Just Cruises Plus

Real water lilies at Giverny

After three nights at the Count’s “castle” we continued to follow the route that my uncle took in his fight across France during WWII.  After visiting several towns devastated in the war, we deviated from the route to get to our next B & B in the town of Giverny, the home of Claude Monet where he created his most famous works.  Monet was one of the founders of the Impressionist movement; in fact, the name “impressionist” came from one of his paintings named Impression, Sunrise. The highlight of the town of Giverny is Monet’s gardens where his Water Lilies series was painted. But that is not all that that Giverny area has to offer.

Les Andelys

Les Andelys is nearby. From the hill overlooking it, Les Andelys appears to be a toy town or fairyland. Les Andelys is actually two towns, hence the word “Les”. We walked along the meandering Seine River where the Tapestry 2 Avalon riverboat, happened to be docked. Rachelle was invited aboard for a visit and was very impressed with the upscale public spaces and staterooms.

Château Gaillard

The Château Gaillard, a (partially ruined) fortress built by Richard the Lionhearted in the 12^th century, is the most dramatic sight on the Seine River (I think even more than the Eiffel Tower). It took only one year to build this enormous structure.

Avalon Tapestry II docked in Les Andelys

Our next stop in the Giverny areas was one of the most beautiful villages in France, La Roche-Guyon. It’s imposing castle, named after the town, was the headquarters of the German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the “Desert Fox”. Rommel committed suicide after the failed attempt on Hitler’s life.

Sandrine’s library / music room

Our hostess at our Giverny Bed & Breakfast was a lovely French woman who spoke perfect English. She was neither a count nor a colonel and her modest, eclectically furnished house was completely different from our first two chateaus. However, it was no less comfortable and Sandrine, our hostess, was warm and charming. We must say that we hit a grand slam with our Normandy Bed & Breakfasts. Each was different but each was fantastic in terms of food, hosts and comfort and location.

My Uncle was initially buried in Villeneuve sur Auvers Cemetery.

After two very pleasant nights, we headed toward Paris. But first, we visited the cemetery where my uncle was buried after he was killed. His body was brought back to the US and the cemetery is now farmland but there is a memorial with his name on a plaque.

Our next installment in this series will focus on our stay in Paris.

Town church in St. Mere Eglise – click for close-up of Private Steel’s effigy

After spending 3 terrific nights with Colonel Ed and his wife, Sharon, we headed for our next bed and breakfast.   But first, we stopped in the town of Saint Mere Eglise, one of the first towns freed from the Germans in WWII.  There is a church in the town square where paratroopers of the 82^nd Airborne Division landed in error due to foul weather.  Many paratroopers were killed and captured in the square.  One paratrooper got hung up on one of the steeples of the church and pretended to be dead.  He witnessed the carnage below and was captured by the Germans but later escaped.  To this day, an effigy of Private John Steele hangs from the steeple.

Our second B&B was referred to as a “castle”

Our next B&B was in a château owned and operated by a real French Count. When we arrived, he immediately began speaking French to us. With our feeble and rusty high school French, we gave a few answers which seemed to please him. From then on, he spoke nearly perfect English. He ”joked” that he was testing us.

The Count’s B&B’s foyer

The chateau was enormous and we had a huge room with a separate dressing room and a very large and modern bathroom. Paintings of the count’s ancestors hung on the walls and French Provincial furniture graced the room.  The Count was a font of tales.  He told us about the time when he was a child and his father was arrested by Germans in the foyer of the château when it was taken over for the use of Wehrmacht officers.  The family had to live in the stables during the German occupation.

His father was a member of the French Resistance and the Count had some harrowing war stories.

The Count ensures fresh flowers are always at the foot of George Mick’s grave

The Count takes care of the grave of an American soldier killed in WWII and buried in the Brittany American Cemetery in St. James, France.  He prepared a beautiful bouquet of flowers from his garden for us to take to the cemetery and place on the grave.

According to the Count, the château is haunted. Our friend, John had a close encounter with the ghost.

