I am sure it has been considered, but I wonder if it might be reexamined.
Feb 28, 2016, 9:20 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Tampa
Programs: Delta Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, All on my own dime.
Posts: 5,182
I am sure it has been considered, but I wonder if it might be reexamined.
I was reading a thread over on cruisecritic and someone mentioned they would like to see a Voyager class ship ported in Bayonne, along with Anthem. It got me to thinking, I wonder how much interest there would be in winter trips to Bermuda? No, the weather is not ideal, but even in April it's very nice. Yes, I know February is not April, but overall, it's a very nice spot; one of my favorite islands. Very historical and quite old itself. If people wanted water time there is always the indoor pool on the ship. A weak substitute, granted, but there would probably be killer fares.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Feb 28, 2016, 10:20 am
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,417
It amazes me that with so many cruise ships there remain some underutilized cruise ports! We (in NC) would love for another line to start using Norfolk again. Our first cruise together (2006) was on HAL from Norfolk (10 day Caribbean). Sure, the first day was rough and not warm, but the convenience of driving to the port was great^ We don't have any desire to cruise Carnival, so....
I think Baltimore, Charleston - lots of other east coast ports should be used more! (not sure everyone's infrastructure for embarking/debarking, so I get that, but still....Smaller ships should be able to do it!)
I think Baltimore, Charleston - lots of other east coast ports should be used more! (not sure everyone's infrastructure for embarking/debarking, so I get that, but still....Smaller ships should be able to do it!)
Feb 28, 2016, 3:04 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
Baltimore has bridge clearance issues and not enough smaller ships to go there. Carnival was supposedly in talks a few years ago to put a second ship there, at a pier on the north side of Locust Point, but it would have been a Fantasy class ship and those don't excite me at all. I really think Carnival should take the Costa Atlantica and put it in the Carnival fleet for North America. Those Spirit class ships are really popular.
For Bayonne, that was quite the upgrade to get the Anthem after having the Explorer for so many years, although I would like to see another ship there as well (a driveable port for us).
For Bayonne, that was quite the upgrade to get the Anthem after having the Explorer for so many years, although I would like to see another ship there as well (a driveable port for us).
Feb 28, 2016, 6:02 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,154
Bermuda has a pretty nasty channel to get into the port, especially when dealing with larger ships. Not sure what the weather patterns are in the winter there, but it wouldn't surprise me if it would increase the odds of them not being able to make port.
Feb 28, 2016, 6:52 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
Downtown for sure. I believe most ships that go there now are larger and dock at Kings Wharf, which is pretty easy access, but really far from anything. I think it's just that Bermuda isn't that warm in the winter that it wouldn't be a huge draw. Even I, from Canada, want more than the 60's out of a winter getaway lol.
Feb 29, 2016, 8:25 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Tampa
Programs: Delta Gold, Hilton Honors Gold, All on my own dime.
Posts: 5,182
Downtown for sure. I believe most ships that go there now are larger and dock at Kings Wharf, which is pretty easy access, but really far from anything. I think it's just that Bermuda isn't that warm in the winter that it wouldn't be a huge draw. Even I, from Canada, want more than the 60's out of a winter getaway lol.
Mar 2, 2016, 6:27 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
Yeah, being right in Hamilton would be the ideal situation, especially since so many ships go there for multiple days. The dockyard is just so far out of the way for any kind of coming and going, especially for evening entertainment in town. The dockyard is less than 4 miles straight across to Hamilton, but about 15 miles by road. Holland America still does go downtown with their smaller ships, but none of the other mainstream cruise lines have anything that can get in there now, that I'm aware of.
Mar 7, 2016, 9:49 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta SkyMiles, AmEx, NorthWest WorldPerks, Jelly of the Month. S&H Green Stamps, Subway sub club
Posts: 1,754
I'm not defending them, and I have never been on one but I have a cruise booked on Carnvial's Fantasy and I'm told they are undergoing the FunShip 2.0 upgrades.
Mar 7, 2016, 7:53 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
I'm a fan of larger ships, bells and whistles, etc. The Fantasy class certainly have their fans. It did just get a few of the new upgrades, like the popular Guys Burger joint, the Blue Iguana Cantina, and the poolside tequila and rum bars. Guys Burgers seem to be the one thing people use to differentiate the ships, those that have it and those that don't. They also don't have a lot of balcony choices, although some of the ships have had balconies retrofitted.
Mar 9, 2016, 12:20 am
#11
Join Date: May 2015
Location: South Florida
Programs: DL Skymiles KE Skypass
Posts: 2,363
I'm a fan of larger ships, bells and whistles, etc. The Fantasy class certainly have their fans. It did just get a few of the new upgrades, like the popular Guys Burger joint, the Blue Iguana Cantina, and the poolside tequila and rum bars. Guys Burgers seem to be the one thing people use to differentiate the ships, those that have it and those that don't. They also don't have a lot of balcony choices, although some of the ships have had balconies retrofitted.
Mar 13, 2016, 9:05 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
I don't see the big deal with Guy's Burgers. They are way overcooked and dry due to the concern over salmonella. I always get my burgers rare to medium-rare because the fat gives them the flavor. When you cook all the fat out and then squeeze the rest of the fluid out of them it just has no taste except the add-ons you put on top of them.
Mar 15, 2016, 10:46 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 21,548
In another review, someone mentioned getting to Ft. Lauderdale a day early to visit a wonderful restaurant that is "such a treat since we don't have something like that at home." It was a Sweet Tomatoes.