BoatBoy12

Barbados also requires a test 72 hours before and you can enter the data online; OR you can take one upon arrival and they will pay for you to stay in a place pending the result OR  you can pay for your own test and stay at your own expense in one of the designated hotels.  Pretty well organized. See their rules at https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-19-travel-guidelines-2020

On Tahiti cruises, some of the island 'ports' are so small there are a couple of other options.  For one, on Windstar, just dive off the back ! lol

Also, due to those capacity concerns, maybe they will let tour operators pick up at the ship; so you can load up quickly for your tour.  Don't forget that in that area, it is quite likely you will have inside and outside dining  options, and they will no doubt spread out the tables with more outside; so it may not be so bad. Just ideas.

They refunded the pre-paid grats and taxes on their own; but will not refund the cash; only give FCC. This, despite the fact that they cancelled all cruises just a day or so after we cancelled, and they started offering refunds. . But they are unyielding, and even retracted an offer to extend the FCC for another year. Nice !  As I paid on a card months before, I don't think it would be right to throw this on the credit card company. Really soured me on WS; and we had so much enjoyed small ship cruising! And we hoped to go again; just in the present economy, we wanted to have the cash on hand.

Our interline  OTA made a request, but that was the extent of the support.

We had a trans-Atlantic scheduled late  March.   We cancelled before WS stopped all cruises. We received a FCC on Apr. 16. I noted that on their site, they refer to either FCC or refunds; so asked our TA if we could get a refund. They made a request, and as of Apr.20, WS says they are "researching and responding" to  requests and to please be patient for  2-4 weeks.

Robisan.....

Wow! I hadn't even noticed that one. I think you are right...imagine; all that potential good publicity forbidden! 

Hi broberts

Yes, I know you can search for one; but you can't start one and get it added to the tool, as they state. Unfortunate, since they have been useful over the years. Then again, the smaller the ship, the less useful. 

Cheers

Hi RallyDave

I said I read the contracts; I did not  say I enjoyed reading the contracts! In retirement, I enjoy having to read fewer of them ! lol

It had not occurred to me that anyone other than servants of the cruise line had written the contracts....certainly not any passengers!

Why I make sure to read them is because the first one I read about 20 years ago, which was for a cruise on the S.S. Norway (rip); actually said they did not warrant the seaworthiness of the vessel! I thought, yeah, that will stand up well if a bunch of Americans sue it in Miami, no matter what their contract says. 

My favourite mis-match was on the Princess contract. Like most lines, their bumpf , including the luggage tags you are supposed to print, says you are allowed to take aboard 2 bottles of wine. Their contract, however, said you are not allowed to take ANY alcohol. When I took a tag and a copy of the contract to the purser's office, he was totally flummoxed, and asked where I got that......well, every passenger on the ship clicks the box saying they've read it ! Strange that a ship's officer had never done so. After we discussed the separate documents, I told him that as a senior lawyer, my contract revision rate was $500/hr. He kind of blanched. He told me that on the Pacific Princess in Polynesia, where we were, they didn't really enforce it anyway, as it was a small ship; and unless they felt a need to, they didn't bother. After shopping at a wine shop in Papeete, I saw why.  As the shop clerk explained: 3 months on a ship and heavy taxes make their pricing radically different than France. 

Anyone I mention this next one to are usually surprised, as they don't read their cabin manual either. But on Princess, you can order a half-bottle of liquor at prices that may seem harsh to Americans, but to Canadians and Aussies are quite reasonable, and at any rate are much less than the ship bar prices. 

It's all good sport; but if some idiot starts searching people's belongings indiscriminately, or using people's children in advertisement photos, or monitoring their messages, there will be a price to pay. Arguably, it would be wiser to write in clauses that call for 'upon reasonable and articulable cause' etc. Not difficult; and long standing maritime law makes the Master of the Ship the boss. 

You are right that most, if not all, contracts say they will not necessarily wait for you if a tour is late. It may be likely that if they have a bus full of passengers, they might do so; but no guarantee. Also quite ironic now that private tour companies advertise that they DO guarantee to get you to the shop on time. 

I stand corrected! 

