Janet987

Many Carribean cruisers have made donations, some cruise lines used their ships if in the area, or set up matching funds like Celebrity. A good "View from the Bridge" article about the response. It appears many lines have stepped up to provide humanitarian aid, except Windstar. When I politely asked on their FB page how they planned to help the islands that have long been key to their sailing ship itineraries, my post was deleted, and no answer to an email. Thank you to CruiseCritic for covering the aftermath of this hurricane and the corporate responses to the disaster to help us all decide on future cruising plans.

That would be interesting if you did. Let us know ::confused: hope you at least get to the beach. Myron (our voyage leader, aka cruise director) took pains to explain that the only way to visit VG itself, and not just Prickly Pear Island, would be by excursion.

Wanted to add that the excursions all started at 8:30 so you can do ship's excursions and not miss any of the food and fun promised at the "beach experience".

Since Windstar has plied all these ports for decades, the last minute alternate shore excursion at Roadtown was surprisingly poor quality. There were taxis with better equipment idled at the port, if you end up there walk off and find a newer jitney, with a speaker that works, on your own.

wondering at virgin gorda stop if there is a way to get to the baths without taking a bus trip. we have booked the baths excursion with windstar but would rather a private one or a snorkeling trip that stops at the baths.

Short answer: Still No. The tenders will take passengers only to Prickly Pear Isle...that is, IF the weather allows a stop there. On the 1/7 sailing, it did not.

Must take the ship excursion to get to Virgin Gorda and Baths.

Winds were high and ocean rough this past Friday, and as you will see on other cruise reviews, the captain had to skip Prickly Pear and the beach experience completely. Tricky approach even in good weather.

We docked at Roadtown Tortola instead. Only a land tour of island was offered as the beaches were too rough and closed. We took it to use our OBC, as our VG Sail and Snorkle had been refunded. * It did remind me why I avoid ship bus tours of any port. :rolleyes:

Exception this trip was the Montserrat Island Tours booked privately, very good..we had David, Sun's father as driver.

Caribbean, all tendering into small islands except St Maarten. Not going far in distance but exploring new islands and relaxing.

http://www.windstarcruises.com/cruise/caribbean/san-juan-and-the-virgin-islands/?id=100&sid=20767

Hi Lois, Wish I could help you because you are always a kind and trustworthy source of great information on the Celebrity forum. But the cruise we take this week is our first with Windstar. I can add that through a TA we have been pleased with their customer service, especially when it came to their very generous "price match guarantee". The price drops after final payment are often a contentious issue on other lines, with Windstar some type of compensation will lessen the sting. Enjoy the process deciding which of Windstar's many unusual itineraries in Europe you will finally choose...they all look good to me as well.

Hello, Considering booking a cruise out of SJ also in March. Could you tell me if Windstar honors price reductions after booking even if you booked through a travel agent, or only if you book direct with them? Thanks

I booked late through a TA, 5 weeks from sailing, days later Windstar's Xmas sale dropped the price substantially. It was made clear to my TA and then to Windstar that we would only accept an OBC, and that's what we were given. I have a good relationship with our TA, used her many times. It is also our first Windstar after loyalty to another line, so first impressions are valuable for them to cultivate. Don't know for sure, but having an experienced agent with a high volume agency ask for our OBC may have helped. The Windstar price match guarantee is a fantastic advantage for the value shopper, go ahead and book:)

From prior threads on the price match program, I understand an OBC cannot be used for gratuity or casino, but can be used for others, drinks, excursions ( bought on board not before) spa, store, ...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2419501

From LonelyPlanet, "There is taxi service on the island, but they’re basically público vans designed to get large parties of people back and forth between the ferry dock and Playa Flamenco for a couple of dollars per person." can also rent jeeps, golf carts, scooters, bikes. Beaches and nature preserve the top draw.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/puerto-rico/eastern-puerto-rico/culebra

Recent phone call, Windstar told me must take shore excursion. Tenders only go to Prickly Pear Isle. The sailing catamaran excursion doesn't list specifically which beaches/snorkeling area it goes, likely varies by sea conditions, but mentions granite boulders. Other VG beaches than the Baths have similar boulders. We are planning to take that excursion.

