First stop: Princess Cays, a private resort owned by Princess Cruises on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The resort consists of a single shop, some natives’ sale tables, a water sports rental center, a bar, and a buffet area. And a beach, of course. It was just a bit chilly for playing water games, so Debra and I just took books and staked out a place in the sun. This was a perfect way to start the cruise.
The food on a cruise ship is very good, and very abundant. Each dinner is a 5-course event, starting with an appetizer. Then soup, salad, main course, and dessert. Fortunately, the portions for each of these courses aren’t too large. I never went away hungry, though. Some people don’t realize that these dinners (and all of the food on the ship) are included in the price of the cruise. The only things you have to pay extra for are bar drinks (including sodas at $1.50 each), photos, and any shopping that you do aboard. And the casino, of course, if you’re into gambling. Besides the wonderful dinners in the main dining room, there’s a buffet that’s open 24 hours, a pizzeria that’s open from about noon until 11:00 pm, and a grill near the pool where you can get hamburgers and hot dogs during the afternoon. The dining rooms are also open for sit-down dining at breakfast and lunch if you’d rather not visit the buffet. There is no lack of food aboard a cruise ship.