JSR

Yes, probably should have said that earlier but I am bouncing between planning our 71 days, my SIL joining us for a segment and a wedding for 200+...

Do you think that because it is Rio during Carnival that maybe why we keep getting no for an answer?

@terry&mike we were on Silversea Moon @texanaust wonder if they no longer find it an option as ships are selling out now. Or maybe only last minute Everyone’s response has been helpful. I’ll keep trying while look into different solutions.

Thank you. My TA has asked several times but we both have learned that the information either of us get is as good as the person we are talking to at SS. So any information I can pass on is much appreciated.

On our last cruise, people were embarking and disembarking almost everyday, even in tiny ports like Flam. How does this work? Is it possible to make arrangements on any cruise or was this one unique? My SIL would like to join us on a GV, a couple days prior to the segment she has booked, we are on the GV. Thanks for the insight.

I was speaking of ship classes. I only have experience with two TA on Cunard and both included drinks, gratuities and OBC and that was the lowest price for the cabin we booked. However, the drinks are capped at $12 per drink. If it is a $14 drink you pay the full $14 not the $2 difference. The Sommelier will limited what you are offered to what is included if you wish. Cunard did not include WiFi, I used OBC to purchase it. It is terrible but I had to be able to be in touch with home. There are no excursions on a TA as there are no ports. They have such promotions in the US every time I have looked at TAs in Queen’s or Princess grill. I have not checked Britannia or Britannia Grill.

@Peter Lanky many cruise lines offer the option to pay an additional amount to include a beverage package as well as prepaid gratuities and Wi-Fi. With Cunard I do not know if it is an option in all classes on all ships. I have seen it many times being offered in many classes. When you get a drink you still have to show your card as some people have packages and others don’t. Accessibility. You are brave to get on any ship without a pre booked accessible cabin. With rare exceptions of the higher suites you will not be able to get in the cabin or bathroom of a standard cabin with a wheelchair. You were fortunate that the ship could change cabins but do t cout. On it going forward. If there is no accessible cabin available online you can call the cruiseline and ask for the access department. They will try and find you one prior to taking your deposit. To address your dining questions. Most people sit at a 2 top. We chose the large table because we like to meet people to dine with. If you are not pleased with the mix of people you can ask the maitre d to reseat you. As for how do you organize eating together, we chose not to. There is a dining window in Queen’s grill we all seemed to show up with min 15 minutes of each other and the waiters were wonderful at catching or slowing us down so some how we all managed to finish at the same time. We would all also linger to visit. However, there were times when one couple would come earlier or later and everyone ate when they wanted to. The waiters do not wait for others unless you ask them to. We have done a group table on both our transatlantic cruises and enjoyed ourselves. as far as meeting people. We met people in bars, bridge class, doing the track. Qm2 is very friendly on a transatlantic as no one is in a hurry to get to port etc. Excursions are tricky with a wheelchair. We generally book our own though SS is working with us to arrange some accessible tours on our 71 day cruise. We are supplementing with ones we book privately because the ship tours are sometimes very touristy and we prefer more off the beaten track type. my plane is about to take off so I will post now. If you have more questions let me know.

They book once a quarter. Here is the latest from their website. I assume, but do not know for sure, that reservations open at midnight. I’m going to research that and will post. *Months of October, November and December 2023 will be available for reservations on August 15th

Alas we don’t board until January 4, 2024

I’m going to try for Central. Reservations open in November. No specific date yet. I plan to practice on August 15 when the next reservation block opens up. by the way all 4 of these are on the 50 best list : 1 Central 6 Maido 28 Kjolle (chef is the wife of the husband and wife team at Central) 47 Mayta Too bad we aren’t ther long enough to try them all.

We only had one night so I most chose 😢. What did you like about each? Would you recommend one over the other, and if so which one? thanks.

Thank you. I have already placed them in my basket. 🙏

Yes I am in the US.

@mystydo you have a link for the hooks you’re purchasing? are you using the shoe holder for shoes or for bathroom organizing? Thanks

The number of options for dinner our one night in Lima are endless. Has anyone eaten at any of the following and if so what did you think of the experience? We also have time for a lunch or ceviche Central Maido Kjolle Mayta Astrid y Gaston Awicha El Pez Amigo Any other recommendations for dinner? How about for Ceviche? La Mar El Muelle Thanks for the help!

Thank you, I am like you interested in seeing animals etc. This is very helpful. My husband is off fishing for another 5 days so I have no one to bounce things off of. LOL

I can wait to see photos. Hope they do some TA cruises soon and photos are posted!!!

