rpfarris

8 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

It very much helps to have the details of your passport when you report it stolen.

Yeah, I think one of the tricks was that I went to the "tourist" police station in Malaga and got a police report so that I could show people along the way that my passport was stolen and that I'd reported it.  And that I was on my way to the embassy.

I had my passport stolen in Malaga, Spain.  The ship (Shadow) was leaving that night for Morocco, so the captain kicked me off the ship as I was about to become an illegal alien as we changed International location.  I had to catch a train to Madrid (closest American Embassy) and get a replacement passport and then catch another train to pick the ship back up in Valencia a few days later.

I'd never been to Madrid, so that was a thing.  The finance officer on the Shadow was the "troubleshooter" for the ship, and he maintained contact with me throughout my "land trip."  He made reservations at a hotel near the American embassy and made sure that I could check in without a passport. !!  It took me less than 4 hours to get the replacement passport, so one night in Madrid and the next morning I got my new passport and headed for Valencia.

It was kind of a pain to deal with losing a passport, but it wasn't the end of the world.  It took (except for travel time) less than a day to replace my passport.  The time in the embassy was quick and simple.

Have you had a look at the SilverSea Roll Calls?  You might find some comments from this itinerary from a previous year, there.

Thank you very much.  I wonder why they don't use Long Beach.  Maybe Los Angeles is closer to the airport.

When SilverSea ports in "Los Angeles" vs Long Beach, exactly where is the "Los Angeles" port?  I live in Arizona now, but spent 50 years in San Diego, but I can't think of where the Los Angeles port would be.  Thanks.

Hey, thanks, Zqt, Davey, it looks like I was right.  The Eurostar Grand Marina hotel and the Moll de Barcelona are both on the World Trade Center pier.  It's about a mile-and-a-half from The Majestic hotel where I'll be staying.  Easy peasy.

In Vancouver I stay in the hotel on the pier, also, but this time I'm out in the town.  I'll look at the Grand Marina next time.

Where does Silversea typically dock in Barcelona?  World Trade Center? 

I'm staying at The Majestic.  Has anybody stayed there?  Are the porters familiar with Silversea; will they be able to transfer my baggage directly to the Shadow?  (I ask because when I stay in Vancouver, I never have to touch my bags - they go directly from the hotel in downtown Vancouver to my cabin on the Shadow.)

On 3/18/2019 at 12:25 PM, Stumblefoot said:

The space still exists on the Shadow, but I never stepped foot in the room, so have no idea how many computers they still offer for guest use.

One.

On 3/18/2019 at 10:41 AM, TLCOhio said:

Does Silversea block access to some sites such a photo hosting locations?  Or, is it about the size of photos being uploaded?

No, and probably.  I use Smugbug to host my photos and I upload full-size (24 megapixel) photos to smugbug and then smugbug will downsize and add bbcode to the links for me to post them here.  However, on my last grand Asian trip it took me hours to upload each days photos.  Probably several minutes for each photo.  In the beginning it could easily convince me that nothing was happening.  This was on a Premium wifi account.  (60 days x $20/day)

My next voyage a few months later, I took a Skyroam with me ($99/mo) and simply waited to pull into port each morning and then uploaded all the photos in a matter of minutes.  Generally while I was eating breakfast.  This summer, on a two-month Mediterranean voyage I'll use the same plan: two months of Skyroam (at $99/mo) and two months of T-Mobile (at $60/mo).

Terry, consider moving your ads into your signature.  Do you know how to do that?

19 hours ago, nowornever said:

How about sending the 2 large or xl suitcases that are not 100% full with the Valet & take a medium + your carry on with you to Barcelona with camera gear & the BCN clothing?  You can put the medium size case  inside the XL suitcase under the bed once you're on the ship & use this med. case for souvenirs & those things that seem to clone themselves during a trip so that they no longer fit in the original packing scheme.  Logistics can be so difficult.

Yup, that's what I'm thinking.  I won't need all my camera gear in Barcelona, I wonder if I can trust the Valet with camera lenses?

1 minute ago, Stumblefoot said:

Congratulations on your victory of free laundry!  It only took us 11-years. 😆

 

And, sorry that I can’t help with the luggage questions.  We like to bring about 6 pieces and schlepp them all over the place wherever we go.  I call it my workout. 😳

I had to fight to get my 3914 merged with the rest, otherwise I would have had to pay for laundry on 3914.  But my TA went back-and-forth with SS for a couple of weeks before they decided that I could be a single 58-day voyage.  Although, the last time I had dinner with the HD - I already had booked these voyages - and mentioned to him about the fight over laundry, he told me that it was not unheard of for people to come to him and tell him that they were getting close to 100 and were booked for another cruise soon and begged for free laundry and he gave it to them.  I probably shouldn't mention that because he reads this forum.

Six pieces?  Where do you put them?  You must stay in one of those giant cabins.  Or wait...do you put them on the couch?