 I have been to the Seabourn site many times, and had never noticed that the contract is indeed available. I am surprised at my missing that, because I usually look at the very bottom (like I actually read the contracts!) Canadian users are directed to the US site automatically. Although several terms are objectionable, at least they do allow you to see them beforehand. Interesting that the Australian site is different; must be because of Aussie laws, because if Canada, at 10 million more people , does not get its' own website...how come ?

I figured that lazy lawyers had simply used a 'precedent' (cut and pasted) parts of the contract from the main HAL line, but really, does no one at the company/legal department proofread/review  their work? 

As for "other representations",  well.......

This Cruise Contract constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between You and Holland America Line N.V., the operator of the Seabourn brand ships,...

I KNOW what the other representations say all over the place, and just enjoyed reading the wine list(s), and do not have any concern, really, but it says what it says. 

Thank you all for the quick replies....btw, anyone know why the Roll Calls don't seem to be working ? 

I  thought you might enjoy some of these simply outrageous terms from the Contract with Seabourn for our cruise. Of course, you can only see this contract once you have paid and registered for the cruise. (a contract of adhesion, if I remember? you have no real choice ). 

Hi there. 

We are spending our fourth winter in Barbados..

Yes, you can walk out of the cruise terminal and then out of the port. You may find that cab drivers are not interested in short trips to nearby beaches. The Hilton has a very nice beach, and the Hilton is also near to Pebbles beach and the fabulous Carlisle Bay, which is one of the nicest on the island. You can swim out to snorkel with turtles (just look where the catamarans are) or see a couple small wrecks. There are bars like The Boatyard which do umbrella/chair/food voucher rentals. Accra Beach at Rockley is also very popular, and the Tiki Bar there does a $30 chair/umbrella rental redeemable on food or drink.

For tours, you can do an 80 mile 'round the island tour with people like Williams Tours or Barbadospleasuretours.com.  These are for several hours. 

You can get a flavour for stuff to do by reading Barbadosinanutshell.com.  Also see Barbados.org which has a page of What's on in Barbados today.  A big fat magazine is  Ins and Outs of Barbados, also on line, I think.  Lots of choices for beaches!

Calabaza is often booked, as they only take 12 people. Another nice one we took a couple of years ago was Elegance; almost as elegant ;). Make sure you see reviews so you don't get on a cattle boat! Some are more booze cruises than relaxing.

If you have a really long day; and hire a private guide, you might make it.The problem is that the best place to see the monkeys is at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve (our most favourite place on the island-and we spend winters here) is far inland. That's why not many cruises probably offer tours here. Also, if you really want the best time, you should be there just after 2 pm when they feed them. Also, across the parking lot is a beautiful forest trail walk -with a real batcave!- and a restored signal station; very historical.

Although we love the catamaran cruises and snorkeling, it is something you can do on other islands as well. The cave is an organized ride in a little tractor type train; so it takes more than an hour for it all.

Check this out:

http://www.beachesofbarbados.com/

but be careful, I noticed the listing for Sandy Beach says it is hard to find; not so at all; and that it is opposite Extreme nightclub, which has been closed for several years and is now totally unrecognizable as it is an office complex!

So look for reviews that are more recent than their videos; but it is still a helpful site. Our favourite south coast beaches are Rockley/Accra; Sandy Beach or Worthing Beach; Dover beach in St. Lawrence Gap.

Folkestone is a walk from Holetown. It is a great place because it has an underwater marine trail just off the shore. The Holetown beach recently was quite nice. Carlisle Bay is popular as it is huge, the catamarans go there to see the turtles; but you might have to swim a little ways out to see them; though they are sometimes quite close to shore.

See http://www.mydestination.com/Barbados also for the Barbados In a Nutshell guide; and Barbados.org.

checkout mydestination.com/Barbados

and barbadosinanutshell link on that site.

For my first time on the island, I would want an island tour; but you sound much more 'sporty' than me. I like to 'scope it out' for return visits. Harrison's Cave is okay, if you have not been to caves in Texas, or northern N.Y. or whatever. Calabaza, as reviews will show you, is fabulous; very relaxing and as one other said,they sure do pamper you. The Crane is an over-hyped unswimmable beach, very beautiful to look at from above,which is what got it publicity. The south and west sides of the island have the nice beaches, the east, like beautiful Bathsheba with its rocks and stunning North Point,with its crashing waves and blowholes, have great scenery. The fresh fish in most restaurants is great; the national dish of course is the small but delicious flying fish. I am not so sure I would be fixated on Caribbean lobster; but I can get Nova Scotia lobster anytime (what the French import in tons for New Years). If you have had lobster before, and not had flying fish, I would try something different. Also the mahi-mahi (or dolphin fish,not the mammal), kingfish, marlin,swordfish are excellent.

