Janey

Thanks again for all your tips.

Many thanks.

Two queries please

Can we order flowers once aboard or do we have to order them in advance?

What are the launderette opening times?

Thank you

I really hate to contradict anyone on here but the first two replies are very misleading . E731 is a fabulous cabin in a fabulous location, Very quiet at the end of the corridor with no passing traffic and best of all an enormous balcony with fantastic views including the wake. There is no noise from Manhatten as all the music etc is on the opposite side, I would avoid Riviera deck like the plague. We have had E731 four times and E733 just recently and not heard a thing from Manhatten.

We have recently returned from the Oosterdam. We received our final statement on the last night which was fine. Just received our credit card statement which was not the same final amount. it was higher. Has anyone else experienced this? We can only think that someone has added something from the mini bar which we never used. It is not a large amount but if every cabin had this amount charged Holland America would make thousands of dollars per cruise. Not impressed. First and last time we will cruise with them. We paid $25 a day in tips and tipped extra but never again. The service was no better than an average cruise line.

Question please re the mini bar. We have been on Azura 4 times but never had a mini bar, is this something new? All we want is a fridge, do we get that as well?

Not a squeak!

Don't bother trying Jacqui O's it is closed until November. Lots of better beach bars at far more reasonably prices. Castaways, Dennis's, OJ's Beachlimerz or Coconut Grove are all great at reasonable prices.

We are proud to announce that we have started building our fourth ship to add to our fleet; this will be our first new-build since the launch of Royal Clipper in July 2000. The new vessel, yet to be named, will be the biggest and most ambitious to date and will be launched in the second half of 2017, carrying 300 passengers, measuring 8,770 tons and powered by more than 6,350 sq.m of sails.

The new ship will technically be a five-masted, square-rigged barque. While our flagship Royal Clipper is modelled on the legendary German sailing ship Preussen, the new member of the fleet will be a near-replica of the even more dramatic France II, commissioned in 1911 and the largest square rigger ever built. Just as the original France II eclipsed Preussen more than a century ago as the world's largest square rigger, the new build will replace its sister, Royal Clipper, as the largest ship of its kind afloat today.

© Star Clippers New Ship Fast Facts

Shipyard: Brodosplit shipyard, Split, Croatia

Tonnage: 8,770 grt Hull: Steel

Passengers: 300 in 150 cabins Crew: 140

Sail: Area 6,350 m2 Rig: Five-masted barque

Facilities: Three pools; massage and beauty treatments; watersports platform with equipment; library; function room; piano bar; Tropical Bar; deck bar; sports bar; open seating dining

Cabins: 150 cabins including 34 suites with balconies plus four owner cabins.

We were talking about Fort James beach, not St James beach club which is private. Fort James is public with bar and sunbeds, St James Club is private with no sunbeds to rent or bars to use but I believe you can buy a day pass. It is also on the other side of the island so a taxi would be very expensive.

Hi, we went last week to the new beachbar called Beachlimerz. We had lunch and four drinks each and it cost us $50 for both of us plus $24 return for the taxi. We didn't go there from a ship but the distance was the same. There was no charge for sunbeds/umbrellas. There were plenty of trees and a lot of people ate outside underneath them rather than in the bar. I say "a lot" I think there were 2 families and 3 couples there with us on a Sunday afternoon. Take a look at them on Tripadvisor. Their website doesn't have many pics as it only opened in December. All the staff were very attentive, polite and smiley!

We did this tour yesterday for the second time. We had a great time. Tour lasted over an hour. We went out of the harbour turned right past Russels and Millers turned round and went towards Deep Bay before turning back into the harbour. Commentry telling you about Fort S James and the history of Antigua. It was 20 US$ which included rum punch. The boat leaves at 10.30 every day except Sunday from Heritage Quay.

You just walk out of the cruise terminal, walk across the road and follow the road (with the sea on your right), past the craft market and there is the bus station. The bus goes from stand 6 and there are loads of them, with plenty of cunductors around giving info. Just ask the driver to tell you when you get to the right bus top, even if you miss it the bus stops are only about 50 yards apart. The passengers on the buses will also tell you. Going back the bus stop is just across the road from the beach club slightly to the right and the bus will wait for anyone they see walking towards the stop. Have a small bottle of water handy for the return trip as it can get a bit hot and stuffy. It is great fun as they play reggae music all the way. Look out for the bus station as you approach the ship, it is on the right just before you turn off to the ship.

Well I wouldn't go to either but would go to Coconut Grove or Peppers n Limz on Dickenson Bay, both beachfront and not too far to travel, $12 each way.

We have just got back. We got the bus up to Mullins Bay which is a few stops further up than Paynes and much nicer. Someone was offering a trip to see the turtles from there. Both Paynes and Mullins are a lot nicer than the Boatyard and I don't think there are any trips to see turtles from the Boatyard, it's too far. Love that bus trip up the coast for one dollar.