DCThunder

There might already be a thread on this topic, but I didn't see it in a quick look. If so I apologize for posting, but it seems that Sapphire Princess helped to rescue the passengers and crew of a smaller ship that had a fire in Glacier Bay. New York Post Story is here: Passengers, crew rescued from Alaska cruise ship in Glacier Bay National Park (nypost.com) It's nice to see a Princess ship get some positive publicity for a change...🔥

I am not planning on doing this, but as I'm normally a solo traveler, I was thinking if this were possible in case I ever needed to try to do it. Were it ever to come up, it's obviously something to discuss with my TA or HAL.

Does anyone know how it works in reverse? Suppose a solo booked a cabin, paid the single supplement, and then had someone decide to go along with them on the cruise. Is the single supplement refunded and a second fare charged, or would the additional name just be added and call it square? This would be in the post full payment period prior to departure.

The other perspective is the audience that most likely reads a website like "thetravel.com". I'd bet there isn't much overlap with the subscribers of Travel & Leisure or other magazines/websites of that ilk. Hence lines like Seabourne, Viking, Cunard, and Oceania aren't even in the author's Top 10, while Windstar barely cracks it at #10. Also don't forget that Virgin Cruises are the hot "hip" cruise line of the moment, so I'm not surprised they're #1. They also probably advertise on "thetravel.com" and that can't be discounted either. But I guess the author achieved her objective of getting some clicks on the website with another listicle.

As I've said before, I was on Oosterdam for 31 days in March/April and loved the ship. I experienced none of the issues that have been reported in the various negative "reviews" (aka bitchfests) that have popped up recently. Capt. Kevin Beirnaert, described Oosterdam as "HIS ship" and as a "classy older lady who's aged well". She may have had some problems, but nothing that should put you off sailing on her, especially if there's a dry dock later this year. I thought Capt. Kevin said it would be in 2024, but perhaps things have changed.

You MIGHT be able to get her a Passport card from the prior to your cruise if you apply ASAP. Here's some information from the State Department. What is a Passport Card? (state.gov) Good luck.

Hot water---FREE Ice---$2.50 🧊🧊

If you're an iced tea drinker from the South, bring along your own tea bags (I prefer Luzianne). Ice tea made with English Breakfast or Earl Grey just ain't the same.

After a very good experience in the Medical Center on Oosterdam, I made it a point to write a handwritten note of thanks and praise for the staff and deposited it in the feedback box at Guest Services. A day or two later, I received a plate of chocolate covered strawberries with a note of thanks for my feedback from the Hotel General Manager. I'm not a huge fan of chocolate covered strawberries, but I appreciated the gesture.

Don't let something as minor as not having early booking of MDR reservations stop you from doing the Santiago>BA leg. That's the best part of the South America cruise, IMHO.

Thank you for that clarification.

Just a note, the longer cruises aren't always called "Collectors" cruises. Sometimes they're called "Grand Voyages".

Isn't this the same thing as Cruise Deck Plan Database and Pictures (cruisedeckplans.com) where you can get deck plans for all ships on all cruise lines. I realize there's a fee to use anything more than the basic public portion of that website, but that resource is out there too. Nevertheless, nice achievement by the OP.

"New math" as taught to Boomers in elementary school is now almost sixty years old...

However, with one booking # you only get one set of shareholder OBC for the 1 long cruise, rather than two sets for two booking #s. I agree the "collector's cruise" is often less in cost, but there's a downside regarding shareholder OBC.

From the title, I thought the OP was having a last cruise before she went into drydock to have a baby.😉

Billy Joel has entered the chat.....

It is amazing how far this thread has drifted in the 10 days since it started. 😎 The original post lamenting about the state of HAL in May 2023 and how it is at a "crossroads" between "sinking or cruising". Now we're talking about getting MDR dining reservations after going down the road of entertainment options, the age of ships and God knows what else. The only topics not touched on in the thread seem to be smoking in the casino and chair hogs.😁

Exactly. I love anchovies on my Caesar salad and when I've forgotten to request them, they don't come automatically.

This is a photo of the boat that goes to Isla Magdalena. The crew said that the gangway with the yellow steps was used by a different tour company but they could not use it. I was on the HAL "off-the-beaten-path" tour and the red hulled boat was also a HAL tour.

Sounds like a tailgate before every SEC football game. They'd need a few bottles of Jack and some White Claws to really round it out.

So basically, weak bids seem to have at least a fighting chance of being accepted. And if not, no skin off anyone's nose.

@Gardyloo THANK YOU! This give me at least an initial compass bearing through the jungle of these RTW flights and bookings.

Hope these show up....Nope.

Trying to post photos from my visit...