Live! DragonOfTheSeas' B2B on the Grandeur of the Seas 3.28 to 4.18.19

[Arzeena]

2 hours ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

Yes, we are in 2538.  It is deck 2 right across from the forward elevator.   The location is not bad.  But, I do not love deck 2.  the windows are not as large as on decks 3 & 4.  . . . and we had booked a panoramic OV cabin for the cruise that was canceled.  We were sorry to lose that. But, it has been a great cruise.  

OMG  we had also booked a panoramic OV on the cancelled one.
On the upcoming we booked a balcony GTY. 

[Arzeena]

1 hour ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

Remember I said it was windy this morning. LOL

I love that cover up!!!!!

[kings2001]

Loving your trip report. We will be on the Grandeur in a few weeks.  

 

The spot where the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea meet is one of my favorite views. I turned one of the pictures that I took overlooking that spot on our cruise last year into a canvas.

[Setting sail for fun]

On April 8, 2019 at 1:29 PM, DragonOfTheSeas said:

 

This is the last cruise with this itinerary of the season.  Grandeur will now switch to Bermuda, Bahama and Canada Sailings. the next 12 night with this itinerary is the end of November. 

This is a great itinerary.  Enjoying all of your posts.  Hope to do this cruise one day!

[DragonOfTheSeas]

16 hours ago, Arzeena said:

I love that cover up!!!!!

I bought this cover-up in St Croix about 15 years ago. I've worn it so many times I think I paid about a half a cent for every use

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We are in beautiful St Maarten today. I will post some pictures from the ship and some in the port area. But I think we're going to have a lazy day and not go ashore today. We have been here 8 or 10 times. The last time was November. So we are going to enjoy having the empty ship today. I'm going to upgrade to Surf and stream tomorrow because they're going to have another special so I'll post pictures we have taken from the various places we visited in St Maarten so you can get a good overview of the island.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

13 hours ago, kings2001 said:

Loving your trip report. We will be on the Grandeur in a few weeks.  

 

The spot where the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea meet is one of my favorite views. I turned one of the pictures that I took overlooking that spot on our cruise last year into a canvas.

It is one of my favorite views too. Someday I want to go to Nevis and visit there. But there's just never what I consider being a port time to do that

Edited April 14, 2019 by DragonOfTheSeas

[cruise wizard]

We will be doing a B2B next June - a Canada & New England 9 night and a 5 night Bermuda itinerary. Debating on coming in a day early - any suggestions as to a hotel? Restaurants?

[DragonOfTheSeas]

5 minutes ago, cruise wizard said:

We will be doing a B2B next June - a Canada & New England 9 night and a 5 night Bermuda itinerary. Debating on coming in a day early - any suggestions as to a hotel? Restaurants?

We stay with our daughter if we decide to stay overnight or we drive in. But I understand the Best Western is one of the best places to stay. I have some friends that stay in hotels on this cruise. I will ask him this evening in the Diamond Lounge.

[cruise wizard]

2 minutes ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

We stay with our daughter if we decide to stay overnight or we drive in. But I understand the Best Western is one of the best places to stay. I have some friends that stay in hotels on this cruise. I will ask him this evening in the Diamond Lounge.

 

Thank you.

 

I am enjoying your Live thread - keep up the excellent job!!!!!

[DragonOfTheSeas]

OK--it is time to post some pictures of St Martin.  I know that is not technically the correct spelling for either side of the island--but, I am sticking with it. 

 

First the map  to orient you to this island.  The French side is larger, laid back and more European in flavor. [remember that clothing optional beach] 

 

The Dutch side is more commercial, has most of the night life and the casinos. 

 

The ship docks across the Great Bay from Phillipsburg near Pointe Blanche.  You can take a land taxi to town [or anywhere on the island] or take a water taxi to one of 2 landings.  It is $7 for a day pass.

 

This was our sail in.  We got to the island a 7 am.  It is only 80 nautical miles from St Lucia so I imagine we were doing doughnuts in the ocean all night before we docked. 

 

 

Edited April 15, 2019 by DragonOfTheSeas

[DragonOfTheSeas]

As I mentioned earlier we have been here MANY times.  It seems no matter what we book we end up in St Martin. 

 

For example, last November we had a transatlantic cruise leaving from Rome and stopping in Valencia Spain, Lisbon, Portugal and one of the Azores before landing in Ft Lauderdale. 

 

We got to Rome early and visited all the ancient sites.  Two days before we left on the cruise we got an email from Royal Caribbean that they were worried about a storm front and we would have an altered itinerary.  Now we would cruise out of the Med as fast as possible and turn south.  We would visit 2 of the Canary islands and then St Martin. Somehow I never thought my Med transatlantic would take me to St Martin. We were very disappointed to miss our med ports.   . . . but, you can not control the weather. 

 

 

[DragonOfTheSeas]

21 minutes ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

 

This was our sail in.  We got to the island a 7 am.  It is only 80 nautical miles from St Lucia so I imagine we were doing doughnuts in the ocean all night before we docked. 

 

 

Sorry--I noticed my mistake too late to correct it.  We were in St Kitts the day before St Martin.  [senior moment]

[DragonOfTheSeas]

The picture above is the Great Bay looking across from the ship.

 

 

Below is the water taxi dock near the cruise dock. For those that have mobility issues there were 2 golf carts transporting folks for tips.  As you can imagine there looked like a good wait. 

 

This is the landing for the water taxi on the other side. 

