worldfamoustravellers

Just come off Balmoral. The main smoking area is the area outside the Lido bar on Deck 8, STARBOARD SIDE ONLY.

Also, Deck 7 on the starboard side has some ash trays available.

Had an email from Fred saying that the Balmoral will be delayed on her inward journey on the last cruise and check-in will now be at 18:30 on the 4th. I quote:

Norway. However, due to the adverse weather conditions currently being experienced on board the vessel is not expected to arrive back into Southampton until Re; L1703 - Central America & Mardi Gras cruise, sailing ex Southampton 04 February 2017.

We write to you with important information concerning the embarkation for your forthcoming Balmoral cruise commencing this Saturday, 04 February, in Southampton, City Cruise Terminal, berth 101.

Balmoral is now on its inbound journey to the UK following a successful cruise to approximately 1700 this Saturday. Once alongside we will need to disembark all existing guests and therefore we will regrettably need to delay check-in accordingly.

We would very kindly ask you not to arrive at the City Cruise Terminal before 1830.

There are limited facilities at the port so we would encourage you to revise your travel plans, where possible, to ensure a more pleasurable start to your cruise.

Limited payable refreshments will be available in the terminal.

Evening dinner will now be served on an open sitting basis and will be available once on board.

Further details will be advised at the terminal.

Thank you in advance for your kind co-operation, and we very much look forward to welcoming you on board.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's hope it goes as smoothly as possible.

wft

Thanks, certainly looks decent value.

Have you checked the departure time for Balmoral? On recent experience, the ship has departed Ponta Delgado around 14:30 local time.

wft

To finish the tale, I've booked 3 places on this tour @ $60 pp via the operators website.

Looks good. Not long now!!

wft

I might be interested. I assume that we book directly to the tour operator?

 

It seems to me that there is a fixed itinerary unless booked as a group. Is that what you plan ? In that case how do we ensure that is what we are booking ?

 

BTW - the entrance fee for the Aquarium is 10 dollars adult or 5 dollars for senior citizens. The website doesn't say if that is included.

Point taken but I don't know any more details, but I will post when I get details. Maybe the author of the original post could let us know if he has any further details.

Cheers

wft

To keep things in the same place, this is the tour provider that Eric referred to at the beginning of this thread:

http://www.rickysminibus.com/

All looks good.

wft

Why don't you put this on the Roll Call for your cruise, you may get more response.

 

I'd sign up if I was going on that cruise!

There is something on the Roll Call board but it's 6 months ago.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2372998

Hi,

Thank you for your prompt response.

The tour commences at 9am, covers the entire island, looks at historical links with USA, takes in lunch break(we have asked for sea food especially although are very flexible). Tour also takes in visit to Bermuda Acquarium and will save us $99 entrance fee if we did that visit independently. We have also asked if he could fit in a little stop off for a swim some where nice.

Costs for a party of 7 minimum is $60pp for a 6 hour tour($10pphour). Maximum per minibus is 14. For parties of less than 7 the charge is $70 pp hour although he may do a better deal, if we press him.

Look forward to meeting you.

 

Very best,

Eric

Thanks, I'll see what my friends say.

Hi all,

 

My wife and I are interested in touring Bermuda on 12th March with Rickysminibus private island tour. This company is highly recommended on TripAdvisor etc and the itinerary looks first class. However it is only viable for us if we share the tour with others and if you are interested please let Ricky know via his website or respond here please and I will pass on to him?

The tour he outlines looks really interesting but he will tailor the day to fit in with peoples' specific requests.

Look forward to hearing from you.

 

Eric Smith

Thanks, might well be interested and I can mention it to some friends I'm travelling with. What's the cost? (I appreciate it will depend on the numbers).

Hi WFT,

 

We were on the cruise after the refit and they'd put a proper safe in the cabin, standard deck 5 b/c grade.

 

Still had a key though :( although when we previously went in one of the 'new' balcony cabins on 9 that had a key card, but I believe they were the only ones to have that piece of technology!

 

She's still the lovely ship that we first cruised on ten years ago, but just that bit more commercial, veranda cabins, premium dining etc. I love her open decks and small size.

 

HTH

 

Peter

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks.