From what I've read not much at Little Bay, some beach bars, dive center, etc.

The interesting parts of the island and volcano history/viewing is to the south.

A local tour was recommended on this thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2421526

First visit for us too, can't wait to see MVO and more of the island than the port area. We are on the Jan 7th sailing, a roll call has been started.

A Holiday Sale is advertised for Dec 12-23, and suite price dropped substantially within a few days of booking through our TA. Windstar did give us an OBC for the difference a month from sailing. First Windstar cruise, customer service gets high marks so far.:)

Hello to anyone who may suggest ship or private excursions on this itinerary,

This is our first cruise on Windstar and I have just begun thinking about what to do in ports, there are not many reviews for the Legend on this itinerary so any help would be appreciated.

It appears that at Virgin Gorda the ship is anchored near Pickly Pear Isle and the tenders only go there for the beach BBQ. One review mentioned you would need to book a ship shore excursion to get to Virgin Gorda...has anyone done that or is there another option?

What are the options for exploring on your own in Jost Van Dyke from Great Harbour? I have visited Foxy's and Soggy Dollar before by sail, and want to show DH the island, though the ship's tours seem limited for such a long time in "port"..(not complaining about that:) at all)

Thank you for all the recommendations for the Monserrat tour, will try to join Su-Arizona (posted on your roll call...there are now at least four on the cruise).

Someone mentioned renting a golf cart on Culebra, easy to get around on own.

I've just started reading trip advisor etc for ideas, but any of your favorite port experiences based on where the Legend anchors would be helpful. Thank you,

We took the Celebrity SK85 that included the Gold Rush Sled dogs...everything was wonderful...but the Sled Dogs were the best part. We didn't know until that morning if we were on the bus up or down version of this excursion. Our bus was waiting right on the dock and we took a short ride to the Sled Dog demo for about an hour stop. Mark explained everything anyone wanted to know about sled racing with wit and charm, and we all were able to hold little puppies (awww...cute). Back on the bus, a few quick photo stops up to the border, then about a 20 minute wait to get though customs, then right from bus onto train for ride back to Skagway. Spectacular scenery! Highly recommend this flavor of X excursions. There is getting on and off a coach bus and the train, short walk to dog area that is flat. Arrived back at the depot that is on edge of town. From there could take another coach back to ship or could walk through town to see Skagway on own. Not too long a walk depending on use of wheelchair or whatever mobility issues involved, but not on dock either. Can see the distances on google maps.

Dorene,

Had to answer your post because I was born and raised in Meriden :)Maloney..a long time ago;)

We just had the Sky Suite on the Millenium and the new restaurant, Luminae was wonderful!! Embarkation was the fastest ever, barely slowed at each check point and check-in line for suites was nil. A few minutes there, picked up a sparkling wine as we entered, and walked directly to Luminae for lunch. Had that great burger everyone raves about and just as we considered taking a walk on the deck, the staterooms were ready. Bags arrived an hour or so later. With room service and Blu, the butler, reserved seats for formal night shows, enjoy every one of the Sky Suite perks! Booked the Olympic for our one speciality restaurant, and the Elite hostess gave us another night there, but frankly, we hated to miss Luminae... it is that good. Enjoy every minute, and perk! of your anniversary cruise.

A small number of Elites on our recent Millennium Alaska cruise, so breakfast was in the Olympic Restaurant with full waiter service, no buffet like Tuscan. With so very many breakfast options in a suite I never made it there, mostly ate in Luminae and Blu, but such elegant location for breakfast!

Here is the map of the ISP "compound" http://www.icystraitpoint.com/AboutUs/Map

The new dock was around #11, the Landing Grill, so "around the point" from the tender dock (the red one). Mispoke the last time, it was not Labor Day but the Monday before, still no activity when we went by;) that area. The paved nature trail loop is listed as a half mile, but if you walk along the shore path and then walk back out to gate, it could add up to a mile.

