The adventure continues this morning as the Eurodam docked in St. Kitts, an island steeped in history! St. Kitts holds the distinction of being the site of Britain’s first successful Caribbean colony, established in 1623. The island’s past is marked by a tug-of-war between French and British colonists, a legacy still visible in some place names. We arrived at 7 am sharp and were cleared to explore ashore at exactly 8 am, proving once again the punctuality of the cruise director who doesn’t make the all ashore announcement a minute prior, or a minute after the scheduled time. Temperatures are in the low 80s, and there’s a bit of a “hang on to your hat” wind.
Peeking out from the ship’s deck, the port area doesn’t look bad. Those who have been following along know I have said this same thing quite a few times already only to be hugely disappointed after going ashore. A quick Google Maps check shows plenty of places within walking distance that are perfect for exploring. One that particularly piqued my interest is a cigar shop boasting a fantastic selection of Cubans and great customer reviews.
Lido Market Breakfast Menu
Before going ashore, let’s take a look at what’s being served for breakfast up on Deck 9 at the Lido Market buffet.
Main Dining Room Breakfast Menu
Breakfast is also available in the main dining room this morning and here’s what’s being served.
Oh What Luck, I Found a Duck!
The “duck phenomenon” on cruise ships is a fun tradition where passengers hide small rubber ducks around the vessel for others to find. It’s like a giant game of hide-and-seek that brings people together!
Here’s the story behind the craze: It all started (or at least gained widespread popularity) in 2018 when an 11-year-old girl named Abby Davis brought 50 ducks on her spring break cruise. She and her mom hid them around the ship, sparking a wave of fun for other passengers.
This playful tradition has boomed, with social media groups dedicated to sharing duck finds and hiding spots. It’s a fun activity for all ages, turning the cruise into a giant scavenger hunt.
Unfortunately, there weren’t any kids around on this particular cruise, which made me feel a bit like a party pooper for not being enthralled by the hidden duck phenomenon. Speaking of which, as I rounded a corner, there it was – a bright yellow crocheted duck perched nonchalantly on a staircase, as if daring me to join the game.
Lido Market Lunch Menu
It’s lunchtime, so let’s take a peek at what’s being offered up at the Lido Market buffet today.
Main Dining Room Lunch Menu
Of course, the usual lunch menu is being served in the main dining room.
Port of Call: St. Kitts
St. Kitts was a breath of fresh air compared to several of the ports we’ve visited so far on this cruise. While venturing beyond the cruise terminal demanded a bit more awareness, it felt significantly safer overall.
The port itself had a good variety of shops in a nice, clean, semi-modern environment, with many undergoing renovations and expansion. Dozens lined the area, offering a familiar mix of duty-free goods: clothing of questionable taste, diamonds, beauty products, perfumes, and linens. Interestingly, the taxi drivers and tour operators were less aggressive than the sales staff in some perfume stores – a surprising twist! Those people will run after you to hand you a sample!
However, navigating St. Kitts required a different approach. Traffic rules were more like suggestions here. Traffic lights, stop signs, and crosswalks were treated with a relaxed indifference. Streets effectively doubled as sidewalks, so constant awareness was key. The ever-present honking, like the town was swarmed by New Yorkers, added to the atmosphere.
While I never felt unsafe, there were definitely areas that prompted a quick about-face. The sheer number of street vendors selling “hot electronics” also raised an eyebrow. Who would buy a phone or laptop from a random street vendor? Apparently, there’s a market for everything, even if the “product” might be a brick in a box instead of a new MacBook.
My personal highlight was visiting La Casa Del Habano, a cigar haven for aficionados like myself. This shop is staffed entirely by Cubans as it’s a franchise of the Cuban government. The only cigars they are allowed to sell are Cuban cigars – you won’t find anything else. In addition to a large humidor stocked full of Cuban cigars ranging in price from $8 – $2000, there was a woman hand rolling cigars made with Cuban leaf that is brought in directly from Havana!
After making selections from the humidor, I also grabbed some of the hand rolled cigars and stuck around to strike up conversation with the store’s manager. He explained to me how things work, with the Cuban government being the franchise owner and how things get kicked back to the government. The employees there, himself excluded, come over from Cuba to work the stores for several months on a contract, much like how cruise ship workers do.
We sat at the bar for about two hours talking, enjoying some Cuban rum and some beer that’s unique to the island. I ended up bringing back a bottle of the Cuban rum, which ran $25 a bottle.
Orange Party Night!
Tonight’s not your average night at sea! It’s Orange Night, a once-in-a-cruise Holland America party, and let me tell you, it’s always fun!
We all know Holland America has deep Dutch roots, founded in Rotterdam over 150 years ago. Tonight’s a celebration of that heritage, and it’s all about going orange! So be sure too pack something orange to wear for the party. If you forgot, they do sell some orange things like hats, feather boas, glasses, and other fun stuff in the gift shop so you don’t feel like you’re the only one not wearing the bright color!
The fun starts with a taste of the Netherlands at the Lido Market buffet where the menu features special Dutch dishes. Unfortunately, the Dutch theme doesn’t cross over into the main dining room, as there isn’t a special menu offered there. There’s also a bar crawl on Orange Party night, featuring themed Dutch cocktails for the cost of $25 pp.
But the real star of the show is the 9 pm Orange Party. The Rolling Stone Lounge gets transformed into an orange wonderland, complete with live music and Dutch treats galore.
Lido Market Dinner Menu
As I mentioned, a special Dutch-themed dinner menu is available tonight at the Lido Market buffet, and here’s what’s on it.
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu
There’s no special Dutch items on the menu in the main dining room however, but here’s a peek at what’s being served.
Main Dining Room Dinner
Tonight’s dinner was in the main dining room, which overall has been a pretty solid option for meals on this cruise. However, the service has consistently felt fast and rushed.
My starter was a farro salad with tomatoes, artichoke hearts, field greens, and salami on top. It was a decent dish, but not particularly exciting.
For the main course, I was going to go with the lamb shank, since I had the prime rib here the other night, but my server said, “prime rib.”
Good choice, because it was much better than the other night! Cooked medium, it was very tender, did not have much fat, however it could have used some seasoning. The flavor mostly came from the au jus rather than the meat.
It was served with a baked potato, carrots, and green beans.
I also asked for a small piece of the “rustic” lasagna to give it a try.
It was interesting to say the least. It was 98% ground beef which was on the dry, overcooked side. Mixed in with the meat was a “melty” cheese, but the lack of sauce made it a very un-moist lasagna. However, the flavor of it was fantastic, probably due to an incredible amount of salt.
Orange Party Time!
The Orange Party got underway at 9pm in the Rolling Stone Lounge. Drinks and snacks were passed around while the ship’s officers mingled with the guests, and the band played for a solid 75 minutes before taking a 15-minute break.
The lounge was decked out in orange and most, but not all, guests were wearing some sort of the bright color.
Many said they were not aware of the orange theme, so that’s something that should be passed on to guests in pre-cruise material so they can be part of the fun.
End of the Night
After the orange party, it was lights out on the ship as all the venues closed at 11pm except for the Sea View Bar which is open until midnight.
We are sailing towards our next port of call, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, where we are expected to have the all clear to go ashore at 8am – which I predict will be EXACTLY on time!