@jjs217 and @Lirio What I am trying to do is make the most of our Amazon experience. I have read that going into the tributaries, and smaller sections provide a different experience then we will get from the cruise ship. I am just unsure if the boat trips in Manaus and Santarem are redundant or different enough to do both or if we should plan for something different. Below are the details of both boat trips and the other activities in those two ports. Parintins and Boca Da Valeria are limited choices and we are doing a pedi bike tour and Boi Bamba show with the ship. Boca is locals boarding the cruise ship with an outside possibility of going ashore based on the tides. I am also trying to not plan too much or too little, given the heat. Here is what we have booked and what our options are. We are 3 -my husband and sister-in-law can hike and I can not hike or walk. Here is the itinerary for that portion of our cruise: Tues. 2/23/2024 Amazon River Wed. 2/24/2024 Santarem, Brazil 8:00 AM 6:00 PM Thurs. 2/25/2024 Boca Da Valeria, T 8:00 AM 6:00 PM Fri. 2/26/2024 Manaus, Brazil 1:00 PM Sat. 2/27/2024 Manaus, Brazil 6:00 PM Sun. 2/28/2024 Parintins, Brazil T 12:00 PM 7:00 PM Mon. 2/29/2024 Santarem, Brazil 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Tues. 3/1/2024 Amazon River Santarem - options - we are there twice so we want to do 2 things. We need to prioritize which one first. - Private Boat Tour -We'll start by seeing the meeting of waters and understanding why the waters do not mix it. -We'll see some parts of Santarém and learn of its history. -Around 45 mins later, we'll reach the entrance of Maica, so keep an eye on the water because you might spot dolphins! -We'll enter Maica and start spotting a variety of birds. -Once there, we'll get a speedboat and will be able to enter even deeper into Maica where a normal boat cannot go, to spot the animals even closer and to try to find the prehistoric animal Hoatzin! -After this speedboat tour, we will get back to our original boat and have an Amazonian lunch prepared by our local chef, accompanied by an amazing view of the jungle and the river. -After lunch we'll go back to Santarem. Private Forest Tour - will be somewhat adapted for my inability to hike -We will head to the National Forest of Tapajós (FLONA).-Arriving there, we will take you to a hike into the forest accompanied by the guard of the National Park and myself as the tour guide. The hike time is normally around 1 hour. The trail is very easy and there's no up's and down's, the terrain is very even.-Along the hike you will get to see the real rainforest giants: Piquiá tree (Caryocar villosum), Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) and many other big trees.-After the hike, there will be some fruits and juices waiting for you!-After the snacks, we will take the car and we will go to Belterra, the utopian city constructed by Henry Ford in the 1930's. You will learn the rise and fall of his rubber empire and understand how an american city was built in the middle of the Amazon.-After Belterra we will go back Santarem and drop you off at the original pickup spot. Manaus (2 days/ 1 night) arrive 13:00 (1:00 PM) leave next day 19:00 (7:00 pm) Night one GV event- concert at the Opera house with canapes and cocktails Transfer by private speedboat.We'll start the tour navigating through Manaus waterfront, explanation about the Manaus floating port, The Adolpho Lisboa public market, the riverboats terminal, where every day many people embark and disembark using the boats as the main transportation, passing through the industrial area in Manaus and explanation.Arrival and visit at the meeting of the waters with explanation, shortstop for pictures and then visit the local village called Catalão where the people live over floating houses, navigation through Xiborena river, where you can see the local fauna and flora, navigation on the Amazon river, arrival at January Ecological park, walking tour to see the giant amazon water lilies and after tour by boat to enjoy the flooded forest and trip back to Manaus, transfers to your place. Also an option for a walking/driving tour of the city landmarks only or this can be added. Than k you for your input.

I am researching segment 4 of our GV. We are able to do a boat tour into the Amazon river where the cruise ship will not be going in both Manaus and Santarem. We can not decide if we should do both or just one, and if one which place is best to do it from. Please share your input and experiences. Thanks

@scotslady Thank you for the information. I went to Gil's facebook and much to my surprise he belongs to a windsurfing group that my husband's friends belong to. They are all old windsurfers from back in the day. Small world. I am going to email him now. The photos are wonderful. Looks amazing.

Thank you. We are trying to decide about doing a boat tour in a Manaus or Santarem. We overnight in Manaus And call at Santarem twice. Any thoughts.

@ScotsLadyWhich guide did you use with Tours by locals?

I’m won’t buy a tux without him. I was going to go look at dresses. 😂

Nordstrom is having a sale right now… Thank you. Ahh I should run over for myself. Husband is off the grid for another 10 days…

Thank you we shall if my husband is inclined. He is off camping and fly fishing right now. We did look briefly at Saks, but they were far too stylish and yes the manakins were wearing sneakers with their tuxes....