Conference abbott::cruise_travel

    I just booked this cruise for Sept.  I had hoped to go sooner, but
    could not get a booking. I was told it holds about 790 people and it
    was a nice ship.  I am also going to Bermuda and am interested in any
    feedback. When are you cruising and please be sure to give a detailed
    report when you get back.  Can't wait to hear how it goes.
    
    Loraine

    Me too!!!  I'm booked on the Westward for the sailing on May 11 from
    New York to Bermuda.  I just booked it on Monday and can't wait to
    go!!!  I have a single, outside cabin, mid-ship on the Biscayne deck. 
    I'll enter a trip report when I get back.  I believe this sailing
    starts in April, 1991, so it hasn't started yet.  If anyone is going in
    April, please give us the scoop!!!
    
    Cheryl

    THE ROYAL VIKING STAR HAS BEEN RENAMED THE WESTWARD, THIS WAS DONE
    AS PART OF THE ROYAL VIKING REORGANIZATION SINCE KLOSTER CRUISE
    INC BOUGHT ROYAL VIKING AND ROYAL CRUISE LINE.
    AS THE ROYAL VIKING STAR IT HELD 725 PASSENGERS, I HOPE IT STILL
    ONLY HAS A SINGLE SEATING FOR MEALS, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE SIZE
    OF THE STATEROOMS WERE NOT CHANGED, THESE STATEROOMS WERE VERY LARGE
    AND MOST HAD BATHTUBS AND SHOWERS.

    I am also staying on the Biscayne Deck and I also heard that the rooms
    were a good size. Ooh, I can't wait to read your trip report. I was
    told that there were two formal nights, one 50/60's night and on the
    cruise I'm taking (9/14) the broadway show GREASE will be performing.
    Do you know if yours is the same?
    
    Can't wait.
    
    Loraine

    A little late, but mine is the same.  Can't wait, three weeks from
    tomorrow!!!!
    
    Cheryl

    re:  .3
    
    There are two seatings for meals.  From what the brochure says, it
    holds 790 passengers.  But, they claim that the state rooms are very
    spacious.  I have a single cabin, so we'll see.
    
    Cheryl

    Chery,
    
    Please give us a trip report.  I am booked for 9/14 and this is my
    first cruise.  We had to cancel a previous trip we had planned and
    I am thrilled about this one.  We opt for first seating for the dinner
    thinking by midnight we would be ready to eat again.  I now have the
    feeling I may be sorry.  Well I guess I'll keep it and next time
    (planning on another trip already) I'll know if I like it or not.  
    
    Have a great time!
    
    Loraine

    Thanks Lorraine.  I'll be sure to enter a report to let you know how it
    was.  I opted for the second seating for dinner (8:30) so that I
    wouldn't eat at midnight!!!  But, you never know, something may catch
    my eye!!!
    
    Cheryl

    Well, I've been back and have not really had the time to enter a
    report.  I'll take a few minutes right now.
    
    I left on May 11 from New York City.  The line arranged transporation
    from the airport to the pier.  I shared a car with a couple from New
    Hampshire.  First word of advice:  pay the $1.50 to go through the
    tunnel.  The bridge was backed up unbelievabley and the driver gave us
    our choice.  We made the wrong one.  It took us over an hour to get
    there.
    
    I had an inside single cabin on the Biscayne Deck.  It really was roomy
    for me, but I forgot that it was dark all the time.  So, I left my
    television on the channel that the "View from the Bridge" was on all
    night and when they began broadcasting in the morning, it lit up the
    room.  The ship itself is about 20 years old and was the Royal Viking
    Star.  Apparently, this line had a reputation of attracting an older
    crowd, and the ages of the people on this ship reflected this.  In
    speaking with several people who entertained on the Royal Viking, they
    expect this to change by the fall and beleive that the crowd will be
    somewhat younger.
    
    I sat with the entertainment on the ship.  With a table of 8, I was
    one of 4 paying passengers.  The rest were comprised of the juggler,
    Barry John, the comedian, Ralph Archilles, and the violinist, Maria
    Naglia.  Two of the other passengers opted for 1st seating and changed,
    which left just me and one other woman with these people.  They were a
    riot.  The reason I bring this up is the quality of service we got. 
    After the 2nd night of being ignored until we were finished with
    dinner, I looked over a realized that the other table that this waiter
    had was getting a lot of attention.  I then realized that he thought we
    were all entertainers and decided to let the head waiter know that not
    all these people were entertainers.  I told him that I was a paying
    passenger and expected to be treated like all the other passengers. 
    The third night, I was asked by the waiter if I was an entertainer, and
    after replying no, I was treated OK.
    
