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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Transatlantic crossing

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Topic: Transatlantic crossing

HendrikusOM
First Class Passenger
Member # 4866

posted 02-12-2005 07:19 AM

Dear Friends
On 01-april-2005(no joke) we leave Amsterdam to fly to F.Lauderdale, where the next day we embark for our first Transatlantic crossing to Genova.
Ship...OPERA (after we have sailed LIRICA last november) and looking forward to it.
Visiting San Juan, St.Thomas, Antigua, Martinique, Barbados.
Any idea's/tips for the above iternaries are welcom !!
Thanks, Henri.

Posts: 61 | From: Voorhout(in the middle of the flowerbulbfields) | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Brian_O
First Class Passenger
Member # 3910

posted 02-12-2005 06:01 PM

Where is the ship going to call on the eastern side of the Atlantic? Dakar? The Canaries? Gibraltar? Also, how long is the cruise?

Brian

Posts: 2698 | From: Pointe-Claire, QC Canada | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged

robyn
First Class Passenger
Member # 3981

posted 02-12-2005 07:56 PM

HendrikusOM - I will be sailing with you! Also another CT member Czechmate!

The Caribbean ports of call are new to me too - except Barbados (but it has been around 20 years since I have been there ), so I'm also interested in any ideas.

Brian_O - full itinerary from 2 April (17 nights) is - San Juan, St Thomas, Antigua, Martinique, Barbados, Santa Cruz - Tenerife, Cadiz, Palma, Genoa.

Any information you could give would be appreciated.

Posts: 112 | From: Sydney, Australia | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

HendrikusOM
First Class Passenger
Member # 4866

posted 02-13-2005 06:14 AM

I did not mention the other ports of call, because we have allready been there (Robin named the ports of call) and we know what we will do there.
Tenerife.. get the city"train", walk through the parks, beachvisit, sitting on terrace and have some beer.
Cadiz... the hop on/hop off 'open roof bus' , visiting cathedral, visiting Torre Tavira (for Camera Obscura), beach.
Palma....going to San Augustin, a very small village where my wife and I met 35 years ago (?!), and seeing if we can recognize anything.
For the Caribean Island, I wonder if it's possible to rent a bike. We think that is great fun and see a lot ( like we did in Helsinki and Copenhagen).
And,..yes I know that you and Czechmate will be there. We 'll see you around on Il Patio on Embarkationday.
Henri.

[ 02-13-2005: Message edited by: HendrikusOM ]

Posts: 61 | From: Voorhout(in the middle of the flowerbulbfields) | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Eric
First Class Passenger
Member # 2724

posted 02-13-2005 03:58 PM

Henri & Robyn,
If ship docks in old area of San Juan there was a free trolly up the hill to the forts area, these are great for a look at history. At St Thomas, i would take a taxi tour making sure mountain top is included, views are fantastic. Antigua, taxi tour again to Somerset heights (again for view) Nelsons dockyard & back through the laughingly called "rain forest". Martinique is a problem for me, been 4 times not enjoyed any, rather aggresive French only speaking locals, if you can find a Taxi who is willing to speak English (assuming you have no French--if you do you will get a very different reception all good) the tour through the rain forest to St Pierre is good. Barbados, again 4 times for us & think it is great, hired a car twice, spectacular scenery on north & east coast. Enjoy your trip. Eric

Posts: 421 | From: UK | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

robyn
First Class Passenger
Member # 3981

posted 02-13-2005 11:21 PM

Thank you Eric for the Caribbean suggestions. Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy Martinique very much - might be the place for me to take a shore excursion.

Henri - thanks also for the suggestions for the other ports. How wonderful that you will be able to visit San Augustin, and take a trip down memory lane!

Hope someone can answer the bike question for you - see you onboard!

Posts: 112 | From: Sydney, Australia | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

tg_lindo
First Class Passenger
Member # 806

posted 02-23-2005 01:27 PM

Often I stick up for Martinique. Although I do not speak French, I bought a phrase book, learned a few, and with smiles and humility had no problems with the residents.

We went off on our own, getting info at the tourist office in Ft de France and using the jitney vans to go up to St Pierre. Nice drive. Excellent roads. Fascinating volcano museum that only takes about an hour to see. Just give youself ample time for the return trip.

Great grilled fish and fresh steamed root vegetables at the seaside cafe for a price on par with the US.

It helps if you're willing to compromise to their terms on certain minor issues....they get few US tourists, so just get euro's and everything is much easier.

And the rum is unique there. Unlike Mt Gay, Appleton, etc, a miniscule percentage of Martinique rum gets to the US so you gotta enjoy it there.

I'd go back for a land vacation if only flights from US were not so expensive.

Posts: 349 | From: San Francisco, CA | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

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