Go-Bucks!

On 7/18/2019 at 6:15 PM, palakika said:

I just watched Insignia set sail from Miami.  Can understand why you don't want to go home:)

Still having great weather and a fun cruise.  Just pulled into St. Maarten.

Don't get a PH under Waves! I spent the last 6 months listening to scraping and dropping of tables and chairs all day until 10pm. Nice location otherwise. 

Sorry for all the deleted posts...the ship's internet was acting wacky...big shock, right?!  😉

I've used the spa on Carnival, Celebrity and Princess before Oceania...all were grossly overpriced, gave excellent services and had friendly employees. The only difference I've found is that CR on Insignia NEVER tried to sell me any products or extra services...all the others pushed stuff at every session. Obviously I know how to say "no", but I love not having to say it! If O goes with Steiner, sadly that will all change!  🙁

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6 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

MP is about the same altitude as Aspen, Colorado, in case that comparison is of any help.

However, even if you've been to Aspen, you may not have been all that physically active 

I have a relative in Aspen and have been there twice. The first time, I  got altitude sickness (lasted the whole time I was there), but the second time I was fine...these visits were several years apart. My relative said it seems pretty random whether someone will be affected. 

I'll be in Machu Picchu in 6 months so I'm hoping for the best!

2 hours ago, clo said:

Oh, so you stayed in hotels also?  

Yes, we did do 4 overland tours and stayed in hotels for a total of 7 nights, but that's not what I was answering you about.

You said "spending that much time on a ship would be my worst nightmare" in regards to sailing for 6 months...I was meaning that we didn't actually stay on the ship continously for 6 months! We got off the ship in ports and spent the day touring the place...and 60% of our days were spent in ports vs. 40% were sea days. So, during 60% of the 6 months was spent on land.

5 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said:

 

Which is why I'm glad our WC is about 4 months long! 

 

I love the idea of getting to know the staff on a deeper level, and the idea of living in a new 'village' is quite appealing

It has been so great to really talk to the crew and count many of them as friends.  Here is a picture of me with one of my favorite waiters who left today...I hated to see him leave but he has a wife and daughter to get back to.

If I ever do another world cruise, I might do 6 months but 4 would work well.  It isn't that I don't like living on the ship (I do), but I miss my family and attending all the grandkids' sports and family holidays.

On 7/12/2019 at 7:58 AM, EatonDoolittle said:

They are not allowed to leave the island except under stringent circumstances. 

So it is doubtful they would have the opportunity. 

Very sad but true.  This was the only thing that the locals told us they didn't like about their government. They want to travel...just like we enjoy doing. 

I loved Harvest Caye! Huge clean beautiful pool with tons of loungers and umbrellas plus a swim up bar. Nice beach with bathwater, lots of loungers, palapas and umbrellas. All in great shape. Used by Regent, Oceania and NCL.

5 hours ago, GeorgiaPeach51 said:

 

From Southampton to Miami, 9/11/20.

I was answering "clo" when they asked why I didn't get a new quieter cabin...I was saying that no other cabins were available. 

3 hours ago, clo said:

Holey moley!  Wow, to each his own but spending that much time on a ship would be my worst nightmare.  

It was fantastic!  Quite a few of us who were on the ATW are still onboard for the next 2 cruises of 17 additional days...lots of people love long cruising which is why 12 cruiselines now do world cruises. 

And we didn't stay on the ship the whole time...we were out visiting many cities/countries 60% of the time.

6 hours ago, palakika said:

Go-Bucks...are you home yet?

Nope!

Still on Insignia for 10 more days in the Eastern Caribbean! I did promise my family that I will actually go home on 7/28.  😉

12 hours ago, clo said:

Did you ask to be moved?

To where???  The world cruise was fully booked years in advance!

We were on the so-called "waitlist" for a PH for 9 months. The only reason we eventually got one is that some other passengers traded rooms with us.

Europe is so easy to do by just catching a cab or a subway ride in many places.

That being said,  I've done what you're planning on many O ship tours and as long as I told the guide, there was no problem. 

3 hours ago, Redtravel said:

Just did a cruise on deck 8. I was concerned about noise from above. There wasn’t any. I would gladly book deck 8 again.

You were luckier than me! I was just in a PH1 for 6 months, right under Waves...oh my, there was so much noise from chairs and tables from morning till 10pm everyday! 

4 hours ago, Petoonya said:

 

Forget it. I was wrong about the extra $400, just as you suspected.

Everything else about the booking is correct. $5k, reduced single supplement, 4 tours- BUT NO $400 OBC.

If remove O life I lose the gratuities which at $32/day x 14 days is $450. Still makes sense to keep the Olife and the 4 tours regardless I remember well the prices on independent tours in Alaska. Plus I get that 25% discount on tours above my 4 booked.

It's still an great deal.

The Ambassador on Insignia was pricing a solo cruise for me and said I would get all of the excursions or OBC  since I was paying the 200% single supplement (8 instead of 4 tours or $800 instead of $400). 

Also, I don't think gratuities are $32/day...I was in a Penthouse suite and they were $23/day (extra for the butler). 

5 hours ago, Mura said:

From what I saw of the last comments on this year's RTW cruise on INSIGNIA I didn't see any negative comments about weather or the condition of the seas for the last part of their trip.

We had no storms (in 6 months!) which is amazing! Someone said it was the best weather of any ATW that O has done. There were a handful of days where we rocked around a bit, but it was just windy and I felt fine...and I get seasick easily.

On 7/15/2019 at 2:08 PM, stevenr597 said:

We would like some opinions in regards to preferences about which cruise to take.

I suggest you also post this on the Princess board to get views from both sides. Each CC cruiseline board has their own "cheerleaders" who think their favorite line is "the best" and will disparage most other lines.