Airtours Cruises, Sunbird

It was the Sunbirds maiden voyage in June 1999 and also my Husbands surprise 60th birthday. We did it in style and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've mentioned the Sunbird to everyone and it's an experience never to be missed. We were going to book our holiday on the Sunbird in 2002 but unfortunately I lost my husband. But I've still got all those wonderful memories of a holiday of a lifetime.

Thank You

Nothing spectacular about this Sunbird cruise but it was an above average holiday. It was a bargain price and had great entertainment, sights, tours and food. The only problem was a few of the staff. Usually the waiters were young, male, foreign - Filipino, Malaysian, etc - and some were very flirty and over-familiar with single women. But that wasn't too bad if you can learn to ignore them. It was the young English male entertainment staff that were worst. They acted like louts towards any young, single female that went pass. If the girls were pretty, they were full of sexual innuendos and gestures as though they were working at an 18-30s resort; if the girls were plain (like me) they would take the mickey out of their clothes/hair/make-up loudly or butt in on private conversations to correct/criticize them.

But all of this didn't affect my enjoyment of the holiday. But that's because I get more annoyed with grumpy staff than with cheeky staff and no staff were grumpy towards me.

Oh, another slight annoyance was the pool was never filled with water! Not that it bothered me too much as I wasn't planning on going swimming on this holiday and never even packed a swimming costume. But photos taken by the pool looked pretty pathetic.

Everything else on the cruise was above satisfactory and really great value. I'd recommend it, and - if the cruises weren't being terminated this year - I'd go again.

Airtours Cruises, Sunbird - Never cruised before until we went on Sunbird in 2001. It was out of this world, the most fantastic holiday ever. Now want to book another on Sunbird. Definitely 10 out of 10.

Sunbird is a great ship, we sailed on the sunbird on our first cruise and have sailed with her three more times. We will sail on her again but this time it will be the destiny? The captains were great, as were the

crewe. A truly nice sailing ship.

Airtours Cruises, Sunbird:

I had never considered a cruise holiday before until friends of ours cajoled us into going with them. I had always thought of a cruise holiday as something you did whilst passing time waiting for god.

How wrong I was, I couldn't have been more surprised at the mixed age range aboard the ship and differing types of entertainment to cater for all tastes. You can more or less please yourself on this type of holiday from relaxing on board during the day, spend the day's sight seeing or venturing out to see the great rain forests.

I found it amazing that in the evening I could go to bed in one beautiful place and wake in the morning to see another island of totally differing style and culture.

I couldn't wind up this review without mentioning again the quality and variety of food available on board, as with the whole trip it was five star and I have the extra pounds to prove it.

We enjoyed the Sunbird cruise very much, it was our first, the ship was very clean & well organised, staff all very friendly & helpful. We found organised trips can be expensive, we went to the Vatican City approx £50 each, lunch included a basic 3 course not bad. The down side I found was not enough free time 15 mins only to do as you wanted. I found trying to buy postcards write them & try & get Vatican City stamp on the cards hard going in only 15 mins. We managed to find our own way on all the other trips, going by bus or train, often for the quarter of the price of an organised trip, much more exciting than sitting on a bus being led by a guide. Drinks packages seemed expensive, some friends had the package, she found she couldn't have branded soft drinks only on draught, only certain wines allowed, also special tea's and coffees were not included in this package. First glance it appears all drinks are included in this package, this wasn't so. We didn't have them we bought drinks as and when we wanted a drink.

Sunbird is a great ship with friendly staff and a good atmosphere. Fantastic food and a great idea to have all inclusive drinks package, but only for the first week or you may find you are constantly inebriated! If you can do try to get seated at the staff captains table because he buys the wine! Although the ship can accomodate up to 1500 passengers it never seems crowded. Pleasnty of sun beds - always.

