Hlitner

When we had a similar situation, after a Seabourn cruise, the ship offered an island excursion (which was quite interesting) that included some regional highlights and a decent lunch. The excursion ened at the airport (around 3pm). You might look to see if your cruise line is doing something similar. One other "trick" we have used (in other ports) is to arrange for a one-way rental car (pick-up at/near the port and drop at the airport). We than use the car to store our luggage, and spend the day doing various "tourist" things. A third option is to book a "day room" at a local resort/hotel. Not sure if anyone does this in Barbados, but one can spend a few minutes on the phone or sending e-mails to get some answers. Hank

We (and others) have previously posted about the growing anti cruise ship/industry trend that seems to be sweeping the world There are many movements (mostly local/regional) that are working to limit of eliminate cruise ships coming to their waters. Some examples are Venice, Charleston, Key West, Bar Harbor, La Spezia, Santorini, etc. Here is another relevant article. Should Cruises Exist? These People Say Absolutely Not. (msn.com) To this article I would add that the cruise industry has very slowly been moving to shore-based power options. This is something we have seen with quite a few newer vessels (designed with the electrical busing necessary to use shore-based electricity). Modifying existing/older ships to accept shore-based power is much more complicated and expensive, so there is no rush (in the industry) to take this step. Perhaps some other well informed industry insiders (such as ChangKP) will jump-in on this threat. Speaking of the Port of Marseille, it also happens to be the busiest port in France and the 2nd largest Med port. One might argue that focusing on the cruise industry is not fair since this port also handles an awful lot of other commercial shipping. Hank

If that is your only criteria than you might want to check out rentacar.fr. It helps if you can read French. Not our favorite agency, but they are the only one with a location at the port (unless it is on a Sunday, Holiday, etc). Hank

Yep :). That assumes you can arrange the private transport for such a large party.

In response to the OP, Yes we have taken the train (twice) between Le Havre and Rouen. No big deal but it is a long walk from the port to the Le Havre train station (have done this walk a few times) in case you cannot get a taxi to do the short haul. In Rouen, DW and I simply walk everywhere (from the train station). Hank

Interesting that you come to the "Luxury" blog to ask the question 🙂 We get it, having cruised on 16 different lines ranging from budget to the small ship luxury segment. So lets understand that there is a huge difference between cruising on Celebrity (even in the Retreat suites) and the small ship luxury segment. For those of us who are happy with fewer onboard options/activities, and enjoy the relaxed environment with no queues, few to no reservations, excellent personal service, decent food (which varies), than the small ship luxury market is a terrific option. You might want to look for "value" which can be found by shopping around among lines like Seabourn and Silverseas, and the lightly larger ships (and less luxury) of Viking, Oceania, and Azamara. As an example, we just finished a 32 day Seabourn cruise that cost us about $400 per person/day. That was a good price for that particular line, and you can sometimes find cruises in that $400-$450 per person/day price range on both Seabourn and Silverseas. These are all-inclusive lines (except for money you might spend ashore and/or on excursions) so no need to spend a penny onboard. On our recent Seabourn Quest, we had about 400 passengers (on a ship that can hold nearly 450) with several hundred crew. On a ship that size, there is never a queue (even for tenders), interaction with the crew becomes personal, and you do get to know many fellow passengers (if you bother to socialize). You need to experience this to truly understand the difference from more traditional cruising on a line like Celebrity. By the way, do not let any feared "exclusivity" or "snobbism" scare you off. On the luxury lines we actually find most passengers more friendly than on massive ships. Hank

As long time (about 50 years) international cruisers and travelers, we are used to the issue expressed by the OP. It is not just limited to cruise ships, but will often happen while in any foreign land. Using a VPN (not always possible on cruise ships) does help, if one knows how to set it up to use a server in a specific country (i.e. USA). Otherwise, not much you can do about sites that are blocked (sometimes for copywrite issues). But sites that may display in a foreign langauge (such as ESPN displaying in Spanish) can often be set to English via a language feature sometimes found along the top of the screen, and other times found by carefully looking at the options on the bottom. It can be tricky since the options will also display in the same foreign languge. If there is a menu, the two letter designation for English is often "EN." Some sites (such as ESPN) will also have nation options so, for example, you can get English for their european feed, or you can usually get English for their USA site. Since each site does their own thing, this does become a pain. But that is the life when in foreign lands. Hank

Now, you are talking my language. But this raises an issue (and mystery). With all of our varied cruise experience (16 different lines and over 70 different ships) we have NEVER been on any ship (budget to luxury) that made anything close to what you call a "street sandwich." As ex New Yorkers, we are quite demanding, in terms of sandwiches, and think of Katz's Pastrami on Rye as the gold standard. Some of the Cubanos in Little Havana give the pastrami sandwich some good competition. On HAL, we used to sometimes grab 2 or 3 of their pre-made sandwiches (at the Lido during lunch) and deconstruct-reconstruct a real sandwich :). By taking the meat from 2-3 sandwiches, adding some more meats and cheese from the buffet, we could get something close to a decent sandwich...although the bread was never up to NYC or Miami standards. Looking forward to being in Boston in a few weeks and enjoying a decent "lobster roll" made with about a pound of fresh lobster! The down side is that the lobster roll will cost nearly $40! Hank

