Expensive post-cruise stays

[happy2golf]

Has anyone experience of Silversea arranging a post-cruise hotel stay? The prices we've been quoted seem way over the top. This is for a 2 or 3 night stay in Barbados in November 2012.

 

Happy2Golf

[Keith1010]

The hotel programs that are offered by cruise lines are always more expensive than what you can book on your own. They do included transfers from the ship to the hotel and from the hotel to the airport but you are paying for the convenience. If you don't require the convenience and the hand holding if you will the you are better off booking all of this on your own.

 

Keith

[duct tape]

Also remember that the transfers are only included if you arrive the same day as departure. The only pre or post packages we have done were in places that were easier with an escort. Will you be in Barbados in Nov 12 for the Amazon cruise? Lots of CCers on then.

[Keith1010]

Also remember that the transfers are only included if you arrive the same day as departure. The only pre or post packages we have done were in places that were easier with an escort. Will you be in Barbados in Nov 12 for the Amazon cruise? Lots of CCers on then.

 

In this case the original poster was asking about a post rather than a pre cruise stay. This is why I mentioned the transfers.

 

Keith

[duct tape]

You are correct! I was just hung up on the transfer issue in general. Thanx.

[Herman The Cat]

The post cruise stays tend to be more expensive than what you can book on your own. Are they suggesting Sandy Lane? They typically suggest that to people from the UK. You might want to look into an identical package on your own. SS will include transportation to the hotel, but the pier in Barbados is centrally located and you can easily get a taxi or arrange a car service through the hotel on your own. I would say in certain places the post cruise packages are really needed but Barbados is very easy to get around; taxis are readily available, English is the primary language, dock is small, there are lots of hotels, etc. And judging by your CC name, you may want to play some golf at Sandy Lane? You don't have to stay there to play, unless you want to play the GreenMonkey, which used to be only (and may still be) for resort guests only.

[happy2golf]

Thanks to you all for your comments and suggestions. Yes, SS do suggest Sandy Lane but admit it's expensive, their other suggestions are the Hilton and The Fairmont Royal Pavilion. We thought their prices would be more, but were surprised at how much more. They are charging per person only slightly less than we appear to be able to get for per room! Funnily enough we played golf at Sandy Lane quite a few years ago, before the hotel was refurbished and became "exclusive". We've visited Barbados 3 times on a cruise and would have liked to stay for 2 or 3 days and see a bit more of the island.

 

Our cruise is the late October one - New York to Bermuda and the Caribbean so we won't be in Barbados for the Amazon one.

 

You are all right - we need to look at doing things ourselves by the sound of it and forget the convenience of having it all booked for us. Help appreciated.

 

Happy2golf

[duct tape]

Also consider the Coral Reef Club in Barbados. We stayed there last year and will do so again in Nov. Lovely place.

[Grandma Gilly]

We are staying 3 nights pre cruise at the Coral Reef. It has excellent reviews. Will post when we return.

[happy2golf]

We are staying 3 nights pre cruise at the Coral Reef. It has excellent reviews. Will post when we return.

 

Thanks very much - and thanks also Duct tape - we've had a look on line at the Coral Reef but will be very interested to read your review Grandma Gilly.

[Herman The Cat]

Thanks to you all for your comments and suggestions. Yes, SS do suggest Sandy Lane but admit it's expensive, their other suggestions are the Hilton and The Fairmont Royal Pavilion. We thought their prices would be more, but were surprised at how much more. They are charging per person only slightly less than we appear to be able to get for per room! Funnily enough we played golf at Sandy Lane quite a few years ago, before the hotel was refurbished and became "exclusive". We've visited Barbados 3 times on a cruise and would have liked to stay for 2 or 3 days and see a bit more of the island.

 

 

Happy2golf

 

 

We've stayed at the Hilton numerous times. It's fine for a one night pre or post cruise, but is a little out of the way (for me) and too large and has too much of a chain-feel. Haven't stayed at the Fairmont. Stayed years ago at a place down the road/beach from Sandy Lane called Treasure Beach which was small, comfortable and low-key--and not too precious, fussy or big, which was what we were in the mood for. I heard they renovated. Coral Reef is supposed to be terrific, and I believe that the same family also owns the Sandpiper. Cobblers Cove is also supposed to be very nice. The good thing about Barbados is there are lots and lots of choices. Of course, do check tripadvisor for reviews.

 

In some ways, you would think Silversea would be a better deal on the room--after all, they should be getting some sort of a group rate. But then again, Sandy Lane is quite expensive and they probably don't want to "devalue" their brand by offering a discount thru Silversea!

[wripro]

Silversea, like all cruise lines, does not arrange pre or post hotel stays in order to get a good deal for its passengers. They do it because it's a large profit center where they charge per person instead of per room and throw in a transfer. It is almost ALWAYS smarter and cheaper to book hotels on your own.

[Skeezics]

Look forward to your hotel reviews. We are on the Amazon Cruise, November 2012, never too early to start thinking about lodging.

[patnlcc]

I'm a big fan of tripadvisor and always check hotels out before booking. That's how we found our Barbados hotel pre-Amazon cruise in Nov 2012.

[Emtbsam]

I'm a big fan of tripadvisor and always check hotels out before booking. That's how we found our Barbados hotel pre-Amazon cruise in Nov 2012.

 

We're on the Amazon cruise as well and are considering staying at a B & B in the Bathsheba area. We know it won't be convenient, but the beach is gorgeous. We're going to check it out in December when we're there on the Spirit. What hotel have you chosen?

[billcrooz]

Has anyone experience of Silversea arranging a post-cruise hotel stay? The prices we've been quoted seem way over the top. This is for a 2 or 3 night stay in Barbados in November 2012.

 

Happy2Golf

 

We will be trying out the Coral Sands at the end of the month for 3 nights pre cruise.It's not the Ritz but it comes highly recommended by a friend of our who winters there every year.Trip Advisor also gives it a great rating.on the water and very reasonable price wise within a short distance to some great places to eat. Stay tuned.

[patnlcc]

We have found an apartment right on the beach in the St Lawrence Gap area - it is called White Sands Villas. It got rave reviews on tripadvisor. Maybe you'd rather have a full-service hotel.