Sun, Sand, Umbrella Drinks and Painting — Paradise in the Maldives

Day 87, 2024 Grand World Voyage

Saturday, March 30, 2024; Malé, Maldives.

If your idea of paradise is a comfy lounge chair under the shade of a palm tree, listening to the soft sounds of the surf on the beach while drinking a fruity beverage, then today was for you.

We arrived this morning to anchor off Malé, the capital of the Maldives, a country of 1,192 coral islands spread over an area of the Indian Ocean measuring 541 by 81 miles. We had barely stepped from the tender on shore before we set off again.

Three fast boats, each powered by a trio of huge outboard motors, sped about 75 of us to the nearby island of Vadoo, home to the Adaaran Prestige Vadoo 5-star private resort. This is one of 132 private resort islands for which the Maldives is best known.

Vadoo was the first here with over-water bungalows (starting around $1,000 a night) stretching along an elevated pathway. Some island resorts are a short boat ride from Malé, but others require flights by float plane or to other airports spread around the country.

From the moment the staff opened the huge wooden doors on the pier leading into the resort, we knew we were in a lush paradise. Pathways lead through gardens of plants, flowers, fountains and palms to the white sand beach encircling the island.

By leaving behind those who stopped to check out the bar’s drink menu and instead heading to the beach, I was able to snag two loungers and a chair in the shade along the water’s edge. It provided a great place to avoid the sun and enjoy the day with my sisters.

Eloise and Elaine swam out through the cut in the coral to snorkel, seeing a number of beautiful fish. The coral wasn’t too colorful, due to bleaching from the warmer than usual water of the past few years, I hear. Eloise supplied photos from her underwater camera.

I planned to snorkel later (never made it) but first got to work sketching the scene at the end of my chair. I had packed not only a block of watercolor paper with sheets bigger than in my sketch book, but also a selection of paints and brushes. Only the opening of the lunch buffet interrupted me. Well, that and frequently hydrating with fruity drinks enhanced by shots of vodka. I loved having plenty of time during the lazy day to not just sketch, but also paint, resulting in a completed work by the end of the day.

Others in the group enjoyed sunnier spots on the beach, the refreshing swimming pool and watersports such as snorkeling, scuba, catamaran sailing and jet skis.

The all-inclusive price for the day, booked through Holland America, was $281, which also included transportation to the island. I ran into some friends from the ship who had privately booked their day at Vadoo for about $150. I’ll keep that in mind for next time, which could be in a year because the Maldives are on the 2025 grand world itinerary.

Back on the ship, I joined a small group admiring the brilliant sunset off the starboard aft deck, and then we turned around the see the sun-lit clouds off the port deck. I think Indian Ocean sunsets may be the best in the world.