Sopwith

G’day all … it’s been a while.  SIL and husband are aboard Zuiderdam, bound for the Suez Canal, Sharm el-Sheikh and Safaga in a week or so. We haven’t heard from them since they departed FLL. Does anyone know whether HAL has mentioned what their plans are for the canal transit and Egypt ports? I am aware of at least one other cruise where Egypt calls have been canceled.

We’re looking at a long cruise with quite a few sea days, but haven’t been on any Princess ships for quite a few years.  Any thoughts on the aft-facing cabins will be appreciated.

Also, any thoughts on preferred mini suites vs those to avoid?

Thanks…

I won’t be going on a cruise anytime soon unless I can be sure that 100% of pax and crew are fully vaccinated. For the same reason I won’t be going to Florida or most other US states anytime soon. There are many safer and more attractive alternatives out there. If that’s what the governor wants, so be it.

The insanity continues.

This thread seems to have wandered far off topic.  Is there any update on what is actually happening these days between NCL and Florida?  I haven't seen anything since the original news reported that prompted this thread.

I’m not a Norwegian cruiser but have done a few on Oceania. I came here because I saw the news article and was intrigued by what the reaction would be. I have to say it wasn’t what I expected.

To me it’s not a question of what’s legal, who’s right or wrong, or where the loopholes are. It’s simply a matter of my own well being and comfort level. Would I book a cruise on a ship where there are going to be unvaccinated passengers or where I don’t know whether they’ve all been vaccinated or not? Not @#$&* likely right now.  There are other alternatives out there for the next couple of years where I won’t have to worry about it.  Once I reach a higher level of confidence I’ll reconsider.

This is what NCL has to reconcile. How many clients will be turned off like me if there are unshot people aboard and can we accept the risk of the fallout from another COVID outbreak on one of our ships?

5 hours ago, exlondoner said:

 

But clearly the two situations are not remotely comparable.

I canceled my flight at the same time. I had the points and cash refunded immediately.  That’s the comparator.

But in any event, it’s not relevant. What is relevant is what kind of mood Cunard wants me to be in the next time I select a cruise line. Its that simple.  Their move.

2 hours ago, majortom10 said:

Problem is that they are dealing with thousands and thousands of simple queries and that times 30 seconds for every one takes time.

Yes, it takes time to look after the clients.  But if they can charge my card within seconds when I book a cruise it shouldn’t take weeks and months to process a refund. 
 

I’m afraid I’m one of those dinosaurs who demands respect when I spend many thousands of dollars on a service provider.  When you ignore me it equates to intentional disrespect. I don’t forget.

Cancelled our Aug 21 cruise on ~April 7 via travel agent who booked it.  I've sent two emails to Cunard asking them to confirm when the refund will be processed.  I have heard four fifths of nothing in response.

We've done about 25 cruises. This was our first booking on Cunard.  It doesn't bode well for a future relationship if they can't take 30 seconds to respond to a simple query.

8 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

 

For some reason Cunard is still accepting bookings for the Vancouver-Alaska season starting on the 2nd of June. Holland America and Princess are selling Alaska cruises from Vancouver starting in mid-May.  The same applies to Seattle departures. Is anyone actually going to book one of these, one must wonder.

The following notice is on the Port of Vancouver website:

Information update: As a response to COVID-19, the Government of Canada has deferred the start of the cruise ship season in Canada, from April 2, 2020, to July 1, 2020, at the earliest.

The safety of passengers and guests who visit Canada Place is extremely important to us. We will continue to be in discussions with our cruise line partners over the next few months, as we actively monitor the Canadian and international response to this extraordinary circumstance.

For information on changes to your cruise, please contact the cruise line directly.

10 minutes ago, T5LHR said:

 

I believe it is Wall St, pier 11.

 

Full map and schedules are here: 

 

https://www.ferry.nyc/routes-and-schedules/route/south-brooklyn/

 

 

 

Looks like a much better alternative than cabbing it.  Thanks!

Where does one catch this water taxi? Anywhere in Manhattan?

45 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

The reason for wanting to talk to corporate was to register my complaints in the hope that Oceania could use them to improve their procedures. I felt it was important to do so because the GM was such a nasty, arrogant SOB. 

This.  It’s not about the fact that noro happened, it’s about how it was handled. O had an opportunity to express how much they value my business.  Their message was received and understood.  Time to move on.

