PORT ROYAL

3 hours ago, D&N said:

Some of today's vlogs from Queen Anne were quite good and very useful.

These were seen in a Britannia Club cabin/stateroom.

The laundry list has a reference at foot, which suggests it was issued in January 2024 and I assume it's valid throughout the fleet.

I don't know if the room service menu is the same on the other queens.

 

 

 

 

So kind to take the time to do this….

16 hours ago, Lorenky said:

Hello. We’ll be taking a cruise with Princess in January 2025 that stops at St Kitts. We’re looking at excursions and are having a hard time deciding which is best for us. There will be 5 cruise ships in port so we know it will be crowded everywhere, but we want to avoid places that will be overrun with crowds. If we snorkel, we prefer snorkeling from shore rather than from a boat as we’ve had some bad experiences snorkeling from a boat, though we would snorkel from the boat if conditions were very easy and calm.   If it’s a beach stop for swimming we do like sandy beaches with calm, warm water.  We do want to take a ship excursion. Your recommendations on which excursion might be best would be greatly appreciated. The excursions that look interesting to us are::

-an excursion to Timothy Hill and Cockleshell beach

-a Souffa Stone hike and beach getaway(Frigate Bay)

-a 4x4 Island safari to rainforest with beach stop at Frigate Bay

-a jeep expedition with a stop at Frigate bay

-a water taxi to Nevis for Pinney Beach

-a coastal kayaking and snorkel at south Friars Bay.

Thank you for any suggestions.

For a tour, then Thenford Grey

or

Beach

Can only recommend a Day Pass at the St Kitts Marriott

or 

Nevis - https://bluewatersafaris.com/tour/nevis-beach-getaway/

Bluewater offer a complete Nevis tour package https://bluewatersafaris.com/tour/nevis-plantation-beach-experience/

3 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

Even before the non appearance of porters, one's driver had his passenger heft the cases out of the boot for the porters to carry them off to 'the hole'! 😁

 

Now, one's taxi person helps.

 

 

No boot… because of the amount of luggage, we have a flexible People Carrier with the rear seat down.  Driver slides cases along, out and drops them down.

4 hours ago, exlondoner said:

I haven’t seen a porter helping unload since Covid.

Correct.  One’s driver does.

Excellent advice….

9 minutes ago, ex-koelner said:

Could you please elaborate on the Porter method? I'll embark in NYC next week (for the first time) and wondering, what a porter would do that I cannot do myself? And how exactly can a porter help to bypass queues? In my simple-mindedness I thought I could arrive at the terminal by taxi or Uber, find the spot for baggage drop and go inside the terminal for check-in and embarkation.

Apologies….. my bad…. Should have read disembarkation…

Thank you for indirectly raising this issue.

7 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

No porter magically appeared for us last May or July at the Mayflower terminal.

 

I helped the taxi driver offload the bags and she took them over to the repository and yes, she got a great tip.

 

However, on our return to Southampton, there were loads of porters waiting to help. Our grateful thanks was well received by 'our' porter.

Strange… I all the past decades, we have never had a Porter problem at departures. Could be because we deliberately plan to arrive during the last hour or so.

Agree, the arrival Porters are readily available.  With their assistance, one is sped past/through queues and rapidly through Customs.  

As an aside, the Porter method is advised when embarking in New York…. Long queues do not exist with a Porter.

42 minutes ago, Rodrigo Real said:

Hello lovely folks, this is our first time cruising and we are helping out aged parents. So, my first stupid question: We don't yet have an embarkation time (sailing Sunday 9th June to NY) but I have seen elsewhere that it is possible to drop off luggage. How easy is it to get our taxi to pull up close to the luggage drop off and get help from porters? And the same question for our return from New York!
Many thanks.

Personal experience.

At the vehicle departure designated lines, one’s driver will park/off load, a porter will magically arrive on the scene, load one’s luggage onto a trolly and take away to security.  All one has to do is walk to departure with any hand luggage.  A gratuity to the porter is appreciated, but not expected.

