When I walked out on Lido Deck 12 this morning on my way to breakfast, I saw the P&O Ventura at the other side of the dock. Seeing the P&O logo instantly brought back many happy memories of Atlantic crossings with my wife. On several occasions, we took a P&O ship from Acapulco to London via the Panama Canal.

Today was our first Virtuoso Voyager Club shore event of the 2010 Crystal World Cruise. Virtuoso On-Site Sunlinc Barbados provided us an exciting look at the island in the air-conditioned comfort of motor coaches. First stop was the historic St. John’s Parish Church set high on a hill overlooking the Atlantic side of the island. Clear skies and a pleasant breeze made this hilltop setting as cool and comfortable as it was picturesque.

On to St. Nicholas Abbey (it is actually a home believed to be the oldest building on the island) for a tour of the home and a glimpses of the lush gardens on the property. The current owner of the home has restored its sugar mill and now produces a very fine rum.

Soon after we arrived we were offered our choice of rum punch or fruit punch. I followed doctor’s orders and chose the fruit punch. Refreshing.


















Our final stop was an exclusive lunch and entertainment at L’Acajou, the restaurant of the prestigious Sandy Lane Hotel, a Virtuoso property. The performers certainly created a Carnival atmosphere! From the open-air setting of this magnificent restaurant, we could watch the blue-green Caribbean Sea wash ashore while enjoying a Barbados delicacy, flying fish.

















As we traveled between stops, our tour guide shared much information about Barbados’ history and culture, and we had the opportunity to see both sides of the island as well as the interior. We left Barbados all too soon, and are now headed to Devil’s Island and Fortaleza.

Tomorrow: a day at sea.