Pied Piper Bermuda Summit Cruise May 26, 2013

[a5storyguy]

My partner and I just booked the Pied Piper Bermuda cruise (Summit) which departs on May 26, 2013. Is anyone else booked?

[vivavino]

I just booked this week! I'm surprised the thread isn't a bit busier.....

[a5storyguy]

I hope it's not just the three of us going! It's been several years since I've done Pied Piper so I'm not sure what to expect. Never been to Bermuda, Either.

[vivavino]

Yes, it's probably been 2 or 3 years since I did a PP trip. I prefer their smaller groups to the big post-Thanksgiving blowout.

 

Bermuda's pleasant - I've been a few times before. I'm not a beach person, but there's enough to do touring Hamilton, St Georges and the Dockyard area to spend some time. And, I'm looking forward to seeing the renovated Summit - I haven't been on it since the upgrades, and I love the Solstice-class ships.

[TimATL]

I just booked this cruise, along with two of my friends. I've done two Pied Piper cruises before, both of them Post-Thanksgiving cruises. So I'm interested to see how the smaller ones are. Bruce at Pied Piper told me that he recalls this Bermuda cruise has attracted a group size of 30-60 people the last several years.

[vivavino]

I'm glad to see a few more folks in the group. I think the 30-60 is just about the ideal size. Most of us can fit at the Martini bar, and there are ALWAYS other "Friends of Dorothy" onboard who find us.

 

On some Caribbean and European trips, PP has put together some 'preferred excursions' - a few of the ship's alternatives (and sometimes from another supplier) - so we have our own group for some of the tours. I'll look forward to seeing if they do that.

 

I'll be traveling with my BF, Dan, who's done two cruises before, but never with a gay group, and never on Celebrity.

[tysona]

Just back from a trio with pied piper. The average age was about 75.there were about 100 pp on the ship.

customer service from Derek and his team was non existent. I hope you have better luck.we were left alone to dine on a table for ten one night. Whilst two hosts sat on the next table and didn't even come to speak to us! If you are in a top suite or a frequent pp traveller then maybe you will fare better.i would personally not book with them again.just mho.

If you have no expectations of what pp offer then at least you won't be disappointed with them. Sorry if this is not what you want to hear but forewarned is forearmed.

Tysona

[vivavino]

Tysona -

I'd be curious what trip you were on - they've had a bunch of sailings lately. I've done probably 12 trips with them, and the experience does vary based on who is hosting. I've had some great experiences, and some disappointments.

 

cheers.

[TimATL]

David, is that how many you expect will be on this cruise: 30-60?

 

This will be my third Pied Piper cruise. The first two were post-Thanksgiving cruises, so I'm curious to see how this cruise differs in terms of the group dynamic.

 

Do we know who is hosting this cruise?

[tysona]

Tysona -

I'd be curious what trip you were on - they've had a bunch of sailings lately. I've done probably 12 trips with them, and the experience does vary based on who is hosting. I've had some great experiences, and some disappointments.

 

cheers.

 

Well we're on the eleven night ultimate Caribbean. On the Equinox.Derek was the main host with Nick and a friend as his assistants.apparently nick did not have much to do except hand out flyers and escorts on trips.It was not his fault.he was not too bad . I firmly blame Derek for lack of hospitality and very poor organisation.also just for being lazy.

I hope you guys have a great time.We are going on the Reflection in October. But not with Pied.Piper x

[TimATL]

Tysona, from the pictures of your cruise that were posted on Pied Piper's Facebook page, it looked like a good group of people who were having a lot of fun! Sorry you didn't have a good experience.

 

Anyhow, back to discussing the Bermuda cruise....

[TimATL]

Apparently, Rob is our host. Does anyone know him?

