. Our small cabin encouraged us to spend mornings reading the newspapers or watching the giant TV in the semi-private concierge’s lounge directly across from our stateroom.
There was a bit of a problem, however. Politics. People are nuts these days about politics. If anyone turned on Fox News there was sure to be a kick up from some passenger who “hated” Fox News. Then if anyone turned on MSNBC there was a corresponding reaction from the opposite side of the aisle. I laughed and kept the channel on BBC News. That way all we had to tolerate was that posh British accent.
The next morning, we anchored in the harbor of Gustavia, St Barths, in the center of a nest of huge yachts. The island attracts visits from the world’s very rich. Ironically it is the smallest island in the West Indies, no larger than eight square miles, and the Europeans first discovered it in 1493 with the arrival of Christopher Columbus.
Pulling into the harbor, I could not help but think how momentous it must have been for Columbus and his shipmates to discover this tropical paradise after the long sail across the ocean as they had pushed west.
The only way we could possibly comprehend how the Europeans felt when they discovered the New World is to imagine how we would feel when Elon Musk takes us to Mars.
We were struck by the large number of luxury yachts anchored in the harbor. I mean private pleasure boats well over 100 feet, the kind of craft A.O.C. would label “oligarch” yachts. Someone pointed out the Walmart logo flag was flying on the stern from one of the massive yachts and another passenger pointed out Michael Jordan’s massive yacht.
I had not been to the Caribbean Islands in 40 years. This harbor with its dozens of anchored luxury yachts suggested Miami more than the Caribbean of the past that I remembered.
One thing stood out. Some people have made massive amounts of money during these past four decades.
Well, good for them. It is the American dream to work hard and strike it rich. To go from rags to riches. And it certainly appeared by the many yachts at anchor at St. Barths that not only had some Americans done so … but they were also greatly enjoying it. (To be continued.)
