CruiseRVA

We cruised on Grandeur in May (5 nights to Bermuda) and loved it. We’re hoping to schedule another cruise for 2020. As previously noted, she doesn’t have some of the amenities that other ships have - no zip lines, water slides, etc. - but that was perfect for us. We are a couple in our 40’s and wanted a low key, relaxing vacation. Food ranged from good to very good; service was great. One of the shows was lots of fun (Motown review), others were somewhat painful, but that didn’t matter to us. Embarkation and debarkation were a breeze. Baltimore’s port is very easy to navigate. We had a great time and are ready to go again!

We cruised on Grandeur several months ago in a suite. Absolutely loved it. Definitely take advantage of the concierge services. We were able to get 8pm reservations at a specialty restaurant on the first night by talking with the concierge on the first day, but I’m sure it depends on time and availability. If you know that’s what you want to do now, I agree with that it makes sense to do it when they reach out to you via email the week before. Have a wonderful trip!

We were in a GS on Grandeur and took advantage of the Chops breakfast several days. Great, quick service and always got a seat by the window. We enjoyed it.

Up to what point can you reprice a cruise? My husband and I cruised in May (thank you for all the wonderful information from this group) and I never thought about getting a cheaper price after booking. Once we booked with the TA, I thought that was it. Are you all checking prices online after you book with your TA? Up to what point can you do that? Thanks!

My husband and I returned recently from a wondeful cruise (Grandeur to the Bahamas). One of my takeaways: the remarkable difference between the truly excellent service on the ship and the awful customer service pre-travel on the phone. I used a TA, but she was mediocre (lesson learned, will find another option for the future), so ended up calling RC a couple of times. In addition to extremely long waits, I got wrong information. For example, was told there was no concierge service for grand suites on the Grandeur. Because I had read this message board in advance (thank you!!!) I knew the info was wrong. I pushed to speak with a supervisor, who corrected the information, but went on to give me other information that turned out to be incorrect. Nothing that impacted how much we enjoyed the cruise, but it was frustrating. I’m sorry you ended up canceling as you may really have enjoyed the trip, but given your initial experience I can’t blame you for backing out.

These pictures are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

This is really helpful. Based on your experience and JLMoran’s feedback, we are going to skip it. Thank you!

This is great information. Thank you!

My husband and I will be cruising to Bermuda on Grandeur of the Seas in a week. We’ve never been to Bermuda, so would appreciate any input other travelers may have. From what I have read on this forum and other places, Bermuda is a port that can be enjoyed without signing up for excursions. 1) The first day we arrive at 1pm. We are thinking about taking the ferry to St. George’s and walking around. We enjoy historic sites and walking around new towns. Thoughts on this? 2) The one excursion we are considering is the Bermuda Triangle Nightlife Glassboat Cruise, but I am having trouble finding any details about when it leaves (after dark, I’m assuming, but not clear when) or how long it is. Has anyone been on this or know any details, including the vibe of the excursion?We’re 48 and 50 and are not looking for a party atmosphere, but the glass bottom at night looks like it could be interesting and fun. 3) We’re thinking about a beach for our second day. Maybe Horseshoe Bay Beach, but I’m open to other suggestions. It looks like many beaches can be reached by the bus line. Any experiences with that? (The ship is scheduled to leave at 2:30pm). I’m open to any and all suggestions about how to best use 24 hours in Bermuda! Thank you.

I like this tipping advice. We’ll do what we can do and be fine with it. Thank you!

Thank you for this info! So glad to know you’ve enjoyed the suites on the Grandeur. After we booked I noticed how close we were to the Windjammer above and wondered if we might have noise issues. Hopefully all the other good things about the suite will balance that out. One additional question about the concierge: if we believe the service is especially good, is it appropriate to tip? I know it isn’t required, but we do plan to have some cash on hand for tips. Thanks again for the great information!

Thank you!

My husband and I are scheduled to cruise out of Baltimore on the Grandeur of the Seas for 5 nights in May. We haven’t cruised in over 10 years and so much has changed! I’ve read all kinds of helpful info on this forum, so I thought I would check in here for advice. We have splurged on a grand suite and have questions about the concierge service. I’ve gotten mixed information about whether we should expect an email in advance of the cruise from the concierge offering to help with things like dinner reservations at the specialty restaurants, etc. Does anyone know if we should expect an email in advance, and if so when? If not, does the concierge have certain hours in the concierge lounge? Do those start on the first day?Thanks for any advice on this topic!