Motorcycle Cruise?

[dkjretired]

Excellent question. First of all, there are never 50 motorcycles. The large S class have room for the most bikes, max 25. As to the gasoline, we are NEVER permitted to have more than 1/4 tank of fuel when we load onto ship. Many of us were running on fumes each day when we returned as we were only fueled up each morning at a local gas station with just enough fuel for the day. Then, before boarding, each tank is opened and injected with some type of pressurized gas to dissipate fumes (sorry, don't remember what it was).

 

Each bike is held in the hull by wheel chocks and if rougher seas are expected, we use tie-downs in addition to the chocks. I will try to find a pic of them in the hold...pretty amazing we fit 25 bikes in like we did.

 

Can't answer your last question, fortunately it has never happened. The safety precautions and security surrounding our arrival and departure were pretty strict.

 

Sorry but I have a video of them coming into the dock escorted by the Bermuda Police in two groups and counted them in the video. There were 46 bikes which were large bikes and obviously with the group.

[H2OH!]

We were on a Caribbean cruise with them once too and I would second everything Claudia said. We didn't notice any disruptions or notice any spaces being reserved for them. In fact, we wouldn't have even known they were on board except for seeing them load the motorcycles on/off the ship and that was fun to watch.

 

Hello Toby!! how are you and Richard!!

[ghstudio]

We've cruised on one of the biker cruises and it was fun watching them load the bikes back on the ship....very carefully and safely done. As far as the bikers...no they don't turn the martini bar into a "hell's angels" den of iniquity with chains around their necks...dragging their women behind them by their long purple hair....they are actually nice folks that just blend in.

 

As far as we're concerned, having the bikers on board is no big deal one way or the other.

[EatonDoolittle]

Sorry but I have a video of them coming into the dock escorted by the Bermuda Police in two groups and counted them in the video. There were 46 bikes which were large bikes and obviously with the group.

 

Ouch - I cannot even imagine the horrible noise that made.

Good luck to the citizen / passsenger in a balcony room who wanted to sleep in that morning when they took off...

 

I'm not a party pooper, but one bike in my neighborhood gives me a headache when he revs off on Saturday morning.

 

Don't flame me, I know bikers are nice people, but oh, the noise of a pack of them.:( JMO.

[davekathy]

Ouch - I cannot even imagine the horrible noise that made.

Good luck to the citizen / passsenger in a balcony room who wanted to sleep in that morning when they took off...

 

I'm not a party pooper, but one bike in my neighborhood gives me a headache when he revs off on Saturday morning.

 

Don't flame me, I know bikers are nice people, but oh, the noise of a pack of them.:( JMO.

 

Noise...now that's funny. "If I had to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand".

[ghstudio]

Ouch - I cannot even imagine the horrible noise that made.

Good luck to the citizen / passsenger in a balcony room who wanted to sleep in that morning when they took off...

 

I'm not a party pooper, but one bike in my neighborhood gives me a headache when he revs off on Saturday morning.

 

Don't flame me, I know bikers are nice people, but oh, the noise of a pack of them.:( JMO.

 

Of course you have an image of the riders reving their engines up high and doing wheelies and smoking wheels....that's the stereotype. As I said in a previous post, these aren't the hells angels or latin kings or your local grease monkey's out for fun...they aren't trying to attract chicks......these motorcycle tours are not cheap so it's a bit self sorting....and they actually use expensive motorcycles with, believe it or not, mufflers.

 

Stop stereotyping....this isn't a big deal.

Edited July 13, 2016 by ghstudio

[dkjretired]

Of course you have an image of the riders reving their engines up high and doing wheelies and smoking wheels....that's the stereotype. As I said in a previous post, these aren't the hells angels or latin kings or your local grease monkey's out for fun...they aren't trying to attract chicks......these motorcycle tours are not cheap so it's a bit self sorting....and they actually use expensive motorcycles with, believe it or not, mufflers.

 

Stop stereotyping....this isn't a big deal.

 

I was on my veranda watching them come into port and didn't even notice the sound. In Bermuda while we were docked they didn't have to put them on the ship everyday. They had a secure location and they were nicely lined up. I'm an early riser and didn't here a thing. Also, when they came in to the dock area they were going very slow under a Police escort. Our tour guide told us that in Bermuda when in groups they are required to have a Police Escort.

