Royal Clipper
Barbados
1.14.22 - 1.15.22
85 °F
Today my brother and I flew Bridgetown Barbados to join Star Clippers Royal Clipper tomorrow. It was a challenge to get into the country. With a 72 hour window for results and the surge of Covid tests happening, we both had to schedule 2 PCR tests in successive days to meet the requirements: One to get into Barbados and one to get on the ship. Although I had taken the correct PCR test for entry, the wording on my document was not correct and they required me to take another PCR test. Although I was able to obtain a test result with the correct wording, the gate guards would not let me correct my mistake. As a result we could not leave our hotel room the first night - not a big deal, as we had both arisen very early for our flight. They promise the result in less than 24 hours.
We checked out of the hotel at Noon and took a taxi for the short ride to the cruise terminal. We still had not received our Covid tests. There were three ships along side - Royal Caribbean, P&O and Royal Clipper and one other ship anchored out.
The check in process was slow but efficient. They checked our paperwork, then gave us an Antigen test, and if we were negative, we were allowed to go aboard. The professed embarkation at 3:00pm and that is when the first folks boarded. We were on board by 3:00pm.
Once boarded, we got our room key and registered our credit card. Our bags were waiting for us by our room.
By the way, our Covid results showed up in 23 and one-half hours......
Dinner was great and we will eat at the same table for the entire voyage for Covid safety. Our table mates are great - a retired London Police Chief and Intelligence officer and his wife, and a London Financial Advisor and his wife. The majority of passengers seem to be from the UK.
At 10:00pm we hoisted the sails and headed to sea for our overnight sail.
Posted by rpickett 16:09 Archived in Barbados Tagged bridgetown Comments (0)