PORT ROYAL

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If one wishes to spend the day with the “in demand” Leo, then suggest, to avoid a disappointment, it’s best to book before another person does. Have booked 8/9 months in advance.

Oh! Hope one’s TA steps up to the plate…. Wishing one good luck and safe travels.

Fly out 1/2/3 days earlier, grab a Hotel and spend some time in Barcelona.

Seem to remember that KLM had a lunchtime flight to Norwich via Amsterdam in about 4.5 hours. Check flight times etc with Cunard. This could solve all problems, including the drive.

If it’s a location that’s important, then instruct the hotel to move one’s booking to one of these: Pig in the Wall White Heart Pub Ennios Southampton Harbour or for a treat outside Southampton, Lime Wood Hotel All will give a great stay….

Personal recommendation Coco on Orient or Rainbow on Grande Case

Or at any port on the itinerary

Think logistics…. 90/100 minutes from Port to Rome Hotel ….. Hotel Check-in times usually 15/16.00 hours…. Drop cases in room about 16.00/16.30 hours, then spend a day in Rome. [?] Take a tour of Rome direct from port, then check-in (Airport Hotel) later in that day

Stewards have always obliged with cushions, sometimes (when available) steamer chair covers. Also, personally, after undergoing foot surgery, an additional balcony chair was provided by the Steward [with cushions] to act as a footrest. Generous gratuity happiness was spread. Win win all round

Ask one’s Steward…. They will oblige with padded steamer chair covers and/or multiple cushions. Also deck blankets if required. A gratuity is always appreciated.

Stand corrected. But the OP could arrange the cushions into multiple positions to simulate a lounger, with the half moon footbed positioned, thereby giving options for comfort, which the OP would appreciate on their next Cunard cruise. Just trying to assist the OP.

Sorry no, the best place to stay near the cruise terminal is Southampton Harbour.

Then, for additional comfort, there are the heavily cushioned (double occupancy) aft rattan style (cabana) loungers, which the OP could also take, if so wished.

Just ask……. It’s Cunard… For something quite simple to resolve, doubt if one’s request will be declined. This will remove the need to wait until one returned, to then raise as an issue on a social media platform.

Nothing close to the port. Contact Club Med about Les Boucaniers in Martinique, they used to offer a Day Pass, not sure now. We paid under €100.00 pp and had a great stay. 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.

Would that be on a PO ship, for the kind and fair pax to voluntary pay the additional difference between lines?

The best……One word….. Elegance. https://www.elegancebarbados.com

Link https://st-maarten.com/index.php/island/beaches-st-maarten-st-martin/great-bay-beach-st-maarten https://www.sint-maarten.net/place/beach/great-bay

As an aside…. If one is a ‘drinker’ then in the town on Front Street, close to the ferry pier is GULMHORS who have a great selection of rare and top end bottles from Single Malts to Rum/Rhums. The return minivan from one’s visit will be happy to drop one off outside Gulmhors Then one has the choice to either take the sea ferry back to the ship, or another shared minivan from many who ply their trade down Front Street. Taxi fare will be only $3/4 pp

Pre COVID At the taxi point at port, there used to be a facility where the cab captain arranged for a shared minivan taxis to be fully loaded before departing to one destination. Where pax were charged pp not per cab. Identical to the organisation in Barbados, St Kitts etc. Never taken, but could be worth an ask when there….

One will not recommend it, but many on CC love it for the price. Okay, let’s give facts about the $2/2.50alleged public bus (private minivan- aka Jintys) Off ferry at Midtown, down pier, walk to main road (Front Street) turn left down Front Street, turn 1st right, walk down side street, at main T junction you’ll meet Back Street, search up and down Back Street for a Jinty with a sign in windscreen for the required destination, board, wait until full before departing. Journey will encompass on/off main roads, stopping to drop people off and pick-up. On arrival at destination agree where the best Jinty pickup point is for regular passing Jintys for return destination. Returning one has to stand at the pickup point, view from distance/search the windscreens of approaching Jintys for the destination sign required, flag down the Jinty, which may not stop if full. Repeat until one stops, board. Arrive at destination (Back Street) Note the time taken to arrive, from the time one left the ship, walked to ferry, queued, paid, queued, boarded, sailed etc.. to destination. Then allow an extra 30 minutes minimum for the return journey for flagging down and heavy port traffic.

To Waterfall From Soufreire say 15 minutes From Castries say 90 minutes

One will only comment on taxis…. The shared minivan charge is about $10 pp (plus tip) each way, with youngsters either free or $5 (plus tip) each way depending on age. But the whole van of 9/10 pax has to agree on the return time, and sometimes this leads to arguments, because some want differential or a very early return time. [everyone is different and some are just total AHs] - Make sure Tatem’s know the actual number of pax. For privacy, convenience, price and no angst take the $80

Or a fat gratuity for blocking or a quiet word removal….. This will be more enjoyable as a spectator sport. 😉