This cruise circuit used also by other cruise lines is best suited to people who like to remain on board. My wife an I are both retired and have mobility difficulty and we can’t remember the last time we disembarked other than to visit a handy bar. Cheers in St Johns Antigua probably our favourite but many others are available!! Did a similar cruise on Anthem on the Seas earlier this year, used our Royal Caribbean free drinks credits on board, and returned home with covid. Your video is accurate and very informative regarding the downside of visiting these ports. Well done.
Thanks Douglas. My Mum does tend to get off in a new port, to say she visited, then she gets back on and enjoys the ship being relatively quiet! Nothing wrong with that approach at all! And I think I know where you mean in Antigua - there's a cute little area right by the ship where you can relax. Nothing like the rest of Antigua, but nice enough for a few hours!
We stopped in La Coruna last December on a cruise and happily spent several hours wandering around. Heartily recommend walking over to the nearby headland and it’s Roman lighthouse (oldest one still in use apparently). Only about 30 mins walk away and we’ll worth the trek
We're stopping at Le Havre in Feb... really want to go to Paris... family of 4... would you suggest taking the train & buying tickets in advance...? Tx!
Hello! A train is the easiest way of getting there and the lowest risk... Not zero risk though - less risk than driving as you won't have traffic jams but still s small amount of risk from train cancellations / delays etc. Probably a little higher risk from weather disruption if travelling in Feb... So I'd suggest you plan for the risk by not looking to take the very last train back from Paris which gets you back in time for departure. And buying the tickets in advance is usually a good idea - may be a little cheaper and its one less thing to have to worry about on the day!!!
thanks Matt, love your video. Did you travel this itinerary in October? It looks like pretty warm there? We're travelling in mid Oct so want to check what to bring. Thanks
Thanks! This was mid June... The weather was ok - a bit chilly in France but ok in Spain. I remember a week earlier it had been high 30's in Bilbao... October is going to be a bit of a lottery as to what weather you get - although being coastal it will probably be cooler than in the interior of France and Spain
Ah, I love La Rochelle (went there a lot as a child, love the medieval architecture)! Agree with you on Le Havre, mind - Honfleur and the Normandy coast are worth a visit if you have any interest in WW2 history (it's pretty enough, in a sort-of slightly-bleak, Dungeness way). Think I'd stay on the boat there, though
Hi, Thank you for the review, we go on this same cruise later this year. Can i ask. The bus into Bilbao, did you book this on the ship? Looking a the excursions available they are all the bus and walking tour. I am just after a bus there and back.
Hi Paul. I did book aboard - they offered a "twofer" with the bus to Le Havre too, although as I say in the video the latter is walkable... You can get a train into Bilbao for a fraction of the cost, but its a fair hike from where you dock...
Hi James!! When some painted shipping containers in an unusual configuration turns out to be the highlight of a town... I guess Bilbao does have its own share of quirky public art though! Thanks for the comment!
@@MattsOceans We have Arvia Barbados to Southampton, Anthem Southampton to New York, and another QM2 + Anthem crossings (to be cancelled due to unseen covid restrictions re testing/embarkation in New York, not feasible and distinct risk of denied boarding / stranded in New York). The Southampton 7 days is a good break.😊
Thank you for a great review. It's really informative! Can you please tell me what month you traveled and if it was warm enough to swim in the pool on the ship? Also, can you swim in Bilbao temperature-wise? Do we need to bring some warm clothes? It's a first-time European cruise for us and I am choosing between Virtuosa and another Mediterranean cruise by MSC. Our flight is to London and I don't really want to spend time flying around Europe. Thank you.
Thanks Anna - that was June and it was warm enough to swim, once you'd gotten a bit further South than Southampton! There's a solarium on the Virtuosa too which allows you to swim whatever the weather. Bilbao was 40 degrees a few days before we got there but had cooled to mid 20's for our trip - the sea is going to always be a bit cold even if the air is warmer - not as warm as the Med but if you're hardy, perfectly acceptable.... Quite a nice beach walking distance from where the ship docks too... On the Virtuosa right now and if anything, its gotten even better... Sailed down to the Canarys - a few sea days to get here but if you like them, its a good way to get here!
Thanks Ryan - I have been looking at doing so - there is a new version of the DJI camera just out which is interesting. I've also given the old kit a thorough clean and a but of a DIY overhaul which hopefully has helped a little...
