Windjammer Nude Caribbean Cruise
Tobago Cays
One of my favorite stops was the Tobago Cays. We dropped anchor near a collection of small uninhabited islands. There were a few yachties anchored in the area also. They seemed unfazed by us nude beach-goers. The beach we landed on is absolutely gorgeous, and there’s pretty good snorkeling. I can snorkel all day, or until Dave gets sick of it, if the location is good for it. One interesting thing is that on this whole trip most of the fish I’d seen underwater had been fairly drab. Not very many rainbowy tropical fish. I’m not sure why that is, unless it’s the hurricanes that have caused some disruption to the habitat.
On both trips, the captain had commented that there was even better snorkeling on the other side of the island, the wind-ward side. It’s a very short walk over there. Last time we never made it over, but this time we both thought it was worth checking out. We heard very mixed comments from our shipmates who went over, some said it was good and they saw turtles and stuff, others said it was too choppy. We found that indeed it was too rough to snorkel well. You’d have to be a pretty fair swimmer to handle the chop, and it was only knee deep for a couple hundred yards out. We gave it a try but then pretty quickly gave up and went back to the lee-side.
Snax and Swizzles and Dinner
At 5:00 PM everyday, we were served snacks and rum swizzles, since swimming and snorkeling can work up quite and appetite. Dinner each night on the ship was either served on deck buffet style or a seated dinner in two shifts the dining “saloon”. Most passengers liked to dress up for dinner, especially on the nights dinner was served in the saloon. How does one dress up on a nude cruise? Sarongs, pareos and jewelry. The food was always very good. I would describe it as gourmet, but not too fussy as is appropriate to Windjammer’s laid-back attitude.
Also the dining room crew were one of the areas where the staff really shone and interacted with us quite a bit. They gave us fast, personal service and were always cheerful. There was a good joke going around the dining room. The server would ask a table if we liked the salad or entree or whatever, then he’d nod his head and say he made it himself. Then we’d overhear another waiter say the same thing at the next table, and on around the room. It was silly and good-humored, but it made it seem like the crew took great pride in their work.
“I don’t want to go!”
The worst part of every good vacation: going home. If you’re leaving early for an early flight on your departure day, the crew will “knock you up” in time for your cab to the airport. Apparently this is an old nautical term for knocking on your cabin door to wake you up. Dave and I were in no such hurry and lingered until the last minute.