When I was last on BW (about 2 years ago) there wasn't a safe in the cabin and we had to carry a key to open our cabin door (rather than use the ships card, as happens on the other vessels).

I'm just wondering if these two points were addressed in the refit?

wft

Hi all of you who are on the Central America and Mardi Gras Balmoral cruise on 4th Feb.

I've just had an email about New Orleans tours for Mardi Gras. I eventually managed to access them online.

Does anyone have any tips about whether these are good to book and which are preferable. All information and advice gratefully received!

Are these Fred's own tours or something from an independant operator?

wft

I have never heard of them doing such a helpful thing, unlike the UK people who do this.

Thanks, this did happen a while back when we cruised to San Diego.

Fingers crossed.

Wft

Just a word of warning about New Orleans, if that is your first stop in the US. I have read numerous complaints from other cruisers that they have queued for half a day to get through US immigration here and lost all that time. The answer seems to be to book an excursion for that first morning, since then you jump the queue!

Thanks. There is a day at sea in transit to New Orleans - our first USA stop. Maybe US immigration will come aboard then.

Wft

I'm booked on this cruise and just curious to see how many others will be with us?

I haven't noticed any last minute offers in the press recently, so I'm assuming she is near fully booked.

Thanks

wft

To add insult to injury, there was no apology until the following day but there was never any explanation so consequently rumours abounded.

 

It's time Olsen learnt that it's far better to come out with clear and honest explanations rather than allow all sorts of rumours to circulate.

I guess the officers on board are not allowed to make any such announcements until cleared with HO.

I like to cruise off season when the little ones are in school. Much more relaxing and enjoyable!

I'll go along with that.

wft

The youth worker and primary school teacher who ran the club were excellent.

That would be the key requirement, I reckon.

wft

I'd be interested to know if the pool is actually big enough to swim in, looking forward to hearing how you got on.

I don't know the exact size, but people do swim in it regularly.

And, King Neptune uses it at certain times;)

From the FO website:

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines can confirm that Black Watch set sail from El Ferrol, Spain at ca. 11.30am today (Thursday 14th July 2016). The ship is destined for Dover, UK and due to arrive on the morning of Saturday 16th July 2016, where she will refuel and take on further supplies. It is then planned that Black Watch will depart from Dover, UK late on Saturday 16th July 2016, to arrive at London Tilbury, UK on the morning of Sunday 17th July 2016 and undertake her scheduled 26-night W1610 Arctic Explorer cruise, as planned.

Good news and Bon Voyage.

wft

From everything I've read, FO has been very fair with the compensation offer and have dealt with the situation properly.

Let's hope all the passengers get home safely and as promptly as possible.

We've been on Black Watch on 2 occasions (both long cruises) and have some lovely memories of those trips..

I hope she can continue in service, but I wonder whether that might not be an option.

wft

They confirmed to me when I asked a couple of weeks ago that they would not be showing the football.

Reckon they did you all a favour!!!

It is not for Norwegian Krone either as we just found out last week. Only Euro and US Dollars.

Thanks, I've used this service on a few occasions and it's very good. Disappointing it's now restricted, I'm sure I've changed back other currencies. Still a decent service, though.

wft

Just back from the Black Watch 10 day cruise to Hamburg, Copenhagen and Oslo. We had wonderful weather which was rather unexpected. So calm seas and lots of sunshine. We were overnight in each port.

 

Embarkation was terrible. Queuing for 45 minutes in a long snake because they only had 4 checkin desks open. I've boarded in half the time on a much bigger ship.

 

Food was excellent everywhere, as of course was the service.

 

The ship is old and tired and they have added these terrible balconies to the cabins on the Prom deck, thus losing half the Prom Deck and people standing on their balconies in their nightgear!! Also, if they are sitting out there, then people are walking by all the time.

 

I would not choose to sail on her again. Entertainment definitely geared to those who like bingo and quizzes.

Have been on BW a few times and would choose it again, but I agree about the Prom deck 'balconies'.

wft

It's on the BBC now, so must be serious:mad:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36245284

We were on Balmoral last summer and there were loads of fellow passengers making a point of not washing hands after the loo. Some sad people around.

GG