4everafter

OK, I'm the tour operator for Eleuthera Tours... I am also a cruiser... and I know about wanting to see beyond the fakey cruise ship port... So let me tell you about all your offerrings (since I live here and know).

 

 

 

The directions to the grave yard are great. To get you started, go north from the cruise ship port... you'll find a nice beach here with quite a few shells, sand dollars, sea urchin shells, sea biscuits... When you see the paved road along the beach, the graves are just a little further north along that road.

 

 

 

If you want to see some of the village (we call them settlements) of Bannerman Town, walk out the main road. You'll come to a wishing well. Go left. This road goes for maybe a 1/2 mile. You'll see some houses. At a little park, the road goes right. There are some more houses here. This road goes maybe 1/4 mile and then you go left or right... but there is nothing more to see for a long ways, so you might as well turn around. There are no restaurants, stores... There is Bullard's liquors.. but he's probably closed because he's out at Princess Cays at one of the stalls (George's Arts & Crafts). Oh, and if you go straight along the dirt road next to the park, it will drop you off at the beach near the graveyard... you could make a loop seeing the beach and the settlement.

 

 

 

If you want to see the ruins of an old church... turn right at the wishing well. Maybe 1/4+ mile down, past the pond, you'll see the church.

 

If you want to see Lighthouse Beach by foot (3 miles down a HOT dirt rough buggy dirt road through nothingness) - it can be done. Turn right at the wishing well. The 2nd dirt road to your left goes out to Lighthouse Beach. When you come to the T in the bad road, go right (there's a sign). Just remember... if you walk out there, you have to walk back. Wear good shoes and bring drinks.

 

 

 

Occassionally there is a taxi at the port, but you can't depend upon it. Sometimes there's an independent tour operator, (Lyle with Pineapple Tours), who can take you sightseeing through other settlements. There's our company (Eleuthera Tours- who you have to book iin advance, we're not allowed to wait outside and solicit - and we do trips to Lighthouse Beach with full lunch, drinks and snorkel gear). And there's the Taste of Eleuthera tour offerred by Princess. And, recently Princess has offered dune buggy trips out to Lighthouse. You only get about 15 minutes at the beach, but you get to see the settlement and the church and the beach...

 

 

 

That's the whole of it. Eleuthera is a gorgeous island. Whether you stay at the local beach with your fellow cruisers or venture beyond - it's up to you. I'm the type that likes to venture beyond... but the offerings are slim. Regardless, enjoy your visit!!!

Thank you soo much for posting !!! I'm a "Roberts-Sands" from Rock Sound can you email me at 4everafteronCC@gmail.com - we will be there in about 26 days, I think Mon the 23rd. I stayed at the cape a few years ago and drove south but I gave up too soon and I didn't make it to the point. I made it to the place that sells sandwiches (?) maybe it was the liquor store , without gps it's hard to know where you are

my bff just booked a 4 day on Emerald, what a surprise I will get to revisit the island ! I've been there by plane but the one time we went by ship we had to skip the stop from wind. I think its been 2 years since I've checked this thread so can't wait to see whats been going on.

On Freedom, suite guests have their own breakfast dining in Portofinos (I think a lot of freedom & voyager class ships do??) , reserved suite seating in the theater & ice shows, and on the main pool deck.

We didn't use the wet bar at all. You would need to order a set up and I'm pretty sure it would be all for a fee just like a private party but plenty of room to do so.

We stayed 11 in the PFs on Freedom a year ago. The 2 master suites have their own bathrooms and there are 2 other regular stateroom bathrooms with a shower in each hallway (2 seperate entrances)

There were 2 people in each room, the last couple slept on the converted couch in the living room - I was the odd person, I did sleep out side,it was wonderful and then they brought me a roll away. The conceierge lounge with complimentary drinks each night was included and we did hang out in our hot tub a lot. The MOST enjoyable thing for us was eating dinner on the huge balcony. That alone was worth it !! we've all talked about doing it again.

You get regular suite perks, priority checkin, treats delivered on sea days, we did tip the waiters that delivered our food, I think 2.00 pp?? I can't remember, it's delivered all at once on a cart then we self served but they did put out a table cloth then they come back and clean up.

I'm just off today, they were printing the new dinner menus all week, the culinary training team from Miami joins Explorer today and the new dinner menus will be out on the sailing in one week.

What a great ship !

no, no

OK, thats a good thing then

I was looking at deck plans today, is there really a Tommy Hilfiger store on the Promenade ?? UT OHHHHH :o

We did my time dining last week. They would only take reservations for 5:30, 6:00...and I believe the later time was 8:00, 8:30.