#17 is where you get the shuttle to Hoonah, which I would recommend for anyone with mobility issues! There is only one road (to the right from the tender dock) It is 1.5 miles to Hoonah, with a somewhat steep climb up and over a ridge. There was a wide paved path/sidewalk (photos on Google Earth show it was unpaved gravel before), wide enough for three people walking abreast and bikes until that hill. Hill was still under construction, so that was gravelly and a bit slippery in rain. With luck that section will also be completed next spring, but it is still a hill and then the wider paved sidewalk pettered out near town. Even that is not a safety issue since there is almost no traffic, but that section too might be hard for anyone with mobility issues.

The tram drops you off right in town near the carving project building, so you have to back-track maybe five minutes to get back to the brewery at 155 Front Street. Think the tram was $5 pp, and we ended up taking a local taxi back to ISP(heavy downpour at that point), charged us $20 for 4 people. Taxis cannot go into the ISP complex, he dropped us at gate. Maybe he can pick up at gate too and take you directly to brewery? Easy to see how all this fits together on Google map/Earth view. One dock complex, one road, one small village :D

Icy Strait Brewing also has a FaceBook page, so they may update that more than the website linked in post 1. There is more info on Hoonah on TripAdvisor, with other attractions recommended, inc. some private outfitters not ship vendors.

Photos of the Brewery: https://www.facebook.com/IcyStraitBrewing/photos_stream

Norwegian Jewel will be in Icy Point Strait Friday Sept. 25th. If the brewery is still open, we'll be on that cruise and we'd love to check it out. Thanks for posting. Sounds unique. Wonder if they are planning to operate year round, or just during tourist season?

Plans are it will brew year-round year for the village of Hoonah, it is independent of the company that runs the ISP facilities near the tender dock.

The owner said there are now construction crews in town and it is planned that work on the new ship dock will continue all winter, so that may help sales in the off -season.

We were told the plan is to have the dock completed by next summer, which is located not far from the tender dock and only consisted of a few pilings. Let's just say that is an ambitious timeline. There was no work going on but it was Labor Day.

We had no problem tendering, they only allow one ship in port. We were cleared early, so the tenders were opened to everyone. Just hopped on the lifeboat when we were ready, it's a short distance to dock.

Thank you so much for the info -- we're cruising in less than two weeks -- we'll definitely stop in!!

Great! here's some more info about them and what it took to renovate that place and get supplies in place.

http://www.alaskapublic.org/2015/08/15/can-we-call-it-hoo-brew-new-brewery-opens-in-hoonah/

Would have liked to open earlier in the tourist season, so good to know there are still more sailings that will stop in Hoonah. Millenium had only one southbound left before repositioning.

Poss,

Here is the website from the local company that manages the Icy Strait facilities.

http://www.icystraitpoint.com

Thought they might have photos of the walk or a map, but if you emailed the contact there, they would be happy to send you more info. The trail just went along the shore, past the base of the zip line, then into the forest. Not hilly, paved, easy loops back to main buildings, maybe a mile? It does look like other rain forest trials with tall trees, that magical undergrowth look, esp in the early mist. They definitely discourage heading into wilder forest off this simple path unless armed...more bears per sq mile on this island than others. Private bear watch excursions can be arranged, but must do in advance and meet out at the gate to ISP. Other activities available are listed on their website, maybe kayak?

The walk to town is 1.5 miles along a wide sidewalk along water side. Rocks, trees, and small waterfall on the other side, barely any traffic. There is one good hill, and the road at that point was being renovated. There is a shuttle back and forth to town though we enjoyed that walk along the shore as well.

Thanks to the excellent naturalist on Celebrity, Dirk Youngerman, we were alerted to the 'real' village of Hoonah where he lived a summer, the carving project and a new micro-brewery open only two weeks. I may be the first reviewer to recommend Icy Strait Brewing. Please stop in to see the shop and brewery on your way to town, even if you don't particularly like beer (me) or do and know something about various microbrews (my recent college grad DD). The two owners Dan and Todd were interesting, helpful with samples and descriptions, and took pains to renovate Hoonah's oldest building into their little brewery on the road close to town. http://www.icystraitbrewing.com The deck out back has an amazing harbor view and one of the best family photos on the trip was taken with its misty but bright backdrop.

