Hooray for Day 4! We finally reached our first stop – St. Maarten! Holland America Line’s Eurodam docked around 7:00 am and by 8:00 am we were cleared to disembark. Lots of people wasted no time and headed straight for their shore excursions or to explore the island on their own as by the time I made my out and about around 9:30am, the ship was pretty empty.
The weather gods are definitely blessing us today. Sunshine, hot (think mid to upper 80s) – absolute perfection! We’re sharing the port with some interesting ships today: P&O Ariva, Ritz-Carlton Evrima, and Mein Schiff 4. These aren’t the kind of vessels you see back in the US, so I’m definitely snapping photos later when I get off to explore.
We have plenty of time for adventures as all aboard is at 4:30 pm with a 5:00 pm departure. My agenda for later includes a visit to a local cigar store and a legendary liquor store known for its mind-blowing selection of rare whiskeys and bourbons. Apparently, they even have a good stock of Blanton’s, which is basically impossible to find in the States unless you have an insider connection.
For now, I’m soaking up the chill vibes at the lido pool. Seems like most of the 2,000 passengers are ashore, making it a very relaxing morning.
Fire Onboard Eurodam!
Ugh, things just got hectic! There’s been an announcement that there is a fire in the Explorations Cafe, up by the Crows Nest. The captain ordered an evacuation of the whole area. Not ideal, but safety first, of course.
That Was Interesting…
Phew! Just ten minutes after the whole Explorations Cafe/Crows Nest fire situation and the crew scrambling in their gear, the captain came on and announced that it was an unannounced drill for the crew. Good on the crew for such a quick response, though my heart definitely skipped a beat for a second there.
Crew drills are common and are usually held on port days… this one caught many by “surprise” as drills are usually scheduled. Let’s hope they all passed.
Main Dining Room Breakfast Menu
Let’s have a look at what’s being served in the Main Dining Room for breakfast this morning.
Lido Market Breakfast Menu
Up on Deck 9, the Lido Market is now serving breakfast, and here’s what’s being served this morning.
Main Dining Room Lunch Menu
Lunchtime, and even though it’s a port day, lunch is still being served in the Main Dining Room. Here’s today’s menu.
Lido Market Lunch Menu
For those looking for a little more variety and a more casual setting for lunch, the Lido Market has these options available on the buffet today.
Dive In Lunch Menu
As always, even on days when we’re in port, the Dive In is serving up burgers, dogs, and fries at the Lido Pool and there’s always pizza available by the slice or pie at New York Pizza at the Sea View Pool.
Port of Call: St. Maarten
Stepping off the ship and onto St. Maarten’s shores, I can’t help but wonder about the history that unfolded here. Long before cruise ships and tourists, the island was called Soualiga (“Land of Salt”) by the Arawak and Carib peoples who inhabited it for centuries. Then came the Europeans in the 17th century, with the Dutch and French vying for control. The island eventually became a unique territory, shared by both nations – a peaceful agreement that continues to this day. This fascinating past leaves its mark on St. Maarten’s culture, with a delightful blend of Dutch and French influences evident in the architecture, cuisine, and even the languages spoken here.
Today’s mission: Cuban cigars, that elusive Blanton’s bourbon, and a stroll around the port area.
First things first, St. Maarten feels incredibly safe and walkable. Tons of shops, bars, and beach clubs are all within easy reach of the port. Many folks head off on shore excursions, some even venturing to the crazy Maho Beach where planes fly right overhead! Not for me today, though I have other goals!
The port itself is a short walk from a beautiful crescent-shaped lagoon and the heart of the action: Front Street. Beach bums rejoice – vendors are everywhere, renting umbrellas and lounge chairs so you can soak up the sun and admire the yachts and visiting cruise ships (including our own Eurodam) bobbing in the turquoise water.
Speaking of Front Street, it totally reminds me of Santa Monica, California. Picture this: a long stretch lined with the beach on one side and a seemingly endless string of bars, restaurants, and shops on the other. Plenty to keep you entertained without a shore excursion!
Now, on to the shopping scene. Like most Caribbean tourist spots, you’ll find the usual suspects – Diamonds International, Effy, Carialoha – all vying for your attention. But there’s more to it than that. Local vendors selling their wares add a vibrant touch, making for a fun shopping experience.
St. Maarten Ship Spotting!
Sharing the dock today with the Eurodam is the P&O Arvia. This beauty belongs to Carnival Corp’s Excel-class, the same family as the Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras, and Jubilee. While the Arvia might cater more to British travelers with its onboard features, the underlying design is the same.
Even cooler, though, is seeing Mein Schiff 4 right next to the Arvia. This beauty belongs to TUI Cruises, a German line I don’t often get to see in US ports.
