gillhalfpint

We went on the beach transfer trip -- Lanzarote tour & Puerto Del Carmen transfer -- and the bus dropped us on the road where the bars and shops are. We went down a ramp onto the beach but there were no beds there. We were sat on rocks and I went for a swim. A long way along the beach I could see areas where sunbeds were set up, but my husband wouldn't have been able to walk along there, so can't comment on cost. After swimming, I joined Ray on the rocks to sunbathe for a while then I got changed (there was a building with loos and changing facilities) we went up to a bar where we found beers and excellent free wifi.

We were not with Fred when there, so not sure what they will do.

I you look at the What's in port site, there is a link there where you can select a calendar to find what ships are there any particular day. Also useful information and a map of the port. http://www.whatsinport.com/

I have always been ok on ship run trips to a beach. If beds are included, they are usually all together on a section of the beach.

We did Braemar for the first time with Fred in August and had a brilliant time. We tend to explore ports on our own or take a Hop on Hop on city bus.

St Petersburg you must book ship tours or a private tour which covers a visa for you, as you cannot leave independently otherwise unless you have obtained your own visa. For this reason we advance booked the tours we wanted to go on before leaving GB. On day 1 I did Peterhof Park tour £45. We both went on Evening on the waterways of St Petersburg for £45 each. On day 2 we both went on Panoramic Drive - the Gulf of Finland for £35 each. Bookable trips priced from £35 to £95.

Just checked What's in Port, and Dream only booked into Roatan in the first week, so I reckon it is a glitch in the system.

I was in a Thomson TA this morning and asked in there about itinerary changes, and she looked and said nothing has changed, but she was on the old website and didn't seem to know there was a new website today.

Also asked her about hand luggage as the new website shows 5kg and we have always had 7 kg for a cruise, and she said it has always been 5 kg allowance, so I left.

Went to have a look as that is unbelievable. I know the new website has a glitch or two, but find that change over the top. We did Pride of Panama and Mayan Treasures this January and made Belize but got a bonus sea day instead of San Blas, but your change surely has to be an error!!

I liked the Delo bar when we were on Dream, but Waters Edge was I thought, for the disco on a night. The only time I saw it used was to keep hand luggage safe on departure day though. I did explore the outside deck, and agree it is a good spot at the back. We liked the back of our deck 6 and often sat out there before turning in for the night. We had a great cabin nearly under waters edge in Jan 14 and Jan 15 and never had any noise problems which I thought was brilliant.

I just want to be there now. January seems a long way away on a wet October day.

Now that rope swing I could really have a go at - takes me back quite a few years when kids could play in denes and fun didn't cost a fortune. Will have to decide on the day, but both would suit me fine.

We have done Fred Baltic cruise in August this year. Sorry just realised you want Norway and not the Baltics, but bookable prices may be similar.

Aarlborg we just wandered round the town on our own. Bookable trips priced £30 - £50

Copenhagen we paid 20 euros each to do a trip round on the Hoho bus (hop on hop off) . Bookable trips priced from £35 - £95.

We did the same in Helsinki for 20 euros each. My husband walks with 2 sticks so finds it difficult to get around if he has to stand too long, so after having dinner on board, he stayed on the ship while I went off and caught the HoHo bus again using the same ticket to go to a beach I had seen to spend a little time. Bookable trips priced from £36 to £80.

St Petersburg you must book ship tours or a private tour which covers a visa for you, as you cannot leave independently otherwise unless you have obtained your own visa. For this reason we advance booked the tours we wanted to go on before leaving GB. On day 1 I did Peterhof Park tour £45. We both went on Evening on the waterways of St Petersburg for £45 each. On day 2 we both went on Panoramic Drive - the Gulf of Finland for £35 each. Bookable trips priced from £35 to £95.

Riga Latvia we boarded a sightseeing bus which was ok but not as good as the Ho Ho buses for 15 euros each. Loved wandering round here afterwards. Bookable tours from £25 to £34.

Travemunde Germany we bought a tour on board for £50 each Lubeck boat tour. Bookable trips from £50 to £75.

Hope this helps. We had to read all the information to decide if there was too much walking for my husband, but we both had a fantastic time.

I ike the sound of Harbour Lights - not into loud music. This cruise is going to be amazing for the beaches and I am enjoying my plotting and planning what we want to do and where to go. I do enjoy my rum, but not the spiced rum, and the free drinks on the trips are not always to my taste, so won't really miss them. Much better to have free choice from the bars.

Hope your Christmas cruise is fantastic, but then, how can it not be given where you are going. Thank you for helping me make mine too.

