Britannia Review
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Well after our last cruise on Britannia in June 23 we approached this cruise with some trepidation and more than once had thought of cancelling it prior to departure.
I am pleased to say that our fears were totally unfounded, and we had a fabulous first Caribbean cruise for the reasons below. Was it all perfect? No, but the positives definitely outweighed the ‘not so positives’.
The positives:
Cabin Review
The cabin this time was clean and felt loved this time. As this was a special cruise for us, we had purchased a Bon Voyage Package so there were flowers, chocolates, bathrobes and champagne waiting for us. The cabin steward, Caetano for cabin aft was excellent and one of the best stewards we had ever had on any cruise / cruise line we have sailed on. The balcony was kept clean (important on an aft cabin) but this time we had little soot. We had taken a small flannel with us to wipe it down if needs be as little spots can make marks on your clothing but that is the same for every ship we have sailed on when in an aft cabin. Some of the furniture is now looking tired (the settee) and the carpets need replacing. (I think the refit is due in April so hope that this is something that they will be looking at.) We had a few rough crossings from port to port and the cabin definitely had a ‘creak’ (sometimes a bang) when it was choppy. I’m not sure what they could do about that, and it is a ship not a land hotel after all. Other than that, this time we felt very comfortable and as ever that part of the ship was very quiet. (Thanks to the neighbours who were quiet around us too).
Tea and coffee making facilities were available and replenished just once a day. Sadly, we did not have any biscuits this time (though someone in a single cabin did so not sure what happened here). Am not sure how often the bed was changed but it was kept fresh and clean – as were the towels. No turn down again. It is something we still miss, but it is what it is, so we took our own chocolates! Not sure if this is a positive though …
Port Reviews
Antigua
Antigua
We did the Caribbean Sailaway excursion which was a great way to see the island’s coast, enjoy 2 beautiful beach stops and tuck in to a real Caribbean lunch on the boat. On the day of our visit the weather was hit and miss and we sailed through a number of torrential downpours through most of the day. The 2nd beach we visited was stunningly beautiful and worth the trip on its own. This is highly recommended though and we would do it again another year and cross our fingers for the weather.
Barbados
We did the 4 x 4 jeep safari and beach break at Copacabana Beach Club in Bridgetown. We enjoyed seeing the sights of the island – especially the stunning beaches on the Atlantic side. We felt that we wanted to stay here longer though as a 10 minute stop didn’t seem to be long enough. The beach break was good, but the weather was stormy, so it did affect our time there. Having said that, the beach was beautiful and the experience of swimming in the beautiful Caribbean sea is a must do
Again, there are plenty of shops in the terminal – though we found better souvenir shops in the airport before we left.
Curacao
Curacao
Loved this place and it was easy to walk into the town – about 10 minutes. Lots of souvenir shops on the quay side and a great bar called 5 O’Clock Somewhere that was close to the ship selling amazing cocktails. A fabulous swing bridge and pretty coloured houses along the quay side. We would love to see more of this island
Grenada
Grenada
We visited a garden high up in the mountains. The garden is small but the young guide who showed us round was extremely knowledgeable, and the views were stunning. A good way to spend a couple of hours. On returning to Grenada we had a wander around the shops in the port which by this point in the holiday were all beginning to look like the other islands.
St. Kitts (Port Zante)
St Kitts
Great shopping in the port area and the Beach Hop by Boat was a fantastic afternoon of fun on the Mystic catamaran. The guys on the boat were delightful and it was a great way to enjoy the island. The 2 beaches we stopped at were idyllic with the sand like talcum powder and the sea azure blue. Sadly, Britannia won’t be stopping in St Kitts next year, which is disappointing.
St. Lucia
St Lucia
We did an Aerial Tram excursion to a rain forest which was well worth the money and a great experience. The port has great shops and free wi fi. Looking forward to exploring more of this island when we return as we only scratched the surface of what there is to see and do.
St. Maarten
St Maartin
We booked a beach break at Cocky Turtle Beach in Simpson Bay. The beach was beautiful but the weather poor with high winds and heavy torrential showers. We made the most of it though, but on return we did not look around the shops in the port area as we needed to warm up. (seriously). There didn't seem to be much on the quay side in terms of shops etc but will need to investigate more next time.
St. Vincent
This one is a 6 from us ! We loved it so much
Our favourite stop over. The welcoming vibe from the musicians as you enter the port area – kettle drums and a band – really made for a great party atmosphere. Outside of the port there isn’t much to see as this is the ‘real Caribbean’ to me and the town was not touristy. Found a small shack for a nice rum punch and the people were incredibly friendly. We went on a 4 x 4 Jeep Safari and Beach Break here and it was one of those perfect days. The beach we were taken to – Brighton Beach - was everything you would expect a Caribbean Beach to be and despite it being on the Atlantic side swimming was safe and warm! A great place and probably our favourite port.