While the Xcel pulled into St. Maarten at 8AM, our excursion was not until the afternoon so Janie went back to the SEA Thermal Suite where she spied Captain Kirk and some of the senior staff doing an inspection of the Vitamin D Deck.
We were docked again next to the Oasis of the Seas, which makes Celebrity's largest ship, the Xcel, look puny by comparison. Janie got a kick out of the staff using pickleball paddles as numbered guideposts for the excursions. We waited on shore a bit then had to walk through the throng of vendors trying to get us into their stores to the water taxi that would take us to the other shopping area where our excursion would take place. The water taxi was full but we found some seats and listened to the crew make repeated pleas for tips.
We arrived at the Dutch Blonde Beach Bar for our small group (20 people) French Wine and Cheese Tasting, where the owner and proprietor Sunil met us and introduced himself and his bar. Sunil informed us this was not actually a wine tasting session, but rather a wine drinking session, and he was not wrong, as he poured full glasses of French wines for us as he told the story of how he came to the island and started his brewery there and later took over the windmill-themed bar during the pandemic. Our first wine was Les Olivades Mediterranee Rose with hints of pear and white nectarine, paired with a young cow Gouda cheese. Then it was on to a pear and pineapple Sauvignon Blanc from Calvet and a sheep Gouda. Our third wine was a Rothschild Chardonnay and a three-year aged Gouda and then a Pinot Noir from Labrune accompanied by Edam. Finally we had a Bordeaux Malbec with a Gouda with Italian olives and tomatoes.
Our excursion included time on the beach in a chair with an umbrella but one look at the beach area and the crowds and we decided to skip this part of the excursion.
Instead of the beach, we ordered poffertjes, small Dutch pancakes we had enjoyed in Amsterdam and a trio of shrimp tacos along with a pair of Sunil's local draft beers and sat and talked with a few of the other guests who had also stayed behind to enjoy lunch. The food and beer were very good and we decided to book the brewery tour for the next time we come to St. Maarten.
We had a short wait for the water taxi and were one of the first to board so we had decent seats although someone decided to sit on the bench right behind us even though there were other open places. We had to walk through the shops back to the ship, ignoring all the sales pitches.
Upon our return, we changed for dinner and went to Craft Social for a drink and were able to catch the flair bartenders doing their afternoon show at the Martini Bar below.
Our dinner tonight was in Bora, the replacement for the Rooftop Garden Grill on the other Edge class ships. Our night got off to a rocky start as they had told us to arrive early for drinks and music in the garden area, which was soaking wet, even though it had not rained. The bartender was not at his station, so we checked in and they sent him over, but instead of making our drinks there, he left again to go get them from another bar. We finally decided just to go get our table. The restaurant's theme is "Born from the Mediterranean way of life, Bora celebrates the joy of slowing down, of savoring good food, good company, and the simplest pleasures that make life sweet. Inspired by the Bora Wind that sweeps across the Adriatic, the restaurant embodies the coastal spirit that shapes both land and life. Just as the wind carves lasting impressions along the shore, Bora leaves its mark through bold flavors and timeless character. Our menu draws from the sea's bounty and the region's sun-soaked traditions, fresh seafood, seasonal ingredients, and recipes passed down through the generations. Each meal is a gathering, each flavor a story, and each moment a celebration of life by the sea."
Our waiter offered us a sample of their sea-aged wines, which Janie thought were good, but they were not on the drink package, so she passed and had a regular wine. J. R. tried the Moroccan Iced Tea non-alcoholic drink, which was good. None of the "Garden" starters appealed to us so we went straight to the Land with Janie taking the Moroccan Lamb Tagine and J. R. the Grilled Ribeye Cap. We also had the Lobster Medallions from the Sea menu and skipped the Sides, which also didn't appeal to us.
We weren't interested in seeing Jesse Hamilton, Jr. and his Motown show and getting into the Club for the 254 West production was going to be difficult so had a nightcap at the martini bar before bed.
