Leni
You go to sleep on Saturday night, and at 8:00 AM the next morning you discover the Zuiderdam is anchored about three miles off our first island stop, Half Moon Cay.
You can put your swim suits on and order room service but it may be over an hour wait this busy morning. Or go to the Lido for a hearty breakfast and change when you get back to your cabin.
Wear a casual cover-up and sturdy sneakers or sandals to the beach. Definitely bring a straw or panama brimmed hat.
Your room steward will either give you beach towels or they will be given out on the beach itself....at any rate, don't worry about towels. They'll be issued to you.
When you're ready to leave for the beach, you'll be directed to a Main Deck gangplank, where tenders constantly shuttle to and fro the Cay. The first tenders to leave the ship are for the ship's beach staff, food for the barbeque, the band/musical instruments, etc.
Then, numbers are issued to the passengers for the tenders. Numbers are necessary at first because for the first hour or so, darn near the whole ship is headed for the beach at one time.
You'll be directed where to get your tender number. You must be ready to leave the ship or you won't get a tender number.
Our group will meet at our "headquarters", the cabana Mr. & Mrs. Bush_Democrat so generously donated for our use. The cabana will be decorated with American flags and Free Republic.com signs, so just walk the beach....we won't be hard to find, lol.
There are no shade trees on the beach. There are ample lounge chairs with umbrellas. Drag your lounge over to the FReeper Mean Green Mezzanine and park yourself. This is where the fun begins, hoo yah!
Folks who are sensitive to such things should bring insect repellent. There may be mosquitos if there's no wind.
The usual warning applies regarding sunburn. The tropical sun rays are hot, and even more so in or near water. Sunscreen/block are a necessity if you're still a paleface. Many an unwary cruiser has spent the next day or two in his/her cabin nursing a bad burn after even a few hours on a Caribbean beach. With a nice cool breeze off the water, many sun lovers don't know that the sun is still doing what it does, frying you. If you're on an umbrella lounge for any time, cover both the top and bottom of your feet with a towel.
Last year, we headed for the Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman at 10 AM. This is a good time to go. You've had breakfast and have ample time for a swim and yak yak before they start serving the barbeque lunch. After lunch, you may want to explore the shopping arcade, take the nature walk, have an apres-lunch tropical drink at an open-air bar and listen to the steel band. Or head to the beach again for more swimming and yak yak with freeper friends. There's also plenty of water toys to rent if you want to jet-ski, etc. around this stunningly gorgeous island.
Bush_Democrat (Jan) is our committee chairperson for this beach event. She'll be the point person on the beach. If you have any problems or questions, take them to her. Bahama Mama will be under water as much as she can during the day and will refer all questions to Jan, heheh.
Bahama Mama