We were on the Marina this past March when there was a Noro outbreak.  Aside from all the “stuff” mentioned above, the Concierge Lounge, for which we paid a handsome premium, was essentially shut down for 12 of the 18 days we were aboard.

The crew invoked their protocol and did what they needed to do. I can’t criticize them at all. Afterwards, however, I wanted to have some contact with O to discuss what happened and what we paid for and didn’t get.  The answer I expected was “Sorry, but that’s life,” but at least I wanted to talk to someone in person.

After multiple attempts I gave up.  I was stonewalled.  Utterly ignored. They didn’t even have the courtesy to talk to me, which actually did more harm to the relationship than the on-board experience.  For the sake of a ten minute phone call O lost a repeat client.

I hope your experience is better.

(By the way, when one ship has two outbreaks in less than a year, and apparently three in two years, one has to start asking what’s going on with this ship.)

My own experience after a less-than-satisfactory experience earlier this year is that O is not the least bit interested in hearing from you after your cruise is over.  My advice is don't waste the electrons, it won't get you anywhere.

Agree with the above, but we were on Marina this past March and the internet was almost unusable.  Unless it has improved it probably won't work for voice calls or video calls like Facetime.  Even the crew admitted that it was no good.

TANSTAAFL  (Google it.)

10 hours ago, GeorgeCharlie said:

On Monday morning (May 20th) we arrived in port at Invergordon.

 

Another interesting note:  “Inver” means “Mouth of”, hence Mouth of Gordon in modern lingo.

3 hours ago, GeorgeCharlie said:

 

 

 

You can see George Heriot's School (aka Hogwarts) in the distance at the right middle of this photo.

1 hour ago, GeorgeCharlie said:

 

Oh - I kind of figured some people would notice that!!

 

 

 

If you look closely at the Scott Monument (post #21) you'll notice there's also one on that statue.

 

 

You guess is as good as mine, as to why there are there!

To keep the pigeons off? Looks like Adam Smith needs one.

Enjoyed reading this!  My father was born and raised in Edinburgh, emigrated to Canada when he was 16.  Here are a couple of interesting notes.

Many years ago he had a dog he named Deacon Brodie.  I never realized the significance of the name until I walked the Royal Mile and spotted Deacon Brodie's Tavern.  Deacon Brodie was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

He attended a boys' school called George Heriot's School, which was founded in 1628 and is still operating as a school today.  It is a large castle-like building an easy walk from the Royal Mile.  It was used as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies.

I was there about five years ago with a group of 11, mostly aged 65+.  I was 60 ish.  MP and the Sacred Valley didn't bother me.  In Cusco while walking around I had to stop every 5 or 10 minutes and take a few deep breaths.  Had a little trouble sleeping, but otherwise was okay.

A few in the group began taking the medication to avert altitude sickness, but stopped after a couple of days because of the side effects.  What I heard was that they had a distinct metallic taste while taking the med.

Other than that, everyone in the group made the trip okay.  Oxygen was available in the hotels I stayed at.

3 hours ago, docmark said:

Does anybody pay attention to TITLE of thread anymore?

I find it mildly amusing and an insight into human nature that my question about alternative cruise lines morphs into a discussion of corkscrews.  And I don’t even drink!

We disembarked the Marina there in April, the only ship in port.  We waited until near the end because our hotel wasn’t far away.  The taxi stand across the street had a block-long queue, with cabs arriving about one per minute, so very slow.  The wait looked to be at least 40-45 minutes.  I joined the queue and then called an Uber. It arrived in about 10 minutes and we boarded it just around the corner.

Based on that experience I would suggest you assess the situation when you disembark.  If it’s the same zoo, or worse with two ships in, I would cross the street, walk up the block a bit away from the chaos and get your car there.

Thanks, everyone.  Good food for thought.

I find it remarkable the number of people who have commented (both in these forums and independently) to the effect that O's on board experience is good but the service from the Miami office is not good.  My problem is not a specific issue, it's more of a systemic attitude issue related to how certain matters are handled and how clients (not customers) are handled.  When I pay upwards of $10,000 for a service I like to feel that my business is valued.  At the moment I'm not getting that feeling from O.  I'm just another number.

As for "refined demographics", after having done 20+ cruises there is no doubt that some lines and ships have different levels of "refinement" than others.  I have called it the riff-raff factor in the past.  😉  That's why we avoid the likes of HAL and Princess now.  The riff raff factor is definitely higher.