Heidi13

While the premium/luxury brands may be significantly more expensive, up front, depending on your cruising style, at the end of the cruise, the difference may be significantly less. I can compare our 2015 World Cruise on Princess (which was terrible) to our 2020 World Cruise on Viking, which was exceptional. The Viking base fare was double the Princess base fare, but by the end of the cruise, once all expenditures were added to the spreadsheet, the daily cost was virtually identical. This is highly dependent on cruising style, so doesn't work for all pax, especially those that disembark mega ships with no or limited bill.

Certainly didn't equate Carnival to Princess, although since Princess were Carnivalised in 2003, their standards have reduced significantly. They certainly aren't the once great cruise line I worked for many years ago. Although they are all mainstream mega ship lines, I noted that Princess, HAL, Celebrity & Cunard are a higher level, so if they are higher they don't equate, at least in my definition.

Finding a new cruise line takes considerable research. I suggest developing a statement of your requirements, listing items that are mandatory and those that are nice to have. You can then compare which each cruise line offers, based on your SoR. While over 55, if you want to have an older pax demographic, your options are Viking (18+), Saga (55+) and P&O (about 50% of fleet is 18+). Other small ship cruise lines have an older demographic, but still accept kids. If you want similar activities to Carnival, then stick with a higher market mega ship line - HAL, Princess, Celebrity, Cunard, etc. If you want more of a smaller ship, check out Viking, Oceania, Azamara, Regent, Silversea, Seabourn, etc.

The Baked Alaskas back in the 70's and 80's on the Princess ships were very enjoyable, as I often had a piece every week. By the mid-2000's I found the quality started to decline, especially the meringue - just didn't taste the same as the originals. Consequently, I haven't tried it since. I concur, the MDR parades were enjoyable to watch, even having them every week, regardless of where we were cruising.

Starlink does have coverage in Hawaii, but unlike home it isn't fibre-optic speed and bandwidth. You are sharing the available bandwidth with all pax, crew and ship's business. As long a pax are streaming and auto-downloading daily updates to virus software, operating systems, etc. it is going to be slow. I did most of my blog work early morning before most pax were awake and had few issues.

With cases, the easiest and most cost effective way into London is the Heathrow Express, which is direct from LHR to Paddington Station. Your other options are: - London Underground - cheapest option, but tough with cases - Executive car hire - personally, in London we use Addison Lee, which have reasonable prices and great service. Can be booked online. - Bus - National Express operate bus service to central London. Never used this option, so can't comment. Hotels - reasonable prices are available from both Travelodge & Premier Inn. When doing a similar journey a few years ago, we utilised this option: - Booked with AirPortr to pick up our cases immediately on exiting customs and ship them to the hotel. Takes about 5 hrs - Head down to the Tube, purchased and loaded an Oyster Card and took the Tube to Waterloo Station - Walked the few hundred yards from Waterloo Station to the Travelodge Waterloo. Not the greatest hotel, but reasonably comfortable, with breakfast included. - Used the Oyster card for our few days of Tube travel in London. - Last day, walked to Waterloo Station, cashed in the Oyster card and caught the train to Southampton.

OP - looking to see if you have an update on getting your booking issue resolved to your satisfaction.

Pax have reported they installed the Starlink system, but they still have poor coverage in coastal regions and almost nothing deep sea. Therefore, since departure, most of the time they have relied on the older geostationary Inmarsat satellites. Hopefully by next year, Starlink will have better coverage.

Viking have a new ocean ship building each year from 2024 through 2028, inclusive.

Based on the position of the ship showing on Marine Traffic, the volcano is almost dead ahead. Only the Bridge Team knows the voyage plan, as the ship can go either way around Hawaii.

Affirmative, but as is being experienced on the current WC, the marine coverage area for SpaceX is not extensive. Many coastal areas still await coverage.

Unfortunately, post pandemic this is often an industry wide problem, as many local vendors are short of drivers and guides. Viking has to cancel a port on the World Cruise, as the local vendors could not provide the required number of drivers & guides. Once onboard, the Shore-ex staff work wonders booking additional tours and making the inevitable changes for many pax once onboard. While they endeavour to ensure everyone gets the tours they want, they are restricted by the available supply. In addition to the Viking shore-ex, most ports have some excellent local vendors where you can purchase private excursion. I used to have a preferred vendor in most ports, but sadly, many went out of business during the pandemic. With respect to the customer service, unfortunately with the LA Office, the lack of quality customer service is way too common. Some of the Viking agents in L/A are exceptional, but sadly some are in the wrong career path. Rest assured, the experience once aboard a Viking ship is vastly superior to Celebrity.