Off tender, we first walked the peaceful beach, then around the stunning forest trail near the tender dock, and later walked to town. After the beer stop, continued to the carving project...very interesting and both men working that day were so patient and informative... the best native Tlingit art, history and culture project seen on the trip. We enjoyed the quiet little village, and as others have written, the residents are hospitable and not a jewerly/tourist store in sight. We checked out the cannery museum before returning on tender to the ship. Note if tendering is an issue, a dock is being built now..maybe done next summer? Not a shopper, I barely noticed the stores at the port, but they are locally owned shops and worth a visit. Even though not into zip-lines or shopping, Icy Strait was delightfully different from the other touristy towns on the cruise itinerary. Maybe my view was influenced by the good beer, but our day in Hoonah was great, even with rain.

Lumina was wonderful! And serves lunch, BLU only breakfast and dinner. We had the fastest ever embarkation, barely slowed down at any security point, and the suite check-in wait was zero. ( it was the smaller Millenium and only ship in Vancouver..but still, fastest ever) We then walked straight to Luminae and were seated.:). I still like BLU and AQ, and will continue to do both depending on costs. Had breakfast there with friends, also as good as I remember. The alternate dining rooms sell the suites and Aqua over Concierge in my mind.

Was on the Millenium and not enough Elites to reserve all the Sky Lounge, just a section roped off. Regular two full hours, lovely CC hostess and service. Convenient for my non-elite friends, they picked up their drinks with their beverage packages from the bar, we "crossed over the velvet rope" and all enjoyed our drinks and view.

Very strange writeup.

 

Keith

ClickBait Ignore any story from MSN. A ridiculous number of ads on each page..they aren't even pretending this is journalism. The Internet is loaded with ClickBait, but MSN's junk science stories in Health are especially stupid.

Steamboats..love your visual of cows on the Lawn:D Raw milk isn't even legal in our state. :)

On the Eclipse, a regular veranda cabin has a pull-out trundle under the sofa with a mattress...the sofa is rock hard, but the attendant may have a "egg crate" for it. When we have travelled with our teen/adult DD, she prefers the drop down berth. As do I...it easily folds out of the way, doesn't clog up the floor space (vs the trundle, blocks the bureau drawers and door to veranda), can sit on sofa in evening after the berth is made up, etc. You can find photos here of what these all look like made up. A regular fold-out sofa is in suites and above.

Well, here is where it gets complicated...

 

In a nutshell: you have to have you TA sned them a proof of your level at the other cruiseline - let´s say Celebrity.

 

In their own words MSC will accept Club Cards and the like as proof. There is no such thing with Celebrity and most other cruiselines. And no, a SeaPass with your level on it will not be accepted ;-)

 

Our TA, also active on a German cruise forum, sent a request with excactly that question to MSC and also posted the letter on the forum... Simple question: What else is accepted as proof of your level - screenshot of your account, invoice with level stated on it etc. ?

 

Up until now, there has been no real response and answer - they don´t know!

 

Gruß aus dem Süden in den Süden!

A Loyalty match is a marketing ploy...they WANT your business and your demographics and will not make it difficult to sign up! All I did was go to the Voyagers Club page on the MSC.us website and fill out a short on-line questionnaire that included my Elite number. It asked if I used a TA but did not request the name, where I wanted to cruise, what type of info I wanted to receive from MSC. Nothing else...no "Proof" whatsoever. I even doubt MSC would have checked with the X CC if I really am a member. About a month after Curt's first post, I received an email with a club number showing a Black card:

In short, MSC Voyagers Club rewards your passion for travel!

We are pleased to confirm you are now a premium member of MSC Voyagers Club and can immediately take advantage of all the benefits reserved for you.

Find attached your Club e-card with your personal number.

This is like people who worry about the "proof" they need for a military discount. Military discounts are used to get rid of remaining unsold inventory...it is not a patriotic gesture from X. I have handed MSC the address of frequent cruisers including its zip code demographics, email and phone ...all for free. Consider the marketing costs that MSC is saving with this match program.