The rum at the Mt. Gay presentation centre is more expensive than at the big grocery stores. There is no duty on rum as it is made here!! so it is not much cheaper 'duty-free'. It is , however, taxed. The very best prices are at 'big-box' stores such as Cost U Less; but frankly unless you are staying here for a while it is not worth going there; as it is far inland. If you are just in the port for awhile, the shops there will have to do, and didn't sound bad. If you are going to the airport, there are more 'duty free' shops past security. One is more expensive than the other for rum; check them out.

I forgot in my ramblings; chair fees are about $6-10 each. But you should have shade or an umbrella; not sure what they charge for those. Barbados is 11 degrees from the equator; wear sunscreen.

The sand at Rockley/Accra and at Sandy Beach is about the same. If you are at Rockley, you are next door to the Accra Beach Hotel, which is the beginning of the very nice 1km or so 'boardwalk' (not boards, or course, as they would rot in a season). For that reason and that Rockley is so popular (big carpark, Chefette fast food across the street, Quayside Centre shopping mall (good t-shirts, ice cream!, Just Grillin restaurant, Italian coffee house) across the street. it is much busier than Sandy Beach. Because Sandy Beach Hotel has been closed for a number of years, the beach is not all that busy.Depends what you like. Although the two beaches are fairly close to each other, you cannot walk on the beach from one to the other. It would be about 5-10 minutes from the end of Rockley, to the Blue Orchid hotel where you can 'join' Worthing Beach, and walk towards Sandy Beach. very close,but have to go up by the road. You would have to leave the beach again once or twice for a little bit depending on the tide. There are several 'public beach access' points to go along the way, or a walk on fairly poor sidewalks with lots of traffic. by the way, between Rockley and Worthing on the other side of the street is Bert's Bar, a good restaurant and bar. On Rockley, there are lots of chairs for rent, or you can have a drink and/or a snack at the Tiki Bar and they let you use a chair. On Sandy Beach, the locally famous 'Spock' will rent you a chair. The two places to get a drink/food there are the extremely casual but good Crystal Waters (barefoot and wet is okay) and the slightly more upscale New Carib (has a new name I forget, but Carib Beach Bar sign is still there). Sandy Beach is pretty well guaranteed to be very calm, with possible turtles; while Rockley can have some rockin' waves on occasion. You have all day? easy to see both.

Another possiblility, closer to the port, is the also very popular Carlisle Bay, very close to the Hilton. It is a large beach with facilities, and is where the catamarans go to 'swim with the turtles, snorkel over the wrecks'. You could snorkel right off the beach. If you are there by about ten a.m. you can take advantage of the fact that the cats feed the turtles, so they will sure be around. You would need goggles, snorkel and fins to really swim out there. I don't recall seeing many chairs there; you would have to look that up if it's essential. There are a couple little 'rum shops' restaurants across the street.

It's entirely possible to go on your own.

Brandon's: nice beach close to port as another reply said. There is a beach facility' there; which means toilets and showers. Not much else; but a big beach.

Sandy Beach is really nice; one of our favourites. Although small boats moor here; it is because it is so calm. You have a pretty good chance of swimming with smaller sea turtles here. Chairs are available for rent. The beach bar in question, I think, is Crystal Waters. Have a ham cutter (sandwich) there. Also nearby (a few feet) is the new Carib Beach Bar; so new I haven't been yet. More of a real restaurant. You can easily get a cab just by walking to the main road from the beach, no need to make arrangements.

Accra or Rockley is big time: lots of stalls selling dresses, food, of course rum; a shopping centre across the street. Tiki Bar where lots of ships take people is on one end. Very nice beach also.

Dover Beach is a little smaller, at the end of St.Lawrence Gap, so you also see the gap on the way. P and O take their cruisers here. Again, showers, toilets, lots of stalls etc (Rockley of course has showers/toilets too.

Anyone of these is great, actually.