To meet fellow pax on your cruise, please check the Roll Call for your cruise line, then the ship and finally locate the thread(s) for your cruises. If one hasn't already been started, you can start a new thread.

Thanks for posting the photo.

In addition to completing the info on MVJ, please locate the Restaurant Manager upon boarding to discuss food allergies. They will normally provide the menus a day in advance, advising which dishes can be made in accordance with your allergies.

Sadly, the RV is now 10 yrs old, but I did purchase a new F-450 last year, to haul it over the mountains. Glad that Martin could assist. Enjoy your days in Vancouver.

Hi Christine - We rarely head into the city and usually only during the day, so really only know of a couple of restaurants downtown. Unfortunately, none of them are French cuisine, so I can't assist. I tagged martincath who has a great knowledge of the city, hopefully he can assist. In June we are hitching up the RV and heading East, or else I could play tourist and show you around. @martincath

You were fortunate, as the ability to upgrade with either points or cash depends on the fare class booked. In many cases, the budget fares purchased by cruise lines, with their contracts, are fare classes that do not permit upgrades.

Affirmative, they can do a rhumb line or even further south. Although longer distance, it avoids the adverse current.

It is unfortunate that your 2005 cruise on Sapphire did not have any prizes, as at that time the Princess swag was reasonable quality with more options. Over the many years, we have received numerous luggage straps, quality pens, luggage tags, key chains, penlights, insulated water bottles, bags, passport holders, etc. We noticed a gradual reduction in both the options and quality of the swag from about 2010-12. By the time of our last cruise with them in 2015, it was all junk, compared to 10 to 20 yrs previously. BTW - the champagne is hardly quality product, as it costs 50 cents to 1-dollar per bottle. With our current cruise line (Viking Ocean), everyone receives a token for participation, which can be accumulated and used to purchase goods from the onboard shop.

From New York to Southampton, the shortest distance is a Great Circle, which in the N Hemisphere heads up to higher latitudes. Although on mercator (normal) charts or maps, it looks longer, it is actually the shortest distance. On normal charts, a straight line is known as a Rhumb Line, which maintains the same course, as it crosses all meridians at the same angle, but is longer in distance. The Great Circle from New York passes the southern tip of Newfoundland and continues to increase latitude, before heading SW towards UK. This route has the added benefit of having the Gulf Stream and then North Atlantic Drift pushing the ship. Therefore, this is the shortest and cheapest routing across the Atlantic, if the weather cooperates. Most cruise ships, except liners such as QM2, don't use this routing because of weather and potential comfort issues.

Highly unlikely due to Fire Detection & Extinguishing Regulations.

The 22/23 World Cruise Album project is now complete. When Deb & Munro boarded in Istanbul, Deb sent it back to me for the final additions/changes and distribution. The final copy was sent out, to everyone that contributed, in early December. I have deleted the file, so no longer have access. Therefore, unfortunately I am no longer to make any additions or changes.

Based on your requirements, of the 2 options you mentioned, Regent would be the best option, as HAL are not a luxury/premium cruise line. For your requirements, I suggest comparing Regent to Viking and Silversea, who both have 1-way Northbound departures from Vancouver. Both those options are superior to HAL, as they are premium/luxury lines. You also have Oceania, but next summer they are R/T Seattle, which isn't a great option to see Alaska, and Seabourn that does a 14-day R/T from Vancouver. The Seabourn option doesn't go up to Prince William Sound/College Glacier.

I'll suggest you have a number of options: - Drive to Vancouver, park in long term parking at YVR and take a taxi to Canada Place (fixed rate fares from YVR). You can book a 20-day B2B, and upon disembarkation, take a taxi or Skytrain out to YVR to pick up your car. - Drive to Vancouver, park in long term parking and take a direct flight to ANC. Air Canada has a daily direct flight. Not sure about other airlines. From ANC, you can take the train or bus to Seward. - Parking at SEATAC, on disembarkation, you can catch the train or bus back to Seattle. You can even hire a car for a 1-way rental.