Muckyduckway

We loved the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. It won't take too much of your time but is a unique experience.

https://www.vasamuseet.se/en

And you must have cinnamon buns for "fika"

https://www.scandinaviastandard.com/in-pursuit-of-perfection-stockholms-best-kanelbullar/

Excited to join you on your epic 'voyage(s)'

4 hours ago, shepherd really said:

Thank you.  I'm afraid I don't have the answer to your question.  

No problem, thanks for responding. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

@shepherd really If there is a ship tour that ends at the Buenos Aires airport (EZE), could you post details please?  

Loving the preview that both you and ORV have been generous to share while onboard.

On 3/21/2023 at 6:23 PM, Mercruiser said:

 (These are actual recordings of the route they took, not marketing drawings you see in the ads.)

 

 

Which level of subscription has access to this feature on Marinetraffic? For some cruises the finer detail isn't that important when showing a ship's past route, but I'd love to be able to see this level of detail on our Antarctica cruise next year.

I don't know how it compares to other ships in tropical regions, but a good part of the Inaugural Panama Canal Cruise, it felt like the air-conditioning/fans were not quite up to the task of cooling certain parts of the ship. We had our cabin set to the lowest possible setting the entire cruise.

We had the choice of moving to a cooler area as needed - it was the staff I felt sorry for as they were in some cases very obviously working in extremely sticky conditions without opportunity to cool off.

I do appreciate though that we all have different tolerance levels to temperature, so it ends up being a case for guests of knowing your own needs and coming equipped with whatever will help you personally.

18 hours ago, LHT28 said:

well home after a long day  travelling

 I will do a review sometime  soon when I get caught up on other things

 Overall the trip was good  ships is very nice & food was very good with a few not so good

 

FYI

They have some vinyl type  deck surface  & when wet  if you do not have  good  sneakers or deck shoes  it is very slippery

 

Went to go from Barristas to Horizons  &  just as we stepped out from under the awning realized it was a light rain  but before  I could turn back  down I went

strained my left ankle & pulled muscles/ligament  in right leg  & knee

The restaurant manager came  to see if I was OK took cabin number  to make report 

So not a good end to the cruise

Moral of the story  take good sneakers 😉

 

Lyn

 

 

So sorry you ended trip that way, hope your recovery is rapid.

2 hours ago, CardowMD said:

Look forward to some photos from someone! Trying to see what brands they carry! Thank you!

When is your next cruise? If not imminent, I will try to post the displayed cosmetics.

@LHT28 Thank you so much. That's perfect 🥰 

2 hours ago, LHT28 said:

need the  walk   between meals 😄

DH may have a photo already on his phone

 Not a whole lot like on the O class ships  but at least some items

😁 🍜🚶‍♀️🍝

A photo would be great, thanks.

I was surprised that, given the abundance of photos posters have kindly provided, there hasn't been any of the shop interiors (at least none that I've seen!)

1 hour ago, basor said:

You will have chocolates on your pillow every night and there are pretzels, potato chips and nuts in the bars that you could take a bowl of to your room for snacking later...

I forgot about the pillow chocolates. We brought those home with us last time (no chocolate cravings that time 😀)

39 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

they have  things like mouthwash  some chocolate bars 

I did not pay too much attention will see when the shops open  tomorrow night  what is there

Thank you Lyn, don't go out of your way though; better to enjoy every moment.

Thanks all.

I aim not to need to purchase anything, but it's good to know its there, just in case! There's always Grand Cayman, should the need arise, but I've heard the prices there are somewhat elevated too.

We certainly won't NEED to purchase snacks, but for some reason at one point of every vacation we just crave chocolate or a salty snack 😜 

Is there a shop/store/counter onboard where you can buy the kinds of things one is likely to forget when packing? I've found only mention of boutiques, duty-free and that kind of thing.

I am not planning to forget things, but we won't really have the opportunity to pick things up prior to embarking.

I'm thinking of the small necessities like toiletries, first-aid, snacks.

Thanks in advance.

9 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

We have a trip planned for next year to the Amazon.  the YF vaccine is recommended.  We received the vaccine in 2012 when we went to South America.  We are now 11 years older and we are both at the point that we do not feel that we want to subject ourselves to this vaccine again.  

At the time that we received it in 2012 neither DH nor myself had any side effects other than a sore arm for a few days.

Terri

Terri, you may not need it anyway, see below taken from NHS website.

The yellow fever vaccine provides lifelong protection for most people.