[a5storyguy]

This is our Third Pied Piper cruise, and I booked it not for what Pied Piper does, but because they simply get a gay group of people together and don't charge any surcharge. Atlantis, RSVP, and even Aquafest supply entertainment, music, parties, etc., but you pay a premium for it. I won't be disappointed because I know what to expect. I expect them to host a small party or two, organize the dinner tables for our group, and suggest a group excursion or two. And that's probably all.

My partner and I enjoy getting to know "Boy's Like Us" when we go on vacation and are looking forward to Bermuda on the Summit!

Glenn from Houston

[vivavino]

I don't know Rob - I've cruised with Bruce, Derek, Lyman and a few others. The post-TG trips are completely different from their other, smaller groups.

 

The Post-TG cruises are often too big to fit comfortably in any one venue on board, and often takes up 1/2 of the late seating in the dining room, so it's more difficult to meet the group. With a smaller group, it's nice to have everyone together at a handful of tables for dinner, the cocktail parties have enough time to mingle, etc.

 

Since we have a couple days at sea in advance, it's nice to find folks to do shore excursions with... There aren't THAT many choices on Bermuda, so organizing options isn't that big a deal. But for folks interested in the aquarium, Crystal Caves, a walking tour of St Georges..... perhaps a group will form. :)

[tysona]

Tysona, from the pictures of your cruise that were posted on Pied Piper's Facebook page, it looked like a good group of people who were having a lot of fun! Sorry you didn't have a good experience.

 

Anyhow, back to discussing the Bermuda cruise....

 

We will leave you guys to look forward to the trip. Just wanted to say that the pictures on the website dont reflect the cruise we had.but as I said maybe we were unlucky !! Every trip is different. However we met some great guys on the ship with PP who we spent time with, just not as part of the whole group.

Have a great trip guys I am sure it will be fun ! xx

[TimATL]

When do you suspect we'll get our first email about the cruise from Pied Piper?

[TimATL]

If people are still considering this cruise then they should book it soon. It looks like all of the ocean-view staterooms with window and all of the ocean-view staterooms with veranda are sold out. All that's left are inside staterooms, concierge class staterooms with veranda and just a few Aqua class staterooms with veranda.

[a5storyguy]

If you're still thinking of booking, there are apparently newly reduced rates in several "guaranty" categories. This is way less than what we paid! Check out the Pied Piper web sight.

[TimATL]

Yeah, I booked at the inside stateroom guaranty rate. Awesome deal!

[DenGNNJ]

Hi, my name is Dennis; my partner is Michael. There's four of us going on this cruise (2 couples from NJ). Our friend John is giving the cruise to his partner Tom for his upcoming birthday.

 

I've used Pied Piper as a travel agent a few years back to book an RSVP cruise, but have never done the 'gay group' thing with them. This will be our first 'group' cruise as opposed to the full-on gay cruise/trip with RSVP or Atlantis. I'm anxious to see if we like it as much... it'll definitely open up a lot more options for us (and not paying a premium helps as well)

 

Over and out (for now).

 

 

 

D

[TimATL]

Hey Dennis. Glad to see our group is growing. My two friends (a couple) and I are from Atlanta. Where are you and your partners from, a5storyguy and vivavino?

[a5storyguy]

My partner Jim and I are from Houston. We've never been to Bermuda and are looking forward to it. Has anyone heard that the docks are under repair and some recent cruises are tendering?

 

Glenn

[TimATL]

No, where did you hear this, Glenn? I didn't even know that cruises to Bermuda had begun yet this year. I thought they started in late April.

[a5storyguy]

I just had a friend on a cruise to Bermuda this past week and Oceania informed him that the ship was going to tender because of the on going dock work. According to the internet, it's supposed to be complete by May 15th, and apparently was supposed to have been completed a while ago. So they're behind schedule.

 

Glenn

[a5storyguy]

I received an e-mail from my friends that were in Bermuda on April 10 - 11th. They confirmed to me that they did have to "Tender" which he says was tedious. Here's what he reports about the on going dock work: No one knew anything about construction, repairs. Despite cranes, etc. there was no activity going on two days we were there.