3 hours ago, TTEllis said:

PORT ROYAL I love moonshine😁 I love herbs too!!😁😁😂😂😁😁

I have a question for you I found a cruise for next year it ports in Dominica. Seeing how our friend and pal Levi Baron is no longer doing island tours of some sort.

If you were to go back to Dominica what would you recommend or how would you spend you cruise visit?

 

I was thinking about trying to get a group together and get our own taxi van. I've never been to a beach on Dominica before I was hoping maybe to end up at a beach with a bar for the afternoon. Thanks for any help Todd

 

Okay… Here is my personal favourite close to Roseau … Soufriere (Bubble) Beach…

Have recommended Mero in the past, but that’s sadly now gone commercial (Babylon) and downhill.

Yes, Bubble is ethnic, with a shabby ambience, but it is unspoilt, with great snorkelling, as it’s a protected Marine area.  There are sulphur springs from the seabed, better than Champagne and free.

The bars have Bush Rum (have to ask for it)..  Genuinely welcoming and appreciate one’s custom.  Beach shoes are advised for those being of tender feet, because of pebbles in places (not 100% pristine white sand), but Bush is known to relieve any perceived discomfort.  No S.H.T.

Take it as it is..  It’s not trying to be something it’s not..

6 minutes ago, jsf said:

We had a great meal a few years ago at a place that was owner by a former pitcher for the New York Yankee's. can't remember the name but I'm sure someone will chime in with it.

Think it was Lupi’s Mexican Restaurant that one is trying to recall… 

Also consider…

https://ladisrestaurant.com/san-juan.html

And excellent offerings…

https://www.mariopagan.com/mprestaurants
 

19 minutes ago, Gitana said:

Recommendations for good Puerto Rican restaurants in San Juan.

Gitana

 

Marmalade - Take their wine pairing Dinner - Excellent 

But do book very early - Popular - https://www.marmaladepr.com

16 minutes ago, Motorman23 said:

Hello, I’m hoping someone has some helpful suggestions for a decent hotel with a bar/restaurant in Rome that is kind of mid range price (up to $200 usd per night) in Oct. I’ve looked at the nicer locations like Spanish steps and Trevi fountain areas but they are out of my price range, I see that hotels in the Termini area are less expensive. It also seems that transportation to the sites is easy via bus or metro. I’ve looked over many pages of reviews in CC for hotels but don’t see a lot of reviews for Termini. Is it a safe area? Does anyone have any experience with a mid priced hotel in the Termini area with a bar and breakfast and decent services that they have stayed in and would recommend?

Has one tried to “search” on a well known “Booking” site, which can filter by date/s and price.  One may find a Gem available in a more desirable area.

5 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

This is interesting.  Is this legal assistance coverage available for any legal issue or for those relating to a covered peril?  Our typical personal liability coverages provide legal defense but only if it is for something that is covered by the policy. 

One has used LA for a botched repair to a one’s property, under the house insurance policy, with all surveyors costs paid by the policy.  Not a penny was spent by oneself.  
One’s Solicitors Legal costs were recovered by the instructed Solicitors.

Again with an injury sustained on a RC ship etc.. No upfront costs, all medical reports, Court Fees etc., recovery of Ship medical bills etc., plus consequential losses, damages and compensation were recovered by Insurers Legal Team.  All without any personal outlay 

One’s Solicitors Legal costs were recovered by the instructed Solicitors.

Think it’s best to speak with one’s insurers regaling any scope and coverage of their policies.  Different Insurers have different policies.

As a thought…

Many insurance policies that cover House, Property, Companies, Life and Car etc., have an additional premium to cover Legal Assistance.  
If having Legal Assistance Cover, immediately contact one’s Insurers, for the potential claim advice, in first instance.  Then, if the advice is that a claim will have plus 51% minimum chance of success, then one will be passed to a Legal team appointed by one’s insurers.

For information, for those considering paying an additional premium, the premium is quite small in relation to the cost of a Solicitor or a KC.  
Would recommend this to all on CC, because one will never know if, or when, Legal Assistance is needed.

8 hours ago, eltigre said:

We want to take the ferry and then a cab to a beach like Anse Dufour or Grande Anse.

Has anyone done this recently? 
A short walk to the ferry, cost in USA or Euro for ferry, cabs easily available on the other side?

