Bahamas Celebration

It’s payday, cause for celebration. Since the crew all love to eat a few of us are going to have our own little Bahamas Celebration at Pier One restaurant just across from where Discovery Sun docks on Grand Bahama. We are fast becoming regulars at this restaurant. The food and service are great and it is convenient because it is so close to the ship. After lunch we are going to head to the beach for a while, it is a beautiful day and I can think of no better way to spend my afternoon than basking in the sun in the Bahamas.

Break Time

The weather wasn’t so good this morning but as we got closer to Grand Bahama it really brightened up. Once we arrived in the Bahamas a few of us headed over to the beach just across from Discovery Sun. It’s not the nicest beach on Grand Bahama and it is more rock than sand, but it is close and we got to enjoy a little break from the ship. Since it was so windy the ocean close to shore was really rough and there were some huge waves crashing around the rocks. We didn’t risk swimming in those conditions but we did play around close to shore getting knocked down quite a few times by the huge waves. We really had a blast. A friend of mine will be traveling on Discovery soon to celebrate his birthday. We will probably go into Port Lucaya for the afternoon and have a few celebration cocktails and try our luck in the casino, I am looking forward to it, as it has been a while since we have had the time to hang out together.

Celebration Weekend

Discovery Cruise Line has been a very popular celebration cruise this weekend. We have had birthday parties, business promotions, retirements, bachelor parties and church groups. Since Discovery has so many activities onboard and it is a great place to celebrate any occasion and be entertained through the whole day. Of course the fact that you get to spend the afternoon on Grand Bahama is a plus too. One of the groups that we had yesterday had an open bar party at the Sheraton in Port Lucaya, with a DJ playing on the beach, they really had a great day and said they can’t wait to come back again.

Junkanoo Rush Out

A Junkanoo 'Rush out' is where folks dressed in masks and armed with cowbells, drums and whistles come rushing out to the streets and start partying. Traditionally, Junkanoo celebrations (named for the slave John Canoe) were held at Christmas when slaves were temporarily freed for the holidays. This dynamic parade sees all the major Junkanoo groups on Grand Bahama performing to win the Best Music title. The costumes, floats and dancing are an excellent preview of Freeport's sensational New Year's Day Junkanoo Festival. Celebration cruises are also popular at this time.

Emancipation Day

Emancipation day is a public holiday on Grand Bahama that celebrates the 1834 emancipation of all slaves on the island and is sometimes referred to as August Monday. Taking place on the first Monday in August, the day starts off with an early morning "Junkanoo Rushout"a dance taking two steps forward, one step back accompanied by drums, whistles and bells. The rush-outs head down one of the many beaches such as Xanadu Beach. There follows an afternoon of music and "cook-outs" (sale of Bahamian food) and other cultural events, including "climbing the greasy pole".

Special Luncheon

When we arrived in Grand Bahama this afternoon there was a special department heads luncheon. We all thought that there was some kind of special celebration, but it wasn’t. The Food & Beverage manager made the arrangement just because it had been a while since we had gotten together. The food and company were great. It is our day off tomorrow and I am looking forward to sleeping late. I will be trying to arrange a special group cruise in the Bahamas for some of the crew next week. Many crew don’t have the chance to leave the ship very often in the afternoons, so it will be nice to arrange something for them.

Birthday Celebration

I don’t have much free time in Grand Bahama today, but I have to make time to join some of the staff for a birthday celebration. One of my staff is celebrating their 30th birthday and will be going for lunch at Pier One restaurant which is just across from where Discovery Sun docks. Pier One overlooks the ocean and it is always beautiful no matter what time of day. The restaurant has only been open for a few weeks now, but it is already very popular with crew as a place to celebrate birthdays. I made arrangements for a birthday cake yesterday; I just hope I can make it in time to at least get a slice of the cake.