Heidi13

Due to the Coriolis effect of the earth's rotation, in theory, yes. In practice it's a myth!!

Having steamed around Australia both directions a few times, I'll suggest it is personal preference, with the 3 key differences being the predominant winds, temperatures and the itinerary to be more intensive at the beginning or end of the cruise. Assuming a R/T from Sydney. Crossing the Great Australian Bight you are in the roaring 40's, with predominantly W'ly winds, so anti-clockwise you would have these winds astern (following winds), with less apparent wind over the deck. A clockwise sailing will have the winds ahead, so more apparent wind over the deck. The ship's movement is completely different with head or following seas, more pounding with large heads seas, whereas with following seas the movement can be uncomfortable as the wind grabs the stern. On the East Coast you can also experience SW Trade Winds, which will be following seas going counter-clockwise and head seas going clockwise. Temperatures may depend on the time of year and whether you want to experience the worst heat/humidity early or later. If it is a late summer (s/hemisphere) to avoid some of the heat, you could do a clockwise, as it delays the transit through the tropical waters. If it was Spring/ early Summer, a counter-clockwise sailing will get through the tropics before the height of summer. Going up the East Coast can be more port intensive until Darwin, whereas crossing the Great Australian Bight can have more sea days. Personally, I prefer departing Sydney and heading North for a counter-clockwise sailing.

Not totally correct. The free version of Marine Traffic only shows AIS transmissions received from a GES (Ground Earth Station), it does not provide data received from satellites, unless you have a paid subscription. When a ship is outside GES coverage, Marine Traffic still shows the ship's actual real time position, it just doesn't provide the name, course, speed, etc. It just lists the type of ship. It also posts the time since the last position, so in most cases it is easy to identify the ship based on speed and time. Cruise Mapper may update the position from a satellite once a day, or a few times per day. but the rest of the time it is an estimated position based on course and speed. I have seen many times where Cruise Mapper positions have a significant error, until they receive the next satellite update. This frequently happens when a ship is retasked. However, unless you compare the ship's actual position on Marine Traffic, you aren't aware of the position error. There is a reason Marine Traffic is the preferred option for marine professionals, even the free version.

You port of embarkation is a key factor, so as to eliminate any potential for Cabotage Law infractions.

Many of the posts you make reference to, with respect to other ports, are factual in that the cruise line cannot deny you boarding, as they have no access to the criminal record database. Had you booked a cruise to Alaska, Seattle, Hawaii, L/A, etc, that stopped in Victoria first, you would have had no issue boarding the ship in Vancouver. The issue you experienced in Vancouver would happen at your first US Port. In Seattle, US citizens with a criminal record that do not meet Canadian entry requirements are not denied boarding, as the cruise line has no access to this data and you do not complete Canadian Border inspection in Seattle. However, they may experience an issue upon arrival Victoria. Once the manifest is sent to Canadian authorities, they advise the ship of any pax they wish to interview. The ship is not advised why, only that specific pax are to be retained aboard. Once interviewed, they can be released for shore leave, restricted aboard and in rare cases can be removed from the vessel in restraints. At no time is the cruise line or Master informed of the reasons. As a Canadian with a criminal record, if you attempt to board either of the ferries that depart downtown Victoria, you may be denied boarding by US Border Services, which work in Victoria. This is a similar situation as Vancouver, and many Canadian airports, where US Border agent are employed. When cruising to countries other than the US, most do not have access to Canada's criminal record database, so would have no knowledge of your record, unless they require a Visa and those questions are asked. No cruise line has access to this information. If you have a criminal record, I'll suggest without a waiver you avoid any travel to the USA - cruise, flight or driving.

Since you are from the US, my assumption is you're departing UK in September, not April. Westbound transits tend not to follow the shortest Great Circle, as they would be bucking the current, so tend to favour a more southerly routing. However, as previously noted, you are crossing the Atlantic about the height of the Tropical Revolving Storm season, so the master will follow meteorological routing recommendations to avoid the dangerous quadrants of any TRS. Have crossed the Atlantic many times and never experienced the same weather twice. Could be nice weather, but you could also experience the tail end of a TRS, or an early season frontal depression.