    The food, in my opinion, was excellent.  But, I heard others say that
    they have had much better, especially on the Royal Carribean line. 
    This was my first cruise so I have nothing to compare it to.  I tried
    many new things and was in heaven with the chocolate mousse!!!  Anyway,
    that one, I guess, is your own preference.  Let me know what you
    thought.
    
    The voyage, one way, was about 42 hours.  We left Saturday at 5:00. 
    Sunday, I was so sick.  I actually thought it was my imagination, but
    apparently, we had hit some swells and one of the stablizers had gone
    on the ship.  We spent Sunday afternoon and all night slanted.  We
    arrived about 9:00 Monday on St. George's.  This was my favorite place. 
    I loved it, finding it quiet, and quaint.  Monday night, I had hooked
    up with a girl from New York and we walked over to "the Wharf", a bar
    with a very neighborhood feel to it.  We were 2 of about 10 women in
    the place.  Since there is a U.S. Naval base near by, a lot of Navy men
    were in there.  I wasn't an obnoxious place though, we were treated
    with a lot of respect by both the natives and the Navy men.  We had a
    great time.  There was a kind of "happy hour" type singer there with a
    guitar who was pretty good.
    
    Then we went to a disco, where a lot of the natives frequent.  I wasn't
    crazy about this place and actually couldn't wait to go back to the
    ship.  I'm just not crazy about the music.  But those who were there
    seemed like they were having a good time.
    
    We arrived in Hamilton at 7:00 on Tuesday morning.  We docked right
    on Front Street, where there are about a mile of shops.  This had a
    hustle, bustle feel to it.  Be right back.
    
    Cheryl 

    Front Street has a lot of Perfume, t-shirt, hummels etc. shop.  On
    Tuesday, I went to Horseshoe Bay Beach by bus.  One way, it was $1.75. 
    This place was gorgeous and I even went back before we left on Thursday
    afternoon.  It was about a twenty minute ride.  Tuesday night, I spent
    in one of the ship's lounges.  Wednesday, I went to a comedy show at
    the Oasis Club.  This is also a disco and I skipped that part.  But I
    did get to a club (forget the name) that was right across the street
    from the ship.  They had two singers who were pretty good.  
    
    Thursday, we left at 2:00 and had smooth sailing all the way home. 
    During the trip, we had some pretty good shows "Everythings Coming up
    Broadway", "Grease, "Magical Mystery Show".   As I said before, all the
    entertainment was very good.
    
    We arrived right at 8:00 in New York, once again passing the Statue of
    Liberty.  All in all, I had a good, relaxing time and would definately
    go to Bermuda again.  I would probably fly there the next time, but
    would definately cruise the Carribean for the experience.
    
    Cheryl

    Well Cheryl, I just re-read your trip report.  Leaving 9/14 and am
    counting the days.  Will write a trip report when I return. 
    
    Loraine  

    Well, I am back to work, YUCK!  I had the time of my life and before we
    even got home we were talking about taking another cruise.  We had the
    same itinery as Cheryl.  I guess I can only give you my impressions
    as a first time cruiser, nothing to compare it to.  I heard pros and
    cons from other passengers, but I must say the service was great.  We
    had terrific people taking care of us.  The room was larger than I had
    anticipated.  We did so much in Bermuda (second time to Bermuda),
    shopped, shopped, shopped, played golf in St. George's, did some
    touring. We went to Southampton Princess and saw the show there.  It
    was a Las Vegas type show and it was terrific.  They did Madonna
    singing Vogue and boy the person doing Madonna was her mirror image. It
    was really nice.
    
    Coming home on Friday we hit a storm with waves in excess of 10'. They
    roped off the decks so everyone would stay inside.  Through it all,
    there were the few daring people, so in order not to have casualties
    they roped it off.  It was quite rocky, although I didn't get sick,
    many did.  Other than that, the weather was terrific.
    
    We did a lot of relaxing in the sun, participated in the events and met
    many, many nice people.  Most of the crowd was an older group.  When I
    say older, I mean 60 and up!  There was a group of people that had
    Parkinson Disease that were on the cruise. Quite a big group in fact. 
    It was some type of organization.  They seemed to have a good time and
    was not hindered at all.  
    
    To sum it up, we had a great time, food was great, service terrific,
    room good size (two port holes), people nice, older group (mostly). I
    think if I went again, or should I say when I do go again, I will try
    to focus on a cruise that has a little bit of a younger group.  I am
    not in my twenties, but I do like a little bit younger group.    
    
    
    Still living in a dream! What a way to vacation!
    
    Loraine
    223-3606