Edited July 13, 2016 by dkjretired

[Blue Lagoon]

Yes, we have cruised as well with the group that was on board Silhouette last year in the Caribbean. I believe they are called ETA Motorcycle Cruises. Had no idea this was existence.

 

The one bike that made my heart skip a beat was a three wheeler and in pink. Almost made a life changing decision at that point in time after an interesting information session with one of the members at the buffet.

 

The group was (hope I am using the correct term) marshaled off and on the ship. What a kick to see that many bikes outside Senor Frog's at one of the ports. :eek:

[ReneeFLL]

Thanks for your answers. I too am often running on fumes with the Celebrity Go Big package.

:D

 

Ouch - I cannot even imagine the horrible noise that made.

Good luck to the citizen / passsenger in a balcony room who wanted to sleep in that morning when they took off...

 

I'm not a party pooper, but one bike in my neighborhood gives me a headache when he revs off on Saturday morning.

 

Don't flame me, I know bikers are nice people, but oh, the noise of a pack of them.:( JMO.

 

They don't rev the engines which is what you are hearing in your neighborhood. Either that or they don't use mufflers. I know what you are talking about and I hate that noise also.

 

Looks like they will be on our 14 day Eclipse cruise again 2-04-18. I have seen them leave the ship, but never riding back on. I will have to stay off the ship until they ride on so I can see them.

[NCHPcruiser]

Our Mediterranean cruise last September was a "motorcycle cruise". We would never have known had we not signed up for a special dinner with a couple that was part of the group. It was interesting to here about all of the security involved with this group. Each bike is thoroughly searched when it returns to the ship after a port ride and only a small amount of fuel can be remaining in the tank. The riders then go through regular security. Cycling clubs in port meet and plan rides for them.

[sharod]

My husband and I took this motorcycle cruise back in 2013. At that time, the TA used Royal Caribbean, now he sails with Celebrity.

 

 

I have done 2 reviews. One here, and one on a Harley forum. The Harley forum is probably a bit more complete. Lots of questions/answers.

 

 

Here are the links....

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1839973

 

 

http://www.hdforums.com/forum/road-trips/872846-yes-we-took-our-harley-on-a-cruise-ship.html

 

Hope this answers your questions!!!!!

[lakelorain]

We've been on many of the motorcycle cruises on the Explorer of the Seas. Never a problem. It was fun watching the bikes go on and off the ship at each port.

At the Captains Q&A on one of the cruises, one passenger said he didn't feel it was safe traveling with all "those bikers". The Captain's response was that most of them were Doctors, Lawyers and Law Enforcement.

I much prefer the bikers to some of the other groups we've traveled with.

[awhfy]

We've been on one of these cruises (not the bikes). It was so much fun watching them put them on in the afternoon from our balcony. We never heard them at all, but it surely was fun watching them put the 3-wheelers back on board! Great group of folks (as 99.9% of all riders are). We met up with them at the photo gallery a couple of times & transferred some of the pictures we'd taken of the boarding. Saw them out riding with their police escorts in Aruba, Curacao & Barbados.

 

Great group. I'll take them any day over a Quincinera group or (heaven forbid) an American Girl Doll group !!!

Edited July 21, 2016 by awhfy

[Duanerice1]

Because of this thread I checked into it. We might book one in the future as it sounds like fun. The only drawback is you have to book the cruise through them and as far as I can tell you don't get any good pricing or specials.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[blazeinthesun]

Because of this thread I checked into it. We might book one in the future as it sounds like fun. The only drawback is you have to book the cruise through them and as far as I can tell you don't get any good pricing or specials.

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

You will get any specials Celebrity has, including reduced deposits, Go promos, etc.

 

I don't know about MSC.

 

 

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[Duanerice1]

You will get any specials Celebrity has, including reduced deposits, Go promos, etc.

 

I don't know about MSC.

Thanks

[Ladesign]

Sorry but I have a video of them coming into the dock escorted by the Bermuda Police in two groups and counted them in the video. There were 46 bikes which were large bikes and obviously with the group.

 

 

mmm. maybe the 20-25 bikes from the boat were met by locals .

 

basic arithmetics 46/2 =23 . This would bear out the previous posts.