Antigua is a very beautiful island. We took our one and only excursion on this island to ensure we got a good look around. Thereafter we just used the local taxis on each island who were more than helpful (and much cheaper). On St Kitts our taxi driver came to pick us up an hour earlier as the weather was so bad! On Barbados we went to the Boatyard which was recommended by one of our dinner waiters. It was absolutely fantastic. A great beach, great snorkelling and lots of activities available - even trampolines in the ocean! Maggens Bay beach on St Thomas was spectacular- you must go there. Catalina Island was definitely the highlight of the whole two weeks. A picture paradise. We snorkelled off of the beach with amazing results. The waiters pampered us hand and foot with drinks on the beach even though we sat a good 10 min walk from the bar. What Service! The buffet lunch BBQ was all you can eat and was so tasty. There was even a welcoming party of steel band drums. Well done to all the staff for making this our best ever holiday. We will return.

Not impressed at all with Airtours and Sunbird. Food was very poor. If you are a pig (lots of balls on legs on this trip) or without taste buds you'll like it. Restaurant is best - Lido is rubbish. Midnight buffets good but who wants to eat at this time? Drinks waiters got on our nerves. Wine is exorbitantly priced. Cabin ok but washroom pokey. Toilets (vacuum system) break down daily. Cabin plug not UK standard but most passengers are UK. Generally crew staff are ok but reception staff are sour. Complaints (we did complain)are not answered. Avoid excursions especially the guided Vatican trip - bad news!

Sunbird Cruise

Western Mediterranean

July 2004

Link to photos: http://community.webshots.com/user/rob42ca

This was our eighth cruise, a western Mediterranean cruise on the Sun Cruises ship Sunbird, July 2004, embarking in Palma, Mallorca and going to Malta, Sicily, Naples, Sardinia, and Corsica. We booked it on a sell-off, getting an outside A deck cabin for $1175 CAN including air. Inside cabins were $1055 incl air. Port and other taxes were an extra $339 CAN. Tipping was included in the cruise ticket. The ship currency is UK pounds.

This and the other Sunquest/Sun Cruises/My Travel cruises will end in Oct. 04 when the ships will be sold to Thompson's Cruises and renovated. This was our second time doing this itinerary, which we wanted to do again because there was so much we missed the first time. Here's the link to our review of our first Sunbird cruise in 2003:

http://www.cruise-addicts.com/reviews/readreview.php?id=0000002438

EMBARKATION

We departed Toronto at 11:35 pm on Skyservice, the direct flight took 8 hours, and 2 meals were served. We arrived in Palma at 1:30pm, and were on the ship via the transfer bus in an hour. This time there was no delay getting on board, perhaps 20 minutes. We got a quick bite at the Lido buffet, and left the ship to spend the rest of the afternoon and early evening shopping and sightseeing in Palma. Taxis are about 10 euros to the huge medieval cathedral and other sights, and the shopping is there too, on Avinguda Antonio Maura beside the cathedral, going up to Placa de la Reina, continuing on Passeig de Born, then turning left onto Aviguda de Jaime III.

The Palma street names are too blurry and small to read on the map the ship hands out, but there's a good map at www.hot-maps.de. We took the local bus into town, it stops at the terminal entrance, costs 1.30 euros, runs every 15 minutes, and an electrical display board counts down the minutes until the next bus. It runs along the bay, then turns and stops at the cathedral. The return bus picks up back on Sagrera, the road along the bay.

THE SHIP

The ship was still in good decent shape for a 3 star. If you are bothered by minor signs of wear, and want a new ship, you should probably not take a 3 star. We measured our outside A deck cabin at 91 square feet, smaller than most ships these days, with a 2 foot by 2 foot shower, which will test your dexterity. Bring a power bar for the one outlet. Soap and shampoo are provided. No fridge but lots of ice from the steward. Excellent service in all areas. The passengers are about 75% UK, with the rest mainly Scandinavian and Canadian.

The food was satisfactory in the dining room, lots of choices, much better than the Lido buffet. Late night buffets were good, either a theme such as Italian, or hot/cold snacks the waiters take around the public areas. Drinks were 2 UK pounds, and weak (bring your own), or find a bartender and tell him how you want it mixed.

