Just off Grandeur of the seas, Bermuda 9/26- 10/2

[AidlEskimo]

departing from baltimore, MD

very easy on departure. I would recommend if older or trouble walking ask to use gangway deck 1 as opposed to walking up gangway to deck 4

 

rooms ready at 1pm,

 

we stayed in stateroom 7039, large interior room. traveling with wife and daughter. we kept beds separate with pullman bed down.

the room was no balcony or suite size, but was decent enough for us. we only use to sleep and change, spending most time in public areas or activities.

 

room was very nicely located, I am a smoker, so it was a short walk down to deck 5, showroom, and centrum areas. the room is located right by stairs and elevators. no noise issues at all.

 

ship was IMO very clean and good maint shape. they have a patch over the deck 10 crack still, but that was the only issue I saw while on board.

the crew were all very friendly and helpfull (except screen security, will explain later)

 

this was our second cruise to Bermuda, first out of Baltimore.

[cruzinlady1947]

 

we stayed in stateroom 7039, large interior room.

I know the cabins on deck 7 are laid out differently than the other decks (kind of sideways). You enter the room in the middle of the room on one side. How did you like it? When I was in one on a cabin crawl, I really didn't care for the layout. Just wondered how you felt about it.

 

Glad you had a good cruise. I love the Grandeur and plan on cruising on her for the next several years. We don't fly and it is very close to home. Plus, the embarkation and debarkation is the easiest I've experienced.

 

Thanks for posting your thoughts.

 

 

Gwen :)

[AidlEskimo]

The first day was a little eventful

 

we departed a little late, the ship was waiting for someone to be picked up by the police :eek:

 

don't know the whole story, as speculation was abound. my guess was that someone had a warrant or not supposed to leave country and when they scanned in boarding, it alerted police?

 

but hey we made the local news. a local news chopper hovered along side us once we did depart. pic of chopper is from our window table in dining room.

 

after dinner we had a emergency medical issue as well. a coast guard ship was docked along side in bay to remove passenger

 

I was upset this day with security screening staff.

mine and my wifes bags were delivered to our room, but not my 10 year old daughters bag :eek:

I waited, maybe it was running behind or lost it's tag?

after 3-4 hours still no bag or any notice?

my daughter was very upset, I calmed her down and told her, well we get to go clothes shopping now in Bermuda, worst case.

 

I never had a luggage lost prior on a cruise, I did once have to go to the naughty room, as my wife forgot, honestly, about the no travel iron rule.

 

I went to guest services to find out what to do? then I was informed that my daughters bag was held due to contraband :eek: liquor bottle???

I explained to guest services, there was no bottle and fact was we carried on our 2 allowed bottle of wine.

 

so off to deck 1 I went. sure enough there was my 10 year olds bag, with a huge tape label, BOTTLE

 

I reported that it was my daughters bad to security crew, then the bag and me were escorted to the main elevator area, bag placed on floor, unzipped and I then had to show the contents.

while on dirty floor, while I had to kneel on said floor.

I told the crew member there was nothing in the bag.

not only was there no contraband, there wasnt even a shampoo, mouthwash or anything that even resembled a bottle shape. just clothes.

all our toiletries were in a carry on.

 

I was told you are right, thanks :mad:

 

then I had to place objects back in bag off dirty floor and drag back to my room on deck 7.

now I would have been more understanding if, there were a item that could have been mistaken or I didnt have to be placed on floor in a central elevator location. I think the staff should have apologized and also taken the bag up for me.

 

so a couple of cocktails later, I was over it and back to cruise mode :cool:

 

the meals were great in the dining room (we ate there every night)

the guest shows were fantastic, the ship crew shows were the normal

[AidlEskimo]

I know the cabins on deck 7 are laid out differently than the other decks (kind of sideways). You enter the room in the middle of the room on one side. How did you like it? When I was in one on a cabin crawl, I really didn't care for the layout. Just wondered how you felt about it.