So I signed up early for the Grand Mediterranean voyage this summer that is a B-B of five voyages: 3915 through 3919.  Since I signed up as soon as it was announced I also got free business class flights and free 'Baggage Valet' which means that a couple of weeks ahead of time someone will come pick up my baggage and sweep it away so that I will not need to see it again until I embark the Silver Shadow.  Because of all the Mediterranean ports (I've never been to any of them) I chose a Veranda Suite on the 9th deck this time so that I can take pictures off my balcony.  A couple minot details: I added another voyage - 3914 - because it goes to Casablanca and Tangier and also, I pass my 100th night on this grand voyage, so finally, free laundry.  BTW, I am a solo traveller.

Now, finally, my issue: In a Veranda Suite, I am well aware of how much space I have.  I have enough room to store two full size suitcases under my bed(s) and I can put my carry-on inside one of the full-size suitcases.  My closet will be pretty much full with the clothes in the standard business-class luggage load-out.  So it would not do much good to send along via Baggage Valet a trunk or another couple suitcases.  There is no place to put either the luggage nor the contents.

One way to take advantage of the 'free' Baggage Valet would be to send both of the full-size suitcases with the luggage forwarder and only travel with my carry-on and personal item.  I embark in Barcelona and I'm heading over there a week early and living out of a carry-on for a week would be touch-and-go.  It would also mean that most of my camera gear would have to be trusted with Baggage Valet.

Another way would be to send one full-size suitcase and an *empty* full-size suitcase with Baggage Valet and then travel with one full-size suitcase and a carry-on.  I think this is probably the most reasonable solution.  I'd have to figure out how to store the third suitcase, but that way I could send back an entire suitcase full of souvenirs with Baggage Valet at the end.

But those of you who have used Baggage Valet or another luggage forwarder let me know what worked for you.  (Particularly if you stay in a small suite like myself.  If you stay in an Owner's Suite you probably send trunks. 🙂 )

On 3/21/2019 at 2:41 PM, jpalbny said:

By the way, another poster has started a roll call for your voyage combined with the three before it. See this thread for voyages 3915 to 3919. Maybe if you post on that thread, you will get some replies. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Why yes, in fact, someone has!  I even started one for 3914 (can't miss Casablanca and Cafe Baba in Tangier).

Roll calls/Meet & Mingle aren't all that important on Silversea because (IMHO) the ships are small (in particular, the Shadow/Whisper class and the expedition ships), booze and food are inclusive and a party can be put together in minutes.

A few voyages back, we simply made a list of the passengers from here, gave them to the Cruise Director and he sent out invitations for the following evening, provided a pair of international hostesses to 'hostess' us, set out signs and provided a place in the Panoramic lounge for us.  So...a party - of any kind - can be created quickly.

So...I guess I've convinced myself that the Roll Call section actually has a use; to locate those of us who would like to meet face-to-face.

Terry, as usual those are great portraits.  I have a picture of Kirk:

Does anyone know who this is?

1 hour ago, Colgal said:

Can’t figure out why we aren’t allowed to speak to the travel person at SS directly...

Uhh... Why do you think that?  It sounds like your flight issues are more related to your TA than SS.   *My* TA has suggested I talk to SS when things have gotten complicated before.  Did you call SS?

For my upcoming trip I wanted to, not only change airlines, but I wanted to fly over a few days early to spend some time in Barcelona.  Essentially I worked out which flights I wanted and let the TA (premium cruises dot com) work out the details with SS.

At the absolute worst you can take the credit from SS for the flights and do your own.  That means you have to work out the transfers from the airport to your hotel and the hotel to the ship.  I think you'll find out that it might be cheaper.  If you have any experience with international travel it will probably save you money.  If you look around here on CC you'll find that most people complain that SS's flights are overly expensive.  They *are* very convenient, though.

WRT giving up on SS, I'm pretty sure that your angst should be placed upon your TA than SS.  Has your TA worked with SS before?

I've done both directions.  Hokkaido/Aomori in the Spring is magnificent.  I think the weather and and the seas are insignificant.  It's easier to deal with adding an hour each night as you travel westward than losing an hour each night as you travel eastward (there's a reason why *all* world tours go westward). 

But still, the cherry blossoms...

Hey Spectre, what ship was that wine list from?  It looks different from the one I've seen on the Shadow as recent as last September.  In particular, I drank heavily from the California chardonnay list, and the Far Niente chardonnay has been $80 on the Shadow for at least 2 years.  Also, the dessert section has had a Hungarian Tokaji for ... I can't remember, either $45 or $60 that has been the winner in that category; better in my taste than the 2006 d'Yquem, which, I should point out, has been the d'Yquem on the Shadow menu for quite a while.  (at $250, as I remember)

ColGal, do you live near Phoenix?  I live south of Tucson, so I'm flying from Tucson to Barcelona, and I'm routing through Atlanta.  My original airline was Delta, but I have miles on AA so I asked my TA to switch to AA which she did, for the ~$150 deviation fee.

The point being that you don't have to fly Iberia or KLM.  You can take a hop to TUS and get a new set of airline choices.

BTW, I'm cruising 3914 - 3919 on the Shadow, are we going to be shipmates?