Cows along the road are a common sight

We continued to visit the Norman towns and villages where my uncle fought with the 3rd Armored Division until he was killed in action near Paris.  Most of the towns were pretty much destroyed during the war but have been completely rebuilt.  Normandy is largely farm country with apple orchards, corn fields and lots of cows. R oads are two lane with very little traffic.

Riding through a typical Norman village

We made a planned diversion to Mont Saint-Michel, the second most visited site in France (the Eiffel Tower is number 1). It is an active Benedictine abbey located on an islet. The original church structure was completed in 1144 and more structures were added in the 13^th century. At low tide, one can walk about 600 meters from the mainland to the islet. However, unless you have a guide, this is not recommended because there are areas of quicksand. People have lost their lives when they got stuck in the quicksand and the tide came in. The tide difference between high and low tide can be as much as 45 feet and it comes in real fast. We did it the easy way. We parked our rental car in the main parking lot and took a shuttle bus on the recently completed bridge to a point very close to the massive structure.

Mont Saint-Michel at low tide

We’ll post more about our trip to Normandy & Paris in a few weeks. Stay tuned!

The Braves by French sculptor Anilore Banon – Omaha Beach

My uncle landed on Omaha Beach less than a month after D-Day. He was killed in action less than two months later near Paris. Seventy-one years later, my cousin, Richard, and I planned a trip to France where we would tour the towns and villages where he fought until his death. We left Philadelphia, together with my wife, Rachelle, and John, a friend of Richard’s, in mid August on our two week pilgrimage.

I won’t dwell on the details of the battles fought by my uncle but I would like to share our experiences in France. During our two weeks in France, we stayed in three bed and breakfasts (Normandy) and one apartment (Paris). This virtually insured that we would mingle with the local residents and, equally important, would keep our costs under control.

Charming Port of Honfleur in Normandy

As we left Charles De Gaulle airport in our rented car, we noticed that the French roads are in better shape than ours and are much cleaner (not so many McDonald’s wrappers along the hi-ways). We had some extra time before arriving at our first chateau, so we made a slight detour and headed to Honfleur.

The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach

Our first bed and breakfast was at a chateau owned by a retired Colonel in the British Royal Marines (Britain’s most elite warriors) and his wife, who was an expert in the history of Normandy, particularly its medieval history. This turned out to be perfect for us. We not only had a first rate experience at the chateau, but the Colonel drove us to Omaha Beach (where the Americans landed), Pointe du Hoc (made famous by the U.S. Rangers) and the American Cemetery.   The quality of this tour was fantastic. While the colonel was much too young to have been part of the D-Day landings, being a military officer gave him insights that other guides simply cannot match. When you take a tour with the Colonel, your lunch is included and he eats with you and shares his experiences and answers your questions (another bonus).

Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument

Villedieu-les-Poeles – A town that we visited in Normandy

On our second day with the Colonel, he drove us through many of the quaint villages where my uncle fought with the 3rd Armored Division.  They look much different than they looked 71 years ago.

Mortain was a major 3rd Armored Division battle site.  View of Mortain’s main street in 1944.

Mortain’s main street in 2015

The Colonel and his wife’s bed and breakfast was not typical.  We also got dinner as well as drinks before dinner and, if you are going on a tour with the Colonel, a talk by the Colonel on what you will be seeing the next day. The meals were prepared by a young Norman woman and were outstanding. The colonel’s wife, Sharon, had a wonderful sense of humor and she kept the conversation moving at dinner. Our rooms were spotless and had private bathrooms with plumbing more modern than most of our US hotels (this was true of all of the bed and breakfasts where we stayed as well as the apartment).   If you are a history buff (WWII, British or French), and you want a welcoming place to stay, we highly recommend this chateau.  For more information, call us.

First B&B – View of dining room and main entrance from hallway

First B&B – View from 2nd floor french windows

First B&B – sitting room

Our 2nd Bed and Breakfast was more like a castle.  It was immense and it was owned by a real French Count.  We’ll post more about this B & B in 2 weeks.  Stay tuned.

