Monthly Archives: August 2021

The third day of our cruise brings us to Nassau, Bahamas for a day in port. While we had excellent weather yesterday, it was a little bit more hit or miss today.

No one can control the weather, so it's just the "luck of the draw". According to Royal Caribbean's Chief Meteorologist James Van Fleet, an upper level low is moving through The Bahamas today.

Luckily, it was just a short passing shower here and there, but it mostly stayed dry.

Something I could see clearly from my balcony was the progress being made on the new pier.

Nassau is re-doing their entire pier, which is why there's a handful of canceled stops in Nassau coming up for some ships. Hopefully things will progress quickly because the new renderings look great.

I thought about disembarking the ship, but decided to stay onboard to catch up on some RoyalCaribbeanBlog, and I couldn't have asked for a better office for the day.

Before I could do any work, I had to get coffee and something to eat. I headed up to the Windjammer for breakfast.

They had my favorite new variety of Indian breakfast curry available, sambar. Mixing that with a little bit of bread and it really hits the spot.

I picked the pool deck for my office. There are a few different kinds of tables and chairs on either side of the deck, and it allows for a nice breeze along with plenty of people watching whenever I need to sit back for a moment.

Docked next to us was Freedom of the Seas once again.

As lunchtime came around, I was once again in the Windjammer to enjoy the wonderful pasta station. In the back of the Windjammer there is sometimes a cooking station available, and it is worth a stop every time.

In the afternoon, I decided in the interest of this live blog to do something a little more interesting. I headed back to my stateroom to change and then went up to the sports deck.

First up, was the water slides. I had ridden the slides on Mariner years ago, but decided it was time to try them again.

Just like at CocoCay, there are no lines for the water slides right now with limited capacity.

The slides were fun, and the blue slide definitely moves faster than the yellow slide.

The breeze was stiff, so I decided to "warm up" in the hot tub back on the pool deck.

I thought I was just going to go in the hot tub for a little bit, but I enjoyed my time so stayed longer and then lounged by the pool for a bit.

After I changed, I found the stowaway piano player playing on deck 4 near the Schooner Bar. Like so many of the great entertainers onboard, I am always impressed how many songs they know and how they can play all of them so well.

If you can find the stowaway piano player on your ship, be sure to stop by for a minute.

Dinner tonight brings us to a Royal Caribbean staple, Chops Grille.

Chops ia stalwart of the specialty restaurant lineup, and I don't think I've eaten at Chops since being on Adventure of the Seas.

Since I had filet mignon yesterday, I decided to go with the lamb chops as my main dish.

First up was the tuna tartare and wild mushroom soup. These are always my go-to dishes at Chops.

My table mates went with another fan favorite of thegrilled black pepper bacon and they really enjoy it.

When my lamb came out, I was surprised how tender it was. It had been many years since I had the lamb, and it was a great non-fish alternative to a steak.

I have a Pavlovian response to dessert at Chops, where I must order the red velvet cake. It's just one of those signature dishes I associate with the restaurant.

For our evening entertainment, it was back to the pub to enjoy bar songs.

Tomorrow is a sea day.

Original post:

Mariner of the Seas Live Blog - Day 3 - Nassau - Royal Caribbean Blog

Three Caribbean islands are at risk of joining the red list at the UK governments next review of the traffic light lists for travel, according to new analysis.

The popular north African country of Morocco could also slide into the high-risk red category, the PC Agency has predicted in its assessment, along with Jamaica, St Lucia and Dominica.

Meanwhile, the research earmarked just five potential additions to the green list Poland, Bhutan, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Saudi Arabia reports the Telegraph.

Looking at Covid infection rates, the proportion of tests coming back positive and the level of vaccination, the agency forecast that eight destinations could be demoted from green to amber: Israel, Croatia, Madeira, Lithuania and Montserrat, and the Caribbean islands of Anguilla, Antigua and Turks and Caicos.

Significant changes could be some Caribbean islands turning red, and Saudi Arabia turning green as well as Israel going amber, said Paul Charles, travel consultant and chief executive of the PC Agency.

Much of Europe wont change because the government would create utter chaos at our borders during the bank holiday weekend and week if they chose to turn some of the most popular countries red, such as Balearics or Spain, and force so many people into hotel quarantine.

The agency said that, although Spain and its islands were posting Covid rates high enough to warrant being kicked down to the red list, this was extremely unlikely as the UK would not have enough capacity to accommodate the high volumes of returning holidaymakers in quarantine hotels.

