DougYWG

Many thanks, Martin, for taking the time to create such an interesting blog. We are very interested for a couple of reasons. First, we have sailed on six different lines but never Cunard. We will be doing a crossing later this year so have been paying close attention all comments about the ship. Second, we enjoy your take on the ports we have been to and perhaps even more, your take on ports we have not yet visited. Much appreciated, thanks again.

Don’t shoot the messenger.....

No, no, no, I meant Royal Caribbean. I appreciate that you took the time and effort to post the beer list, thank you!

This is ridiculous and most disappointing - these are almost interchangeable. Do they think nobody, but nobody, might like a pale ale or IPA?

Down the hill? The port is at sea level so you can only go up. Dickensen Beach is north of the port, about a 15 minute cab ride at the most.

This is directly from their website:

 

Enhanced Flexible Change & Cancel is in effect for:

- San Juan, Puerto Rico

We're here to help you, so we've implemented enhanced flexible change and cancel rules for those guests who booked on, or before October 11, 2017 for travel until January 13, 2018. To review your options, please call:

WestJet (air-only): 1-888-937-8538 (1-888-WESTJET).

WestJet Vacations: 1-877-737-7001.

If you have made an air-only booking through a travel agent, please contact your travel agent directly.

We advise all guests travelling to or from these cities to check the status of their flights prior to leaving for the airport.

Additional updates will be posted as they are available

I'm guessing that they figured flights would be half full for the next few weeks so they are not interested.

I'm afraid I advise against two wheels on Antigua. I'm a motorcyclist at home and have rented a scooter on Bermuda but Antigua is very different. Roads are narrow, no sidewalks, lots of potholes and plenty of stray dogs, pigs, cows, goats, chickens, pedestrians and kids. Having said that, at least speeds are low. It's hard to find any stretch of road where you could get up to 50mph. There's virtually no street signs and any map I've seen is pathetic. You'll get lost but how lost could you be? The island is only 10 miles by 10miles. Stop and ask - the locals are friendly and helpful.

No, Antigua is fine. In fact, ships are diverting to Antigua if their original destinations have been damaged in hurricanes.

At grave risk of repeating myself, Hoopster, many thanks for doing this. Excellent reporting and wonderful photos. We are following with great interest.

Many thanks for your excellent photos and detailed reporting. We enjoyed seeing the places we recognize and enjoyed even more the places that are on our 'to do' list. Thanks for doing this.

Hey you're welcome neighbor!

What city you from?

 

Vancouver - Olympic Village. From our 9th floor I can just see the tops of cruise ships pulling out for Alaska at 5:00pm most evenings. Thanks for the warning about huge numbers of Diamond on our trans-At. Unrealistic expectations are a sure-fire enjoyment killer so now we know. This will be our fourth trans-At - the ship is the destination!

 

Doug

Many thanks, Hoopster, for all your posts. We find them particularly interesting for two reasons: first, we have Eastern Med on our list 'to do', and second, we are booked on the Jewel for the trans-At in November. Looks like a gorgeous ship. Your photos are terrific!

From the cruise dock to Blue Waters is less than four miles as the crow flies. Should be around 15 minutes in a taxi. There is a beach but it is very small by Antigua standards.

No dolphins. That would be Sting Ray City but if you are starting at noon you won't have enough time for that.

Terrific video, nicely done! We did something similar when a friend of ours departed Vancouver on Zaandam. We were on Lion's Gate bridge and got some great still shots of the ship passing under as he waved furiously from the top deck. He loved the photos.

The Orpheum is a gorgeous old theatre that has been restored instead of being torn down. We prefer the balcony. You can look down on the stage and see more of what is happening. I think seating is about 2500.

Antigua is not considered a major shopping destination. Go see the island instead and shop elsewhere.

There's only one - Cedar Valley. I used to drive past it every day and it looked fine. I have not played it but some who have were not too happy. Check it out.

I did Mount Obama (was in Antigua for a couple of weeks, not off a cruise ship). I drove half way up and as the road got steeper and rougher, I parked the car and walked. Glad I did. The road gets real steep and real narrow so if you met anything coming the other way - highly unlikely - there would be an interesting discussion. In fact, a car would not make it to the top - you need a four-wheel drive. Half way up there is a large notice which says "Only authorized personnel beyond this point". Ignore that, I was told all the locals do. However, the top has a large fenced-off area for a communications centre which makes it difficult to move around and get a view although I did get some nice pics of Jolly Harbour in the distance. I had the place all to myself and never met another soul all afternoon. All in all, I can't really recommend it and I doubt very much if any taxi would take you there. If you did do it, you certainly would not have time for anything else. Don't know anything about Monk's Hill.

I don't think there is any 'far back'. The ships are very close in so you might have to walk the length of the ship and that's it.

Sorry, won't work here. You could stroll around town but there's not much point. Outside St. John's, roads are narrow with no sidewalks and there's no desirable destination within walking distance. All the nice areas, beaches, tourist spots etc are scattered across the island. You could take a bus for $1.50 and walk around Jolly Harbour area and beach.

I wouldn't. Two wheelers on island are rare and when you see the roads and the traffic you might understand why: potholes, cows, kids, dogs, chickens, pigs, donkeys. I have owned motorcycles in the past but would not be keen to ride on Antigua. Having said that, speeds are low. It would be hard to find any stretch of road where you could get up to 50mph. We did rent scooters on Bermuda but that was very different. Your choice!

Let me try this: when tied up, ships are pointing straight into town so I guess the answer to your question is "the bow".

Can't be sure but I seriously doubt it. There are very few bikes on the island and most of those are Japanese.

Coconut Grove is indeed a restaurant, not a resort.

Don't try and go through the resort. There is public access to the beach by the Castaways Beach Bar. The beach is huge, long and wide and free to all.