We had a great response to our contest asking for your approach to preparing for your vacation. Three things immediately stood out. First, all of our responses were from females. Does this mean that men don’t plan and pack? Second, planning and preparations for most vacationers who responded began at least 2 weeks pre trip. Third, the responses that we liked the most involved computers to assist in planning and organizing.

Laverne T. uses a very comprehensive spread sheet. She listed the days of her trip across the top of the spread sheet and noted the dress code for each day. Clothes categories for day and evening were listed down the side of the spreadsheet. Each “cell” provides space for the actual item that will be packed.   Laverne also includes a checklist of her standard “other” items (such as toiletries, electronics, etc) at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

Barbara R. keeps a “vacation” list on her computer. The list is divided in two parts. The top part of the list is for things that are necessary for all vacations such as passports, medications, extra glasses, toiletries, etc. The bottom part of the list gives the particular clothing. Of course, the bottom list changes for each vacation.

About three weeks before her trip, she pulls up her list and takes it shopping and buys any needed items. She finds that her list stops her from over packing which is very important in these days of hefty baggage fees.

Ellie S. starts her list 2 weeks before the vacation. She also uses the spreadsheet method but the columns of her spreadsheet are named “Casual”, “Smart” and “Formal”, “Jewelry” and “Shoes” and the sides are named “Dinner ware”, “Daywear”, “Swimwear” and “Gymwear” (WOW!).  Within each cell, she is very specific. For example, where “Casual” and “Daywear” meet, she lists “Under Armour Pants”.

She actually begins the packing process 5 days before the vacation. She wears heavier items when going to the ship to make her bags lighter.

These three methods, while different, have the same goal, making sure you have everything you need while eliminating unneeded items. No more taking things “in case” you might need them.

When reviewing all of the response, we found the following lists or spreadsheets to be helpful:

-Spreadsheet for planning what to wear each day/night (outfits, associated jewelry, shoes, handbags, belts, etc) and other day-specific needs

-Detailed list of what to pack (clothes plus toiletries, medications, etc)

-To do list for all that needs to be done prior to the trip

Miscellaneous Notes and Pointers:

We received several pointers, some were “lessons learned” from folks who where “burned” by not following their own advice. Here are some worth mentioning:

-Line up all of your luggage, both checked and hand carry, in one spot of the house, preferably close to the door. When packing the car/transport, have one person go back at the end to make sure there are none left at the door. (seems obvious, but….)

-Keep all documents in one place within your hand-carry luggage, but each type into separate labeled envelopes – it makes them easier to locate:

-air eticket/boarding pass
-cruise boarding pass
-travel protection insurance
-hotel confirmation
-train tickets/passes
-other confirmations

– If you take prescription medications, check to see when your current supply will run out. If you expect to run out while away, you may need to pre-arrange with your insurance company to refill your prescription early without being penalized.

– Once you create a list in preparation for your trip, update that list with what you actually end up using on your trip this can serve as a good baseline for your next trip and may help you avoid overpacking.

– Add items/thoughts to your list as soon as you think of them. Then check the item off once you’ve addressed it. For items that need to get packed, you may want to add another check to show that it was ultimately packed.

Congratulations to Barbara Rubenstein of Bensalem, PA, who is the winner of the $50 gift card.  Her name was randomly selected from all who submitted their suggestions.

White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad – 2/15/15 Contest

We received 67 responses to our 2/15/15 photo contest and, although everyone knew that the photo was taken in Alaska, just 41 correctly named both the railroad and the location. The winner of the contest is Norm Remer of Southampton, PA, whose name was randomly selected from the 41correct responses.

The town of Skagway, located on the Alaskan Panhandle, has a population of less than 1000 which doubles in size during the summer months to support the huge influx of tourists.  The port is a popular cruise ship stop — understandable, when you walk through the small town and, everywhere you turn, there is a breathtaking view of mountains.

