I returned this morning on the V.A. flight from Grenada, on Barbarella. The flight was scheduled to return yesterday morning but the plane had a technical problem so had to have a part flown out from England via Antigua, along with I believe an engineer.
Grenada airport is marginally better than Antigua airport which I detest with a vengeance.
After waiting around on Tuesday evening in a crowded terminal everyone was a tad hyper when it was finally announced that the flight was cancelled. The gate staff were totally under trained for sorting out some 250+ pax. However they did call for the PE and UC customers to come forward to the gate desk where they spoke to us as a group to tell us of the arrangements they would be making.
We ended up being taken to the Spice resort and spa with VA picking up the tab for everything bar alcoholic drinks. Between the 6 in my group we ended up with 3 suites with their own pools. 1 beach front suite and 2 middle of the range suites.
As we had just sailed down from St Lucia we (all men) would have been happy crashing into a couple of rooms, as anything would be a luxury after being cramped up on a cat in poor weather.
There were only 2 pax in UC ( a married couple) and for some reason they were given the lowest standard twin room in the complex.
As you do we all ended up meeting and getting on really well to the point of showing each other our accomodation and having a drink or two together.
If this goes on for a bit its just that I was so staggered at the lack of common sense the ground staff used in sorting out the accomodation.
A local guy was with us in PE who would have gone home if asked but he was given a suite with us. If the V.A. gate staff and management had taken the time to take us to a quiet part of the lounge I am sure they would have saved several rooms and several thousands of dollars.
Moving on the hotel is superb, they could not do enough for us, they even had their chef stay a little late to ensure we had a choice of the full menu. They had their staff set my crew up a little outside dining area on the lower terrace as we were all wearing shorts and tee shirts.
The food was the best I have had in a caribbean hotel and easily matched some of the rated restaurants I have been to in europe.
The only better hotel room I have been in was in Dubai when I met up with a few of you at the Burj al something 7*.
In the departure lounge the next evening we talked with several pax we had met wilst waiting for the first flight. They never left the airport for another 2 hours after us and got no food either.
So, P.E. was £707 and Economy was £387.
With regard to the new food service in Pe on our flight out it was the first one the crew had done. The bangers and mash were really good. However, (there is always an however) the portions have got smaller. Yet again I suggest that V.A. send their research team on an up front flight with FCA to see what a premium meal should look like.
P.S. For those of you thinking we didn't have to take the 6 rooms we didn't know we had them until we reached the hotel and were whisked off individually by their senior management.
Grenada airport is marginally better than Antigua airport which I detest with a vengeance.
After waiting around on Tuesday evening in a crowded terminal everyone was a tad hyper when it was finally announced that the flight was cancelled. The gate staff were totally under trained for sorting out some 250+ pax. However they did call for the PE and UC customers to come forward to the gate desk where they spoke to us as a group to tell us of the arrangements they would be making.
We ended up being taken to the Spice resort and spa with VA picking up the tab for everything bar alcoholic drinks. Between the 6 in my group we ended up with 3 suites with their own pools. 1 beach front suite and 2 middle of the range suites.
As we had just sailed down from St Lucia we (all men) would have been happy crashing into a couple of rooms, as anything would be a luxury after being cramped up on a cat in poor weather.
There were only 2 pax in UC ( a married couple) and for some reason they were given the lowest standard twin room in the complex.
As you do we all ended up meeting and getting on really well to the point of showing each other our accomodation and having a drink or two together.
If this goes on for a bit its just that I was so staggered at the lack of common sense the ground staff used in sorting out the accomodation.
A local guy was with us in PE who would have gone home if asked but he was given a suite with us. If the V.A. gate staff and management had taken the time to take us to a quiet part of the lounge I am sure they would have saved several rooms and several thousands of dollars.
Moving on the hotel is superb, they could not do enough for us, they even had their chef stay a little late to ensure we had a choice of the full menu. They had their staff set my crew up a little outside dining area on the lower terrace as we were all wearing shorts and tee shirts.
The food was the best I have had in a caribbean hotel and easily matched some of the rated restaurants I have been to in europe.
The only better hotel room I have been in was in Dubai when I met up with a few of you at the Burj al something 7*.
In the departure lounge the next evening we talked with several pax we had met wilst waiting for the first flight. They never left the airport for another 2 hours after us and got no food either.
So, P.E. was £707 and Economy was £387.
With regard to the new food service in Pe on our flight out it was the first one the crew had done. The bangers and mash were really good. However, (there is always an however) the portions have got smaller. Yet again I suggest that V.A. send their research team on an up front flight with FCA to see what a premium meal should look like.
P.S. For those of you thinking we didn't have to take the 6 rooms we didn't know we had them until we reached the hotel and were whisked off individually by their senior management.