Marine traffic showed the ship in Cornerbrook yesterday, departing at 17:49. She is now bound for Qaqortoq, Greenland with an ETA of 03:00 (Z-2) on 5th August.

Haven't sailed on the ship, but it isn't too challenging to figure out. Pax cabins must be above the uppermost continuous deck, which is above the waterline. Engines, the ship will have multiple medium speed diesels, probably 4 of them. Due to stability requirements, these are placed within the ship as low as possible, usually on the tanktop, or just above the double bottoms. Since the ship is probably diesel/electric, she does not require shafting from the engine to the tailshaft, so the engines can be installed further fwd. Therefore, no the ships engines will not be in the vicinity of Dk 1 Aft cabins. However, depending upon the ships speed, aft cabins can be susceptible to prop vibration and/or cavitation, and aft thruster noise/vibration.

This is social media and I'll suggest the OP isn't getting public opinion swayed to encourage a good will gesture.

Stroll into town, which takes about 20 mins and enjoy a hopped beverage

Just to clarify, this has nothing to do with Vancouver Cruise Terminal, or checking in with a cruise line, neither of which have access to the criminal record base. You issues were trying to depart Canada and enter the USA, which just happens to be at the same time you were boarding a cruise. You would experience exactly the same issues at YVR, had you booked a flight to the States.

Sorry, but in my experience, that is most likely not factual. I use an exceptional full-service TA, who works out of a bricks & mortar office. The Travel Agency also has Terms & Conditions, which clearly state, we the customer, are responsible for adhering to the terms & conditions of the cruise contract, including making payments on time. While our TA does send reminders, they are as a courtesy. The TA has no liability in the event we miss a payment deadline. I expect most travel agencies have similar terms & conditions.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. Your experience is most unfortunate, but without a doubt, the ultimate responsibility lies solely with you. By entering into a contract, you are responsible for adhering to the terms & conditions. I too would be disgusted, but only with myself. However, I'm surprised that your travel agent doesn't bookmark key dates and send reminders, as a courtesy. Do you use a full service TA, or one of the mass market TA's providing the best deals and max OBC? Personally, I enter all key milestones into my Outlook calendar, with a 4-day reminder and my full-service TA also bookmarks all the key dates, which eliminates the potential for single person errors.

Isn't that a personal decision with respect to how much you valued the service? How can I, or anyone else, suggest a reasonable amount when we didn't receive the service, only you did.

Enjoying the banter.😁 I'll suggest it's a safe bet I'm younger than both you chaps, but still remember the great days of cruising. I was fortunate to catch the last 10 yrs, or so. Used to dress up every evening in my heavily starched Mess Kit, enjoying great company, meals and service from professional waiters/waitresses. Proper "Silver Service" is an art and they were masters of their trade. In addition to everyone dressed in their finery, who can forget the pastas, banana flambe, cherry jubilee, etc finished at the table.

Here are links to the cruise ship schedules at Ocean Terminal & Kai Tak. Looks like Orion is using Ocean Terminal, which is the better option. https://www.kaitakcruiseterminal.com.hk/schedule/ http://www.oceanterminal.com.hk/en/schedule.php?f=t

The WW2 tunnels under Dover Castle was also my assumption. With the number of closer attractions in Kent, I can't imagine going back to London from Dover for the day.

