This is not a political statement or post regarding my personal thoughts on the reasons for the road block, just a recap from a cruise pax perspective. We just got off the celebrity summit today, so finally have cell and Internet service to post.

We love sxm and have spent many 60+ nights vacationing on SXM since 2008, so naturally when our cruise ports in sxm, we have a routine... cab direct to orient, croissants at yellow sub, grab some beer to take to beach from petit casino (formerly tap5), walk the beach to club o, hang there all day, head back. So, that's exactly what we did. There was absolutely no warning from cab dispatchers at the port to avoid the French side. Apparently, announcements had been made on our ship, but I was unfortunately in the medical facility in the morning prior to disembarkation, so didn't hear anything. Upon arrival on Orient, I did think the beach was pretty quiet for 4 ships in port and made a comment to my husband. We were completely relaxed and enjoying our day when one of the guys from dolphin sports told us that they were blocking roads and if we were on a ship, we'd better leave. We packed up and walked toward Pedros where taxis are usually stationed and there were very few, we hopped in the first one we saw with another couple, who just so happened to also be on the summit. We headed toward quarter orleans (sp) and hit the road block, the driver turned left tp try another route, as most people were doing, when his car broke down! So, we got out and tried hitching. I spotted a bus headed for Phillipsburg, thinking we could walk to the port if we had to. The couple in the cab with us was on their honeymoon and visiting sxm for the first time, so they were a little freaked out. We jumped on the bus (with two locals already on board) and off we went. Then, another road block. At that point, the bus driver turned down a random dirt road that lead to what can only be described as the "innerds" of sxm, and I mean no one would ever, ever venture here. Terrible, horrible, middle of scary no where. One of the local women on board got a bit hysterical saying (and I kid you not), "this is where they kill us! They come out with machete and demand money!" The driver mumbled something to the effect of "get out". We told the driver quite firmly to take us back to the road block. We had decided we could walk to the dutch side if we had to as there must be traffic on the other side that would have to turn around. So, he took us back and we walked through the fairly chaotic roadblock protest area and hitched a ridea from a kind, local man named Baker. Lucky for us, we knew the proximity of the area and knew that if we HAD to walk, we could find our way. Needless to say, the young couple with us were fairly unnerved. In the end... we made it back to the ship in plenty of time since we were not scheduled to leave until 7p. A crazy end to what was a beautiful day at Club O!

Ps. I have lots of pics of the orient construction, which I will post when I get to a desktop. Sorry for the long winded recap and mispellings. Typing this from my smartphone.