Downtown Skagway

Skagway’s White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad, originally built during the Gold Rush, runs throughout the summer months.  Although usually pulled by diesel locomotives, you could get lucky and ride behind an old time steam locomotive.  There are several trips per day and, although you can purchase tickets while on your ship, we recommend that you purchase them in advance to assure you get the excursion you want.  This is our number one recommendation for Skagway.  The scenery is amazing — hence, the reference to the “Scenic Railroad of the World”.

Advertisement or graffiti? (photo by Jahn Nolan)

The most common tour offered is round trip from “downtown” Skagway to past the summit and return. This tour crosses the Canadian boarder into Yukon Territory, British Columbia. For those who want to combine the railway experience with other adventures, there are several combo-variations offered including; Railway with Kayaking, Railway with Hiking, Railway with a Dog Sled visit and Railway with Biking.

View of the steam locomotive and the dock from the town

We opted for a tour which took us by train to Fort Fraser and then we biked back to the town.  Even with the drizzly weather, the ride to the bottom was exhilarating!  There was little pedaling and lots of braking.

Preparing to bike down the mountain

Our trip to Alaska was in early September.  The temperature was a LOT warmer than we are experiencing here (in Philadelphia).

Grandeur of the Seas anchored in Georgetown’s harbor.

We were looking for an early November cruise that was reasonably priced and didn’t require flying. The ship that came closest to meeting our needs was the Grandeur of the Seas departing Baltimore on November 2^nd. We had to make one compromise. While we would have preferred a balcony, the price for balconies was a lot higher than we planned to spend. This is common for the Grandeur and similar ships. Since there is only one deck of balconies, they are in short supply and can therefore command premium prices. However, there are lots of oceanview rooms and there were great deals on them so that’s what we chose.  As a bonus, the cruise was 10 days long which was good since we were leaving from Baltimore in cold weather so 10 days gave us lots of warm weather days.

Western Caribbean Ports of Call

The ports were Falmouth, Jamaica, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Labadee. These are standard cruise ship ports and except for Falmouth, we had visited the other ports before. Falmouth was a sleepy little town on the

Falmouth Cruise Port

north coast about 20 miles from Montego Bay. The port was developed specifically for the giant Royal Caribbean ships, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas. As soon as you get off the ship, you are in a large shopping area with newly built “fake” warehouses which are the stores. Jamaican people are required to have a permit to enter this gated area. This is to protect us from the folks who (sometimes pushy) hawk their wares. The real Jamaica is in Falmouth, just outside of this protected area.

We took a culinary tour, not offered by the cruise line. Two very competent and informed women escorted us around town where we visited street vendors, restaurants and a private home where we sampled typical Jamaican food including coconut water and jerk chicken. They not only explained the food but they also gave us a running history of Jamaica and its culture. We discovered that marijuana is a key part of the

Our culinary tour guides with one of the food vendors.

Rastafarian religion but marijuana (ganja) is illegal in Jamaica. We highly recommend this tour to folks who are a bit adventurous. And it is only $45 per person.

Clients who were on the cruise with us took a private tour of Montego Bay which first went through the mountains to the area where the Maroons live. This is a community which descended from refugees who escaped slavery in the Americas and formed independent settlements. They thought the tour was excellent.  Another possibility is to go to Montego Bay and Doctors Beach. There is a small entrance fee but it is a beautiful and clean beach.

Our next port was Georgetown, Grand Cayman.  Sting-Ray City and 7 mile beach are the big attractions in Grand Cayman. Since we’ve experienced both, and we enjoy snorkeling, we found a great snorkeling spot within easy walking distance of the tender dock (note that all ships require tendering in Grand Cayman) where the fish were plentiful and you can rent fins and masks.

An artistic display on Cozumel’s main street.

We usually scuba dive in Cozumel (for divers, we recommend Sergio Sandoval). However, on this trip, we taxied into town, checked some of the shops and ended up in Pancho’s Back Yard (not a bad place to end up). The Margaritas are huge. Another favorite spot in Cozumel is Chankanaab Lagoon which is a short taxi ride from the ship. There are some Mayan ruins on Cozumel and the cruise line offers a tour to Tulum but you need to be aware that this tour requires a ferry ride which occasionally can be a bit rough.