Any help would be appreciated 

For the best beach day, do contact Club Med about Les Boucaniers in Martinique, they offered a Day Pass. We paid under €100.00 pp and had a great stay.  
Give Club Med a call for one’s date pricing and availability.

Link to LB - https://www.clubmed.co.uk/r/les-boucaniers/y

Taxi took about 45 minutes there and 1 hour back (heavy traffic) with a price of €50 for the taxi each way.

On return, allow an extra 30 minutes to stock up on some fabulous Rhums (La Filbuste etc.) from the quayside duty free. 10 minutes to browse, if one doesn’t know what to purchase, then up to 20 minutes to queue to pay.

On 4/21/2024 at 12:14 PM, Fletch1 said:

Greetings,

 

We are due to board the Queen Victoria in a couple of weeks at Southampton. We have been allotted at time of 3.15pm boarding time. We have to check out of our hotel by midday and we have nowhere else to go, so we will just go to the port.

 

My question is if we get at the check in before our allotted time, we will be able to board early or will they make us wait until our allotted time of 3.15pm?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

D+ is an error on one’s part.  

(D+ may possibly appear on Cunard in the future)

Should read D, this equates to Diamond level of Cunard World Club.  This attracts the benefit of priority boarding  at embarkation.  Which we don’t use, preferring to arrival later.

On 4/15/2024 at 6:08 AM, coprgeorge said:

We are taking a family cruise that will stop in San Juan. Looking for suggestions for fun ways to spend the day with young children (1,3,5,7). 

Nothing local to the port

Parque de los Niños - but it’s quite a distance from OSJ 

41 minutes ago, bigboy61 said:

Hello there!

 

This is my first post, so if this is in the wrong place, please move it.

 

Get ready for a long story.

 

Back last year, I started to plan a cruise for my grandmother's 80th birthday. My grandma's wish was for all her children to get together on an Alaska cruise before she passed. I have never cruised before, so I am already in over my head. 

 

I ask about this on the large Reddit group asking people about this. I have a couple TAs reach out to me over there, and I decide to go with one. She is licensed with CLIA and under a well reviewed host.

 

So we start planning. We get everything squared away and ask the family to start paying. The travel agent wants payments via Venmo or PayPal. My relatives become suspicious and so they vet her and have me vet the reservation more. They are satisfied once this is complete and we proceed. 

 

Everything moves along fine up until last week. The TA keeps refusing to provide booking numbers claiming that the Princess app is new and they have asked her not to let all of us into the app at once. Well, my Uncle, understandable, starts to get suspicious and fed up with the runaround. He calls Princess, and the only reservation for our group was canceled back in February! None of us are in any reservations.

 

The TA claims the reservation is still safe. My Uncle has had it and filed a claim with Venmo and with her previous host agency. She then cancelled our rooms (which didn't appear to exist) since my uncle submitted the claim.

 

She is saying she is going to refund us via her E&O insurance, but I have no idea whether to believe her or not. 

 

So here we are out 30k, my reputation with my family is ruined, and my grandma's 80th birthday cruise is ruined! All because this TA was, at best, playing some booking shenanigans.

 

I don't quite understand the angle of the TA. She seems to have a legitimate business, so not sure what was happening. I think the original cruise may have been canceled so she could book the cruise outside of the host so she could take all the commission. That's just a guess. I have no idea why we weren't rebooked.

 

What is her angle here? Anyone know? Anyone experienced something like this before?

Apologies for bringing bad news…. Had a similar problem, unfortunately the agent acted as an agent only for us.  Therefore, under the agent’s terms and conditions, there was nothing we could do.  The agent just walked away unscathed 

21 minutes ago, blue_water said:

We know from staying on St Maarten and St Martin that there are reputable independent outfits that provide full-day excursions to Anguilla. Can you recommend any that provide half-day excursions or that cater to cruise passengers. Short 7AM - 5PM port time…

Has one asked Billy Bones…. Think they may be able to assist with a private charter.

36 minutes ago, Derbie said:

@portroyal I received a notice that you had replied, but no quote or message on the post.  Thanks. 