Wow Geo that is great information. I have copied St Maarten onto the "plan I am working through. I have Thomson's info on nearest beaches from 2013 when we were over there for Barbados - believe the Boatyard is the place to go there. Found a map of Bequia on the Grenadines map I had for St Vincent, and we will likely get a water taxi over - more fun than a land taxi. Thanks for the info on the trees.

We book seats for the long flights as Ray needs to stretch his leg so we book aisle seats. Shouldn't be long to get them done now.

Found my island maps that I picked up on shore at the tourist places for all except St Kitts and Bequia. Have one for St Maarten too. The beach here is the one where the planes come in low if I remember right. We walked from the ship to a beach though where a water taxi ran back to the port area. Will spend a lovely afternoon plotting and planning. Thanks again.

Thank you PC and Geo for this post. We are doing these islands on 17 Jan, and are the same. I like to swim but my husband cannot manage the beach and sunbeds very well, so he prefers to find a seat in a bar behind the beach till I come to join him. We have been to all the islands before except Bequia, and have done ship tours and just want to chill out round the beaches this time, so the info is great, especially with having the beach names as we can get our old maps of the islands from previous cruises and really plan our beaches.

Thanks ever so much.

Gill.

A bit worrying this one.

Some have their full deposit back.

Some have an offer of £50 OBC as compensation.

Presumably the poor souls not on CC or FB get told of the changes when they board.

Feeling happy to have chosen the Celebration for Jan 16.

We have not had any vibration problems in the cabins on either Spirit or Celebration, and have never paid the £42 to choose a cabin on either, just taken the cabin they gave us on booking.

Spirit Aug 14 was Deck 4 - 314 inside.

Spirit Oct 14 was Deck 1 - 841 outside

Celebration Apr 15 Deck 3 - 457 inside

Spirit Sep 15 Deck 2 - 698 inside.

Happy with all of them, and will be in an unbooked cabin on Celebration in January.

Gill.

port elizabeth is very small, just one narrow paved street which is a little potholed in places... there is virtually no traffic

 

the small promende along the sea front is narrow but it is level it goes along in front of the bars & cafes facing the sea... its literally one minutes walk from the tender dock (there are steps and decks to get into the bars)

 

there are (dirt) paths running along the back and in between the bars

 

if you hang a left from the dock there is a paved road..... but just a few local shops and the small market up that way.... walk a 100 yards and you are out of town

 

the beach (princess margaret beach) is about 2 miles away (right out of the tender dock)

Thanks Geo too. Love your knowledge of these wonderful islands. I am going to be looking for a lot of the beaches this time round and try not to do too many ship tours.

I've put some photos of the narrow path on FB for you Gill. Still haven't got round to learning how to do it on here.

Thank you - they look lovely. Looking forward to exploring a new port.

Hi gillhalfpint the first beach at Bequia doesn't have a bar, just a low wall which Mrs PC used whilst I swam, she did get some ant bites, don't know Rays situation but the footpath is very narrow with a small drop on one side , it may not be suitable

Thanks for the info. He would struggle with that I reckon, so will likely find a taxi to a beach with a bar for a few hours. Best being safe.

Thanks for the update. I will have to research our Caribbean islands ready for January as we have gone on ship tours when there before. We may be getting braver and have a go with taxi trips as I will want some beach and snorkelling trips while Ray checks out the bars. We have been happy just to wander round the port areas when on Spirit in the Med.

We get back on 1st Feb, so hope to get something out before you go. Looking forward to all my favourite islands plus Bequia, new for us.

Enjoying your review as we are on Celebration in January, so great to hear all is well on her.

Shows on Spirit from 7.9.15 were:

Piano Men -- Concerto goes pop to the westend --- Songs that made a movie --- Andre, magic and comedy --- Kipps --- Dance dance dance --- Westend wonders ---- Piano Men --- At the Copa --- Concerto Broadway --- Phil Doyle comedy --- Lots of Love --- Carwash --- Westend Wonders.

We had seen a few of them before too.

We often take bottles or cans of beer back on board and have never had any queries whether scanned or not. On Spirit there were offers of 2 bottles of Spirits for £20. Didn't explore any further than that as we were not buying for cabin use this time. Had 7 bottles and cans of beer lined up in the cabin at one point though from Romania and Ukraine breweries. Very good they were too.

Another thing doing the rounds we passed on was all the casino jackpot lotto things they tried to sell cards for. They seemed to be getting pushed more than usual this trip. There was also a wine tasting event we passed on that was an extra cost. There are so many of these now. Think the only thing we had apart from around £280 on drinks over 2 weeks was one game of bingo, the £25 safe, and the trip that cost £8 each. We can enjoy ourselves ever so cheaply, and save the money for our next cruise.