 

Glad you had a good cruise. I love the Grandeur and plan on cruising on her for the next several years. We don't fly and it is very close to home. Plus, the embarkation and debarkation is the easiest I've experienced.

 

Thanks for posting your thoughts.

 

 

Gwen :)

 

we have stayed in a traditional layout int state room before as well

I like the different layout as opposed to the other.

the chair was a bit annoying, but I imagine you could have removed for more floor space.

 

I like the fact that when door was open it only showed the chair and vanity desk. I never liked the long straight in of other int rooms.

 

although our next cruise, my wife say's nothing lower than balcony.

she like the breeze ;)

[Fun2snorkel]

Gwen - I am not the OP but we did stay in one of those sideways room on deck 7 several years ago. I really did not like it - seemed so much smaller and there was only a chair to sit in - not love seat or sofa. Now if we have an inside room, we choose deck 4. I must say though, Deck 7 was really convenient!

[cruzinlady1947]

we have stayed in a traditional layout int state room before as well

I like the different layout as opposed to the other.

the chair was a bit annoying, but I imagine you could have removed for more floor space.

 

I like the fact that when door was open it only showed the chair and vanity desk. I never liked the long straight in of other int rooms.

 

although our next cruise, my wife say's nothing lower than balcony.

she like the breeze ;)

Thanks, maybe sometime we will try one of those rooms. I'm with your wife, I like a balcony, but, then again, if we book inside cabins, we get to cruise more often. ;) For our 50th anniversary next Dec., we booked a corner aft Junior Suite on the Grandeur. But, we got a good deal during the BOGOHO sale in May.....the really good sale.

 

Enjoying your pictures and every time we cruise from Baltimore, they have a helicopter flying around. I think it is a news heli, but also could be a police one too.

 

 

Gwen :)

[AidlEskimo]

first off, sorry to the roll callers for this cruise

we planned on attending the get together in the schooner, but my wife wasnt feeling here sea legs due to the weather, so we laid back and didnt move much

 

we typically dont get motion sick, we had a bit of weather, captain said I believe 20 meter waves :eek:

 

so it was a little quiet on ship and bags were deployed at stairs :rolleyes:

 

we did make it out some, sitting, dinner and show

 

not much more to report day 2 :)

[cruzinlady1947]

Gwen - I am not the OP but we did stay in one of those sideways room on deck 7 several years ago. I really did not like it - seemed so much smaller and there was only a chair to sit in - not love seat or sofa. Now if we have an inside room, we choose deck 4. I must say though, Deck 7 was really convenient!

Thanks Carol. We are on deck 3 and 4 for our next 3 cruises. I think we only have a chair on our Nov. 29th cruise, because we have an adjoining room.:(

 

Now, back to the informative review. Loving the pics.

 

 

Gwen :)

[AidlEskimo]

we arrived at 3pm sunday

 

docking at heritage warf, royal navy dockyard.

 

we love bermuda, cant say enough how great it is.

 

the dockyard is a nice location, many improvements since we were there last, much more to do now there.

 

this day we strolled around the dockyard and hit some shops.

 

the clock tower mall has many different choices, from higher end shops, to local vendors. we always prefer local vendors, for unique items.

 

the glass works houses the Bermuda rum cakes. The only ones made in Bermuda, the other rum cakes we saw were imports.

 

there is a pharmacy, in case you forgot something packing, as opposed to $3.95 for a 99 cent lighter on ship :rolleyes:

 

there is a free shuttle (white train) that will take you anywhere in the dock yard. the red train is a paid tour tram.

 

there is a floating ship bar, Calico Jack's right a docking pier, seemed like a really good time, but we had our little one along so :rolleyes:

 

the dolphin experience is located here and snorkel beach park (paid admission)

 

food and drinks

 

everything at dockyard is walkable and clean

even roaming wild? roosters and chickens

[AidlEskimo]

we really enjoyed just strolling around, temp was mid 80's great breeze

 

here is some of my fav pics from day 3 there

[stellarose]

Going on grandeur in December. Two kids (12 and 10). Pullman beds...did your daughter like them? Also, should we keep beds separate for hubby and I?