 

you could come anytime and be seated (with a possible wait time), but reservations were only taken for these specific times.

 

we ended up taking 6 on most nights so we could get the same waiters. a couple of nights we didn't make rezzies, and showed up about 6:20 and still got our same table.

 

The first night i did remark to the hostess that this was really "your time dining", not MTD, because on Adventure, Freedom and Oasis we could make reservations at any time. She replied, they only dedicate 1/2 of the 5th floor dining room to MTD and don't have the space to allow random rezzies.

the biggest problem with mtd is everyone wants to eat at 7 and they can't turn the dining room 2 times - so they can't feed everyone ! its not just Royal because we had an awful time on Princess last year SAME Problem ! I'm not sure it will get fixed by any of the lines, one of its original purposes was for families that wanted to get in & out faster.

Here's some good information about Lighthouse Beach, not by Ship but its pretty relevant

http://www.discover-eleuthera-bahamas.com/lighthouse-beach.html

Thank you for the pictures DanScrim !!

I've been following this thread for awhile, I have family roots from Rock Sound and I've stayed on the island before. My friend manages Cape Eleuthera Marina 18 Miles north of there (awesome place!!!). The island had a lot of damage from Hurricane Irene this year and the inside of Eleuthera, which is normally protected because its so shallow, where the graves are got the brunt of the storm. Probably just the one event because they were in really good shape before. I hope to get on a Princess ship soon so I can see everything you all have visited. Lighthouse point was the only place I didn't get to, its hard to get there by vehicle so I'm delighted you are all able to walk there.

I can't wait to hear about your cruise!!!

Hi Marcia!!! Thanks for the update regarding the luggage situation, I'm happy to hear that it worked out for you at SJU. :)

 

What happened on your sailing? Were there weather related issues? I pray all is well, and I'm glad you were able to change your flight. So happy you're enjoying the Serenade. It's beautiful, and the service and crew are fabulous. She's my favorite ship so far!

All is well now, thank goodness, San Juan closed the port because of tropical storm Maria - the whole ship was a wait and see - I switched my flight to Monday and got a room for Sunday (most everyone on ship did) then it reopened and we all changed back late this afternoon. Wonderful Ship !!

Hey! I had written you about not claiming my bags at the airport... I did it, I left them out there and they picked them up and called me to tell me they had them, I was like ok, I'm waiting for my party and they said fine. RISKY !!! lol but I'm so glad I wasn't waiting for everyone in baggage claim.

Anyways, guess what? We are currently waiting to see if we will get back on time, I already changed my flight bc it doesn't look like it. What an amazing ship this is !!! wonderful service and crew, not what I was expecting!

I am also an aft kind of gal !! I have a corner aft booked for Serenade, Jewel & Liberty so far this year. :D I'll be back !!

Royal Family Suite

Deck - 9

Cabin # - 644

Class – RFS

Front Starboard, Front Port, Back Starboard, Back Port, Central Park, or Boardwalk - Near Port Side Rear Elevators - mid ship

Bed near?(balcony or bath) –

Master Bed near balcony with seperate balcony door

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) –

connecting cabin very unobtrusive

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions or privacy was an issue–

beginning of back hump - so much room on the balcony - lots of privacy

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? -

Balcony was huge - same size as JS

Was wind a problem?

no

Any specific problems with this cabin?

Any other comments?

loved every bit of it! the master bedroom is a completely seperate bedroom and bathroom with a large closet, flat TV and vanity - lots of storage

the living room also has two full closets and plenty of drawers with a fold out (and flat screen)

a full seperate bath (shower only)

and 2nd bedroom has 2 beds & 2 pull downs, a flat screen and its own vanity, drawers and closet.

the balcony was huge, it has 2 full lounge chairs and a table with 4 chairs

this cabin seems like the same size as an owners suite, I prefer the 2 bathrooms but the master bath is very small (like most of the Family suites, it might be a surprise to someone not expecting that) there is a tub, toliet and sink but its not like the other suites - one person at a time and its still small - there is room to stand there and thats it because the vanity space is shared with toliet space, so you can only stand infront of half of the counter.

It does seem bigger in the rooms than in other FS's we've been in.

we save them and all of our hotel cards,they are kept in a big glass vase, it replaces the match collection

For those lucky ones who are sailing on the Independence now, can you tell me if GS 1256 is under the whirpool and has the tinted glass? Thanks.

We're booked for Independence 11/19 room 1564 - the cabin rooms are identical on the decks plans so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Hi everyone. I have loved looking over this thread. I am sorry if this has been answered before.