The final stop was Labadee which almost everyone who has taken a Royal Caribbean cruise has visited. The beaches are beautiful. However, the food lines can be long if you don’t get in line early. There is a very appealing zip line but it is nearly $100 (we skipped it because of the price).

The Ship

The Grandeur of the Seas is a seagoing contradiction. As ships go, she is both small and old.  The Oasis of the Seas is 3 times as big as this 18 year old veteran.  Most of the size difference is in the width

Bar in the Centrum

(she is about half as wide as the Oasis of the Seas) and height (she has 6 fewer decks). However, her 866 foot length makes her feel pretty big.  As for the age, after her complete overhaul in 2012, she is completely up to date. Her sleek public spaces are as modern as any cruise ship, with the possible exception of the Quantum of the Seas. The wide wooden promenade deck is a feature that she has kept and we love it. It gave us (remember – no balcony) a chance to sit out, watch and listen to the ocean.

For a before dinner drink, Diamond members have their own lair where the drinks and appetizers are complimentary. The Schooner bar is always hopping before dinner usually with a musical trivia game. For those looking for a quiet drink with a view, head to the Viking Crown Lounge.

A sampling of Izumi

We were quite impressed with the food in the main dining room. The beef dishes were just OK but every other dish was excellent. We also tried each of the extra cost restaurants and we rank them as follows: Giovanni’s was the best in terms of both service (beyond outstanding, in part due to the warm and welcoming hostess) and food (fantastic). We had lunch at Izumi, a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi. For sushi lovers, it was great. Non sushi people had the option of chicken or beef on a skewer. Chops was fine and if you want great beef, this is your spot. However, while the staff did their job correctly, there was no WOW to the service.

While we appreciated the “main stage” entertainment, we especially loved the crew’s creative use of the multi-level Centrum for aerialist acts and late night audience participation entertainment. The South Pacific lounge was also put to good use for game shows and a fun version of “crew” karaoke.

Aerialist entertainment in the Centrum

Embarkation could be lengthy if you arrive between 11AM and 1PM. Later arrivals should be able to board quickly. However, in order to board the ship, you must walk up about 5 decks through a zigzagging walkway. If you have any physical challenges or concerns, don’t be shy, ask for a wheelchair. The Royal Caribbean staff will wheel you aboard on the lowest deck where you can ride the elevator to your deck.

Overall this was a terrific cruise. The staff was superb the food well above average and the price of an oceanview room made this a great value. We booked the cruise 6 months in advance and were glad we did. As we got close to the cruise, the price went up and the sailing was full.

Good news!  Now that Chilean citizens no longer need a visa to enter the US, Chile no longer requires Americans to pay a $160 reciprocity fee to get into the country.  When entering Chile (by cruise, vehicle or plane), at customs, you’ll need to fill out a Tourist Card that allows visitors to stay for up to 90 days and will allow multiple entries. You’ll need to show this Tourist Card to Customs when leaving the country as well, so be sure you don’t lose it!

As of now, a $160 reciprocity fee (paid in advance) is still required to enter Argentina and a Visa is still required for entry to Brazil.

Click here for country-specific entry requirements for US Citizens.

North Star – Enjoy the Views!

The staff of Just Cruises Plus was invited to experience the Quantum of the Seas, which sailed from Cape Liberty on a two night cruise to “nowhere”.  Very few of us understand the real meaning of “quantum”. However, all of us recognize the term “quantum leap” and this ship is most certainly a quantum leap in cruise ship construction, function, and passenger experience. You see the change even before you board the ship. The terminal is brand new (no more buses) and there are no desks for check-in (WOW!).

Check-in staff members are standing in the terminal with tablets. Show them your passport and give them your set sail pass and they click a few buttons and send you to the escalator and the gangway and you’re ready to cruise (took about 5 minutes from the time we entered the terminal). You can cut a minute off if you upload a photo of yourself(s) when you do your on-line check-in.