[AidlEskimo]

this day was a bit rainy off and on

 

our plans were Hamilton, Aquarium / zoo , st georges and snorkel at snorkel park in dockyard.

 

with the moving small showers and increase winds at time, I cancelled snorkeling. as our little one is a swimmer, but not experienced ocean. also on dive sites and locals report, bermuda is prone to many different rips when wind and weather is abound.

 

we purchased unlimited ferry and bus passes this day $37 2 adults and 1 child right at heritage warf where you exit ship.

 

the ferry and buses can be reached easily at dockyard, plus Bermuda is a small island easy to navigate

 

we took the ferry to hamilton, maybe 20 minutes? or less

from there you are right on front street in hamilton.

 

we did a bit of strolling, then directly across from ferry is the road up to main bus terminal, maybe 3 blocks walk.

 

all buses are labeled in their own stalls, #10 or 11 both go to st georges with many stops along way to aquarium and crystal cave

 

the bus is an adventure, this was my daughters favorite part of trip ;)

the roads are narrow and I think they go 100 mph at times

 

it was roughly a 10 min ride from hamilton to aquarium

 

the aquarium is $10 admission, $50 excursion through royal

 

the ride from aquarium to st georges was maybe 20 min?

alot more locals get off on this route.

the bus drop in st georges doesnt look like much, but head down hill on street and make right to easily get to battery park and kings square

 

st george is much more historic feel and more laid back compared to hamilton

nice narrow streets with shops and food.

also the white horse pub is here, over 100 years old, first in bermuda

 

from st george there is the fast ferry, runs 5 times a day, that runs straight back to the dockyard. I think one of the best ways to travel around bermuda. great sights on the way 45 min ride

[AidlEskimo]

Going on grandeur in December. Two kids (12 and 10). Pullman beds...did your daughter like them? Also, should we keep beds separate for hubby and I?

 

with 2 kids I would def keep bed apart, when they move bed together there is also 2 night stands that would be moved to corners, instead of middle.

unless you want a bunk bed tree house feel ;)

 

my daughter loved the pullman, had her own light above, moveable ladder and a little upper shelf located on upper mirror area

[AidlEskimo]

this is a goverment run aqua/zoo

 

tip if you just want to see the sea turtles, the pool is outside to right of entrance. 100% free

 

the aquarium is on smaller side, as well as the zoo

but very nice representations of reef and local aquatic life.

 

very small easy walk, nicely landscaped and views.

 

a restraunt is on site

[AidlEskimo]

you are directly in some habitats with the animals,

my wife had a friend tag along with her for a walk through one habitat :cool:

[AidlEskimo]

there were taxi tours stopping here. %100 free to view

[AidlEskimo]

some pictures from the area the flatts where the zoo is located

 

wish I could move there ;)

[AidlEskimo]

as I said st georges it more historic, laid back feel.

 

there are historic re-enactments which take place here, stockade and dunkings in kings square.

 

a recreated ship of the original that landed there, the park and the white horse pub.

 

alert, the birds in kings square are very food friendly ;)

 

the streets are still brick and stone, we enjoyed the truly more historic feel here.

there are horse drawn carriage tours, as well as boating and watersports available.

 

some rain came in while we wee there, so we ducked into the white horse for a couple dark and stormys, rum swizzle and a sprite.

children can go in, but not in bar area, they have a nice outside waterfont seating.

 

the walk to ferry is directly along the water or nice narrow old street with local shops.

[AidlEskimo]

I can not recommend enought the ferry/bus system for travel here.

 

very easy and IMO economical

also great sightseeing

[stellarose]

Awesome pictures.

 

 

We are an inside cabin deck 4. Anyone been on 4?