Our friends said the musical entertainment was ok. We went to the passenger participation shows, such as The Weakest Link, Mr. & Mrs., and Singing Legends. These are a fun change from the set stage shows on the No. American cruises.

As on all ships, internet on the ship is expensive, 0.75 UKP per minute, and in the ports it's easy to find internet caf s charging 2-3 euros for 15-20 minutes.

PORTS

MALTA

The first port is Valetta, Malta, a jewel for history buffs. This was where the Christian knights made their last stand against the Ottoman empire. Valetta is a huge walled city with awesome cathedrals and other architecture. It's a hot rather steep 15 minute walk from the ship up to the main gate entrance, and a better start would be taking or sharing a 10 euro cab. The ship map has the sights marked. The main shopping is on Republic and Merchant streets. You can buy bottled water or a beer at many shops, but the cheapest is at the small grocery store on Republic, perhaps a block from the main gate, for about half a euro.

The other main sights are Mdina/Rabat, Vittoriosa across the harbour from Valetta, and Sliema, the hopping resort area. We did Mdina last time, a complete medieval city, no cars allowed. It's a 0.30 Malta Lira bus ride, about $1.20 CAN or 0.45 UKP, and you need ML change, not euros, which the shops will change for you. The same trip by taxi is about 30-50 euros, or $70 CAN, 30 UKP. The ship tour is about 40 UKP.

This time we did Vittoriosa in the morning, a .15 ML bus, and Sliema in the afternoon, also a .15 ML bus each way. In Vittorioso we wanted to see the Inquisitor's Palace and some other medieval cathedrals. All busses depart from the roundabout in front of the main Valetta gate. It's a zoo, buses everywhere, and you need to first ask at one of the bus control offices around the outside which bus number to take. If you go to Sliema for the action, stay on the bus along the marina/beach/bay road, nice views, and get off when it turns off towards the business district. Then you can walk either the boardwalk along the bay, or the shops/cafes on the other side, or the street going into town towards the Preluna hotel.

MESSINA, SICILY

There is only 1 rather awesome sight in Messina, the medieval church Il Duomo, visible from the ship, a 5 minute walk. But the medieval town of Taormina is a must see. It's a beautiful hillside town, quaint little shops, a Greek/Roman amphitheatre facing Mt. Etna, and several medieval monasteries and churches. Many beautiful views. It's 1 hour from the ship, and best to take the half day ship tour for about 30 UKP rather than doing it yourself on the local train, which stops too far from the town, or on the bus, which leaves to late and returns too early to be practical. The other tour, a full day to Mt. Etna and Taormina, is a lot of driving, 2 hours each way, for about 50 UKP.

NAPLES

Last time we divided the day between shopping in Naples (Via Toledo & Via Chiaia) and seeing the ruins of Herculaneum and going up the culprit, Mt. Vesuvius. This time we went to the Amalfi coast resort town of Sorrento. Instead of the full day ship tour for 50 UKP we did it ourselves, taking the 1 hour Circumvesuvius train there for 3 euros, and the 50 minute hydrofoil back for 7 euros. We'd suggest not taking the train, even though it's convenient, running every 20 minutes, because there are no views down the coast, passing through industrial or residential areas and tunnels, and there is no A/C. It's a 10 euro cab to get to the train. The hydrofoil is smooth, scenic, and has A/C, or you can sit up in the breeze and sun on the top deck. The hydrofoil departs from the other side of the terminal building from the ship, not requiring a taxi as the train does. There is no bus service. Our friends took the hydrofoil to Capri and had a great time.

Sorrento is built on a cliff, lots of interesting shops, beautiful views, cute cafes and vendors, old churches. To get from the town down to the beach/boardwalk/hydrofoil you either walk down a series of stone switchback paths in the cliff, or take the 1 euro bus. It's a pretty walk, lots of photos to take. The hydrofoil leaves at 4:20, and gets you back to the ship by 5:15. The ship leaves at 6.

OLBIA, SARDINIA

On our first cruise here we shopped in Olbia and then had a long lunch there. This time we shopped and then went to the ritzy resort town of Porto Cervo. Shopping on via Umberto in Olbia is interesting, lots of different types of shops, prices not bad.