Would guesstimate the minivan taxi as being about $60 - each way - for the whole taxi -

One can time book the outward minivan taxi, or there will be plenty of taxis waiting at Red Hook

27 minutes ago, Derbie said:

@portroyal I received a notice that you had replied, but no quote or message on the post.  Thanks. 

Last section… Have remove a link to additional ferry information - two parts received?

1 hour ago, Derbie said:

DH and I would like to take our son and his family to visit St. John in early July.  My husband I and I did an excursion through a cruise ship a few years ago to St. John. The cruise line offers one, but $800 for us to go for 2.5 hours to the beach is pricey. I would like the kids to see St. John.  We took them to Megans last go round. Would we take a cab to the ferry and then another cab to the Trunk beach in St. John?  I am wondering if would we be any ahead of the game cost wise by doing this on our own?  Would we gain any additional time at the beach, by doing it on our own?  I realize there is lots of logistics and possible issues, with doing this on your own.  Our ship is in port 9-6. All recommendations are appreciated!

 

Thanks in advance,

Try in sections..

No problem…

Taxi to Red Hook say 30 minutes

Ferry crossing time - 20 minutes (just miss 1 wait 30 minutes) = max of 50 minutes 

Disembarking and taxi wait say 5 minutes)

Ride from Cruz Bay to Trunk - say 10 minutes - Reverse say 10 minutes 

Ferry Cruz to Red Hook - say 20 minutes

Ride back to ship - 40 minutes (heavy traffic)

Best to allow a comfortable 1.5 hours there and 2 hours back

15 minutes ago, Derbie said:

@portroyal I received a notice that you had replied, but no quote or message on the post.  Thanks. 

Probably a CC glitch… Try again

No problem…. Here are the most conservative time lines..

Taxi to Red Hook say 30 minutes

Ferry crossing time - 20 minutes (just miss 1 wait 30 minutes) = max of 50 minutes 

Disembarking and taxi wait say 5 minutes)

Ride from Cruz Bay to Trunk - say 10 minutes - Reverse say 10 minutes 

Ferry Cruz to Red Hook - say 20 minutes

Ride back to ship - 40 minutes (heavy traffic)

Best to allow a comfortable 1.5 hours there and 2 hours back

Book tickets online as the ticket office queue may be long, plus the ship you are aiming for may sell out - 

Ferry Link https://stjohnticketing.com/schedules/

More Ferry info… https://www.*****/travel/virgin-islands-ferry-schedules/stjohn/

Shared taxi to Trunk  $9 pp - Think there is a price concession for 12 years and younger.

28 minutes ago, Derbie said:

DH and I would like to take our son and his family to visit St. John in early July.  My husband I and I did an excursion through a cruise ship a few years ago to St. John. The cruise line offers one, but $800 for us to go for 2.5 hours to the beach is pricey. I would like the kids to see St. John.  We took them to Megans last go round. Would we take a cab to the ferry and then another cab to the Trunk beach in St. John?  I am wondering if would we be any ahead of the game cost wise by doing this on our own?  Would we gain any additional time at the beach, by doing it on our own?  I realize there is lots of logistics and possible issues, with doing this on your own.  Our ship is in port 9-6. All recommendations are appreciated!

 

Thanks in advance,

No problem…. Here are the most conservative time lines..

Taxi to Red Hook say 30 minutes

Ferry crossing time - 20 minutes (just miss 1 wait 30 minutes) = max of 50 minutes 

Disembarking and taxi wait say 5 minutes)

Ride from Cruz Bay to Trunk - say 10 minutes - Reverse say 10 minutes 

Ferry Cruz to Red Hook - say 20 minutes

Ride back to ship - 40 minutes (heavy traffic)

Best to allow a comfortable 1.5 hours there and 2 hours back

Book tickets online as the ticket office queue may be long, plus the ship you are aiming for may sell out - 

Ferry Link https://stjohnticketing.com/schedules/

More Ferry info… https://www.*****/travel/virgin-islands-ferry-schedules/stjohn/

Shared taxi to Trunk  $9 pp - Think there is a price concession for 12 years and younger.