mchell810

@JSR Thanks for your thoughts on the various cruise lines. I notice all the Vista cabins on Silver Moon are connecting cabins. Will you give a bit more information on that? Where is the connecting door located? Did you even have an issues with noise? Anything else you think might be significant. TIA

iPhone users will get a notification if an airtag that is not registered with the phone user is moving with and/or following them.(I assume it would work the same on iPad; however, I don't know how it would work for an android phone user. The iPhone user would then be able to "track" the unknown device to find it.

Good planning: low expectations = no disappointment 😉

Last year I had a guarantee cabin assigned on a Monday for a cruise leaving on the Friday so I don’t think your situation is unusual.

So excited to see another GSJ had begun! It was on my calendar and I’ve been checking for days — and I wasn’t the only one 😀.

The wine group is not the reason fro the changes to the schedule. I am member of that wine club; they announced the dates for the 2024 cruise in March of this year -- long before the schedule changes began. I know many people are nervous about groups on board. I have traveled with this group in the past: it's likely not to be more than 70 people and most passengers I met outside the group did not even know we were there. For SS tours we never went as a group so we never impacted the seating or buses for that (obviously many of us would independently choose wine tours). As for spaces we did "take over" a couple of venues, mostly when they would have been closed anyway; for example, we had an event one afternoon in SALT Kitchen. There is a group dinner which ofc necessitates the closing of one dinner venue, one evening. I hope this eases any fears about the wine group being onboard.

Sorry there so many typos in my post. 🤦‍♀️

It seems D2D sometimes includes a pre-cruise hotel but sometimes not. After reading the posts about hotel, I looked at some a bunch of cruises -- different ships, different parts of the world, different years and I can't figure out the rhyme or reason for the inclusion or exclusion of the hotel night. One cruise will have the hotel and the next on the same ship won't, even when it's in the same region. If anyone figures out the pattered I'd love to know as I am very curios now. (I didn't look at any expedition cruises as I know those are handled differently.)

I have had a record location number change was when SS moved my flights to a different airline; however, that's no reason not to give you the existing number. I've gotten that number from my SS rep much further out than 60 days (I, like you, always request it as soon as flights appear.) In my experience with the BC upgrade the domestic leg will get you in first class not economy. (Or European Business).

Which method to use really depends on one's situation. Yes the open booking has just a 6 month window, but you risk nothing. If you choose that far off booking, you can keep pushing it off to something else; however, there is some risk involved. If one should cancel, $250 of the deposit is converted to a future cruise credit which does have a long life. This if fine if you plan to sail again, but if you aren't sure you will sail with SS, or life interferes so that you can't that $250 will ultimately be lost. I have used both methods but each person has to decide what works for them.

Agreed, changing seats on a codeshare can be difficult or impossible. I have been avoiding them just for that reason. I thought SS was as well as my flights have not included them in lately; perhaps I just got lucky.

As others have reported SS won't notify of changes, so I always request the locator number so I can add it to my airline account and monitor flights myself. Also, you should be able to change the seat selection if you want to.

This has been my exact experience: when the option wasn't used I received the full $1000 refund. I suspect the Future Cruise Consultants prefer to book an actual cruise even if it's far off and will be changed (perhaps it's a question of commission/recognition).

The $1000 open booking is not lost after 6 months; it is refunded if you haven't selected a cruise. Ofc you would have lost the opportunity for the onboard booking discount; perhaps that was the confusion.

@Lirio Stunningly beautiful! Now I want to go to Brasilia just to visit that cathedral; it must be wonderful to watch the light change throughout the day (similar to Sagrada Familia in Barcelona)

Lovely pictures of the interior of Casa Mila. I hope ot make it inside someday.

Another vote for Albergo del Senato. I also suggest you check out the ports of calls page for Italy where you will get a broader audience and a lot of options. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/464-italy-ports/

I, too, recommend disputing the charge with your credit card company. I have found this gets quick action from companies that take their time to issue a refund. You have been more than patient waiting for the refund.

That's a great idea! 😋

Love Love Love the matching map dresses!

Looking forward to reading about your trip and all of Gen Z's adventures 😀 I will be traveling myself for a few weeks so I am very glad I can mark this now. I won't get the "live" version but will still catch up after I am return.

Thanks to all for sharing your day in Salvador. The pictures and videos are lovely. I am really enjoying following along on your cruise (especially as I am considering this trip for 2024).

I haven’t sailed Viking nor Seabourn; I’m shifting more to Silversea now. I would still sail with Azamara for a special itinerary. As long as one knows what to expect it will be good (I find the included wines are hit or miss & that is an issue for me). I love small ships and the decor of the R-ships is appealing; however, they are aging— newer ships have much to offer. I hope this helps.

Just an FYI: Azamara still sails into Seville. I had two nights there in November on their Pursuit. It was the driving factor in selecting the itinerary; it was lovely!

I think it’s safe to say it’s always a fun sailing if Charla is on board 😉 🥂 I have to seek out that Penner-Ash Pinot. It seems to be your “go to” so I’m sure it’s tasty.