A further dose of vaccine is recommended for a small number of travellers who are visiting yellow fever risk areas, including those who were previously vaccinated when they were:

• pregnant
• under 2 years old
• living with HIV
• had a weakened immune system
• before having a bone marrow transplant

Rarely, a further dose of vaccine may also be advised if there's a concern about the traveller's risk of yellow fever, for example, if they're working or living for some time in a high-risk area.

8 hours ago, GerryL13 said:

I was just coming here to ask about Terminal B appearing on my boarding pass. Designed for the big ships? Hope Norwegian won't be embarking there the same day.

 

I just got an 11:30 boarding slot even though I am in a B3 cabin. This was my first time checking in for a cruise online. Wheeee.

I feel your excitement! We got an early slot too.

I found the online check-in much quicker and easier than sister company NCL's surprisingly.

Looks like we're going to have a race with the Sky! 🙂

12 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Maybe  because of the  2 day TA  cruise ??

 But I have seen people mention they  got off at B

Yes, I wondered about that - maybe more facilities for the press side of things. 

As we haven't sailed from Miami before it's really immaterial, but I have to admit to looking forward to going through J - just imagined a smaller terminal would be quicker and smoother.

I look forward to hearing about your cruise - its so close now!

PS was it you who wanted something from Boots? Did you get someone who was able to do that for you? 

Just noticed that the embarkation terminal at Port of Miami for our cruise on Oct 16th is B.  I was expecting J.

Wondering if it's because it's the Inaugural Panama cruise or do Oceania sometimes use NCL's terminal?

8 hours ago, Queen of DaNile said:

Yes. We lost 3 ports recently on Vista due to changes because of Hurricane Lee. Destination Services had to quickly find excursions in New York, which they did. We had two OLife excursions booked in the cancelled ports and we were able to switch them to two excursions in New York. Not what we had planned but fabulous none the less.

In our case I expect we'll just get another sea day. You were very unfortunate to lose three ports but glad you were able to enjoy the alternative.

2 hours ago, Janet- said:

We were given 99 SBC  in leu of an O life excursion when a port was cancelled earlier this year. This was irrespective of the cost of the cancelled excursion 

That's interesting and would be my preferred solution but I won't expect it!

In the event that a port is cancelled, are additional excursions made available at other ports to allow guests to replace the "lost" O Life excursion?

I fully expect one of our ports to be dropped, and tried to book an alternative in another port (to have as a back-up fourth O Life excursion) but there is nothing suitable left at the moment that isn't OS or other excluded category.

I know there is no entitlement to SBC if all of one's quota of excursions is not used; but do they ever make an exception if they cancel the port?

8 hours ago, basor said:

It is in the booklet sent with the luggage tags, etc.   I don't believe they are mailing them out to customers outside of North America any more...once we board, all of us will find out what it means.  Since we have pre-paid gratuities due to loyalty, I didn't notice.

Let's hope it refers to waived gratuities. That would be a really nice "gift". It would be a great boost to our cocktail budget 😉

Where exactly is the footnote you mention? As UK customers we don't get anything but promotional booklets in the mail.

I waded through the plethora of email attachments we received at the time but didn't notice that; any extra direction would be much appreciated.

Such sad news. I subscribe to the "pie" thread which is how I heard the news. He was such humorous and helpful man and a very valuable contributor. A credit to him that so many who have never met him mourn his passing. RIP.

Thanks folks, good to have info from those with direct experience.

It's quite simple, if a tad tedious, to get official gov. info on requirements; the difficulty always seems to be determining whether that info applies to cruise ship passengers, as sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't!

Not long now! @basor 

Hoping for some clarity regarding the requirements for vaccinations or certificates for Vista's Miami to LA transit in October this year. My TA and Oceania's reps have not been helpful. 

Gov sites recommend Tetanus and Hepatitis A, but I've seen in several places that a Yellow Fever Cert is needed by subsequent countries if visiting Cartagena first!

My own reading of the Yellow Fever requirements is that this only applies if the visit to Colombia was more than a day visit?

Anyone have a definitive answer from their travel advisors/Oceania or transmitted the canal east to west previously and therefore have direct knowledge?

32 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

Today was cakeless😢

 

Just landed at YVR airport. YVR is our city airport code and it’s the first two letters of my first name and the last letter of my last name. Hence the name YVRteacher.

A day without cake is a sad day indeed! I'm pretty sure that's how that quote goes 😀

Interesting about your screen name - in my head I just read "Vancouver teacher". Too many hours spent researching future holidays has me all too familiar with the airport codes of countless airports that I've never stepped foot in!

Seven months until your next cruise is way too long but the fabulous memories and simple joys you found and created for yourself on this one (two?) will carry you through 

I am inspired and touched by your deep appreciation of the landscapes and communities you visited and very grateful that you took the time to share it with us all here.