 

we were on eclipse jan 15 and witnessed the bikes getting on & off. my friend from Canadia gleaned from the security officer the rationale behind the numbers and how it worked with local authorities. I had a good chat with the fantastic safety officer who knew intimately a greek island i had holidayed on many times. he said that a limit of "of 20 - 30" bikes depending on size , mainly due to space - but also security & effects on other passengers ( interesting we thought )

 

Bur what would these people know [emoji33]

[Ladesign]

mmm. maybe the 20-25 bikes from the boat were met by locals .

 

basic arithmetics 46/2 =23 . This would bear out the previous posts.

 

we were on eclipse jan 15 and witnessed the bikes getting on & off. my friend from Canadia gleaned from the security officer the rationale behind the numbers and how it worked with local authorities. I had a good chat with the fantastic safety officer who knew intimately a greek island i had holidayed on many times. he said that a limit of "of 20 - 30" bikes depending on size , mainly due to space - but also security & effects on other passengers ( interesting we thought )

 

Bur what would these people know [emoji33]

 

 

sorry typo - Jan 16 [emoji41]

[MeCruise2]

I have also had the experience to go on the motorcycle cruises- more than 4 times and... I LOVE IT!!! My wife and I have met some of the most wonderful people on these cruises and are still very good friends with them to this day. I will say one thing about this company ETA that puts this on. They've been doing this for over 14 years already and run a fantastic program! Everything is taken care of for us. From the cruise reservations to the rides. I have never seen such a well run company like this. Ya know, someone mentioned before about the logistics for this. It's amazing how this guy Steve who owns the company works with the island people. They love him and his staff!! So many people on the ship that don;t ride were coming up to us and thanking us for making their cruise exciting! Heck all we did was ride our bikes off and on the ship and they loved that!

Don;t ever think or worry if you're booked on the sae cruise as the bike cruise is. It's never more than 29 bikes and about 60 people. Everyone from doctors, lawyers police, firemen, blue collar, white collar and from all walks of life ride bikes. We are good people. Best part of this is that the company that does this will not allow dirt bikes or crotch rockets on these tours so there is never a concern with roudy folks. Try it if you ride... there is nothing better! :)

[MeCruise2]

Hey blazeninthesun..... What date were you on? You sound like Steve or one of the Rd Capts. You are dead on and speak exactly how it is. ETA runs a great operation and when we've seen the rapport they have with the Capts & other officers, they are really respected. We're going back April this year! Can't wait!

 

 

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[uktog]

We loved the company of the bikers on Eclipse last week.

It is such a well run group, we also met them during breaks on some of their ride outs.

If you are ever cruising when they are onboard watch how they organise themselves on the quay it's fascinating- total respect for the leader and looking after each other.

This is one group you do want to be on a cruise with.

[wallie5446]

Just learned that our 2018 Silhouette cruise is being advertised by a special interest agency as a motorcycle cruise where cruisers can book space for their motorcycles and I assume do special group excursions, ,.,or ride on their own in various ports,

 

Just wondering if anyone has done such a cruise or been on board with such a group...We are mostly wondering how large a group this might be, as we do not like to cruise with big groups onboard...

 

Also would they have likeky have night time events that would affect venues on board...

 

Not planning on canceling but just want to get some basic info,..

Thanks...

 

Bill n Rosie just did the December cruise on the Equinox that had a Harley group with their bikes on board. Here is his video:

[nusailor]

We've been on two with bike groups. Never saw a problem and rather enjoyed the reverb when they left in the morning and returned later in the day. Both time we were docked opposite another ship and this made a perfect canyon for the more deep throated bikes when they made their way in what was a steel echo chamber. Great bunch of people from what we saw.

 

bosco

 

I think that we were on the same cruise. When docked in San Juan, we were opposite Constellation. The canyon made such an impressive sound. The group did not impact anyone else as they were off and away as soon as the ship docked. Gangway opened right after. I never really saw them return so I don't know how that worked. Looked like a great way to travel!

[marieps]

We had a group of Approx 18 bikes on Jan 7 Reflection. There was one delay as the bikes had to get off first in St. Kitts, and we were stacked in the hall and on the stairs waiting. Not a big deal. Probably a 15 minute delay.

[eandj]

We loved the company of the bikers on Eclipse last week.

It is such a well run group, we also met them during breaks on some of their ride outs.

If you are ever cruising when they are onboard watch how they organise themselves on the quay it's fascinating- total respect for the leader and looking after each other.

This is one group you do want to be on a cruise with.[/QUO

 

Agree. We were on this cruise and really enjoyed their company. DH spent lots of time visiting with a couple.