Sandals Negril Day 6 2025

 This was our second last day! There were some things we had wanted to do and hadn't gotten a chance. Sometimes it was too hot and sunny, sometimes it was raining. I really wanted to try the water bikes and had been thwarted a few times. Rob wanted to go tubing. 

We started with breakfast at Barefoot by the Sea. It was so slow. I had read that was common. Rob had the Caribbean shrimp omelet, I think. It wasn't very warm.

I usually fast and don't eat breakfast, but well. I had heard the crunchy coconut French toast was amazing.  It was not crunchy, and the only coconut was on top. I believe I asked for a side, some sausages or bacon, but it didn't show up. I wasn't wowed by this meal. I love French toast too.

We went to the water sports desk. We thought it was the same as the snorkel/dive building, but no. It's in a little shack on the beach, right by the dive pool, but we had never noticed it before--I think because we only really walked all the way down the beach that far at night after dinner, in the dark. 

They wouldn't let us take out the water bikes because some thunder had been heard. 

We headed back to the swimming areas.

This is hard to see, but it's basically a boat with a shell over it to make it look like a sports car. You could rent them down the beach.

Rob really wanted to go tubing, and they were still running despite the thunder. This is not me in the phot. I did not take any pictures! We said I'd never done it before and to take it easy. It did not feel easy. Rob is very experienced, but I didn't understand his terminology and we had some hard bumps. By the end, my neck/butt was hurting--I have arthritis. It was exciting, but I didn't really enjoy the wind in my face or the hard bumps. I'm more of a leisurely tube rider I guess LOL.

They definitely needed that big tent for that wedding. We went by at night, and it was quite a huge group!

The storm blew by, with out us getting rain.

We didn't like the looks of the buffet for lunch, so we decided to finally try pizza. It was quite a long wait (over 30 min). We didn't want a slice from the display, because they don't heat them up. We asked for this pizza to be "extra done". 

Does that look extra done?

The pizza looked good at first, but see that glob between the two bottom pieces? That was the cheese. The cheese was really odd. It has the texture of cheese sauce, not grated cheese. It did not taste like real cheese. We noticed this in the buffet and restaurants too. It could have been a good pizza, but the cheese ruined it. And we love pizza.

We just couldn't eat more. It was so disappointing. 

Later in the afternoon, it was time for the catamaran cruise and snorkel to Rick's Cafe. When in Negril, you've got to go to Rick's, right?

We met in front of Bayside, on the beach. We had to sign a waiver, with our proper legal name. Scary! We waded out to the catamaran and got settled in near the stern.

The crew was awesome. Probably the best, overall catamaran cruise we've done. First up was a guided snorkel. My waterproof camera decided the battery was dead. Lovely. As soon as we were in the water, Rob was being the naughty student, snorkeling away from the group. It took the entire group calling his name to get his attention LOL. The guide took us along a reef, and started feeding the fish. It was pretty cool having them swim so close. Usually they scatter away. The guide dove down for a few creatures, including an urchin. There's apparently two types, one way worse than the other, but I'll stay away from both! It was hard sometimes, the water has a significant optical illusion and I could never tell if I was as close as I thought. Also, I'm near sighted LOL. As usual, Rob was the last one back in the boat!

We got to Rick's, and you have to jump in and swim over to the ladder. Alright.

We walked around the cafe area, but didn't go in the store or order anything to eat. It was very expensive, and there was very loud music. We watched some people diving. I thought there would be "official" divers--things I had read prior had made it sound like there would be. No, it's just random, brave people. 

I always try to take a foot on the trampoline picture on these cruises!

The food was unveiled, and it was really good! We've had some lack luster food on catamaran cruises. I remember our sunset cruise in Aruba.  It was basically frozen appetizers from the grocery store, and the crew member said if we don't like it, to feed the fish. Yeah, they got fed.  This time there were chicken wings, I think sliders...fruit...I grabbed a bag of Doritos that I thought would be nice on the plane trip home. 

The bartender was a fantastic lady. I had a variety of drinks, and at one point, asked her to make me her favourite. It was Jameson's Irish Whisky and soda water, I think. I quite liked it. Simple.  The music was great, though not many were dancing. I bopped around on the walk around, and we talked to the lovely lady from Toronto, about our kids mainly. I was feeling good!

There are lots of really interesting homes, resorts, hotels, inns along the coast. 

They have to get back before the sun fully sets, but that's okay. It was still beautiful. 

We got cleaned up and went for dinner. We went to Bayside for the first time for dinner. Thankfully there's no birds at night. 

I think this was a breakfast picture. I can't find anything on the menu that matches at dinner.

These are the marinated olives, an appetizer. It was interesting. I don't know the point of the whipped ricotta. 

Rob went crazy and got the escargots. That's my ciabatta he's eating. He says the snails were "some good, some okay". 

I had the linguine ai scampi. I was glad to see there wasn't too much linguine.

Rob got the Mediterranean steak and hummus. He doesn't like any of the other parts of this dish. He should have asked to not have the quinoa and hummus. I wish one of us had ordered the Duck a l'Orange. It sounded good, but I'm too scared LOL.

Baba au rhum....it was nice. I didn't realize it would have the cake part.

Tiramichoux. I'm not sure why I didn't get this. I think we intended to share. 

After dinner, I think it was raining, so we went for our walk through the different buildings. We might have stopped at Crema for ice cream too. The rum and raisin was really good, and the coconut was also great. 

We found the gym and no one was in it, so we went in.

Rob found the fridge with chilled washcloths! He quite enjoyed them LOL. 

We walked through the Bamboo Grove building. A couple weeks before we got there, they started emergency construction on the top two floors/roof.  Some pools were leaking. All day long they were jack-hammering and apparently debris in the pool. There were still guests in the swim out suites. Rob really wanted to see what was happening, so we just took the elevator upstairs. One room was actually left open!

What a mess!  In fact, much of this building was a mess. Chunks out of the corridor walls, paint scuffs, the main floor "public" bathroom was missing a mirror and the lock had been changed a few times. I think it was out of paper towel all week too. 

I don't have any pictures or notes from the evening entertainment. It might have been the silent disco.