Dream come true stay and cruise 2017 part 1
We found a cruise with Silversea perfect for us, taking in the ABC islands and sailing from Barbados so we decided to book this cruise which sailed on 09 December 2017 for 7 nights on Silver Wind. We flew with Virgin Atlantic in premium economy and we were lucky to be seated upstairs, also known as the bubble on a Boeing 747.
Whilst waiting to board our aircraft, we saw Cedric from Barbados tourism who looks after Travel Counsellors. He was going to visit his family for Christmas, what a small world!
Premium economy is lovely as you get a separate cabin with a complimentary drink before take-off perfect when you're flying 8 hours and 40 minutes to Barbados.
Before the cruise, we thought it would be nice to stay in Barbados for one night. We have sent lots of people there so thought it would be good to experience it ourselves.
We stayed at Port Ferdinand Marina & Luxury Residences kindly arranged by Victoria and we were kindly treated by Kyle from Barbados tourism to a wonderful experience which includes FastTrack passport control. Our names were on a board with a young lady waiting for us as the aircraft landed on the tarmac. We were then escorted through security and passport control. We felt like celebrities as everyone else was queuing for passports to be checked.
Once we cleared passport control and security, we were given our own private driver to drop us off at our accommodation Port Ferdinand Marina & Luxury Residences. Journey time is around 90 minutes depending on traffic. Our driver name was Silvester, he was very knowledgeable and knew everything about the island and gave us some vital information. We had some great chats with him and met his daughter who was also lovely. We were delighted to have him as our driver for the next two days.
When we arrived at Port Ferdinand Marina & Luxury Residences we both said “wow” and were amazed at this stunning property, this is the best villa we have stayed in.
Port Ferdinand’s has an impressive array of amenities including the best water sports, access to pure white sandy beaches, idyllic relaxation at The Sandbox Tree Spa, fun days and adventure activities at the kids' club and adults' recreation centre, a well-equipped fitness centre and an on-site yacht berthing services.
The waterfront dining options range from casual at The Quarterdeck Poolside Bar & Pizzeria up to fine dining at 13° 59° Restaurant and Bar Lounge.
There is a stunning selection of one, two and three-bedroom villas, all designed to allow maximum enjoyment of all the facilities that this marina and resort have to offer. The beautifully designed villas feature large living spaces and relaxing areas, to give you a peaceful yet luxurious haven for a Caribbean family vacation. Suitable for a romantic getaway or a special event.
Ours was a one-bedroom Harbourside Villa where we enjoyed luxurious splendour in these large (2,000 sq. ft) villas. They are located on the first and second floors and are modern with sweeping views of the marina and offering convenient access to the world-class amenities. They have features of marble and limestone finishes, coral stone walls, a fully equipped open plan kitchen, large living spaces, a grand master bedroom and a lavish bathroom in which no luxurious detail was spared. Opening onto a large, covered terrace offering a panoramic marina view perfect for outdoor living and lounging. These villas comfortably accommodate 2, 3 or 4 adults with complimentary Wi-fi and cabled internet access, laundry area, room safe, air conditioning and ceiling fans throughout, plus a 60" LCD flat-screen television with cable TV, a private telephone with direct dial. It goes without saying that there is a hairdryer, non-allergenic pillows, bathrobes and slippers, housekeeping every day and a turndown service every night.
After we freshened up, we were treated to a meal at Pat’s Place, Oistins by Barbados tourism kindly arranged by Kyle and hosted by Crystal at Barbados tourism where we experienced a lovely Bajan dinner with drinks. Oistins is a must on Friday night in Barbados. Make sure you get there early as this place gets packed with locals and tourists. Oistins is an active fishing town on the south coast and is a busy hive of activity on weekend nights.
Particularly, the big thing to do is go to the fish fry at Oistins Bay Gardens. The specialities are excellent fish including tuna, swordfish, marlin, mahi-mahi, flying fish, lobster plus chicken etc served in an extremely informal setting. You can get your food grilled or fried and it's all cooked on the spot in front of you. Seating is somewhat rustic, and in amongst the diners, the old-timers are playing dominoes.
Also on sale are art and craft items including jewellery, pottery, ceramics, leather craft, local wood carvings, straw craft, clothing and original paintings and prints.
There are two sources of music, including back-in-time Bob Marley and Jamaican ska, the other calypso so you can dance or watch the others dance!
Food is available from about 7 pm, but if you go earlier it’s great fun to walk on the pier and watch the sunset after collecting fish scraps from the vendors in the fish market to feed the turtles. It's a great place for families to spend the evenings and is a must whilst in Barbados!
Sadly, the next day we left Port Ferdinand Marina & Luxury Residences after spending such an amazing night at this property. We both said we should have stayed longer at this place as it is magical, and we would recommend this place for high-end customers, honeymooners and families.
We were so impressed that we looked at buying one of the villas, but sadly it was out of our price range! Nikki Beach Barbados opened next door, which will see this area being very popular in the future especially with tourists. You could order groceries etc in advance at cost price, and this would be delivered to your villa on arrival, these are nice personal touches and are a great start to your holiday. We thought the view from our balcony was amazing, the best views with a spacious balcony. We loved it here and want to go back again soon!