Time to leave St Maarten

Soon we would have to leave the butterflies in their Sanctuary and board our bus back to the harbor in Philipsburg.

On the way out we were offered a free rum punch and I gladly accepted. It was the kind of drink where the guy pouring it didn't use a measure therefore it actually tasted of rum which is rare in a drink that you pay for , never mind a free one.

Back on the bus....

Over hill and dale we drove until after 30 minutes we were back at the port.

Tied-up next to us is the Oriana, a British ship run by P & O Cruises which owned Princess until 2003 when Carnival Corp. bought it.

Cargo ships unload in the distance

Also in port with us is Oasis of the Seas- at 225,000 gross tons (Ruby is 113,000) the biggest cruise ship in the World (ditto for her sister Allure of the Seas) . They can carry 6,000 passengers but I am not one of them. Too big! The barge pulled up alongside is a fuel barge.

We return to the ship after visiting the Duty Free shops on the pier

While we have been gone the crew have been decorating the pool deck as there will be a Sail-away Party after the ship has left port. A live band and lots of people will be dancing under the stars.

Just under the Oasis' funnel are the loft apartments- high ceilinged rooms that take up two floors

Oriana being an older ship (1995) doesn't have many balcony cabins

She's 69,000 gross tonnes

She does have some nice tiered aft decks though

I walk out onto the top of the Ruby's bridge to watch the crowds return to their ships

Many are headed towards Oasis to the Seas and a Carnival ship that is hiding behind her as they are leaving before us

Just before 6 pm Oasis pulled away from the pier

Followed by Carnival Dream which, like us, had to reverse away from the dock

Then it was our turn and we all sailed into the sunset leaving Oriana behind to follow later

It would be nice to stay later on these islands and have a great meal outdoors under the skies with a steel band playing reggae and calypso music. Have a few drinks without looking at your watch constantly. Some cruise lines already do late sail-aways or overnight stops in some ports. We leave just as the sun is setting at 6 pm and St Maarten lights up for the evening.

Once we are out at sea the deck party begins  (video excerpt)