Mauzac

Totally agree, we've been small ships all the way due to itineraries, and the only cruise on one of the larger ships, it seemed more crowded to me. And it was 2022 so passenger numbers were low! I did say to my husband, I am not sure I would like to be on this ship if it were full. Maybe we'll find out as we're on it again in August, but it is a colder weather cruise so no sunbed problems!

Great memories, we did this excursion, the ceviche was delicious! You look like you had good weather on the little island... it rained for us and we all had SB towels wrapped round us!

I'm so enjoying these pictures having just done the Grand Pacific voyage and visiting these ports. 😊

Yes, 65 days disembarking just before Christmas. I could not fault our experience. Wonderful staff, ship top notch and I thought it was even better in the Restaurant than previous cruises. The Executive Chef is very well liked by his staff and it shows.

Worth knowing, thanks! Funnily enough, on our last Grand Pacific Cruise on Odyssey, there were no double beds with cushions out the back of Deck 5. They had all gone. There was just a lot more sofas, chairs and tables.... and the usual sunbeds without padding down the sides and the four at the front. . I do hope it's not because of 'this situation'... we used to like it out there if we were ever lucky enough to get a double bed!

Yes! We were on Sojourn 10th December to 21st December 2019. Must be that one, as we didn't do a December cruise 2017. It was very annoying and entitled !

If we weren't on the same cruise, we did know the same couple! 4 sunbeds on Deck 5, just about the only padded ones, two in shade, two in sun, all prepared with towels courtesy of a SB employee (who obviously was tipped to sort it every morning!)

Sounds wonderful! We are on Ovation in August so I will be following 😃

@jwitt2 Why don't you think about ordering a special meal in advance to be in the main dining room? If it is a birthday celebration, SB will push the boat out for you! And you could order something you would love to eat. As long as you allow enough time for them to prepare your birthday meal, they will be happy to do that. It was my and my husband's birthday on our last long cruise, we had invites printed for lovely people we had met along the way, and we had a very special Indian meal in the main dining room. It was a wonderful way to celebrate both our birthdays.

On our Grand Pacific Voyage last Autumn more than once, Ian the Assistant CD, who is seriously talented, did an hour or two on the piano in the Obs Bar after the show. He took requests, the place was rocking with lots up dancing! Such happy memories!

I did a galley tour, and I know there were Bridge tours... on a SB cruise just recently.

To the posters on here (Flamin' June and SLSD)... you can do it! I have always needed to be totally happy and feeling in control of all that might happen with regards to travel arrangements... I don't like surprises... and I am not going to pretend it is as easy as pre Covid, but it is possible. I have managed 2 SB cruises since the pandemic and we have another one booked this year. And I am soooo glad we did the ones we did. Such wonderful memories that will stay with me forever. cruiseej has great advice. I would add to it by saying... have everything you might need in the way of vaccine certs, passports, visas, forms etc... both on your phone and on paper in a folder. That way, you know you're covered. Check, double check, and triple check, I agree with cruiseej. I have always loved the anticipation of a cruise, the planning, the looking up places we visit, all of it. It felt overwhelming initially, with all the extra formalities and restrictions, but I just built that into my planning and knew deep down it would all be worthwhile. And it was! We've had blips, I won't pretend we haven't, but from the moment we walked on that ship, it was literally forgotten and all our worries faded away. Good luck 😊

We went shopping with the Chef in Honolulu on the Grand Pacific Voyage recently. Here is the tuna he bought! We had some fruit delivered to our suite that night and a few days later a delicious lunch in the MDR with some of the fish and shellfish purchased at the market. It was great.

Surely it's all relative isn't it? What irks someone just passes over someone else's head. I like seeing new staff learning, and do my best to encourage them, and hopefully they thrive from positive reaction as far as I'm concerned. I always try hard to remember their names as they're kind enough to remember mine! So, my wine glass needs topping up, I just catch someone's eye and it happens, no problem. In 65 days on Odyssey recently, there was just one meal in the MDR when I asked for extra vegetables that didn't arrive but I was having such fun with our table mates, I only realised when I went to bed! Once they mixed up the meals but it was rectified in seconds, so in 65 days nothing to complain about. I imagine that guest numbers have increased a lot from covid levels and some of the ships are having to get used to that.

Having just done a 65 day cruise, we found the food as good as ever, if not better, particularly in the MDR. The Executive chef on Odyssey is particularly well liked and respected by his staff and it showed. Nothing was too much trouble and we had a special meal for 11 organised for us (double birthdays!) and it really was superb. So as far as I'm concerned, the food offering was excellent.

🤣😂 Oh heck, me and my wording! No! They've just got it and feel absolutely fine (annoying for them as they are missing a few days of pre disembarkation fun and ports in Australia)

We're on Odyssey at the moment coming to the end of the 65day Pacific Voyage and yes we're wearing masks, passengers and crew. I understand it's an Australian requirement whilst in their waters and with ports of call coming up. It's really not a great problem, everyone is just resigned to it (and there have been some outbreaks of Covid, not a mega problem as such, but we personally know a couple of people who have succumbed. Such a shame)

Yes, ours are metal, but that cool water when on a long hot excursion is bliss!

We take insulated water bottles, and fill them up in the suite before every excursion. We like cold water and it remains cold for 24 hours.

Us too. So relieved to get the new booster last week. And have a tele-health Covid test booked Wednesday before we fly on Thursday. All bases covered (hopefully). Just have to tackle ArriveCan next, but I understand it's relatively simple (again hopefully) @Cru Doll Do hope your flight goes according to plan.

Pah! Bad timing! We embark on Friday!

The bright side is you are near immune for at least the next 3 months, so maybe now is the time to cruise Interesting you say this. As part of a UK study, we have a blood test every 4 weeks to test for antibodies. We both had Covid beginning of April... and the immediate test after getting it showed our antibodies as 'at a higher level' and at every test since (which is different to before we got covid which just showed antibodies at a normal level following vaccination) This is good to know, there has to be some benefit to getting covid! So we are 5 months on and just yesterday did our blood tests, so it will be interesting to see if that still applies when we get our results. Especially as we embark on our big SB cruise next week!

And we board Odyssey in 10 days 15 hours and 4 minutes!

Thank you, I can see that and it's a lot of "nothing yet!" As we are going to book most of our excursions when on board. Thank you!

This is my worry We still have time to go and I am checking continually. What is odd is the fact I have had an email update of time of embarkation, but the app is not showing anything like the barcode etc Last time I could swear it popped up literally 14 days before. Maybe it will soon. If not I'll have to contact SB as not sure my TA can help with this