 

Here is what I know:

 

Freedom class ships have the hot tubs over the edge.:o ](the hot tubs are a tiny bit over the edge but they are also BIG, I spent time in there every day, we had the cabin underneath!)

[/b]Freedom class ships have the wave ride. ](its addicting to watch or ride!)[/[/b]COLOR]

Freedom class ships have the H20 zone. ](it seperates the kids from the sort of kids and the adults in solarium, I noticed this last week on Navigator)[/b]Freedom class ships have a wider and longer Promenade. ](the promenade was a little different on Liberty than Freedom, so I want to see whats new on Independence)[/b]

The Independence has heated pools. (And they are fresh water!! my kids were freaked out by the salt water pools on Nav after the fresh water pools of Liberty)

Are there other things I am missing? I am curious what will be different between the Independence and the Mariner.things I can remember...Its basically space - everything is bigger, larger WJ, Promenade, H20 zone, an On Air club is an added cool space just outside Studio B that has Karaokee, trivia and sports, there is a seperate diamond lounge where 19th hole is - don't know if Independence will be the same. the dining room is a little largerAlso, what is the difference between the Independence and the other Freedom class ships. ](I'm waiting to see, I'm sure there will be a few surprises!) Liberty had a sports shop on the Promenade, and future sales office right next to Seattles Best - I think this is different from Freedom)[/color[/b]]

Right now we are booked on the Independence :D , but with the Freedom moving to Canaveral, we may wait? theres always something about a new ship!!Thanks!

Hey Everyone! I posted awhile back! I just got back from a 4 day Navigator trip and I immediately changed my thanksgiving Independence trip to the 4 day 11/19 just before. 1) I wanted to be on the first US trip and 2) I won't be tempted to waste time in port and not on that amazing new ship!! the new photos are awesome! Being on Navigator was fun but I really missed Liberty like at the pool, in WJ, on air, all the new treats that aren't on Voyager class. the pool was the biggest difference, in the regular pool everybody was there instead of on Liberty when all the kids were back in the H20 zone. It also seemed like there were more menu items on Liberty. I hope I'm not being a repeater...

It makes me sad that the RCI spas are run this way. I'm a real pushover and I feel bad for them and so now I just avoid it all together.

I know, I should be strong and say that I'm just not interested!!!

I enjoy having a personal trainer at home 3 x's a week so while on LOTS I signed up for one and that was even geared towards my weight loss and health via detox! but I just say I'm allergic to sodium iodine & algae - which if anyone knew better - commercially sold algae is mostly farmed and not from the sea but it worked:D

My SIL bought the "detox" stuff last time and I never heard from her about it and if she would have lost any weight I would have heard about it:p ~ otherwise, please try one of the many other just regular detox programs.

I drink 4 fresh squeezed lemons plain with about 8oz of water by itself every morning and watch what you eat - I was lucky to escape the detox high pressure sale because I'm allergic to ALGAE (you can buy algae pills) which is their main ingredient and it was suggested to me that I try a lemon cleanse instead (SIGH of RELIEF!!) and I read about it after I got home and its now a regular habbit ~ knock on wood because we're leaving in 2 weeks but I've escaped all the nasty sickness around me now - and l since I've been doing that. Also, (if you or anyone else reading this is interested) google 'the natural cancer cure' for some interesting read. I've lost a lot of water weight by not drinking alcohol and diet coke!:(

sorry about my rant, I'm not a fanatic, I'd be a 6 instead of a 12 if so!

First of all, that's the most complete, most professional looking review I've ever seen! Great job! My question is the game mentioned "Liberty Code". Anyone have nay details? I started a couple of threads asking for answers about "The Code"; no replies yet.

I sailed with Jen ~ she writes extremely detailed reviews and she is soo sweet!! I didn't go to the code lunch with them but if memory serves me it was a "clue" game about the ship - people work in teams to crack the "code" and then a special lunch in Portofino (?)

karaoke is played in the ON-Air club - outside of (studio B ?) its a huge lounge.

I also spent every morning in the gym, it felt bigger than where I work out at home, maybe its the view but god, I miss working out on ship! most days I would walk at 8am for the vitality point :D , and then go to the gym for another hour, rounded out with windjammer omlet - then a nap - then the pool - then dinner I could go on and on. and I loved the GET OUT THERE store!!! brought home many things for my home work outs with RC but my Y is just not the same:( as any ship shape spa.

We loved Liberty!! We sailed last Labor Day for her 16th voyage. We walked a lot keeping up with the kids (3) they had a blast!! service was excellent. Play bingo :) the flowrider is addiciting watching everyone.

no photo:o , but it is just like that with atleast 3 extra feet out in the center. - evenly curved )