michigal

Hi,

Just found your thread when I was searching on “Concorde” in the Barbados forum. Did you end up using the local bus system for your transportation? Did you go to the Concorde Experience?

We’ve picked out the places we would like to visit in Barbados, and are contemplating whether to try to use bus transportation or to hire a private tour guide/taxi. Thanks!

Hi,

We've been on the Grandeur twice, and enjoyed it both times. The second time, we took my parents (in their 80's), and booked cabins 4571 & 4569. I liked the close proximity to the Champagne Bar (now the R Bar), and hubby liked the fairly close proximity to the casino. The close proximity to the main dining room made it easy for my parents.

I was concerned that my parents would hear noise from the Centrum, but that was not an issue at all. I don't think you need to worry about any sound issues on deck 4. We flip flop between balcony and inside cabins on our cruises (depending on price and itinerary). If you chose deck 8, you might hear noise from up above (chairs being moved, etc.). We've experienced that, but it did NOT ruin our cruise (but it was a minor issue). I hope this information helps you. Have fun!

In February 2014 we used Cave-Tubing.com and had a great experience. We chose to do the ATV and cave tubing but many others did the zipline and cave tubing. Definitely take the previous poster's advice and get in line for your tender ticket as early as possible. Then you should have no problem. Our tour operator met us at the pier for a 10:15 a.m. departure, and got us back in plenty of time for the "all aboard" deadline.

After reading everyone’s comments regarding great prices on one-way fares, I searched and found some great one-way fares to San Juan via Choice Air. I could use our airline points to book our return flights. This seems a little unorthodox, but it would save us quite a bit. Can anyone think of a reason why I wouldn’t want to try this air itinerary? Thanks.

On the Splendour November 8 sailing, escargot was on the main dining room menu every night (along with the note about the world-wide shortage). We ordered them several nights, and they were prepared in the more traditional fashion (butter & garlic; no bread crumbs).

The hair dryer in the cabin (wall-mounted in the bathroom) works fine for me and dries my hair (layered, chin-length) in 1-2 minutes. It does require me to keep the "on" button depressed, but this has not been a problem for me.

My previous post regarding hair dryers being mounted on the wall is incorrect. I have seen this feature on ships, but not necessarily on RCCL. Sorry about that!

The hair dryer in the cabin (wall-mounted in the bathroom) works fine for me and dries my hair (layered, chin-length) in 1-2 minutes. It does require me to keep the "on" button depressed, but this has not been a problem for me.

Like a previous poster, I use that extra luggage space to pack more shoes! :)

Thank you so much for the advice, links, and sharing your experiences. It will make our planning so much easier now!

DH and I have shared a cabin with our son (during his teens and early 20’s) a couple of times, and it was not a problem because he was rarely in the cabin at the same time as us (other than when we were all sleeping). On our last cruise with him we had a Junior suite, and that little “extra” elbow room did make a big difference.

When my two sisters and I shared a cabin, it was a different story. We tended to stay together most of the time, and consequently were usually in the cabin at the same time getting dressed or preparing for our daily activities. It did feel like we were bumping into each other a lot. We travel with lots of clothes, so there was a shortage of clothing space. 1) We requested additional clothes hangers from the cabin steward, who happily obliged our request. 2) I kept my casual stuff and lingerie in my suitcase, but that meant I had to pull out the suitcase twice daily to select what I was going to need. 3) In the morning and before dinner, I packed up my “stuff” (outfit, hair prep, makeup) and went to the fitness center for my showers and grooming (the bathrooms/showers in the fitness centers on most ships are very nice).

We took turns on sleeping in the Pullman bed (upper berth). The sofa bed pullout is a nice option, but as a previous poster pointed out, it takes up a lot of space.

Bottom line: a few minor inconveniences at a time when our travel budget just didn’t allow for that second cabin. Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise!

Hello,

Our United Airlines flight arrives at Heathrow at 6:00 a.m. on a Tuesday (I’m not sure which terminal), and we need transportation to the Doubletree Hilton, Victoria. We (two of us) will each have a checked bag and a carry-on (all are wheeled luggage), so I’m trying to select an option that minimizes the need for going up and down stairs, and that provides some assistance with luggage handling.

After researching our options with regard to balancing cost and ease/efficiency, it appears a motor coach is our best bet. I’m hoping you seasoned travelers can pass along some advice and answer a couple of questions!

Should we purchase our tickets ahead of time instead of when we reach the airport?

Does the motor coach (such as National Express) drop us off at our hotel, or at Victoria Station? On the map, it appears that the hotel is within walking distance of Victoria Station, but we will have our luggage to content with. A short walk is OK.

On Thursday, we will leave our hotel and fly from Gatwick to Venice (cruising out on Saturday). I assume we can arrange for similar transportation from our hotel to Gatwick.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Wow - entertaining and very informative! It provided me several tips (and got me really geeked) for our upcoming first European cruise! Thank you very much for a great review and sharing your experiences and photos. :)

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions! Our party of 4 arrives late on a Thursday afternoon and will cruise on the Splendour on a Saturday. We will also have a one-night stay in Venice after disembarking. I think we will opt for one of the hotels on the Piazzale Roma, for the convenience factor.

Fellow cruisers, I’m hoping you can provide some guidance…in planning our cruise from Venice on the Splendour of the Seas on November 8, I’ve read about the options for arriving at the cruise port. With regard to the people mover and the bridges, I need a little help, specifically with the following (we’re arriving 2 days early):

If we stay in Mestre (which was suggested as an economical alternative from some seasoned cruisers), what is the closest point we can be dropped off to the cruise terminal (and by which means...taxi, bus, etc.)? Once dropped off, how far do we need to travel with our luggage (each person will have a rolling full size suitcase and a rolling carry-on).

If we stay in Venice, for example in the Piazzale Roma area, same question…how far do we need to travel with our luggage?

The reason I’m asking is because one person in our party has some slight mobility issues, and I want to make their transportation to the ship is as easy and painless as possible. Thanks in advance for your help!

Thank you ALL for your help. This will expedite my research!

Hello,

In November we will fly from London to Venice (either on a Thursday afternoon or Friday morning) for a cruise from Venice on Saturday. We will book one-way tickets as we flying home directly from Venice after our cruise. Does anyone have any suggestions on whether we should focus on certain airlines? We are not seasoned international travelers! Thanks in advance for your advice.

In port, we negotiated with a taxi driver for a tour of the island (for a group of 6 people) in his air-conditioned van. We had a great day, stopping at a few points of interest, and also one or two bars/resorts for a cold beverage. The island and beaches are very beautiful. He dropped us off near the shops, and we shopped for about an hour.

FYI, silly me left a bag in the van. The taxi driver drove around the shopping area until he spotted our group, so he could return my bag. Now that's customer service!!

Thank you for sharing your review and great pics!

When we docked at the International Pier a couple years ago, it did have a mall right at the end of the pier (air conditioned too!), which offered several gift shops. We compared the prices there to the shops downtown, and found the ones at the pier to be very competitive.

We docked at the Puerto Maya pier earlier this year, which also offers a small but nice selection of shops.

Happy Sailing.