Nosy Be, Madagascar – March 31

Nosy Be, Madagascar – March 31

Well, this was definitely a port in which we should not have booked an excursion. It was beautiful as we arrived, a nice calm sea – perfect for tender operations and we were anchored about 10 minutes from the tender pier. As soon as the anchor dropped the ship was surrounded by dozens of little outrigger canoes with people wanting us to either buy stuff or throw soap or money – they stayed until the anchor was pulled up at about 4:30 in the afternoon. I'm not sure how you could buy anything from them because even the promenade deck (deck 3) is way above the water.

When we arrived in the Queens Lounge for our excursion, I about died – it was nearly full. What I had booked was supposed to be a 'limited' trip with a boat ride to a fishing village and and a visit to the lemur sanctuary on a charter boat. What we (all 280 of us) got was a long ride in a small boats to the island. There was a village, but all the people did was try to sell you junk and beg for money – Then a long difficult walk that we thought would end in the lemur sanctuary but ended with two young men with pet lemurs. For a dollar you could feed it it would sit on your shoulder.

When we finally got back to the boat I was really glad to shower and flop out in the cool cabin. Big disappointment! The ship has about 280 not-happy people right now.