When we boarded the ship, we headed for our beautifully appointed oceanview room and turned on the light switch.  Nothing happened.  We discovered that we needed to put our key card in a slot by the door to turn on the electricity to the room. When you leave the room and take your key card with you, the lights automatically turn off in a few minutes. This is a small part of what makes this ship the most energy efficient in the world.

There are no desks (in guest relations and excursions, for example), just computer tablet stations with staff on hand to assist. When you get to your room, you’ll look for the slot to put your key card in and find there is none. Instead you tap your card on the spot on the door and the door unlocks. Once inside, you’ll find wrist bands (WOW bands) which serve the same function as the key card. Both the wristbands and the cards have imbedded RFID (radio frequency ID) chips and from this point on, they can be used interchangeably, with one exception. Only the key card will work to turn your lights on when you enter the room.

The rooms on the Quantum of the Seas are larger than on previous Royal Caribbean ships and have lots of closet and drawer space although stateroom safes are on the small side. We were especially impressed with the family suites that can accommodate up to eight people.

Silk Restaurant – One of the Complimentary Options

You’ll find that there are no “early” or “late” seatings for dinner. In fact, there is no “my time” dining. Instead, there is “Dynamic Dining”. With Dynamic Dining, you can (and should) make reservations at any of 12 restaurants before you cruise (four are complimentary and eight have an additional charge). Every restaurant has the same menu each night. For example, if you choose to dine in the American Icon Grill every night, you’ll see the same choices each night.

Complimentary evening dining options that do not require reservations include the Dog House and the Windjammer Café.

Thirsty? How about a drink made by a robot in the ultra cool Bionic Bar. WOW! These “guys” are good. Beer aficionados will appreciate Michael’s Pub where they have a very nice list of craft beers.

The Bionic Bar is just one example of the use of technology on the ship. Smart phone users can upload an app, referred to as “Royal IQ”, which allows you to view your schedule and change dinner and entertainment reservations while on board. Don’t have a smart phone or didn’t bring yours with you, IQ tablets are located all around the ship. Also, the passenger photos are no longer on display in hardcopy. You retrieve your photos online.

Bionic Bartenders

The Quantum brought the most popular features from other ships including rock climbing and the FlowRider. However, the real WOW comes from the spectacular new venues and activities. Seaplex is a fantastically innovative space that morphs from a basketball court to a roller skating rink to a trapeze school to a bumper car amusement ride. It can even become a dance floor. For those who want to feel as if they never left home, Xbox stations are available.

Two70, named for its 270 degree view of the sea, is the most startlingly unique space where we saw a most unusual and entertaining show called Starwater. This multimedia show was a total WOW and will be aboard Quantum during all voyages from Bayonne. Like Seaplex, Two70 can be reconfigured by the touch of some buttons. This one-of-a-kind space features 6 robotically controlled LED screens that become actors in the shows.

The best place to relax is the glass-canopied Solarium. Whirlpools, waterfalls and a pool add to the peaceful atmosphere of this adults-only space. The Solarium features the Devinly Decadence Bistro where you can enjoy light snacks.

Indoor Pool – Next Door to Solarium

Here are some other cruise ship “firsts”. Kids will have the first wave pool on a ship in the water park. Take flight, as in skydiving with RipCord by IFly. Perhaps the signature feature of the Quantum of the Seas is “North Star”. Here you will rise to 300 feet above the ocean and out over the ocean. WOW!

The entertainment is of the highest quality and is continuous throughout the day and evening. Especially notable is Music Hall where we were treated to several fantastic tribute bands. The space is on two levels. On the lower level is a dance floor and bar and on the upper level, chairs and pool tables.

Mama Mia (the full Broadway version) is every bit a good as the Broadway version and will be the featured show while the ship is homeported in Bayonne. WOW!