If you are flying domestically, the original 10:00 recommendation was reasonable, but if you are flying to the US, especially if other ships are docked at Canada Place, the updated time of Noon is more appropriate. Assuming the ship docks on time, you can be walking off with your bags by 07:00 - 07:30. Canada Customs is normally hand in your declaration and proceed, most pax are not stopped and questioned, as required when entering USA. From clearing the ship's gangway, it should take about 10 mins to reach the exit. For self transport to YVR your best 2 options are Uber/Taxi/Limo, which can pick you up as you exit the pax area. Note - this is 1 level below ground. Due to congestion, it can take several minutes to exit Canada Place to street level. You can also book an Uber/Taxi/Limo for pickup outside the Pan Pacific. To reach street level, they have a lift, or you can walk up the exit ramp. By car, the drive to the airport varies significantly based on day of week, weather, construction, etc. On a weekend it can be as quick as 25 mins and during the week 30 - 40 mins. Construction & accidents can add significantly to these times. You can also take the Skytrain straight to the airport. Walk up to street level and 150 yds down Howe Street is an entrance to the station. Follow the signs for Canada Line. Trains take about 25 mins to YVR. Note - they have room for bags on the trains, but it isn't easy hauling bags to the trains. At YVR, upon completion of check-in, you take your bags to US Immigration. Depending on the number of ships in port and how early you get to the airport, the delays at Immigration can be up to 2 hrs. Once clear of US Immigration you drop your bags on the conveyor and head to the departure gate. Approximate time-line: - 07:30 disembark with bags - 07:40 clear Canada Customs - 08:00 pick up Uber/Taxi/Limo - 08:30/08:40 arr YVR - 09:30/10:00 clear US Immigration.

Great question, but really hard to answer, as our priorities have changed significantly since my first cruise in 1976. From my younger days, the best cruises were any of the 14-day South Pacific cruises from Sydney during the Aussie cruising season. It was the ultimate continuous party atmosphere, with some great activities in port - Lautoka (Fiji) we loaded a lifeboat with beer and packed lunches and headed over to an island beach for the day, Suva (Fiji) we broke out the BBQ's built on board and had a huge BBQ on the Well Deck, washed down with more than a few beers. Also had some great groups of young pax about the same age as us (18 - 21). Flew home to UK from Sydney and slept for a week. Latterly, our best cruise was our last COVID shortened World Cruise with Viking Ocean. We experienced numerous schedule changes and even had a stretch of about 50 sea days in a row, but the Master, Officers and crew were amazing. When the cruise ended and 8 Canadian pax could not be flown home, as the airlines shut down, we were kept aboard the ship - 8 pax and 465 crew. All 4 couples were provided with a top suite and dined with various officers and members of the crew daily. We could invite our favourite cabin stewards, waiters, bar stewards, etc to join us for lunch and/or dinner. We shared the entire ship with the crew, having spent many hours in the pool with many of the crew. In the evenings, we shared the Theatre with the crew, as the entertainment staff performed on stage. We were invited by the crew to join them up by the pool during their nightly disco. They arranged daily tours of all areas of the ship and we could request anything for lunch/dinner and it was made the following day. They organised a inter-department baggo competition, with us pax combining with the officers. Two matches held daily, with some great atmosphere and rivalry. We disembarked in Gibraltar while the ship was at anchor and almost the entire crew lined the ship's side waving and cheering us off the ship.

Just wondering what time frame you are making reference to with respect to, "Old time cruising". Back in the 1970's, I actually enjoyed the parades and I used to see them every week for 4 months.

Just remembered another detail. On completion of the stitching the PO was provided a bottle of Pussers Rum. After completing the stitching the PO invited me to their Mess for a sample. OMG, harsh was an understatement.😁

That isn't something we did on the P&O ships.

In those days, we performed burial at sea unless the family or insurance requested/required return of the remains. We had an onboard morgue for retaining remains onboard.

That's exactly how I was taught by the PO's when stitching the canvas.

Since you are from the US, the US Govt has a general permit for the burial at sea of non-cremated human remains. The normal requirements are > 3 mls offshore and in waters > 600' deep. Some areas require greater distance offshore and greater depth. Although I haven't seen any for many years, I have participated in numerous burials of pax that died aboard the ship. The remains are secured in a canvas wrap, to which weights are added and it is then stitched closed. The burial takes place at a shell door, with the Master in attendance. The details and position are entered in the Bridge Logbook, the Official Logbook and the Master makes reports ashore, depending on the Flag State requirements. While you can be buried at sea, it would remain to be seen if any ship would actually perform the action in this day and age. Whereas, back in the days when I was a lowly Cadet, most months, we did at least a couple.