Day 7 of this 11 day Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Holland America Line’s Eurodam finds us in the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia, docked in the capital city of Castries. This port is new territory for me, and today we’re sharing the harbor with the Enchanted Princess from Princess Cruises, and the luxurious Sirena, from Oceania Cruises.

While the crystal-clear beaches St. Lucia is famous for are a few miles away, making a stroll impractical for most, there’s no shortage of adventure! Taxis and shore excursions are readily available right at the port, although it is highly recommended to book your excursions only from the cruise line!

I’m itching to explore this island and see if it surpasses my experiences at the last two ports. Stay tuned for an update later today, where I’ll share all about my St. Lucian discoveries! (fingers crossed!)


Lido Market Breakfast Menu

As the day gets started, let’s take a look at what’s being served at the Lido Market for breakfast today.

Lido Market Breakfast Menu
Lido Market Breakfast Menu

 


Main Dining Room Breakfast Menu

Over in the main dining room, here’s what’s cooking for breakfast.

Eurodam main dining room breakfast menu
Eurodam main dining room breakfast menu
Eurodam main dining room breakfast menu
Eurodam main dining room breakfast menu

 


Lido Market Lunch Menu

For those looking for a quick bite to eat for lunch before heading off to explore, here’s what’s available at the Lido Market buffet.

Lido Market Lunch Menu
Lido Market Lunch Menu

 


Main Dining Room Lunch Menu

Of course, for a more relaxed lunch you can visit the main dining room.  Here’s today’s lunch menu.

Eurodam Main Dining Room Lunch Menu
Eurodam Main Dining Room Lunch Menu

 


Port of Call: St. Lucia

Well this was interesting. Another “I’m going to a die here, get me back to the ship” stop.

It doesn’t look bad from a far, but… wow. Once you start walking around it becomes apparent it is.

The locals are once again VERY pushy with taxis and tours to the point where they keep following you till you give them a very forceful NO!

There are sidewalk shops EVERYWHERE selling trinkets, lucky charms, clothes, cups of ice, melons, and fish. Let’s talk about the fish. On a street corner there are several tents set up with wooden boxes full of fish – not on ice, and it’s hot here. They are gutting and chopping up the fish as people are buying them. Forget fish guts all over the ground and on other fish not cut up yet, imagine the smell. I almost puked. The smell was unlike anything I ever smelled before. The worst part was I had to walk by it a second time to get back to the ship.

A disheveled, presumably homeless guy, who was living on Mars at the moment, grabbed my arm, started speaking in whatever language and tried to take my sunglasses. It was at that point I said it was time to get back to the ship ASAP.

Me and the Eurodam docked in Castries, St. Lucia
Me and the Eurodam docked in Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
The terminal building at the port in Castries, St. Lucia
The terminal building at the port in Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
FIsh market in Castries, St. Lucia
FIsh market in Castries, St. Lucia
FIsh market in Castries, St. Lucia
FIsh market in Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia
Castries, St. Lucia

 


Lido Market Dinner Menu

Back on board and things are getting set up for dinner.  Here’s what’s available tonight at the Lido Market buffet up on Deck 9.

Lido Market Dinner Menu
Lido Market Dinner Menu

 


Main Dining Room Dinner Menu

For those wanting to eat in the main dining room, here’s tonight’s menu.

Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu

 


Sail Away from St. Lucia

If there’s one thing to be said about the captain of the Eurodam… he’s punctual! All aboard time was 5:00pm with a scheduled departure of 5:30pm. With most of us back on board way before 5pm, we were underway at 5:15pm.

Like our departure from Antigua and Dominica, the views leaving St. Lucia were simply stunning. Rising out of the water were the Pitons, two mountainous volcanic plugs, high enough to have clouds obstructing their peak.

Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia
Sailing away from St. Lucia

 


Dinner at Pinnacle Grill

For dinner tonight, I decided last minute to go to the ship’s steakhouse – Pinnacle Grill – once again.  This $45 pp + 18% specialty restaurant offers classic steakhouse fare along with stellar service.  So far each time I’ve eaten here this cruise, I have not been disappointed, so here’s to keeping that streak going!

Pinnacle Grill Menu on Eurodam
Pinnacle Grill Menu on Eurodam
Pinnacle Grill Menu on Eurodam
Pinnacle Grill Menu on Eurodam
Pinnacle Grill Menu on Eurodam
Pinnacle Grill Menu on Eurodam
Pinnacle Grill Menu on Eurodam
Pinnacle Grill Menu on Eurodam

I kicked things off with my usual order, the Steak Tartare, which remains absolutely delicious. My second course, the Wedge Salad, was… well, a salad. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t quite live up to the excitement of the tartare.

Steak Tartare from Pinnacle Grill on Eurodam
Steak Tartare from Pinnacle Grill on Eurodam
Wedge Salad from Pinnacle Grill on Eurodam
Wedge Salad from Pinnacle Grill on Eurodam

The main course was a showstopper. I opted for the 8oz filet mignon with lobster dumplings, splurging on a 5oz lobster tail for an extra ten bucks. The steak was cooked exactly as I like it, a perfect rare. The lobster dumplings were divine – two bites of pure deliciousness. The broiled lobster tail lived up to the hype, boasting both sweetness and a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. This dinner easily takes the crown for the best one yet!

Filet mignon, lobster dumplings and a lobster tail from Pinnacle Grill on Eurodam
Filet mignon, lobster dumplings and a lobster tail from Pinnacle Grill on Eurodam

Despite my good intentions of skipping dessert tonight, a towering slice of Baked Alaska paraded past on its way to another table, and I caved. Surprisingly, the portion was airier than it appeared. Layers of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream sat atop a luxuriously moist cake, all generously cloaked in whipped cream that, while a touch too sweet for me, completed the decadent package. It was a delightful indulgence, as beautiful as it was calorie-laden.

Once again, the service at the Pinnacle Grill was fantastic.  The dinner itself was worth every penny!


A Tragic Note

Today, we were informed that earlier in the day while sister ship, Nieuw Amsterdam, was anchored at Half Moon Cay an accident occurred on board that claimed the lives of two crew members.

 


End of the Night

After dinner, I headed for a nightcap and then took in part of the Rolling Stone band’s final set of the night. There was less of a crowd here this evening than there was all the other nights of the cruise (except day 1).

Other entertainment tonight included the piano players at Billboard Onboard and a production show, which I skipped, in the main theater.

Another thing I skipped tonight was the casino. Everyone I’m talking to is complaining about how tight the slots are. I also spoke with a blackjack player who said he’s “getting beat up” at the tables. So the casino is not being too lucky for a lot of us, it seems.

We’re sailing to our next port of call, St. Kitts, where we are expected to arrive at 8am.

Personal Day-By-Day Holland America Eurodam Cruise Review:

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