Was everything a WOW on the new ship? Of course not. We’re reserving judgment on “Dynamic Dining”. The reservation software has been “buggy”. It should be noted that, in each of the complimentary restaurants, the menu is the same every night so most people would want to change restaurants each night. On a 12 night cruise, if you did not eat in an extra cost venue, you would have the same menu at least 3 times. While we were blown away (WOW) with the modern décor in the public areas, there was one minor exception. The hallways were a bit drab and lacked artwork. Perhaps this will change (who hangs out in the hallways anyway).

Example of the Amazing Artistic Touches in the Public Spaces

Finally, there is no promenade deck where you can read a book in the shade while watching and listening to the ocean. Since 90% of the rooms have a balcony, and the indoor staterooms have a “virtual balcony”, Royal Caribbean probably decided that there was less need for open deck space.

This is an amazing ship, way ahead of any other ship in the world. I guarantee that you will say WOW frequently as you experience all of the new and unique features.

The Quantum of the Seas will sail from Bayonne through April 2015. After that it will be repositioned to China where it will do shorter sailings from Shanghai. The Quantum’s sister ship, Anthem, is scheduled to take its place in Bayonne in November of 2016. Be among the first to experience this magnificent new ship.

Guadeloupe

In last week’s photo contest results, we challenged our readers with  a new trivia question:  There is one nation in the Caribbean where one large part of the island is volcanic and the other part is coral.  Can you name the nation?  The correct answer is “Guadaloupe”.

Sadly, we received no correct responses to our trivia challenge!

Guadaloupe is a French-owned collection of islands located in the southernmost portion of the leeward island chain.  The two main islands, Basse-Terre and Grand-Terre, are so close as to appear, from above, to be two wings of a butterfly.

Designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, Guadeloupe National Park on Basse-Terre, is comprised of waterfalls, lush foliage, gorgeous flowers including many species of orchids and 300 kilometers of hiking trails.

Lush rain forest

In the heart of the park is La Soufrière an active volcano which has erupted eight times since 1660.  Hot springs, mud pools, and fumaroles punctuate its barren black sides.  Hiking trails along this mountain allow hikers panoramic views of the surrounding islands.

Off the coast of Basse-Terre near Bouillante, the waters surrounding Pigeon Island comprise the  Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve (Réserve Cousteau) with some of Guadeloupe’s best sub-aquatic scenery.  Turtles and large schools of fish, as well as parrotfish, trumpetfish, and barracuda frequent the coral gardens here, and the area offers good wall and wreck dives. We had the wonderful experience of scuba diving in this reserve, however there are also shallow reefs which can be easily reached by snorklers.

The adjacent French islands of La Desirade, Les Saintes and Marie-Glante are also under the jurisdiction of Guadaloupe.  Les Saintes, also known as Îles des Saintes, is a wonderful island with a small main town, many secluded beaches and wonderful snorkeling. It’s considered to have one of the most picturesque bays in the world.

The cruise travel industry has become very accommodating when it comes to a traveler’s dietary, medical and accessibility needs.  Do you follow a sugar free, gluten free or low sodium diet?  Most cruise lines will go out of their way to adapt menu items to meet your needs. Need refrigeration for your insulin?  The cruise line will provide you with a mini-fridge in your stateroom.  Have trouble walking up the gangway but no problem once on board?  Most major cruise lines will provide you with wheelchair assistance at the dock.  Need distilled water for your CPAP machine?  No problem – with advanced notice, the cruise line will have distilled water available for you.

But what if you require special equipment on a more regular basis – equipment that would be unwieldy to transport on your own?

We work with two companies who are dedicated to fulfilling the special needs requirements of folks who want to travel but may need mobility aids, oxygen or other equipment. Their goal is to make travel easy, comfortable and accessible and they have partnered with most of the major cruise lines to help streamline the process.

These companies provide a broad range of equipment including wheelchair, power chair and scooter rentals, oxygen units and oxygen rentals, audio and visual aid rentals, baby crib rentals and other essential items. For your convenience, the rental equipment is delivered directly to your stateroom.

Just Cruises Plus is a full service travel agency and we are happy to coordinate these services for you.  If you do have any special needs, just be sure to let us know early on so that we can secure the special services or equipment that you need in advance of the trip.