We have done the HAL VOV cruise, twice, and it quickly became one of our favorite itineraries. But last month, we decided to do a similar itinerary (like a one-way VOV) from Lisbon to Montreal, and really loved the fact that we were on a ship with only 400 passengers. The reason I mention this is because when we originally did the VOV, HAL nearly had that kind of itinerary to themselves. Hardly anyone went to Greenland and cruised through Prince Christiansund. But these days, many lines have followed HAL's lead and embraced Iceland/Greenland itineraries. What is even more interesting is that we paid almost the same price for being on Seabourn and in a suite as it would cost to do it in a NA Signature Suite. And Seabourn is all-inclusive! It seemed strange doing the cruise on the Seabourn Quest, since we did not have "Barry from Boston" who had been on our HAL cruises. Those were the good ole days when HAL still had a piano bar (with excellent player/singers) on all the ships. We will admit that Barry was one of those entertainers that some loved and others loathed...but we became fans. Hank

Too sweet for my taste, but a gallon of decent expresso does the trick :).

The walk is 2 1/2 - 3 miles depending on your exact route. Very doable and takes decent walkers about an hour. We will be there on a Sunday, next April, and might do that walk if it is a good weather day. Hank

Although we are long-time Princess Veterans, we still appreciate that Princess has large electronic maps near all the elevators. They are much easier to use than the small app maps. All the cruise lines have tried to minimize the use of paper (an environmental issue). Hank

We agree with the OP's comment about loud music blaring everywhere on a ship? Celebrity (a line we now avoid because we think it offers an awful "value") is just one of many. You will often encounter the blaring music on other lines and than we have Princess with their blasting MUTS that drives us away from the pool area. Noise pollution is not a good thing, and when it is too loud it can actually be harmful to one's health. So that gets us to the Sky Princess or any of the other Royal Class ships (they are all basically alike). Many years ago, when Princess launched the Grand Princess, the line embraced "MUTS" which originally meant "Movies Under the Stars." That eventually morphed into Movies under the sun, starts, clouds, rain, etc. It never stops. Fortunately (for us) there are some places on deck where folks can escape most of the pounding sound, and those areas are actually quite popular. And then Princess went one step further and offered the "Sanctuary" (which can cost about $40 per person/day) where folks are offered the opportunity to pay money to escape noise pollution. There is something backwards about paying for a quiet space (and folks do quickly snatch up all the reservations in the Sanctuary). So, I would warn the OP that there are places on the Sky Princess where there will be music or movies blasting all day and night! However, there are places where you can escape. And most of the time there are activities happening in the main atrium which preclude piping in loud music. In that large indoor area you are more likely to hear live music...although there will be times (such as if they have a large dance or exercise class) when music will blast through that space. Hank

OMG! We have been in Portugal many times and have never been concerned with our safety other than being hit by a bus or tram. Like in most tourist destinations folks should always take basic precautions against pick pockets/purse snatcher.

ROFL. Just thinking of our local used car dealer who advertises $1 down!

ROFL. You live in California and you are talking about young people high on a train in Lisbon? That certainly makes my day 🙂 Hank

LOL. $99 to $1? Sounds like one would expect for a cruise line in great demand. Hank

Yes, Villefranche is a tender port! There are no docking facilities for any cruise ships. Also keep in mind that if you are planning on using the train, you must walk up many steps to reach the train station. The regional buses also involve a walk (uphill). You also cannot count on there being taxis sitting at this small port. This is a place where it makes sense for some to book an excursion (or pre-arranged private guide/transportation). Hank

I guess that would depend on how much luggage. DW and I normally travel with two large suitcases and 2 carry-on backpacks. There are times when an Uber driver has to move things around or put one bag on the front passenger seat, but it works out and we have never needed to order an XL. It is really not much different in some of the taxis we have had, around the world, where the drivers struggle to fit all the luggage. But they manage. Hank

Ahhhh, but it is not really easier as evidenced by your OP and questions (for which there are no good answers). The reality is that you still do not know what time you will be transferred, or how long you must wait. And you will not really have that answer until you actually do the transfer. Booking a hotel, online, is just a matter of a few clicks of the mouse. Getting a transfer is a simple as grabbing a taxi (outside the airport door or hotel door) or requesting an Uber/Lyft (easily done on an app. With a group transfer you must wait until they show-up, wait until they get all their customers, wait until they load all the luggage, often get crammed into the back seat of a van, mini-van, etc. And the extra benefit is that you will likely do it for about half the price, and can choose the perfect location for your own wants. Another unfortunate issue can happen when the transfer is provided through the hotel (it is often done this way). The transfer mini-bus or van may stop at several other cruise piers before it even gets to your own ship (in this case HAL). A taxi, Uber or Lyft will take you (and only you) directly from your hotel to your pier. Bottom line for us is that we usually prefer private transfers rather than getting involved with a group. Hank

