After our three days in New York our next port was Newport Rhode Island.
Day 14: 7th October 2022: Newport Rhode Island
Despite our failure, the day before to easily find a place for breakfast in New York, we decided to try again once we were off Sky Princess and in Newport.
After our usual morning tea in our cabin, we went down to Deck 7 to the venue for boarding tenders. Almost immediately we were directed down to the dock and we boarded an almost empty ship’s tender. Sitting outside I had a great view of the moored boats and yachts.
This visit we had decided to simply walk around Newport. The previous time that we were here we had taken an excursion to Rose Island. Once on land I picked up a map from the welcoming committee and walked off the green towards the centre of town. A local policeman was parked at the roadside and I asked him where he would recommend for breakfast. He told us to turn right and ignore the franchise restaurants in front of us and walk down the street and look for the diner.
Thames Street
We followed his directions and just keep walking until we reached Thames Street. This was a part of Newport that we had not been to before. Along Thames Street, we passed lots of shops but most of them were not yet open. Then on our right we went down into a pedestrianised area of shops and bars. This area had shops and restaurants but no diner.
We passed cross streets that led down to the water and others that that were up the hill.
Then, on the other side of the street we could see the diner.
Gary’s Handy Lunch
Once inside things looked promising as most of the customers looked as though they were dressed for work. We were shown to a booth and soon had our first mug of fresh coffee.
When our breakfast came it did not disappoint: eggs, bacon and sausage and lots more coffee.
As I came to write this blog almost a year later, I was disappointed to find this news brief on YouTube that Gary’s Handy Lunch was now closed for good.
Back along Thames Street
After breakfast we walked back along Thames Street until we came back to the historic district with the upmarket shops. The Fat Face shop was as expensive as the last time we visited so again this was a looking only visit.
After the shops we turned and walked up Washington Square and then carried on walking past the bar where we had stopped on our last visit.
We were too early as it was yet to open! Further up the Spring Street we eventually came to a 7-Eleven. This was a quick stop for some throat lozenges.
Newport Yacht Club
The streets by now were getting busy and we walked back down to the historic centre. Rather than spend more time around the shops, we walked to the yacht club and out to the other side of the harbour.
Back to Sky Princess
The queue for the tender was alongside the dock.
Once we were at the head of the queue for a tender we had to show both photo ID and the ship’s Medallion. Then we sat inside for the journey back to the ship.
We ordered room service and sat on our balcony enjoying the views and relaxing.
Rose Island
Fort Adams
Newport from Sky Princess
Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge
Leaving Newport
After 4 pm were were passing the last of the mansions on the shore.
Then after 5 pm were we were out into the Atlantic.
Evening on Sky Princess
Before dinner we called at the Captain’s Circle.
I had decided to visit the Medical Centre and I left the bar and went down for my appointment. I had long interview with at first a nurse and then a doctor. I was offered for a dental appointment in Boston to be booked for the next day. Instead I took a box of antibiotics and promised to return if my toothache worsened. This was my first ever visit to a ship’s medical centre and it was a good experience.
Later dinner was a very quiet affair as no one in our table wanted to talk. We didn’t stay long after dessert and we went back to our cabin and watched movies.
Later in the evening, using the Medallion phone app we checked our bill and discovered that we had a charge for $76. Yesterday we had called at the Crown Grill Bar bar and picked up a couple of glasses of wine. Some how this had become a charge for a full bottle of wine at $76.
We went down to Reception to try and find out why we had been charged for a bottle. There we were promised that the charge would be investigated.
Our next port was Boston as Sky Princess went North up the New England coast.