Travel from red list countries to the UK currently necessitates an expensive 11-night stay at a government-mandated quarantine hotel, regardless of the passengers vaccination status.

However, predictions for destinations movements between the colour-graded lists vary between experts.

The Independents own travel correspondent, Simon Calder, believes it is extremely unlikely that Jamaica will be shunted into the red list at the upcoming review.

I think it extremely unlikely that Jamaica will go red at the next change, requiring everyone arriving to the UK from the island to go into 11 nights of hotel quarantine, he said.

While infection rates on the island have risen six-fold in the past month, they remain well below half of those in the UK. Variants of concern do not appear to be a significant issue.

The next update to the UKs travel lists is expected later this week, on either 25 or 26 August.

See the original post:

Caribbean islands slated for red list while Spain expected to stay amber - The Independent

Have a Royal Caribbean cruise planned for September 2021? Half the fleet will be back in service this month and that means more people will be able to go on a cruise again.

There is plenty happening and changing with cruise ships, so here is a look at what to expect if you are going on a cruise in September.

This post will share important information what you should know before going on a cruise in September. September is the traditional beginning of fall, but it is still a very hot month in the Caribbean. Meanwhile there are also ships sailing to Alaska and Europe.

September is also one of the best months to book a cruise in terms of value. Since school is back in session, there are less families cruising and with it being the peak of hurricane season, demand for cruises dips a bit. The result is competitive prices for going on a cruise.

If you can find time to hop on a ship, September is a great time to cruise and with more ships back in service, there are lots of good options again to consider.

By the end of September 13 Royal Caribbean ships should be offering cruises around the world:

In addition, Liberty of the Seas will sail her test cruise from Galveston, Texas on September 18, 2021. Liberty will begin offering cruises with paying passengers in early October.

The biggest change in terms of protocols will begin in September when Royal Caribbean begins requiring all passengers to be fully vaccinated if they over the age of 12.

Due to a change in the policy of The Bahamas, Royal Caribbeancruisers ages 12 and older will now have to show proof of vaccination to sail from Florida.

Up until September Royal Caribbean was allowing adults to opt out of showing proof on sailings from Florida due to a Florida law that prevents businesses from asking for proof.

The Bahamas announced between September 3 and November 1, all passengers old enough to be vaccinated on a cruise ship must be vaccinated in order for a ship to visit any port in The Bahamas, including private islands.

For cruises departing from any U.S. port and visiting The Bahamas on and after Sept. 3, guests who are 12 and older must provide proof of vaccination in order to sail. This also applies to itineraries that include Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Travelers unable to show proof of vaccination will beunable to sail.Those of our guests under 12, who are currently ineligible for the vaccine,canstill cruisewithus as long as they continue to provide a negative test result at boarding and follow certain health and safety protocols.

While it may be fall where you live, September is still very much summer in the Caribbean.

Expect typical summer weather in the Caribbean, which means hot and humid weather with passing rain showers at any given time.

If you are looking at the weather forecast for your cruise, don't be surprised if rain is in the forecast every day. All that means is there is a chance for a passing or pop up storm. More than likely you will have plenty of sun, with perhaps a quick downpour.

September is the beginning of the peak of hurricane season, which means the likelihood of a named storm is higher than it was earlier in the summer.

According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, 87 percent of minor and 96 percent of major hurricanes occur between August and October, peaking in early September.

Hurricanes are obviously an issue, but Royal Caribbean monitors the weather and will move ships around storms. Fear not: your ship will not go anywhere near a hurricane.

The biggest issue with cruising in September is thelast-minute itinerary changes that can occur due to storms.

Read more:What to know about cruising during hurricane season in the Caribbean

Over in Alaska, September begins the end of the Alaska cruise season, although Royal Caribbean extended the season this year by an extra month.

Just like in the Caribbean, September is one of the cheapest months to sail to Alaska because kids are back in school.

In addition, the best time see the Northern Lights in Alaska is in September.September is the time of year when the sun sets earlier during the cruise season, which means the sky gets darker and makes for the most ideal viewing conditions.

Read more:Top 10 tips for planning your Alaska cruise

And yes, September is also a great time visit Europe for good deals.

September is a popular time to cruise the Western Mediterranean because you can avoid the families and still enjoy warm temperatures.

Here is the original post:

Royal Caribbean cruises in September 2021: What to expect - Royal Caribbean Blog

Most people think of the Caribbean as a place to chill out beside turquoise water, but its geology also makes it an excellent playground for climbers of all levels.

