Islandattorney

Does anyone know of any cruise line that has an itinerary that includes both a stop in Rio at their Carnival time and a sail by or to Antartica? I have been trying to search various sources for that combination and it seems HAL might have one but I'm not sure...any past guests have any experience with this kind of fabulous combo?

Well, ok then! Your photos of the hippos particularly are stunning, so with this further comment, I'm now sold on St Lucia too!

Terry...did you find this tour worthwhile and not greatly outdone by your trip,to Botswana Okavango? As we are almost following in your footsteps in a few months, I am wondering if St Lucia will still be exciting with that combination. Thanks, Maria

Thanks Kunnocat...great news.

We are on a cruise with several stops along the coast of South Africa between Capetown & Mozambique. We are looking for local companies that offer interesting cultural tours, visits to townships, etc, as we have a post-cruise visit to Kruger & don't need to use these stops to see wildlife. Has anyone had any experience with this company -- Umzantsi Afrika? They have answered my email which puts them one up on some others. But I don't find them in Trip Advisor & wondered if any CC folks had experience with them. Any comments appreciated.

I have only cruised with HAL once, on a Caribbean cruise, and though we live in the Caribbean & have cruised here many times, I still think the HAL cruise was one of the most memorable because of an unusual experience they arranged in St Lucia. After a normal day at one end of the island, far from the pitons, we set sail but the captain took us around to the other side, right near the pitons, where we dropped anchor again & there was an unbelievable full moon just over or between the peaks. Then they brought a local group of musicians aboard to play for us. This was completely a surprise...not on the itinerary at all. It made the whole cruise unforgettable. So now I'm wondering...does HAL throw in this kind of surprise on other cruises sometimes? Or were we just incredibly lucky?

Thanks...just as I was hoping.

I just noticed in our booklet for Sirena next month, they describe the Terrace only for breakfast & lunch, but on past O cruises we have definitely had dinner there. Can anyone who has sailed since Sirena came into the O fleet tell me if they are serving dinner at the Terrace? We really like that option...

Thanks Loerie...Capetown is on our itinerary.

We visited West & East Africa years ago, on a long & wonderful trip, but did not include South Africa because this was in the time of apartheid & we are an inter racial couple. We have long wanted to back back & see South Africa,with the change in That country's laws, and now we are planning that trip (combining cruise & land visit). Yet we still wonder if we are likely to encounter problems, animosity, actual discrimination...in any significant way. So this is to ask if any CC members have had any experience with such travel in recent years. Reports would be appreciated.

Yes, we are in overnight. I confirmed with the resident experts (Jim& Stan) that we can disembark at any time on final day since we will clear the day of arrival. Flight is BA at 7 am...the only option to get us back to states that day without overnight in London. I also read trip advisor reviews of folks who had pick up at 4:30 am with this same company. So I allow for the chance there could be a surprise or complication somewhere in this plan, but if so, we will chalk it up to adventure travel.

Just to share the information, I booked with a group called Lowcosttaxi that had very good reviews on tripadvisor, they replied immediately & said they would confirm which dock we will be using from ship's name and meet us there at appointed time with our names on a sign. Not quite the bargain you might expect from their name (70 eu for 2) but it is for a 4 am pick up, so we don't want to haggle. This was the very last thing I had to arrange for the trip, so now it's just a matter of relaxing and savoring the anticipation.

I approached her and said "oh I didn't think they'd be dry yet" and reached in the basket and said - "oh wait, these aren't dry - why are you taking them out?" Mind you the room was completely full of people so this already was quite the scene. She just said she "thought they were dry enough" and I said, "I don't think you should make that call with other people's belongings" and she put the stuff back in the dryer and walked out of the room, not even apologizing. Everyone knew what had transpired and it was awkward.

All I can say is....Wow. The experiences cruising offers.

The O class ships (Marina and Riviera) use the Stazione Marittima in Venice.

Marittima is a 15- or 20-minute cab ride from Venice's Marco Polo Airport. The fare is likely to be in the €30-40 range.

What about the little R's...same dock or another, if you know...

So many thanks, Terry in Ohio. I have jumped in the deep end of the pool, booked this cruise, and already have benefitted from your fabulous report, which led me to discover the Qatar airlines association with AA so are using miles for the flight. I have also contacted the folks at Belmond about a possible land adventure with them (which for us will have to be pre-.cruise because of the challenges in finding available business class seats with miles). And we are looking at possible post/cruise visit to Krugar for a bit. Now I will take your tips on tour operators along the way, and try to arrange the best possible experience at each location. And as I promised Mrs Waldo, I will share news of what I find in that process...

I love the sharing culture that special folks have created at CC and you are surely one of the heroes of that....

Mrs. Waldo...lets keep trying. & compare notes. I will post any "findings".

Appreciate your nice follow-up and good question. Will be happy to share that information and any other background that would be helpful. We just got our two grandsons back on the plane to Virginia this morning and am now heading down to southern Ohio for a family reunion. Latter tomorrow, I will be able to respond with those specifics. Don't be shy!! Keep those excellent questions rolling along. We were very pleased by how our three days of private safari's worked during this ten-day cruise.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Thanks very much Terry. You are so generous. Greatly appreciated!

I have been pondering a cruise just like yours, on the same ship I think...departing next Janaury. But I had been very hesitant because my DH & I had visited Kenya for a fabulous land-based Safari about 30 years ago, and longed to do something similar but as we are somehow finding ourselves older now -- go figure -- we mostly cruise for vacations and couldn't believe a cruise would allow us to actually include a true safari experience. Now, reading your remarkable review I am thinking that is just what we would want. If you are still checking CC I wonder if it would be too much to ask you for an itinerary that includes names & contact info on your private shore excursion providers. They sounded so fabulous, I can go back and try to see if there is enough information to track them down in your entries, but as you seem so organized, I thought you might have this already compiled. Anyway, thank you so much for sharing your experience. You have turned up my dreaming...

We are going to be cruising from Spain to Italy in August and have been wondering, with the tragic news of migrant drownings as people seek to reach Italy & Greece, whether it is likely we would see signs of this. Should we bring binoculars to look for people in distress? Has anyone experienced this on a cruise?

Have any cruise ships assisted in rescues?

Perfect..many thanks. And I am properly warned to go prepared with a plan B for train in case the sea doesn't cooperate.

Hmmm. Must have been frustrating.

Kuldalai: can you tell me if it is possible to board the ferry in La Spezia to visit the towns? Or must we go to other town to board? Our ship will be stopping in La Spezia & I would like the ferry experience better than the train, I think..just wondering as most of the information I have seen has referred to boarding trains in La Spezia but no mention of how to find the ferry there. Advice much appreciated.

Thanks so much...I knew one of the O experts would know.

We have a cruise ending with an overnight in Venice, so will be in the city a full day before final disembarkation. Can we assume formalities will be completed on day of arrival, before they allow passengers to disembark that first day, so that on the last day we would be free to get off as early as desired?

That really was exactly what I was hoping to hear. Many thanks, Lady Meer.