Just Cruises Plus

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.

Photo of pins found on ebay

We received over 50 responses to last week’s question which asked about the “jumble of items” shown in the contest photo.  Responses ranged from “Disney magnets” to “Disney luggage tags”.  These guesses were close but the correct answer is “Disney pins”. Only 20 of you guessed correctly.   Congratulations to Ellie Schwartz of Washington Crossing, PA, the winner of the random drawing.

What can you do with these pins?  Buy them, wear them, put them on display, save them and trade them, of course!

Disney pins are hot and the trading of those pins is a popular activity, as if there was not enough to already keep you busy when visiting Disney. You can buy packs of pins in advance. When at Disney, you can wear your pins on a lanyard which you wear around your neck.  As you walk around the parks, you will see Disney staff members who are also wearing their pins. You may approach those staff members and offer to trade selected pins.

Disney pins can also we acquired at events, for example, if you buy a behind the scenes tour of Disney, you’ll receive a pin at the end of your tour.

Some pins come in sets. Pins are often “retired” from production and, as the new version of that pin is introduced, the older version increases in value.

When at Disney, there is an etiquette to trading pins with staff members including:

–          Trade one pin at a time, hand to hand

–          For safety, trade pins with the backs attached

–          Pins should be in good, undamaged, tradeable condition.

–          Certain pin sets must be traded as sets.

–          Refrain from touching another person’s pin or lanyard. If you need a closer look, ask the person.

Click here for a complete list of Pin Trading Etiquette.

Thinking about a trip to Disney? Give us a call.  We’ve been doing Disney trips for years and have agents who are expert in both land and sea vacations packages.

Norwegian Cruise Line purchased Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.  Both are upscale lines.  Oceania is a step above the Deluxe cruise lines such as Celebrity and Holland America while Regent is 2 steps up and quite exclusive (as well as all-inclusive).  Both offer less traveled itineraries and very personal service.

We think that Norwegian made the deals in order to get the passenger lists of the upscale lines since they offer “The Haven”, a very exclusive and upscale experience on their otherwise mass market ships. The Haven passenger need not mingle with the mass market passengers.

We asked for your opinion about Norwegian Cruise Line’s special package that costs $899 per person and provides you with a number of benefits (see below) but does not include the cost of the cruise (although it does include a 10% discount).  The staff of Just Cruises Plus agreed with the 78% of the respondents who said that they would not purchase the package.  If you buy a suite, drink like a fish and eat in the extra cost restaurants every night, you would make out on this deal.

We asked NCL to place a value on each of the items included in the package based on a 7 night cruise in a balcony stateroom on the Norwegian Breakaway and here’s what we found.

NCL believes that they are giving $1374 worth of benefits for $899 or 1/3 off of the price if you paid for each item separately. Here’s the rub.  We (and you) would not purchase many of the items.  If we did not purchase the package we would have to pay for gratuities ($84) and we would not get the 10% discount off the price of the cruise ($150).  We would probably purchase 2 shore excursions ($180) and we would dine at a specialty restaurant on two nights ($50).  We would not buy 20 photos, internet minutes, chocolate covered strawberries or water.  Therefore, if we are non drinkers, we would be paying $899 for only $464 worth of benefits, a total rip off.  However, the wild card is the alcohol package.  If you have more than 7 alcoholic beverages per day, the drink package pays.  So if you meet this criteria, you would receive another $434 in benefits for a total of $$898, almost the exact cost of the package.   Everything else on the list would be “free” so it would pay to buy the package.

In summary, if you are a non drinker or light drinker, you would not even give a second look at the package.  If you enjoy a substantial number of  alcoholic beverages each day, the package may be  worth the money.

We think that NCL should offer two packages, the current one would be for the “drinkers”.  A second one would be for non or light drinkers and would include everything on the list except alcohol.  They could charge $459 for that package and they would get a lot of “takers”.

Earlier, we mentioned that 78% of you would not consider the package.  The other 22% were quite tepid in their acceptance of the package.  A typical response in this group was  “It might be a good deal depending on the ship, itinerary and cost of the cruise”.

We appreciate all of your responses.  Linda Rotter, of Langhorne, PA, is the winner of the$25 Visa gift card.  She was picked at random from the 37 of you who responded.

Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Cruise Line is offering an “All-Inclusive” package for $899 per person.

For that you receive:

– Dining in the extra cost restaurants as often as you wish (except Ocean Blue)

– Shore Excursion Credit up to $200 per guest

– Ultimate Beverage Package (Alcoholic Beverages)

– 10% off of the cruise fare

– 250 minutes of Internet use

– 6 bottles of water

– 20 photos

– Chocolate covered strawberries

– Free bingo Session (3 games)

Would you buy the package?  Email your opinion to us or post it here and we will enter you into the drawing for a $25 gift card or $25 shipboard credit if you’re already booked on a cruise – your choice.  Comments received by Thursday, August 14th will be entered into the drawing.

This package is available for purchase for 2015 sailings booked by August 29th

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.