Norwegian Cruise: Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola & Great Stirrup Cay

January 19: Driving out of the snow

We left home at 12:30 with snow falling. Lunch was Sonic’s new peanut butter burger. Sam’s Gap and the Tennessee line were covered in snow, and conditions became even heavier after we crossed into North Carolina.

We stopped at Buc-ee’s for dinner, where I had a sausage kolache, strawberries and cream, and chips. We reached the SureStay around 10 p.m.

January 20: Boarding the ship

We left the hotel at 7:30 a.m. and took the scenic route through cold Florida weather. A stop at a manatee observation deck did not work out—the cold had pushed the manatees toward warmer water—but we passed the space station and arrived at the port at 10:45.

Check-in was finished by 11:30. Lunch at the American diner included smoked fish dip and a Heineken. Later, we visited Tobacco Road, where I tried a Rusty Nail, watched sail-away at 4 p.m., and played mini-golf.

Dinner included crab wontons, gumbo, shrimp scampi, and crème brûlée. We ended the evening at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar with raspberry-guava mojitos, chess, cards, and football.

January 21: First sea day

Breakfast was bircher muesli, biscuits, and sausage gravy. The day included bocce ball, basketball, and an art auction. Lunch at O’Sheehan’s was sausage sliders and Cobb salad.

We spent more time playing cards at the brewhouse, where I tried a drink called Grass Clippings. Dinner was Brazilian-style service with different meats brought and carved at the table.

January 22: A canceled port

High winds canceled our scheduled port stop—the same problem we had experienced the year before. We made the most of the extra ship day by visiting the adults-only area at the back of the ship, riding the water slide, and relaxing in the hot tub.

Lunch in the main dining room included caprese salad, pho, and shrimp fritters. After Phase 10 and a few drinks, dinner brought Asian spare ribs, onion soup, bang bang shrimp, chicken, and bananas Foster. We finished with roulette and Finding Nemo.

January 23: St. Thomas and Magen’s Bay

After breakfast, we got off the ship early and browsed the shops. We found a brewery across the street before leaving on an excursion to Magen’s Bay, stopping for scenic photos along the way.

Back onboard, we tried the ropes course. Dinner included mashed potato croquettes, cordon bleu, and cannoli before an early night.

January 24: Tortola and Virgin Gorda

We were up before daylight and boarded a boat for Virgin Gorda at 6:45 a.m. Open-air transportation took us toward the Baths. A red-flag warning changed what we could do, but we still explored the dramatic rock formations and spent time in the water.

After returning to the ship, we walked through local shops and stopped for a drink. Lunch at the pub included spicy wings and a burger, followed by a much-needed nap. Dinner was mushroom bisque, walleye cod, and a banana split, and we ended the evening in the arcade.

January 25: Slowing down

I started feeling a cold coming on, so this became a quieter day. Breakfast was a salmon bagel, followed by darts and a cake-decorating demonstration. I rested in the cabin before dinner, which included hummus, lamb, and Snickers pound cake.

January 26: Great Stirrup Cay

The weather cooperated, and we finally made it to Great Stirrup Cay. Even with the cold getting worse, I spent time floating in the ocean with a cocktail. Lunch was a chicken sandwich, and I tried a key lime wheat beer from the beach bar.

Dinner included scallops, soup, and brats. I skipped dessert but used onboard credit to pick up two bottles of Johnnie Walker. The last evening included the arcade and roulette with a White Russian—some wins and some losses.

January 27: Heading home

We lined up as soon as disembarkation opened and made it off the ship quickly. One more Buc-ee’s stop for brisket tacos broke up the drive home.