Sharing the dock is a real treat: the ultra-luxurious Evrima, part of the brand new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. This beauty is in a completely different league! Imagine a yacht-like experience with all the Ritz-Carlton trimmings!
A “Cool” Welcome Back
Back on the Eurodam after a whirlwind day in St. Maarten!
My mission for Blanton’s bourbon took me on a 20-30 minute walk from the port to Gulmohar’s Whisky Paradise. This little haven is legendary among whiskey enthusiasts for its incredible selection of rare finds. Their Blanton’s stock is mind-blowing!
While the store has a no-photos policy (so no inside pics this time!), let me tell you – the shelves were overflowing with all sorts of rare spirits, but the star of the show was definitely Blanton’s. They had everything from the single barrel for $85 a bottle all the way up to a jaw-dropping $2,200 bottle!
The owner, super nice guy by the way, explained their massive Blanton’s collection. Turns out, Gulmohar’s is the official distributor for the entire Caribbean! No wonder they have such a huge allotment. He sells them in his stores and even supplies other shops on the islands.
After a chat and some serious browsing, I walked away with two bottles of Blanton’s and a stash of Cuban cigars. Mission accomplished!
Side note, all cruise lines require you to “surrender” any liquor bought on shore as it’s not allowed to be consumed onboard. Once I passed through security, a table was set up with a crew member assigned to collect the liquor and obtain a receipt. Have no fear though, it is returned on the final day of the cruise, delivered to your stateroom.
Back at the ship, the crew was there to greet me (and all the other passengers) with a welcome sight – cold face towels and chilled lemon water. Such a refreshing way to cool down after a day of exploring under the Caribbean sun! These little touches always remind me why I love cruising Holland America Line – the service is truly top-notch.
Sail Away from St. Maarten
With a final call of “all aboard” at 4:30 pm, we set sail out of St. Maarten right on time at 5:00 pm. The views as we departed the port were absolutely incredible! The last sight of the island was a beautiful tableau – the cruise ships lined up at the dock, colorful buildings lining the waterfront, and everything framed by the lush green hills. Definitely a picture-perfect ending to our first port day. Now, time to relax and reflect on all the fun (and that amazing Blanton’s score!) before our next adventure.
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
Tonight, dinner in the Main Dining Room features a special menu created by the various celebrity chefs who make up Holland America Line’s Culinary Council. These chefs work together to create menu items and guide the chefs throughout the fleet on how to execute their creations.
Lido Market Dinner Menu
For those looking for a more relaxed dinner option, the Lido Market up on Deck 9 is serving up this menu tonight.
Main Dining Room Dinner
I decided to check out the Culinary Council dinner in the Main Dining Room tonight, so here we go!
First up was the crab cake. The texture was unlike anything I’d had before – kind of gritty. Sadly, the crab itself seemed to be outnumbered by the filler.
The second starter, the sushi trio, was a total redemption song. Fresh, flavorful – it completely overshadowed the disappointing crab cake.
I went for the prime rib for my main course. It was flavorful, which saved it a bit, but definitely on the chewy side. Not exactly a contender for the best prime rib ever, but it was alright.
The side of rigatoni with sausage? Let’s just say it stole the show from the prime rib. The pasta was perfectly cooked, al dente, and the sauce – oh man, the sauce! It was hearty and bursting with flavor, packed with ground sausage. It was the kind of dish that would make your Italian grandma break out the “mamma mia”s with pride.
Service tonight was somewhat better than the previous night. My server this evening was much more friendly and outgoing, and his partner was as well. Drinks arrived quickly, but dinner was rushed! I was in and out in a half hour which was incredibly fast. As soon as I finished one dish, the other was in front of me. I do like a little time in between courses, but that simply wasn’t happening here tonight.
Evening Entertainment
Tonight’s entertainment was a bit of a snooze. The comedian, Leland Klassen did a 45-minute set that was just okay – maybe a 5 out of 10 on the funny scale. It felt like it went on forever, but I’m not the type to ditch a show halfway through, so I powered through it.
Since the Rolling Stone Lounge band wasn’t playing, the only music came from the piano players in Billboard Onboard. It wasn’t bad, but not quite the same. By 9:45pm, the night was pretty much over. Most people had packed it in and headed back to their rooms. It seemed like the lack of entertainment options drove some folks to the casino, which was busier than usual at this hour.
Just a reminder, everything except the Sea View Bar (which stays open until midnight) shuts down at 11pm sharp. But hey, that just means more time to rest up for tomorrow! We’re pulling into St. John’s, Antigua at 8am, and guess what? It’s a brand new port for me, so I can’t wait to explore!