On 2/10/2019 at 7:36 PM, Stumblefoot said:

I was really lucky that DW left me some room for my shoes. 😄

Hey, I love the packing method of stuffing the shoes full of clothes.  What are those, stockings in the white trainers?  🙂

39 minutes ago, Stumblefoot said:

Hopefully Les will chime in about the street food tour as I think he had direct experience with it, or someone that had, and it wasn’t recommended as I remember.

I've complained about that excursion.

My complaint is that there is no street food on that tour.  They take you to the big market and walk you through the middle without any stops at all.  No time for shopping or trying any of the plentiful street food that is available in the market.  Then they load you back on the bus and take you to a restaurant where they feed you what they tell you "is just like street food."  Bah humbug...

It's a nice restaurant, though.  I have some pictures, let me see if I can find them...

Here we go; here we are eating at the restaurant (on the street food excursion):

And here is the front of the restaurant:

Stumblefoot: Don't forget Moon Cakes; only available during major holidays in China.  They come in both savory and dessert versions.  Stands that sell them sell boxes of 4 savory and 4 sweet - I recommend it.  🙂

MBP&O2/O: Silversea (with the possible exception of the expedition ships) only loads comestibles at embark/debark points.  I was *so* disappointed to find out that I wasn't going to be eating king crab when we pulled into Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  Nope, we ate the same food that we had loaded in Tokyo and didn't load any more until Anchorage.  So  the idea of local/regional cuisine is doable if you're cruising the Mediterranean and if your idea of local/regional is, say, Italian, then you're going to be very pleased.  If your idea of local/regional is the idea of the cooks going to a local market to buy food and creating dishes from the town we're tied up in out in the bay, well, not gonna happen.

As to the menu changing in La Terraza, I spent 3 weeks on the Shadow last September and it was still 3 (4?) day menu rotation.  It was quickly enough that I never got tired of the menu.  I ate at La Terraza almost all nights.  La Dame was on a 7-day rotation.

I, too, will be back on the Shadow this summer, for another 2 months (Grand Mediterranean).

1 hour ago, Loonbeam said:

Honestly for 58 days I would take a small one.  Has to be some places to use it.  At least in the EU there will be some consistency.

You would think, wouldn't you.  I just spent a half-day looking into it.  Here's what I found out:

• Morocco - Drones are banned and will be confiscated by customs. Leave it on the ship.

• Spain

Max height: 120m, 50m at night. (For small drones like Spark)

Must be in LOS

Cannot be within 8km (5 miles) of airports

Must stay 150m away from buildings, 50m from people

National Parks - Must have prior permission (takes about 1 wk) from AESA

• Italy

Max height: 70m

Daylight only

Must be in LOS

Cannot fly near airports

Cannot fly over people not in your party

See ENAC

• France

Max height: 150m, 50m above any object or building that is 100m or more in height

Daylight only

Must be in LOS

Usual overflight rules (as in the US)

• Monaco

Cannot take photographs or videos without 15 days prior permission. And you must include your flight plan when you put in your request. You can fly, you just can't take pictures. Another non-starter for me.

Cannot fly near Prince's Palace, Place du Palais or within 150m of airport or heliport. Again, you can fly, just can't take pictures without a 15-day prior request.

• Montenegro

Each and every flight must be approved.

Flight records must be maintained

Drone liability insurance is required

If you can meet the requirement above:

Max height: 150m

Max horiz distance: 500m

Stay 30m away from people, animals, buildings, etc.

• Slovenia

Daylight only

Max height: 150m

Max horiz distance: 500m

Stay 1.5km away from airports

• Croatia

Illegal to take any aerial photography for personal use! Leave your drone on the ship. It is possible to take *commercial* aerial photography, but even that has such a byzantine set of regulations, unless you're going to be there for weeks it's not worth it.

• Malta

Another place that has too many regulations, as in:

Cannot be flown over any personal property without permission. That's why all the drone footage you see of Malta is flying over water.

Cannot collect images of identifiable individuals, even inadvertently, because of Malta's Data Protection Act.

• Greece

Max distance: 50m - Yes, 50m in any direction. There is an application you can fill out for each and every flight you want to take and then you can fly 120m.

Daylight only

Usual overflight rules.

There are issues about overflying personal property. See Drone Laws.

Must have drone insurance.

So that's it. I know that some municipalities have their own restrictions. Barcelona, Spain and Rome and Venice in Italy forbid all drones. But at least here is the big picture for Sparks. Larger drones (larger seems to start around 500g in some places, 2kg others - the Spark weighs 300g at liftoff) have more restrictions. For instance, only a couple of places require insurance in the list above *for Sparks*, but many places would require insurance for larger drones.

23 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

What cruise line?

Silversea.  The ship?  Silversea Shadow.

6 hours ago, Loonbeam said:

But do your research.

Yeah.  I'm going on a 58-day cruise with almost 50 ports in the Mediterranean.  A lot of research...

I hope I'm in the right forum.  🙂

Has anyone taken something like a DJI Spark or a Mavic Air with them on a cruise?  How successful was it?