Here, you can grapple with everything from limestone walls to granite boulders. While the Caribbeans rock-climbing scene is relatively young, it will definitely win you over, if you decide to explore beyond the beaches and tiki drinks.

Many consider the Valle de Viales in Cubas mountainous Pinar del Rio province as the best spot on the island for climbing. The area itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a 132 sq km karstic depression, teeming with limestone crags and dome-shaped limestone hills called mogotes. Mainly, climbers venture to three areas: La Costanera, Mogote del Valle, and El Palenque. There are around 700 routes in the valley, ranging from F6a to F7c.

The limestone karst of the Viales region in Cuba. Photo: Mark Green/Shutterstock

In 1997, a group of Americans that included activist Armando Menocal became the first foreign climbers to visit Cuba. They explored Viales for climbing opportunities and established some initial routes. They named their first official route Viva Cuba.

In 1999, Menocal, Craig Luebben, and Cameron Cross ascended La Costanera and discovered three rusted pitons that two Spanish women were rumoured to have left there two decades prior. This was never confirmed. The discovery further piqued their curiosity and they embarked on a quest to climb and plot new routes throughout the area.

The most famous route in Cuba is Cuba Libre, a 7a+ climb that is described as acrobatic. It is a 50m limestone column on El Palenque and features a route that passes through stalactites and reaches a cresting cliff. Despite a hard fall, Craig Luebben made the first ascent.

Luebben spent several years pioneering more Viales climbing routes. In 2000, Luebben, Cross, and David Ryan were credited with plotting the worlds best 6a route, called Mucho Pumpito. Luebben eventually earned himself the nickname Mr. Mogote for his dedication in furthering the sport in the area. Luebben died in a climbing accident in 2009.

Climbing in Cueva Larga, Vinales. Photo: Marc Pagani Photography/Shutterstock

Yet Cubas climbing scene remains somewhat of a conundrum. While the sport is not exactly illegal, there have been inconvenient restrictions, bureaucratic challenges, and economic impediments that have prevented Cubans from realizing its full potential. The Cuban government does not recognize climbing as an official sport, preventing much-needed funding and equipment.

It has become a tradition for visiting climbers to leave behind equipment in order to support the Cuban rock-climbing community. Local climbers Yarobys Garcia and Jorge Luis Pimentel agree that this, along with networking via the internet, has helped keep rock climbing alive in Cuba.

The small island of Cayman Brac has gained a reputation as the Caribbeans safest and most beautiful climbing destination. It has an established community of climbers who take to the jagged, technical limestone cliffs. You will find these bluffs on the northeastern side of the island, with cliffs rising about 45m from the sea. Brace yourself for a challenging climb while the sea roars beneath.

In 1994, Skip Harper from Colorado fell in love with Cayman Brac and spent the next few years plotting over 70 routes. Now, there are over 124 routes ranging from 5.6 to 5.13b. Popular routes include Dixons Wall, Love Shack Wall, Stargazer Wall, and the Wave Wall.

From the top of the bluff in Cayman Brac, the cliff face drops down into the crystal clear blue water. Photo: Drew McArthur/Shutterstock

Some years after Harper, Cayman Brac gained another valuable supporter: John Byrnes. Byrnes, with a background in engineering, played a pivotal role by installing titanium bolts along prime routes. The corrosion of previous bolts in the salt air resulted in several accidents which had hurt the islands reputation among climbers. Cayman Brac is the only place in the Caribbean to use titanium bolts, and accidents have reduced significantly.

The British Virgin Islands offer much more than calm beaches and luxury villas. It also happens to be the bouldering capital of the Caribbean. The island of Virgin Gorda, with its unique granite features, is especially popular.

Throughout Virgin Gorda, granite boulders sit on the shores and in the sea, with problems ranging from v0 to v9. These boulders are found in the colorfully named The Baths, Crooks Bay, Fallen Jerusalem, Spring Bay, Stony Point, and Devils Bay. The Baths has the highest concentration of these granite rocks. Some are even piled on top of each other. The rock usually has great friction but can be slippery when wet. Erosion gives the boulders handy pockets, cracks, and grooves.

A woman snorkels next to the huge granite boulders at The Baths beach on Virgin Gorda. Photo: BlueOrangeStudio/Shutterstock

While there isnt an official climbing community in the British Virgin Islands, Rich Crowders book Guide to Bouldering and Traveling in the Virgin Islands documents over 450 routes.

Some of the bouldering problems that attract climbers are Devils Arete (v6), Orangatana Low (v9), Patio Problem (v5), and Spring Bay Crack (v2).

