Dave. Many thanks for the report. I have never been a fan of cruises, either from a leisure point of view or birding. 12 hours overnight to France is my limit. Obviously as more and more people go on cruises and give positive reports you start wondering what is being missed. Personally I'll never do it and I think your report gives a very honest and balanced view.
Cheers
Phil
I used to feel the same until I saw a cruise advertised to Greenland via Northern Scotland,the Faroes,Iceland and Greenland.
I didn't know what to expect but it turned out to be the best holiday we ever had!
I am not kidding,not one day's land based seawatching has ever came close to the seawatching on this cruise which is why I recommend it to birdwatchers.
Every day there were close up views of Fulmar,Kittiwake,Gulls[including Glaucous and Iceland]Gannet,Skuas,Sooty Shearwater,Auks and passing migrants,not to mention the whales.
The land based birdwatching and close to the port sail ins and sail outs, in Greenland,Iceland and the Faroes wasn't half bad neither.
Just as good is the trip to Spitzbergen up the Norway coast-especially if you can get two days in Svalbard
A Canaries cruise or Iberian Peninsula via the Biscay from August to early November is brilliant :even more so if you can get close to the Portuguese coast[Portimao and Gibraltar are great for land based birdwatching].
La Coruna is a wonderful place for sea watching from the headland and as you sail out.
The Carribbean is best on a fly cruise to save you the long transatlantic crossing.
With some prior research there is enough time in each port to find some great birds.
In Dominica there is a brilliant bird habitat close to the port at the Bottanical Gardens.
You can reach Mackinnons Pools on a 10 minute taxi ride from the port of St John's, Antigua-as good a wetland site you will find anywhere in the World.It was so good I went back on board for lunch and returned again in the afternoon.
St Maartens has a great wetland area within 15 minutes of the port.
The Dominican Republic has great birds all over the place close to La Romana port
You can get to the Spice Farm area in Grenada in about 30 minutes by taxi:another good birdwatching area.
There were lots of good birds in and around Road Town,Tortolla.
You can see some great birds in most of the Carribbean harbours or as the ship sails in and out,
Top tips! Go second sitting or eat in the buffet in the evening.The ships tend to sail out just around first sitting.Sail-outs are often a good time to see birds close to the land.
Also set the alarm early.They arrive at port early on so you miss the above-mentioned birds close to land if you sleep in.
If it gets rough park yourself in the middle of the prom deck and stare out to the horizon with your bins.
This has a twofold effect:you are concentrating and will hopefully be distracted from the mal de mare.Also you will hopefully pick up some birds through your bins.
Bon voyage and happy sailing!