Instead of the 30 UKP ship tour to Porto Cervo we took the local Greyhound style bus for 3 euros. We couldn't believe how cheap bus and train travel was in these ports. The bus leaves from the station past the bow of the ship, walk through the brown brick station to the bus parking area behind, ask which bus goes to Porto Cervo, and buy a ticket from the driver for about 2 euros, there is a schedule on the bus door. It leaves at 1pm, takes about 50 minutes, and returns at 4:20, arriving at the ship at 5:20. The ship sails at 6.

Porto Cervo is a beautiful resort, many big name boutiques, Gucci, Prada, etc. It was established by the Aga Khan for his VIP friends. It's fun to walk along the marina checking out the huge yachts. The main caf is not expensive, and the grocery store near the bus stop is quite cheap (beer 0.5 euros) and it sells snacks and cold drinks as well as lots of grocery items.

Getting both Olbia and Porto Cervo done was a squeeze. The ship is supposed to arrive at 10am, and of course the shops close from 1-4pm as everywhere. It's almost a mile from the ship down the dock to town, a 15 minute fast walk, and the city provides free shuttle busses. But the first shuttle leaves about 30 minutes after docking, as late as 11, so we had to squeeze the shopping between 11 and 12:30 to catch the shuttle getting back in time for the 1pm Porto Cervo bus, and grabbing lunch along the way, kind of a dash.

AJACCIO, CORSICA

The ship is only in port for the morning. Ajaccio is lovely, quaint, and clean. The best shopping is on Rue Napoleon and Rue Fesch. We took a tour down the coast to see the views, which were pretty with hills and mountains on one side, and beaches and rocky coastline on the other. We stopped at a medieval observation tower which was used to watch for invaders. It's a 10 minute climb up steep irregular steps. Some of us went for it, and exchanged cameras at the top for shots of ourselves with the lovely Sanguli Islands in the background.

DEBARKATION

Debarkation was smooth, we were called about 11:30 for the 3:20 flight. Some spent the morning getting a few last rays on deck. The only hassle at the Palma airport is the long lines at security. The larger duty free shop on the corner where the caf is has free booze samples at the back, and good prices. 1 litre rum and scotch were on sale for 10 euros, down from about 12E. And as usual there was a Toblerone chocolate sale, 600 gr. for 7.50E.

Hi to our ship friends Bill and Shelly, who won the iron man and woman awards for never taking the elevators once all cruise! (Lucky no one stepped on their hands crawling up the last flight of stairs). Email us if you have questions. You will love this cruise!

Here's the link to our Med photos:

http://community.webshots.com/user/rob42ca

and here's the link to our other cruise photos:

http://community.webshots.com/user/bob42ca

Bob & Wendy Evans

The Itinerary on Airtours Cruises was st lucia : very pleasant island but steep roads! barbados:great island the beaches was great if you went there I would recommed to go on the local buses as they play out regge music on the bus and the fares are very cheap! Dominica:the island is dogey I advise you to stick to near the ship if you go ashore independant. We went whale and dolphin watching we saw about 3 or 4 whales! and loads of dolphins. If your an animal lover i recommend this tour!

St maartin:the island is split into 2 halves the french side and the dutch side. The ship docks in the dutch side and the best thing to do is go independant and go to the local town (Phillpsburg) and go shopping! it is not expensive either. I bought some channel sunglasses for $20 (and there not fake!)in England the cost £145 ! The beaches are nice but if you have long hair try to hide it as people will want to braid it and do check if they have a license because the tourist police will come after them! Leaving you with half braided hair!. Tortola: if you get a taxi I advise you to go to cane garden bay beach! It is excellent! with toilet facillities , and if you go in the sea don't stand where the waves breaking point is because there are extremely big waves which will sweep you under and it is very hard to get air! so just go abit further out. The roads in tortola are very steep steeper than you could imagine. So fasten your seat belt because you will be in for a steep and bumpy ride!