The eastern half of Hispaola is rich in limestone, coral, marble, and dolomite, which makes it ideal for sport and trad climbers. The local climbing community is close-knit and highly active. Together with visiting climbers, they have established over 200 routes. Some popular areas include Playa Frontn, Parque Mirador del Sur, Bahia San Lorenzo, Bayahibe, and Punta Cana.

Parque Mirador del Sur, which is located in the capital of Santo Domingo, has the urban crag. This 43m limestone crag has very sharp rocks and is where many local climbers come to practice. Here, visitors can get their first taste of Dominican rock.

The second most popular spot is Playa Fronton. It is a 90m cliff with metamorphic rock, colored limestone, and marble walls. Routes range from 5.4 to 5.13a. The 3.5km band of rock contains routes such as Contra Wall, Cueva de Agua, Genesis Walls, and Sector Jerry.

The rock in Puerto Rico is mainly limestone, basalt, and granite. The best-known climbing spots are Cerro Las Tetas, Cueva del Indio, Vacia Talega, and the Nuevo Bayamon area near to San Juan. Nuevo Bayamon has routes ranging from 5.7 to 5.12a and is full of limestone mogotes as in Cuba.

For the best climbing, go to the pristine island of Eleuthera. The northern end of the island is home to such popular locations as Stalactite Wall, Rainbow Bay Cliffs, Annie Bight, and Glass Window Bridge. Glass Window Bridge is perhaps the most exciting. This narrow, spectacular isthmus not only separates the dark, roaring waters of the Atlantic from the calm, turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea but also features sharp, steep cliffs with serious overhangs. Proceed with caution! You can easily be swatted off the rocks if the weather turns sour.

Glass Window Bridge. Photo: Miguel Davis/Unsplash

Further south is Annie Bight, an anchorage with a sharp ledge area on the northern side where people often jump into the waters below. You can also climb it or go bouldering. Another 2.4km south of Annie Bight is Stalactite Wall. The wall features intricate cruxes and pillars, averaging a difficulty of 5.11. Take care as the rock can be unstable.

Many people are unfamiliar with the island of Curaao, and the same goes for its growing climbing scene. However, in recent years, this has started to change. The sport has started to gain momentum locally. The Rock Climbing Curaao Project has been working year-round to install routes on rock walls, work with national park rangers, and raise awareness, particularly with young people on the island. They have been teaching new climbers and welcoming veterans to try routes ranging from 5.6 to 5.13.

Christoffel National Park often introduces locals to climbing. Photo: Gail Johnson/Shutterstock

Curaao is ideal for climbing. It is sunny and dry, with abundant limestone and steep boulders. The north face of Tafelberg, the fourth-highest point on the island, is a popular climbing spot. It features 26 sport routes and one trad route, and more routes are being developed this year. Roi Rincon, near Hato Airport, has 18 routes between 5.6 and 5.11. It has a rock column called the Totem, where many beginners get a taste of what Curaao has to offer. On the other end of the spectrum is the difficult Piscadera, a rock wall with 25 routes up to 5.13.

Other hills perfect for climbing are Veerisberg, Jack Everts, and Zwarte Berg.

Climbing is not popular in Trinidad. It is overshadowed by cricket, football, netball, and athletics. However, a small group of climbers takes to the northwest part of the island. Here, in the area of Chaguaramas, they climb and rappel on a couple of limestone walls called Corbeaux Town and Rorys Glory. Neither exceeds 4.5m.

St Lucias iconic Pitons (imposing volcanic spires) do not offer much in the way of rock climbing. Scrambling is the best way to climb the steeper of the two, Petit Piton.

On Barbadoss rugged east coast, there are opportunities for bouldering. Check out Bathsheba and Cattlewash Beaches for boulders, particularly the formers famous mushroom-shaped rocks. The best limestone features are located in Harrisons Cave Eco-Adventure Park. Unfortunately, you cannot climb on the limestone formations as the site is ecologically sensitive.

Bathsheba. Photo: Jerry Kobalenko

Two well-known routes, Rum and Coke (5+) and Rum Punch (6B+), can be found at Falling Rock Cave near the capital of Rousseau. Dominica is better known for its hiking and mountaineering opportunities in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park.

The rock in Grenada has been described as fragile. However, those looking for a challenge can attempt a climb at Grand Anse Rock, Fontenoy Rock, or Perseverance Rock.

Because of the volatile situation in Haiti not just politics but limestone made increasingly unstable by earthquakes climbing here is not recommended. There are no established routes.