 

 

Another great Bay pic

 

This is the site of Fort Amsterdam.  It is directly across the bay from the ship and is the opposite point of the Great Bay. We visited here on a previous trip.  I will post a couple of those pics later. 

Edited April 15, 2019 by DragonOfTheSeas

[DragonOfTheSeas]

 

Here are some pictures of the port area.  It has all the usual shops you see in all the ports.  The shopping is better if you go to town.  

 

As you can see we were docked on the far left.  

 

There was a tall ship on the main dock.  We never saw anyone from this ship.  

 

I wondered if they were doing repairs. 

 

so then we got back on the ship and headed to the solarium.  It was a great idea.  They had opened the roof and there was a good breeze. We stayed here until it was time for a late lunch and a nap.  . . . No need to tire myself. 😁

Edited April 15, 2019 by DragonOfTheSeas

[DragonOfTheSeas]

I thought I would post some pictures we have taken of other places on the island to give you a better feel for what else there is to do besides shop.  Our dinner partners bought a diamond and saffire bracelet at the Effy Jewelrs.  . . . and they almost bought a diamond necklace from another shop.   DH was glad there were no additional port stops and I could not get any ideas. LOL

 

On a past trip we got a day pass to the Divi resort. It is located across the Great Bay from the cruise dock.  It is located on what the call Little Bay.  

 

I emailed them to make a reservation.  We took a taxi there. [was $10 each way at the time] and the day pass was $10 each.  [pay when you get there] That got us to use their beach/chairs/restrooms and restaurant. They have a nice poolside restaurant with good food.  There were no umbrellas, but there are plenty of shade trees. 

 

I know this does not look like much--but, it is a beautiful resort.

 

 

During the afternoon we walked up to the Fort Amsterdam ruins.  You remember we are history buffs, right?  DH says I am the only person that goes to the beach and visits a historic fort

 

It is a wonderful location.  You have a 360 degree view.  I think it is one of the best on the island. 

 

The fort is not in great shape, but it is worth visiting for the view.

 

 

 

Divi was setting up for a wedding reception the afternoon we were there.  It would have been a magical location by nightfall. 

Edited April 15, 2019 by DragonOfTheSeas

[DragonOfTheSeas]

On 2 other trips we visited Dawn Beach.  Look back at the map and you can see this beach is near the dividing line between the two sides of the island.  It is located in a picturesque spot. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My only issue with Dawn Beach is there seems to always be lots of seaweed there. 

 

 

 

Edited April 15, 2019 by DragonOfTheSeas

[Yorkvillain]

1 hour ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

  They had opened the roof and there was a good breeze. We stayed here until it was time for a late lunch and a nap.  . . . No need to tire myself. 😁

 

Wow! Love seeing that they opened the roof. 

 

Great review Dragon. 

[DragonOfTheSeas]

10 minutes ago, Yorkvillain said:

 

Wow! Love seeing that they opened the roof. 

 

Great review Dragon. 

Yes, I have noticed the roof open when the weather is good and we are in port. I like it when it is open because on a really sunny day it can be cooking in there.  

 

I do not remember it being open when we are at sea.  [It is not open today]

 

 

[Cru1s1ng2009]

2 hours ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

 

Here are some pictures of the port area.  It has all the usual shops you see in all the ports.  The shopping is better if you go to town.  

 

As you can see we were docked on the far left.  

 

There was a tall ship on the main dock.  We never saw anyone from this ship.  

 

I wondered if they were doing repairs. 

 

so then we got back on the ship and headed to the solarium.  It was a great idea.  They had opened the roof and there was a good breeze. We stayed here until it was time for a late lunch and a nap.  . . . No need to tire myself. 😁

There is NOTHING better than a nap after lunch on a ship! Its hard to decide between nap in the bed or nap in the solarium. Either way, its a nap.

[beed2010]

7 hours ago, cruise wizard said:

We will be doing a B2B next June - a Canada & New England 9 night and a 5 night Bermuda itinerary. Debating on coming in a day early - any suggestions as to a hotel? Restaurants?

Pls see reply posted below  oops !!!

Edited April 15, 2019 by beed2010

[beed2010]

We stay at the Fairfield inn white marsh when cruising out of Baltimore. Free decent breakfast. Adjacent to shopping mall and shopping areas. If you book the cruise package you get free parking and shuttle back and forth from cruise.  

[Starry Eyes]

7 hours ago, cruise wizard said:

We will be doing a B2B next June - a Canada & New England 9 night and a 5 night Bermuda itinerary. Debating on coming in a day early - any suggestions as to a hotel? Restaurants?

More details will probably help you get better recommendations.  Flying or driving?  If driving, from which direction?  

 

We have flown to Baltimore for past cruises a few years back.   We stayed in the Inner Harbor... many nice hotels and restaurants and plenty to see and do.   It has been a few years; I hope that has not changed.

[beed2010]

Update

i just realized I should call and book for my cruise and was informed by the hotel (I called directly to the hotel) that these packages are currently unavailable but to check back in a few months. 

If anyone knows of park and cruise hotels I’m Baltimore I am looking for one now as well ☹️

[cruise wizard]

4 minutes ago, Starry Eyes said:

More details will probably help you get better recommendations.  Flying or driving?  If driving, from which direction?  

 

We have flown to Baltimore for past cruises a few years back.   We stayed in the Inner Harbor... many nice hotels and restaurants and plenty to see and do.   It has been a few years; I hope that has not changed.

 

We would be flying from West Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale.

 

Thanks