[Darrell6t]

first off, sorry to the roll callers for this cruise

we planned on attending the get together in the schooner, but my wife wasnt feeling here sea legs due to the weather, so we laid back and didnt move much

 

we typically dont get motion sick, we had a bit of weather, captain said I believe 20 meter waves :eek:

 

so it was a little quiet on ship and bags were deployed at stairs :rolleyes:

 

we did make it out some, sitting, dinner and show

 

not much more to report day 2 :)

 

We did miss you. It was only 3 CC members, but 7 people who showed up for the M&M. Just so you know: 20 meters is about 65 feet, so we would have all been in bed if those waves had showed up. 2 meters is more like what we experienced.

[BND]

first off, sorry to the roll callers for this cruise

we planned on attending the get together in the schooner, but my wife wasnt feeling here sea legs due to the weather, so we laid back and didnt move much

 

we typically dont get motion sick, we had a bit of weather, captain said I believe 20 meter waves :eek:

 

so it was a little quiet on ship and bags were deployed at stairs :rolleyes:

 

we did make it out some, sitting, dinner and show

 

not much more to report day 2 :)

 

20 meter:eek: I'm sure he said 20 feet. 20 meters would be over 60 feet.

 

As for the news chopper, we've had them with us everytime we've left Baltimore.

 

Love Grandeur and will be on her again in less than 4 weeks.

 

We were on in March when deck 10 had the separation and our seas were 25 feet or so.

[AidlEskimo]

bummer our last day :(

 

we had to be on ship by 11:30 all aboard

 

so it was an easy and early night to bed, to get off in morning

 

we hit a couple shop's for some items we just had to have :rolleyes:

 

then I used my investigative techniques as to how to get to sea glass beach, some locals werent so quick to help, "sea glass beach?? huh" " oh maybe you mean black bay? its over behind clock tower mall, 10 min walk"

 

finally I got the answer, up over bridge to sommerset way, towards royal navy grave yard, then after row of green houses take little path to beach, 10 min walk

 

nice walk, a bit more than 10 mins though :rolleyes: and a little more tricky than explained. we passed some others on the way back who also found the beach. kind of helpful?

 

you must navigate up a little hill to the right after a walled roadway area, then a bend to right behind some row house style area, then you will see a (currently) yellow and white tarp a local uses as a parking area. there is the steep stair way which leads down.

the locals will come watch, of they know your there, best to depart using local custom greeting "good morning/afternoon and have a blessed day"

 

this got us past without much question

 

there is not much glass as present as I have seen in some photos prior, but some is still there and a neat little thing.

 

we did collect a handful of glass, for 5 necklaces, as gifts and to decorate a photo frame.

there were no reds or blues, just white, green and browns

there are some neat tidal pool, I found a really neat fosil of a small lizard and a dried section of white choral washed up.

 

I suspect after the locals complained about over taking by tourists, they harvested the beach pretty well. also the west end development co, has put up a sign restricting the removal of glass.

 

years ago I knew the law was, no one could own a beach, they were all public, called queens land, as any land that at anytime can be covered by water is owned by the queen and public.

 

perhaps this has changed? I had a 40 minute talk with a local in hamilton, who works at the bank and was on break.

He said there was alot of turmoil with the wedco and other political groups then, about the dockyard improvements, control and of course money. isnt politics great everywhere?

 

after the sea glass beach we double timed it back to ship, mad it back at 11:00 ;)

[AidlEskimo]

We did miss you. It was only 3 CC members, but 7 people who showed up for the M&M. Just so you know: 20 meters is about 65 feet, so we would have all been in bed if those waves had showed up. 2 meters is more like what we experienced.

 

 

:D maybe it was all the rum from the night prior :D

 

bad hearing

 

sorry we missed it, my wife was looking forward to the meet, we always enjoying chatting with new people, I must of had 15, with shipmates and locals:D

[AidlEskimo]

there is a moongate located at the dockyard, it is not the original moongate which bermuda is known for, the first one

 

kissing under it brings good luck for the remainder of the time you are with that person, or something like that?