Mount Roraima. Photo: Caio Pederneiras/Shutterstock

The interior of Guyana is semi-uncharted territory. The land is undeveloped and traveling is mainly by plane. While there are no established groups or clubs, some brave the jungle to find hidden gems. The floating island or Mount Roraima is a 2,810m flat-topped mountain perpetually shrouded in mist, giving it the illusion of floating on clouds. This huge mountain straddles the borders of Guyana, Brazil, and Venezuela. In 2010, Brazilian climbers established a route from the Guyanese side called War of Light and Darkness, which is graded 5.11a. Roraimas spectacular setting draws celebrity climbers and National Geographic photographers alike. In 2019, Leo Houlding climbed here, and in early 2021, Alex Honnold followed suit. The mountain features heavily vegetated walls, waterfalls, sharp quartzite, overhangs, and some unstable rock. It is recommended only for experienced climbers.

Kristine De Abreu is a writer (and occasional photographer) based in sunny Trinidad and Tobago.

Since graduating from the University of Leicester with a BA in English and History, she has pursued a full-time writing career, exploring multiple niches before settling on travel and exploration. While studying for an additional diploma in travel journalism with the British College of Journalism, she began writing for ExWeb.

Currently, she works at a travel magazine in Trinidad as an editorial assistant and is also ExWeb's Weird Wonder Woman, reporting on the world's natural oddities as well as general stories from the world of exploration.

Although she isn't a climber (yet!), she hikes in the bush, has been known to make friends with iguanas and quote the Lord of the Rings trilogy from start to finish.

Excerpt from:

Rock Climbing in the Caribbean Explorersweb - ExplorersWeb

KEY FIGURES

828K PEOPLE AFFECTED FOLLOWING BACK-TO-BACK IMPACTS OF EARTHQUAKE AND TD GRACE

650K PEOPLE IN NEED OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

130K+ HOMES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED

HAITI: EARTHQUAKE

Haiti continues to deal with the backto-back impacts of a powerful 7.2 earthquake and tropical depression Grace that affected southern Haiti on 14 and 17 August, respectively. Together with existing chronic food insecurity and recent socio-political turmoil and forced displacement, humanitarian needs are climbing as national authorities and humanitarian partners work to reach affected populations. Per the UN System in Haiti, some 650,000 people require emergency assistance in the badly affected GrandAnse, Nippes and Sud departments.

As of 21 August, the death toll has risen past 2,200 people, with another 12,200 injured and more than 340 people missing. Health systems in the three departments are becoming increasingly strained, more so with health sector assessments indicating 32 damaged health facilities, including 12 with critical damage, and 4 destroyed facilities.With more than 130,000 homes either damaged or destroyed, thousands of now-homeless families are in dire need of access to shelter, safe water and sanitation, food and protection.

Conditions on the ground after Graces passage are preventing a full assessment of shelters and other buildings that could accommodate displaced people, forcing many to set up makeshift accommodations in public spaces.

More than 119,000 people are estimated to be in urgent need of access to safe water. Agriculture and related livelihoods in affected areas have suffered a significant impact, posing a threat to food security in a country where nearly 40 per cent of the population, or some 4.4 million people, are already acutely food-insecure. Initial assessments in Sud cite that 94 of the departments 255 schools have either been destroyed or partially damaged ahead of the September start of the school year. Between the scale of the destruction to education facilities and ongoing displacement, children and adolescents, many of whom have already been out of school for months at a time in the past two years, may not be able to continue their education or access school feeding and health services.Beyond leading to immediate humanitarian needs, these disasters are greatly elevating risks with the peak of the 2021 hurricane season on the horizon. Growing tent settlements and makeshift hospitals require durable shelter and rehabilitation solutions to mitigate vulnerability in a part of Haiti that is frequently subject to the impacts of tropical cyclones.

Haiti is receiving aid from various members of the international community, many of whom are on the ground and in the capital of Port-auPrince tackling the access challenges posed by security concerns and damage to roads that have slowed delivery of assistance to affected areas. The Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC) indicates the Government is working to scale up humanitarian convoys by land through the humanitarian corridor brokered by the Government and humanitarian partners.

Efforts to scale up access come amid rising tensions, with reports of people surrounding the Les Cayes airport just as an aid flight unloaded supplies, communities blocking convoys and criminal violence affecting aid deliveries and personnel.

Read the original:

Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (16-22 August 2021) As of 23 August 2021 - Haiti - ReliefWeb