These days, folks who book early, may well find that what existed at the time they booked, is not the way it is the day they embark :(. This has become an issue on the Princess board because of that cruise line's many changes (in packages and onboard) in the past few months. For example, the popular Alferdo's restaurant (a pizza/Italian venue) has always been completely free until the last few weeks. Than suddenly, Princess decided to charge money for that venue, except for folks that purchase certain packages. But than Princess increased the price of those packages and did not fully grandfather folks who had previously purchased. In some cases, they have told some of those folks that can upgrade their packages (for $10 per person/day) to get certain benefits such as a free Alfredo's...which had been included at the time they originally booked. It is not just cruise lines. A few years ago, we used to stay at a Myrtle Beach resort (1-2 weeks a year). We booked that resort (non-refundable deposit) with certain expectations/promises such as daily maid service. After we booked, the resort decided to change to maid service twice a week. For those who still wanted the daily service (which existed when they booked) it was still available for $40 per day....extra! My goodness, on our recent HAL cruise we expected to have the Lincoln Center Stage for an entire 6 week cruise. But HAL ended the entertainment (cancelled the contract) 2 weeks into our cruise and that venue remained dark for the last 4 weeks. The precedent is concerning. Will a future cruise include new charges to use the tender, enter the MDR, for ice tea? Who knows. Hank

I do not think the "information gap" is exclusive to HAL. We have run into similar issues with just about every other cruise line (Seabourn is about the only exception). I do think folks need to understand that most of the time you call a cruise line (any cruise line) you get a customer service rep, who is generally sitting in a cubicle, with 1 or 2 large computer screens. Most of the time they will simply input your questions into their system and read you the "script." If they cannot find an appropriate script, you may well get an incorrect or worthless response. If you can get your issue elevated to a supervisor, they also rely on scripts although they generally have a little more experience, and you have a better chance of getting a good answer. Call again and you will get a different customer service rep and likely a completely different answer. Using a decent cruise or travel agent has many advantages. For example, we currently use two different agents from two different high volume discount agencies. One of those agents has over thirty years experience (and all kinds of certifications) in the cruise and travel industry and the other has 12 years (also with several cruise/travel industry certifications). If they do not have the answer, they know who to contact to get the answer (or can make constructive suggestions). The truth is that many of the folks here on CC are far more expert on their favorite cruise lines (and travel) than just about anyone you will get by calling a cruise line. Tis sad...but true. Hank

LOL. Some of us love "rubbing shoulders with the hordes" as we really enjoy the socialization (and friendships) that develop on cruises. Funny thing is that when we could not really afford the extra cost of a balcony we usually booked a balcony. Now that we can afford it, we are less inclined to pay hundreds of dollars a day for a tiny balcony. It is the same thing when it comes to suites. On Princess, we always book a mini-suite because most of the regular balcony cabins do not even have two chairs! But on some other lines, a suite holds little interest since it just gets us more unused space and nothing else. On the other hand, with some lines, moving up to a suite might get one quite a few other perks such as a special lounge and a better dining room (i.e. the "Grill" suites on Cunard or the "Retreat" suites on Celebrity). We simply look at the "value" of what we are getting for that extra cost and act accordingly. Probably the most interesting thing we find these days is that rather than booking a mass market monster ship and paying for all the extras (balcony, drink packages, tips, alternative dining up charges, shuttle buses in ports, etc) it is often less expensive (and a lot nicer) to book a small ship luxury line where everything is included. We can spend weeks/months on these luxury line and not add a penny to our onboard account. In fact, it can sometimes be difficult to simply use up our non-refundable OBC. Hank

Consider that Uber/Lyft will cost you less than $20, and take you when you please without any hassles waiting for others, loading luggage, etc. Why on earth folks are willing to pay Princess (or any cruise line) for hotel packages (including transfers) in Ft Lauderdale is a mystery. As to when to go to the port, this is one of those personal preference issues. Do you enjoy sitting in an uncomfortable chair (at the port) cooling your heels until boarding starts and your group is finally called (only to stand in various queues). That is the price to get aboard as early as possible. On the other hand, you could arrive at the port around 2pm and get processed (with little or no wait) and be on the ship in minutes. Also keep in mind that many of us have some kind of Priority Boarding (i.e. Elite, Suites, etc.). Once boarding does start (and this is often beyond the control of the cruise line) the priority folks will go first. Even if you arrive before the priority group, you will likely be "cooling your heels" as they fight the lines to be among the first to board. We do think there is one very good reason to try and board among the first. If you are planning on reserving the Sanctuary, that is first come, first serve. And even if you are among the first aboard, you still could be out of luck with most (if not all) the spots going to those who are their turn around day (back to back cruisers). Hank

The various cabins/suites that are included in the Yacht Club are displayed (on any booking site including MSC's) as being part of the Yacht Club. That info is also part of the suite description. Most, not all, of the suites are contained within the Yacht Club enclave (generally protected from the rest of the ship by electronic doors) with a few suites (primarily on a few older vessels) outside the enclave (they still get all the YC perks). Hank